Chapter 1, A New Arrival
In the story "Crossing Through: The County Magistrate's Inner Court," the protagonist suddenly makes a grand entrance during an ambush at the Xiao Feng Pass while visiting Empress Zheng in the Hebei Province
This ... ... is indeed absolutely true ... ... how could a petty person dare to deceive the official?" Gao Chong, noticing the unusual expression on the official's face, also looked at his sister with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
The official did not hear clearly what was said, covering his backside and baring his teeth. At that moment, he glanced at them and said: "Oh dear, I’m going to die from the fall. Are you putting on a show? I just heard someone say they were going to stab me to death? Who is it? Is there no law anymore?" He indeed had poked Gao Yingmei a couple of times to wake her up. At this point, he looked around and felt something was off; it didn’t seem like a film shoot at all, as there were none of the basic elements like a studio, sound equipment, cameras, or props. What was going on? Could it be that I have traveled through time?
The one referred to as Gao Chong is precisely a captain in the county office, around twenty-two or twenty-three years of age, clad in a black robe, with a hero's scarf tied around his head, wielding a tiger-headed gold-engraved spear measuring eight feet long. His jade-like face shines brightly, with tiger-like eyes radiating brilliance, exuding a heroic demeanor and an air of murderous intent... Upon seeing that Lord An had entrusted the office's affairs to him, Gao Chong could not help but smile wryly.
Speaking of this marriage, Gao Mei, who was pretending to be a high-ranking soldier, couldn't help but roll her eyes. "After all, we are descendants of the Prince of Gao County in Bohai. Even though we are down on our luck now, we shouldn't have to settle for such a filthy son-in-law, right? How could Mother agree to this? Brother, they say that beautiful women have short lives. Are you really going to let your proud sister be reduced to this?"
The light cavalry that set out from Leshou was precisely the escort led by An Zheng. During the Song Dynasty, there were no stationed garrison troops in non-stronghold areas; the military forces under the jurisdiction of the counties were generally local militia, and their numbers were limited and irregularly organized, mostly composed of county officials' subordinates. It was quite challenging for An Zheng to temporarily assemble this troop of soldiers. Although there were several captains working in the government office, they had very few soldiers at their disposal. With the Empress visiting her relatives in Hejian, a matter of such great importance, An Zheng dared not be negligent. He hastily gathered around one hundred men and requisitioned over one hundred strong horses from the Leshou pasture, personally leading a group of county officials and soldiers to welcome the imperial carriage, without daring to slacken in the slightest.
Sigh... On ordinary days, I urged him to practice archery and horsemanship, but he would not listen. Now... Gao Chong, you take five or seven guards to escort the young master and follow behind..." An Zheng did not want to delay the important matter of protection because of his son, so he immediately gave the order and spurred his horse down the desolate slope, with the cavalry following in a rush.
Ah? An Zhengbu was taken aback, raising his thick eyebrows and asking, "Is Wen Gong's injury serious?" He only has this one son; what would he do if he were to be injured badly
Ah? Gao Yingmei felt guilty, and she had never deceived anyone, which made her neck flush red. Gao Chong turned around and glared at her, knowing his sister's willful temperament and understanding her displeasure. He sighed inwardly and turned back to the officer, saying: "The officer must be mistaken; the soldiers of the Gao family have been escorting the officer all the way and would never cause harm"
In the third year of the Zhenghe era of the Great Song, oh heavens, that doomed ruler, Emperor Huizong of Song, is in power... With that remark, the official inside the yamen rolled his eyes and fainted again.
The several individuals beside him were unable to voice their thoughts, yet in their hearts they pondered: that young man is frail and delicate, lacking the strength to tie up a chicken. He may be able to indulge in poetic musings and enjoy the company of beautiful women, but how could he endure the burdens of military affairs? The master must have brought him along this time to allow the young man to make an impression in front of the powerful figures in the court
As soon as Her Majesty the Empress crossed the Yellow River, an urgent dispatch covering eight hundred li had already reached the desk of Lord Zheng Shiyuan in Hejian Prefecture. At the same time, Lord An Zhengan, the magistrate of Leshou County under Hejian Prefecture, also assembled 1 Dou (the basic military unit of the Song army, with 1 Dou consisting of 100 men) of troops to escort the Empress, and they were required to provide protection all the way to Hejian.
