V. Weep and plead

That... Gongsun! As we brushed past each other, I mustered the courage to call out to him. After a moment of internal struggle, I finally decided to take a gamble, "What... what do you think of Wen Shu?"

Upon learning that Wuguan had been breached, Wang Mang, in a state of panic, summoned four ministers: Wang Yi, Zhang Han, Cui Fa, and Miao, to discuss countermeasures. As a result, the Grand Minister of Works, Cui Fa, cited classical texts, stating that according to the "Rites of Zhou" and the "Spring and Autumn Annals," in the event of a great calamity befalling the state, it is appropriate to weep and report to Heaven.

This morning, I distributed business cards and had Yin Lu invite several people over; they are currently hosting a banquet in the hall. The so-called business cards refer to what modern people call personal name cards, but here they are written on wooden or bamboo pieces.

To speak frankly, I have no fondness for Cen Peng whatsoever. Regardless of what he has done in the past or how capable he may be, at least he is currently a subordinate of Zhu Wei. It is not surprising that Yin Shi associates with Liu Xiu's subordinates, but why does he also seek to curry favor with the Green Forest Army?

I was very curious about the kind of people that Yin Shi Babaer had invited with his business cards, so while pretending to look at the documents, I casually asked, "What kind of guests are there?"

I shot him a fierce glance: "Aren't you trying to play tricks on me too? You little brat, you're still too inexperienced." I raised my hand and gave him a light knock on the forehead, "Truly worthy of being from the Yin family, have you really grown wings? Your feathers aren't even fully grown yet, and you dare to scheme against me, your older sister..."

Then, madam, I bid you farewell.

"Don't... don't, sister, is it not enough that I admit my mistake?" Pleading for mercy, he received two more blows to the head, covering his head and fleeing. "Among the guests were Zhu Hu, Lai She, Cen Peng, Feng Yi, Zang Gong, Ji Zun, Tiao Qi, Ma Wu..."

In the fourth year of the Xin Dynasty and the first year of the Gengshi era in August, the masterminds of the Gengshi regime convened in Wancheng and ultimately decided to take the initiative to launch an attack against Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty, which was besieged in Guanzhong, in order to not fall behind.

I pretended to strike, and he hurriedly smiled and pleaded for mercy: "Sister, spare my life! I know I was wrong..." I withdrew my hand, looking at him with a sarcastic gaze. He stuck out his tongue and muttered softly, "Always talking bad about the Yin family, now sister can be considered a Liu family woman!"

Is it necessary to prepare a vehicle

What are you thinking about

As soon as the words left my mouth, I immediately wanted to slap myself. He had just come out from the Yin family's banquet; wasn't I just asking a question I already knew the answer to

I am not very familiar either. Just now, the second brother fell down; you might as well ask him, as he knows everyone.

Madam Liu! That magnetic voice suddenly rang out, "Why bother with how others perceive the Marquis of Wuxin? As long as you, Madam, can understand the Marquis's intentions, isn't that enough?"

Although I am nominally married, I still return to my parental home frequently. The family home still retains my room, and the arrangement inside has not changed in the slightest.

After spending the entire morning examining the bamboo slips at the Yin residence, I took a nap for over half an hour after lunch. When I awoke, the banquet in the hall had just concluded. I hid in the shadows and watched as Yin Shi sent each guest away before I reluctantly stepped out.

Yin's face turned awkward, and after enduring for a moment, she finally couldn't hold back and kicked me with the tip of her shoe, saying: "Mind your manners, sister!"

According to convention, a woman should not return to her parental home after marriage, unless her husband divorces her or they mutually separate. However, since both families reside in Wancheng and Liu Xiu imposes little restriction on my actions, even if some people express slight discontent, they cannot intrude upon our private matters as a couple

Feng Yi did not respond immediately; on the contrary, his silence made me increasingly anxious. Perhaps I was mistaken; this probing was utterly meaningless. Liu Xiu had disguised himself exceptionally well, nearly deceiving everyone.

