Engaged
The Wei army decisively defeated the barbarian coalition, recovered lost territory, and made outstanding contributions.
The barbarian coalition suffered heavy losses in this battle, losing most of its troops and greatly weakening its strength. After this battle, it is likely that it will no longer have the strength to harass the Great Wei, and will be unable to invade again for at least five years.
Faced with such a great victory, Emperor Chengde and his ministers were already waiting at the palace gate.
Emperor Chengde personally helped Luo Zhenhai, Xie Zhuo, and others up, his face full of joy and happiness: "This battle is all thanks to the strategic planning of my beloved ministers, who defeated the barbarian coalition and brought glory to our Great Wei. It truly brings me great comfort."
"It is my honor to share the Emperor's burdens."
All those who made contributions in this great battle were rewarded accordingly.
Commander Luo Zhenhai was appointed as a first-rank general, on par with the Protector of the Nation General. Xie Zhuo was also officially appointed as a General of the Cavalry. Du Zhiyun's merits and demerits canceled out his promotion, but the emperor rewarded him with a lot of treasures. Other outstanding soldiers were also promoted to centurions and squad leaders according to their merits.
Logically speaking, Xie Zhuo's qualifications were not sufficient to reach the rank of General of the Cavalry. The reason why Emperor Chengde conferred such a title was to appease the Prince Duan's mansion.
Inside the palace, Emperor Chengde was overjoyed and ordered his eunuchs to prepare a grand banquet to welcome all the soldiers back.
Xie Zhuo returned home after receiving his reward from the palace. His eyes were bloodshot from days of travel, but this did not diminish his ethereal appearance.
The Crown Prince is coming back.
The entire palace was brightly lit.
The maids and servants hurried about, and the atmosphere in the palace suddenly became festive.
As soon as Xie Zhuo entered the Prince's Mansion, Xie Huaiwei ran over. She grabbed Xie Zhuo, touched his arms and looked at his legs, examining him from head to toe to make sure he wasn't missing any limbs.
Xie Zhuo was both amused and exasperated.
Zuo Murui was already waiting in the hall. The news that Xie Zhuo's life or death on the battlefield had broken her heart. Her gaze swept over Xie Zhuo's face, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears. The more heartbroken she was, the more tears she shed.
"It is your unfilial son who has caused Mother Consort worry."
Xie Chi couldn't stand it anymore: "Alright, alright! You're such a grown man, why are you crying like a child?"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Murui glared at him angrily, but then she also emerged from her sadness. She and Xie Huaiwei had too many questions, and Xie Zhuo patiently answered them one by one. After finally getting rid of his mother and sister, Xie Zhuo went to his grandfather Xie Heshan's study.
Are you injured?
"Minor injuries, nothing serious." After briefly reporting what happened in Anfeng Town to his grandfather, Xie Zhuo returned to his room, where Sheng An was already waiting.
Sheng An recounted everything that had happened around Fu Zhi Qiao to Xie Zhuo in detail.
When Xie Zhuo heard that Fu Zhi Qiao had gone to great lengths to clear up the rumors for him, he felt a strange, indescribable emotion.
It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
Throughout his relationship with Fu Zhi Qiao, he always believed that he was the dominant one, that he could give her a higher status and a better life... but judging from the current situation, it seems that this is not the case.
For the first time, Xie Zhuo clearly realized that Fu Zhi Qiao was never someone who stood behind him and needed to be relied on, but someone who could fight alongside him.
While he protected her, she also used her own strength to protect him.
So this is what it feels like to be protected and cared for.
His heart was filled with sweetness, and Xie Zhuo could no longer suppress his longing. Under the cover of night, he rushed to Fu Zhiqiao's door.
Yinxing, who had just stepped out of the room, was startled when she saw Xie Zhuo and hurriedly tried to bow to him.
Xie Zhuo gestured for silence and went inside.
Yinxing hesitated at the door, wanting to say something but stopping herself. The young lady was already asleep; it wouldn't be appropriate for the young master to go in at this time!
But she couldn't stop him, so she silently followed him into the room, stood behind the screen, and only felt relieved when she saw that Xie Zhuo didn't do anything strange.
Having changed out of his golden armor and shed his battlefield edge, Xie Zhuo's murderous aura had largely dissipated. Looking at Fu Zhi Qiao's peaceful sleeping face, he smiled with doting affection.
Without makeup or hairpins, she seemed untouched by any worldly dust. Xie Zhuo had seen Fu Zhi Qiao without makeup before, but the sight of her sleeping peacefully still amazed him.
