Inside the prefectural yamen of Donghai Commandery, a scribe presented Zhou Fugui with a visiting card. "Great Governor, the Huang family patriarch, Huang Weilun, requests an audience!"
Before the troops moved, provisions came first. Epidemic prevention, disaster relief, and aid could not be sustained without a continuous supply of grain, medicinal herbs, and money, especially grain and medicine.
The officials, physicians, soldiers, and laborers dispatched to the affected areas were ready, awaiting only Zhou Fugui's command to march to Quyang, Shuyang, and Houqiu counties. Some grain and medicine had been prepared, but it was far from sufficient. Zhou Fugui needed to borrow funds, grain, and medicine, but the Xu and Huang families, prominent clans of Donghai Commandery, had been slow to respond, leaving Zhou Fugui extremely anxious.
Everything was ready; only the east wind was missing.
However, even without the east wind, Zhou Fugui could wait no longer than another day before ordering the forceful dispatch to the epidemic-stricken areas. At this very moment, the invitation from Huang Weilun, the Huang family patriarch, filled Zhou Fugui with delight. He mounted his horse with a few guards and galloped from the prefectural yamen, heading straight for the Huang family residence.
...
"Giddy up... giddy up... giddy up..."
Zhou Fugui and his guards, including Pi'e, galloped directly towards the Huang family, located in the southwest corner of Donghai Commandery. They reined in their steeds before the grand gates of the Huang residence.
Huang Weilun had invited Zhou Fugui to his dwelling, yet the Huang family's main gate remained shut.
"Knock on the door!" Zhou Fugui dismounted before the Huang family gate, gazed at it, and instructed Pi'e and the others with his riding crop.
A gate is for entering and exiting, hence the paramount importance of its construction. A dwelling's gate is its crowning glory, a symbol of prosperity or poverty, flourishing or decline. Thus, the main gate of a noble family's estate became the foremost way to flaunt or display their status, unless they were understated and reclusive.
The Huang family's main gate spanned five rooms, with the central three being operable – the main gate and its flanking doors. To "open the main gate" referred to the central portal, which only the most esteemed individuals were permitted to pass through.
The roof of the gate was adorned with rows of colorful glazed tiles, with beast figures atop the ridge. The doors were studded, and the courtyard gate was inlaid with floral motifs, auspicious clouds, and other decorations. There were also drum-shaped door stops, various lanterns, and carved handles, making it resemble the residence of the Prince of Donghai Commandery.
Would they lack money or grain? Zhou Fugui scoffed inwardly, looking up at the luxurious, solemn, and imposing gate of the Huang family courtyard.
"Bang... bang... bang..." Pi'e personally went to knock, grasping the beast-shaped door ring and striking with thunderous force.
Pi'e was powerfully built; if the Huang family didn't open the door soon, he might be able to knock the entire gate down...
"Creak... creak..." After two sounds, the left main gate opened. Two gatekeepers emerged, looking at the fierce-looking Pi'e with some trepidation. "Who is knocking?"
"The Great Governor of Donghai is here. Quickly open the main gate to welcome him!" Pi'e replied, his hand on his saber.
"You are the Great Governor of Donghai?" one of the gatekeepers asked.
Pi'e's imposing physique and ferocious appearance drew the attention of both gatekeepers, causing them to overlook the true Great Governor, Zhou Fugui, standing on the steps below the gate.
Pi'e glared at the gatekeepers, then stepped aside, revealing the legitimate Great Governor, Zhou Fugui, standing on the steps below the gate.
"This Governor, Zhou Fugui, has come at your invitation. Kindly announce my arrival," Zhou Fugui said, handing his riding crop to a guard and walking up the steps.
Damn it, what an attitude! Is this the imperial palace or a prince's mansion? Making me wait here for your announcement? Zhou Fugui's words were respectful, but his heart seethed with indignation.
If not for the disaster victims, Zhou Fugui would never have been so subservient. He might have ordered the Huang family's triple gates smashed down...
"Oh, oh, the patriarch said that Governor Zhou is welcome to enter directly, no need to announce," one gatekeeper stammered.
"That would be most excellent..." Zhou Fugui nodded and instructed Pi'e and the other guards, "You all wait by the gatehouse."
Zhou Fugui thought to himself that Pi'e and the others, especially Pi'e with his fearsome appearance, might frighten the Huang family.
"Master, be careful," Pi'e whispered, as if sensing something amiss with the Huang family.
Zhou Fugui nodded, patted Pi'e's sturdy arm, and then stepped through the side gate of the Huang residence, heading towards a colossal screen wall.
Zhou Fugui was a seasoned veteran of many battles; was he afraid of this minor Donghai Huang family?
He thought to himself that with the greatsword in his hand, he could fight his way in and out of the Huang residence seven times.
As Zhou Fugui's figure disappeared behind the screen wall, Pi'e sat by the gatehouse, holding his saber, with his eyes half-closed.
"General, would you like some tea?" the gatekeeper asked.
Pi'e ignored him.
"General, would you like something to eat?" the gatekeeper asked again.
Pi'e still ignored him.
"General, would you like some wine?" the gatekeeper asked persistently.
Pi'e still ignored him.
"Hmph, so you're just a wooden statue," the gatekeeper grumbled.
Pi'e suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing, startling the gatekeepers and servants. They seemed to see a vision of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
...
