After Being Captured by the General - chapter 3
chapter 3:
Yuan Li had not spent enough time with his parents before it was time to depart for the Chu Prince Manor.
The people from the Chu Prince Manor could not wait a moment longer. At the break of dawn, a carriage was already waiting outside the county magistrate’s residence, unloading a row of red wooden chests.
The Yuan family did not take advantage of the Chu Prince Manor’s generosity. Yuan Song prepared an equivalent amount of gifts to send back, maintaining a demeanor that was neither subservient nor arrogant.
After the carriage set off, Yuan Li lifted the curtain and looked back at his parents, who were watching him with tearful eyes. Suppressing the melancholy in his heart, he smiled and waved to them.
Seeing his bright, carefree smile, reminiscent of his childhood, Chen Shi could not help but take a few steps forward. “Li’er…”
Yuan Song held her back, swallowing his own sorrow, and waved Yuan Li off.
Go.
Go early, return early. Your father awaits the day you return in glory.
The carriage moved farther and farther away. Only when his parents were no longer in sight did Yuan Li lower the curtain.
He sighed softly but quickly regained his composure.
Ruyang was only a hundred li from Luoyang, and in his previous life, Yuan Li had been independent since childhood. Though he felt the sorrow of parting, it was not overwhelming.
His thoughts turned to what his father had told him about the Chu Prince Manor.
The founding ancestor of the Chu Prince Manor was a close friend of the founding emperor of Northern Zhou, having fought alongside him to establish the empire. After the founding of Northern Zhou, the emperor enfeoffed five non-imperial princes, including the Chu Prince Manor. At the time of the enfeoffment, it was a joyous occasion, but as time passed, the emperor grew to regret it. The five non-imperial princes became thorns in his side, and he began devising ways to eliminate them.
By now, only two of these non-imperial princes remained. One was the Prince of Chu, who wisely left his fiefdom and voluntarily moved to the capital to live under the emperor’s watchful eye. The other was Prince Chen, who garrisoned troops in his fiefdom and asserted his authority.
With Prince Chen as the primary thorn in the emperor’s side, the Prince of Chu managed to win the emperor’s favor. As a result, the Prince of Chu’s eldest son, Chu Mingfeng, had already become the deputy grand secretary before reaching the age of thirty and was known as the junior grand secretary.
The Prince of Chu had two sons, both talented and accomplished, excelling in both civil and military affairs. The eldest son, Chu Mingfeng, was the one Yuan Li was to marry in a wedding to ward off bad luck. Though frail since childhood, Chu Mingfeng was exceptionally intelligent and highly favored by the emperor, rising to become a key minister of the state at a young age. As for the second son, Chu Hechao, Yuan Li knew little about him, only that he was renowned for his military achievements and fearsome reputation. In legends, he was described as blue-faced and sharp-toothed, capable of silencing crying children at night.
Since the Chu Prince Manor had shown Yuan Li considerable generosity, he responded with sincerity. He made a point to learn more about Chu Mingfeng’s deeds and found himself increasingly wary of this frail yet powerful minister. After his research, he questioned Yang Gonggong, the elderly eunuch sent to fetch him, about Chu Mingfeng.
The elderly eunuch was clearly delighted to see Yuan Li and Chu Mingfeng as a “loving couple” and spared no detail, painting everything in the best possible light.
Yet, as Yuan Li listened, he picked up on subtle clues that deepened his apprehension toward Chu Mingfeng.
After finishing his account of the eldest young master, the elderly eunuch asked with lingering enthusiasm, “Would you like to hear about our second young master, Yuan Gongzi?”
Yuan Li shook his head honestly. “There’s no need for him.”
Since they would have little interaction, it wasn’t worth wasting time.
The elderly eunuch clicked his tongue in disappointment and shifted to telling Yuan Li about other matters concerning the Chu Prince Manor.
Their conversation continued all the way to Luoyang. By the time they arrived at the Chu Prince Manor, it was already late. Exhausted, Yuan Li climbed out of the carriage, thinking that riding in a carriage was far more tiring than riding a horse.
