couple

"Although the general won the battle, he was injured on the battlefield and his old injury relapsed. The dog emperor urgently summoned the general back to the capital. On the way, we stopped at the Yunzhou Prefectural Governor's Mansion. The governor held a banquet to celebrate the general's victory," Zheng Peng recalled the scene that night, his eyes revealing hatred. "The general declined to drink because of his injury, so the governor colluded with that dog Min Guo to poison the general's medicine!"

Zhao Youyi clenched her fists tightly and remained silent.

"The young general also knew that Min Guo was promoted by the general himself, and the general never suspected him. He never expected that Min Guo would be so ruthless, watching the general die from poisoning. Doctors were called one after another, but they were not allowed to treat the general." At this point, Zheng Peng covered his face and wept bitterly.

"What about the others? You're the only one who escaped?" Zhao Youyi thought of those familiar faces. Even if Min Guo betrayed him, Zhao Youli still had other confidants.

"The other brothers were all drugged and knocked unconscious by the prefect at the banquet... I didn't go because I was injured, and I didn't expect to slip through the net." Zheng Peng laughed self-deprecatingly. He had wanted to tell the brothers stationed outside the city the news, but he was discovered by Min Guo and fell off a cliff during his escape. He was rescued and his life was saved.

Looking at her features, which resembled Zhao Youli's, Zheng Peng said in a somber tone, "Min Guo forged a letter accusing the general of treason and defection to the enemy. Nobody believed it, but the emperor secretly hid their wives and children, so everyone had to keep quiet."

“Young General,” Zheng Peng reached out and grabbed her sleeve with great force, his expression agitated, “the one who betrayed the country is not the general, but Min Guo! And the dog emperor! He made a deal with the new king of the Southern Barbarians. The king of the Southern Barbarians wanted him to get rid of the general, and promised to help him regain his voice in the court!”

"Is that tyrannical ruler a pig-brain?" Zhao Youyi immediately found this utterly absurd.

Chu Chanyin said, "The Empress Dowager has controlled the government for a long time, and the court has long been dominated by the Song family. The emperor has been on the throne for many years, but he is still controlled by others, so he is naturally impatient."

All three knew the truth of the matter. Zhao Youli was merely a sacrifice in the power struggle between the emperor and the empress dowager. Moreover, the emperor was weak and incompetent, lacking ambition and only knowing how to indulge in pleasure. He had no idea of ​​the consequences of poisoning a meritorious official.

Perhaps he knew it too, but the temptation behind it was too great.

The allure of power is indeed considerable.

"I was injured and fled after accidentally learning the truth, and I ended up unconscious here. Luckily, I met Lady Yun, and she saved me." Zheng Peng glanced at Lady Yun, who came out of the kitchen, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Lady Yun came out carrying a plate of pancakes. Hearing his words, she smiled apologetically and said, "Brother Zheng, you flatter me. You are a great general who protects our country. No matter which citizen in the city encounters you, they will save you."

She placed the plate of flatbread on the stone table, her gaze falling on Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin, and said apologetically, "I didn't know you two were coming. We only have simple food at home. If you don't mind, please join us."

Yunzhou was poor, and the people were struggling. With no able-bodied men left in Yunniangzi's family and the prefect embezzling the pension funds, their lives would likely become even more difficult. Naturally, they would not waste any more of her family's food rations.

"Thank you for your kindness, young lady. We have already had breakfast," Zhao Youyi smiled slightly and said to Zheng Peng, "Brother Zheng, I understand the matter. I will not let anyone involved in this matter go unpunished."

After saying that, Zhao Youyi got up to leave.

"Wait, young general, may I speak to you in private?" Zheng Peng called out to her, but his gaze fell on Chu Chanyin.

Lady Yun tactfully invited Chu Chanyin inside for tea. His gaze fell on Zhao Youyi, as if asking him if he wanted to leave.

Zhao Youyi nodded, and only after the two left did Zheng Peng ask with concern, "Young General, what do you plan to do in the future? Why is the Prince of Chu following you? I dare to say that the Prince of Chu is renowned throughout the land and will sooner or later be involved in the power struggle of the imperial court."

Zhao Youyi naturally understood the meaning behind his words, and said with an ambiguous expression, "I cannot leave my brother's revenge unavenged. The Prince of Chu used the imperial decree of marriage bestowed by the Holy Ancestor to exchange for my leaving the capital. Now he and I are husband and wife in name only."

Zhao Youyi briefly explained the situation she faced in Shenjing and the cause of the marriage agreement. Zheng Peng listened with anger, "The dog emperor and empress dowager are truly shameless, actually forcing the young general like this! However, young general, the Prince of Chu is a cunning and scheming man, definitely not a good person. If you marry him, you will definitely be surrounded by wolves in the future. If the young general wishes to stay away, I will escort you to Jiangzhou to get away from these troubles."

"This was also the general's last wish."

Zhao Youyi naturally knew that her brother wanted her to live a peaceful life, so he hoped she would forget her hatred, but she couldn't.

"The Great Jin Dynasty is currently in turmoil both internally and externally. Can we expect to live a peaceful life by simply maintaining a corner of the country? Without a stable nation, how can we expect a stable life? I am determined to carve out my own path in this chaotic world." Zhao Youyi's expression was firm, and his tone was even more solemn.

Upon hearing her words, Zheng Peng was overwhelmed with emotion. He could not kneel down, so he could only cup his hands and say, "Young General, you have lofty ambitions and will surely rise to great heights, bringing a new era to the State of Jin. I am willing to follow my master and serve you with utmost loyalty!"

Zhao Youyi quickly helped him up, saying, "Thank you for your trust, Brother Zheng. Your participation is the icing on the cake."

