Chapter Five, The Empress Dowager Bestows a Marriage

Lady Tang nodded in agreement and said: "Yes, Sister Guiying, why don't you serve the King alongside me? If it weren't for your timely rescue today, the King, the Empress Dowager, and I would have been confined in Hongnong County."

Mu Guiying quietly glanced at Liu Bian. Although this boy was young, his features were quite delicate, and the will and decisiveness he displayed today far exceeded that of children his age. He truly was the descendant of an emperor, and it was possible that he could make a comeback in the future and ascend to the esteemed position of the Nine-Five.

Liu Bian smiled and urged Mu Guiying to go to sleep. After she fell asleep, he would proceed with the second summoning. Having only Mu Guiying to protect him was indeed too fragile; he needed to summon another helper to ensure his safety.

Empress Dowager He sighed inwardly, yet maintained a composed demeanor as she said: "Guiying is absolutely right; this marriage shall be provisionally settled. Once we have navigated through this difficult period, you may report to the elders and then proceed with the grand wedding ceremony."

Ah? Mu Guiying encountered an unexpected situation, and Zhang was left speechless with his mouth agape

Mu Guiying once again paid her respects to Empress He: "To receive the favor of the Empress and the King is a great fortune for Guiying in three lifetimes. However, matters of marriage must be reported to my mother at home. May I request a little more time, Your Majesty?"

Not only were the two steeds on the verge of exhaustion, but the three individuals, including Liu Bian and aside from Mu Guiying, were also nearly falling apart from fatigue. Had it not been for the will to escape that sustained them, the three would have collapsed long ago

Empress Dowager He said with a smile: "A woman who is older can manage the household and the harem, and also knows how to be considerate of her husband. How can that be inappropriate? Look at Lady Tang, she is three years older than the Crown Prince, and aren't they very affectionate?"

Mu Guiying hurriedly knelt on one knee and said: "To receive the favor of the Empress Dowager is a great fortune for Guiying in three lifetimes. How could I dare to disobey your command? However, I am already eighteen years old this year, which is much older than the King. It may not be very appropriate, right?"

The Empress Dowager said that General Mu should make the Crown Prince a princess, do you not wish for that? The Empress Dowager took the water jug handed to her by Liu Bian and repeated it.

Although Empress He was utterly exhausted, she still managed to maintain the dignity of an empress. Upon hearing Liu Bian's words, she nodded in agreement and said: "What my son says is reasonable. General Mu is not only loyal to our Han dynasty but also possesses exceptional martial skills and remarkable beauty. To remain steadfast and devoted to me and my son under such circumstances is beyond what can be described by the term loyal minister. Why not have General Mu become my son's princess?"

After running wildly for most of the night, the three of them were already famished. Empress He and Lady Tang could still endure, but Liu Bian, at the age of thirteen, could no longer hold on. With a face full of weakness, he said: "Guiying, I am about to starve to death. Can you get me something to eat?"

In order to gain Mu Guiying's favor, Liu Bian concurred, saying: "Mother, there is no need to rush; everything will depend on Guiying's own decision."

After a bumpy journey, Empress Dowager He and Lady Tang were already extremely fatigued, and they soon fell into a deep sleep around the campfire. Liu Bian had matters on his mind, but after dozing for about an hour, he sat up and instructed Mu Guiying, saying: "My beloved, you should rest for a while; allow me to take over watching the bonfire."

A crescent moon hangs in the sky, casting a dim and shadowy light over the earth. Although it is not very bright, it is still possible to faintly see objects.

Empress Dowager He took a few bites and sighed, saying: "I have enjoyed more than ten years of glory and wealth, having tasted all kinds of delicacies in the palace, yet it is this wild game roasted by Your Excellency that I will never forget for the rest of my life"

Four men on two horses rode through the night, urging their steeds to gallop fiercely southward with all their might

Mu Guiying led two horses to a place by the river where the grass was lush and tied them up, allowing the horses to drink water and graze. She then searched for some dry firewood and returned to the riverbank to start a fire for warmth. The night in September was already bitterly cold, and in this desolate wilderness, it was truly difficult to endure without a bonfire

Ding dong... You have obtained 5 Pleasure Points from Tang Ji, and the host now holds a total of 5 Pleasure Points. The system sprite issued a prompt in Liu Bian's mind, which made him overjoyed, and he couldn't help but smile broadly. However, what displeased Liu Bian was why Tang Ji only had 5 Pleasure Points

Liu Bian, although possessing the will of an adult, is trapped in the body of a child, and he also bears the responsibility of caring for Tang Ji behind him. This relentless galloping along the way is truly exhausting

"My lord, it seems the horse can no longer run. The river is clear and we can see the bottom. Why not rest here for half the night before continuing our journey?" Mu Guiying reined in the horse and made this suggestion when Liu Bian caught up from behind.

Liu Bian thought to himself, as the master of the harem, the mother of the world, yet you have come to this desolate mountain wilderness to eat wild game, it would be strange if you did not remember this for the rest of your life! Historically speaking, Empress He was not exactly a virtuous and talented matriarch; she engaged in rivalry and jealousy within the harem, formed cliques for personal gain, and even poisoned Liu Xie’s biological mother, the beauty Wang Rong, which certainly does not qualify her as a good person

Liu Bian smiled warmly at Mu Guiying, indicating that the lonely king not only understands people's feelings but also wishes to understand their attire

Ding dong ... ... Acquired 10 Joy Points from Mu Guiying, the host now holds 15 Joy Points and 75 Hatred Points

Liu Bian, who was originally hungry and fatigued, felt a surge of joy upon hearing his mother's words. It was indeed most fitting for the Empress Dowager, as his mother, to express such sentiments. The affection of the Empress Dowager is difficult for an ordinary person to refuse, and it can be considered a command from one's parents, which naturally cannot be compared to a private agreement for a lifetime. If Mu Guiying were truly to become his consort, would he not be assured of her unwavering loyalty and service to him

My beloved, please rest quickly, for I will be relying on you throughout this journey

Alas... indeed, a phoenix that has lost its feathers is not as good as a chicken

"Did you not already agree to the Empress's marriage? When there is no one around, I will call you 'beloved concubine' a few times to help you get used to it," Liu Bian said as he walked to Mu Guiying's side and gently stroked her hair.