Fu Zhi Qiao slept soundly, her breaths carrying a sweet fragrance that stirred Xie Zhuo's heart.
I suddenly had an urge to throw off the covers.
Cough cough, Xie Zhuo's gaze shifted to Fu Zhi Qiao's lips, and he couldn't help but recall the scene when the two of them parted last time.
That was their first kiss, and Xie Zhuo was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night afterward.
Later, in the cold northern frontier, he recalled that moment countless times. The feeling of their lips meeting always appeared in his mind—the warm breath, the soft touch… Thinking about it made his ears turn red again.
The room was dimly lit by candlelight at night. Taking advantage of the darkness, Xie Zhuo no longer hid his thoughts. He lowered his head and slowly approached her, gently pressing a kiss to her lips.
Yinxing stared in disbelief behind the screen. How could the young master treat her young lady like this!
Yinxing was a little anxious. She didn't know whether she should stop him or not. The fabric of her clothes was already wrinkled from being crumpled. Fortunately, Xie Zhuo didn't do anything else, and she gradually calmed down.
Xie Zhuo stayed for about fifteen minutes. Before he left, he told Yin Xing to take good care of Fu Zhi Qiao and not to tell Fu Zhi Qiao that he had been there.
Yinxing nodded. She had originally intended to tell Fu Zhiqiao about what happened tonight, but she chose to keep quiet after seeing Xie Zhuo's slightly flushed cheeks.
So even the young master is shy!
Fu Zhi Qiao was half asleep when she felt someone touching her face, but she was too sleepy to keep her eyes open. She had been worried about Xie Zhuo's safety and hadn't been eating or sleeping well until news of Wei Jun's victory came back. Tonight was the most restful night's sleep she had had in a while.
The next morning, Fu Zhiqiao had just woken up.
Yinxing held up the snow fox coat and presented it to her like a treasure: "Miss, look, even the young master didn't forget to bring you a gift before going to the battlefield!"
"He came by?"
"The ones who came were the young master's guards."
Wang Qianxin delivered the snow fox coat early in the morning; he was still waiting at the Fu family's gate to pick up Fu Zhi Qiao.
Ginkgo learned about this snow fox coat from Wang Qianxin: "It is said that this kind of snow fox is only found in the northern border region. They only live near the snow-covered Tianshan Mountains and are very difficult to catch. Therefore, only one or two coats are produced each year, and there are very few noble ladies in the entire capital who can afford to wear one..."
In the cold northern Xinjiang region, it is extremely common to use animal hides for warmth, and every household hunts and makes fur coats.
Fu Zhiqiao examined the snow fox coat. It was pure white without a single stray hair, and the fur was dense and glossy. This quality snow fox coat was clearly not an ordinary item and was something that could only be found by chance.
As she spoke, Ginkgo unfolded her coat and draped it over Fu Zhiqiao's shoulders, praising, "This snow fox coat is simply tailor-made for you, Miss."
Fu Zhi Qiao felt the soft touch of the coat and said reproachfully, "You're so sweet-talking!"
“Girl, I’m telling you the truth.” Ginkgo chuckled happily, “The snow fox coat paired with your cool and elegant temperament gives you the feeling of a fairy descending to earth.”
The fox fur was very warm, and Fu Zhiqiao soon felt hot. She told Yinxing to put the clothes away.
Fu Zhi Qiao had a good foundation; a simple light makeup was enough to make her beautiful. A thin layer of red lipstick on her lips was already dazzling. She wore a jade-green brocade dress with wide sleeves, and the belt tied at the waist accentuated her graceful figure, making her captivating.
"The young lady seems to have grown even more." Ginkgo circled around her, making sure there was nothing wrong, and continued to praise, "The young lady is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
"Alright, stop flattering me!" Fu Zhi Qiao smiled as she walked out of the inner room, got into the carriage, and headed to Xie Zhuo's villa outside the city.
Wenyuan Villa is Xie Zhuo's private property. Although it is far from the city, it is a scenic spot nestled against the mountains and by the water. The villa is also very grand and elegant in every way.
“Miss Fu, we’ve arrived.” Wang Qianxin put down the footstool.
Upon entering the villa, the servants dared not raise their heads when they saw Fu Zhi Qiao, and all bowed in greeting. They had served in the villa for so many years, and this was the first time they had ever seen a woman enter.
As soon as she entered, her eyes met Xie Zhuo's.
