"Pfft!"
With a sword thrust, Zhou Fugui's sharp blade pierced through Prince Bian's abdomen and emerged from his back. Prince Bian's face registered disbelief as he slowly fell to the ground.
The people in the tent were instantly stunned, staring at the scene in a daze.
Everyone knew Prince Bian's fate would be tragic, but to be openly beheaded like this still shocked them greatly. They were also astonished by Zhou Fugui's ruthlessness.
With a handsome face and the demeanor of a friendly elder brother, yet so utterly savage? After taking Du Yongjian's head with his own hands, he then cruelly slew his son. Who knew how much more venom he harbored?
Among those in the tent, Lin Yue stood up in shock, speechless for a long while. Bai Chang's face was ashen, far paler than the White Impermanence. Xigaluo inwardly regretted not showing mercy earlier. Ye Guantian remained expressionless, calm and detached, as if nothing had happened.
"You surnamed Zhou, daring to draw your weapon before the Master? And to actually... to strike down your superior, to deal such a vicious blow? Quickly sheathe your weapon." Only Jin dared to reprimand Zhou Fugui, yet he did so in the manner of an elder chiding a junior, which was baffling to many.
Zhou Fugui glanced at those in the tent and deliberately wiped the blood from his blade with a piece of sheepskin. After he finished, he sheathed his sword and calmly said, "He who insults me dies."
Hearing this, the crowd seemed to understand, or at least grasp the context. Hadn't Prince Bian wanted to ride Zhou Fugui like a horse a few days ago? Now, he was merely taking an opportunity for revenge.
However, wasn't Zhou Fugui's tolerance too narrow-minded? Many thought to themselves.
"All of you, leave." Lin Yue said to Zhou Fugui.
Everyone then exited the tent, leaving only Lin Yue and Zhou Fugui inside.
Jin glanced at Lin Yue, then at Zhou Fugui, sighed, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside.
There's definitely something going on between them... many people thought.
"He was my husband," Lin Yue said, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Not anymore," Zhou Fugui replied with a shrug.
"Why?" Lin Yue asked, giving Zhou Fugui a sidelong glance.
"He's dead. Do you want a dead man as your husband?" Zhou Fugui countered.
"You..." Lin Yue said indignantly, "You are utterly shameless."
"Not so!" Zhou Fugui shook his head. "Propriety, righteousness, integrity, shame, filial piety, fraternity, loyalty, and trustworthiness are the eight virtues of man. I've known them since childhood and will abide by them."
Was he subtly mocking me, or implying he didn't want to associate with us? Lin Yue mused to herself, then sneered, "Is that so? Propriety, righteousness, integrity, shame, filial piety, fraternity, loyalty, and trustworthiness. I know them too, but are you truly living by them?"
"More or less," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
Zhou Fugui scoffed at trivial formalities, but he would never forget great principles and righteousness.
"Although he was not young, his mind was still that of a child. Yet you struck such a vicious blow. Where then are propriety, righteousness, integrity, shame, filial piety, fraternity, loyalty, and trustworthiness?" Lin Yue asked again.
"Though his mind was childlike, have you forgotten his status?" Zhou Fugui replied calmly.
If someone blocked his path, let alone Prince Bian, who was childlike in his intellect, Zhou Fugui might even have struck down an infant.
"Alas, Fugui, Lin Yue knows you mean well for me, but you are actually harming me. Do you know that?" Lin Yue sighed after a moment of stunned silence.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"You truly don't know?" Lin Yue retorted.
"I truly do not. Please, Your Majesty, enlighten me." Zhou Fugui addressed Lin Yue as "Your Majesty," yet he sat down on the queen's soft chair, resting his hands on his sword and asking with a smile.
Zhou Fugui's casual demeanor did not seem to anger Lin Yue. She even sat beside him, taking a silk scarf and began to wipe the bloodstains from his armor. As she did so, she said, "How can Lin Yue not understand the principle of cutting weeds by the root? But I just... killing him now would not convince the masses. I know in my heart that although they outwardly obey, many secretly harbor dissent. Keeping him alive now is better than killing him. By keeping him and controlling him, with the name of the Chanyu's son, I can command all the tribes. Otherwise, I do not have such great capability. You must understand, I am but a small woman."
"A small woman? A small woman who makes countless men grovel at your feet? You lack capability? Disperse the wealth of the dead to win hearts, perhaps?" Zhou Fugui said with a laugh. "So, it was my fault? I didn't consider things thoroughly... but I do have a remedy."
"You... you are truly cunning and sly, yet you say you didn't consider things thoroughly? I think you had it all figured out long ago?" Lin Yue asked joyfully, "What remedy?"
"Are slyness and cunning not the same thing?" Zhou Fugui pointed at Lin Yue's belly and said, "The strategy of 'replacing the prince with a fake.'"
"Replacing the prince with a fake? What does that mean?" Lin Yue slapped away Zhou Fugui's hand and asked in surprise.
