Chapter 72: Unreasonable Demands

  It was Liu Zhuang outside, who heard Liu Xuan's voice and was taken aback in his heart. How could it be him? He hastily retreated behind the screen, but caught sight of Tao Zhen with one glance, and his eyes widened involuntarily, staring blankly. "Heavens! Is there really such a beautiful woman in this world?"

  Tao Zhuang disliked his straight and piercing gaze, turned her head away, ignoring him. Liu Zhen secretly praised: 'Wonderful, wonderful, what a beautiful jade-like young woman!'

  He turned around and saw Liu Xuan, immediately smiling, "I said why the voice is so familiar, it turns out to be Brother Xuan, what are you doing eating too?"

  Liu Xuan smiled, which was tantamount to consent. At this time, several more people came from outside the screen. The first person was a young man of medium build, gentle and elegant. He was Cai Mao's eldest son, Cai Yi, who was Liu Xian's bookkeeper in Jingzhou, but Liu Xuan had never seen him before.

  However, he was very familiar with the two people behind him. One of them was Cai Jin, who had dueled with him before. He seemed to have fully recovered and looked spirited and in good health.

  And another person was Cai Shaoyou, who wore a black otter fur coat and a light yellow long skirt underneath. Her face had a thin layer of powder on it, and her lips were painted bright red with rouge, making her look fair and radiant.

  Liu Xuan's gaze swept across her face, and his eyes met Cai Jin's, both of them smiling slightly.

  Since he warned Liu Xuan, their relationship has improved a lot, and they no longer regard each other as enemies, but rather as a kind of appreciation between rivals.

  Cai Shaoyou also walked into the screen, Tao Zhan sat opposite her, and her gaze happened to see this beautiful girl, but there was no admiration in her eyes like Liu Zhuang's, only a kind of surprise and jealousy.

  She was shocked to hear Liu Xuan's voice. The anger that had just risen in her heart, she never expected that Liu Xuan would be with a beautiful young woman together.

  The anger turned into astonishment, but this thread of astonishment was like the withered leaves still hanging on the trees in early winter, and after a gust of cold wind, it became invisible.

  Cai Shaoyou's gaze turned icy, she swept a glance at Liu Xuan with the corner of her eye, and then glanced at Tao Zhan, with a hint of contempt in her heart - what kind of wild girl was this?

  However, Cai Shaoyou immediately felt uncomfortable. She found that this wild girl was wearing a rare white fox fur coat, while her own black sable fur coat, although also quite valuable, was far inferior to the wild girl's.

  I guess this wild girl's status is not low either. That damned Liu Jing actually had dinner with another woman!

  Cai Shaoyou's anger flared up again in her heart, and she coldly asked: "Gongzi Cong, where did you say we were going to eat?"

  Liu Zhuang hastily smiled and said: "Since it's Brother Jing, not an outsider, let's get together!"

  At this moment, he forgot that Liu Xuan was his love rival and couldn't help but sneak a peek at Tao Zhan. With a smile all over his face, he said to Liu Xuan: "Xuan brother, why don't you introduce her? This young lady is..."

  Before Liu Xuan could speak, Tao Zhan hastily said: "The young woman is the daughter of Chai Sang Xiushui Ting Hou, and her name is Wu Niang."

  Xiū Shuǐ Tíng Hóu is the title of another prominent clan in Cháisāng, Zhū Lìng, and has a very good relationship with the Táo family. It's clear that Táo Jiǎn doesn't want Liú Juàn to know her true identity.

  She smiled at Liu Xuan and said: "Xuan Gongzi, then I'll take my leave first, you and your companion continue!"

  She stood up and slightly nodded to Cai Shaoyu, then quickly walked away. However, Cai Shaoyu's eyes were icy cold, completely ignoring her, with a stern face, gazing coldly in another direction.

  At this time, Liu Xuan stood up and looked at the sky, also smiling at Liu Zhuang: "Brother Zhuang, I still have official business in the afternoon, let's drink again another day, I'll leave first."

