The Moon in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 737 The Emperor's Daughter
Among the people present, Zhang Liang has the highest rank and the best family background, but when getting along with these people it is obvious that they are all close friends.

Zhang Liang was dressed in a blue and white robe, with an upright posture and handsome face. His every move and gesture showed the demeanor of a young man from an aristocratic family. He was a top nobleman.

In this life, Zhang Liang did not suffer the blow of violent destruction of his country, and his family was still prosperous. Now he was employed in the central court, and his Confucian friends and teachers were all over the Qin Dynasty. His life could be said to be very comfortable.

Not long ago, Lu Buwei retired, and the entire Ministry of Revenue's personnel were promoted. Now he is only twenty-six years old, but he is already the head of the Ministry of Revenue's Storage Office, a fifth-rank official. He has a bright future.

Of course, family and master-disciple factors are also involved, but his own talents cannot be ignored.

When Liu Ji heard Zhang Liang's words, he was slightly startled. He then picked up the wine glass, raised his head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. A bitter smile appeared on his face, and there was a bit of helplessness and self-mockery in that smile: "Zifang, isn't this asking even though you already know the answer?"

After that, he gently shook the empty wine glass and looked at Zhang Liang with a hint of inquiry, "Isn't Zifang entangled?"

Zhang Liang shrugged his shoulders, casually and unrestrainedly, and then drank a glass of wine.

"What's the problem with Liang?"

Zhang Liang said jokingly, "Brother Liu, this is a blessing that many people cannot obtain in three lifetimes."

Liu Ji stretched out his hand and rubbed his face, as if to wipe away all the sorrow in his heart, and said in a muffled voice: "Zifang, I'm afraid this blessing that I have sought for three lifetimes will not be so easy to enjoy."

"I'm not a ovary."

Zhang Liang smiled at Liu Ji and shook his head gently.

Inexplicably, he thought of that spoiled and kind princess, and his heart beat faster involuntarily. He quickly covered his face with his sleeves and drank some wine to hide it.

Born into an old aristocratic family with distinguished family background, he received the most orthodox aristocratic education since childhood. His every word and action was well-organized, and he was graceful, humble and polite.

After devoting himself to Confucianism, he became familiar with Confucian etiquette and behaved in a gentle and elegant manner, observing etiquette in everything, doing things seriously and modestly, and being upright and law-abiding.

But ever since he met the spoiled but kind-hearted princess, it was as if he was swept away by a gust of passionate wind, and his originally calm and unruffled heart was rippling again and again.

At this time, Lu Wan also understood why, and laughed: "Brother Ji, you are already thirty years old, and you haven't got married yet. It's time to get married. Now you have such a good fortune, you'd better not miss it. Hahahaha."

Liu Ji rolled his eyes at Lu Wan, and with the doting of an elder brother towards his younger brother, he scolded with a smile: "I just met him a few more times, and he was targeted. If it weren't for Brother Zhang's help, I don't know how much more I would have suffered. There are so many people who want to curry favor with the rich and powerful."

Xiao He couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and said jokingly: "How can you win the beauty without going through untold hardships?"

"Besides, if you are not envied by others, you are a mediocre person. This also proves that you are a hero, Brother Ji."

Xiao He's words caused everyone to laugh. The hearty laughter echoed over the courtyard. Liu Ji picked up an apple on the table and pretended to throw it at Xiao He, but Xiao He caught it easily. Xiao He smiled and tossed the apple, then put it back on the table.

Liu Ji sighed with a smile, his expression showing some emotion, and shook his head slightly and said: "Alas, how could I, Liu Ji, be so virtuous and capable, born in poverty, to be valued by the princess?"

Zhang Liang smiled and said, "Brother Liu, isn't this a good thing? Those who are against you now will not dare to target you anymore after you get the beauty. On the contrary, they will ask you not to target them."

Liu Ji laughed loudly, then suddenly his face straightened up, his expression became serious and firm, and he said decisively: "Now the holy emperor is in power, the world is unified, and China is thriving. A real man is born into this world, and he should make achievements and bring honor to his family with his own ability. I will not seek to get rich and noble by attaching myself to powerful people!"

Fan Kuai, who was concentrating on drinking and eating meat, heard this and suddenly put down his wine and meat, slammed the table and praised: "Brother Ji, what you said is very true! We brothers have come from Peifeng to Bianliang, and entered the capital of the gods. Until today, we have relied on ourselves and our brothers and friends. Did we get here by holding on to a woman's skirt?"

"Even though the Royal Princess is extremely noble, we brothers are not the kind of people who want to gain wealth and honor by relying on women!"

Zhang Liang straightened his face and bowed to everyone: "Everyone, I made a mistake."

Liu Ji waved his hands and laughed, "Zifang, you are too polite. I know you are my brother. I know you are just joking."

Liu Ji raised his glass to toast Zhang Liang from afar, and Fan Kuai and others also raised their glasses to toast him. After they drank the glass of wine, the atmosphere became relaxed.

Liu Ji put down his wine glass and said slowly: "Two years ago, I led agricultural officials in the suburbs to teach the people to plant new seeds, and I met you unintentionally."

"Alas, that nobleman tried hard to pretend to be of ordinary origin, but no matter how hard he pretended, his innate nobility and self-confidence were not something that could be cultivated by an ordinary family, or even an ordinary noble family."

