The so-called upper chamber of Master Lu was actually a small side room in the Temple of Empress Houtu, situated on the cliff's edge, offering fresh air and a serene environment.
Pushing open the wooden door of the side room revealed a viewing platform. Beyond the platform, mountains, veiled in clouds and snow, stood majestically. Clouds swirled and gathered, resembling jade dragons appearing and disappearing, creating an ethereal and uplifting spectacle.
"That cunning old Taoist," Zhou Fugui cursed playfully, then escorted Murong Huiying onto the wooden platform.
There was no need to travel five li to the market for fragrant tea, sandalwood, or other offerings. As soon as Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying entered the side room, temple attendants presented fragrant tea and lit sandalwood. The monks simply wanted to earn more incense money, and Zhou Fugui saw no point in arguing with them.
As Zhou Fugui himself had said, compared to Murong Huiying, a little money was not even worth a single strand of her hair.
"They want to make money from you, the great magnate," Murong Huiying chuckled upon hearing this.
The mountain wind blew fiercely on the platform. Zhou Fugui smiled, removed his cloak, and wrapped it around Murong Huiying. She then nestled tightly against him.
"Yingying..." Zhou Fugui gazed affectionately at Murong Huiying in his arms.
"Zhou Lang..." Murong Huiying did the same, resting her head on Zhou Fugui's strong chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat.
At this moment, they looked at each other with such deep affection, as if they could never get enough. In this moment, silence was more eloquent than words.
"Wealth and glory are like snatching chestnuts from fire..." After a long, long time, Zhou Fugui spoke, asking, "All you Xianbei people generally look down on us Han people. Only you, my Yingying, what you said back then, thinking about it now, was actually encouraging me."
"Pah, what do you mean, 'you Xianbei people'?" Murong Huiying pouted and tapped Zhou Fugui's forehead with her jade finger, then smiled, "In the end, you didn't get the chestnuts, but... but... how could I, Ziyue, have ever fancied someone as fickle and unfeeling as you?"
"Heh heh, so I married you, is that it?" Zhou Fugui tightened his arm and chuckled.
"We children of the grasslands, although not like the Han, still require a colorful carriage, betrothal gifts, cattle, horses, sheep, and the consent of our parents before we can speak of marriage," Murong Huiying said, blushing.
"Alright, everything according to you. Whatever you say goes. When we return to the capital, we'll do everything according to your customs," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
"Return to the capital? Zhou Lang, do you mean we can go back?" Murong Huiying poked her head out of Zhou Fugui's embrace, looking at him with surprise and joy.
"Why can't we go back?" Zhou Fugui answered, "I, Zhou, am a dignified official of the fourth rank. Can I not go back to visit my family? Can I not go back to my hometown to get married?"
"According to the regulations of the Great Yan Dynasty, it is indeed permissible, but..." Murong Huiying frowned slightly, her expression worried.
"But what? Are you worried about your family?" Zhou Fugui asked, "I told you long ago, if they don't agree, I'll send troops to surround the Zuo Xian King's mansion. Do you think they'll still disagree?"
"Are you so capable? Before even marrying me, you'd surround your father-in-law's home? Hee hee..." Murong Huiying couldn't help but laugh. She kissed Zhou Fugui's stubbled chin and said, "Zhou Lang, you've braved countless dangers, risked your life, and achieved great merits, earning titles like Valiant Great General. This proves that I, Ziyue, didn't misjudge you, that my eyesight is unique. Ziyue is immensely proud of you. But you... but do you have troops under your command now?"
If Zhou Fugui were to actually do this, the Zuo Xian King's mansion might very well agree, because the Xianbei people prided themselves on martial prowess.
"Not having troops now doesn't mean I won't have them in the future," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
Zhou Fugui planned to find an opportunity to tell Murong Huiying about Empress Murong Qing and that "perverted妖 (yāoguài - demon/monster)".
"Mm, Ziyue believes in you..." Murong Huiying nodded, then her brow furrowed again, "But for you to be an official and lead troops now, Ziyue feels it might not be a good thing."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise.
"Zhou Lang..." Murong Huiying leaned against Zhou Fugui and said softly, "Actually... actually, my family no longer opposes it. Otherwise, E'ji wouldn't have asked me to find you. As for Father... if Ziyue pleaded with her life, he would likely agree. Zhou Lang, don't you know what the biggest obstacle to our union is?"
"The biggest obstacle? You mean...?" Zhou Fugui pointed to the sky.
"Mm..." Murong Huiying nodded, "Not only him, but also... also... you should understand. For a long time, women of my clan, especially noblewomen, were not allowed to... were not allowed to... for you to change this would be extremely difficult."
The prevailing views of the world could not be changed by one or two people, nor could they be changed overnight.
"I understand..." Zhou Fugui clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with ferocity, and said, "The world is unfair, only the blade speaks!"
If Zhou Fugui had any thought of retreating in the past, then after so much longing and Murong Huiying's deep affection, he had already loved her to the bone. Therefore, at this moment, Zhou Fugui was absolutely unwilling to back down.