"Does the King of Chu also have this intention?" Recalling the handsome man's gentle and smiling appearance, Zheng Peng always felt that this person was not simple.

"Does it matter?" Zhao Youyi smiled indifferently. The warm morning light illuminated her features, revealing the heroic spirit of her military family. Confident and resolute, she said casually, "Use everything I can to get everything I want."

Everything else is unimportant.

“Since you’re going to follow me, why don’t we leave together this time?” Zhao Youyi said.

Zheng Peng shook his head slightly, glancing around the courtyard. "Yun Niangzi's husband is dead. She saved me. I want to help her with some farm work after I recover, so that she will at least have food to eat this winter. Besides, I am currently unable to move around easily, which would also delay the head of the family's schedule."

Zhao Youyi thought about it carefully and realized that the bumpy road was not good for his recovery, and it would be bad if he developed a chronic illness.

"Give this bag of silver to her. This year's heavy snow has resulted in a poor harvest. Rather than suffering in Yunzhou, it would be better to find a slightly more prosperous place to settle down." Zhao Youyi's tone was ambiguous when he said this. Apart from the capital, where else in Jin could there be a wealthy place? Natural disasters and man-made calamities meant that the fate of the Great Jin Dynasty was nearing its end.

Zheng Peng took the money. "She doesn't want to. Nowhere is as good as home. I think so too. Just like Youzhou is my home, I always want to return to my roots."

Upon hearing the word "home," Zhao Youyi suddenly realized, belatedly, that she no longer had a home.

The empty general's mansion in the capital was not her home, nor was Jiangzhou her home after her maternal grandmother passed away. She was truly all alone, with no ties to anyone.

That's good too; those who achieve great things have no worries.

Zhao Youyi told Zheng Peng that they would be going to Youzhou, a border region, where they would meet up.

"The master is going to the border region?" Zheng Peng was somewhat surprised.

“Yes, the Zhao family army can only be the Zhao family army. Besides, I still need to meet with Min Guo.” Zhao Youyi’s eyes were cold as he exhaled a breath of turbid air. “Moreover, Princess Yulang is about to be married off to the Southern Barbarians. I can’t just watch her fall into a fire pit.”

The two discussed their plan for a while, and when they saw that it was almost time, they went to the main room to call Chu Chanyin.

"Cousin," Zhao Youyi called out to him.

Chu Chanyin slowly walked out of the main room. His handsome appearance and elegant demeanor were incongruous with the simple tiled house. His gentle smile towards her was truly captivating.

"Have you reached an agreement?" Chu Chanyin didn't ask too many questions. Seeing that the two had almost finished discussing, he took out a bag of silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into Zheng Peng's arms. "I apologize for disturbing Brother Zheng and the young lady's breakfast."

Zhao Youyi's brow twitched; that bag of silver contained far more than hers. The King of Chu was incredibly generous.

Zheng Peng glanced at her furtively, and only accepted the silver after seeing her nod. "Your Highness is too kind. Thank you for your generous gift."

On their way back, the two rode in the carriage driven by Ying Jiu. Zhao Youyi picked out some of the things she had discussed with Zheng Peng to talk about. Seeing that he nodded calmly and did not say much, Zhao Youyi suddenly remembered what he had said that morning.

“Cousin Cong, we need to trust each other to go on. Although there are some things I can’t tell you completely, my goal is to bring peace to the world and to avenge my family.” Zhao Youyi said, looking at his calm expression.

Chu Chanyin naturally understood the meaning behind her words. He also had things he couldn't tell her, so he wouldn't hold a grudge because of it. As long as their goals were aligned, they could continue on their path together.

He just felt a little upset for some reason.

"I'm sorry, cousin, I was just in a bad mood. It has nothing to do with you, so don't overthink it," Chu Chan said with his usual gentle smile.

Although Zhao Youyi really wanted to get to the bottom of things, she also knew that Chu Chanyin wouldn't tell her, and even if he did, it wouldn't be the truth.

Well, His Highness the Prince of Chu is sensitive and thoughtful, so all she can do is take good care of him.

The carriage moved smoothly forward. Chu Chanyin hadn't slept well last night, but after learning the truth about Zhao Youli's death, the weight in his heart was finally lifted, and he fell asleep without realizing it.

And then she leaned against Zhao Youyi's shoulder without leaning too far to either side.

Zhao Youyi stared wide-eyed, not daring to move, holding her breath as she gazed at the handsome face so close to hers. The King of Chu was truly breathtakingly beautiful, enough to make one swoon.

She suddenly recalled an ancient saying: "Heroic and spirited, with a face like a jade plate and a body like a jade tree."

Looking at the King of Chu beside him, he felt that it was perfectly appropriate.

Zhao Youyi couldn't help but glance at him out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, she began to look at him openly. Chu Chanyin's eyelashes were thick and long, casting small shadows under his eyes. Upon closer inspection, the dark circles under his eyes were no less than hers.

I was worried that she wasn't sleeping well, and I wasn't sleeping well myself either.

If she and the King of Chu had been born in a prosperous era, it wouldn't have been bad for them to be a real couple. If they were a real couple, she could have taken the opportunity to enjoy his company right now.

Unfortunately, they were only a fake couple. She could only watch as the beautiful woman was with her.

Chu Chan's skin was as smooth as cream, and his lips were a deep red, as if he had applied lipstick. Zhao Youyi was quite envious. Only when she got closer did she notice that there was a small red mole on his earlobe, its color so vivid and tempting that it made her want to investigate.

Tempted by such beauty, Zhao Youyi couldn't help but reach out to gently touch him, but before she could, she met a pair of dark eyes.

"Cousin, what are you doing?!"