Five or seven soldiers responded, and they rode ahead at a slow pace. Gao Chong then waited for the handsome soldier Gao to urge his horse to come up alongside before asking: "Is there an injury in the yamen?"
The official opened his mouth but did not make a sound; this man was clearly protecting this false man. But where exactly is this place? And where are we supposed to go? Those accustomed to riding in cars would hardly know how to ride a horse. This time, the fall was truly severe; every part of my body—back, legs, arms—aches as if I had just been beaten up. Looking closely at the scene before me, it is desolate and barren, with fields crisscrossing... I did not see a single symbol of modernization... This time, the fall was truly severe; every part of my body—back, legs, arms—aches as if I had just been beaten up. Looking closely at the scene before me, it is desolate and barren, with fields crisscrossing... I did not see a single symbol of modernization...
"Your Excellency... the horse in the yamen stumbled and fell, injuring itself..." A constable rushed forward, dismounted, and reported, while everyone turned to look back.
The sound of iron hooves thundered, and the earth trembled, stirring up clouds of dust that danced in the air. Over a hundred lightly armored cavalry soldiers swept past the post road like a gust of wind. In the spring month, the farmers plowing their fields looked up from their work, shielding their eyes from the sun as they gazed towards the main road. They beheld the cavalry leading the way, with a flag fluttering in the wind, inscribed with the words: "Leshou County, Hejian Prefecture, Hebei East Road, Song Dynasty."
A figure in a brocade robe lay across the saddle of a horse, seemingly having fainted. His upper body and legs dangled on either side of the horse, with his backside partially facing the sky. It goes without saying that this individual is the injured official, An Jing'an Wengong. Additionally, five or six riders followed closely beside the horse of the elegant soldier, also tasked with ensuring the safety of the official.
An Zheng, a capable official in Hejian Prefecture, further gained the trust and favor of the governor Zheng Shiyuan by marrying a daughter from the Zheng clan. He had followed Zheng Shiyuan for over twenty years, accompanying him wherever he served. In the spring of the second year of the Zhenghe era, Zheng Shiyuan was appointed to Hejian Prefecture, after which An Zheng took office in Leshou County.
Mr. An and his wife, the Zheng family, have raised two daughters and one son. The elder sister, An Da Jie, and the second sister, An Er Jie, married early and have since left the family. Now, only one son remains to bring joy to the family, namely An Jing An Wen Gong, who is nineteen years old. He is exceptionally intelligent from a young age, enjoys literature and painting, and has dabbled in the Four Books and Five Classics, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Analects, and various schools of thought. As he grew up, he excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and he is remarkably handsome, with a silver face and purple eyes, which endears him to the entire family, especially to the old lady, who dotes on him. However, he is somewhat frivolous, spending his days indoors, flirting and playing with beautiful maids, indulging in music and revelry day and night, which has led to him facing punishment on several occasions, yet he is always protected by the old lady.
An Zheng, styled Dezhong, hails from Longde in Hedong. He became a jinshi during the Yuanyou era. After decades of navigating the turbulent waters of officialdom, he has only attained the position of a seventh-rank county magistrate. However, compared to many other jinshi, he can be considered fortunate. For someone from a humble background, not only is it rare to govern a county, but merely enjoying a salary from the court is already a significant achievement, as one must be wary of offending others and losing one's head.
Originally, he was to be sent to the capital this spring to participate in the palace examination, thanks to the recommendation of Lord Zheng from Hejian Prefecture, which would exempt him from the provincial and metropolitan examinations. However, after the New Year, news emerged that Empress Zheng intended to visit Hejian, leading Anzheng to abandon the idea of sending him to the capital for the palace examination. It would be beneficial for him to first make an appearance before the powerful, as this would also aid him in the upcoming examination next spring
Fortunately, the phoenix carriage has not yet entered the Xiao Feng Pass. Lord An stood on the saddle bridge, shielding himself from the sun with a canopy, craning his neck to gaze ahead, and he let out a sigh of relief as he spoke these words
Gao Yingmei was not discouraged, her eyes brimming with tears. She had long heard her brother mention that this young master An Jing had no redeeming qualities apart from indulging in poetry and frivolous pursuits with his concubines. How could she willingly accept such a filthy waste as her husband? Had she known her fate would be so unfortunate, she would have preferred to remain in seclusion with her master on Penglai Island.
