The Grand Marshal Xia, Lu Qiyue, stooped to propose a marriage alliance with the Huo family. Upon hearing this, Huo Yao, the head of the Huo family, was filled with rage.
Lu Huo Wanrou was Huo Yao's youngest daughter. From childhood, she was clever and obedient. Huo Yao and his wife cherished her like a precious gem, showering her with utmost care, as if she were to melt in their mouths or shatter in their hands.
Setting aside these matters for now, Lu Huo Wanrou was Huo Yao's legitimate daughter, while Lu Cang, the son of Lu Qiyue, was a concubine-born son. How could a legitimate daughter be married to a concubine-born son? Moreover, Lu Cang's reputation for being a dissolute rake was well-known throughout the capital. To marry Lu Huo Wanrou to him would be akin to pushing her into a fiery pit!
Furthermore, the aristocratic families of Jiangdong possessed their own integrity. The northern aristocratic families constantly suppressed and marginalized those from Jiangnan. For Lu Qiyue to slightly lower himself, and for Huo Yao to marry his beloved daughter to a concubine-born son? If this news were to spread, where would Huo Yao's reputation lie?
"Heh heh, my humble daughter is of humble origins. It is indeed our Lu family's fortune to be favored by the Grand Marshal's son." Although Huo Yao was inwardly furious, his expression remained placid. With a smiling countenance, he politely declined, "This subordinate will obey the Grand Marshal's wishes. However, my daughter has a peculiar habit, which I must inform the Grand Marshal of."
"Oh? What peculiar habit does your esteemed daughter have?" Lu Qiyue asked curiously.
"She despises dirt..." Huo Yao replied with a chuckle. "She cannot stand even the slightest speck of dirt on her clothes, nor can she tolerate any trace of dust. A few days ago, my nephew, Ling, visited our home. Simply because he tracked in a little dust on his feet, she mocked Ling, saying he was like unshaped lumber, already old and dirty..."
"Dirty" and "Cang" are homophones. Upon hearing this, Lu Qiyue's expression instantly turned extremely unpleasant, as ugly as it could possibly be.
Huo Yao's polite refusal was now very clear: a "dirty" person, a dissolute rake, was how could he be worthy of my esteemed daughter?
...
"Pfft, Father, you..." After returning home, Huo Yao recounted the events to Lu Huo Wanrou. Upon hearing it, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.
Lu Huo Wanrou then lifted her sleeve and gently stroked her chest with her jade hand, feigning a look of "Fortunately, fortunately."
"Heh heh, Rou'er, rest assured. How could your father possibly betroth you to such a pig or dog?" Huo Yao said with a smile.
Lu Qiyue was the Grand Marshal of the court, wielding immense power. Although Huo Yao had rejected him on the spot, he did not fear him. The Lu family was a prestigious lineage, and the Huo family was not of the common folk, artisans, or merchants. Moreover, the Huo family was a prominent clan among the scholarly families, deeply rooted in Jiangdong.
"Thank you, Father, for meticulously planning for your daughter," Lu Huo Wanrou curtsied gracefully, adjusting her robes.
"However, Rou'er..." At this moment, Wu Shi, Lu Huo Wanrou's mother, spoke, "You have reached marriageable age. You cannot continue to delay indefinitely."
"Mother..." Lu Huo Wanrou walked to Wu Shi's side and clung to her, playfully chiding her.
"Heh heh, Husband..." Wu Shi affectionately patted Lu Huo Wanrou's jade hand and then said to Huo Yao with a smile, "I understand Rou'er's heart. She wishes to find a young gentleman who is romantic, unrestrained, skilled in poetry and song, and adept at refined conversation, is that right, Rou'er?"
"Mother..." Lu Huo Wanrou, blushing, buried her pretty face in Wu Shi's embrace.
"Hmm, the requirements are not low," Huo Yao mused, stroking his beard. "A fair maiden admires noble virtue, but seeking a virtuous man is indeed difficult. Where in the great families can one find such a person at this moment?"
Huo Yao mentally sifted through all the eligible young men from the aristocratic families of Jiangdong, but it seemed he couldn't find anyone worthy of his daughter.
"Why must we search within the great families?" Wu Shi asked. "Rou'er's wishes are not impossible, even if he were of humble birth."
"What nonsense is this?" Huo Yao's expression darkened. "Scholars and commoners do not intermarry. How can my Huo family's daughter be betrothed to a commoner? Rou'er, have you been doing anything shameful outside?"
"Father..." Lu Huo Wanrou immediately became anxious. "Your daughter would never dare to do anything... anything improper. But Mother speaks my heart's true desires..."
"Silence!" Huo Yao thundered. "From now on, do not mention this matter again, or I will confine you to your room forever."
"Alas!" Wu Shi gently patted Lu Huo Wanrou's jade hand and sighed.
...
Yanjing Capital, You Prefecture
"Northern official Yuwen Tuluo and his son Hu arrive!"
"Southern official Tuoba Hong and his son Yi arrive!"
"Earth official Lou Zan and his son Qian arrive!"
"Official of the Court of Ceremonial, Tai Fu Yin Mo, and his son Qian arrive!"
"Minister of the Grand Court, Wen Yanda, and his son Shijie arrive!"
"General of the Eagle's Might, Yuwen Huming, and son Xie Meng arrive!"
"General of the Vanguard, Daye Jian, and son Fei Yu arrive!"
"..."
Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it was the Xianbei people's Xiangtou Festival, also known as the Xiangtou Game. Xiangtou meant games. For three days during Yuanxi, theft was permitted. If someone was stolen from, even if it were one's wife or daughter, no punishment was incurred; it was laughed off. The meaning was that during these three days of the Lantern Festival, not only was the theft of items allowed, but even having one's wife or daughter stolen was not frowned upon, and it was dismissed with a laugh.
