"Zhou Fugui, you ungrateful, heartless, and immoral wretch!" Murong Xiaoxiao scolded Zhou Fugui, pointing at his nose after pulling him aside. "Xiaoxiao thought you were a good person, but I never expected you to be this kind of person. I am truly disappointed."
Murong Huiying remained indifferent.
"What did I do? Your Highness the Princess, what makes you say that?" Zhou Fugui asked the two women, his gaze a little guilty.
Could she have found out about what happened between him and Murong Huiying? Zhou Fugui muttered to himself.
"You ask what you did?" Murong Xiaoxiao continued to speak up for another: "You did that to Sister Ziyue... I heard you even took a concubine? Bah, you shameless scoundrel! You left without saying goodbye to Sister Ziyue or me. Did you just leave like that? Hehe..."
As Murong Xiaoxiao spoke, she actually let out a laugh.
"I say, Yingying, how could you say something like this?" Zhou Fugui's face darkened, and he spoke to Murong Huiying, neither amused nor angry.
"If you can do it, can't I talk about it?" Murong Huiying retorted, her eyebrows raised.
Murong Huiying was confined to her home. To see Zhou Fugui, she asked Murong Xiaoxiao for help, but unexpectedly, she was tricked into coming out...
This was also the difference between Xianbei women and Han women. Han women, when encountering such matters, would try their best to conceal them, even for the one they loved. Xianbei women, however, were proud of it. They were proud to have found a man they loved and did not feel ashamed of sharing intimate moments with their beloved.
"Fine, you're amazing, truly amazing!" Zhou Fugui said, giving her a thumbs-up. Then he mounted his horse and, in passing, scooped up Murong Huiying and galloped towards a small grove not far away.
Xianbei women were bold and unrestrained. Zhou Fugui dared not discuss such matters in broad daylight.
"Ah? Hey, Zhou Fugui, where are you two going? Can't you talk about it here?" Murong Xiaoxiao exclaimed in surprise.
"It's none of your business, you little brat," Zhou Fugui said, leaving his words behind before disappearing into the woods amidst the shocked gazes of everyone present.
"Zong Zhongguan, this..." Ji Duo'er turned to Zong Jiuling, his face showing a look of difficulty.
"What are you looking at me for? Are you afraid he'll run away?" Zong Jiuling reprimanded.
"Wife, don't be angry. This little brat has been a handful since he was young," Madam Liu said, holding Xiao Qing's hand.
...
"Ah, what are you doing? This is so embarrassing," Murong Huiying said, blushing, in the small grove.
"Okay, very good. You actually know shame?" Zhou Fugui said to Murong Huiying in the small grove, neither amused nor angry. "You told others about our affairs, and you don't feel ashamed? But if you don't feel ashamed, why should I?"
"Bah, you shameless wretch!" Murong Huiying spat at Zhou Fugui, her face flushed. Then, leaning against him, she looked at him with watery eyes and said, "Fugui, Yingying misses you..."
"I miss you too," Zhou Fugui said after kissing Murong Huiying's tender cheek. "Didn't I already tell you about Xiao Qing's matter?"
"Mm, I know..." Murong Huiying teased, "I know my man is a kind-hearted person who takes in pitiful women whenever he sees them..."
"And that I didn't visit you again, and didn't look for you before leaving..." Zhou Fugui's face turned red. "It's because... you know what your mother's condition was like. How could I dare go again!"
"Alas, what can be done about this matter?" Murong Huiying sighed softly.
"Yingying, you don't need to worry too much about this matter," Zhou Fugui comforted her. "You saw the message I left for you, didn't you? Do you understand its meaning?"
"I don't understand." Murong Huiying had actually understood Zhou Fugui's poem, but at this moment, she just wanted Zhou Fugui to say it himself.
"With a vast army hidden in my heart..." Zhou Fugui said indifferently. "Its meaning is that I will return with soldiers to marry you in the future. If anyone dares to obstruct, my sword will speak."
Zhou Fugui had been reinstated to his military position, and his confidence soared...
"You dare? You want to deal with my family?" Murong Huiying said angrily.
"What are you talking about? Am I that kind of person?" Zhou Fugui replied. "Aren't your family my family? No matter how ruthless I may be, I would never harm my own family. What I mean is, I'll bring soldiers back and surround the Prince's mansion. No, three layers, outer three layers. Then we'll see if they dare not marry you to me?"
"Hehe..." Murong Huiying chuckled and tapped Zhou Fugui's forehead with her jade finger. "You're all talk. How many soldiers do you have? And you dare surround the Prince Guan Ning's mansion? Three layers, outer three layers?"
Murong Huiying knew Zhou Fugui was joking, but she still felt extremely happy.
Up to this point, both Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying knew that their relationship was impossible, even with Zhou Fugui's reinstatement.
Xuelin City was a strategically important location, the first line of defense for Yan against the northern barbarians. It was also an extremely dangerous place, but at the same time, a place to achieve great things. This was the meaning of risk and opportunity coexisting.
