"You want to do what!?" Gasping as his eyes went wide, Liu Bei didn't know what to think about what Cao Cao just said to him! He knew that Cao Cao had more than a few sons, but he has never heard anything about him having a daughter. And then to come off with it in such a way and demand that she marry his son to seal this alliance. It was shocking to say the least, and he couldn't even think of anything to say.
Crossing his arms as he sighed, Cao Cao gave a nod. If they took this bate, then he would be able to hopefully make them feel safe enough from him that he would not attack with his daughter there. "That is correct Liu Bei. I want to arrange a wedding as soon as possible between my youngest child and only daughter, with your son Liu Shan. It is no different than when you and his mother wed."
Sitting at her husband's side, Sun Shang Xiang looked at Cao Cao as she gave him a half-smile and took a deep nervous breath. "It is different too. I was offered to Liu Bei as a way of reaching peace between Shu and Wu. Not to seal an alliance."
Standing himself, Cao Cao glared down at Liu Bei and his wife. "If you do not wish to do this then tell me now so I can get my daughter and be on my way home."
Quickly standing now, Liu Bei needed this alliance to work. It was the only way to fix things with Wu and Shu to appease his wife and make everyone happy all the way around. And hopefully in the end, take Cao Cao out with Wu's help. "It isn't that we are saying no because we do not want the alliance Coa Cao. It is just that my son married three months ago."
Not expecting anyone to truly fall in love with the weak willed son of Liu Bei, Cao Cao sighed as he glanced around the room before turning back to Liu Bei as he sighed. "Then how about one of your men? Or a son of one of your sworn brother's? Perhaps they will be willing to help their Lord with this."
Looking around as no one seemed to jump out at them, Guo Jia sighed as he smiled when he turned to his Lord to bow. He knew that for him, seeing a beautiful woman would make him act to do just about anything. Perhaps that would also work on this lot of idiots. "My Lord. How about we bring Lady Cao Xue in so that everyone can see her first hand. It just might help one of them to step up and help their Lord with this alliance."
Nodding Cao Cao closed his eyes. "That is a good idea. Go and have Cao Pi bring her in."
Looking up at the door as it opened, everyone gasped to see the stunning woman that walked in next to Cao Pi and Cao Ang. But Ma Dai watched with more curious eyes as to her body language verses beauty or not. He got a quick glance at her face as they walked in, and she did resemble Cao Pi some, proof that Cao Cao really as her father. A but other than that, she didn't look anything like them, so she had to look more like her mother. But she was tense. She was nervous. And that once glance, he saw pure terror in her eyes just before Cao Pi glared at her and made her turn her eyes back to the floor as she flinched. 'She is absolutely terrified. But now the question is of who? Is it us or her father?'
Taking a deep breath as he watched all of his men looking at her. Cao Cao was determined that this be part of their alliance and Liu Bei didn't know what to do about it right now. He needed this so he could fix things with Wu for his wife. And in return, it would also deal a lethal blow to Cao Cao and take wei down all together. But to force his daughter who was terrified to do something like this? He actually felt sorry for her. Feeling a soft hand on his arm he looked down into the pleading eyes of his wife. Even she could see that the poor thing was horrified.
Seeing no one else moving, and knowing how badly they needed this alliance, Ma Dai sighed. He would do this. They even sent Ma Chao away for a while so that he wouldn't stop it with his mouth. Stepping out of line he sighed. "Lord Liu Bei."
Looking upa she blinked to see that it was Ma Dai walking toward him with a smile he gasped. There was no way that he would actually suggest that he do it knowing Ma Chao's intense hate for the entire Cao family. That would surely filter down to his daughter. "Ma Dai are you sure…."
Stopping next to Cao Cao, Ma Dai smiled as he gave his Lord a nod. He knew they needed this at just about any cost. Looking over at her and how she held her hands in a praying pose now and her eyes shut tightly, he let out a sigh. He was certain. She was not the devoted daughter that would offer herself to a total stranger in all ways out of loyalty for her father. She, he was sure, saw this as a way to get away from him.
Turning back to Liu Bei he sighed. "My Lord, to aid you in this alliance I will marry her." Laughing at the chorus of shocked gasps he smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck and made eye contact with Liu Bei. "My parents were married in an arranged marriage as well and were happy. They met the first time on their wedding day. I see no reason why I cannot make it work and the two of us be happy in this one as well."
Already seeing the rage that Ma Chao was going to have when he learned about this in a few days, Jiang Wei pulled eyes to him as he stepped out so he could see Ma Dai. "But what about Ma…."
