Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1113 The Marriage Alliance Between Cao Cao and Ma Chao: The King of Liang Agrees

Cao Ang felt a tightness in his chest under Ma Chao's gaze, and subconsciously straightened his back and clenched his fists slightly. He knew how formidable this King of Liang was—the reputation of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry that had trampled the Xianbei royal court had long spread throughout the Central Plains, not to mention that the man before him was Ma Yunlu's most respected elder brother. The weight hidden in this scrutiny made him dare not slack off in the slightest.

"King Liang." Cao Ang bowed respectfully, his voice steady. "This humble general and Yunlu defeated the remnants of Lü Bu's forces on the border of Qiao County. Upon hearing that King Liang was approaching Qiao County, I rushed back. If there has been any abruptness, please forgive me." He deliberately emphasized the words "fighting alongside Yunlu," both to state the situation and to subtly hint at his connection with Ma Yunlu.

Ma Chao's gaze lingered on him for a moment, sweeping from his blood-stained armor to his clenched fist, then back to his composed face. Suddenly, he nodded slightly: "Sit down, I'd like to hear what you just said about the battle."

The word "thank you" relieved Cao Ang. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw Cao Cao wink at him, his eyes filled with encouragement and expectation. A thought struck him, and he remembered his father's instructions before his departure. He glanced at the direction of the back tent, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips—it seemed that today's banquet was more than just a simple welcome.

The candlelight inside the tent flickered in the wind, casting shifting light on Ma Chao's face. He picked up his wine cup and took a small sip, his gaze sweeping over Cao Ang before settling on Zhang Song at the right seat—Zhang Song was wiping his wine cup with his head down, the trembling in his fingertips impossible to conceal, clearly still reeling from this sudden surge of favor.

“King of Liang,” Cao Cao suddenly spoke, breaking the brief silence in the tent, “Back then, during the Battle of Yanzhou, if it weren’t for Yunlu leading the Xiliang cavalry to support us, our army would probably have already collapsed. This child truly takes after you; he has excellent martial arts skills and a fiery temper.”

Ma Chao smiled and said, "She's been a wild child in the military camp since she was little, and she must have caused Cao Cao a lot of trouble, right?"

"Not at all." Cao Cao quickly waved his hand, his tone filled with genuine praise. "Yunlu is a brave and resourceful boy, much less troublesome than my sons. A few days ago, he personally led three hundred cavalrymen to flank and burn Lü Bu's grain camp. Such courage is beyond the reach of ordinary men."

As he spoke, his gaze swept between Ma Chao and Cao Ang, and he added casually, "Ang'er and Yunlu have been partners for a year now, and their teamwork is excellent. Last time we were surrounded in Puyang, it was Yunlu who led Ang'er to fight their way out. These two kids are really..."

The words were left unsaid, yet they were clear enough. Guo Jia, standing to the side, gently waved his folding fan, his smile meaningful; Xiahou Dun, though still with a stern face, looked at Cao Ang with a hint of expectation in his eyes; even Cao Ren, who had been silent all along, raised his wine cup and offered a distant toast to Cao Ang.

Ma Chao watched this scene and understood. He put down his wine cup and turned his gaze to Cao Ang again. This time, his eyes held less scrutiny and more inquiry: "Young Master Cao, you've spent a year with Yunlu. What do you think of her personality?"

Cao Ang was surprised that Ma Chao would ask this question so suddenly. His cheeks flushed slightly, but he still answered loudly, "Miss Yunlu... she is straightforward and courageous. She is an invincible warrior on the battlefield, but she is also very thoughtful in private. This humble general... this humble general admires her very much."

"Just admiration?" Ma Chao raised an eyebrow and pressed for an answer.

Cao Ang was taken aback by the question, his ears turning bright red instantly, but he still forced himself to say, "Not only admiration, but also... also adoration."

Upon hearing this, the tent fell silent; even the crackling of the candlelight could be clearly heard. Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! Ang'er has finally spoken the truth!"