He stretched his limbs and looked up toward the Chu Prince Manor. Two large red lanterns already hung at the entrance, with red cloth strips and silk flowers adorning the lintel, along with two enormous “double happiness” characters.
The atmosphere was already one of joyous celebration.
The old eunuch noticed his captivated gaze and, fearing Yuan Li might be having second thoughts, quickly said, “Young Master Yuan, shall we proceed?”
Yuan Li snapped out of his reverie, instructed his attendants to gather the belongings, and followed the old eunuch through the main gate of the Chu Prince Manor.
Among the guards who had escorted him to Luoyang, over thirty were personally selected by Yuan Li. Besides these guards, there were also three young servants who had long been in his service.
These individuals were the elite among elites, having grown up alongside Yuan Li since childhood, and their loyalty was unwavering. They would form the foundation for Yuan Li to establish himself in Luoyang.
Yuan Li had prepared exquisite gifts for every master of the Chu Prince Manor. However, the path the old eunuch led him on didn’t head toward the main residence. Puzzled, Yuan Li asked, “Yang Gonggong, aren’t you taking me to pay respects to the Prince of Chu and his lady?”
“The lady has instructed this servant,” Yang Gonggong replied cheerfully, lifting his robe. “Young Master, you’ve been traveling all day, and the moon is about to rise. You should rest first. There will be plenty of time to meet them tomorrow after you’ve recovered.”
Yuan Li found this both amusing and exasperating. “But the wedding ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow.”
Yang Gonggong said leisurely, “Just trust this old servant and set your mind at ease!”
Since he insisted, Yuan Li didn’t press further. Shortly after, Yang Gonggong led Yuan Li to a courtyard. “This will be your residence from now on. The courtyard hasn’t been named yet—it awaits your decision. Please let me know if anything is unsatisfactory, and I’ll arrange it immediately.”
“Nothing is unsatisfactory; everything is perfect,” Yuan Li replied after surveying the courtyard with a smile. “On the way here, I noticed a Taoist room not far away. Let’s call this the Hall of Enlightenment.”
After speaking, Yuan Li asked Yang Gonggong to convey his gratitude to the Prince of Chu and his lady on his behalf, then dismissed him.
His attendants swiftly unpacked and organized the luggage, inspecting every corner of the courtyard for hidden issues. Before long, the servant Guo Lin brought him a cup of tea at the perfect temperature.
“Master, early this morning, a message came from the farmstead, but I haven’t had the chance to inform you yet.”
Yuan Li removed his outer robe and loosened the hairband that had been giving him a headache. “What message?”
Guo Lin said, “Wang Er, who arrived just a few days ago, is begging you to take in another group of refugees.”
Yuan Li chuckled, his loose black hair cascading down his back. The shifting shadows of the bed curtains cast a warm, homely glow on his jade-like fair complexion. “Send a reply telling him to count exactly how many refugees there are, where they are currently, and how many among them are still capable of working to support their families. If these refugees are already heading toward Ruyang County, they must keep quiet, travel discreetly through the mountain paths, and avoid being seen by others. Also, remember: if there are any sick refugees, they must be settled outside Ruyang County.”
Guo Lin noted each instruction carefully and then asked, “Young Master, if there are only a few hundred or even a thousand refugees, it might be manageable. But what if there are more?”
Yuan Li replied, “There are still many uncultivated fields in Ruyang County. As long as we can help them survive until the autumn harvest, they will naturally become part of Ruyang County.”
Guo Lin hesitated, “Young Master, if the numbers are too large, we don’t have enough stored grain to support them until the autumn harvest.”
Yuan Li opened the bed curtains. “Let me ask you—how much grain do we have stored? How many ounces are distributed daily per person for relief? Can these refugees be of no use before autumn harvest? You worry about insufficient grain reserves, but have you seen Father refusing any refugees entry to our farmland?”
This series of questions left Guo Lin stunned. After thinking carefully for a moment, he shook his head in shame.
