"I... you... alas, Miss Yuan, what do you think of this matter... alas, what is this?"
In the bridal chamber meticulously prepared by the mountain bandits, Zhou Fugui, clad in his wedding robes, was at a loss for words, stammering incoherently.
Red festive characters were pasted on the windows, and auspicious couplets, such as "May you be united in love," "A hundred years of harmony," and "Until old age do you part," adorned the doorframes. Naturally, there was a wedding bed in the chamber. Upon the bed lay two quilts of bright red satin, and on the pair of pillows were embroidered festive patterns like "Mandarin ducks playing in the water" and "Dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity."
Yuan Meiyu, her face hidden by a red veil, sat gracefully at the head of the bed, awaiting Zhou Fugui to lift the veil.
Outside the window, the north wind howled, and snow fell in a blizzard, creating an intensely cold environment. Yet, the biting cold outside could not extinguish the warmth within the room.
Yuan Meiyu did not reply, merely sitting quietly at the head of the bed.
Having been occupied all day, Zhou Fugui felt exceptionally weary. Seeing Yuan Meiyu's lack of reaction, he simply sat down heavily on the bed, but far from her.
Zhou Fugui sat on the bed, sighing, making no move to lift Yuan Meiyu's red veil.
Up to this very moment, Zhou Fugui still had no intention of going through with the marriage.
If Zhou Fugui were to marry Yuan Meiyu, how could he face Murong Huiying?
At this thought of Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui's heart was filled with a wave of sweetness and warmth.
After such a long time, he wondered how she was. Was she doing well? Zhou Fugui's mind involuntarily recalled every moment spent with Murong Huiying.
We met, we knew each other, we fell in love. Virtual messages across a thousand miles, dialogues both real and false, you promised me dreams that came true, and I pledged my devotion.
When Zhou Fugui first met Murong Huiying, he was merely a lowly conscript in the Han army, while Murong Huiying was the esteemed Princess Ziyue of the Yan Kingdom. The disparity in their status and position was like heaven and earth; one was above the clouds, supremely noble, while the other struggled at the very bottom.
Yet, Murong Huiying paid no mind to Zhou Fugui's lowly status and position. Her heart was already pledged to him, even offering herself to him, though it was partly by chance.
After Zhou Fugui committed a heinous crime and entered Bijin City, Murong Huiying's feelings remained unchanged. She was still deeply in love with Zhou Fugui. Such profound affection and devotion were something Zhou Fugui could never repay in this lifetime. Such deep love was worthy of Zhou Fugui's steadfast commitment.
If I betray Yingying, am I even human? Do I still have the face to continue living? Zhou Fugui mused inwardly.
"On such a joyous occasion, why is the groom so?" After a long while, Yuan Meiyu softly asked.
"Ah? Nothing... Nothing..." Zhou Fugui, startled from his reverie by Yuan Meiyu's voice, replied, "Miss Yuan, please do not address me as such."
"Zhou Fugui..." Hearing this, Yuan Meiyu felt both sad and angry. She removed her red veil and looked at Zhou Fugui with her beautiful eyes, saying, "Am I so unappealing? Do I disgust you so much?"
"Miss Yuan, your words are misguided!" Zhou Fugui replied, lowering his head. "To each their own when it comes to beauty and desire! Miss Yuan, you are exceedingly beautiful, and I am not a gentleman. Not only that, but in truth, in truth, I... I am rather lustful. How could I not be moved by you? Moreover, Miss Yuan, you are my savior. How could I betray your kindness? But Miss Yuan, my heart already belongs to another. What is to be done?"
"Hmph, is it that foreign girl?" Yuan Meiyu, seeing that Zhou Fugui would not even look at her, became even more saddened and annoyed. She let out a cold snort and asked.
Zhou Fugui nodded at her words.
"Why is that? Am I not as good as that foreign girl?" Yuan Meiyu stared at Zhou Fugui and said, "I see. That foreign girl is the daughter of a high official, while I am merely a mountain bandit..."
As Yuan Meiyu spoke, tears of sorrow began to fall.
"Alas, Miss Yuan, why must you do this?" Zhou Fugui looked up at Yuan Meiyu and said, "Do you think I am a sycophant? You are mistaken, gravely mistaken! Though I come from humble origins, I disdain such self-serving actions. If I were seeking favor, I would not have killed over two hundred Xianbei people, nor would I have delayed my marriage to her..."
Murong Huiying's family disapproved of the marriage. However, Zhou Fugui, with a thick skin, had gone to plead his case. Perhaps the marriage could still happen, or at worst, he could elope with Murong Huiying.
But such shameless behavior was something Zhou Fugui could not bring himself to do.
"What? You're not married yet? You... you... you're simply a liar, not a word you say is true." Yuan Meiyu's expression immediately shifted from anger to joy, at least inwardly, she felt a secret delight. She looked at Zhou Fugui and chided him.
As long as you are not married, I will keep you confined in the mountain stronghold. In three to five years, after we have a child or two, let's see how you can escape? Yuan Meiyu thought shyly.
A woman raised in a bandit's den is different from other women...