Of course, generally speaking, noble and influential families were not supposed to experience such incidents. At most, the theft of some items was permitted, and these had to be returned obediently in the end. As for the wives and daughters of the household, they were absolutely not to be touched by others.
If the wife and daughters of Zuo Xian Wang Murong Boli were stolen... wouldn't that be too preposterous? It would be a laughingstock for the ages...
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month this year, the mansion of Murong Boli, Zuo Xian Wang and King of Guanning of the Great Yan Kingdom, was celebrating the Xiangtou Festival. A grand banquet was held, inviting numerous guests. The purpose was twofold: to celebrate the festival and to publicly select a son-in-law.
Murong Boli and Madam Helou were seeking a husband for their daughter, Murong Huiying.
Therefore, the attendees were mostly skilled in archery and horsemanship, courageous men, and of course, young. Each wore brightly colored fur robes, gold-embroidered boots, and carried swords with golden scabbards at their waists. They rode tall horses, all clad in fine clothes and riding spirited steeds, displaying their most valiant and noble selves before Murong Boli and his wife, and Murong Huiying.
Murong Huiying's beauty was unparalleled in the world. Furthermore, Murong Boli was the Zuo Xian Wang and King of Guanning of the Great Yan Kingdom, wielding immense power. Power meant wealth, and with wealth, power, and beauty, who wouldn't be moved? Who wouldn't flock to them?
Although Murong Huiying's fiery temper was also renowned throughout the land, they all believed that as long as they could win the favor of Murong Boli and his wife, and as long as they could marry Murong Huiying, they would surely be able to tame this wild horse.
Their means of winning the favor of Murong Boli and his wife, and Murong Huiying, were equestrian skills and other talents. This was because during the Xiangtou Festival, there would be performances of archery, horsemanship, and other skills.
Mutual theft, and even the theft of others' wives and daughters, was impossible without some martial prowess. Otherwise, before they could steal any items or women, they would be beaten half to death...
"What do you think of this one?" asked Murong Chi, Murong Huiying's eldest brother.
"Not very good..." Murong Ya, Murong Huiying's second brother, and Murong Rui, her third brother, both shook their heads.
"Well, then, what about Yuwen Meng, the son of General of the Eagle's Might? He's burly and strong, looks quite decent, what do you think?" Murong Chi asked again.
"His stance is unstable; he must be indulging too much in wine and women. Still not very good," Murong Ya shook his head.
"He looks like the father of the Kitchen God, how can he be worthy of our little sister?" Murong Rui also shook his head.
"..."
Murong Huiying's three brothers, while greeting guests at the mansion gate, loudly discussed and judged a group of aspiring suitors, drawing glares of disapproval.
Madam Helou also glared fiercely at the three brothers, only then did they dare to speak more softly.
Unlike Han women, Xianbei women were not confined to the inner chambers. The mistress of a Xianbei household could come out to greet guests.
...
"Dong... Dong... Dong..."
After three drumbeats, a rider shot out from the camp gate, drew his bow, and galloped towards a flock of sheep in the distance.
The mansion of Murong Boli occupied a vast area, with various facilities complete within. Naturally, there was a martial arts arena.
The guests were seated on one side of the arena, drinking and feasting heartily while admiring the young lords' performances.
The first to appear was Yuwen Meng, the son of General of the Eagle's Might, Yuwen Huming. His skin was dark and tanned, much like the father of the Kitchen God...
Yuwen Meng was robust and stout. He rode a tall, dark horse, which, when compared to him, appeared to be of similar size, creating a rather unharmonious sight.
However, Yuwen Meng was somewhat imposing. Holding his bow, he charged towards the flock of sheep. Startled, the sheep scattered in all directions. Yuwen Meng drew his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming at a fleeing sheep. It was difficult to aim at a running sheep. Yuwen Meng's arrow followed the sheep's movement, but unexpectedly, with a twist of his waist and a shift of his hips, his stout and corpulent body tumbled off the horse.
"Hahaha!" Yuwen Meng's clumsy performance drew a burst of laughter from the guests, most of whom were gloating.
General of the Eagle's Might, Yuwen Huming, turned bright red with shame, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Indulging in a life of pleasure and debauchery, Yuwen Meng had almost forgotten the essential skill of the Xianbei people, archery and horsemanship.
Murong Rui laughed uncontrollably, Murong Chi also roared with laughter, while Murong Ya nodded slightly.
Yuwen Meng was about as stable as Murong Ya had predicted; he could barely walk steadily, let alone ride a horse.
Murong Boli also stroked his beard and smiled, while Madam Helou glanced awkwardly at Murong Huiying beside her.
Murong Huiying had, of course, been forced to attend by her mother, Madam Helou.
Murong Huiying's expression was calm as she watched the scene, her thoughts unknown.
"Dong... Dong... Dong..."
After three drumbeats, another rider galloped out. A young lord chased the sheep and shot arrows. He hit only one sheep with three arrows. While still unimpressive, it was much better than Yuwen Meng falling off his horse without even firing a shot.
Sparse cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Dong... Dong... Dong..."
Another three drumbeats. Daye Feiyu, the son of General of the Vanguard, Daye Jian, rode out on his horse. He drew his bow and nocked his arrows. He fired three shots, and each arrow found its mark. Three sheep lay in pools of blood, letting out pained cries.
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!"
Finally, a reliable contestant appeared. Daye Feiyu, with a perfect score, immediately earned thunderous applause from the audience.
Daye Feiyu proudly raised his bow and arrows, galloping towards the spectator stands, looking at Murong Huiying as if she had already fallen into his grasp.