Finally, news of him arrived!
Zhou Fugui had gone to the Xiongnu royal court, wreaking havoc there and stirring up quite a commotion.
Murong Huiying, the legitimate daughter of the Left Virtuous King of the Great Yan Kingdom, Murong Bolie, Princess Ziyue, upon receiving news of Zhou Fugui, though still worried, and increasingly so, was finally glad to have word of him. It was far better than months of complete silence.
At the same time, Murong Huiying felt a hint of pride. The man she had chosen was clearly not one to be mediocre, not an unknown figure, wherever he went.
The capital, Yanjing City, had already received the news. It was likely that Zhou Fugui's name had now spread across the land.
However, he was too much of a troublemaker, to actually storm the Xiongnu royal court? This would undoubtedly incite the Xiongnu to a furious hunt, Murong Huiying thought with renewed worry.
"Yingying, what are you thinking about?" asked Madam Helou, the wife of the Prince's Mansion, seeing the fluctuating emotions on her daughter's pretty face, from joy to sorrow, from red to pale.
"Nothing," replied Murong Huiying.
Madam Helou gazed at Murong Huiying for a moment, then said softly, "Such a man can be considered a hero, barely worthy of the legitimate daughter of our Prince's Mansion, my daughter."
"Eji..." Murong Huiying, hearing this, happily threw herself into Madam Helou's embrace.
What was Eji thinking today? Coming to find her in the dead of night and saying things so different from usual. What had happened? Murong Huiying wondered in surprise.
In the past, whenever Murong Huiying mentioned Zhou Fugui, Madam Helou would either scold her or refuse to speak of it, never showing a good expression.
"Daughter..." Madam Helou gently said, embracing Murong Huiying, "Eji has three sons, yet only you, my daughter. How could Eji not dote on you? Your father is the same. Everything done before was for your own good. Your father and I are content as long as you live a safe and happy life."
"Eji, Yingying understands..." Murong Huiying hid her face in her mother's chest, gently caressing it, and said, "How could Yingying not understand? But Eji... Yingying only wishes to be with him, together forever. Even if we lived an ordinary life, your daughter would never regret it. Even if she were to die, your daughter would never regret it."
Wishing to be birds flying wing-to-wing in heaven, and branches intertwined on earth, Murong Huiying was now deeply immersed in love, unable to extricate herself. After such a long separation, her love and longing for him had only grown stronger.
Murong Huiying expected her Eji to scold her again after she spoke those words.
But to her surprise, Madam Helou gently stroked her hair and said, "Yingying, go. Go find him."
If it were a Han Chinese aristocratic family, even if they felt some sympathy and tenderness for their daughter, for the sake of the family and the reputation of their noble lineage, they would never yield. They would even force their own daughter to death or tie her to a sedan chair, sparing no effort.
The people of the steppes were different. The women of the steppes pursued their love and happiness fearlessly; this was considered a beautiful tale, not something to be scorned.
Although the Xianbei established their kingdom in the Central Plains, they were still people of the steppes at heart.
There was also another important reason: the matter of the Crown Princess.
When Madam Helou learned that Crown Prince Cheng of Yan had an interest in her daughter, she was immediately startled, her reaction being surprise rather than joy.
The Crown Prince, as the heir apparent to the nation, looking favorably upon Murong Huiying would, under normal circumstances, be a good thing. The reason was self-evident: if the Crown Prince inherited the throne, Murong Huiying would very likely become the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom. The distance from the Crown Prince's principal consort to Empress was but a single step.
But what was the current situation of the Great Yan Kingdom? The various factions were locked in a fierce struggle for the throne, a struggle that had reached a point of no return, a life-or-death situation. The palace environment was extremely dangerous.
At this moment, for Madam Helou's own daughter, Murong Huiying, to marry the Crown Prince, wasn't this akin to pushing her into a fiery pit? It was even worse, practically equivalent to pushing Murong Huiying into the eighteenth level of hell.
Empress Murong Qing had been contending for the position of heir apparent for many years and was already at loggerheads with the Eastern Palace faction. If the Empress's faction emerged victorious, the fate awaiting Crown Prince Cheng and his supporters would be utterly tragic. It was feared that at that time, Murong Huiying would not only be denied the position of Crown Princess but would live worse than a mere servant, facing even a mortal peril. This was not an unfounded fear; the consequences for the losers in the struggle for imperial power throughout history were evident.
Once one enters the palace gate, it is as deep as the sea. Even if Crown Prince Cheng were to win, would Murong Huiying's life be any easier? That remained to be seen!
Moreover, Crown Prince Cheng was a man as foolish as a pig and unrestrained in his conduct.
Madam Helou, as the wife of the Left Virtuous King's Mansion, had some understanding of these matters. Therefore, Madam Helou would rather Murong Huiying pursue her own happiness, go find that Han man, and flee as far as possible, away from this place of trouble and this dangerous situation, rather than push her into a fiery pit.
However, in times of chaos, not even chickens and dogs could find peace, let alone people! In this vast world, no one was absolutely safe.
"Eji, what do you mean? What has happened?" Murong Huiying, her expression more worried than pleased, asked Madam Helou.
