With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 330, Cai Zhaoji
After leaving Lady Cai's residence, Liu Xie went to the residence of another Lady Cai.

This is a simple courtyard, located in the west of the city.

The surroundings were quiet and still, as if isolated from the world, exuding a unique tranquility. At the entrance to the courtyard, only an elderly gatekeeper with a kind but slightly weathered face quietly watched over this little corner of the world.

Liu Xie walked slowly, his footsteps sounding particularly clear in the silence. As he approached the courtyard, suddenly, a familiar zither melody drifted faintly from within.

The sound seemed to travel through the corridor of time, carrying the traces of years, echoing leisurely in this quiet courtyard, causing Liu Xie to stop and immerse himself in this wonderful atmosphere.

This is the courtyard where Cai Yan (Cai Zhaoji) lived. Ever since the Southern Xiongnu were brought back, Liu Xie had someone choose such a quiet little courtyard for her.

Although the music was beautiful, it carried a subtle sadness, which even Liu Xie, who didn't know much about music, could hear.

Liu Xie continued forward. The courtyard wasn't large, and soon he found the source of the music.

In the tranquil courtyard, Cai Zhaoji sat gracefully before her zither. Her skin was as white as snow, as delicate as cream, and her face was exquisitely beautiful. Her eyebrows were arched, and her eyes, like sparkling stars, shimmered with a captivating radiance.

Her slender fingers gently caressed the strings, like graceful butterflies dancing. With her movements, beautiful notes flowed out like water, each note seemingly possessing life, leaping and dancing in the air, weaving into a moving melody.

She didn't see Liu Xie, focused solely on the music, her hair swaying gently in the breeze, adding to her graceful and lively charm. In the melodious strains, the whole world seemed captivated, and time itself seemed to stand still.

Liu Xie stopped in his tracks, and Zhao Yun stood motionless behind him like Liu Xie's shadow!
In this era lacking music, being able to hear such beautiful and melodious piano music is a truly luxurious experience.

As the music ended and applause broke out, Cai Zhaoji raised her beautiful eyes and noticed the emperor. She hurriedly stood up to greet him, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Any married woman with an official position or status could use the title "臣妾" (chenqie), it was not limited to the concubines in the emperor's palace.

Despite all the twists and turns and so much she's been through, Cai Zhaoji isn't very old; she's probably only around thirty.

She's still so young and beautiful, radiant, just a little less youthful and energetic, but with more of the maturity that comes with age, making her even more feminine.

"From your music, I can tell you are missing your family. Could it be that you are thinking of your child?"

Liu Xie casually sat down on a stone bench nearby.

Later generations all know the story of Wenji returning to Han, a story with a long history, and the credit for this event should be attributed to Cao Cao.

However, Cai Wenji's original name was Cai Zhaoji. It was only later that she changed it to Cai Wenji to avoid using the name of Sima Zhao.

Cai Zhaoji hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty is grateful to have brought me back to the Han Dynasty. As for the Southern Xiongnu, I, a mere woman, would never dare to have any selfish thoughts, but..."

"As a mother, it's only natural to miss your children. Get up, I don't blame you."

Cai Zhaoji looked at the emperor with surprise. Liu Xie smiled and said, "You've returned, but the children you had with the Left Wise King have remained in the Southern Xiongnu. They are, after all, your flesh and blood, and I can completely understand your feelings."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. My father died early, and my only sister is missing. I am all alone and inevitably think of my child from time to time."

Although Liu Xie hated the foreign race, anyone could understand the unbreakable bond between mother and son.

Although Cai Zhaoji returned to the land of the Han Dynasty, her heart was often drawn to the distant Southern Xiongnu. On countless quiet nights, she stood alone, her gaze seemingly able to travel thousands of miles back to the grasslands where she had once lived.

Those two children she had with the Left Wise King were a pain she could never let go of. She would often think of their lovely faces, their innocent smiles, and their tender calls. She missed the warmth of embracing them and the scenes of watching them play.

Although she was now in the Han Dynasty, surrounded by a familiar yet unfamiliar environment, her thoughts kept drifting away to the two children left behind in the Southern Xiongnu.

Their images lingered in her mind, every detail so vivid, leaving her heartbroken with longing, tears often silently streaming down her cheeks—a mother's endless love and concern for her child.

Liu Xie glanced at Cai Zhaoji, whose eyes were already filled with tears. Liu Xie couldn't bear to see women cry, so he comforted her, "It's nothing serious. I'll send someone to Pingyang right away to bring your child over."

"But……"

Cai Zhaoji was somewhat worried; she feared that Liu Bao wouldn't obediently hand over his two sons.

Liu Xie had already guessed it. "I am the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. This is not a difficult matter for me. If Liu Bao refuses to hand over the man, let him experience the might of the Han cavalry once again."

