Chapter 1: Lady Wei Guo, Shao Ge'er, and Yu Lian (1)

Her forehead is full, her eyes large and bright, and her tattered coarse cloth dress cannot conceal her graceful figure. Her hair is already tied up and wrapped in a piece of gray cloth; her attire and age suggest that she is a married woman, yet she is not Shao Ge'er’s wife, but merely someone who washes clothes, cooks, and does odd jobs here

The new emperor Chai Rong intends to personally lead the expedition against the Northern Han and Khitan allied forces. The ruler of Northern Han, who occupies Jinyang, has long sought to emulate Shi Jingtang by using Khitan troops to march south and become the emperor of the Central Plains, engaging in numerous battles over time. Now, with the recent death of Emperor Guo Wei of the Zhou Dynasty and the new ruler Chai Rong still not firmly seated on the throne, the Northern Han ruler sees an opportunity. He has once again allied with the Khitan army, with a combined force of 100,000 marching south, having already defeated Li Jun, the military governor of Zhaoyi Army in Luzhou, with the intention of annihilating the Zhou Dynasty.

In February, the grand beams of Tokyo sway with the new green willow branches in the wind, as the palaces and pavilions create a picturesque scene together. The white paper money drifting in the wind resembles falling leaves, adding a touch of autumn's desolation and sorrow to the spring light

"Yes." The eunuch replied respectfully.

She said this and wanted to cast it aside, but she did not know how a voice seemed to ring in her ears once more, urging her to serve the lady one last time. This stirred her emotions, and she blurted out: "If you can see Zhang Yongde, have him take care of Guo Shao; this person has rendered me a service while in the river..."

Fu did not mind, and upon reaching a sedan chair, he instead waved his hand to dismiss those around him and called for the eunuch to come over and speak.

"Madam Defender of the Nation." A voice said from among the crowd gathered under this archway.

Fu said softly: "I see, no wonder I remember having seen him somewhere in a picture book."

That man is named Guo Shao, a captain among the Imperial Guards, currently serving under the command of Zhang Yongde, the Chief Commander in front of the palace, and is affiliated with the Imperial Guards of the Front Palace. The eunuch clearly and respectfully reported, "It is said that this person sought refuge with Chief Commander Zhang in the first year of the Qianyou era while in the river, skilled in archery, and had likely already joined the military prior to that... I dare to speculate that this person may have been a remnant soldier under the command of Li Shouzhen, the military governor of the river region, back in the day."

Madam Fu of the Wei State, hailing from the Fu family which has produced three generations of feudal kings, is the daughter of Fu Yanqing, the King of Wei in Hebei. After the fall of the Tang Empire, the Central Plains experienced over forty years of change with five surnames and five dynasties. However, regardless of who ascended the throne, the power and wealth of the Fu family remained largely unaffected. Currently, King Fu Yanqing of Wei enjoys both imperial favor and prestige, having been promoted to the position of King of Wei, Military Governor of the Tianxiong Army, and Prefect of Daming in Hebei.

"We respectfully invite you to board, Madam." A female official knelt beside the carriage, her words interrupting Fu's contemplation

She was supported by the palace maidens as she slowly descended, and a group of eunuchs and palace maids immediately bent down respectfully, standing in silence, with no one daring to utter a word. The people were filled with reverence for the dignitary, as well as for the imposing grandeur emanating from the towering palaces and halls behind her. Only one official was whispering to an old man beside him, and at that moment, their furtive actions became particularly conspicuous.

"Lift the sedan!" A sharp call rang out as the sedan chair of the Fu family was carefully raised amidst the crowd. Ahead lay the deep palace chambers, a world unimaginable to ordinary citizens

And that noble lady, along with the ceremonial display of the * book *, is it not akin to the sun, evoking a sense of awe that compels people to avert their gaze?

As the curtains were drawn, the Lady of the Nation sat gracefully in her splendid carriage, gently closing her eyes as if in quiet contemplation. She was a woman of exquisite beauty, her complexion as fair as jade, resembling a celestial being. Her upper garment was a plain white base adorned with subtle floral patterns, featuring a low neckline and half sleeves, subtly echoing the Tang style, yet much more restrained than the attire of the Tang court. Her posture was impeccably upright, with shoulders as if chiseled and a long neck, exuding an innate air of nobility and dignity, elevated and untouchable.

After Fu finished speaking, he felt much more at ease and then asked, "Has the emperor made a firm decision to lead the expedition personally?"

With a loud bang, the force of this strike suddenly intensified, sparks flying, and a woman's soft exclamation of "Ah" came from behind.

Fu experienced turmoil and war firsthand. She believes that it is unlikely for the Northern Han ruler to successfully march south and annihilate the Zhou dynasty; the emperor does not necessarily need to lead the campaign himself. However, the emperor's intentions may extend beyond merely safeguarding the nation; he might also seek to establish his authority and stabilize the domestic situation through warfare. Should he personally lead the campaign and suffer defeat, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, since the emperor has already made his decision, further persuasion would be futile. The emperor's intentions may extend beyond merely safeguarding the nation; he might also seek to establish his authority and stabilize the domestic situation through warfare. Should he personally lead the campaign and suffer defeat, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, since the emperor has already made his decision, further persuasion would be futile.

A robust young man, around eighteen or nineteen years old, was swinging a hammer vigorously, drenched in sweat. He wore only a tattered short shirt, with his chest exposed and the sleeves completely torn off. The hammer he swung cut through the air with a whooshing sound, and sweat sprayed from his muscles as they trembled, filling the air with a primal sense of strength. This young man was known as "Shao Ge'er," and his physique was truly impressive, with long arms and well-defined muscles on his shoulders. His chest muscles were prominent, and his abdomen was distinctly segmented; such a physique could not be achieved by a mere laborer, as the proportions were too harmonious. Shao Ge'er joined the army at the age of fourteen and is now a small commander in the Imperial Guard under Zhang Yongde, the commander of the palace guard, having practiced archery for many years.