"Ah, it's like this. Legend has it, there was an unfortunate emperor who had no sons, and in the imperial family, continuing the lineage was paramount..." Zhou Fugui replied.
Lin Yue interrupted before he could finish, "Just tell me what to do. Why are you telling me ancient tales? You're so long-winded, sly, cunning, and long-winded..."
"Interrupting others is impolite," Zhou Fugui said, also interrupting Lin Yue. "The thing in your belly, is it not the grandson of that fat pig, but the son of your short-lived husband?"
"What thing in my belly? You're talking nonsense! Lin Yue's belly... belly... there's nothing in the belly... huh?" Lin Yue scolded with a blush.
This plan was certainly brilliant. A mother's status rises with her son. Under the guise of a posthumous child, she could command the tribes. As for the deceased Prince Bian, Lin Yue could conceal the cause of his death, announcing to the outside world that Prince Bian had died of illness.
And the people outside were not fools; they wouldn't believe it, of course. But they would have to believe it, unless they could resist Lin Yue's army.
"I think you are wise in all things, but foolish in this moment..." Zhou Fugui said with a laugh. "Even if you were carrying a pig or a sheep, if you say it's a child, it is. Who would dare to disbelieve? It's just a cover-up, why take it seriously?"
"Hmph, you're the one carrying a pig or a sheep..." Lin Yue, though pleased, stood up and leaned over Zhou Fugui, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, her eyes sparkling with affection. She looked at Zhou Fugui and said, "I don't want a pig or a sheep, I want you..."
"Lin Yue cousin..." Zhou Fugui gently pushed Lin Yue away, stood up from the soft chair, and said, "At that time... I was truly helpless and offended you. But Zhou Fugui cannot make the same mistake again. I cannot be unfair to her."
"Her? Who is she?" Lin Yue stood up and asked coldly.
"Who is she? Does it concern you?" Zhou Fugui replied coldly.
"Then what am I to you?" Lin Yue asked again.
So he has a woman. It's understandable. Such a talented young man, few women in the world could refuse him. Lin Yue thought to herself. No wonder he always wanted to go back; someone to the south was waiting for him.
However, in life, things don't always go as planned. Eight out of ten things are not as you wish. She couldn't go back just because she wanted to, Lin Yue thought resentfully.
Zhou Fugui shook his head, remaining silent. After a long while, he finally said, "Lin Yue, you and I can never be."
"Why not?" Lin Yue asked again.
"Huyanhujun!" Zhou Fugui said loudly. "Can you abandon everything and return south with me?"
Huyanhujun was Lin Yue's personal name, rarely known. Yet Zhou Fugui knew it.
Murong Huiying, her name contained the character "Hui." Lin Yue did too. This meant Zhou Fugui was destined to be associated with the character "Hui"...
"So you are determined to go back, determined to leave me?" Lin Yue said coldly. "The grasslands are Lin Yue's home. Why should I follow you south? I am not going anywhere."
"It seems you still cannot let go of power," Zhou Fugui said with a shrug. "In that case, let us part ways. Huyanhujun, Zhou Fugui offended you unintentionally. I hope you will be magnanimous and forgive me."
"Forgive? Forgiveness is possible. From today onwards, you are not allowed to leave my side by even half a step, and I will forgive you." Lin Yue said coldly.
"Huyanhujun, I've said it before, a seven-foot man, how can he be subservient to a woman's skirt?" Zhou Fugui said angrily. "I have already done two things for you: killed the Great Chanyu Du Yongjian and his son. Why do you still refuse to let me go? Do you want to go back on your word? To be untrustworthy is the mark of a petty man!"
"Hahaha!" Lin Yue laughed instead of getting angry. "Petty man? Lin Yue doesn't know about petty men. Lin Yue only knows she is a woman, a woman you have humiliated... Going back on my word? What promise did I make to you? Did any third party know? Even if a third party knew, so what? If I don't let you go, you won't be able to leave the grasslands for even half a step."
"I... you... damn you..." Zhou Fugui's face turned red with anger, sputtering curses.
The world says women and petty people are hard to deal with! Zhou Fugui felt it should be that women and petty people are hard to serve and hard to extricate oneself from!
"Slap!" Zhou Fugui then slapped his thigh and said resentfully, "You can hold me for a while, but not for a lifetime. But if I get the chance, Zhou Fugui will escape!"
"Humph, in that case, I will sever your legs," Lin Yue snorted coldly.
"I still have my hands. I will crawl back if necessary," Zhou Fugui refused to yield.
"I will sever your hands and keep you alive to accompany Lin Yue," Lin Yue said coldly.
"Fine, fine..." Zhou Fugui, enraged, pointed at Lin Yue and said, "Kill me or flay me, as you please. But as long as Zhou Fugui has breath, I will return south. Even if I die, my soul will return."
"I have a Great Priest who can forever suppress your soul on the grasslands," Lin Yue said.
"Pfft!" Zhou Fugui spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this...
Lin Yue's words had nearly caused Zhou Fugui to suffer internal injuries from anger...