The ancestors of the Marquis of Zhenbei had fought alongside the founding emperor of the Dahe Dynasty to conquer the land.
The two even swore brotherhood, and then engaged in a debate about who should be emperor.
Ultimately, Emperor He Yuan ascended the throne, and the Zhenbei Marquis lineage was enfeoffed as a king of a different surname.
But as time went by, it was reduced generation after generation, until only one marquisate remained.
Fortunately, Zhou Shi'an's father was very skilled at leading troops in battle, so by the previous generation, the Zhou family had gradually become powerful again.
However, Emperor He Xin was a foolish and incompetent ruler. Seeing that the Marquis of Zhenbei had repeatedly made great achievements on the frontier, he gradually became suspicious of him and worried that his achievements would overshadow the emperor.
The treacherous officials in the court had long resented the Zhou family's control of the military, and with Emperor Hexin's tacit approval, they frequently offered slanderous words to defame the Marquis of Zhenbei.
As a result, the Zhou family was falsely accused of treason and their entire clan was implicated and executed.
Although Zhou Shi'an was the heir of a marquis's family, he was a playboy who often went out to have fun.
He happened to be away from the capital when the Zhou family met their demise, and luckily escaped the disaster.
From then on, he changed his name to Zhou Da and lived in seclusion in a small village in Liaocheng.
Zhou Shi'an chose this place because of Master Li in the village.
He had received great kindness from the Zhou family when he went to the capital for the imperial examination, so he lied and said that Zhou Shi'an was a relative who had come to seek refuge, and helped him settle down in Baishi Town, Li County.
Zhou Shi'an never expected what would happen next; he would actually meet the love of his life in this small village.
He had no grand ambitions from a young age, but his father keenly sensed the risks involved when he repeatedly performed meritorious deeds on the frontier.
So, in his teens, he volunteered to return to the capital and spent his days hanging out with a bunch of shady friends.
This was done for two reasons: first, to use him as a hostage; and second, to dispel Emperor He Xin's suspicions and let him know that no matter how successful the Zhenbei Marquis lineage became, it would be lost in his generation.
Who would have thought that the emperor on the dragon throne would be so incompetent, tyrannical, and suspicious by nature, ultimately unwilling to let the Zhou family go.
After learning of his family's tragic death, Zhou Shi'an considered following them in death, but he knew that if they knew in the afterlife, they would certainly not want that.
So he contacted Master Li, who had taught him when he was a child.
Master Li was originally a top scholar, but Emperor He Xin only bestowed upon him the title of third-ranking scholar because he was young and handsome when he passed the imperial examination.
Later, when Master Li entered officialdom, he found that the emperor was incompetent and treacherous officials were in power. Disheartened, he resigned and returned home to become a teacher.
Stone Village is a place with simple and honest folk customs, like a paradise on earth.
After marrying Yun Qing, Zhou Shi'an gradually let go of his hatred and decided to live a good life with his beloved wife.
But unexpectedly, even though he changed his name and went into hiding, fate still wouldn't let him go.
When his father was still alive, there were still some upright and incorruptible old ministers in the court who often advised Emperor He Xin.
However, after the Zhou family was killed, everyone in the court was in danger. Upright officials all retired to their hometowns like Master Li, leaving behind only treacherous and wicked people.
Emperor He Xin indulged in extravagance and extravagant construction projects, causing the national treasury to dwindle year after year, yet no one dared to submit a memorial to remonstrate with him.
During his three years in Stone Village, Zhou Shi'an heard many stories of refugee uprisings. He thought that perhaps there was no need for revenge, as Emperor He Xin would bring about his own demise.
Little did he expect that the wheels of fate would keep turning, and he himself would become the last straw that broke the camel's back.
That's fine, Zhou Shi'an thought: it's more satisfying to avenge the massacre of his family himself.
However, his wife, whom he had known since childhood, was quite disobedient.
Zhou Shi'an sat by the fire, his eyes flickering with flames: "Qingqing, what do you think I should do to punish you?"
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind me.
Zhou Shi'an came to his senses and found himself wearing a cloak.
"Brother Zhou, it's chilly at night, please take care of yourself."
The speaker was Ouyang Dan, the daughter of General Li's strategist.
Zhou An had played with her when he was a child, but after leaving the border, the two never saw each other again.
Ouyang Dan was the happiest of the two armies to meet, as she had liked this handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth since she was a child.
Even after he returned to the capital and his reputation suffered, she still thought about him constantly.
"Brother Zhou, if this succeeds, will you find a woman to marry?" Ouyang Dan looked at him with expectant eyes.
"No," Zhou Shi'an replied decisively.
"Why?" Ouyang Dan was shocked: "If Uncle Zhou were still alive, he would definitely want you to find someone you know well and live a good life with."
Zhou Shi'an frowned: "You misunderstood me. I'm already married. One of the reasons I came to Liaocheng this time is to pick up my wife."
After saying that, he placed the cloak on the spot and turned to leave.
When Ouyang Dan heard the news that Zhou Shi'an had gotten married, she was in a daze, as if she had suffered a huge blow.
"How could this be? This is impossible!" she muttered to herself, standing there motionless for a long time.
Zhou Shi'an didn't care about Ouyang Dan's reaction. He went to a nearby stream to take a bath and washed the outer garment that had been stained with the cloak.
Yun Qing hates it when other women touch him, so you'd better wash him thoroughly.
...
In Shitou Village, less than 200 miles from Liaocheng, Yunqing is preparing for her second marriage.
Zhao Mo has already revealed his identity to the Yun family. At first, they were worried that Yun Qing would be mistreated in a wealthy and powerful family.
Zhao Mo repeatedly assured that he would never take another woman in his life, and that he would be with only one person for life.
Yun Qing, on the other hand, looked very expectant, so they had no choice but to agree.
Finally, the two sides decided to hold a wedding ceremony in Stone Village first, and then hold a grander one when they returned to the capital.
Yun Qing sat in front of the mirror, no longer feeling the nervousness and curiosity she had when she got married for the first time.
Behind me, a strange matchmaker was combing my hair, but her words of praise seemed strangely familiar.
"Miss Yun is truly the most beautiful bride I have ever seen in all these years. When we go out later, I guarantee the groom will be staring at her."
The groom, who everyone was talking about, was still lingering at the Zhou family's house.
Shi Shu watched him admiring himself in the mirror, and she simply couldn't bear to look at him.
"Young master, please hurry up, don't keep the bride waiting."
Zhao Mo glanced at him: "Don't talk nonsense. Yun Qing won't be in a hurry. I need to take good care of myself so that when everyone sees us later, they'll say that the bride and groom are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
When the auspicious hour arrived, Zhao Mo rode a tall horse to the Yun family to fetch the bride.
According to the customs of Stone Village, Yun Qing was helped out and shown her face before being covered with a veil and placed in a bridal sedan chair, where she swayed and staggered all the way to the Zhou family.
In the Zhou family's courtyard, a feast had already been set out, and the guests had taken their seats.
The master of ceremonies stood under the eaves and waited for Zhao Mo and Yun Qing to walk to the front of the hall before announcing loudly, "The auspicious time has arrived. Please, bride and groom, pay homage to heaven and earth."
"I bow to Heaven and Earth!"
"Bowing to the parents twice!"
"Husband and wife—"
"Stop!" With this angry shout, a long sword flew from afar and stuck straight into the ground between Zhao Mo and Yun Qing.
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