He finished reporting in one breath, and I stopped my pursuit, falling into deep thought

I shook my head again

I was focused on searching for the next shade when I suddenly heard a soft laugh in front of me. As I took a step forward, I didn't have time to look up and bumped into someone with a thud.

He smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth, nodded to me, and then turned to leave

Yin Lu still had more to say, but I shook my hand and said, "It's nothing, it's just a short distance, how could it possibly make me limp?" Just before leaving, I turned back and reminded, "Please tell my elder brother that I am going back and will come again another day"

"Well, it is indeed me." Feng Yi stood under the shade of the tree, his voice still as melodious as a magnet, making one's heart feel itchy and tingling. He possessed a charming voice, and what is rare is that he also played the bamboo flute exceptionally well. I have heard him play flute melodies, but I do not know if I will have the fortune to hear him sing a song. I can only imagine that such a voice would surely be heavenly.

Thus, Emperor Gengshi Liu Xuan dispatched the Duke of Dingguo, Wang Kuang, to attack Luoyang; the Grand General of the Western Screen, Shentu Jian, and the Chancellor, Li Song, to assault Wuguan. The Han army divided into two routes, advancing grandly towards Luoyang and Wuguan.

What has your elder brother been up to?

I... I am going home. I stammered and inadvertently said something wrong, which resulted in his noticeably distant tone, making me feel so ashamed that I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it

Marquis Wu Xin

In the Battle of Kunyang, although he and Liu Xiu were adversaries, they developed a mutual respect that transcended friendship, becoming a kind of friend who is not quite a friend. Later, when Liu Xiu attacked the city of Fucheng, it was reported that after only a brief engagement, the magistrate of Fucheng, Miao Meng, surrendered the city under the persuasion of Feng Yi.

Is the young lady going back? Yin Lu was just about to close the door when he turned around and saw me

The person was knocked back half a step by me, yet still kindly helped me up, fearing that I might fall. I rubbed my nose, which was both sore and painful, and raised my head. First, I was surprised, and then I couldn't help but smile: "It's you!"

Gradually, a sense of frustration fills my heart, as if a heavy stone is pressing down on my chest. Some matters are truly not worth the effort of relentless scrutiny; the deeper I dig, the more I begin to doubt my own intelligence. Am I overthinking and getting caught up in trivialities, or is the situation not as simple as it appears to me?

I laughed for quite a while before finally managing to stop, but I only felt my stomach ache from laughing even more, my limbs grew weak, and I lay helplessly on the desk to catch my breath

Liu Xiu's endurance of humiliation and bearing heavy burdens may not be truly incomprehensible to anyone

Faced with the destruction of the country and the fall of the city, Wang Mang surprisingly led the civil and military officials to the southern suburbs, where he proclaimed his mandate and wept bitterly to the heavens. Not only that, he also ordered his officials to compose the "Memorial to Heaven" and gathered students from the Taixue, as well as minor officials and common people, to weep together. He declared that whoever among them cried the loudest, most sorrowfully, and most movingly would be promoted to the rank of Langguan—astonishingly, this resulted in the promotion of over 5,000 individuals.

Sister! The shadow hurriedly helped me straighten up from my seat, carefully arranging the creased hem of my skirt

Haha ... ... Hahaha ... ... Haha ... ... Oh dear! I'm dying of laughter ... ... Hahaha ... ... My stomach hurts ... ... I am curled up on the mat, my hands clutching the bamboo slips, trembling incessantly.

Hiss! I felt a tickle in my teeth, and I rolled over and stood up from my seat, "You little rascal, are you feeling a bit itchy?"

I hurriedly bowed and said, "I was too abrupt." Not daring to look at his expression again, I turned and left

I was taken aback and turned my head; Feng Yi stood a few steps away, gazing at me from a distance, his expression calm, his eyes filled with wisdom and understanding. I felt a surge of emotion within, a bittersweet feeling pressing in my chest. After a long while, I bowed to him with gratitude, saying: "Gongsun, I entrust you with Wen Shu."

