"Seven days into spring, two years away from home. Returning after the wild geese depart, longing arises before the flowers bloom." Riding his horse, Zhou Fugui, the general of the White Tiger Camp of the Yan army, sighed as he looked at the long road home.
In the sixth year of Yan Yongping and the fourth year of Xia Yuanjia, there were no major wars between Yan and Xia. Both sides ceased hostilities, focusing on a standoff. They were like two beasts that had both been wounded, silently licking their wounds, waiting to recover before delivering a fatal blow to each other.
The majority of the Yan army finally welcomed their return. The Yan court issued a decree that, except for necessary garrisons, the remaining troops could return to Youzhou for rest and recuperation.
Zhou Fugui's White Tiger Camp was among those returning.
It had been a full two years since Zhou Fugui and his men left Youzhou. In those two years, a boy not yet of age had become a spirited young man. Two years on the battlefield of blood and fire had transformed an impulsive and naive youth into a stern and capable man.
The battlefield of blood and fire could change a person profoundly, even causing earth-shattering transformations. Cowards might become warriors, and the soft-hearted might become bloodthirsty and cruel.
"Is this another masterpiece by some great poet of history?" Murong Huiying, riding alongside Zhou Fugui, asked thoughtfully.
Zhou Fugui shook his head.
In fact, Zhou Fugui had forgotten which great poet had penned the lines.
"Fugui, aren't you going to ask why we're returning?" Murong Huiying then asked Zhou Fugui.
"Why?" Zhou Fugui replied. "No one could defeat the other, so they called a truce and are now returning. Are we supposed to stay stationed in the south permanently? We are true people of Yan and Yun."
"I know you are people of Yan and Yun, longing for home..." Murong Huiying chuckled lightly. "Actually, the court is letting you return home because you've been away for too long. That's one reason. The second is..."
"Mmm, indeed. The court actually considers our longing for home? That's quite thoughtful," Zhou Fugui said with a sarcastic cold laugh. "Your Majesty's grace is overwhelming; we are truly humbled!"
"Why do you always interrupt me? Can you let me finish speaking?" Murong Huiying glared at Zhou Fugui and chided him.
"Oh, this junior general admits his fault. Your Highness, please speak!" Zhou Fugui said with a light laugh.
In the past, Zhou Fugui's words would have been respectful, a proper address of "Your Highness." But now, there was a hint of teasing in his tone.
When they were being informal with each other, she would call him "Yingying" or "Ying'er." Now she called him "Your Highness"? Murong Huiying thought shyly.
"The second reason is that His Majesty has already issued a decree for you and your White Tiger Camp to enter the palace for an audience," Murong Huiying then said.
After speaking, Murong Huiying slightly raised her head, looking at Zhou Fugui, expecting him to be overjoyed. To her surprise, Zhou Fugui said dismissively, "An audience in the palace? I'm not interested. It would be better to let us go home sooner so we can reunite with our families."
"You..." Murong Huiying was angered by his words and pushed Zhou Fugui, almost sending him off his horse. She pouted and said angrily, "You're in such a hurry to reunite with your family? My father submitted your matters to the court, and only then did the court issue the decree for you to enter the palace. They are preparing to reward you."
"Rewards? It's really unnecessary," Zhou Fugui still shook his head. "I've been away from home for two full years. I wonder how my mother, elder brother, sister-in-law, and little sister are doing?"
"Fugui..." Murong Huiying looked at Zhou Fugui and said, "Why are you always so dejected? Does serving the Great Yan truly make you feel so disheartened?"
Zhou Fugui shook his head and remained silent.
Too much talk leads to mistakes. Zhou Fugui didn't want to say more, nor did he want to make Murong Huiying sadder.
The Great Yan was founded by the Xianbei people, and Zhou Fugui was Han. Zhou Fugui didn't care about this so-called distinction between Han and Hu. They were all descendants of Yan and Huang, so what was the difference? What Zhou Fugui cared about were the actions of the Yan court, which respected the Hu and belittled the Han, treating Han people like cattle and horses, like hunting dogs, or even worse. Furthermore, the Yan army's invasion of the south was brutal and inhumane. Such a state was not worth Zhou Fugui's service. If it were a war to defend the homeland against foreign invaders, Zhou Fugui would have been high-spirited and fought to the death.
"Yingying, after you return to Youzhou, will you stay... at the mansion, or go elsewhere?" Zhou Fugui then asked Murong Huiying.
"I don't know..." Murong Huiying replied. "Over the years, Yingying has followed my father on campaign everywhere, with no fixed abode."
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Fugui, when you return to Youzhou, you'll be staying at home for a few days. Will you...?" Murong Huiying then looked intently at Zhou Fugui, her gaze suddenly tinged with a faint melancholy, and asked him.
Zhou Fugui opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.
How could Zhou Fugui not understand Murong Huiying's meaning?
Earlier, Zhou Fugui had boasted grandly about things like "there's always a way out," but when it came down to it, he was flustered and at a loss.
Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying were in love, but given the current situation, for them to have a happy ending, or to be together, was harder than reaching the heavens.