"How much further?" In the Huang family courtyard, Zhou Fugui followed a Huang family servant, sword at his side, walking through corridors, courtyards, and semicircular archways, yet he still hadn't seen the master of the house. Zhou Fugui asked impatiently.
The heritage of noble families was indeed extraordinary. This mansion alone offered a glimpse of their wealth. The Huang family courtyard rivaled the residences of officials and nobles, likely not much smaller than the Prince of Donghai Commandery's mansion, with its blue tiles, red eaves, tiered pavilions, and multi-story structures.
However, Zhou Fugui was in no mood to admire the Huang family courtyard's carved beams and painted pillars; he only wished to meet Huang Weilun, the Huang family patriarch, and get to the bottom of things.
"Governor Zhou, do not be anxious. Once you pass the Celestial Stairs, you will arrive," the servant, a clean-cut boy of about ten years, replied with a smile.
Celestial Stairs? Leading where? Zhou Fugui was greatly astonished by this.
At this moment, Zhou Fugui somewhat regretted his decision, regretting not bringing a large contingent of men and not having Pi'e and the other guards follow him.
If the Huang family harbored any ill intentions and laid an ambush within the courtyard, Zhou Fugui, with only the greatsword in his hand, would not be able to fight his way out of such a deep and sprawling residence, let alone seven times.
Perhaps Zhou Fugui, wielding his greatsword, would become so disoriented by the constant back-and-forth that he'd get lost in the Huang family courtyard.
A long, winding wooden staircase carried Zhou Fugui and the young servant upwards, making Zhou Fugui feel as though he were treading on clouds. At the top, he reached a spacious terrace. From the terrace, he could faintly see the sea, which made Zhou Fugui gasp in amazement and further solidified his resolve.
That dead effeminate person before must have been spouting nonsense, trying to fool me, Zhou Fugui thought indignantly.
"Who is he?"
"The Great Governor of Donghai, the Prefect of Donghai Commandery!"
"He's quite a handsome young man!"
"With that full beard, what's handsome? What young man?"
"That's called valiant!"
"You silly girl, are you daydreaming? Be careful, the Captain will deal with you..."
"Hee hee hee hee..."
In a large room on the first floor, many women, a dazzling array of them, whispered and chattered incessantly upon seeing Zhou Fugui.
Damn it, while the mansions overflow with wine and meat, the roads are filled with starving people, Zhou Fugui cursed inwardly upon seeing this.
The young servant led Zhou Fugui to the second floor, to a spacious area. The hall had a flat floor covered with a thick carpet. In each of the four corners stood a weapon rack, displaying sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. Without a doubt, this was a martial arts training hall.
Above the entrance to the training hall, the plaque read: "Friends of the world gather here."
Four burly men in tight-fitting clothes stood in the training hall, arms crossed, coldly observing Zhou Fugui as he was led in.
"Captain, the Marquis of Pingliang, General Jianzhong, the Great Governor of Donghai, and Prefect Lord Zhou have arrived," the young servant announced loudly into a room after leading Zhou Fugui into the training hall.
"Heh heh, quite a few titles," a moment later, three people, two men and one woman, emerged from the room. A young scholar in a tall hat and wide sash smiled at Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Fugui ignored the young scholar's jibe, his gaze fixed on the young woman beside him. He smiled and nodded, scrutinizing her carefully.
The young woman was delicate and slender, her face like fine cream, her lips like a dab of cherry, her brows like painted ink, her spirit like autumn water, indescribably beautiful and refined. Dressed in a jade-green skirt, she stood on the high platform like a lotus in the wind, or a lone mountain shrouded in mist.
As the poem goes: beautiful as a peach in spring, pure as a chrysanthemum in autumn. With a small silken fan and white orchid flowers, her slender waist adorned with a jade belt, she danced like a heavenly fairy.
This woman was none other than "Huang Shiren" who had changed into women's clothing... That's why Zhou Fugui stared at her with a "lecherous" gaze for a few moments, making "Huang Shiren" both shy, annoyed, and angry.
"Governor Zhou..." The woman's second elder brother, the real Huang Shirén, found it quite amusing to see Zhou Fugui staring "lecherously" at his younger sister. He then teased, "This is my sister. Aren't you... surprised?"
Huang Shirén was well aware that his younger sister, Huang Daimei, had impersonated him to meet Zhou Fugui.
"What's there to be surprised about?" Zhou Fugui replied indifferently, "The male rabbit stamps its feet, the female rabbit's eyes are blurry. When two rabbits run side-by-side, how can one tell which is male and which is female? However, this Governor had already discerned the gender."
"What male rabbit, female rabbit? You're the rabbit..." Huang Daimei gave Zhou Fugui a fierce glare and then asked in surprise, "How did you... how did you see through it?"
Huang Daimei had traveled extensively with her father since childhood, imitating men's voices and mannerisms flawlessly. She was quite confident in her disguise skills. Yet, Zhou Fugui had seen through her after only one meeting, leaving her baffled and wondering where she had revealed a flaw.
Huang Daimei's eldest brother, Huang Shiba, and second brother, Huang Shirén, looked at Zhou Fugui together, awaiting his answer.
My little sister is as beautiful as Diao Chan, surpassing Xi Shi. If you can't see it, you must truly be a pig, Huang Shirén thought proudly.