I suddenly came to my senses, feeling a great embarrassment wash over me. Unknowingly, I found myself standing in front of him, infatuated. I hurriedly masked my feelings with a smile and said, "It's nothing... Where did you come from?"

The afternoon sun was scorching, making my scalp feel hot. I meandered, trying to find shaded areas to make my way back, occasionally hopping and skipping along the empty street while stepping on shadows, which added a bit of fun to the journey

At that time, the leaders Deng Ye and Yu Kuang raised troops in the southern region to respond to the Han army. Deng Ye proclaimed himself as the Left General Assisting the Han, while Yu Kuang proclaimed himself as the Right General Assisting the Han, and they attacked Wuguan. The Wuguan Commandant Zhu Meng, after killing Song Gang, the Right Minister of Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty, surrendered to the Han army

I laughed so hard that tears came out, gazing at the bamboo slip in my hand. After holding it back for a long time, I couldn't help but burst into laughter again. Yin Xing gave me a "hopeless" roll of the eyes and left with a flick of his sleeve

Joking aside, what is the current situation in Wancheng? All cattle, horses, supplies, and vehicles, everything that can be used for warfare has been diverted to the battlefield. Although I know that the Yin family must still be hiding private property, and they certainly do not lack cattle and horses, those are reserved for food. If I were to brazenly harness them to a cart and parade down the street, wouldn't that be courting disaster?

Then let the son-in-law ... ...

The individuals invited by Yin Shi are of mixed quality. In terms of status and position, Lai Shi is Liu Jia's brother-in-law, Zhu Hu is Liu Xiu's classmate, and Ji Zun, Tiao Qi, and Feng Yi can be considered Liu Xiu's subordinates. These few individuals do not pose any significant issues. However, Zang Gong and Ma Wu are members of the Green Forest Army, while Cen Peng was originally the magistrate of Jiyang County. After Jiyang was captured, he defected to Zhen Fu. Following Zhen Fu's death, he fled to Wancheng, where he steadfastly defended the city gate during the Han army's assault on Wancheng. Later, when the city fell, everyone initially called for his execution, but fortunately, Liu Yan intervened to protect him, allowing him to become Liu Yan's subordinate. Now that Liu Yan is no longer present, he has become a lieutenant under Zhu Wei.

Hmm, do you also think he is heartless and ungrateful? He has violated the rules to marry, would you also look down on him for that?

His expression of gritting his teeth made me laugh even more, and I couldn't help but point at him and say, "You little brother... Xing'er, why are you studying so hard... Hahaha, what a great student... Haha, as long as you can cry, isn't that enough? You should look in the mirror more often and practice how to cry beautifully..."

Even though on that day, Li Yi, who was also one of the Thirteen Assassins, betrayed and conspired against Liu Yan, I still feel that Feng Yi is trustworthy. Perhaps this is merely my subjective and one-sided impression, just as I initially had a very good impression of Zhu Wei, while I inexplicably felt averse to Cen Peng. Such subjective awareness may cause me to lose my ability to make correct and rational judgments, but... I have always been more emotional than rational, just as Liu Xiu said, I tend to act impulsively in everything I do. Such subjective awareness may cause me to lose my ability to make correct and rational judgments, but... I have always been more emotional than rational, just as Liu Xiu said, I tend to act impulsively in everything I do

I took a deep breath and suddenly felt that the burden on my shoulders had lightened considerably

I have trust and affection for Feng Yi; from the moment we met, I have never subconsciously regarded him as an enemy. He is my savior and also my friend

The powerful offensive of the Han army not only shook the Three Fuf but also prompted various local rebel forces to respond resolutely. They killed the local governors, proclaimed themselves as generals, adopted the Han era name, and in a short period, their forces spread throughout the land awaiting imperial orders

I nodded

Feng Yi smiled softly, as if lost in thought. After a moment, he nodded and replied, "I just finished lunch with Madam's elder brother, Captain Yin, and was about to head back. Where is Madam planning to go?"