Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Oh, actually, it’s very simple. You’ve only seen one instance because your experience is limited.” Chen Xi quipped. Zhou Yu was instantly displeased. I praised you so highly, and you say this about me? That’s a bit disrespectful.

”Who else could manage that?” Zhou Yu asked irritably, though he had already accepted Chen Xi’s strategy. Even though Chen Xi didn’t mention it, this approach of clearly identifying targets and starting battles required no additional thought.

”Miss Cai.” Chen Xi replied casually. Elimination method, deduction method, optimal selection method, hypothesis method — Cai Yan mastered them all very well.

Zhou Yu looked at Chen Xi with a blank expression, then suddenly smiled, saying, ”I suddenly understand why all the aristocratic families under heaven have that expression when Hexong Wei Family is mentioned.”

Chen Xi also smiled upon hearing this. The Hexong Wei Family, as Cai Yan matured, her talent inexplicably became more frightening, and the Wei Family became more entangled. One could say if they had known this would happen, even if Wei Zhongdao had died, the Wei Family would have married into the Cai Family anyway.

Although Cai Yan rarely showcased her abilities publicly, she often taught at home, and when bored, talked about economics and class divisions. Cai Yan never repeated herself in lectures, and her notes contained some advanced topics.

The Wei Family’s dilemma lay in this. Initially, they chose to give up on Cai Yan, unlike a family member who can be called back. Cai Yan completed all the formalities but never entered their genealogy, so she wasn’t considered part of the Wei Family, and now they can only watch.

”One of the top beauties under heaven, doesn’t Marquis Chen have any thoughts? I heard Cai Yan once spent the night at Chen’s Family house, and Marquis Chen also stayed over at Cai’s Family.” Zhou Yu suddenly shifted the tone with an inexplicable smile at Chen Xi.

”That’s why I hate those gossip novels set in the Inner Palace.” Chen Xi rolled his eyes, though a faint look of concealment appeared on his face. ”By the way, there’s a palace novel here about Sunx Bofu loving no kingdom or beauty, only Zhou Yu.”

Observing Chen Xi’s expression, Zhou Yu nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood upon hearing this and then looked at Chen Xi with gritted teeth.

This sort of thing, Zhou Yu had seen at Da Qiao’s place. Ever since the widespread use of low-quality paper, which Chen Xi used as toilet paper, and the improving world situation, where there was a lack of spiritual culture, some scoundrels began creating such rubbish.

Just like in the past, when there was no paper, and people orally passed around secretive palace stories, now, some scoundrels wrote it down on paper, with vivid details.

Seeing Zhou Yu’s expression as if he was about to spit blood, Chen Xi sighed in relief. He had seen both Sunx Bofu and Zhou Yu’s palace novels, but the problem was that he had also seen one about himself and Cai Yan.

As for Chen Xi’s expression of concealment, it was mainly because Cai Yan was unbothered by cold or obscene content. Besides formal books, Cai Yan sometimes read room techniques with a straight face. Even if Chen Xi occasionally caught her, her expression didn’t change.

According to Chen Xi, Cai Yan approached every book with a demeanor of research and learning.

Of course, that was usual. Until that one time, Chen Xi always thought Cai Yan would have no reaction while reading.

However, one time when Chen Xi was bored and reading a confiscated palace novel, Cai Yan came to ask about some things. Subconsciously, Chen Xi closed the book and put it aside, discussing matters with Cai Yan seriously, without personal feelings.

Ahem, ahem, ahem, as if emotions weren’t involved! Imagine one minute you read a palace novel with both of you as the main characters, and the next minute, the heroine comes over to ask questions. It’s impossible for your expression to remain normal.

Perhaps noticing Chen Xi’s distraction, Cai Yan didn’t insist and habitually picked up the book Chen Xi had put aside. Casually opening it, ahem, ahem, ahem, the palace novel about Cai Yan. It was the only time Chen Xi saw Cai Yan exhibit emotion while reading.

It was hard for Chen Xi to say if Cai Yan’s expression was one of shy annoyance or disdain when she saw the content of that book. All he remembered was that it frightened him. After flipping through a few pages, Cai Yan gave Chen Xi a once-over and then glanced at herself in an embroidered robe.

Finally, with an incurable expression, Cai Yan shook her head at Chen Xi. The book was naturally confiscated, and he was warned. Cai Yan seemed too lazy to investigate who wrote it or why Chen Xi was reading such a book, but the meetings afterward were significantly fewer.

That matter was raised high and dropped gently. Cai Yan originally didn’t visit Chen Xi’s home often, so the decrease didn’t change much, but it did give Fan Jian some peace of mind.

At the moment Cai Yan picked up the book, Chen Xi felt a great despair. He had already prepared for Cai Yan’s punishment, but she ended up saying nothing.

However, when Chen Xi calmed down later, he realized there was no significance in making a fuss; it would only be a joke. It was better to deal with it quietly.

Cai Yan looked like a young girl, but essentially she was a widow, with her widowed status merely unusual. Compared to normal girls, calling her experienced would not be an exaggeration.

Since then, Chen Xi stopped reading such palace novels because whenever he picked one up, he’d recall the incident and break into a cold sweat.

As for Cai Yan, she treated Chen Xi the same as before, at least in the view of others. However, Chen Xi himself felt a sense of distant coldness. It seemed he had indeed offended her. But come to think of it, zero reaction would be even scarier, wouldn’t it?

Zhou Yu wasn’t faring much better. People of Mount Tai pairing Chen Xi with Cai Yan or Chen Yun was understandable — somewhat reasonable. But People of Eastern Wu imagining Zhou Yu with Sun Ce? That was a bit bizarre.

Mainly, it would be one thing for others to imagine it, but Da Qiao and Little Qiao sometimes seemed very entertained when reading those stories. Who knows what they were thinking? Should one say, truly worthy of being sisters?

Thinking about this, both let out a sigh simultaneously, then looking at each other’s expressions, they guessed about seventy to eighty percent of each other’s thoughts. Instantly, neither said a word, almost feeling like they were brothers in hardship.

”Enough, let’s not talk about this. Let’s discuss how to deal with the Northern Huns. Battling the Northern Huns might bring us some joy; discussing this subject, however, is a bit of a dark past for both of us.” Chen Xi said wistfully, regretting his past actions, as it had ruined his image in front of Cai Yan.

”Sigh, let’s talk about the Northern Huns. I think your viewpoint is pretty reasonable.” Zhou Yu sighed and said, indeed not eager to recall the past events.

”Let me explain my ideas first, and you can see if there’s anything to add.” Chen Xi began explaining his plan to Zhou Yu with a tinge of nostalgia.

At the same time, Zhou Yu started listening to Chen Xi’s narrative while calculating the troops and arrangements in his mind. It seemed they had a reasonably good collaboration.