"Ga... ga... ga..."
At the manor of the Left Virtuous King, Murong Bole, the second round of martial arts performances was underway. It was archery, though the Yan people called shooting geese "shooting honghu" because the words for Yan (goose) and Yan (state of Yan) were homophones.
Geese flying in the sky were naturally much more difficult targets than sheep running on the ground. Thus, a group of young lords drew their bows and nocked their arrows, letting loose a volley. Very few geese were hit. The startled geese merely cried out and flew about in disarray.
However, among the young lords, there were a few outstanding individuals who shot down many geese. These included Ono Hanashi, the son of General Da Yejian; Yuwen Hu, the son of Lord Beibu Yuwen Tuluo; and Lou Gan, the son of Lord Dibuluo Zan, among more than ten others. None of them were Han Chinese; all were Xianbei.
Some Han Chinese officials and their sons were also among the guests at the Xiutou Festival feast. However, in terms of horsemanship and archery, they were utterly outmatched.
Murong Bole, the favored son-in-law of the Heluo clan and husband of Murong Huiying, would likely be chosen from these more than ten young men. Ono Hanashi was a strong contender due to his relatively handsome appearance and well-proportioned physique.
Murong Bole waved his hand, and Ono Hanashi, Yuwen Hu, Lou Gan, and the other ten-odd young lords rushed over, breathless and drenched in sweat, standing before Murong Bole, his wife, and Murong Huiying.
"Yingying, what do you think? Who can steal you?" Murong Bole then asked Murong Huiying with a smile.
The Xiutou Festival was a game of 'stealing,' and noble families naturally did not permit others to 'steal' their wives or daughters. Exceptions were made with permission. Murong Bole's question was essentially asking Murong Huiying whom she favored, and who would be permitted to 'steal' her. This 'stealing' did not refer to infidelity, but rather to capturing one's heart.
Hearing this, the hearts of the ten-odd young lords pounded. They all turned to look at Murong Huiying, and some had already begun fantasizing about intimate moments with her...
"Father, Mother..." Murong Huiying smiled slightly, her face placid as she said, "Ziyue wishes to examine them further. What do you think?"
"Yingying, what do you want to do?" asked Heluo clan, displeased. "Are these outstanding young men not to your liking?"
"My lady, marriage is a serious matter, and must be approached with caution," Murong Bole said, waving his hand to stop Heluo clan. He turned to Murong Huiying and continued, "Yingying, what else do you wish for? Today, your father will grant your wish."
In reality, as long as it wasn't Zhou Fugui, Murong Bole and his wife would agree. What harm was there in Murong Huiying wanting to test these remaining ten-odd young lords? Through various tests, someone was bound to pass, or so Murong Bole and his wife believed.
This also highlighted the difference between the Xianbei and the Han. For the Han, choosing a son-in-law was almost entirely dependent on the parents' decree and the words of the matchmaker, with the children having almost no say. Among the Xianbei, however, some consideration was given to the children's opinions.
Murong Huiying smiled charmingly upon hearing this and nodded. She then sat back down. Her two maids held up two rolls of white silk. One read, "Compose a poem each, using 'sheep' and 'goose' as your theme." The other read, "Write three chapters from Sun Tzu's Art of War; whoever succeeds wins."
The young lords were immediately dumbfounded, staring blankly at the scrolls, their eyes vacant.
If they were asked to ride and shoot, they certainly could. They could even kill and set fires. But to compose poetry and recite Sun Tzu's Art of War? That was asking for their lives.
Some of them could barely recognize a full Chinese character, let alone compose poetry or recite Sun Tzu's Art of War. Asking them to do so was more painful than killing them.
Among the prospective suitors who had come to seek marriage with the Left Virtuous King's mansion were some Han men. They could compose poetry, but their equestrian and archery skills were mediocre.
"What do you mean by this?"
"We are proud people of Great Yan, not southern barbarians. Why should we compose poetry?"
"What is Sun Tzu's Art of War? My grandfather's war art? We don't understand. We only know that the swords and bows in our hands are our strategies."
"If you don't want to hold a bride-choosing ceremony, just say so. Why concoct such a bizarre plan? It's disgusting."
"In our Great Xianbei, we don't hold bride-choosing ceremonies like this! It's an insult!"
"You Left Virtuous King's manor are bullying us with your power, but we are not to be trifled with!"
"..."
The young lords then began to clamor loudly, some even cursing. Several high officials and important ministers also stood up and loudly condemned the proceedings, leaving Murong Bole and Heluo clan looking bewildered and embarrassed, exchanging glances, unsure of how to proceed.
"What nonsense are you all making?" Murong Chi, a man of fiery temper, saw his parents and younger sister in an awkward situation. He stood up and shouted, "You don't recognize poetry and song, and you still have the audacity to clamor here? My younger sister wants to test your ability to compose poetry, so what?"
"Exactly, exactly," Murong Rui jumped up in agreement with his brother. "Who says a bride-choosing ceremony can't test poetry and song? Which law states that?"