It is well known that the current year is the third year of the Zhenghe era of the Great Song Dynasty, and this place is located in the western outskirts of Leshou County, Hejian Prefecture... Has the official truly forgotten the past events?
Moreover, due to the admiration of Zheng Shiyuan by the Prince of Hejian, Zheng Shen, he sought to associate himself with this prominent family. It was indeed easy for him to recommend scholars. Considering various factors, An Zheng believed that delaying the examination by a year would not be a significant issue, but it could not miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the powerful and the wealthy. Little did he know that bringing him out would lead to a disastrous misstep, resulting in a terrible fall, what a fate!
According to reports, Empress Luan and her personal guard did not enter Leshou County, but instead altered their original route and decided to take the land path, crossing the Xiaofeng Pass directly to Hejian Prefecture. Upon receiving this news, An Zheng, in a state of panic, slapped his thigh and led people to pursue them. As for why Empress Zheng chose not to enter Leshou and instead took a boat north to Hejian, rather than opting for the land route, he could not afford to ponder. The issue was that the Xiaofeng Pass was occupied by a group of bandits and mountain thieves, who, taking advantage of the terrain, had repeatedly defeated the local troops sent to suppress them. Not to mention Leshou County, even in Hejian Prefecture, Lord Zheng was at a loss.
At this moment, Gao Chong helped the young master onto Gao Yingmei's horse. He swiftly mounted and glanced at Xiaofeng Gorge, then said in a deep voice: "The further we go, the more uneasy I feel. I fear that Lord An's concerns may come to pass. Yingmei, you must take good care of the young master, and leave the other matters to your foolish brother..."
In a moment of indignation, I could not help but raise the riding whip in my hand and, gripping the wooden whip, I fiercely jabbed it twice at the protruding backside of the official, cursing, "I will stab you to death, you filthy scoundrel..." My mind was further occupied with thoughts of whether to draw my short dagger and castrate him once and for all; the very thought startled me with its audacity.
Gao Chong cast a deep glance at the handsome soldier, gave a bitter smile and shook his head, then commanded in a loud voice, "You few lead the way ahead, I will stay behind with Soldier Gao..."
The young man swallowed hard, nodding in confusion, his heart filled with terror. He disregarded any pain and turned over to sit up, saying: "Really?"
The official's son glanced at the delicate-looking soldier with a black-painted face, finding the voice somewhat familiar. Upon seeing her clumsy disguise, he nearly burst into laughter. The deliberately hoarse voice could hardly conceal the feminine charm; her throat was smooth and tender, and there was no sign of an Adam's apple, "Uh... it seems to be you speaking..."
"Do not listen to his nonsense; he must have fallen off his horse and is dizzy. Who would want to poke him to death?" Gao Yingmei hurriedly defended, yet she could not help but feel a trace of panic in her heart
Before Gao Chong had taken a few steps, he heard Gao Yingmei speaking and could not help but turn back. Seeing the young master kicking his legs in a frenzy, he hurriedly asked, "Has the young master regained consciousness?"
Gao Yingmei did not dare to claim that she had awakened him; she merely pouted and nodded. Gao Chong hurriedly circled the horse back, saying, "Quick, let’s first set down the young master before anything else..." The two of them reined in their horses. Gao Chong leaped off his horse and rushed over to support the young master, helping him down. An Jing, feeling dizzy and disoriented, sat down heavily on the ground, only to land on a fresh injury, causing him to scream in pain and collapse again. Gao Yingmei, having dismounted, thought to herself: serves him right... Gao Chong then asked, "Where is the young master injured..." Gao Chong leaped off his horse and rushed over to support the young master, helping him down. An Jing, feeling dizzy and disoriented, sat down heavily on the ground, only to land on a fresh injury, causing him to scream in pain and collapse again. Gao Yingmei, having dismounted, thought to herself: serves him right... Gao Chong then asked, "Where is the young master injured..."