  Before Liu Zhuang could object, he nodded to Cai Jin and Cai Yi, and hastily left. From start to finish, he didn't even glance at Cai Shaoyue once.

  Cai Shaoyou glanced at Liu Xuan's back, seeing that he was walking very quickly, apparently chasing after the little girl in front. For some reason, a surge of indescribable sorrow welled up in her heart.

  Watching them walk away, Cai Yi smiled faintly, "Gongzi Cong, I know who this woman is and where she lives?"

  ．．．．．．．

  "Wait, Tao!"

  Just as Tao Zhuang walked out of the wine shop, Liu Xuan caught up from behind. Tao Zhuang stopped in his tracks, tilted his head and smiled, asking: "Aren't you accompanying your friend?"

  Liu Xuan shook his head, "Drinking with them is not pleasant, let's go back."

  A horse carriage stopped in front of Tao Zhuang, and Tao Zhuang smiled sweetly, "Then let's go back to Fan City together!"

  The groom led Liu Xuan's war horse over, and Liu Xuan mounted it, urging the horse to move slowly alongside the carriage. However, he didn't notice that a jealous gaze was flickering from the window on the second floor.

  Taoyan pulled open the curtain, propped her arms on the window and revealed a lovely smile like a peach blossom. She curiously asked: "Gongzi Jing, who was that little girl just now? She's quite arrogant."

  "She's certainly arrogant!"

  Liu Jiong sneered, "The princess of the Cai family, isn't Miss Tao still wanting to have a talk with me?"

  "It's her!"

  Tao Zhuang was taken aback, "She, she is engaged to you, how can she go out drinking with other men alone, this is a bit... excessive!"

  Liu Xuan snorted disdainfully, 'Engagement! What a joke.'

  "Tao Niang, from start to finish I have never acknowledged any engagement, what relationship does she have with me?"

  Tao Zhu became even more interested, her eyes filled with a curious smile, "Come on, tell me, have you guys encountered another unexpected event?"

  Liu Jiong was very helpless, all kinds of rumors were spreading wildly, saying that he and Cai Shao Yu had already engaged, making him speechless.

  Generally, he wouldn't bother to explain, but for some reason, he really wanted Tao Zhan to understand the truth this time. Perhaps it was because Cai Shaoyu unexpectedly followed Liu Zhuang out to eat, making him lose face in front of Tao Zhan.

  Of course, there might be some other reason, but Liu Xuan didn't want to think about it anymore at this moment.

  "Nothing has changed!"

  Liu Xuan said with a sigh, "I have nothing to do with her, she doesn't even look up to me. The so-called engagement is just the wish of our elders, and it's only one-sided, the Cai family has never agreed. Yesterday, Cai Mao came to find me, we've already talked it out, I have no relationship with his daughter."

  "So that's how it is, no wonder you're ignoring her, however..."

  Tao Zhuang smiled somewhat mysteriously, "I think she's not as indifferent to you as it seems, I trust my instincts."

  "You're completely guessing blindly. More than a month ago, she even ran to the Liu residence and made a scene, crying out that she would absolutely not marry me, and as a result I left the Liu residence."

  "So you were driven out of the Liu mansion!" Tao Zhu covered her mouth and giggled.

  Just then, a horse's hooves sounded from behind, the hooves were urgent, as if chasing someone. Liu Xuan turned his head and was stunned to see Cai Shaoyue riding up with an angry face.

  "Liu Jiong, stop right there!"

  Tsai Shao-yu rushed forward, reined in her warhorse, and pointed at him with her whip, scolding: "What did you say to my father last night?"

  Taoran gave a soft order and the carriage moved forward for another dozen or so steps before stopping again. She leaned against the window, as if sitting on a cloud gazing down at the carnage below with a carefree expression.

  Liu Xuan was really annoyed with this little girl, who kept looking for trouble. He suppressed his anger and said coldly: "Miss Cai, you should ask your father about this matter, what does it have to do with me?"

  "You not only bullied my father, but also want to marry my cousin again, is that right?!"

  Cai Shaoyou's voice was sharp and piercing, causing the pedestrians nearby to hastily retreat in fright. Not far away, Tao Zhan was slightly startled, wondering how Cai's niece had been brought out again.