Murong Huiying pinned her hopes on Zhou Fugui making great contributions in Xuelin City, leading to promotions and advancements. Perhaps then, things within her family might change.
However, even if Zhou Fugui managed to become a great general in Xuelin City, whether the Prince Guan Ning's mansion would agree to the marriage was still uncertain.
"Fugui, you must be careful of Da Yanzhi," Murong Huiying said softly to Zhou Fugui afterward. "What she gave you today might require you to repay it a hundredfold in the future."
"Repay a hundredfold? Is my life not enough?" Zhou Fugui sneered.
Murong Huiying gently shook her head.
"Yingying, don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Zhou Fugui comforted her.
"Mm, Fugui, and also..." Murong Huiying said hesitantly. "And also, Fugui, don't hate Father. Father is also in a difficult position. Your affairs involve His Highness the Crown Prince, therefore... therefore..."
Murong Huiying was also helpless about the affairs of the imperial court.
In the imperial court, in the struggle for the throne, let alone Zhou Fugui, a mere Han general under Murong Bolie, even fathers and sons, husbands and wives, mothers and sons, brothers and sisters would slaughter each other, and they would do so with extreme ruthlessness.
"Yingying, you underestimate me too much," Zhou Fugui said, shaking his head. "Am I someone who doesn't understand reason? The Grand Governor is in a high position, and naturally has his difficulties. There's also the strategy of sacrificing a rook to save a king. If it were me, I might do the same. How could I hate him? It's just that fate plays tricks on people, and it's just a struggle for power."
...
"General Zhou, shall we set off now?" After Murong Huiying and the others left, Ji Duo'er, the deputy general of the Yan army escorting the prisoners, asked Zhou Fugui.
"Deputy General Ji Duo'er, I am also just a prisoner. Why ask me? You can just give the order," Zhou Fugui asked, slightly puzzled.
"Oh my, in front of General Zhou, this junior dares not," Ji Duo'er said with a fawning smile. "We are going to Xuelin City, let General Zhou lead. This junior will have some leisure."
"Deputy General Ji Duo'er is joking. I dare not..." Zhou Fugui shook his head. "The imperial decree cannot be defied."
Ji Duo'er's words were not sarcasm or mockery, but sincere...
The Emperor, the Empress, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Court, and two distinguished princesses. Who could handle that?
Ji Duo'er's attitude shifted dramatically, from arrogance to deference.
This fierce man had also killed over two hundred Xianbei people... Thinking of this, Ji Duo'er shivered.
"Deputy General Ji Duo'er?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise, seeing Ji Duo'er's demeanor.
"Oh, oh, we'll discuss it. Hehe, we'll discuss it," Ji Duo'er said with a smile.
"Mm, please issue the order to set off, Deputy General Ji Duo'er," Zhou Fugui nodded.
"General Zhou, please follow this humble subordinate," Ji Duo'er said, inviting Zhou Fugui to the front of the prisoners and then loudly addressing the prisoners: "You are all criminals, to be exiled to Xuelin City, ten thousand li away. I, Ji Duo'er, by imperial decree, will escort you with General Zhou Fugui. According to the laws of the court, there shall be no slacking on the journey; those who disobey will be beheaded! If anyone dares to escape during the journey, they will be captured and beheaded, and their families will also be implicated. Therefore, you should all behave yourselves and not harbor any thoughts of escaping. Upon arrival at Xuelin City, you will become border troops of Great Yan. Those who achieve merit will be rewarded, and those who commit offenses will be punished. Achieving merit will earn you exemption from all crimes. However, I must remind you that the journey ahead is not easy. There are countless fierce beasts, as well as various bandits, mountain brigands, and vagrants. Alas, whether you can reach Xuelin City alive depends on your fate!"
Escorting prisoners to Xuelin City was a thankless task. Without an imperial decree or military order, no one would willingly undertake such a journey. This journey would leave one skinned alive even if they survived.
The prisoners stood silently in the wind, all without a word.
The road north to Xuelin City was arduous. Many might die halfway before even reaching Xuelin City. Plagues, diseases, ferocious beasts, bandits, etc., any of which could be fatal. How could the prisoners not know this?
As for escaping, as Ji Duo'er said, if caught, they would be brutally executed, and their families would also be implicated.
"Depart!" After a moment, Ji Duo'er waved and gave the order.
"General Zhou, please," Ji Duo'er said to Zhou Fugui afterward.
"I dare not. Deputy General Ji Duo'er, please," Zhou Fugui replied.
Thus, the more than five hundred prisoners slowly marched forward, heading towards the extreme northern region of the Great Yan, Xuelin City.
"If there were no rain from the heavens, the begonia flowers wouldn't bloom on their own. Sister will patiently wait for you, waiting for you, brother, to return on horseback..."
At this moment, a faint singing voice drifted from afar, the melody lingering and beautiful.
Yingying, wait for me to return! Zhou Fugui's heart ached, and he said to himself.