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Tao Sheng is Tao Lie's eldest, about fifty years old this year, with a medium figure and a kind smile. He is a father and husband with a good temper, and a tolerant head of the family and a filial son. At the same time, he is also smart and capable, and manages the business of the Tao family in an orderly manner.

Whether it is a family or an outsider, he praised him, but Tao Sheng also has one weakness, that is, his personality is a little weak. It is influenced by his personality that when the Tao family encountered bullying over the years, they mostly swallowed their anger and calmed down.

Despite this, he still won the recognition of Liu Biao and Sun Quan with his honest man and generous tribute and profits, and was at ease among the two princes.

However, Tao Sheng was in a bad mood these days. His wife Huang fell ill five days ago and was in a fierce manner, which would infect people. Her two maids also fell ill. In order not to affect their family, Tao Sheng specially placed his wife in a monk temple in the west of the city to isolate them from their family.

But early this morning, the doctor brought news that his wife's illness did not improve at all, but became even more serious, which made him extremely worried.

Tao Sheng and his wife had two daughters, and another concubine gave birth to a child for him. The eldest daughter married the eldest son of the Han family in Changsha before the New Year. The second daughter Jiu Niang was about fifteen years old and was waiting for her name. However, Tao Sheng was really troubled by her younger daughter's marriage.

Around last year after Mid-Autumn Festival, Huang Zu's second son Huang Yong suddenly fell in love with Jiuniang and came to the door several times to threaten Tao Sheng to marry her daughter.

Tao Sheng did not object to his marriage with Huang Zu. In a way, this was a good thing, but Tao Sheng did not like Huang Yong's violent and fierceness. His aggressive attitude was like he wanted to rob a woman from the people, and injured his housekeeper, which made Tao Sheng hate him.

Moreover, Huang Zu was only willing to let his son take his daughter as his concubine, which made Tao Sheng even more dissatisfied. Even if he was dissatisfied, Tao Sheng had no choice but to choose to hide his daughter in the deep house. However, Huang Yong came to harass him again and again, which made him very troubled. He asked his daughter to go to Xiangyang, which was somewhat of a hiding.

Just now, he heard from the manager that at least the soldiers on the dock had stopped checking, and Huang Yong led his troops away, which made him feel relieved, but why Huang Yong stopped harassing, he didn't know the reason.

"Brother"

As soon as Tao Sheng walked to the atrium, he suddenly heard someone calling him behind him. When he turned around, he saw his brother Taoli, who was hurried towards him.

Tao Li encountered a disaster in Xiangyang not long ago, and was framed by Zhang Yun for smuggling weapons, which almost caused great turmoil in the Tao family. Thanks to Liu Biao's nephew who solved the matter, there were only a few core figures in the Tao family who knew about this matter, and even his father dared not tell him.

Tao Sheng knew very well the impact of this incident on the Tao family. Although this incident was over, the impact it had far-reaching, because this incident affected the entire Jingzhou officialdom.

Zhang Yun was demoted and the Cai family was silent, which means that Liu Biao and Jingzhou suppressed the aristocratic family began. I don’t know when this power turmoil will end, and I don’t know how deeply the Tao family will be involved.

This incident made Tao Sheng more worried than his wife's illness.

"What's the matter with my second brother?"

Tao Li quickly walked to his brother and whispered to him with his ears. Tao Sheng was shocked, "This matter is serious."

Tao Li nodded, "I heard from Manager Zhao that Gong Jing was hunted by Huang Yong, but Huang Zu appeared in time to save the situation. I don't know the specific situation."

Tao Sheng frowned, "Where is Manager Zhao?"

“It’s in the front yard.”

"Let him see me immediately"

Tao Sheng was extremely anxious. He wanted to know what happened. He felt that there were many details to be clarified.

.........

"Zhao Fu pays homage to the Lord of the Head"

In the room, Manager Zhao knelt down and bowed respectfully.

"Sit down and ask you something."

Tao Sheng asked him to sit down and said, "I want to know what happened on the dock. You can tell me the story in detail, and you will not be allowed to miss it at all."

"yes"

Manager Zhao immediately told the story of the birth on the dock in detail, and even Tao Zhan sent him to greet Liu Jing, he told the head of the family without any concealment.

Tao Sheng became more and more surprised as he heard it. This incident contained a lot of information. What was the relationship between his daughter and Liu Jing, how could Liu Jing know that Huang Zu was hiding on the boat next to him and felt that Liu Jing gave Huang Zu a warning in the end.

What surprised Tao Sheng the most was that Huang Zu actually hid aside, which shows that the person who really wanted to deal with Liu Jing was Huang Zu, not Huang Yong. Why did Huang Zu do this?

He glanced at Taoli, his eyes full of confusion. Taoli smiled and said to Manager Zhao: "You retreat first."

Manager Zhao left, and there were only two Tao brothers left in the room. Tao Li said slowly: "Didn't the big brother see these abnormalities of Tian Jiuniang?"

Tao Sheng frowned and thought for a moment: "I feel that she is a little worried and a little uneasy these days. I always think she is worried about her mother's condition."

"It's because I'm worried about my mother, but I'm not worried. She's actually waiting for someone."

Tao Sheng then understood what the brother meant, "You mean Liu Jing."

Tao Li nodded slowly, "I saw it in Fancheng. Jiuniang and Liu Jing are close to each other. I'm afraid she has some thoughts about Liu Jing."