The light cavalry departed from the county to the west, pursuing in a northwestern direction. By the afternoon, after crossing a desolate slope, they faintly spotted a large contingent of imperial guards escorting the royal carriage ahead.
At this moment, several horses caught up from behind, among which one horse carried two people. The one sitting was also dressed in a black robe, but his delicate features could not compare to Gao Chong's. Gao Chong exuded an imposing presence, radiating a vigorous and masculine aura, while this handsome figure, in contrast, was filled with a soft and feminine energy. Especially his slender eyebrows, which were as beautiful as a woman's, and his eyes, which sparkled with a captivating light, were at odds with the dark blue and mottled complexion of his face, which was clearly smeared with grayish-black.
Gao Chong let out a bitter laugh and continued to explain for the young master, "The young master must have fallen quite heavily; he will recover after some time. You should mount your horse first, and I will support him... Up ahead is the Xiaofeng Pass. Lord An is likely worried about the bandits attacking the carriage, and I may have to take action. Please take care of this filthy fellow and do not let Lord An down."
After this moment, the attendants also arrived, one after another gathering their horses. In an instant, the barren slope was filled with the sounds of hooves and neighing, creating quite a lively scene. "People are coming, convey the county's order..."
In the third year of the Zhenghe era, in March, Empress Zheng left the capital to visit her family in Hejian Prefecture. The various military garrisons along the Eastern Route of Hebei entered a state of alert. The troops from Guangxin, Ansu, Baoding, and Xinan in the northern border conducted military drills, quietly establishing the first line of defense to prevent the Khitan people from Liao from encroaching and causing chaos. The Gaoyang Shun'an Army deployed along the line of Xinqiao Town, Renqiu, Changfeng Town, Dacheng, and Diaotai Zhai, forming a seemingly strong yet actually weak second line of defense. A portion of the Yongning Army was dispatched to Hejian Prefecture to assist in the guard duties.
The handsome soldier with the surname Gao curled his lip, disdainfully refusing to even glance at the fellow on the saddle bridge who was sticking out his backside. He scoffed, "What is this filthy fellow doing accompanying the army? He can't even ride a horse; if he falls and gets injured, it would save us the trouble... By the way, Brother Doto, let’s find someone else to carry him; he’s just a hindrance, and it’s hard for others to perform their duties."
Gao Yingmei could not help but sneer, thinking that this person was utterly useless, saying that he was dizzy just because he claimed to be. "Brother, look at this kind of person, can he even be considered a real man? Yet he dares to speak disrespectfully."
Uh... the young master, who was awakened by the pain, instinctively reached back to touch his sore backside and let out a couple of groans. As his consciousness returned, he suddenly felt a bit dizzy, gritting his teeth and shaking his head. He vaguely heard the words, "I'll stab you, you filthy thing..."? ... Uh, where am I? ... Hey, hey, put me down, what are you doing?
Ying Mei... Gao Chong sighed, casting a sympathetic glance at his sister, "Can one defy the will of our parents? Although the young master lacks great ambitions and aspirations, he is still a talented and charming individual. In terms of appearance and background, he is not unworthy of you, sister. The former glory of the Gao family has no connection to you and me anymore, and moreover, we are not of the legitimate line. Sister, do not mention..." After finishing his words, Gao Chong kicked his feet off the stirrups and rushed out on horseback. Indeed, the splendor of Gao Huaide had long been forgotten by the world.
Gao Chong slightly shook his head, "You girl must not be willful. The strong bandits in the Xiaofeng area appear unpredictably, and you alone cannot protect him. Lord An has only this one precious child under his knee; if anything were to happen, how would we explain it? Lady An has deep ties of gratitude with my Gao family, and not long ago, she even mentioned to my mother the matter of your engagement with the young master. Alas..."
"Oh... the official has awakened?" Gao Yingmei was taken aback, unable to help but stick out her tongue, realizing that her two lashes had indeed hurt him. "Do not move recklessly..."
Uh... I see, by the way, what year and month is it? The official let out a self-deprecating smile, and at this moment, he scrutinized the tall and handsome Gao Chong before him even more carefully. This person was surprisingly so strikingly handsome; he did not appear to be made up, and his expression did not seem to be acting. Could it be that I have really traveled through time?