"Ah? This..." Zhou Fugui, having let slip the truth, hastily explained, "Though I am not married to her, it's not because I am unwilling. We have long been in love. The reason we are not married is due to worldly obstacles and differences in social standing. And... Miss Yuan, though we are not married, we... we have already consummated our marriage... In that case, how can I betray her?"
Damn it all, Zhou Fugui felt incredibly aggrieved. He couldn't help but curse inwardly. It would have been better to keep this a secret, then go through with it with Yuan Meiyu... and then button up his pants, leave, and be done with it. Now, the more he explained, the more he felt he couldn't clarify things, and he had even revealed such a private matter to her...
"You... you scoundrel, you lecher, you debaucher..." Yuan Meiyu was instantly enraged and began to curse Zhou Fugui incessantly. Zhou Fugui's face turned red, and he even felt a sense of shame and anger.
"Miss Yuan, now you should understand why I insisted on refusing, right?" After a long pause, once Yuan Meiyu had finished her tirade, Zhou Fugui asked.
"I don't understand, and I don't care!" Yuan Meiyu suddenly broke into a smile, moved closer to Zhou Fugui, and nestled against him, purring, "My dear husband, I don't care about... these things. A man can have three wives and four concubines, it's not that..."
"You don't care, but I do!" Zhou Fugui finally became angry and glared at Yuan Meiyu, saying, "Marrying you today is betraying Yingying. If I were to feign affection and consummate our marriage, I would be harming you. Do you still not understand?"
"I don't care either!" Yuan Meiyu looked at Zhou Fugui and said with a sweet smile, "Whether you are sincere or feigning, I don't care, nor am I afraid. I, this grandmother, have never been afraid of anything in my life. Am I going to be afraid of you today?"
"I... you... really..." Zhou Fugui's shoulders slumped like a deflated balloon, and he sat back down on the bed.
Bandits, truly bandits, Zhou Fugui lamented inwardly.
"My dear husband, do you truly not care for me?" After trying her assertive approach, Yuan Meiyu switched to a softer tactic, employing both hard and soft methods. With teary eyes, she looked at Zhou Fugui and purred, "Do you really not care for this servant?"
"Fine then, if you are willing to be a concubine, then be one. I don't really mind," Zhou Fugui, utterly speechless, shrugged his shoulders and said irritably.
"Zhou Fugui, do you think I am that kind of person?" Yuan Meiyu was instantly furious, her eyebrows bristling. She glared at Zhou Fugui and said angrily.
What kind of person is this? Her mood changes faster than flipping a book. However, even so, Zhou Fugui dared not do anything to Yuan Meiyu, at least not within the stronghold of Feilong Mountain. He muttered to himself and then chuckled slyly, "Do you think becoming my concubine is that easy? I still need her permission..."
"Clang!" Yuan Meiyu became even more furious. She reached under the bright red brocade quilt, drew a short sword, unsheathed it, and pointed it at Zhou Fugui, asking, "What is so good about that foreign girl that you can't stop thinking about her? Today, you must tell me clearly, do you want her or me?"
Hidden weapons in the bridal chamber! It seemed Yuan Meiyu had planned a confrontation in the bridal chamber today...
The short sword, glinting coldly, pointed directly at Zhou Fugui's nose. This startled him, but he maintained a calm facade and said, "What kind of person am I? I am one who cannot be subdued by might nor corrupted by wealth. Can such a small weapon truly scare me?"
"Pfft!" Yuan Meiyu couldn't help but chuckle at Zhou Fugui's attempt to appear composed. She sheathed her sword and said, "You say you cannot be corrupted by wealth? You have entangled so many women! I see you as a lecher... a lecher... Alright, my dear husband, I will compromise one last time. She will be the concubine, and I will be the wife. This is my absolute bottom line. You are not allowed to negotiate further."
What about entangled so many women? Did I entangle you? Zhou Fugui thought to himself. He was utterly helpless against such an unreasonable woman, feeling extremely headache.
"Alas, Miss Yuan, shouldn't things follow the principle of first come, first served?" Yuan Meiyu put away her sword, and Zhou Fugui decided to cut his losses. Otherwise, two transparent holes in his body would not be pleasant to endure. He said patiently and with a gentle smile, "Yingying is a good woman, and I cannot betray her."
"So her name is Yingying. Hmph, what kind of woman is she?" This was the second time Zhou Fugui had mentioned Murong Huiying's nickname. Yuan Meiyu snorted and asked.
"Hmm, please listen as I recount it to you." Zhou Fugui nodded and said.
Thus, Zhou Fugui recounted every detail of his experiences with Murong Huiying to Yuan Meiyu.
Zhou Fugui's narration was detailed and captivating, causing Yuan Meiyu to listen intently. The wedding night passed quickly, and the pair of large red candles had almost burned out.
"Alas, she has not had it easy either..." Yuan Meiyu sighed after listening.
"Mmm..." Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
"Someone is attacking the stronghold! Someone is attacking the stronghold!"
"Quickly grab your weapons and defend the battlements!"
At this moment, shouts erupted from within the stronghold. Feilong Mountain's stronghold was in chaos, like a boiling pot. No one knew what had happened.
Zhou Fugui and Yuan Meiyu, startled by the commotion, jumped off the bed together.