Fan Xiuwen was still troubled when a young voice suddenly reached his ears. He turned around and looked down, only to see an exceptionally beautiful little girl of five or six.
“You…”
Rongyao stepped forward and took Fan Xiuwen by the hand. Pointing at the five pitiful women, she said, “I have an orchard estate under my name, and there are many vacant houses there. If they truly have nowhere else to go, they can work at my estate. I can pay them wages, and I can hire a teacher to teach them to read and write. Once they learn a skill, they can find work elsewhere in the future, or help me manage my shops. They may choose whatever they wish.”
Fan Xiuwen stared at Rongyao in disbelief. “Why are you willing to help them like this?”
Rongyao raised her head and said earnestly, “We are all women. We ought to help one another. Don’t worry—I have lots of silver and plenty of houses! I will definitely make proper arrangements for them.”
Fan Xiuwen lowered his head and gazed at Rongyao in a daze. After a long while, he bowed respectfully to her.
“My name is Fan Xiuwen, a native of Yuzhou. My courtesy name is Suizhi. Having met you today, little friend, I feel that a kindred spirit is truly hard to find. When I return to the capital, I will certainly meet with you again, and we shall talk through the night.”
Rongyao’s eyes shone as she looked at Fan Xiuwen. “All right! When you return to the capital, I will definitely come to your residence to find you. But the journey to Lingzhou will be dangerous, so you must take care.”
Fan Xiuwen nodded. “I will!”
Afterward, Rongyao watched as Fan Xiuwen climbed into his carriage.
She watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance.
Only then did Rongyao withdraw her gaze and turn toward the five uneasy women.
Rongyao ordered Daoxiang to take the five women to the nearby ready-made clothing shop to purchase a change of clothes.
She and General Guo continued standing at the city gate, watching the people coming and going.
General Guo glanced at Rongyao several times, clearly wanting to say something, but in the end he kept his doubts to himself.
The soldiers guarding the gate were covered in sweat and stood even straighter, not daring to relax in the slightest.
The person standing beside them was General Guo!
General Guo was a highly skilled martial artist who served as a member of the imperial guards in the palace. Now that he had appeared at the city gate, how could they not be afraid?
The gate soldiers exchanged glances and eventually decided to go pay their respects to General Guo.
General Guo glanced at the princess, then at the soldiers, and frowned. “Continue your duties!”
“Yes!”
The gate soldiers returned to their positions. They were both puzzled as to why General Guo was there and why he was protecting that five- or six-year-old girl.
Only then did they notice that General Guo treated the little girl with utmost respect, not at all like an elder treating a younger member of the family.
And it was not only General Guo. Several other imperial guards were protecting the little girl as well.
They prevented idle bystanders from approaching her. Whenever some fool tried to come near, he was immediately rebuked.
Who was this little girl? How could she command the protection of so many imperial guards?
When they thought of one possible answer, the gate soldiers could not help trembling. They stood even straighter, terrified of making a mistake.
Rongyao continued staring at the city gate, watching the crowds come and go as she tried to find some sign of the Marquis of Zhenxi among the commoners passing through.
Suddenly, the hurried thunder of hooves reached her ears.
Rongyao abruptly raised her head and looked into the distance. Sure enough, she saw a raggedly dressed man riding a warhorse toward them. In his hand was a battered red-tasseled spear.
He was galloping straight toward the city.
Rongyao’s eyes lit up. She straightened and walked outside the city gate.
When General Guo and the others saw the princess move, they hurried after her.
The man reached the gate and dismounted. Only then could everyone see that his face was covered in blood mixed with mud and sand. His clothes were tattered, barely enough to cover his body, and blood still seeped from the wounds on him. His hair was disheveled, making him look worse than a beggar.
When the gate official saw him, he immediately raised his weapon and blocked the man from entering the city.
One of the officials shouted, “Who goes there? If you wish to enter the city, present your travel permit!”
The man’s face was covered in blood and dirt, making it impossible to see his expression clearly. After dismounting, he could barely remain standing and had to lean against his horse for support.
“I am Gu Fuzhou, Marquis of Pacifying the West! During the battle at Dongwei, I was framed by treacherous ministers and trapped among the Xirong! I have escaped alive and have traveled day and night to return to the capital and report to His Majesty!”
The gate officials were stunned. They exchanged glances, none of them knowing what to do.
“Don’t believe the lies of this traitor!” A man emerged from within the city gate and stood before the other officials, shouting insults at the man who claimed to be the marquis. “The Marquis of Zhenxi colluded with the enemy and sold out his country, causing our defeat in the battle against the Xirong! He is a traitor to the nation! He must have allied himself with the enemy and come to Great Zhou to spy on our military intelligence!”
“Nonsense!” Gu Fuzhou roared. “I, Gu Fuzhou, have never colluded with the enemy, nor have I ever betrayed Great Zhou! I want to see His Majesty! I must see His Majesty!”
“I am Zhu Yue, Deputy General of the Patrol Battalion. I will never permit a traitorous rebel like you to enter the capital and endanger the people of Great Zhou or His Majesty!” Zhu Yue shouted. “The Marquis of Zhenxi colluded with the enemy army. He is a criminal whom everyone has the right to execute! His Majesty is wise and has already exiled every member of the Marquis of Zhenxi’s household, young and old alike, three thousand li to a bitterly cold land!”
“What did you say?” Gu Fuzhou’s bloodshot eyes widened as he gripped his red-tasseled spear and roared.
Zhu Yue held his bow by the shaft and said, “A traitor like you deserves to die! Because of your crimes, your entire household was exiled. A month ago, all your family members—the elderly and the weak among them—were killed by the enemy! I advise you to submit at once and atone for your crimes!”
“No! You’re lying! You’re lying!” Gu Fuzhou’s voice was hoarse and shrill. Overcome with rage, he could no longer remain standing and fell to his knees. His eyes flew wide, blood vessels standing out in them, and he glared at Zhu Yue like a vengeful ghost from the underworld.
Zhu Yue said, “Your entire family is dead. Why would I lie to you?”
Clutching his red-tasseled spear, the marquis struggled to his feet. In a hoarse voice, he shouted, “You damned emperor! Return my family to me!”
Zhu Yue raised his bow and fixed his sharp gaze on Gu Fuzhou, letting out a cold laugh.
“This traitorous rebel dares insult His Majesty! He must be executed!”
“Men! Seize this traitor and take his head to His Majesty!”
At the order of their superior, the gate officials hurriedly raised their weapons and advanced on the weakened Gu Fuzhou, surrounding him tightly.
Zhu Yue drew an arrow from his back, nocked it, and pulled the bowstring. He was just about to take aim when a sudden pain struck his waist.
His entire body was sent flying and crashed to the ground like a scrap of cloth.
His bow and arrow fell from his hands.
When he looked up, he discovered that it was General Guo who had struck him. What was he doing here?
Clutching his waist, Zhu Yue struggled to his feet and angrily demanded of General Guo, who had inexplicably appeared at the gate, “General Guo, why are you stopping me from killing this enemy? Traitors and rebels are to be executed by all!”
General Guo held his saber and proclaimed, “Princess Fuxi has ordered us to protect the life of the Marquis of Zhenxi!”
Zhu Yue stared in disbelief, his eyes widening.
Princess Fuxi? What Princess Fuxi?
He took a closer look and only then noticed the little girl of five or six standing behind General Guo.
This was… Princess Fuxi!
