Yang Hu, whose courtesy name was Mingqin, served as the chief clerk of the Left Virtuous King's mansion. He was well-read, knowledgeable in laws and regulations, adept at governance, and an incorruptible official. When Murong Chi marched his troops, Yang Hu had earnestly advised him against it, only to be imprisoned.
Yang Hu, however, managed to escape unharmed when the city of Changshan fell.
After his release, Yang Hu pursued the rebels all the way to Yanjing, the capital, and to the city gates. By some unknown means, he cut the ropes of the wooden cage containing Murong Chi's head and then rushed forward, embracing the severed head and weeping inconsolably.
Yang Hu's teeth were nearly all broken, his clothes tattered, and his appearance gaunt. He sat in the mud, clutching Murong Chi's head and crying, evoking pity from all who witnessed it.
But the soldiers guarding the heads showed no mercy. Anyone who wept for a rebel or sympathized with a traitor was considered an accomplice and could earn great rewards from the court by apprehending them. Thus, the soldiers advanced with their spears, pressing Yang Hu into the mud. They then fetched chains and ropes, intending to drag him to prison.
"Stop! Let him go!" At this moment, Zhou Fugui spurred his horse forward and shouted at the soldiers.
"Marquis of Pingliang, what is the meaning of this?" a soldier commander asked in surprise.
At this time, Zhou Fugui was known to everyone in Youzhou, and indeed throughout the Great Yan, and even the entire world. His fame was widespread.
To avenge his brother, he had annihilated the entire Duan clan, been exiled to the frontier to guard the borders, and led a lone army deep into the Xiongnu royal court, achieving unparalleled merits. He then marched to aid the capital, rescuing it from peril and quelling the Yan rebellion within months.
Consequently, the soldiers on guard recognized Marquis of Pingliang, Zhou Fugui.
Most importantly, Zhou Fugui was a newly appointed marquis and a great general, a favored figure before the Empress Dowager Murong Qing, and commanded a formidable army. Ordinary individuals would not dare to oppose him, nor would they have any reason to.
"Who is this man?" Zhou Fugui asked indifferently.
"Reporting to Your Lordship... " the soldier commander replied respectfully. "This subordinate does not know who he is. Once he is imprisoned and interrogated under torture, he will surely confess. At that time, I will report to Your Lordship."
"Oh, hand him over to me, and you may withdraw," Zhou Fugui nodded.
Without needing to think, Zhou Fugui knew Yang Hu must have been Murong Chi's man. Thus, Zhou Fugui intended to save him to alleviate his own guilt.
"My Lord, the Empress's maternal uncle, he... is very likely a member of the rebel faction. This..." the soldier commander said hesitantly, casting a pleading glance at Murong Fu.
In the eyes of the soldiers, Yang Hu was no longer a person but an item of reward.
"What 'this' and 'that'? Stop your mumbling. His Lordship ordered you to release him, do you dare disobey?" Murong Fu, who cared nothing for the life or death of such an insignificant person, berated the soldiers.
Murong Fu's intention to curry favor with Zhou Fugui was evident.
In fact, even without Murong Fu's reprimand, Zhou Fugui's own soldiers had already rushed forward like wolves and tigers, pushing aside the guards and snatching Yang Hu.
Yang Hu cried out, but Zhou Fugui's men gagged him.
…
"Sister Huiying... you... cry if you want to, just let it out..." Normally, newlywed bliss should be exceptionally sweet. However, ever since Murong Huiying's marriage, she had not smiled once, remaining perpetually dejected. Now, upon hearing the dire news, she displayed an unusual calmness, a calmness that was unsettling, a calmness that was heartbreaking. Thus spoke Murong Cheng, the deposed Crown Prince and King of Lelang, to her.
Murong Cheng's mind fluctuated between madness and lucidity. When he was clear-headed, he understood Murong Huiying's current state of mind.
As they were cousins and now husband and wife, they were both suffering equally at this time.
"I will not cry. Yingying will never cry again from this day forward," Murong Huiying said faintly. Then, she stood up and walked to a small earthen mound behind the cold palace, gazing silently into the distance, listening to the faint sounds from outside the palace.
This was the only place within the cold palace where one could see the outside world and hear its sounds.
"Ziyue..." Murong Cheng followed Murong Huiying to the mound and gently called out her name, reaching out to her thin shoulder.
Murong Cheng, like Murong Huiying, had suffered a drastic change. His imperial father had passed away, and his sister, Murong Xiaoxiao, was missing. However, he felt fortunate at this moment.
With Murong Huiying's companionship, his bleak days were imbued with a ray of light.
"Don't touch me," Murong Huiying turned and said as Murong Cheng's hand was about to land on her shoulder.
Startled, Murong Cheng hastily withdrew his hand.
Murong Huiying then resumed her silent gaze into the distance.
The sun set, and the blood-red evening clouds were like a bowl of blood spilled over the city of Youzhou, tinting the houses within the city a deep crimson. The scenery was still beautiful, but in Murong Huiying's eyes, it resembled a city of blood.
"Sister Huiying..." After a long, long silence, Murong Cheng asked timidly, "You have always been resourceful. Now... what should we do?"
"Silence, endure, and preserve life," Murong Huiying replied softly without turning around, uttering just a few words.