Looking at Cao Ang's embarrassed yet honest appearance, Ma Chao suddenly remembered that Yunlu always mentioned at the end of her letters, "That kid Cao Ang is clumsy again today," her tone full of disdain, yet her words carried a hint of concern that even she herself didn't realize. A thought stirred within him, and he picked up his wine cup and stood up: "In that case, I'll toast Young Master Cao with this cup first."

Cao Ang quickly stood up to return the toast, his hands trembling slightly as he raised the cup, spilling half the wine.

Suddenly, the soft tinkling of jade pendants came from outside the tent. Ma Yunlu, dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her long hair loosely tied up, walked in. As soon as she reached the tent entrance, she heard Cao Ang's words "admiration," and immediately stopped in her tracks, her cheeks flushed crimson, and she turned to back.

"Come back," Ma Chao called out, his tone carrying the authority of an elder brother. "What are you hiding for? Come and sit down."

Ma Yunlu slowly walked over and sat down next to Ma Chao, keeping her head down and not daring to even glance at Cao Ang out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing this, Cao Cao laughed even more heartily, picked up his wine cup, and said, "It seems it's time to get to the point. King of Liang, today, with this cup of wine in hand, I, Cao Cao, have a favor to ask..."

Cao Cao picked up his wine cup, his gaze shifting between Ma Chao and Ma Yunlu before finally settling on Ma Chao's face. His tone was earnest yet cautious: "King of Liang, as you have seen, Ang'er and Yunlu have fought side by side for over a year and have long been deeply in love. Yunlu is a fiery-tempered boy, but he is also loyal and righteous. When my Cao family was in its most difficult time, he led the Xiliang cavalry to our aid. I will never forget this kindness."

He paused, took a small sip of wine, as if carefully choosing his words: "I dare to ask for Miss Yunlu to marry Ang'er. If this can be accomplished, Xiliang and my Cao family will be true in-laws. In the future, we will jointly resist Yuan Shao and pacify the north, and we will be like brothers connected by blood, with no more barriers."

As soon as the words were spoken, the tent fell silent. The candlelight flickered, illuminating the various expressions on everyone's faces—Guo Jia gently waved his folding fan, a smile hidden in his eyes; Xiahou Dun loosened his grip on his sword, clearly finding this a pleasant occasion; Zhang Song's hand, holding a wine cup, paused in mid-air, gazing at Ma Chao in the main seat, lost in thought.

Ma Yunlu suddenly looked up, then hurriedly looked down again, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt, her ears burning red. She stole a glance at Ma Chao beside her and saw that her brother was looking at her. Her heart pounded like a drum, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.

Cao Ang was also so nervous that his palms were sweating, his eyes fixed on Ma Chao, afraid of hearing even a single "no" from him. He knew that Ma Yunlu listened to this elder brother the most, and Ma Chao's attitude could almost determine the success or failure of this marriage.

Ma Chao remained silent for a moment, his gaze first falling on the uneasy Ma Yunlu. He noticed that although she had her head down, the corners of her mouth were subtly pursed, and her eyes held a joy that even she herself was unaware of. He then understood what was going on. When he looked at Cao Ang, he saw that although the boy was nervous, his eyes were open and honest, without the slightest pretense, which was quite in line with his younger sister's straightforwardness.

He suddenly laughed, picked up his wine cup, and stood up: "Mengde Gong's words have saved me a lot of trouble."

Cao Cao was taken aback: "Does the King of Liang mean..."

"Although Yunlu is my sister," Ma Chao said gently as he looked at Ma Yunlu, "she has been used to being wild in the Xiliang army camp all these years and has not learned any manners for a woman. If she really marries into the Cao family, I hope that Lord Cao and Young Master Cao will be more tolerant of her."

Ma Yunlu suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling with surprise. Her lips moved, but she couldn't say anything. She just stared at Ma Chao with red eyes.

