Thump, thump, thump…
A series of footsteps approached, revealing Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng leading the way, followed by four young maids.
The four young maids, however, were clustered around a stunningly beautiful Meiren of seventeen or eighteen years.
The woman was exquisitely beautiful, tall and slender, with a swallowtail-shaped hairpin adorning her lowered head.
She moved with delicate, graceful steps, her fair wrists peeking through light gauze.
As the woman stepped out of the Commandery Governor's Mansion, she caught everyone's eye, and all eyes were involuntarily drawn to her.
“What a truly enchanting woman, with skin like congealed cream, an aura like a secluded orchid, and an alluring, boneless charm that is three-tenths captivating,” Zhang Shihao couldn't help but exclaim, even after seeing Madam Zou.
“Help Zou into the carriage!”
Both the Commandery soldiers and the Imperial Army's cavalry stared, stunned by Zou's beauty, while Zuo Feng's smile grew wider. He lifted his head high and instructed the four young maids.
The four young maids helped Zou into the carriage. Just as Zou was entering, she glanced at Zhang Shihao, who was riding a white horse, dressed in shining silver armor, and wielding the Sky Dragon City-Breaking Halberd.
What a handsome general!
This thought flashed through Zou's mind, and she quickly looked away, entering the carriage with the maids' assistance.
“Haha, then I will trouble Marquis of Yiyang and Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng on this journey. I won't see you off any further.”
As Zou entered the carriage, everyone reluctantly withdrew their gazes, and the Huayin Commandery Governor laughed heartily, speaking to Zhang Shihao and Zuo Feng.
“Please!” Zhang Shihao cupped his hands to the Huayin Commandery Governor, then waved his hand, saying:
“Depart!”
At Zhang Shihao's command, the procession immediately set off.
Inside the carriage, Zou looked through the window at Zhang Shihao directing the Team, and only then did she understand Zhang Shihao's identity.
“He is actually Zhang Shihao, and he's an Eunuch… this…”
A flicker of surprise crossed Zou's beautiful eyes, followed by a slight feeling of disappointment.
As the procession drove out of Huayin City and onto the main road, Zou, inside the carriage, no longer dwelled on her disappointment. Her two delicate hands were tightly clenched, and she began to feel nervous.
“Brother Shidu, please don't be foolish again. Just forget about me, otherwise, both the Zou family and the Zhang family will be ruined.”
At this moment, Zou Yu'er was truly nervous.
Now that the imperial court had sent cavalry, she was afraid that Zhang Ji would foolishly attack the procession again.
Zou Yu'er naturally knew that the previous attack on the procession was carried out by her nominal fiancé, Zhang Ji.
It wasn't that she was worried about Zhang Ji's safety, but rather that she didn't want the Zou family, and certainly not the Zhang family, who were friendly with the Zou family, to be implicated.
Zhang Ji was the fiancé her father had found for her. He was indeed brave and considered an excellent figure in Wuwei Zuli.
However, she didn't have any feelings for Zhang Ji.
The truth was, being beautiful since childhood, she never lacked suitors.
Her taste was also particular.
Heroes love Meiren.
Meiren also love great heroes!
Zou Yu'er also fantasized that one day she could marry a great hero, a towering figure.
Just like Yu Ji and Xiang Yu.
Beautiful fantasies are naturally beautiful. How could Zhang Ji compare to Xiang Yu?
Her father also felt that her beauty would be wasted marrying into the countryside, and he agreed with her idea, saying, “No rush, let's wait a bit longer.”
The marriage was postponed again and again.
So, she couldn't say she liked Zhang Ji much. She was already seventeen, long past the age for marriage.
She had come to terms with reality and was no longer insistent.
Her father also went with the flow and arranged her engagement with Zhang Ji.
However, only a few months before the wedding, an imperial edict suddenly arrived from the court, demanding her entry into the palace!
The procession entered the main road and slowly moved eastward.