…
"Empress Dowager..." In the Yan palace, Gu Yinqiqidan said to Murong Qing, "The Marquis of Pingliang could have captured him, but he let him go."
"What do you mean?" Murong Qing asked. "This empress had already anticipated that the Marquis of Pingliang would let him go."
"Your Majesty, this man is a wolf that cannot be tamed," Gu Yinqiqidan said.
Murong Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "Being loyal and righteous is not necessarily a bad thing. If the Marquis of Pingliang disregards old feelings, even to the point of being heartless, he will also be heartless to others, including this empress."
Gu Yinqiqidan nodded.
…
"The grasslands are vast and flat, stretching wide and smooth, with tender green grass covering the earth like a thick armor for the warrior. Warrior, you have returned victorious, I praise you, I follow you, and will follow you forever. It is the king who gave you strength, and you bestow strength upon us. With strength, we are invincible. Warrior, you have returned victorious, we cheer for you..."
On this day, a grand victory banquet was held in the Yan palace, including the White Food Feast, Red Food Feast, Vegetarian Feast, and Whole Lamb Feast, to celebrate the victorious Yan generals who had quelled the rebellion.
During the feast, the presiding official played the song of victory, and the palace singers and dancers performed, creating the atmosphere of a grand festival and a prosperous era.
"Duke of Ning, Grand Guardian of the Guards, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, Supreme Commander of the Left Xieli Hu arrives!" As the official announced, Xieli Hu, the commander-in-chief who quelled the rebellion, strode into the hall with high spirits.
Clad in full armor, Xieli Hu triumphantly waved his hand.
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!"
"Great Commander, mighty! Great Commander, mighty! Great Commander, mighty!"
The palace erupted in a thunderous applause, with everyone shouting "Mighty!"
Though Xieli Hu was not tall and was aging, his gleaming armor, combined with his merit in quelling the rebellion, made him appear imposing.
However, amidst the cheers, there was more flattery than genuine admiration.
"Lord of the North Yuwen Tuoluo arrives!"
"Lord of the South Tuoba Hong arrives!"
"Lord of the Earth Lou Zan arrives!"
"Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Yin Mo arrives!"
"Minister of the Grand Court Wen Yanda arrives!"
Following them, various ministers and Yan generals entered the hall.
The palace again erupted in cheers.
"Right Virtuous King Murong Kang arrives!"
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!"
"Mighty! Mighty! Mighty!"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
As Murong Kang entered the hall, the slightly subdued cheers intensified considerably.
Murong Kang, in his thirties, was in his prime. His shoulders were broader than Xieli Hu's, his chest fuller, and his posture straighter. But the most significant reason was that Murong Kang was not only a high-ranking minister and the deputy commander of the Yan army that quelled the rebellion, but he was also the late Emperor's maternal uncle and the true power holder of the Great Yan, the younger brother of Empress Dowager Murong Qing.
Thus, the people's sycophancy and fawning were evident here.
Murong Kang waved his hand triumphantly, glanced at his sister, Empress Dowager Murong Qing, and was about to walk to his seat when he turned and saw someone, his expression immediately falling.
"Marquis of Pingliang, Junior Guardian of the Guards, General Jianzhong, Governor of Qingzhou Zhou Fugui arrives!"
Zhou Fugui was the last of the important generals to enter the hall.
"Marquis of Pingliang!"
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!"
"Valiant! Valiant! Valiant!"
Zhou Fugui was younger, more heroic, and sturdier. Although his face showed some fatigue, it did not diminish his heroic demeanor, earning him thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd, like a tidal wave.
While the applause for Xieli Hu and Murong Kang might have contained more flattery, the praise and cheers for Zhou Fugui were from the bottom of their hearts. The reason was self-evident: his reputation was renowned throughout the land, and he was a true general of the era!
"Marquis of Pingliang, sit beside this empress," Murong Qing said to Zhou Fugui with a smile after he ascended the jade steps.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhou Fugui cupped his hands in a salute and then sat to Murong Qing's right. To her left sat the Emperor of Great Yan, Murong Yi, presiding in the center of the hall. Of course, Zhou Fugui did not sit level with Murong Qing and Murong Yi but rather to their right and lower, facing them.
Murong Kang, sulkily, took a seat slightly farther away from Murong Qing.
"Marquis of Pingliang, why does your complexion appear unwell?" Murong Qing asked Zhou Fugui in a low voice after he had taken his seat.
"This subject is somewhat weary," Zhou Fugui replied.
"Oh, is that so? Marquis of Pingliang, your contributions are great, and you have toiled hard," Murong Qing said calmly.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Zhou Fugui thanked her again.
"All my ministers!" Murong Qing nodded and turned to address the assembled crowd. "The late Emperor has departed this world, leaving this mess to me and Yi'er. We are surrounded by wolves on the outside and rebels within. The state of affairs is undeniably difficult."
As Murong Qing spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped them away and continued, "Fortunately, virtuous generals have appeared, such as Xieli Hu, Tuoba Hong, Yuwen Tuoluo, Murong Kang, and Zhou Fugui. They have rescued us from peril, calmed chaos, and bolstered the nation's strength. Truly, this is fortunate for our Great Yan and for the common people of the world!"