Turning to him with a laugh, Ma Dai winked at him. "Don't worry about the Young Master Jiang Wei. I can handle him. Right now, we need this alliance and this is the only way. I have been thinking about settling down anyway, so it all works out in the end."
"Right now then?" When all eyes jerked to him, even Ma Dai's, Cao Cao sighed as he crossed his arms. His eyes settling on Liu Bei. "After all. You would not wish to have Wu growing suspicious with us making multiple trips to Shu now do you Liu Bei?"
"I agree with that but…" Liu Bei's eyes went to the shaking girl, and then to Ma Dai as he smiled. "Ma Dai…."
"I am fine with it My Lord. Whenever you are ready." Ma Dai then moved and traded Cao Cao places as he stepped up next to the woman who would be his wife in a moment.
"Alright then." Liu Bei sighed as he took a deep breath. "Short and to the point. Ma Dai will you be loyal to Cao Xue as her husband?"
Nodding, Ma Dai smiled. "I will."
Turning to the girl, Liu Bei sighed. "Cao Xue will you be loyal to Ma Dai as his wife?"
Having kept her eyes down as the conversation swirled around her, Cao Xue tensed when her father moved and the one they called Ma Dai stepped up next to her. He as going to be her husband momentarily and she wasn't sure if that terrified her, or excited her. The only thing she wanted was to not have to go back to her cell, nor have the other fate her father promised on her if they refused. Right now she was just hoping that she wasn't going from the frying pan into the fire.
Hearing her name come from Liu Bei, she flinched as she nodded. "I will."
Watching as the girl kept her head down and shook, Liu Bei welcomed his concerned wife at his side as he put an arm around her waist. "I now declare you husband and wife. Kiss your bride."
Reaching out with a gentle hand, Ma Dai turned to her and pulled her eyes to look up at him. Leaning in he gave her a quick kiss to seal the marriage. But the way she gasped and how red her face turned he felt horrible now. That was her first kiss. With a smile as he watched her drop her head back down, ma Dai sighed. "Well then I guess we are married now."
Giving him a nod, Cao Xue was still red as she kept her eyes on the floor. "My Lord."
"Cao Xue."
Flinching at the sound of her father's voice saying her name, Cao Xue tensed as she turned so that she was facing where he was. "Father."
Forcing a lingering look of a concerned father, Cao Cao sighed. "They will be good to you here and you will be fine. Once Wu is dealt with, then I will come back to check on you here and see how you are settling in." Another lingering look, then he turned and lead the way out with his men, without another word, or touch for his daughter. Now that she was there, once Wu was gone, she would give him the reason to declare war on Shu and kill them all. His useless daughter as well.
Keeping his eyes on his new wife and how she started to shake again, Mai Dai just stood there as he waited for the door to shut. Once it was, he turned to Liu Bei with a small bow. "My Lord, I think that with everything that just happened and how fast, a quiet place to rest right now would be best for her. If you wouldn't mind that is?"
Nodding, Liu Bei sighed. She was standing in the middle of most of the officers of Shu at the moment. "Indeed. I can imagine the stress that she has on her at the moment. However you do know that Ma Chao will…"
Reaching out and taking his new wife by the hand, Ma Dai sighed as she shook more, but gave Liu Bei a half-smile. "I know he is going to be upset with me. But I just have a feeling that everything is going to all work out in the end for the best all the way around. Now, if you would excuse me My Lord. My Lady." He then turned and lead his wife out through a different door and toward the room that they would share.
Hugging her husband's arm, Sun Shang Xiang sighed as she looked down. "That poor girl she looked so scared. I wonder if it is the lies that Cao Cao would have fed her about us. Or if it was her father. I am so glad that when we married, I had already fallen in love with you by that point."
With a smile, Liu Bei reached down and rested his hand on hers as he sighed. "Indeed. However with her my dear, I would say that it was her father. When Ma Dai stepped up and said that he would marry her for the alliance, she titled her head up some and I saw the fear in her eyes replaced with hope." Giving a nod to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as he turned and lead his own wife from the room he sighed. "I do wish that I had known that something like this was going to happen today. We could have all been ready for it and talked about who was going to do it in advance."
Nodding as they walked through the now quiet halls, Sun Shang Xiang leaned her head over on his shoulder as she sighed. "I know that would have been nice to know. But this is Cao Cao here. I really have to wonder what is going on. I don't see him offering up his only daughter just to prove he is willing to help us."
"I have to agree with you on that one. Time will tell. Time will tell." Liu Bei then sighed as he walked on toward their room. He did hope that it was just like Cao Cao said it was. But he had the same feeling his wife did about the situation. Just what was his ultimate plan for doing it?