"Boom... boom... boom..."
"Dong... dong... dong..."
In Youzhou City, Yan Jing Shi, drums, gongs, and the melodious sounds of various musical instruments echoed, creating a festive uproar.
The people of Youzhou City flocked towards the lively sounds.
"Brother, what's happening?"
"Are you new to the capital?"
"Yes, yes, what's going on?"
"The Crown Prince is getting married!"
"The Crown Prince is getting married? Didn't the new Emperor just ascend the throne? He has a Crown Prince already?"
"He's talking nonsense. It's the deposed Crown Prince, the King of Lelang is getting married!"
"Oh, whose daughter is it?"
"The daughter of the Left Virtuous King!"
"What? The daughter of Zuo Xian Wang Murong Bole? This... this is like stabbing someone's heart!"
"Hush, speak carefully, lest walls have ears! I heard they've arrested quite a few people recently!"
"Where are the walls on this street? So what if they heard? Can tyrannical power silence the world's gossip? Hey, hey, brother, why are you running?"
"..."
"Good sir, what do you want to say?"
"Hmph, the Left Virtuous King was loyal to the country, defended the borders, and benefited the people. Who knew he would end up like this, and his daughter is being forced..."
"Lowlife, come with us!"
"Ah? Officer... who are you?"
"Who? Jinci Alah! Stop chattering and move!"
"Tyrannical power can't silence the world's gossip... Bang! Bang! Bang! Mmph... mmph... mmph..."
"..."
From then on, no one dared to discuss state affairs rashly. They merely went to watch the spectacle.
"Bring out the bride!" Murong Fu, dressed in wedding robes, shouted loudly in front of the residence of his maternal uncle, Murong Fu.
The Left Virtuous King's mansion had been burned to ashes. Empress Dowager Murong Qing decreed that Murong Huiying would depart from the State Uncle's residence and marry Murong Cheng, the King of Lelang.
Upon receiving the decree, the State Uncle Murong Fu spared no effort in arranging the matter, making it extremely grand and festive, even more so than if he were marrying off his own daughter. This, however, drew immense contempt from the onlookers. The reason was obvious: they despised Murong Fu for his opportunism, his sycophancy, and his disregard for past affections. It was rumored that Murong Fu was inextricably linked to Murong Bole's failed conspiracy.
However, Murong Fu remained unfazed. Dressed in wedding robes, he stood joyfully before the bridal tent. Unsuspecting onlookers might truly believe he was marrying off his own daughter.
"Bring out the bride!" Murong Fu sang. After everyone had cheered three times, Murong Huiying, clad in a crimson wedding gown, was helped out.
Xianbei brides did not wear veils; instead, they wore ornate headbands. Murong Huiying's expression was serene, and her peerless beauty stunned everyone.
Several maids helped Murong Huiying towards a decorated horse, adorned with gold stirrups, golden saddle, and draped with colorful silks and brocades.
According to Xianbei wedding customs, mounting this decorated horse signified leaving the maiden home.
At this moment, all musical instruments ceased playing. The civil and military officials, officers, and soldiers silently watched Murong Huiying, who was about to become the Princess of Lelang.
This was a fiery pit, not a blessed place. Once Murong Huiying became the Princess of Lelang, she would face not happiness, but the beginning of hardship, an extremely bitter journey, possibly even a threat to her life.
Therefore, the civil and military officials, officers, and soldiers regarded Murong Huiying with sympathetic eyes, feeling immense pity.
Such a woman, as ethereal as a celestial being, had fallen into such a tragic predicament.
"My dear niece Yingying..." As Murong Huiying was about to mount the horse, Murong Fu said to her, "Your father and I were like brothers, yet... alas! I wish you well on your journey. People say that entering the palace is like descending into the sea, but it's not that terrible. Serve the Prince well, serve the Empress Dowager well, and there will be room for maneuver."
Murong Fu sighed deeply and shed a few tears.
"Thank you, Uncle..." Murong Huiying replied faintly, "Did you drink the Da Hei Tai blood with my father?"
After speaking, Murong Huiying no longer paid attention to the stunned Murong Fu. With the assistance of her maids, she mounted the decorated horse and slowly proceeded towards the palace.
Drinking Da Hei Tai blood was a Xianbei form of oath-taking, a blood pact, with blood as proof and faith. Violating the oath would inevitably bring a bloody misfortune.
Murong Huiying was telling Murong Fu that betraying his oath would bring him bloody misfortune and a terrible end. Furthermore, making a blood pact with someone meant becoming their staunch ally. In the eyes of the Empress Dowager, this would make her untrustworthy, at least not absolutely trusted, and possibly even subject to the Empress Dowager Murong Qing's retribution later.
If even the Da Hei Tai blood pact could be broken, what else could not?
"Clouds swirl upon the grasslands, geese spread their wings towards the south. At the foot of the fragrant grass, autumn grows cool. A daughter marries and goes afar, tearfully bidding farewell to loved ones."
Xianbei wedding customs had their unique features. Besides the resounding drums and gongs, there were also songs and dances for merriment. The escorts sang and danced, though their songs sounded somewhat mournful.
"Boom... boom... boom..."