"Zhou Lang, what are you planning to do?" Murong Huiying exclaimed, gently stroking Zhou Fugui's face, "You know, Ziyue would rather die herself than see you harmed in the slightest."
"Yingying..." Zhou Fugui tightly grasped Murong Huiying's cold little hand, placed it on his cheek, and said with extraordinary determination, "From now on, you are forbidden to mention death, never. As long as there is life, there is hope. Yingying, you must believe me. Everything is with me. I only believe in one saying: sincerity moves mountains; perseverance overcomes all difficulties; the determined will not be let down by heaven; enduring hardship, breaking pots and sinking ships, three thousand Yue soldiers can swallow Wu..."
"Heh heh..." Murong Huiying couldn't help but giggle, "How many sayings is that?"
Murong Huiying suddenly felt a great sense of relief.
"No matter how many sayings, the point is, you, Princess Ziyue of the Great Yan, Murong Huiying, I am determined to marry! If heaven blocks me, I'll overturn heaven; if earth blocks me, I'll dig through the earth; kill anyone who stands in my way, destroy any Buddha who obstructs me!" Zhou Fugui declared, embracing Murong Huiying with both arms as if making a solemn vow.
"Zhou Lang..." Murong Huiying wrapped her arms around Zhou Fugui's neck, her eyes filled with emotion, "Ziyue will wait for the day you marry me, and I will wait forever."
"You won't have to wait long," Zhou Fugui said with a smile.
Now was the opportunity to kill Huyan Sheng, seize command of the Great Yan's border troops, and then use the formidable border army to force their compromise.
To marry Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui was willing to risk everything, no matter what it took!
"Mm..." Murong Huiying nodded silently.
Zhou Fugui tenderly embraced Murong Huiying, and they held each other tightly, as if wanting to merge into each other's bodies.
He thought with heartache that the once commanding and valiant female general of the army had become so timid. He felt unworthy of her love.
Then, what was Murong Huiying afraid of?
"Zhou Lang..." After a long pause, Murong Huiying said to Zhou Fugui, "The court's situation... letting you be an official and lead troops now, Ziyue believes it might not be a good thing."
"Mm, it's cold outside. Let's go inside and talk slowly." At this moment, neither Zhou Fugui nor Murong Huiying had the inclination to admire the scenery. Zhou Fugui took Murong Huiying's hand and returned indoors. They discussed matters in detail, pouring out their hearts about the pain of their separation and longing.
...
"Great General, General's wife, may all evils be averted, and may you have peace year after year! You're leaving already? Not staying the night?"
After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying, hand in hand, finally walked out of the side room. The Taoist priest surnamed Lu cursed them silently as "a pair of scoundrels" and then asked loudly.
Both of them were glowing with health, especially Murong Huiying, whose face was like a peach blossom, appearing exceptionally shy. Anyone who saw them would naturally speculate that they must have done something illicit.
In reality, Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying had done nothing. They were simply elated and in high spirits as they chatted merrily.
"Great General, General's wife, great wisdom appears foolish, great skill appears clumsy, great sound is silent, great form is formless..." The scrawny Taoist, as usual, spoke nonsense that was completely irrelevant, causing Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying to smile.
"We won't be resting..." Zhou Fugui threw out two small gold ingots again and asked with a smile, "Where is the main hall? Please trouble the two Taoist priests to lead the way."
The title "General's wife" from the two Taoist priests made Murong Huiying overjoyed.
"Thank you, Great General and General's wife, for your generosity!" The two Taoist priests were so delighted their hearts nearly leaped out of their chests. They scratched their ears and cheeks in glee, thanking them loudly, which made Zhou Fugui shake his head.
Zhou Fugui was genuinely curious about the origins of these two interesting young Taoists.
"Great General, General's wife, please follow me," said one of the Taoist priests. Going to the main hall meant burning incense and praying to the gods, so the two priests spoke in unison.
Thus, the two Taoist priests, one on each side, accompanied Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying towards the main hall of the Temple of Empress Houtu.
Empress Houtu was depicted wearing a phoenix coronet and cloud-like shoulders, clad in a white triangular shawl, a red phoenix robe with spreading sleeves, a breastband, and a skirt that reached the ground with her toes just visible. Her right hand held a cloth and a jade tablet, her left hand wore rings and was held near her chest. She sat on a Sumeru throne.
The statue of Empress Houtu possessed a solemn and majestic countenance, radiating compassion and solemnity. All along the way, Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying, who had been playfully flirting, stood respectfully, daring not to be irreverent.
"Plop!" After a moment, Zhou Fugui pulled Murong Huiying and knelt on the prayer mat before the statue of Empress Houtu. The two young Taoist priests were driven out of the hall by Zhou Fugui but peered in from the doorway, their eyes sly.
Empress Houtu presided over yin and yang and nurtured all things. Beside her were the Mother of Childbirth and the Mother of Child-sending. People seeking marriage or newlyweds would enter the Temple of Empress Houtu to worship.