Chapter 7, Rebirth.

Liu Bian then shielded his forehead with his hand and gazed into the distance

I originally intended to take a short nap, but unexpectedly ended up sleeping for a long time. The will of an adult ultimately cannot withstand the body of a child, it is truly unbearable

Liu Bian smiled and said: "A generation of emperors has fallen to such a state. If I do not strive to improve myself, how can I face my ancestors in the underworld? I must rely on my own hands to revive the grandeur of the Han Dynasty and recreate an eight-hundred-year foundation!"

Liu Bian appeared confident and composed: "Rest assured, Wancheng and Nanyang are located in the northern part of Jing, which is under Liu Biao's control. At this moment, Dong Zhuo is engaged in fierce battles with the eighteen warlords of the east, and it is unlikely that he can spare a large army anytime soon. With just over a thousand men, they certainly would not dare to recklessly pursue us into Jingzhou. We should be safe now that we have arrived here"

Having already passed Wan City, if we continue forward for another fifty li, we will reach Nanyang. Empress He, being a local of Nanyang, became increasingly familiar with the road as we traveled and spoke up

Hmm, the king is so imposing, I truly admire him

Mu Guiying nodded in agreement and said, "The king is right, Your Majesty, you are indeed a beauty"

Three women were talking endlessly, completely oblivious to their own presence. Liu Bian, in a state of anxiety, rushed to the riverbank and asked: "Mother, Tang Ji, Gui Ying... have you seen a general named Hua Rong?"

It is of no concern, with two loyal ministers present, a mere mountain bandit cannot harm us. Moreover, we are few in number, and with swift horses, we can reach our destination quickly; we just need to be cautious and vigilant!" Liu Bian struck the horse's rear with a whip, urging it forward, showing no sign of fear.

Will Dong Zhuo's cavalry chase after Wan City, or even reach Nanyang? Mu Guiying said with some concern

When Liu Bian opened his eyes, the sky was already bright.

Your Majesty, please eat. This is what General Hua hunted and Sister Mu roasted. We have all eaten our fill and are just waiting for you to wake up and finish eating before we continue our journey

Not long after, the sound of hooves arose from the west, and it was none other than Hua Rong returning. He shouted loudly from his horse: "Hurry, a light cavalry unit has come from the north, bearing the banner of the Xiliang soldiers. It is likely the vanguard sent by Dong Zhuo to hunt down the king. They are approximately seven to eight li away from here. It is not suitable to stay here for long; we must leave quickly!"

"Ah... I say, ladies, have you seen a fellow named Hua Rong?" In a moment of desperation, Liu Bian disregarded the formalities and began to shout in the colloquial language he was familiar with from before his time travel.

"My son has finally woken up," Empress Dowager He glanced at Liu Bian beside the ashes, her maternal love evident in her expression. She smiled at her two daughters-in-law and said, "I just told you that my son has grown up, and look, as soon as I turn my head, he is making a fuss again. What kind of decorum is this? Moreover... he even referred to me as a beauty. Fortunately, there are no officials, palace maids, or eunuchs present; otherwise, it would become a laughingstock if this got out.

Liu Bian shook his head in self-reproach: "Oversleeping leads to missed opportunities, oversleeping leads to missed opportunities! Why didn't you wake me up? This is the critical moment for escaping; how can there be time to indulge in daydreams here?"

Mu Guiying added: "General Hua Rong is truly a talented individual, his archery skills are remarkable. Our breakfast was prepared by him as well. Your Majesty, please eat quickly while it's still warm. After finishing, we must set off promptly. It won't be long before Dong Zhuo's army catches up with us."

Tang Ji was overwhelmed with adoration, tightly embracing Liu Bian. Her ample bosom swayed against Liu Bian's chest with the jolting of the horse, causing him to feel a tingling sensation all over. Yesterday, he had been preoccupied with escaping for his life, leaving no time for frivolous thoughts. Now that he was assured of his safety, a certain someone was beginning to stir restlessly.

Mu Guiying smiled gently and said: "The king is referring to General Hua Rong. He noticed that the king had not yet awakened and did not want to disturb the king's beautiful dream. However, he was also concerned that Dong Zhuo's troops might be pursuing us, so he took the initiative to scout to the north. I estimate he will be back shortly."

Hua Rong furrowed his brows and said, "I fear that having just left the tiger's den, we have now entered the wolf's lair. Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, look at the terrain ahead; it is perilously steep, and such a landscape is a place where mountain bandits can easily lurk."

Liu Bian was also unreserved, taking the food from Tang Ji's hands and devouring it with great appetite. At this stage of his growth, how could he manage without eating and drinking to his fill

However, he and Tang Ji are husband and wife, having long since performed the rites of Zhou Gong, and he cannot keep Tang Ji at a distance. Liu Bian can only endure it painfully, secretly pondering that once things settle down, he must reward himself well. One must enjoy life to the fullest when in good fortune, lest the golden spear be wasted against the moon

Ding, ding, ding ... ...