"With four imperial carriages, six servants at his side, and a jade pendant around his waist, he can buy a courtyard in the capital. If you look closely, you can tell that the two are palace eunuchs."

"The eunuchs following me are obviously top masters from their every move. They can kill me in less than ten moves." Liu Ji gestured and shrugged.

He sighed again and said helplessly: "Even if I am blind or stupid, I know the identity of this noble man."

"This noble man wanted to be my friend, so I couldn't refuse him. But, what would happen? After a while,...

"I want to distance myself from one or two people, but I'm afraid of offending them. This is why I don't distance myself from them, and the result is what we have now."

"Since I became acquainted with you, I have been targeted a lot."

"I originally thought that this person from heaven didn't know anything about the mortal world and was just curious. But later I realized that this was not true. This noble man was serious."

Xiao He said softly: "Brother Ji, what do you think?"

Liu Ji drank another glass of wine and sighed, "To be honest, I'd be lying if I didn't feel moved." "It's not just about climbing up the social ladder and becoming rich overnight. This noble is young and beautiful, and not only is her status incomparably noble. Even her character is noble and pure. I can be sure of this. I have good eyesight."

Liu Ji sighed and praised: "Your Excellency is both a man of letters and martial arts, and has both talent and beauty."

"To be honest, I feel a little ashamed in front of her."

"No matter what kind of man he is, if he is valued by a woman like this, he will definitely be proud and happy in his heart, and I am no exception."

"But it is precisely because of this that I cannot accept it. I was born in poverty, I am plain-looking, and I am more than ten years older than her. The beauty has given me such a great favor, how can I waste her life?"

After saying that, Liu Ji drank another glass of wine, but the wine tasted really bland.

When Zhang Liang heard this, his heart twitched. He sighed, raised his glass and drank the glass as well.

Their Zhang family is not bad, but if they were in this divine capital city, they would only be a middle-class family.

Although the third princess is noble, she is not as good as the eldest princess.

Everyone knows that the eldest princess is the apple of His Majesty's eye, not to mention that she is the daughter of Duke Wen of Tzu Chi.

Even if she is the queen's legitimate daughter, she is probably not as good as the eldest princess.

If the eldest princess married into the Zhang family, it would not be marrying down, it would be falling into the dust.

And
Zhang Liang thought of another person and couldn't help but sigh again.

Cao Shen, who had been silent all this time, spoke up: "No matter how rich the world is, nothing is richer than the royal family. Anyway, no matter who the royal princess marries, she is marrying down. The princess herself doesn't mind, so why should she belittle herself?"

"The beauty's kindness is deep and loving. I love and respect her, and repay her wholeheartedly. I will never let her down. She is also protecting her family and country, and she is serving her even at the cost of her life."

Cao Shen paused, then continued: "Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. Now the man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried. If they love each other, what's wrong with that?"

"A real man does not flatter or curry favor with the rich and powerful, but if he avoids them like a tiger, isn't that also hypocritical and inferior?"

When Liu Ji heard this, he seemed to be thinking about it and weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Zhang Liang also praised him, "Jingbo is right. Brother Liu is a great man in the world. Don't underestimate yourself. Your Excellency is not blind. On the contrary, you have a keen eye for talent, which is why you chose Brother Liu."

"A man's life depends on himself, not his family background. Even if he is born in an ordinary family, he can still soar to the sky. Haven't you heard that a gentleman can change like a leopard?"

"Brother Liu, have you not seen the example of Duke Duan Fang?"

When Liu Ji heard the name Hai Zhongcang, his face became serious and full of admiration.

In today's world, anyone who comes from a poor background takes Hai Zhongcang as their role model.

As for those who are clever, they all take Lu Buwei as their role model.

Xiao He smiled and said, "If you are worried that you may be impulsive, it is nothing more than explaining the benefits and disadvantages. If you are determined not to change, why worry too much?"

"Can't a man take care of his own family?"

"Cultivate yourself, manage your family, govern the country and bring peace to the world. Today, the world is peaceful, and we should cultivate ourselves. If we can't even take care of our family, how can we help the king and govern the country and bring peace to the people?"

"If you really don't like her, then just say no. If you are moved, and the noble lady doesn't care about marrying you, as a grown man, don't you dare to accept the kindness of a beautiful woman?"

"If you hesitate when you should make a decision, you will suffer the consequences. A real man should act decisively. Why would he hesitate?" Xiao He's voice was gentle but powerful.

Lu Wan echoed from the side: "That's right."

Everyone also nodded.

When Liu Ji heard this, his expression changed inexplicably, just like Zhang Liang's.

Finally he laughed, with a hint of relief in his laughter, and said, "No more talking, let's drink."

He picked up the glass and drank it again.

Two days later, Liu Ji went to the place of invitation. His entanglement was naturally because Ying Jing came to him. With his wisdom, he naturally knew that this was a showdown.

Of course it is impossible to let a man like him go to the princess's mansion. It is against etiquette.

Ying Jing invited Liu Ji to Qingmingju, the largest teahouse in Shendu, and they met in the lobby on the second floor, not in the private room on the third floor.

The second floor is not as cluttered as the first floor, but it is not hidden either. It is upright and elegant.

(End of this chapter)