Chapter 56: The Flowered Brocade of Jin'guan City (Part 2)

  Duan Yue Rong surprisingly didn't blush, but slowly got up, slowly put on her clothes, and glared at the two killers from Chuanbei.

  "These two are the first killers of General Duan's banner from northwestern Sichuan. Fortunately, General Duan sent them to rescue me, or I would have been humiliated by that rascal Hu Yong." Yang Lüshui blushed and turned her back on the Double Killers as she put on her clothes.

  Duan Yue's face was stern: "I thought you were with Meng Zhuo."

  Yang Lüshui said, "I lost contact with General Meng, but Duan Gong not only saved me, but also treated me with great courtesy. He is thinking of discussing the plan to restore our Yu Gang family's country with you."

  The wind followed the tiger, smiling and bowing: "My master invites Lord Duanshi to gather at Jin City."

  Yun Cong Long slightly bowed and said: "Nice to meet you." A tall, dark figure blocked my view.

  I swallowed a mouthful of saliva, forcing out a faint smile, and cupped my hands: "Cloud Chivalrous Hero, nice to meet you."

  The wind followed the tiger and pretended to be surprised: "What a coincidence, we meet again! My little dragon and I are really lucky!"

  I smiled superficially, forcing myself to calm down, but inside I was crying, what bad luck, I'm really being attacked from both sides.

  I swear I'll never roast that pumpkin again.

  That night, we rested at the long-awaited inn. I undressed and cleaned myself under Feng Sui Hu's close surveillance, which made me feel uncomfortable. Feng Sui Hu stared at me intently, occasionally proudly sticking out his chest, which initially puzzled me, but later I realized that he was actually mocking my small breasts.

  Along the way, with Du's family funding, our travel conditions improved significantly. We took a ferry boat down the Jialing River, transferred to a tributary and headed towards the Fujiang River. When we arrived at Suining, we hired a decent horse-drawn carriage heading west towards Chengdu. The two drivers were stern-faced, agile, and clearly trained warriors. Yang Lüshui, Duan Yuéróng, and Yún Cónglóng sat in the first carriage, while I and Fēng Sùyǔ sat in a smaller carriage behind them. With just the two of us kids, it was still quite spacious. Having Yang Lüshui around seemed to have made Duan Yuéróng completely forget about his national hatred and even me, the captive. Every night, Yún Cónglóng would take turns with the drivers to keep watch outside the carriage. From inside the first carriage, there would always be loud singing voices coming out. Yún Cónglóng's expression remained unchanged, but Fēng Sùyǔ would pout and gaze at Yún Cónglóng with a sorrowful look whenever their eyes met, making even me, an outsider, feel that this kind of work was truly inhumane.

  Finally, in the extremely dull driving environment, Feng Sui Hu started chatting with me, starting from ancient times to modern people's instincts: gossiping about everything under the sun, geography, history, domestic and foreign affairs, makeup, etc. Later, Yun Cong Long, who was taking a break, also joined our ranks of gossip listeners, immediately stopping Feng Sui Hu from revealing his killer move.

  What left the deepest impression on me was when we talked about the most proud and touching moment in one's life, I told him frankly that it was the moment when I swore brotherhood with Xiao Wu at the age of eight. When it came to Chuanbei Shuangsha, as a human being, I naturally thought that for En'ai Fu and his wife, it should be the moment when Yun Cong Long proposed to them.

  However, Feng Suihu was tearfully saying that at that moment when she successfully inserted the knife into her and Yun Conglong's master's chest, finally inheriting the title of the number one killer in northern Sichuan. She described in detail how they dug out their master's heart according to the rules of the sect. I listened with a chill down my spine. When I turned back, Yun Conglong's face was also slightly excited, and I swallowed the tea water that had sprayed out.

  In the blink of an eye, several days passed and we arrived in Chengdu, a city with a rich history. The origin of its name is said to have been borrowed from the historical event of the Western Zhou Dynasty building its capital, "With King Wu of Zhou stopping at Liangshan and Qishan, it took one year to build a village, three years to build a town, and thus it was named Chengdu".

  Since the Han Dynasty, Chengdu's brocade industry has been prosperous and has become an important source of tribute to the imperial court. The imperial court set up a brocade management agency and built "Brocade City" in the southwest of the city. Later generations thus called Brocade City as another name for Chengdu, abbreviated as "Jin Cheng".

  Good rain knows the season, when it happens. With the wind, it quietly enters and moistens things without a sound.

  The wild paths are dark together with the clouds, but the fire on the river boat is shining alone. The morning dew is refreshing, and the city of heavy brocade is magnificent.

  We changed horses and arrived in front of the prosperous Brocade City. As we approached the city gate, Chuanbei's Double Kill appeared with a token, and the city gate immediately opened wide. I looked around, racking my brains for possible escape routes. Feng Sui rode up on his horse, his bright eyes gleaming: "Or are you thinking of ways to break into the city?"