It had been two or three months since I last saw Xie Zhuo, and he had changed quite a bit. His already aloof temperament had become even more cold and stern. His features were still handsome, but his skin had become much rougher. Of course, even the most beautiful woman couldn't withstand the elements. Fu Zhi Qiao had a way to help him recover, and judging from how easily he moved around, he probably hadn't suffered any serious injuries.
Fu Zhi Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that she hadn't seen him yet, but after seeing him, she realized how much she missed him.
Before Fu Zhiqiao could get close, Xie Zhuo took a big step, put his long arm around her, and affectionately pulled her into his arms.
Fu Zhiqiao tiptoed and buried her head in Xie Zhuo's neck, smelling the pine scent on his clothes and listening to his steady heartbeat. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
"Do you miss me?" he asked, his thin lips close to her ear.
Fu Zhiqiao blinked and smiled: "Yeah, I miss you."
Fu Zhi Qiao's directness made Xie Zhuo a little embarrassed. He smiled and his eyes sparkled with amusement.
He wrapped his arm around her waist; it was big enough for him to encircle her with one hand. He squeezed her wrist; it was only two fingers wide. He touched her small hand; her slender fingers were like scallion roots. The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, and Xie Zhuo now wished he could stick to her all the time.
Every move she made was extremely gentle.
Xie Zhuo softly recounted her experiences on the battlefield, mentioning how the Five-Flavor Powder she made was a great help in the wilderness; without it, they would have starved to death.
Fu Zhi Qiao smiled and said, "I'm glad I could help you."
Her eyes sparkled, and her voice became even sweeter, "I'm so happy you're back safe and sound!"
Xie Zhuo's smile deepened upon hearing this. Seeing her radiant smile, he felt a ticklish, tingling sensation in his heart, as if a feather were gently tickling it.
His heart was racing, his breathing was labored, and Xie Zhuo's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Fu Zhi Qiao touched his forehead with some concern and asked, "Why are you sweating so much? Are you hot?"
"Yes, it is a bit hot." Xie Zhuo's breathing was heavy, and his eyes were unfathomable. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became subtle.
*
The Wei army returned victorious, and every street in the capital was bustling with activity as people eagerly spread the news of the great victory.
Guo Sulan was overjoyed; she had made the right bet!
Prince Duan had no intention of rebelling, and the heir apparent did not die on the battlefield. Instead, he was rewarded and now holds an important position in the army.
Xie Zhuo returned victorious and was riding high. Guo Sulan immediately sent an invitation to Zuo Murui, saying that she had just acquired a jar of pre-Qingming Longjing tea and invited her to have tea.
Guo Sulan ostensibly invited Zuo Murui for tea, but in reality, she wanted Zuo Murui to fulfill her promise and let Xie Zhuo marry her daughter.
The Minister of Rites was at his residence.
Guo Sulan subtly brought up the engagement, then sighed deeply, "Mu Rui, it's not that I'm taking advantage of your kindness, I really have no other choice."
Zuo Murui picked up the teacup, smelled it, and then put it down. She knew, of course, that Guo Sulan's real intention was not what it seemed. She asked, "Tell me what exactly happened?"
Guo Sulan lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief. "In two months, the Ministry of Revenue will submit the list of candidates for the imperial concubines to the Emperor."
Yu Yadan is the legitimate daughter of the Minister's family. She will be of marriageable age next month. If she doesn't settle her marriage now, she will have to enter the palace to participate in the imperial concubine selection in the second half of the year.
The imperial court stipulated that officials of the fourth rank and above, whose families had daughters of marriageable age, were required to enter the palace for the imperial selection of concubines.
For a prestigious family with a strong family background, having a son born in the palace would indeed be a good choice. However, Yu Haoying does not have a strong background, and the current emperor is getting old. Rather than having his daughter become a concubine in the palace, it would be better for her to become a princess in the royal palace.
Once Yu Yadan is engaged, she won't have to go to the palace to participate in the imperial concubine selection.
Seeing that Guo Sulan still looked flustered, Zuo Murui could only comfort her first: "Don't worry, I'll go home and discuss it with the Prince before I go to propose marriage."
"Mu Rui, thank you!" Guo Sulan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Ya Dan is still young and needs guidance in many things. I'm afraid you'll have to take good care of her in the future."
"You're being too polite. Yadan is someone I've watched grow up." Zuo Murui's words pleased Guo Sulan, and the two smiled at each other.
Footsteps came from the porch; it was Yu Yadan coming over.
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