Yuan Xi smelled the faint fragrance on Cai Zhaoji's body and said, "In a place like Youzhou, if you are not brave enough, you will probably be wiped out in a few years."
"Although morality and law are important means to maintain stability, in this borderland far away from the Central Plains and full of conflicts, under the harsh living environment, action is still much more effective than words."
Cai Zhaoji sighed and said, "But what he did is not a step backwards?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "After the power and prestige that maintains the Han court collapses, the whole world will not be much better off."
"In troubled times, fists can not only protect yourself, but also make others listen to your reason."
"Although this is a helpless situation, even in times of peace, it is not acceptable to have no power at all."
Cai Zhaoji said: "But Gongsun Du is obviously trying to set a trap for you. He wants to establish himself, but he doesn't submit a petition himself. Instead, he hints that you submit a petition for him. It's obvious that he has bad intentions."
Yuan Xi laughed and said, "This guy is really calculating. He only wants me to lead the way with a few ports. I'm afraid if I really build a port fortress there, there will be troubles in the future, and I will have to defend him against the Three Hans."
Cai Zhaoji covered her mouth and laughed, "That young master lost money on this business. First, we cleared the sea route for him, and then we traded with him. Youzhou didn't get much benefit. Once he established himself, he gave away half of Youzhou."
"Pingzhou Mu? He really dares to think so."
Yuan Xi said: "Gongsun Du is no less ambitious than Gongsun Zan in terms of vision. He saw that I couldn't break up with him, so he did this. However, since the two sides have just joined forces, it's a bit too hasty to use such means."
Cai Zhaoji asked worriedly, "What should we do now? Reject him?"
Yuan Xi shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The port is just a bonus. It won't be too late to build it in a few years."
"He thought I was planning to take over Liaodong, but he didn't know that I have no interest in that place now."
"All I want is for him to hold back the Eastern Xianbei, Goguryeo, and the Three Han in the next few years."
"He is so ambitious that he will become king and expand his territory sooner or later. Since he can't attack me, he will naturally want to expand in other directions."
"It just so happens that the three states of Goguryeo and Han all have ill intentions and have been gradually encroaching on the land of the four former Han court counties. It would be a good idea to let Gongsun Du beat them into submission first."
Cai Zhaoji worriedly said, "If Gongsun Du becomes stronger, won't he have more ideas about Youzhou?"
"This person is very vicious. I'm afraid it will be difficult to get benefits from him. By then, Youzhou will have him watching us all the time. I'm afraid we will be restricted in what we do."
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "It's okay. Just wait patiently. He won't live for many more years."
"After he dies, his descendants will surely fight for the throne, and then we will have a chance."
"It's funny to say that the prosperity of a family is sometimes determined by how long the head of the family can live."
Cai Zhaoji was surprised when she heard this: "Young Master, can you really observe the stars?"
"Who did you learn this method from? Do you want to find a successor?"
Yuan Xi touched his nose awkwardly, "This method can only be understood but not explained. It all depends on feeling."
"It may not be accurate, it just depends on luck."
He tried to evade the question, but suddenly he remembered that Gongsun Du should have six or seven years to live, but Yuan Shao might only have four or five years.
The throne-seizing scene that I predicted would happen in the Gongsun family might be staged in the Yuan family in advance. What should I choose then?
I thought I could prevent this situation from happening a few years ago, but when the fight for the world really started, I found out that none of the Yuan family members were easy to deal with.
He also thought about assassination, but unless the two were killed at the same time by the force of thunder, it would be useless and would only allow the remaining one to take the position.
After thinking about it, Yuan Xi decided to give up on this kind of thing, which would harm others and not benefit himself, and would easily expose himself. There was no need to risk destroying the Great Wall by causing the Yuan family to fall apart, as he was already unable to deal with so many foreign enemies.
However, even though he thought so, he had no idea what the other two people really thought.
Cai Zhaoji saw Yuan Xi in a trance and asked, "What are you thinking about, young master?"
Yuan Xi tilted his head and looked upward. The advantage of using his knees as a pillow was that he could see scenery that was rarely seen under normal circumstances.
He stretched out his hand, and the heavy peaks made the wise man very happy. He smiled and said, "I'm wondering when Zhao Ji will give me a child."
Cai Zhaoji blushed and whispered, "I did think about it, but I'm afraid someone would catch you."
"A few days ago, Wei from Hedong sent me a letter. Judging from the tone of the letter, it doesn't sound like they are going to give up."
Yuan Xi's face darkened. "They are really brave. Do they think I'm easy to bully?"
"They are probably on the same side as Cao Cao. They are so bold as to threaten me without any fear."
There are different opinions on whether the Hedong Wei family is the descendant of Wei Qing, but it is undeniable that in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Wei family was already a prominent family in Hedong. With Anyi, the capital of Hedong County, as its base, they worked hard to grow their influence in the local area.
The fact that Cai Yong was able to marry Cai Zhaoji into the Wei family shows that the two families were well matched in terms of reputation and status.
Yuan Xi asked, "Does Wei Zhongdao have a brother that Wei Ji and Wei Bo covet?"
Cai Zhaoji was surprised and said, "You know it clearly. When I left that day, Wei Ji was in charge of the family."
Yuan Xi snorted coldly, "They treated you harshly and forced you to leave home. They were just adding insult to injury. Now they have the nerve to write to me and threaten me with your affairs. They really don't know how to live or die."
He naturally knew that Wei Ji was highly appreciated by Cao Cao in later generations. Now he heard that he had been recruited by Cao Cao as a county magistrate. It was very likely that this letter was instructed by Cao Cao.