  I smiled and said: "Since ancient times, Chengdu has been the capital of Yizhou, easy to defend but hard to attack. How can I, a lone man on horseback, easily break into the city?"

  The wind followed the tiger, and with a smile, he said: "On this journey, if it were an ordinary person, they would have been scared to death long ago. But you can chat and laugh with me and Xiao Long, if you weren't someone my master wants, we could be friends."

  I smiled sincerely at Feng Su Hu and said, "Thank you for your appreciation, Wind. If fate permits us to meet again in the next life, Mu Ge will definitely become sworn brothers with Big Brother Feng Yun."

  The wind followed the tiger, and it seemed a bit unexpected that I would say such a thing. The cloud from the dragon in front also turned his head to look at me, then coldly turned his head back and ran towards Duan Yue Rong and Yang Lü Shui, who were flirting with each other.

  Feng Sui Hu looked at me silently for a moment, then opened his mouth and said: "I think that Duan Yinghua, although not comparable to Treading Snow Gentleman, is also a refined person. At that time, when you met Master Duan, why didn't you follow him? Firstly, it would have ensured your safety, secondly, with your talent, you would have definitely gained favor and could have become friends with me."

  I gazed at her, smiling faintly without speaking.

  Chuanbei Double Kill rented a slide for everyone, walked several miles, and then changed to a sedan chair, arriving in front of a large mansion with vermilion gates. Chuanbei Double Kill's expression was very serious, even Feng Suihu, who loved to smile, had lost his smile and walked ahead with his head down. After passing through the shadow wall and several winding corridors, they arrived at a garden filled with various hibiscus flowers. The fragrance wafted into my nostrils, making me feel dizzy, as if I were in the Zi Garden again. The gentle breeze blowing towards us was like a cluster of brocade, carrying the warmth of wealth and nobility.

  "But are you afraid?" Duan Yuerong suddenly whispered in my ear, "Your sect leader Yuan Qingjiang is his arch-nemesis, tell me how he will deal with you?"

  My ears itched, I endured the urge to push him away and said calmly: "Then are you prepared to divide your country with him, and slaughter your compatriots?"

  His wicked smile immediately disappeared, and he stared at me with a dazed look in his eyes.

  Arriving at the place where the hibiscus is in full bloom, a young man in his thirties was behind us, intently practicing archery. He wore a Shu brocade everyday garment with large embroidered hibiscus flowers, extremely exquisite workmanship. Behind him was a noble youth, although with a plain face and makeup, yet with a smooth and elegant complexion, wearing a strong outfit, holding an arrow bag in both hands, with a very respectful demeanor.

  Chuanbei Shuangsha knelt down respectfully: "Chuanbei Shuangsha has brought Duan Shizhu and the others here."

  The young man in the cage turned around and gently handed the bow and arrow to the noble son.

  This man looks rough, but his face is only fair and square, with a neatly trimmed eight-character beard that can barely be connected to the word "refined", but between his eyebrows, a heroic spirit bursts forth, a faint smile appears and disappears, and every gesture is full of a noble charm.

  He bowed to Duan Yu Rong, and Duan Yu Rong smiled back at him with a bow. They sat down in the garden, while I and Chuan Bei were blocked outside, too far away to hear what they were saying. The two of them chatted and laughed on the surface, but Yang Lüshui's hand, which was constantly pouring wine, trembled slightly, and a hint of bitterness appeared on his face, becoming increasingly desolate.

  "Don't be afraid," Feng Suo Hu comforted in a soft voice, but Yun Cong Long immediately rebuked in a low tone, "Be careful with your words, Tiger."

  The words of Feng Suihu were like a stone falling into my heart, and I immediately had an idea.

  At this time, a servant came to summon me in. I steeled myself and walked in with my head down, my heart racing with anxiety. The servant led me in and then retreated. I quietly lifted my head and saw that Duan Yinghua was sitting at the top, while Duanyue Rong was deep in thought, and Yang Lüshui's beautiful eyes were filled with tears.

  I stood there without speaking, when suddenly a soft voice shouted: "You have seen Director Tou, why don't you kneel down?"

  "Xuan Jiang, don't scare the young master's wife to death." Dou Yinghua's gentle voice came, making it hard to believe that this was the same person who had driven the Empress to her death and plotted to usurp the throne. I, however, fell to my knees with a thud, trembling all over, and looked up at her in terror. All I could hear was Dou Yinghua's faint smile: "The servant has startled the young master's wife, please forgive me. Quickly, get up."

  I didn't dare make a sound there, tears welled up in my eyes.

  Dong Yinghua gestured to the two maidservants on either side, who helped me up. The two maidservants came over and pulled me up, then unconsciously furrowed their brows. Hua Fu Zi Xuan Jiang pointed at my pants and said: "Reporting to Master, this young man was so scared that he wet himself."

  Dong Yinghua also furrowed her brow, slightly disappointed, saying: "Then let's take the lady downstairs to change into some clothes first."