“You only see us giving grain to refugees, but fail to see what we’ll gain later,” Yuan Li said leisurely. “Labor and grain—these are the most valuable resources now. With Hanzhong’s severe drought, refugees flee to Luoyang only to be openly turned away at the city gates. I’m afraid even the Emperor…”
His voice trailed off too softly for Guo Lin to catch. But Guo Lin didn’t dare ask further. He quickly added, “Young Master, there’s another matter. Wang Er requests an audience with you. He insists he has compelling reasons to meet you personally. When the steward asked for details, he refused to disclose them to anyone but you.”
Yuan Li grew interested. “After the wedding, during the ‘returning home’ ritual, make arrangements for me to meet him.”
Guo Lin acknowledged the order and withdrew obediently to write the letter.
In the quiet room, Yuan Li stood before the bed in snow-white undergarments and suddenly sighed.
Perhaps Father also recognized the hardships of these times, hence his open acceptance of refugees.
Once these disaster victims became their private retainers, they would essentially become household servants. Yuan Li felt no guilt about this arrangement.
Each era had its own lifestyle and values. For these refugees, becoming servants in a county magistrate’s household was actually a cause for celebration. If Yuan Li let them idle about merely receiving daily relief grain, they’d only grow anxious, worrying whether there would still be food tomorrow or the day after. Unsettled minds would inevitably lead to unrest.
Yuan Li turned his attention inward to the system in his mind.
[Encyclopedia of Everything System activated.]
[Mission: Enroll in the Imperial Academy.]
[Reward: Scented Soap formula.]
The Emperor was aging, his grip on the empire weakening by the day.
He needed to accelerate his plans.
The next day, Yuan Li was awakened by festive music featuring flutes, strings, and percussion.
Though dawn hadn’t broken, servants flooded into Yuan Li’s bedroom like water, ushering him to bathe and prepare.
Two hours later, Yuan Li had his hair tied up and was dressed in wedding robes.
The masculine wedding attire was dashing and heroic, consisting of multiple layers that each took considerable time to put on. However splendid it looked, it couldn’t prevent Yuan Li’s stomach from rumbling from the lengthy preparations.
A servant carefully fed him some pastries while Yuan Li cooperated with the tedious process. After what felt like an eternity, someone finally announced, “Done!”
Yuan Li snapped back to attention, looking down at himself and tugging curiously at the hem.
Clad in red, he seemed to radiate a pearlescent glow, though he couldn’t see his own appearance. The maids and servants kept stealing glances at him. With his fair complexion, jade-like handsomeness, ink-black hair, lacquer-dark eyes, and strikingly red lips, he created a vivid visual impact—the very picture of an elegant, upright young gentleman.
Two embroiderers busily inspected the wedding robes for needed adjustments, occasionally murmuring to each other.
“A gold thread is protruding at the hem. We can simply mend it.”
“Oh dear, this waist needs to be taken in further. The young master appears quite tall, so how is he this slender?”
Yuan Li wanted to explain that this wasn’t due to thinness but rather the result of regular exercise, yet such words remained unspoken.
These minor adjustments didn’t even require Yuan Li to remove the wedding attire. Shortly after noon, the seamstress had already completed the alterations.
In Northern Zhou, wedding ceremonies followed the tradition of morning processions leading to evening celebrations. Yuan Li had been sitting blankly in his room for what felt like ages, the subtle unease about marrying a man gradually giving way to drowsiness, when Yang Gonggong finally arrived, beaming with excitement. “Young Master Yuan, the auspicious hour approaches! Come quickly with me!”
Yuan Li jolted awake. He wiped his face, took a deep breath once his eyes cleared, and rose. “Let’s go.”
The Chu Prince Manor was submerged in a sea of crimson. Every visible tree was draped with red ribbons, while peach blossoms with pink-tinted buds seemed to blush with bashful joy.
The distant sounds of festive music drifted from somewhere, muffled as if behind earthen walls, barely discernible.
The wedding ceremony was to be held in the main hall of the Chu Prince Manor, which was already packed with guests, buzzing with fervent excitement.
For the wedding of the Chu Prince’s eldest son, most court officials had rushed to offer congratulations and catch a glimpse of the “bral.” Those admitted to the main hall were acquaintances of the Prince of Chu, while many more sat outside, presenting gifts and toasting with wedding wine without ever laying eyes on the manor’s masters.