The eldest daughter of the Fu family first married Li Shouzhen, the son of the general of the Later Han dynasty. After Li Shouzhen and his father raised an army and failed, they were killed. The Fu family then became the adopted daughter of Guo Wei, and subsequently married Guo Wei's adopted son, Chai Rong. Chai Rong ascended to the throne as emperor this January, so it is not far for the Fu family to become empress.

Fu furrowed his brow, and a vague impression surfaced in his mind... a drizzly morning, a ragged boy shivering by the roadside, the shouts of the guards... Father, Father, he is truly pitiful, please send someone to save him

After hearing this, Fu did not say anything and turned to get into the carriage. Naturally, she was reluctant to have her newly married second husband go into battle and face danger; however, precisely because she had just been conferred the title of Lady of Wei and had not yet been granted the title of Empress, she did not want to overly contradict Chai Rong's intentions by offering advice.

It was precisely such a woman, who had always been in the heavens, that, while passing by Shao Ge'er’s blacksmith shop, suddenly lifted the beaded curtain on the side of the large cart, revealing a small half of her face with bright eyes and white teeth. Her gaze was spirited, as if possessing immense penetrating power, capable of capturing the hearts of those on this side, even from across a wide road.

She looked at Shao Ge'er, just a glance, and then swept past the young woman Yu Lian beside her.

On the street next to Longjin Bridge, at the entrance of a half-open blacksmith shop beneath the archway, there hangs a banner inscribed with the character "Guo". The shop is diagonally opposite Zhuque Avenue. The makeshift wooden stall outside is filled with newly forged farming tools, knives, and various ironware, while the bellows inside are making a loud "huffing" sound. The red-hot charcoal and the deep blue flames make the interior much hotter than the outside.

The eunuch lowered his voice and said: "I believe it is almost certain that yesterday, Prime Minister Feng Dao advised the emperor against personally leading the campaign, speaking disrespectfully and comparing the emperor unfavorably to Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty. Today, he has been dismissed from his position as prime minister..."

At that time, chaos reigned, and the Li family residence was in disarray, with people being killed, fleeing, and begging for mercy everywhere. However, there was no one left to resist to the death, as the situation was clearly lost and resistance was futile. The Fu family did not wish to accompany the rebellious Li family to their graves, so they hurriedly retreated into the inner court. The sounds of killing grew ever closer, and at that moment, there was still a fully armored man at the entrance of the inner court who had not fled; it was that familiar young man. He suddenly spoke from the side: "Allow me to serve the lady one last time." The Fu family did not wish to accompany the rebellious Li family to their graves, so they hurriedly retreated into the inner court. The sounds of killing grew ever closer, and at that moment, there was still a fully armored man at the entrance of the inner court who had not fled; it was that familiar young man. He suddenly spoke from the side: "Allow me to serve the lady one last time."

Longjin Bridge connects the north-south central axis avenue of Daliang City, facing the inner city Zhuque Gate to the north and adjacent to the outer city handicraft commercial district to the east... At this bridgehead, three individuals, seemingly unrelated, encounter each other by chance, exchanging a fleeting glance as if separated by an entire era...

A few years ago, she had no idea how that young soldier appeared in the Fu family's royal guard, nor did she wish to find out; however, when she married into Li Shouzheng's household and saw the young man again, she felt a vague sense of familiarity. It was not until Li Shouzheng and his son rebelled and were attacked by Guo Wei's army, who stormed into the residence, that the young man left a deeper impression on the Fu family.

The mature woman's gaze swept over Shao Ge'er, whose body was drenched in sweat and barely covered by his clothing. She quickly turned her head to avoid his gaze, her eyes lowered, and a blush of embarrassment appeared on her face. The basket she had been holding was now tightly clutched to her chest, as if startled by the violent sounds of beating.

She was already filled with fear and panic, hardly paying attention to the strange words, and hurriedly entered with the only remaining maid. ... Yet, deep in her memory, some sounds remained indelible, the metallic friction of a sword being drawn was so clear ... ? ... The sword has no feelings, but the one wielding it should possess awareness; perhaps the sword also carries a deathly desolation? The roar of the young man, the brutal clash of weapons, he charged alone into a large group of pursuers? ... The sword has no feelings, but the one wielding it should possess awareness; perhaps the sword also carries a deathly desolation? The roar of the young man, the brutal clash of weapons, he charged alone into a large group of pursuers?

The disparity among these three individuals is indeed vast, and there should not be any connection between them. The scene that just unfolded among these three people is certainly quite extraordinary.

Shao Ge'er also stopped swinging the hammer, standing beside the anvil with squinted eyes, gazing into the distance. It was already afternoon, and looking west from the handmade commercial district on the east side of Zhuque Avenue, one faced the sun slightly to the west, with the sunlight piercing enough to make one reluctant to open their eyes.

Let me serve the lady one last time. Why does he have to do this

At that moment, people on the opposite side of Zhuque Avenue hurriedly stepped aside, their curiosity piqued. They saw a large procession, with a magnificent sedan chair being escorted. Not only were there cavalrymen on tall horses clad in new armor, but also numerous palace maids and eunuchs, along with flags and umbrellas, everything in place. This display was undoubtedly that of a noble from the inner court, and indeed, those riding in the official sedan quickly moved to the side of the road, respectfully bowing and looking up.