"Don't ask, just go quickly. Leave tonight. Go as far as possible. You can go to your father's place, or no... you can't go to your father's place. Better to go find him. In short, go far away, and don't come back," Madam Helou said, shaking her head.
Take advantage of the fact that the court had not yet issued an official decree. Leave tonight, otherwise, once the imperial edict was issued, it would be impossible to leave.
And she couldn't go to Murong Bolie's place. Murong Bolie was a loyal minister. If Murong Huiying went there, she might be sent back to the capital.
"Eji..." Murong Huiying wept, holding Madam Helou.
...
"Eji, the people are here," said Murong Huiying's elder brother, Murong Zhi, and second brother, Murong Ya, who were away campaigning with their father. In the capital, only Madam Helou, her mother and daughter, and Murong Rui remained. Murong Rui, on his mother's orders, had found eight guards from the Prince's Mansion.
These eight guards were from the Huolie Battalion. Each was highly skilled in martial arts, adept at archery and horsemanship, and a skilled warrior. They were also fiercely loyal to Murong Bolie.
They were tasked with protecting Murong Huiying.
"Eji..." Murong Rui, drowsily roused from his sleep by Madam Helou, felt a sense of disbelief and asked, "Why the rush? Can't Ziyue leave in the morning? And... and is it appropriate to leave like this?"
"What's appropriate or not? It concerns your sister's life, and you're still so indecisive?" Madam Helou glared at Murong Rui.
"You all grew up under the Murong family," Madam Helou then said to the eight guards, "Ying'er's safety is entrusted to all of you."
"Princess, rest assured. We will protect the Princess's safety even unto death," the eight loyal guards replied in unison.
Madam Helou nodded and instructed Murong Rui, "Take the Prince's Mansion token and escort your sister out of the city. After she leaves, return immediately. Do not linger in the city."
Murong Rui was different from his elder and second brothers. He did not practice martial arts or lead troops. He spent his days with his group of friends, indulging in antiques, calligraphy, paintings, rare treasures, and other curios. Therefore, he could not escort Murong Huiying. It was possible that Murong Rui might even need Murong Huiying to look after him outside.
Youzhou enforced a curfew. However, possessing the token of the Left Virtuous King's Mansion made a significant difference. Kuaishuge.
"No need for more words. Hurry," Madam Helou waved her hand as Murong Huiying still seemed to want to say something.
Murong Bolie had fought battles all his life, and Madam Helou had been a formidable female general in her youth. Her actions were decisive and resolute.
"Eji..." Murong Huiying, disguised as a man, threw herself forward and wept bitterly into Madam Helou's embrace.
Murong Huiying knew that this parting meant an uncertain reunion, and whether she could return to the Left Virtuous King's Mansion was unknown. Naturally, she was deeply reluctant.
At the time, she had resented her mother for obstructing her relationship with Zhou Fugui. But they were mother and daughter, connected by blood. Now, as they were about to separate, there was an immense reluctance.
...
"Thump... thump... thump..."
In the dead of night, the back door of the Left Virtuous King's Mansion opened. A group of ten people, leading their horses, exited the back door. They then mounted their horses and galloped towards the north gate of Youzhou City, the sound of hooves breaking the silence of the night.
The night patrols and soldiers within Youzhou City would naturally stop and question them. Upon seeing the token of the Left Virtuous King's Mansion, they were all allowed to pass.
The Left Virtuous King held significant military power and was a commander-in-chief. No one could afford to delay military affairs.
"Who goes there?"
As Murong Huiying, Murong Rui, and the eight guards galloped their horses towards the north city gate, the sounds of sabers being drawn and arrows being strung echoed from the top and bottom of the gate, and someone loudly shouted a challenge.
No matter which city it was, the defenses near the city gates were exceptionally strict, especially in the capital of a nation.
With a single misstep, they could face a volley of arrows. Murong Rui became somewhat fearful, shrinking his neck and looking at Murong Huiying.
Murong Huiying rolled her eyes at Murong Rui, signaling that there was nothing to be afraid of, and gestured for him to step forward and answer normally.
"I am Murong Rui, son of the Left Virtuous King, ordered to leave the city on official business," Murong Rui replied loudly, holding up the token of the Left Virtuous King's Mansion and spurring his horse forward.
"So it is the Third Young Master. Why are you leaving the city so late at night?" the guards at the city gate were different from the night patrols within the city. They were directly under the command of the imperial guards, that is, the emperor's personal army. A gate-guard captain still asked with lingering suspicion.
"Why... why?" Murong Rui stammered.
"I said I was on official business. Do I need to tell you, a mere gate guard, why it is official business?" Murong Huiying, helpless, had to answer with a pinched voice, like a eunuch...
"Yes, yes..." Murong Rui held up the token and said, "If you do not recognize me, Murong Rui, do you not recognize this token?"
The gate captain, upon hearing this, took the token and examined it carefully before preparing to let them pass.
"Wait!"
Just then, a Yan general in his thirties, leading over a hundred cavalry, galloped forward and loudly ordered them to stop.