  In the past, someone had used the words "arbitrary and tyrannical" to describe Duan Yinghua. Yuan Fang also mentioned him when we were chatting together, saying that he was not only tyrannical but also sinister and treacherous, a great calamity for the Yuan family. People later believed that these traits of Duan Yinghua's were his political tools, but they also became his fatal weakness. At the time, I pretended to be useless and timid in order to escape, and was so scared that I almost drowned myself. I deceived Duan Yinghua, who naturally detested me and had someone take me away, without even giving me a second glance. As a result, several years later when I changed my appearance, he couldn't recognize me at all.

  However, this event also became another focus of debate among historians about Empress Jinghe in later times.

  My supporters in the biography of Empress Zhenzong enthusiastically praised: The empress was intelligent and brave, calm and composed, so she pretended to be weak and timid. The bandits hated her for this, were deceived and ordered people to help the empress retreat, then asked those around her: "Is this really the one who loves to tread on snow?" Those around her said yes, the bandits again calmed down and sent the empress to Duke Xiang of Sui. When they arrived and saw the painting of lotus flowers and mandarin ducks playing, they realized that the empress was not an ordinary person. However, the Dukes had already taken the empress and escaped three hundred miles away, and it was too late for people to chase after them, so they did not get her back. In the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Taizu, the bandits attacked Jin City and were bitterly defeated, and they regretted that they had not been able to keep the empress as a hostage at first.

  And my political enemies cursed in the "Duo Shi Zuo Zhuan": "Cunning and cruel, weak and incompetent, taken to Jin City, thieves saw, and suddenly became terrified, and drowned himself. The thief laughed: "Treading snow has eyes but no pearls! ", Cried out a picture of Xiangliandong playing with ducks, the thief ridiculed him: "I have people like cow hair, many, there are those who have your talent and emotion, extremely many, those who surpass you in appearance, still many, You can only serve the Duan family to spare your life." Greedy for life, he agreed, and the thief sent him to King Duan to humiliate Gongzi.

  Chuanbei's eyes widened in surprise as I was dragged away by two maidservants to change clothes.

  In the third year of Yongye, on the fifth day of the third month, Duan Yue and Du Yinghua signed the "Jin City Alliance" in Du Yinghua's Jin City. Du Yinghua agreed to help Duan Yue rebel against Guangyi Wang, but after the country was established, he would have to pay tribute for ten years and help him destroy the Yuans in the southwestern region. Yang Lüshui was taken as a hostage and left at the Du residence. Du Yinghua thought I was just a timid and useless person, so to humiliate Yuan Fei and increase the hatred between the Duan and Yuan families, he readily handed me over to Duan Yue.

  At that time, there were two people who were particularly famous. The governor of Eastern Wu, Zhang Zhiyan, took the first place in Suzhou, Luo Yu. It is said that this lady had a heavenly talent and was especially fond of jewelry, with a particular preference for Dongzhu pearls. Zhang Zhiyan, in order to indulge her, searched far and wide among the people for rare Dongzhu pearls to present to her, just to see her smile. Therefore, people referred to this lady as "Dong Furen" or "Dongzhuperson".

  And another one is because of the famous painting "Lotus and Mandarin Ducks" by Tàoxuě Gōngzǐ, I, Shì Mùjīn, was also nicknamed Xī Fūrén (West Lady) as Tàoxuě Gōngzǐ lived in Qínchuān to the west of Dōngtíng. From then on, the whereabouts of West Lady spread throughout the world.

  The next day, Duan Yinghua bid farewell to Duanyue Rong in front of the city gate and sent 50 elite cavalrymen to escort Duanyue Rong to Bozhou, Guizhou. Guizhou has been the ancestral home of the Yu Gang family since ancient times. It is said that the ancestors of the Yu Gang family are also in Bozhou. Fortunately, Meng Zhao, who had narrowly escaped death, was stationed with his troops in Bozhou, waiting for Duanyue Rong's return along with Old Master Wang, who had gone through nine deaths and one life.

  I changed into a clean lake-blue shirt, and sat quietly on the horse. Duan Yueyong changed into a Sichuan brocade riding suit, her face also made up, looking spirited and radiant. Zi Tong didn't smile but his eyes shone brightly as he rode over, pretending to be affectionate, leaning in close to my shoulder: "Yesterday you acted really well, that Du Yinghua even asked me if you pee on me every day." He burst out laughing again, I carefully shifted my body, avoiding his breath. But he grabbed my sleeve: "Guess what, Treading Snow Gentleman heard that Du Yinghua is transferring his affections to me, how do you think he'll react?"

  Yang Lüshui stood beside Dòu Yīnghuá, gazing at us with eyes flashing with anger, but as she walked over, her expression transformed into a gentle smile, and she bid farewell to Duàn Yuèróng with tears.

  I remain silent, once again biting the fruit of regret. If only I had listened to Fei Bai's words and gone to Henan Luoyang back then, how could it have come to this, dancing with wolves?!