A Han man wanting to marry a Yan princess, a humble person wanting to marry someone of noble status, was in itself a shocking matter. Furthermore, there were the parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words. What were Murong Rongbole's, the Left Virtuous King of Yan and Murong Huiying's father, intentions or attitude? What was her mother's attitude upon learning of this? And her family? The court? And what would the Xianbei people of Yan say?
All these things were like mountains, blocking the path between them, almost insurmountable. The closer Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying got to Youzhou, the heavier their hearts became. A sense of melancholy and an ominous premonition spread between them like a plague.
At this moment, Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying were both silent, riding slowly, as if the city of Youzhou were a giant vortex or a trap, making them hesitant to approach, and their journey increasingly difficult.
Ahead on the road, a carriage appeared. The carriage was stopped by the roadside, and a girl in green stood beside it.
Beside the girl in green was Zhou Fugui's old horse, which was warily looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Brother Fugui..."
The girl wore white underneath and a light green blouse on top. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, making her appear graceful and delicate, soft as jade and flowers. Her ten jade-like fingers, like spring onions, were clasped together, hidden in her sleeves, raised to her chest. Her demeanor was graceful and elegant, her posture serene and composed.
The girl called out softly, her voice clear and tender.
"Xiao Qing?" Zhou Fugui was incredibly surprised to see the girl. He spurred his horse, and it galloped forward.
Zhou Fugui galloped his horse to Xiao Qing, dismounted, opened his arms, and hugged Xiao Qing tightly.
"Brother Fugui..."
"Xiao Qing!"
Two people who had endured hardships and survived near-death experiences embraced each other tightly. Leaning against Zhou Fugui's strong chest, Xiao Qing couldn't help but shed tears, her worry and longing overwhelming her.
Shameless! Indecent!
Their intimacy caused Murong Huiying's brows to furrow. She tightly gripped her whip, about to lash out, but then felt it was inappropriate. Thus, Murong Huiying was neither able to stop them nor not stop them, and could only sit on her horse, sulking.
Zhou Fugui held Xiao Qing, her body soft and fragrant, in his arms for a long time, reluctant to let go. However, without turning his head, Zhou Fugui could feel two sharp gazes like knives sweeping across his back.
With great reluctance, Zhou Fugui released Xiao Qing's soft body. He then saw Xiao Yunu sitting in the carriage, peeking out through the crack in the door, looking at him timidly.
"Xiao Yunu?" Zhou Fugui said with surprise again, and then he embraced Xiao Yunu as well.
At this moment, with these two beautiful women, one older and one younger, by his side, he felt that this was reality.
At this moment, Xiao Qing and Xiao Yunu were like Zhou Fugui's own family.
"Big brother, Yunu thought you didn't want me anymore..." Xiao Yunu said in a childish voice, touching Zhou Fugui's cold iron armor.
"Heh heh..." Zhou Fugui chuckled and tapped Xiao Yunu's little nose. "Even if I didn't want myself, I could never abandon our Xiao Yunu."
"Mmm..." Xiao Yunu nodded heavily, sitting in Zhou Fugui's embrace.
"Xiao Qing, why did you come?" Zhou Fugui then asked Xiao Qing, holding Xiao Yunu.
"It was the Princess..." Xiao Qing replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fugui turned and looked gratefully at Murong Huiying, who was sulking.
Murong Huiying glared fiercely at Zhou Fugui.
"Xiao Qing, you..." Zhou Fugui then said apologetically to Xiao Qing. "Zhou Fugui is incapable and could not find your family. You have to return to Youzhou."
Youzhou was a place of sorrow for Xiao Qing. Zhou Fugui had intended to find her family in Jiangnan and hand her over to them, but in these times of war and chaos, how could that be easy? Moreover, Zhou Fugui had been leading troops in battle, fighting the Xia, which made it even more impossible.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui felt quite apologetic to Xiao Qing.
"Brother Fugui..." Xiao Qing said softly. "It's alright. Xiao Qing no longer has a home. Brother Fugui, Xiao Qing is willing to accompany you. Wherever you go, I will go."
It seemed Xiao Qing had mustered all her strength to say these words.
"Mmm..." Zhou Fugui nodded and said to Murong Huiying, who was walking over. "I have troubled Your Highness during these days. I am deeply grateful. Your Highness, the war is over. It is time to return Xiao Qing to me, isn't it?"
Xiao Qing's intentions were clear. She no longer wanted to be a palace maid or a servant, but simply to live a peaceful life.
"You wish!" Murong Huiying finally became enraged. She rode her horse to Zhou Fugui's side and said angrily, "What do you take me for? Someone who specifically looks after people for you? Xiao Qing is meticulous and clever, and I find her useful. I'm not willing to give her back to you."
"Zhou Fugui..." Murong Huiying, still on her horse, then smiled enchantingly and leaned down to whisper in Zhou Fugui's ear. "What I cannot have, no one else will ever get, hmph!"
With that, Murong Huiying spurred her horse away.