At this thought, Liu Bian instinctively cast a glance at Empress He’s chest, secretly murmuring to himself: "The feel is truly remarkable, but unfortunately, it belongs to my own mother. When the opportunity arises, I shall inspect Lady Tang's peaks and see which is more magnificent. It is a pity that Mu Guiying is in armor, making it impossible to discern."

Four people consumed an entire wild rabbit and drank two pots of river water before they regained some strength. Mu Guiying suggested that she keep watch over the campfire while the Empress Dowager and Liu Bian took a nap around the fire, planning to continue their journey south after dawn

It is rare for Lady Tang to be so magnanimous, Liu Bian smiled and said: "I will certainly treat you sisters well, for a lifetime, unwavering until death"

Mu Guiying looked at Liu Bian with a smile and said, "What does the king call me?"

Empress He and her son have fallen to such a state that they still need to rely on Mu Guiying's protection. It is not an exaggeration to say that if Mu Guiying were to abandon them, the three of them would either be devoured by wild beasts or captured by bandits to become wives in their stronghold. Not to mention that Mu Guiying has tacitly agreed to help, even if she were to firmly refuse, Empress He would not dare to say anything.

Hehe... Your Majesty, it is not that the dishes made by this humble servant are delicious, but rather that you are hungry." Mu Guiying said with a charming smile while nibbling on the rabbit meat.

Mu Guiying was taken aback: "What does the king call me for?"

"Thank you, King Xie, for your great kindness." The Tang princess was so moved that she was almost in tears, her heart filled with a profound sense of happiness

This world is indeed wonderful, with roe deer and wild rabbits running all over the place. Without much effort, Mu Guiying discovered a wild rabbit in the woods. She bent her bow and nocked an arrow, shooting it down in one shot. Grabbing it by the ears, she brought it back, saying, "Your Majesty, I have hunted a wild rabbit, and I will roast it immediately to fill our stomachs."

Mu Guiying's charming face flushed: "Your Majesty is of noble stature; it is not quite appropriate to address a humble servant in such a manner, is it"

Mu Guiying smiled gratefully at Liu Bian: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

Oh dear... I can no longer run, I shall dismount and rest

Upon careful consideration, jealousy and rivalry are inherent traits of women. Among the ten rulers of the harem, eight are ruthless and will stop at nothing to secure their favored position. Empress Dowager He is merely following the norm and cannot be considered a figure of great treachery or evil. Moreover, she is the mother of Liu Bian, so Liu Bian does not intend to hold her past mistakes against her. As long as she can turn over a new leaf, he will treat her as a mother and honor her accordingly

Liu Bian was already so hungry that he felt dizzy. He took the rabbit leg that Mu Guiying handed him and devoured it like a whirlwind. As he took a bite, the rabbit meat was fragrant, and the juices flowed down the corners of his mouth, making Liu Bian exclaim in delight: "Delicious, delicious, it is simply a delicacy of the world. I never expected that not only is Guiying skilled in martial arts, but her culinary skills are equally impressive!"

After desperately traveling for three hours, having covered more than two hundred miles from Luoyang, the pass of Wuguan to the south of Luoyang was far behind. As I passed by a river, the two horses were foaming at the mouth, their legs trembling, yet they refused to take another step forward.

Mu Guiying did not resist, for she had already promised Empress He. A woman must marry sooner or later, and marrying into the imperial family is indeed a good thing. Since he likes to address her this way, so be it. With a charming smile, she said: "Since Your Majesty has awakened, I shall take a short nap first, as we must continue our journey tomorrow. I will take over for Your Majesty later; we must not let the campfire go out, lest wild beasts take an interest."

Mu Guiying not only excels in martial arts but is also quite skilled in cooking. She picked up the goose feather knife to gut the wild rabbit, skin it, and clean it in the river water, then brought it back to roast on a branch. After a little more than half an hour, the aroma of the rabbit meat wafted through the wilderness, making Liu Bian, who was famished, drool with desire, wishing he could swallow it whole.

Guiying!

Mu Guiying dismounted first, and then assisted Empress He and Liu Bian, the couple, down from their horses in turn. Taking care of three elderly and weak women is truly no easy task

Mu Guiying took a knife and divided the roasted wild rabbit into several pieces, handing them to the Empress Dowager and Liu Bian, among others: "The wild rabbit is already roasted, please taste it, Your Majesty and the King. Although it cannot compare to the skills of the imperial chefs in the palace, it is sufficient to fill our stomachs."

"My mother and I are now like clay statues crossing a river, barely able to protect ourselves. What is there to say about a body worth a thousand gold pieces? If you can protect us, mother and son, in such circumstances, it is not merely the loyalty of a subject; it is truly like family!" Liu Bian sat cross-legged on the ground, drinking the water that Mu Guiying had fetched from the river, licking his cracked lips as he spoke.

Having searched everywhere in vain, the effort was ultimately effortless. Liu Bian's face suddenly blossomed with a smile. Seeing Liu Bian smile in a somewhat inexplicable manner, Mu Guiying was unsure of his intentions and quickly stood up: "The Empress Dowager and the King may rest for a moment; I will go hunt some game to roast and eat"