The three great joys in life are meeting an old friend in a foreign land, success in the imperial examinations, and a wedding night.
Zhou Fugui, after surviving countless battles in the northern desert and narrowly escaping death, had finally returned to Xuelin City, back to his own home. He was reunited with Ge Rufeng, Liuxia, Feiyun, Bu San, and Bu Si. Though the brothers Bu San and Bu Si were somewhat unreliable, they were still old acquaintances. A promotion in rank was not much different from success in the imperial examinations; ultimately, the purpose of passing the exams was to gain higher office, was it not?
"General..." Beneath the red candlelight, Liuxia, clad in a bright red sheepskin jacket, red cotton trousers, and red embroidered shoes with gold trim, approached Zhou Fugui holding a cup of rice wine. She said, "The General has been campaigning far away, and my sister Feiyun and I have worried for you day and night, never ceasing to think of you. But what could we women do? We could only burn incense daily, praying to heaven for your safety and a safe return. Today, our sisters' wishes have been fulfilled, and our hearts are... truly joyous. Will the General honor us with this cup of wine today?"
Feixia and Liuyun knew Zhou Fugui was a good man. Their status was that of servants, but Zhou Fugui had never treated them as such. He was always respectful, treating them like sisters. However, therein lay the problem: his respectful treatment, his considering them sisters. Feixia and Liuyun could not continue to follow him in such an ambiguous state. Zhou Fugui should either continue to treat them as maids, or take them as concubines. Though the status of a concubine was only slightly higher than that of a maid or female slave, it would at least grant them a proper position.
The intentions of Liuxia and Feiyun today were obvious.
"Brother General, please don't be angry..." Feiyun, also in red, said to Zhou Fugui, "It's not that we maids are harboring impossible desires, but rather... rather... you seem angry?"
Liuxia and Feiyun's timid demeanor struck Zhou Fugui as both amusing and pitiable. He accepted the wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and said warmly, "Your concern for me, ladies, is something I deeply appreciate. How could I, with my meager worth, merit your favor? Liuxia, Feiyun, I am not heartless. However, I am already betrothed to another. What am I to do?"
Zhou Fugui had subtly rejected Liuxia and Feiyun's unspoken proposal.
At the same time, Zhou Fugui felt a sense of bewilderment. Why were Liuxia and Feiyun acting this way today? A wedding night, a shared cup of wine? Was this some form of coercion?
Wouldn't it have been better to continue as they always had, muddling through life?
"Smack!" Unexpectedly, Feiyun seemed to be provoked into a fit of rage. She slammed her small hand on the table, overturning the wedding cup. Grabbing Zhou Fugui's collar, Feiyun gave the impression that if he didn't agree today, she would resort to physical violence.
"Zhou Fugui!" Feiyun, clutching his collar, shouted angrily, "It's not like I'm asking you to officially marry my sister and me! It's just for you to sleep with us. You're getting the better deal, and yet you're being so hesitant? We're the ones losing out, not you! You... you... you... you're simply bullying us!"
Feiyun pouted, tears welling in her eyes, a picture of mingled anger, sorrow, and grievance.
"How am I bullying you?" Zhou Fugui, startled, blurted out without much thought, "Sleeping with you, of course, is a good thing! I couldn't ask for more... But before I do, I need her consent. Don't you agree?"
"Who?" Feiyun asked, still pouting and holding Zhou Fugui's collar tightly.
"Naturally, your mistress," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
Mentioning Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui's heart filled with a surge of sweetness, and his longing intensified. He hadn't seen her in so long; he wondered how she was.
"What mistress? Isn't she just a barbarian woman? Barbarians are cruel; barbarian women can't be much better," Feiyun said, tilting her chin and scoffing. "Don't Han people despise barbarians?"
"What do you mean barbarian and Han? She's different," Zhou Fugui said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Dare to speak ill of her again, and you'll face household punishment! Let go of me."
I am half-Han and half-barbarian myself, Zhou Fugui mused inwardly. How could I look down on a barbarian woman?
"I won't let go! Brother General, what is this household punishment?" Feiyun asked, still clinging to his collar.
"Pfft!" Liuxia chuckled at the scene, gently pulling Feiyun's hand away. She then said with a light smile, "It seems General Zhou hasn't forgotten her. We'll talk about this another time."
"Yes, yes..." Zhou Fugui nodded repeatedly, like a pecking chick. "Liuxia, you are indeed sensible."
"So, you're saying I'm unreasonable?" Feiyun asked. "Who are those four demon foxes? Brother General, you have her, and you have us. Why aren't you content?"
"Demon foxes? What do you mean not content? Go, go, get out! I'm tired and want to sleep," Zhou Fugui said, his face darkening with what seemed like annoyance as Feiyun touched upon a bothersome topic.
It was better that Feiyun didn't mention Elisa and the other four Parthian girls. Their mention brought to mind the words of that "dead sissy" and those exceptionally troublesome and difficult matters.
"General, please forgive us. We overstepped," Liuxia said softly.
Zhou Fugui nodded. He squeezed Liuxia's wrist and lightly flicked Feiyun's nose, indicating that he wasn't truly angry.
Though the matter couldn't be resolved positively, Zhou Fugui still intended to claim these small advantages.
...
A *ta*, long and low, is called *ta* because it lies close to the ground. Beds and *ta* were not within the reach of ordinary people. Most common folk sat or slept on mats directly on the floor. Noble households, however, considered *ta* a mark of prestige.