Mu Guiying removed the purple gold crown from her head, took off her armor, and changed into a long emerald green dress. Her waterfall-like hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her appear even more enchanting and charming. Compared to her spirited demeanor yesterday, she exuded a different kind of grace. Three women crowded by the riverbank, chatting and laughing while grooming themselves, enjoying a harmonious interaction, which reassured Liu Bian that there would be no future conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

A clear and crisp sound of a gong echoed, and from the thickets on both sides of the valley emerged two to three hundred bandits, their heads wrapped in yellow scarves, wielding knives, guns, and clubs. They shouted in unison and surged forward, encircling the five individuals and three horses in the center.

Liu Bian came to his senses from YY and realized that Hua Rong was missing, which startled him greatly. Could it be that this fellow took the opportunity to sneak away while he was asleep, seeing that there were no soldiers around him? The system spirit had mentioned that the summoned generals have their own thoughts and do not simply follow him blindly.

At present, the four of them mounted their horses and once again galloped southward in a frantic escape. Hua Rong, at the back, did not forget to dispose of the ashes and dry branches, lest the pursuing soldiers behind discover any traces and relentlessly pursue them.

Before me, indeed, lay a treacherous terrain a couple of miles ahead, where a narrow path wound through the mountains. The towering peaks on either side were steep, and the vegetation on the mountains was lush and dense, making it an ideal place for ambush and robbery. However, this was the only road available for passage; the only alternative was to turn back to Wancheng, seek a guide, and find another route.

A figure dressed as a leader, clad in a black robe, with a full face of bushy beard, shouldering a large axe, blocked the way surrounded by dozens of loyal henchmen: "Leave the women and horses, and I will spare your lives; otherwise, you shall be killed without burial!"

Indeed, it is the fair and tender skin, even the Empress Dowager He is so enchanting. Although she holds the title of Empress Dowager, she is merely a beautiful young woman in her late twenties. Do you think she would resemble an old and decrepit woman

This left Empress Dowager He greatly surprised, as she secretly mused: "My Bian has changed significantly from before. Previously, he was frivolous and unruly, timid and cowardly, but since yesterday, he has shown a completely different person, bold and decisive. Could it be that he was stimulated after Dong's usurpation of the throne? It must be so! If the late emperor were still alive and saw Bian's transformation, he would surely be pleased.

Tang Ji hurriedly ran over, took the breakfast from the branches on top of the pile of ashes, and handed it to her husband. It was half a roasted wild chicken, wrapped in a layer of burnt mud. After knocking off the mud, the glistening, fragrant roasted wild chicken meat was revealed.

Lady Tang tightly embraced Liu Bian from behind, utterly captivated by the man galloping on horseback. This little man was increasingly resembling a great hero. "My King, since yesterday, your demeanor has become more and more imposing, hasn't it?"

Five people on three horses galloped southward, and after half a day, they had covered approximately over one hundred miles. Only after hearing no sound from behind did they slow down to allow their mounts to catch their breath

Having become familiar, while you were sound asleep, General Hua Rong and I had many conversations. What surprised the Empress Dowager was that she did not expect that you, the Crown Prince, had secretly nurtured so many loyal and virtuous individuals, which truly brought her great comfort. " As she walked, Empress Dowager He affectionately patted Liu Bian's head and praised him.

Liu Bian, not bothering to say much, threw the half-eaten roasted chicken into the river, mounted his horse, and commanded: "I will ride with Tang Ji, Gui Ying will ride with the Empress, and General Hua will bring up the rear"

They are all acting out of a desire to protect themselves, and Liu Bian felt embarrassed to blame them further. He followed the Empress Dowager and asked, "So you have already become acquainted with General Hua Rong?"

Where is Hua Rong? Where has Hua Rong gone?

Women love to hear others praise them, and even a noble empress is no exception. Empress He glanced at her reflection in the stream, still so enchanting, with an added mature charm, feeling quite satisfied in her heart. With a cheerful smile, she said: "Alas... in another year, I will be thirty years old. I am getting old, unlike you young people!"

The young king is still quite young, and moreover, he is of precious constitution. After all the jostling yesterday and throughout the night, we truly could not bear to wake you, Your Majesty." Mu Guiying supported Empress He as they walked back to the ashes, while explaining to Liu Bian.

Rubbing my eyes, I saw three women washing themselves by the river. It is a woman's nature to love beauty; although they are on the run, these women have not forgotten to indulge in their vanity. One by one, they washed the dirt off their faces, revealing their fair and tender skin