  However, Cai Mao's niece is not a match for Liu Biao's nephew. After all, it's a monarch-subject relationship and should be this Cai Xiaoyu matching with Liu Xuan that would be suitable.

  Although, Cai Shaoyou's furious rush over here seems to be a rather weak excuse. She keeps saying that Liu Xuan bullied her father, but who is her father? The second most powerful person in Jingzhou, can Liu Xuan bully him?

  Her words were like a child making excuses after doing something wrong. Suddenly, Tao Xuan's heart skipped a beat as she noticed Cai Shao Yu's gaze occasionally glance over at her, and in that gaze was unmistakable jealousy.

  Tao Zhuang suddenly understood and couldn't help but secretly laugh in his heart. This silly kid will definitely be provoked by this girl.

  As expected, Liu Jing was provoked by Cai Shaoyou's unreasonable behavior. He could no longer hold back his anger and shouted: "Enough! Don't think I'm eager for your Cai family, I don't even look up to you, let alone the niece of the Cai family. Leave! Stop embarrassing yourself here."

  Cai Shaoyou's face turned bright red, her chest heaving violently, and she suddenly let out a loud wail, turned the horse's head around, whipped it fiercely, and galloped away.

  Liu Xuan only felt that his head was as big as a bucket, and he had never seen such a stubborn and foolish woman. Mrs. Cai was much smarter than her.

  After a while, Liu Xuan sighed and urged the horse to follow the carriage. He didn't say a word. Tao Zhan took a sneak peek at him and saw that his face was gloomy like water, with anger not yet dissipated. She smiled and said, "You're not feeling very well now, are you?"

  "Alas!" Liu Xuan finally sighed, "It's said that a tiger father has no inferior son, even if it's a daughter, she shouldn't be any worse. I don't know how Cai Mao raised such an arrogant and foolish daughter."

  "Perhaps the young master doesn't understand her, but I think she's quite lovely, a romantic at heart."

  "Is he a man of good temperament?" Liu Jing sneered, "What if your future husband is also hot-tempered and prone to beating and scolding? Is he still a man of good temperament? Would you like that?"

  Tao Zhu's face turned red, and she said with a pout: "Young master, what nonsense are you talking about!"

  Liu Jing hastily waved his hand, "Just kidding, miss, don't be angry!"

  Tao Zhuang didn't get angry, but he also stopped talking. The two of them walked another dozen steps or so before Liu Xuan couldn't help but let out a sigh. "I just hope this stupid girl won't come bother me again!"

  Tao Zhuang smiled secretly in his heart, 'A maiden's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, which is something you stupid fool can't understand!'

  Two men took a boat across the river. Liu Xuan was going to return to Youzhou, while Tao Qian was heading back to his business. However, Tao Qian called out to him, "Young Master Xuan!"

  Liu Xuan urged his horse forward and bowed with a smile: "Miss, are there any other instructions?"

  Tao Zhuang had been feeling somewhat displeased about the disappointing lunch earlier, but Liu Jiong's cheerful smile made her unable to help but laugh. "Today I invited you to eat and it was a letdown, how about I invite you again another day? Will you give this merchant's daughter some face?"

  "Since you've said so, I wouldn't dare say no! You decide on the time and place!"

  Tao Zhuang thought for a moment with his head tilted, then said: "I'm not sure for the time being, anyway you've agreed, I'll send someone to deliver the invitation card in a few days."

  "Then just wait for news from the girl."

  Tao Zhu's lips curled up in a smile, her eyes flowed like autumn water, the car window curtains gently fell, leaving only a delicate figure on the curtains. The carriage slowly started and headed towards Fan City.

  Liu Cong gazed at the carriage disappearing, raised his head to look up at the azure sky, and let out a long sigh of relief. He found that the sky was actually so blue, pure as a transparent gemstone.

  He also just discovered that the hustle and bustle on the dock was so full of vitality, and everything in the world became beautiful.

  "Drive—"

  He spurred his warhorse on, galloping towards a nearby temporary collection point.