Having been conferred a title by the Yan Dynasty court, Zhou Fugui now had a *ta* to sleep on. The *ta* was covered with luxurious, soft furs, making it incredibly comfortable. Yet, Zhou Fugui tossed and turned on the soft *ta*, unable to fall asleep. Lying there, he gazed through the glazed roof tiles, counting the stars in the sky.
Why did they want to kill Hu Yan Sheng? Zhou Fugui looked at the roof, his mind a tangled mess.
Killing Hu Yan Sheng was, of course, to seize his military power. But even if Zhou Fugui had the opportunity to eliminate him, how could he escape unscathed?
Hu Yan Sheng, the grand marshal of the border, was deeply loved by the soldiers stationed there. If Zhou Fugui acted rashly, it would surely incur the dissatisfaction of the generals and even incite a mutiny. Hu Yan Sheng's loyal followers would undoubtedly flay Zhou Fugui alive. Even if Zhou Fugui forcibly suppressed it with imperial orders, the reputation of him being a cruel man who harmed loyal subjects would be unavoidable, not to mention the notoriety of being a lackey who aided evil. For Zhou Fugui to establish an army, the hearts of the soldiers were paramount. Only then could his newly formed army become a strong force. If the commander of an army was ungrateful and harmed loyal subjects for personal gain, such a person leading the troops would not command true respect, and the soldiers would inwardly resent him.
Therefore, Hu Yan Sheng absolutely could not be killed.
Moreover, even if Hu Yan Sheng had shown no particular kindness towards Zhou Fugui, or at least no great kindness, he had still cared for Zhou Fugui immensely.
The training outside Xuelin City, the arduous drills in the Bone Soldier Camp—these, though seemingly harsh and cold, were Hu Yan Sheng's way of forging Zhou Fugui into a true general. The battle at the Xiongnu royal court, though seemingly Hu Yan Sheng sending Zhou Fugui to his death, was it not also Hu Yan Sheng giving Zhou Fugui practical combat experience? And had Zhou Fugui not returned with honors, thereby earning imperial favor? It was just that such tempering was indeed excessively dangerous.
Hu Yan Sheng was a member of Zhou Fugui's mother's clan. For this reason alone, Zhou Fugui could not kill him.
But if he didn't kill him, how could he explain himself to Empress Murong Qing and the supervising official Hou Zhongluo? If the matters with Murong Qing and Hou Zhongluo could not be resolved, Zhou Fugui's own aspirations would be difficult to achieve. This chain of events, one interlocking with the next, each step fraught with peril, left Zhou Fugui in a state of utter confusion, unsure of how to proceed.
Zhou Fugui lay on the soft *ta*, tossing and turning. For a long time, he could not sleep. However, due to extreme fatigue, he eventually drifted off into a troubled slumber.
...
"Zhou Fugui, you perfidious, ungrateful, and faithless scoundrel!" Murong Huiying pressed her hand against the golden scabbard of her saber, glaring at Zhou Fugui.
"Yingying..." Zhou Fugui's eyes lit up at the sight of Murong Huiying. His heart leaped so wildly it felt like it would burst from his chest. He took two steps forward, opening his arms, intending to embrace her.
"Hold your tongue!" Murong Huiying stared at Zhou Fugui with her beautiful eyes and said coldly, "Is 'Yingying' a name you can call me? And what am I to you?"
"Ying... why have you grown so thin? Alas, Your Highness, it has been many days since we last met. Zhou misses you dearly, thinking of you at all times. But fate is unpredictable, and my longing cannot be fulfilled. Princess, seeing you today, my heart feels like it will leap out of my chest with joy. Yet, you... you treat me like a stranger. What do you mean by perfidious, ungrateful, and faithless? I have thought it over countless times, but I cannot comprehend it!" Zhou Fugui, with his arms outstretched, was halted by Murong Huiying, leaving him awkwardly standing in place.
At this moment, a full moon rose. A Xianbei woman, holding a golden-scabbarded saber, stood bathed in the moon's ethereal glow, appearing exceptionally heroic and spirited. Her beautiful eyes, under the moonlight, were like a clear spring, radiating an exceptional purity and loveliness. These two contrasting beauties, embodied in one person, it was undoubtedly Murong Huiying.
And Zhou Fugui, flailing his arms, looked more like a lecherous thief in the dead of night...
"I..." Zhou Fugui's passionate plea seemed to be moving Murong Huiying. She tightened her grip on her saber hilt, but then hesitantly asked, "Fugui, do you truly think of me?"
"Of course!" Seeing that Murong Huiying seemed to be reconsidering, Zhou Fugui rejoiced.
"How do you think of me?" Murong Huiying finally revealed a faint smile and asked.
"The long night, and you are my only light. Is that enough? Not enough? My greatest wish in this life is to wash my feet in the same basin with you every day, to grow old together in peace, until we can't go anywhere... Still not enough? Wherever you are, even in this dark night, the sun shines brightly... Still not enough? I want to give you the cool, ancient streets of Xuelin City, the warm sunlight filtering through the shimmering leaves at noon, the starry sky on a dark night. I want to whisper all the sweet words only to you... Yingying, you are my sky, my earth, my sun, moon, and stars, my ears, my eyes, my heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys..."
Zhou Fugui's cascade of sweet words immediately stunned Murong Huiying. She gazed at him, frozen like a moon goddess statue.