Occasional bursts of hearty laughter echoed through the hall, though the revelry remained somewhat restrained due to the eldest son’s frail health.
As Yuan Li stepped into the main hall, numerous gazes immediately fell upon him.
“Well now,” a military officer clicked his tongue, “Your Highness, your daughter-in-law is truly handsome!”
The Prince of Chu stroked his beard and laughed heartily. “Of course! Far better-looking than your son.”
Another round of roaring laughter followed. Yang Shi shot a reproachful glance at the Prince of Chu before beckoning to Yuan Li, whose face had flushed slightly. “Good child, come here and let Mother have a proper look at you.”
Hearing the Chu Princess refer to herself as “Mother” made Yuan Li even more uncomfortable. He approached dutifully and, as soon as he was near, Yang Shi took his hand.
Though Yang Shi’s face bore traces of weariness, her makeup lent her a vibrant appearance. She studied Yuan Li carefully, then smiled with pursed lips. “I’d heard of your reputation before, and now that I’ve met you, I’m utterly delighted. I know marrying Feng’er might seem like a compromise for you, but rest assured, our family will never treat you poorly.”
Yuan Li smiled. “You flatter me, Madam.”
Yang Shi chided gently, “Still calling me Madam?”
Yuan Li merely smiled and changed the subject.
The word “Mother” was simply too difficult for him to utter.
Suddenly, someone below asked curiously, “The auspicious hour is almost here, so why hasn’t the Eldest Young Master appeared?”
Just as Yang Shi and the Prince of Chu exchanged glances, preparing to respond, a startled cry erupted from outside: “The Second Young Master has returned!”
Chu Hechao?
This exclamation struck like a thunderclap splitting the sky. A military officer immediately rose to his feet, exclaiming in mingled shock and delight, “Chu Hechao is back?!”
The servants’ urgent cries continued to ring out from beyond the doors.
“Honored guests, I beg you to dismount quickly! Riding within the manor grounds is forbidden—the guest hall lies just ahead!”
“Generals! Generals! Bladed weapons are ill-omened on this joyous occasion! Please set your weapons aside!”
The tense, anxious voices drew nearer and nearer, until the clatter of hoofbeats seemed right at their ears.
Yuan Li followed the others in looking outside.
A group of armored warriors on towering horses galloped toward the crowd.
These men chatted and laughed with firm, resolute faces. The one leading them was exceptionally handsome, his smile carrying a hint of mockery as he bantered with those beside him, yet his eyes held no mirth as they scanned the interior of the house.
He was tall and powerfully built, his back ramrod straight, making his armor appear as imposing as a lofty mountain. The muscles in his legs, gripping the horse, were taut and well-defined, while his hands were clad in tight black leather gloves that clung to his finger bones, revealing unusually slender fingers.
At that moment, one of his hands held the reins at a leisurely pace, a crimson cloak billowing behind him, while the other lightly tapped his long boots with a horsewhip. The whip swayed lazily near his calves, exuding an aura of fierce, untamed arrogance.
He was far from the blue-faced and sharp-toothed figure of legend.
Yuan Li was taken aback; he had assumed the ugliest among the group would be Chu Hechao.
Fortunately, he hadn’t made a fool of himself.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Yuan Li met Chu Hechao’s gaze. The man’s lips tightened slightly before quirking upward, carrying a hint of unfriendly coldness. Suddenly, he reined in his horse, dismounted in one fluid motion, and strode directly toward Yuan Li.
In just a few steps, he stood before him, the thick scent of blood and dust assaulting Yuan Li’s senses. Beads of sweat trickled down the man’s throat and into his collar. Yuan Li’s brow furrowed slightly, his heart skipping a beat as he realized this was a dangerous individual.
The man noticed his furrowed brow and, fully aware of his discomfort, deliberately pressed closer. A shadow fell over Yuan Li as Chu Hechao smirked, So you’re my sister-in-law?
His tone was ambiguous, neither clearly grateful nor angry. I must thank you, sister-in-law, for sending me such a grand gift before I even entered Luoyang.