Previously, Zhong Yao, the Commandant of the Capital Region, had led troops to conquer Pingyang, the capital of the Southern Xiongnu. Since then, the Southern Xiongnu had completely submitted and accepted the control of the imperial court.

If Liu Bao doesn't know what's good for him this time, Liu Xie wouldn't mind dealing with him again.

Liu Xie thought for a moment, and decided to use this opportunity to test the Southern Xiongnu's reaction. He wanted absolute submission from all foreign tribes, whether they were the Xianbei, Wuhuan, or Xiongnu!
Seeing the emperor's aura change in an instant, Cai Zhaoji was both worried and moved. She couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, I am but a mere woman, insignificant. How dare I trouble you to value me so much? Last time, when the court mobilized troops, I already felt deeply guilty."

Liu Xie waved his hand, "It's not as serious as you think. Even without your incident, the Southern Xiongnu should have been warned long ago. The people on the border are often harassed by them. The Southern Xiongnu had already submitted to the court, but taking advantage of the turmoil in the country and the internal strife in the Central Plains, they became restless. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been captured by them. Alas! In a way, the court also bears responsibility for the grievances you suffered. As the emperor, I naturally owe you something as well."

The fact that the Southern Xiongnu dared to cause trouble and plunder in the Central Plains clearly shows that the imperial court bears the main responsibility.

Protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people is what the imperial court should do.

Cai Zhaoji looked at the emperor quietly, deeply moved. After a while, she suddenly remembered something, turned around and went back into the house. When she came out again, she was holding a green robe.

"Your Majesty, my life has been full of hardships and twists and turns. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness in betrothing me to General Guan. I do not care about titles or honors. These are clothes I made for General Guan. It is getting cold, and I hope Your Majesty can ask someone to take them to him."

It seemed inappropriate for the two of them to make clothes for each other before they were even married.

However, their situation was rather special, because Guan Yu was with Liu Bei, and no one could say for sure when he would be able to return.

From the day Liu Xie betrothed her to Guan Yu, Cai Zhaoji had already decided in her heart that she would be Guan Yu's woman from now on.

Cai Zhaoji had no other desires but to have a place to belong, a home of her own.

Previously, when she was with the Southern Xiongnu, although the Left Wise King Liu Bao treated her with respect, Cai Zhaoji never found a sense of belonging there.

Because it wasn't the Han people there, but every day he was met with strange and foreign people.

Liu Xie took the robe and smiled, and Zhao Yun smiled too.

"Sigh, it seems I won't need the Empress and the others to make clothes for Yun Chang anymore. You are enough."

Cai Zhaoji blushed immediately and quickly lowered her head.

"I was just joking with you. Guan Yu is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, a peerless hero rarely seen throughout history. I have carefully considered bringing you two together. He is a hero who stands tall and upright, while you are talented and beautiful. What is even more remarkable is that you have always kept the Han Dynasty and your homeland in your hearts. Your feelings for the Han Dynasty are quite similar."

Liu Xie laughed and stomped his foot hard.

The implication is that Cai Zhaoji and Guan Yu were similar people, both deeply devoted to the Han Dynasty.

This "great man" refers to the Han dynasty, the empire ruled by the Liu family.

"In addition, Guan Yu's children are now living in Xuchang. You should visit each other more often when you have free time, so that you can get along better in the future. However, there is one thing I want to remind you."

Liu Xie hesitated, seemingly feeling sorry for Cai Zhaoji and not wanting to frighten her.

Cai Zhaoji stared wide-eyed in confusion, "What does Your Majesty want to say?"

"Ugh!"

Liu Xie sighed again, "Guan Xing and Guan Feng are not like you. They are always wielding swords and sticks and making a ruckus. Take Guan Feng for example, she is a real little tiger, a tigress. So you have to be mentally prepared."

Cai Zhaoji was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, “Your Majesty, although I prefer quiet, I don’t mind a little liveliness around me. General Guan is a hero, and it is only natural that his children like swords and spears. In today’s world, learning martial arts can help one achieve merit on the battlefield, which is much better than those scholars who are pretentious and frivolous all day long.”

Despite her scholarly background, Cai Zhaoji's personal experiences and feelings over the years have made her truly understand that military men are more useful to the country than scholars, and indeed, of great use.

Very few scholars are capable of governing the country; most are merely dabbling in refined pursuits, spending their days composing poems and wandering around, offering no real help to the nation.

Even if a military man cannot be ennobled or appointed as a general, he can still fight on the battlefield and protect the territory and its people.

"Alright, it's settled then. I'll go and talk to Guan Xing and Guan Feng about it later."

After chatting for a while, Liu Xie left. He handed the clothes to Zhao Yun and instructed, "Immediately send someone to deliver these clothes to Yun Chang. Make sure to tell him that these were not made by me, but by his wife herself, stitch by stitch."

"But Your Majesty, they are not married yet."

"Just say that, and I guarantee Yun Chang will be happy!"

(End of this chapter)