Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Yuan Shu recognized Lai Ying'er from afar.

He was very familiar with Lai Ying'er's shapely buttocks and full breasts; he could recognize them even through her clothes.

However, the reason he sent Liang Gang to stop the three women was not because of Ying'er, but because he had his eye on the other two women.

Although the faces of these two women could not be seen, one had a graceful figure and the other a seductive demeanor, making them clearly excellent playthings.

However, Yuan Shu did not see Liu Quan and assumed that the three women had come to visit the White Horse Temple together.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Liu Quan slipped into the corridor and disappeared from the three women's sight.

He secretly guessed that Yuan Shu's search for three women was probably not a good thing.

But what does this have to do with him?!

He didn't know those three women at all.

Meanwhile, Cai Wan saw her mother kneeling before the Buddha, chanting sutras with her eyes closed.

She quickly gestured to her personal maid to take Cai Yan to see the murals, while she herself quietly left the Buddhist hall.

Perhaps because it was the first time she had done something "bad," Cai Wan's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

His face was flushed red with excitement.

As soon as she stepped out of the Buddhist hall, she looked around.

They were afraid that Liu Lang wouldn't be able to find the place.

Completely unaware that a "bird" had been following them from above.

Under the shade of a dense grove, Liu Quan was already waiting there.

Seeing Cai Wan quietly slip out of the back door of the Buddhist hall, he waved with a smile.

Upon seeing this, Cai Wan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, immediately felt half relieved, but her face turned even redder.

She lifted the hem of her skirt, tiptoed through the corridor, and came to the tree, whispering, "You...you're here early."

Liu Quan laughed and said, "How could I dare keep the beauty waiting?"

As he spoke, he naturally reached out to grasp her soft hand.

Cai Wan trembled slightly, instinctively wanting to pull back, but she couldn't bear to part with the warmth of that palm.

She bit her lip, but ultimately didn't break free. She just lowered her head, her ears burning.

He thought to himself, "When Zhuo Wenjun eloped with Sima Xiangru, was she also filled with this mixture of shame and joy, her heart pounding like a drum?"

Liu Quan was overjoyed to see her like this.

There's no rush to say anything else.

He led her a few steps to a quieter spot and sat down side by side on a stone bench.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Liu Quan asked, "Have you come up with any new good poems lately?"

Cai Wan thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "The night before last, I was reading the 'Nineteen Ancient Poems,' and when I came to the line 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are far apart,' I suddenly felt... I suddenly felt like it was describing you and me."

After saying that, her cheeks flushed even more.

Upon hearing this, Liu Quan's heart stirred, and he turned to look at her.

In his mind, Pangu was playing an old-fashioned romance movie.

Liu Quan then tried to imitate the actors in the movie, making his gaze appear tender and gentle.

He then said, "Separated by a mere stream, they gaze at each other in silence. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl can only meet from afar, while you and I are so close. Why should we imitate them?"

Cai Wan glanced up and met Liu Quan's eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

She bit her lip lightly and asked, "But Liu Lang, your poem 'The Magpie Bridge Fairy'...?"

"If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day and night?" Liu Quan replied with a smile, "That was before. Times have changed. Now, I only want to be with Wan'er every day and night."

Cai Wan blushed and retorted, "Who said we're 'day and night' together? Aren't you ashamed?"

He said this, but felt a sweet warmth in his heart.

Liu Quan laughed and said, "Wan'er, do you know what I was thinking when I was waiting for you at the temple?"

Cai Wan shook her head.

He said seriously, "What I'm thinking is, there is a beautiful woman, whom I cannot forget once I see her. If I don't see her for a day, I miss her terribly."

Cai Wan was taken aback; this was clearly a line from Sima Xiangru's "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".

She was an intelligent woman; how could she not understand the deeper meaning behind it?

For a moment, her eyes reddened slightly, and she whispered, "You...you shouldn't compare me to Zhuo Wenjun. I don't have her courage."

Liu Quan held her hand tightly and whispered, "I don't need you to elope, nor do I need you to run away at night. I just need you to stand there and wait for me to come to your house to propose. That's enough."

Upon hearing his words, Cai Wan felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and her initial shyness subsided somewhat.

She looked up into Liu Quan's eyes and whispered, "Then...when will you come to my house to propose marriage?"

Liu Quanxin thought to himself, "It's done!"

Now that he had confirmed Cai Wan's feelings, Liu Quan naturally wanted to act as quickly as possible. He thought to himself, "Why don't I go back today and visit Master Lu, and ask him to propose marriage to the Cai family on a chosen day?"

Lu Zhi had not yet taken up his post in Lujiang, and Liu Quan felt that given the relationship between Lu Shi and Cai Gong, the chances of him succeeding were higher.

Liu Quan and Cai Wan continued to exchange sweet words, and as their familiarity grew, they became increasingly intimate.

Outside the shade of the trees, the sounds of Buddhist chants and the curling of incense smoke could be heard.

In this small space, the two sat closer and closer until their bodies were almost touching.

Liu Quan could smell the fragrance in the girl's hair, feel the softness under her clothes, and even hear her pounding heartbeat.

His arm gently encircled the girl's waist.

Fine and soft.

Cai Wan was as if she were drunk, her face flushed and her heart pounding like a drum.

Her body leaned against Liu's body, and the firm muscles beneath his clothes gave her an experience she had never had before.

Neither of them spoke, and they silently leaned on each other.

After a moment, Cai Wan seemed to remember something, straightened up, and muttered softly, "I should go back now, if Mother thinks of me..."

Liu Quan nodded, then suddenly stood up, bent down, and kissed the girl on the forehead.

Cai Wan was startled and hurriedly retreated, giving Liu Quan a deep look before quickly disappearing into the corridor like a frightened sparrow.

Liu Quan sat alone on the stone bench, a slight smile playing on his lips.

After sitting for a while, Liu Quan remembered his business and hurriedly got up to visit Master Lu's house.

Midway through the journey, they passed a peach grove and suddenly heard a woman scream from inside.

He didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but two burly men were standing outside the peach grove. When they saw him pass by, they immediately glared at him fiercely.

One of them shouted, "Hey kid, get out of my way! Take another step closer and I'll break your legs!"

Liu Quan, however, stopped in his tracks.

Now he is free from legal and moral constraints, and acts entirely according to his own whims.

I was in a hurry to find Master Lu to discuss the marriage proposal and didn't want to bother with other people's business.

But the thug's words displeased him!

Heh, if that's the case, he really should meddle in this mess.

Deep in the peach grove, on a clearing.

Yuan Shu was playing the game "Eagle Catches Chickens" with great interest.

Lai Ying'er spread her arms to protect Bian Linglong and Ren Hongchang behind her, dodging left and right, panting heavily, trying her best to avoid Yuan Shu's capture.

Six guards surrounded the open space, trapping the three women inside and preventing them from escaping.

Liang Gang was among them. He was very displeased with his lord's behavior, but knowing his own status, he dared not say anything.

Lai Ying'er was already drenched in sweat and panting as she said, "Master Yuan, why don't you release my two sisters? Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu stopped and smiled.

He slowly rolled up his sleeves.

His gaze swept over Lai Ying'er.

She then glanced at Bian Linglong and Ren Hongchang behind her.

He then laughed and said, "My lady is quite the schemer. If I let these two go, wouldn't I be at a loss? I've gone to all this trouble today precisely to catch all three at once. This game is more fun with more people; losing even one person diminishes the enjoyment."

He paused, then chuckled, "Besides, given my status, it's their good fortune to be able to play with these two young ladies. Why would they want to leave?"