It is said that among the Wei Ji branch in later generations, there was a very famous woman, who was Wang Xizhi's calligraphy teacher and relative, Mrs. Wei.
Good calligraphy in ancient times was not easy to find, and the writing techniques were kept secret and not easily passed on. Once one learned the correct writing techniques and produced high-level calligraphy, one would have what it takes to become a famous calligrapher.
Cai Yong was the master of calligraphy in the late Han Dynasty, and Cai Zhaoji inherited his true skills. There are very few calligraphers in the world today who can compare with Cai Zhaoji. Even Yuan Xi's family benefited greatly from her, and everyone in her mansion has a beautiful handwriting.
Yuan Xi couldn't care about what would happen a hundred years later. Celebrities had nothing to do with him now. He just wanted to resolve Cai Zhaoji's identity issue as soon as possible.
Although Cai Zhaoji was forced to leave home, she did not really sever her ties with the Wei family. She taught at Youzhou Charity School and became famous, so her identity could not be hidden at all.
Wei found out about this by some unknown means, but at the same time she also found out about the relationship between Cai Zhaoji and Yuan Xi, so she sent a letter, suggesting that Cai Zhaoji return home.
Although Yuan Xi was now very popular and powerful, the Wei family did not dare to offend him easily, but they still brought up the excuse of etiquette, implying that if the matter was revealed, it would be detrimental to Yuan Xi's reputation.
Yuan Xi hated being threatened the most, so he immediately burned the letter and sent back an extremely threatening letter.
He said that since he had sent troops to Anyi before, he might be able to send troops a second time. He could come and go as he pleased in Sili, and he would definitely visit with Cai Zhaoji when the time came.
Cai Zhaoji thought of Yuan Xi's rather childish behavior and couldn't help but smile: "Sir, are you serious?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Why not?"
"Once this matter is settled, I will take you over and throw the divorce papers in their faces."
"I don't know where they got such a big face. When Cao Cao recruited Wei Ji as an official, Wei Ji rushed to help him. The exchange of interests between them is really dirty."
"Do they really think I care about my reputation among the nobles?"
He suddenly remembered something: "I heard that Cao Cao was once a disciple of Cai Zhonglang. I'm afraid he has been coveting you for a long time?"
"This man is lustful. Is he trying to snatch my wife back?"
Cai Zhaoji blushed and said angrily, "What are you thinking about?"
"Is it worth it for him to go through so much trouble for a woman like me?"
Yuan Xi thought to himself, don't underestimate Cao Cao's lust. He even sacrificed his own son and powerful general for whoring.
Although Yuan Xi considered himself not a serious person, he would be extremely concerned about the interests when taking action and would never get involved with women related to his subordinates. He hesitated for a long time regarding the matter of the Marquis's wife, fearing that it would create unpredictable hidden dangers.
Yuan Xi stretched himself, put his arm around Cai Zhaoji's waist, flipped over, and threw Cai Zhaoji onto the bed, saying with a smile: "When the time comes, we'll take the children with us and piss them off to death."
Cai Zhaoji's face turned even redder, and she whispered, "It's still daytime, someone could come in at any time, you are so brave, young master."
Yuan Xi laughed and said, "I am a pervert. Madam, if you scream at the top of your lungs, I..."
He suddenly had an idea and casually stretched a tube of bamboo slips out of the window behind him. There was a snap and a scream.
Cao Xian rubbed his forehead and popped his head out of the window aggrievedly, "How did you find me, sir?"
Cai Zhaoji was extremely embarrassed, and quickly covered her open skirt, angrily saying, "Cao Xian, your problem is getting worse and worse. Be careful or I will complain to Madam Huan!"
Cao Xian defended himself: "I didn't do it on purpose. I was just serving you tea out of kindness. Who knew you would dare to do it in the daytime?"
Cai Zhaoji's face flushed red, and she was too stifled to speak. Yuan Xi smiled at Cao Xian and said, "Why did you serve the tea through the window instead of the door?"
"Come in, I'll show you something good."
Cao Xian put the tea tray on the table in the room from the window and said proudly, "I will not be fooled by you, sir. I know exactly what you are planning."
"If I go in"
She suddenly noticed a playful look on Yuan Xi and Cai Zhaoji's faces and felt something was wrong. Just as she was about to turn around, her collar was grabbed from behind and she was lifted up.
She turned her head and saw that it was indeed Lu Lingqi. She quickly said pitifully, "I knew there was something fishy about the method Madam taught me to conceal her aura!"
"Why can't I hear Madam's footsteps? Can others detect me?"
Lu Lingqi said proudly: "You haven't become my disciple yet, how can I reveal my true abilities?"
"Go in and apologize to your husband first." After saying that, she carried Cao Xian inside.
Cao Xian was so anxious that he waved his hands around, "Madam, Madam, please don't do that. If he goes in, we'll all be doomed!"
Lu Lingqi said disdainfully: "I won't be fooled by you. You are the one who needs to be taught a lesson. What do you mean by everyone?"
Cai Zhaoji watched Lu Lingqi carry Cao Xian in and close the door, and couldn't help but sigh.
Mrs. Lu has a very simple mind.
I'm afraid that what happens soon will teach her a lesson.
Soon, the sound of a woman's embarrassed and suppressed breathing could be heard from the room.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Lingqi stood up, put on her clothes, and angrily said to Yuan Xi: "I was kind enough to help you, but you repay me with hatred!"
Cao Xian was laughing most proudly at this moment, "What do you mean by walking into a trap?"
When Lu Lingqi saw Cai Zhaoji still gasping for breath, she finally understood why there was such a huge bed in the study.
My husband is such a lewd tiger, he really knows how to have fun!