"Dong... dong... dong..."
"Clatter! Crash!"
"Ouch! Who is it?"
"Scram!"
"Hee-haw! Hee-haw!"
"Ah? Is someone attempting a bride snatching?"
As the wedding procession slowly moved forward, a sudden commotion arose from ahead of the procession, with shouts and neighing horses, like a boiling pot. The attendants, carrying their respective drums, banners, and colorful flags, were flung to the sides of the street, with drums, banners, and flags scattering everywhere.
The Xianbei had a custom of bride snatching, sometimes even during weddings, not as a genuine act of abduction but for amusement.
However, this was no bride snatching today!
The reason was that after the attendants carrying their drums, banners, and colorful flags were thrown to the sides of the street, a path opened in the middle. A warrior, fully armored and wielding an incredibly sharp long spear, mounted on a magnificent white horse, blocked the procession and coldly surveyed the crowd.
The young warrior was heroic and imposing, with a lean waist and ape-like shoulders. He wore black radiant armor, gleaming under the sun, and a black lion-head helmet with a large red tassel swaying gently in the breeze at the back. A beast-face belt was tied around his waist, with bronze chest plates at the front and back flashing in the sunlight. He wore square-toed pointed shoes, a heavy sword hung from his left, a quiver of arrows from his right, a dark and sharp long spear held horizontally, and a precious bow on his back.
Beneath his sword-like eyebrows were a pair of piercing eyes, now coldly fixated on the crowd, their gaze sharp and commanding respect without anger!
A truly heroic and valiant general, comparable to Lu Fengxian or Zhao Zilong from the Three Kingdoms period!
To take a general's head amidst a million soldiers was like plucking something from a bag! To charge through a million soldiers, seven times in and out, was like entering an uninhabited land!
Everyone recognized him as the newly appointed Marquis of Pingliang, Zhou Fugui, and guessed his intentions.
He was the perfect match for Murong Huiying, the hero and beauty!
The army weeps in mourning, a hero's rage is for his beauty!
The two Jinci Alah banner generals "escorting" the procession rode forward and reprimanded Zhou Fugui, "Marquis of Pingliang, why are you here? Retreat quickly, you're delaying..."
"Slap! Slap!"
Before they could finish speaking, Zhou Fugui swung his earth-shattering dragon spear and struck the two Jinci Alah banner generals heavily, knocking them off their horses. Though he didn't kill them, he sent them reeling, groaning and unable to get up for a long time.
A valiant general of the frontier, skilled in battle, with few rivals in this age!
"Scram!" Zhou Fugui then raised his earth-shattering dragon spear and shouted at the group of Jinci Alah soldiers, guards, and attendants blocking his way.
Today, Zhou Fugui had thrown caution to the wind. No matter what, he had to see Murong Huiying today.
Zhou Fugui's roar, like Zhang Feide at Dangyang Bridge, startled two Jinci Alah soldiers off their horses, leaving them dazed. The rest of the Jinci Alah soldiers, guards, and attendants looked at him in fear.
Despite his bravery, Zhou Fugui, who had come alone, could not possibly defeat this large group of Jinci Alah soldiers, guards, and attendants. However, if a fight ensued, it was unknown how many would fall by his hand.
It was best for others to die, but it wouldn't be pleasant for himself.
"May my fellow monks die, not I," a Taoist saying went. Thus, the Jinci Alah soldiers, guards, and attendants stood trembling, unsure whether to advance or not.
Seeing that they wouldn't clear the way, Zhou Fugui's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he gripped the earth-shattering dragon spear with both hands.
"Form ranks! Form ranks!" The Jinci Alah soldiers, guards, and attendants, seeing that Zhou Fugui was about to act, shouted in alarm.
"Giddy-up... giddy-up... giddy-up..."
"Clip-clop... clip-clop... clip-clop..."
Just then, as Zhou Fugui was about to force his way through, the sound of horses' hooves echoed in the street, and hundreds of cavalry were galloping towards them.
"I say, Erlang, why are you always so disloyal? Why didn't you call us for such a good opportunity? Isn't that right, brothers?" Xu Mancang led his troops, shouting before he even arrived.
"Indeed!" roared the generals of the Xue Pi Army, including Pi E, Hu Jue, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, Baima Wu, Yang Xinhong, Wu Tianqi, Chen Kunkun, Hu Tieniu, An Minghai, Pan Jiangu, and Yeli Hu, who were beside Xu Mancang.
"You..." Zhou Fugui turned and angrily said, "How dare you come without an order? Li Qing, Suo Dacheng, Mancang, you reckless fellows, why didn't you stop them?"
Zhou Fugui had come alone precisely because he didn't want to implicate his brothers any further. But someone must have leaked the news, and they had still come. It was most likely Pi E and Hu Jue.
"Erlang, I'll disobey your orders for once today." Xu Mancang shook his head upon hearing this.
"We are willing to live and die with the Great General!" roared the generals, including Pi E, Hu Jue, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, Baima Wu, Yang Xinhong, Wu Tianqi, Chen Kunkun, Hu Tieniu, An Minghai, Pan Jiangu, and Yeli Hu.
"Let them meet!" Just then, a cold voice came from nearby.