Chapter 130: Marrying the Four Maidens [Seeking Subscriptions]

Mid-June, the third year of Jian'an.

With the exception of Sun Ce in Danyang, and Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang in Piling, the entire Sun clan was executed. The blood pooled together, drawing tears from countless commoners, a testament to the influence the clan held in the region. This only served to reinforce Chu Feng’s conviction that eliminating the entire clan was the correct course of action; left unchecked, the Sun family would sooner or later become a source of calamity.

***

The following day, in the guest quarters of the Xie residence.

Xie Jiong looked at his daughter, his heart filled with complex emotions. Earlier, he had married her to Sun Quan for the sake of political gain and influence; he had never expected the Sun clan to collapse so suddenly. What he certainly did not anticipate was that, instead of fearing involvement in the purge, he would find himself overjoyed by Chu Feng’s request to take his daughter as a concubine.

"Daughter, remember this well: from this day forward, you are the wife of Chu Feng and have no further connection to the Sun clan. Furthermore, you are not the only one he is taking," Xie Jiong said, stroking his beard, his face bright with excitement. "I trust you know how to please a man. Whether our Xie family can establish itself in Wu Commandery in the future depends entirely on you. In any case, I have great faith in Chu Feng!"

"Yes," the daughter replied with a firm nod. She had already decided what she would do that night.

In this era, it was common for victors to take the wives and concubines of defeated factions. On one hand, the concept of absolute marital loyalty was not yet deeply entrenched; on the other, these women had no say in the matter. Had they dared to resist, they would have faced execution alongside their clans. Moreover, these were largely political unions; Sun Quan had taken her primarily for the prestige of the Xie family name.

The situation was much the same for the Chen family. The elder Chen had offered endless instructions, fully aware that with Sun Ce still at large and in rebellion, Chu Feng had already shown immense grace by sparing them, let alone by taking his daughter as a concubine.

***

At the Xu residence, a prominent family of Wu Commandery.

Xu Kun looked at his eldest daughter and his younger kinswoman. His daughter possessed a pair of enchanting, peach-blossom eyes and a ripe, seductive temperament that could stir any man's soul. The younger Xu, however, was more timid and delicate, like a lotus bud yet to bloom—shy and reserved, a quality that required cultivation. All in all, each had her own merits; both were renowned for their beauty and were truly extraordinary.

Looking at them, Xu Kun stood with his hands behind his back and instructed: "Chu Feng taking you as concubines is your good fortune. His primary wife, Da Qiao, is not yet with child."

"Tonight, you must do everything in your power to please Chu Feng and conceive his heir. You know better than I the importance of a mother gaining status through her son," Xu Kun said, his expression grave. "If you can conceive his child, our Xu family will firmly secure its place as the fifth great family of Wu County, and you may even have a chance to usurp Da Qiao’s position as primary wife. Do you understand?"

This was an opportunity. As far as he could see, Chu Feng was a worthy investment. If they could seize the status of primary wife, the Xu family would surely soar.

It would make his betrayal of the Sun clan worthwhile.

"Yes," the two women nodded.

The elder Xu smiled seductively, as if to say, "Father, rest assured, I understand." The younger one, inexperienced in the ways of the world, felt a surge of nervousness. Although her nurse had taught her how to please a man, she had never actually experienced it.

"Very well. Whether the Xu family rises to greatness depends on you," Xu Kun added.

Just then, sounds echoed from outside the estate. The wedding procession had arrived at the Xu residence. With the support of their nurses, the two women were veiled in red and prepared to board the sedan chairs.

Chu Feng raised an eyebrow. Though he could not see them, he knew the "Two Beauties of the Xu Family" were surely stunning. However, he had little heart for such distractions at the moment; his home base of Shouchun was under siege by Cao Cao, and it was likely that a fierce assault was already underway. Had he not been concerned about the stability of Wu Commandery, he would never have chosen to marry at such a time.

Following the formalities, Chu Feng went to welcome the ladies from the Chen and Xie families. By the time this was done, it was dusk. The powerful clans of Wu Commandery had gathered, all coming to pay their respects and make their faces known. It was undeniable that this marriage alliance was necessary; it allowed him to bridge the distance with local clans, and the four great families were now far more compliant. In their eyes, Chu Feng was of the Yuan lineage and was willing to share power—far superior to Sun Ce. Assisting him was, in essence, assisting themselves.

***

In the middle of the night, Chu Feng returned half-drunk. Seeing several rooms with lights ablaze, he stumbled into one—the room of the Xu sisters. In the first half of the night, the elder Xu fought alone, handling the situation with ease. However, she underestimated Chu Feng's stamina; despite her experience, she found herself overwhelmed, feeling as though her body were falling apart.

Thus, in the second half of the night, she called for the younger Xu. The two joined forces, ganging up on him and forcing Chu Feng into a defensive position. It was a shameless display!

***

The next morning, the sun was high in the sky, streaming through the windows. Chu Feng awoke in a daze to find the two women still sleeping, the bloodstains on the sheets reminding him of the previous night’s madness. Seeing the sun, he realized he had made a mistake. He immediately rose, dressed, and dashed out the door.

"My Lord!" Xu Chu called out from the threshold.

"Have the troops departed?" Chu Feng asked, frowning.

"They have all set out!" Xu Chu replied.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"My Lord, the strategist said you were exhausted and instructed me not to disturb you. He suggested that once you awoke, you could catch up with the main force on horseback," Xu Chu said, sounding aggrieved.

"Alas, the great cause is not yet settled; how can I be lost in the indulgence of beauty? Quickly, follow me to catch up with the army!" Knowing the urgency of the situation, Chu Feng ordered.

"Understood!" Xu Chu nodded.

"Is the General leaving?" The elder Xu asked, clutching her robes, her voice tinged with worry.

"Yes," Chu Feng replied, glancing back at her. Her seductiveness was now mingled with a look of vulnerability, and her tear-filled, almond-shaped eyes made one's throat go dry.

"When will the General return?" she asked.

"Once Shouchun is pacified, I shall return," Chu Feng said. Their interaction felt like some strange, detached relationship—not one of love, but more like that between a general and his consort.

"Wait a moment, General. Let me help you with your armor."

She hurried back inside, donned her robes, and meticulously helped Chu Feng with his armor, trying to delay his departure as much as possible. Perhaps, in her heart, this brought her a sense of fulfillment. Of course, she also hoped to hold more weight in Chu Feng’s heart, knowing that he had many other women around him. She could only hope to conquer him with her "skills" and attentiveness, ensuring he was not merely obsessed with her body but harbored genuine affection for her as well. She knew, however, that this would be difficult.

After a long while, with his armor secured, Xu Chu returned and reported, "My Lord, the Tiger Guards are assembled and ready to depart!"

Chu Feng nodded and strode off. The elder Xu rushed from behind, embracing him, and wept, "I hope the General will not forget me, and that you will return soon to show me your grace."

Chu Feng paused, then gently detached her hands. He stepped out and shouted, "Move out!"

In mid-June of the third year of Jian'an, after stabilizing his administration, Chu Feng left Zhao Fan and Liu Ye to garrison Wu County with five thousand troops. The remaining ten thousand soldiers followed Chu Feng as he marched north to reinforce Shouchun.