Murong Yang, Murong Huiying's second elder brother, was a steady person. He tugged at Murong Chi's sleeve and smiled, "Every temple has its own deity, and every family has its own rules. If you are unwilling, you can discuss it. If discussion fails, you can also leave. No one is forcing you."
"Leave? Why should we leave? Treating us like monkeys for amusement? What outrageousness!" Ono Hanashi said indignantly.
"Yes, we are not leaving today. We will demand an explanation from your Left Virtuous King's manor."
The young lords once again clamored in agreement.
At this moment, Murong Huiying finally stood up gracefully. She performed a Xianbei courtesy with elegant poise and said, "To be Ziyue's husband, one must possess worldly talent and the strength to move heaven. Do you think killing a few sheep and shooting a few geese is enough to be Ziyue's husband, the Eastern Bed of the Prince of Guanning? You are far too overconfident!"
"Hahaha!" The young lords who had not been shortlisted, along with the people of the Left Virtuous King's manor, burst into laughter, looking at Ono Hanashi and the other ten-odd young lords with schadenfreude.
"Worldly talent and strength to move heaven" thus became a legendary tale of Murong Huiying, the most beautiful woman in Great Yan and Princess Ziyue.
The ten-odd young lords, including Ono Hanashi, were left speechless by this remark. They retreated in shame and left the Left Virtuous King's manor in anger.
...
"You, you, you, you unfilial son... You've truly disappointed me, disgraced me completely. Where will I ever show my old face again?" After the guests dispersed in disappointment, Heluo clan pointed at Murong Huiying, furious. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? Are you still thinking of that Han slave?"
Murong Huiying remained stubbornly silent, neither denying nor admitting it.
"What disgrace is there?" Murong Bole walked over and sternly rebuked Heluo clan. "My daughter, Murong Bole's daughter, how can her standards be anything but high? Ordinary people are beneath her notice."
With the master speaking, Heluo clan dared not say more, merely glaring resentfully at Murong Huiying.
"Daughter, come with me later," Murong Bole said to Murong Huiying.
Murong Bole's attitude was amiable, and his expression was kind. Her heart secretly rejoiced. With a happy step, she followed Murong Bole into an inner chamber.
Before leaving, Murong Huiying stuck out her tongue at Heluo clan, leaving her mother-in-law amused and frustrated.
...
"Yingying..." In the inner chamber, Murong Bole looked at Murong Huiying and asked, "Worldly talent and strength to move heaven. Does that person truly possess such capabilities?"
"Yes, daughter is convinced," Murong Huiying nodded without hesitation.
"Convinced does not mean it is necessarily true," Murong Bole said, shaking his head. He took out several letters and handed them to Murong Huiying. "Take them and read them."
The letters were, of course, written by Zhou Fugui to Murong Huiying, but Murong Bole had kept them for a long time.
"Fugui... you...? Hehe..." Murong Huiying took the letters in confusion. Seeing that they were from Zhou Fugui, her eyes welled up with tears. Then, on the first page of the letter, she saw a red heart with an arrowhead inserted into it. This made her laugh.
Murong Huiying understood the meaning of the red heart. However, she didn't understand the meaning of an arrowhead in it. She presumed it was a symbol of his longing.
"Fugui..." Indeed, the letter was filled with Zhou Fugui's yearning and words of comfort for her. After reading it, Murong Huiying felt both joy and sadness in her heart, wishing she could fly to Xue Lin City immediately.
"Zhou Fugui is merely a guard," Murong Bole said slowly after Murong Huiying had calmed down. "He is stationed at the border in Xue Lin City and can hardly return. Or rather... he faces a ninety-nine percent chance of death, with little hope of survival. Yingying, do you still feel the same?"
Why did Huyan Sheng value Zhou Fugui so highly? Murong Bole mused inwardly.
"Father, daughter is willing," Murong Huiying said firmly, tears in her eyes.
"Mm, Yingying..." Murong Bole stared at Murong Huiying blankly. After a long pause, he said, "Only after ten trials and nine hardships do we know the impermanence of the world. Only after facing near-certain death can we comprehend the true path of humanity. May he be like a phoenix reborn."
"Mm..." Murong Huiying nodded.
Zhou Fugui. At this moment, Murong Huiying only wished him well. As for wealth, she did not dare to think of it further.
"Yingying, what are your views on the current situation?" Murong Bole asked after a while.
"Father..." Murong Huiying pondered for a moment and replied, "Peace abroad, danger within. Father should leave the dangerous capital and lead troops outside. This way, many troubles and perils can be avoided."
Murong Huiying was exceptionally intelligent and adept at strategizing, always being a great help to Murong Bole. Murong Bole nodded and asked, "Where should I go?"
"Changshan," Murong Huiying replied.
Changshan Commandery was Murong Bole's fiefdom, where his family had deep roots.
"Mm, have I not considered it?" Murong Bole nodded and sighed. "But Yingying, I cannot leave now. I am not my own master. And if I leave, what about you all?"
"If Father leads troops outside, who would dare to harm us?" Murong Huiying said with a charming smile.