Inside the carriage, Zou Yu'er's small hands were tightly clenched, worried that Zhang Ji would act foolishly.
At the same time, five li ahead on the main road, in a forest, a dense crowd of four to five hundred people had gathered. Each person held Western Liang standard swords and sabers, exuding a fierce and murderous aura.
In the distance, thirty to forty Western Liang horses were tethered.
Among the crowd, four young, burly men were surrounded by everyone.
“Brother Zhongying, Brother Li Jue, Brother Guo Si, thank you for your help. Zhang Ji will remember it. However, now that the imperial court's cavalry has arrived, you should not interfere in this matter.”
Zhang Ji, seventeen or eighteen years old with a resolute face, spoke with gratitude and worry to the other three.
A burly Western Liang man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, exuding a fierce aura, snorted at his words:
“Brother Shidu, we don't like to hear that. Since you and I are brothers, then your business is Dong Zhuo's business.”
“That's right, Brother Shidu, don't be afraid. Since you are Brother Zhongying's brother, then you are our brother. Our sister-in-law is such a beauty. The imperial court, knowing Shidu has an engagement, still forcibly takes her. This is utterly absurd! I, Guo Si, am a horse bandit, and I'm not afraid of the imperial court.”
Guo Si, around twenty years old and full of vigor, also slapped his thigh and shouted.
“Yes, what's there to be afraid of? It's just a mere hundred cavalry, and they are cavalry who haven't seen battle in a long time. The Commandery soldiers are even more vulnerable. How can they be compared with our Western Liang brothers and Qiang People brothers?”
“Brother Zhang Ji, we have all come. Is there still talk of backing down? Let's do it! We'll snatch back our sister-in-law. Such a Western Liang Meiren cannot be given to Liu Hong. Anyway, we're disguised as mountain bandits and robbers. What can the imperial court do to us?”
…
A series of arrogant but righteous voices rang out, moving Zhang Ji. He gritted his teeth and said:
“Good, in that case, Zhang Ji thanks his brothers. The imperial court is stealing my wife, Zhang Ji, and I will not let them succeed.”
“Haha, well said, brother!” The rough and fierce Dong Zhuo clapped Zhang Ji on the shoulder and laughed.
“Brother Zhongying, the officials are coming. They are still two li away.”
Soon, a nimble young Qiang Person came to Dong Zhuo's side and quickly said.
Upon hearing this, the surrounding Western Liang men's spirits were all roused. The rough and fierce Dong Zhuo's face, however, showed a hint of solemnity, and he asked the Qiang Person:
“Did you clearly see the number of officials? Are you sure it's five hundred Commandery soldiers and one hundred cavalry?”
“Brother Zhongying, it's confirmed. I even counted twice.”
The young Qiang Person replied with certainty.
Upon hearing this, the rough and fierce Dong Zhuo's face revealed a look of determination. He waved his large hand and said:
“Good, brothers, put on your masks, grab your weapons, kill, and snatch back our sister-in-law.”
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
…
On the main road, a long procession was moving. The carriage was in the middle of the procession. Looking at the silent, dense forest ahead, Zhang Shihao narrowed his eyes slightly.
Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng, who was also riding a horse beside him, became nervous. He came to Zhang Shihao's side and said nervously:
“Court Attendant, should we still send someone ahead to see if there are any bandits?”
“No need, they're here!”
“What?” Zuo Feng was stunned.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground trembled, and a large, dense group of masked bandits surged out from all directions. Especially the four strong figures riding warhorses at the front, wielding large sabers, charged forward bravely.
“Kill! Our chief said whoever snatches back the Meiren will be rewarded with 100,000 coins!”
“Leave the Meiren, kill!”
…
The attack resumed, and the five hundred Commandery soldiers in the procession were instantly terrified, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Normally, when asked to manage petty theft in the city, they were as brave as tigers, but when faced with real swords, spears, and shadows, they were timid and fearful.
At the same time, inside the carriage, Zou Yu'er listened to the shouts of killing outside and was extremely nervous.