Tao Sheng didn't say anything for a long time. How could this be possible? Liu Biao's nephew, "What's the situation of Liu Jing?"

"Brother, Zhang Yun's case, but Liu Jing reversed it for us. He did not hesitate to offend Zhang Yun and Cai Mao. Brother, think about it, does our Tao family have such a deep friendship with him?"

Tao Sheng sighed. He could understand that a young man would only please him in such a desperate way when he loved a woman so much. No wonder Huang Yong hated Liu Jing so much and insisted on killing him.

Tao Sheng was very upset. The family members of the Tao family and the Liu family were very different. I am afraid that the Tao family would not be able to compete with this marriage. At least Liu Biao would never agree. How could a person who values ​​fame so much could marry a businessman's daughter?

Moreover, he heard that the wife Liu Jing was about to marry was Cai Mao's daughter. Did he want to marry his daughter as his concubine? But if that was the case, he refused to agree, how could his precious daughter be wronged as someone else's concubine?

At this time, Tao Sheng remembered something again and asked quickly: "How could he know that Huang Zu was hiding nearby? And he felt that this was done by Huang Zu behind the scenes, and what secret is hidden here?"

Tao Li shook his head, "To be honest, I am also confused, but I feel that Liu Jing's visitor is not good, and Huang Zu is very afraid of him, which may be related to the power struggle in Jingzhou."

Tao Sheng fell into deep thought, and he seemed to have realized something vaguely.

.........

Tao Zhan left the inner hall and went to the gate. He did not see Liu Jing and the others coming, and returned to her room. At this time, she was also confused. On the one hand, although she was happy about Liu Jing's arrival, she was worried that Huang Yong would hurt him. That stupid man had no reason to say.

On the other hand, her mother fell ill and was seriously ill, which made her not in the mood to consider personal issues. She didn't know how to introduce Liu Jing to her father and clan members. Of course, Liu Jing was the nephew of Liu Biao and a distinguished guest of the Tao family. He would be treated warmly, but Tao Zhan hoped that his grandfather loved him sincerely, and his grandfather seemed to like scholars more.

Tao Zhan was restless in the room and was thinking randomly. Perhaps his arrival was just a politeness, not for himself. He calmed down and saw that the family gap between them was very different. At this time, he felt that the daughter of the Cai family was more suitable for his achievements, and men always put their achievements first.

At this time, a burst of rapid running sounds came from outside, and her personal maid, Gillian, rushed over, "Girl, come here."

"What's coming"

Gillian panted and said, "Mr. Jing is here, I have also seen Xiaobao."

Tao Zhan stood up and felt very nervous. She asked again: "They saw you."

"Xiao Bao saw me, she asked you why you didn't come out."

Tao Zhan patted his chest. No matter what, Liu Jing was the guest he invited. She always showed up to greet him for a few words, which would not seem rude. She put on a short shirt, wrapped her arms around silk, and quickly walked towards the gate of the Tao Mansion.

......

There are lights in front of the Tao Mansion gate, full of colorful silk. On both sides of the gate, there are precious palace lanterns hanging on each tree, which looks extraordinary. The last time the Huang Mansion treats guests, it seems much shabby than this.

Liu Jing led Xu Shu and a dozen subordinates to wait in front of the steps. He was looking at the fortress curiously. This was the first time he had seen such a building structure. There was a two-meter-wide house guard river on all sides. It seemed that the river water was very deep. A long suspension bridge became the only passage between the Tao Mansion and the outside world.

Of course, he can now leave the Tao Mansion by boat, lead to the Caohe River, and finally enter the Yangtze River. When the situation is critical, the Tao family can leave the Tao Mansion by boat. Even if they don’t leave, the Tao Mansion’s high walls and deep courtyard is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and at least thousands of soldiers can only break through.

Liu Jing thought to himself that he would build such a fortress house in the future.

At this time, a sound of footsteps came, and then a middle-aged man laughed, "I don't know if Mr. Jing is here, I will be in a position to welcome you. I will forgive you for your crimes."

A large group of servants came out surrounded by two middle-aged men. One of them, Liu Jing, knew Tao Li, who was arrested in Fancheng. The other one was slightly fat, fair-skinned, and quite handsome, with a bit of Tao Zhan's shadow between his eyebrows and eyes.

Liu Jing immediately judged that this person must be Tao Zhan’s father Tao Sheng, the head of the Tao family.

He quickly bowed and bowed, "My nephew Liu Jingte came to Tao Mansion to celebrate his birthday. He came in a hurry and did not prepare etiquette. He only brought a little gift. Please accept it by the head of the family."

He turned around and winked. The two men raised a gold-painted wooden box. Inside were some gifts that Liu Biao had prepared for him. Even he didn't know what it was.

Xu Shu was slightly stunned. He didn't know that Liu Jing had prepared a gift. If he had known it, he would have taught him. Tao Sheng was also a little stunned. Usually, he only gave gifts when he came to pay birthday wishes. The actual delivery was done by the housekeeper, and he never brought the gift directly like Liu Jing.

Tao Sheng and Tao Li looked at each other, and both of them couldn't help laughing. The child was quite interesting. Tao Sheng hurriedly called the housekeeper to carry the things in and said with a smile: "You are polite, please come in quickly."
Chapter completed!