Cao Ang breathed a sigh of relief, his voice trembling with excitement: "Rest assured, King Liang! I will treat Yunlu like a precious treasure and will never let her suffer the slightest grievance!"

“Very well.” Ma Chao clinked glasses with him. “In that case, I agree to this marriage.”

"Excellent!" Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed, then quickly ordered his servants to refill his cup. "Come, drink this cup to the brim to celebrate the marriage alliance between our two families! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere in the tent instantly reached a climax.

Ma Yunlu's cheeks flushed from the sudden commotion. She quietly tugged at Ma Chao's sleeve, her voice barely audible: "Brother..."

Ma Chao raised his hand and gently patted Ma Yunlu's hand, his fingertips carrying a touch of elder brotherly warmth. He said in a low voice, "Silly girl, you chose this path yourself, how could I not go along with your wishes?" He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over her smiling eyes, his tone becoming more serious, "Just you need to temper your temper a bit in the future, don't always be so impulsive."

Ma Yunlu obediently hummed in agreement, but her eyes involuntarily drifted towards Cao Ang, only to meet his gaze. Both of them, as if burned, hurriedly looked away, but the smiles on their lips couldn't be suppressed and quietly spread across their faces.

Seeing this, Ma Chao shook his head helplessly and said, "Alright, your sister Dong Bai, sister Zhen Mi, Fu Bao, and Gongsun Rou all came with me and are currently strolling around the manor. Madam Cao is with them, so why don't you go and meet them?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Yunlu's eyes immediately lit up with joy. She had known Dong Bai for many years and had long considered her her sister-in-law; the thought of seeing them made her steps falter with excitement. But just as she was about to respond, she suddenly remembered something, her expression stiffening slightly. She turned to Ma Chao, her eyes filled with a mischievous inquiry: "Brother, I know Sister Dong Bai, and I also know Sister Zhen Mi and Fu Bao, but what about Miss Gongsun?"

She deliberately dragged out her words, a teasing smile on her face: "Oh, brother, when did you meet this girl?"

Ma Chao was taken aback by the question, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. He pushed her arm away with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, saying, "Go away, what do you know, you're just a kid. Hurry up and go see Dong Bai. She's been talking about you for days."

Those around them couldn't help but smile knowingly as the brother and sister bickered in hushed tones. Everyone could see that the siblings' affection was genuine and deep, and even the air was filled with a warm and tender feeling.

Inside the reception room, wine cups clinked and conversation flowed freely. The atmosphere between Ma Chao and Cao Cao had become increasingly relaxed due to the happy occasion of Cao Ang and Ma Yunlu's marriage. Cao Cao, emboldened by the wine, reminisced about their past campaign against Dong Zhuo, and Ma Chao occasionally chimed in, discussing the customs and scenery of Xiliang, as if they were kindred spirits who had known each other for a long time.

Cao Cao's weariness was hard to hide; his hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and he would occasionally press his temples unconsciously—his chronic headaches had become increasingly severe lately. The candlelight in the tent was too bright, and the noise of people made his temples throb, and even his eyes would glaze over.

Cao Ang observed this and secretly considered the matter. He knew that his father's head was sensitive to noise, and sitting for a long time would be even more unbearable; moreover, there were many people and many opinions at the banquet, and he had long admired Ma Chao, so he couldn't very well ask him about his ideas on governing the country and bringing peace to the people, or his curiosity about the Xiliang cavalry, in front of a room full of guests.

Having made up his mind, Cao Ang stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to the person in the main seat, and said in a clear voice, "Gentlemen, my father has been suffering from a severe headache lately and is afraid he cannot sit for such a long time. It is already a great honor to have the King of Liang and all of you gathered here today. Why don't we end the banquet here and let my father rest properly?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao rubbed his temples and smiled wearily, saying, "I'm sorry to have made the King of Liang laugh; this old ailment just won't go away."