Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 172 A Belated Wedding

Ma Teng was preparing to lead his troops back to Tianshui to hold his daughter's wedding. Now that he was the governor of Xiliang and ruled the entire region, he naturally wanted to make his daughter's wedding a grand and spectacular affair.

Wei Xiaobao said, "I appreciate General Ma's kindness. However, in this year of great chaos, with Cao Cao in the north coveting the Central Plains, how can I stay in Tianshui and enjoy such treatment?"

When Ma Teng saw that Wei Xiaobao refused, he thought that Wei Xiaobao was unwilling to marry his daughter: "Wei Xiaobao, although you have done a good deed for my Xiliang, if you dare to break off the engagement, don't blame me for turning against you."

Now, Xiliang is also militarily strong and well-equipped. Even if it means confronting Liu Bei in Chang'an, I will not hesitate.

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "Ma Yunlu is already my wife, so why would I go back on my word? It's just that the war at the front is critical, and if I go back to Tianshui to arrange the wedding, it will take at least a month to finish. In that month, Cao Cao will have enough time to cross the river and invade Yanzhou."

Now that Xiliang has been pacified, I can no longer stay there. If I do not return to Xuchang immediately, some people may suspect that I am trying to collude with General Ma.

General Ma's willingness to marry Ma Yunlu to me is already a blessing. If I were to hold a grand wedding banquet, wouldn't that only arouse more suspicion?

Seeing that Wei Xiaobao was determined to leave, Ma Teng could only say, "General Wei has considered everything very well. I'm just afraid that Yunlu will be wronged."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I won't let Ma Yunlu suffer any injustice. If we are too flamboyant, it will only make her a target that others keep a close eye on."

Ma Teng understood the complexities of officialdom, nodded, and said to Ma Yunlu beside him, "Wei Xiaobao is more thoughtful than I am. After you go to Xuchang, you must be careful and not act as recklessly as before."

Ma Yunlu knew that it would be extremely difficult for her to see her father and brother again after going to Xuchang. She was not only saddened, but tears also welled up in her eyes.

Wei Xiaobao stood aside watching Ma Yunlu and Ma Teng comfort each other.

Before leaving, Ma Teng gave Ma Yunlu a 3,000-strong female cavalry regiment as her dowry.

Wei Xiaobao and Ma Yunlu led their cavalry, bid farewell to Ma Teng, and returned to Chang'an.

Upon hearing about Wei Xiaobao's conquest of Wuwei, Zhao Yun clapped his hands and praised, "Second Brother's method is brilliant. When we return to Xuchang, we must tell the strategist to make more of these large firecrackers for future sieges."

As arranged in advance by Zhuge Liang, after the pacification of Xiliang, Zhao Yun stayed in Chang'an as the governor, on the one hand to defend against Cao Cao's landing on the river upstream, and on the other hand to monitor the movements of the Ma family army.

Wei Xiaobao did not linger in Chang'an and immediately returned to Xuchang with Ma Yunlu.

Wei Xiaobao hadn't seen his five wives for a long time. After fighting for so long, he had returned with a new wife, so he was quite uneasy before entering the house.

In fact, Zhuge Liang had already sent someone to inform Diao Chan and others about Ma Yunlu's matter.

Wei Xiaobao cautiously pushed open the gate of his mansion in Xuchang, only to find it eerily quiet inside.

Ma Yunlu asked, "Is this your home?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded.

Ma Yunlu asked curiously, "Although you're not a high-ranking official, your home seems rather desolate."

Wei Xiaobao said, "It's usually very lively. Could it be that they don't know I'm coming back today and aren't home?"

Ma Yunlu then asked, "You've been saying all along that your wives are easy to get along with. Is that really true? Could it be that they know you brought me back and are deliberately hiding from you because they're angry with you?"

Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, "That's not true! I have several wives in the Qing Dynasty, and I've never seen them fight over me. Diao Chan and Shuang'er aren't the type to fight over me either, and the little princess is gentle and lovely. The Qiao sisters married me at the same time, and I already had three wives when they entered the family, but I've never seen them have any objections."

Ma Yunlu chuckled: "You're good at fighting, but I didn't expect you to be so good at charming girls too."

Wei Xiaobao continued walking towards the inner courtyard, saying as he went, "Could it be that they are really angry with me because I haven't come back for so long?" Suddenly, the sound of drums and music rang out all around, and the five ladies appeared simultaneously in the inner courtyard hall.

A group of servants rushed forward, carrying red clothes, and quickly dressed up Wei Xiaobao and Ma Yunlu, changing their appearance.

Ma Yunlu, bewildered, was led into the hall by someone and followed Wei Xiaobao.

Diao Chan was sitting in the main seat of the hall, with Shuang'er, Mu Jianping, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao sitting beside her.

Diao Chan spoke first, saying, "The auspicious time has arrived. Please invite the newlyweds to come forward."

Wei Xiaobao was bewildered as he was pulled to the center of the hall.

Someone nearby sang: "A piece of sandalwood, carved into a jade saddle. A talented man and a beautiful woman, like twin lotus blossoms. What is destined will come to pass, a thousand-mile marriage tied by a single thread. Please, newlyweds, take the red ribbon."

Ma Yunlu suddenly felt something being stuffed into her hand. Looking down through the veil, she could see that it was a red silk ribbon.

"Red candles illuminate the hall, phoenixes sing to the sun and moon, a blessed union is made today. We respectfully invite the newlyweds to perform the wedding ceremony."

Wei Xiaobao and Ma Yunlu then realized that they were being arranged to have their wedding ceremony.

"One bow to heaven and earth, and the marriage is sealed; one kowtow..."

Ma Yunlu could no longer hear what was said after that; she just followed the instructions of the person next to her with tears in her eyes.

After the ceremony, Wei Xiaobao gently lifted the veil from Ma Yunlu's head.

Only then did Ma Yunlu get a clear look at the faces of the women sitting in front of him.

Although they all had different appearances, they all wore smiles and exuded an air of wealth and luxury; they were all stunningly beautiful.

Diao Chan walked up to Ma Yunlu and said, "Sister, I am Diao Chan. These sisters are Shuang'er, Mu Jianping, Da Qiao, and Xiao Qiao."

Diao Chan introduced them one by one, and Ma Yunlu greeted them one by one.

Each person prepared a red envelope and handed it to Ma Yunlu.

Still shaken, Wei Xiaobao approached Diao Chan and asked, "Did you prepare this? I thought you were angry, but it turns out it was a surprise for me."

Diao Chan smiled charmingly, pinched Wei Xiaobao's waist, and said, "Do you think we're so unreasonable? Although you haven't written to us for a long time and have brought back a new sister, anyone else would naturally be angry. But we know your temperament, so why would we be angry with you?"
My elder brother had already sent a letter, and Liu Bei and his strategist had already given instructions. They said they were in such a hurry to return that they even canceled the wedding that General Ma Teng had prepared.

Ma Yunlu will be our sister in the future, how can we let her enter the family in such a humiliating way?

Wei Xiaobao chuckled. If there weren't so many people in the hall, he would have loved to embrace Diao Chan and complete their mission right now.

Shuang'er and the others comforted Ma Yunlu and wiped away her tears.

As everyone was immersed in joy, someone from the palace suddenly arrived: "General Wei, the Emperor and your uncle order you to enter the palace immediately."

Wei Xiaobao asked, "Can't you wait until I'm done with the wedding?"

"Cao Cao's navy has breached Guandu Port and is less than fifty li from Chenliu!"

(End of this chapter)