"Sir, your essay on Yingchuan Academy has already spread throughout the land. I have long admired your knowledge and talent!" Cai Yan smiled faintly.

"I see..." Lu Li finally realized.

Yingchuan Academy was the premier academy of the Han Dynasty, and Cai Yan was the daughter of the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong, so she had naturally heard of the poem he wrote.

"I wonder if Elder Cai is at home?" Lu Li asked with a smile.

“Father happens to be off today, so I will send someone to invite him over.” Cai Yan nodded in agreement.

“That’s excellent,” Lu Li said with a smile.

After Cai Yan sent someone to inform her father, Cai Yong arrived in a hurry not long afterward.

"Lu Xunzhen! It's better to meet you in person than to have heard so much about you. I am very honored!" Cai Yong said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Grandma Cai, you're too kind!" Lu Li replied, bowing in return.

Cai Yong had naturally heard of Lu Li's poems, but he was more interested in the chess game that Lu Li had created. So he immediately pulled Lu Li to sit down, and the two chatted for a while.

Cai Yong asked, "Xunzhen, how did you develop this chess game?"

"To my shame, I enjoy studying history, and this chess game was developed from the Chu-Han Contention!" Lu Li answered truthfully.

Cai Yong suddenly realized, "No wonder! No wonder!"

The two discussed for a long time. Lu Li's eloquence and insight deeply impressed this great Confucian scholar of the time, and Cai Yong admired Lu Li more and more!

The two became more and more engrossed in their conversation, so much so that they forgot to eat dinner!

"Father! It's time for dinner!" Cai Yan couldn't help but remind him.

Cai Yong then realized what was happening and quickly invited Lu Li to eat.

Lu Li smiled, stood up and said, "Elder Cai, I really have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now!"

"Hey! Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Cai Yong asked, trying to persuade him to stay.

Cai Yong was a straightforward person, quite different from Xun Shuang.

“Yes, sir, it’s time for dinner. If you leave, what will outsiders think of the Cai family?” Cai Yan also advised.

"In that case, I shall gladly accept your offer," Lu Li said with a smile.

He had a good impression of Cai Yan, so he didn't mind chatting with the young girl a bit more.

The banquet was very lavish, and Cai Yong specially ordered the kitchen to add more dishes!

"Xunzhen, have you ever married?" Cai Yong suddenly asked after they had finished their meal.

Lu Li shook his head and smiled wryly, "I am not yet married!"

"However, I already have someone I love in my heart."

Cai Yan's eyes lit up when she heard that Lu Li was unmarried, but her face immediately darkened when she heard the second half of the sentence.

"Oh? Which family's daughter is she?" Cai Yong asked with great interest.

Lu Li immediately rolled his eyes inwardly; this old guy was so gossipy.

“Old Cai, to be honest, she… has been gone for many years.” Lu Li sighed.

“This…” Cai Yong never expected that Lu Li’s beloved had passed away.

"I'm sorry! I was being presumptuous!" Cai Yong quickly apologized.

Lu Li waved his hand, "It's nothing! It's just that I feel I'll never have the chance to meet her again in this life, hence my deep sorrow!"

"Alas!" Cai Yong sighed, then comforted him, "The deceased are gone, but the living must continue to move forward and seek the truth. I hope you can let go of your worries and cheer up again."

Lu Li nodded, picked up the teacup on the table, and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Elder Cai! I'll take my leave now."

This time, Cai Yong did not stop him.

After watching Lu Li walk out of the house, he fell into deep thought.

“This Lu Li… could it be…” Cai Yong murmured to himself, a flash of inspiration crossing his mind, as if he had grasped something, but upon closer inspection, he felt it was unlikely.

Cai Yan escorted Lu Li all the way to the gate of the Cai residence, watching him disappear into the night with some reluctance, silently thinking, "Lu Xunzhen..."

After Lu Li left the Cai residence, the carriage continued north and eventually stopped at the entrance of the Red Sleeve Pavilion.

"Wow, Master, is this a brothel?" Dian Wei stared wide-eyed, looking around with a look full of doubt.

"Hmm!" Lu Li nodded and led Dian Wei into the Red Sleeve Pavilion.

Inside the Red Sleeve Pavilion, women and men sang and danced, their voices filled with decadent music. They embraced each other, drinking and singing, reciting poems and composing verses.

The scene was very lively.

"Master! What are we doing?" Dian Wei asked curiously.

Lu Li didn't reply, but instead found a private room, sat down, and waited quietly.

Dian Wei was very curious, but he knew that Lu Li must have his own plans.

Sure enough, in less than a quarter of an hour, a man appeared in front of Lu Li.

"Haha, Brother Xunzhen, it really is you!" The newcomer was Cao Cao, who was very excited to see Lu Li.

Lu Li stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Mengde, it's been a long time!"

"It's been more than three years since we last parted, hasn't it?" Cao Cao said with emotion.

"Yes!" Lu Li nodded, then said, "Brother Mengde, how have you been these days?"

"Thanks to Brother Xunzhen, things are still alright," Cao Cao replied with a smile.

At this moment, Cao Cao noticed the burly man beside Lu Li, and his eyes lit up immediately. He exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Who is this...?"

Lu Li explained simply, "His name is Dian Wei! He's my apprentice!"

Cao Cao looked surprised. "Dian Wei... what a mighty and valiant warrior!"

Dian Wei scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Hehe, thanks for the compliment."

Cao Cao looked Dian Wei up and down, and the more he looked at him, the more pleasing he became.

He asked Lu Li, "Brother Xunzhen, what brings you here today?"

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