Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 413 Once Yuan's wife, now Zhang's wife

Xindu, inside the palace.

All was quiet, with only a flickering candlelight in the secluded hall, and the sound of snoring echoing from behind the curtains.

"Ugh!"

Because it was her first time sharing a bed with Zhang Yu, Zhen Mi found it difficult to fall asleep. She glanced back at Zhang Yu with her beautiful eyes, couldn't help but sigh softly, and felt a sudden sense of depression.

Although she and Yuan Xi were not exactly in love, they were married according to custom, and she became Yuan's daughter-in-law. Now that Yuan's army had been defeated, she had become the woman of the enemy chieftain, and she couldn't help but sigh at her fate. In addition to sighing, she couldn't help but worry that Zhang Yu would treat her as a plaything, and that his wife, Wang, would treat her cruelly.

Unable to sleep, Zhen Mi secretly removed Zhang Yu's large hand from her body and carefully got up. She took an outer robe from the clothes rack, intending to go for a walk outside the palace, but considering the cold weather, she could only walk to the windowsill and open the narrow window.

"Whoo~"

A cool breeze swept into the hall, and Zhen Mi shivered. She then wrapped her outer robe tighter around herself, looked up at the cold moon in the sky, and began to let her mind wander.

"Extremely valuable!"

Recalling the words of the young fortune teller who had predicted her fate, Zhen Mi smiled bitterly and thought to herself, "In the past, my family thought that because I married Yuan Xi, I would become noble because of him. Now that the Yuan family cannot protect themselves and I have been taken in by Zhang Yu, could it be that I will become noble because of Zhang Yu?"

Looking back at Zhang Yu on the bed, Zhen Mi couldn't help but think. She had only been married to Yuan Xi for a short time, and now she was lying next to the enemy chieftain. Would people think she was too lewd?

But this was beyond her control. Her mother-in-law, Liu, had repeatedly pushed her away, and Yuan Xi should blame her mother. Besides, it wasn't that she willingly served Zhang Yu; rather, Yuan Xi had been defeated by Zhang Yu and sent to him. She was merely an innocent woman.

She hoped that her looks would make Zhang Yu treat her better!

After a period of rambling thoughts, Zhen Mi gradually felt sleepy. She closed the window to keep the cold wind out of the palace, and then tiptoed to bed, afraid of waking Zhang Yu, who was going to war the next day.

Not long after Zhen Mi lay down, a large hand reached out and touched her, startling her with the sudden sensation.

"Is Your Excellency not asleep?"

"He's a light sleeper!"

Zhang Yu kneaded his chest and said with his eyes closed, "I will be awakened by the slightest noise."

Why can't you sleep tonight?

Fearing that Zhang Yu might misunderstand, Zhen Mi turned and nestled into his arms, saying, "With war raging everywhere, I don't know if my family is safe, and I've been very worried about them lately. I'm sorry to disturb your rest, my lord."

"You're too kind!"

Zhang Yu gently stroked Zhen Mi's slender waist and said, "Now that you are my wife, we should live together in harmony."

"I have been on campaigns for many years, and I have developed this habit because I am always afraid of enemy attacks on my camp!"

Zhang Yu's frequent campaigns had left him with many occupational hazards, such as light sleep. After all, as the commander-in-chief, he had to handle everything, and military situations were often urgent; how could Zhang Yu dare to let sleep interfere with important matters?

"I will be more careful in the future!"

“Tomorrow I will instruct Li Song to send someone to Wuji in Zhongshan to bring your family to Xindu, so as to alleviate your longing for your loved ones,” Zhang Yu said.

Seeing that Zhang Yu cared about her situation, Zhen Mi took the initiative to put her arm around Zhang Yu and said, "From now on, I will be Zhang Yu's wife."

"Ok!"

Although Zhang Yu knew that Zhen Mi was lying, some things were better left unsaid. After all, the situation was what it was: he and Zhen Mi didn't have much affection for each other, and Zhen Mi needed time to adjust to her new status.

Not to mention that Zhang Yu had a night of passion with the beauty Zhen Mi before setting out for Handan. Yuan Shao, knowing that Zhang Yu was about to launch a large-scale westward advance, led his army from Ye City to Liyang to avoid fighting Zhang Yu, whose morale was high.

At the Liyang camp, Yuan Shao stood on a high hill, gazing northwards.

"Is there any news of your journey south?" Yuan Shao asked.

"There is still no news of General Ju's withdrawal!" Feng Ji said calmly, "Judging from the situation in Handan, the enemy's encirclement may be very tight, making it difficult for General Ju to leave." Yuan Shao frowned and said, "Handan has ten thousand soldiers; it will not be easy for them to retreat unscathed. However, you and your men have troops to cover you; if you wish to break out of the city, it will not be difficult!"

With Lü Fan leading troops to besiege Handan, the 10,000 soldiers inside the city were destined to perish. Yuan Shao was only concerned with Ju Shou. After all, the Ju family was a prominent clan in Ji Province, and Ju Shou was a renowned scholar from Hebei. Therefore, to Yuan Shao, Ju Shou was far more important than the old and weak in the city.

Feng Ji said, "Perhaps Lord Ju is reluctant to abandon his soldiers and generals, or perhaps he is worried about his family members who are stranded in Hebei."

“Gongyu is highly valued by me, how could he possibly betray me?” Yuan Shao opened his mouth and said, “If Gongyu intended to betray me, he would have already led his army to join Zhang Yu like Zhang He and Gao Lan!”

Despite saying this, Yuan Shao's tone was much weaker. In this critical situation, he couldn't guarantee that Ju Shou would remain loyal to him.

Feng Ji said, "I will send my soldiers north again to persuade Ju Shou to abandon Handan and flee."

"ASAP!"

While Yuan Shao was talking with his attendants, Chunyu Qiong stepped onto the hill, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the Second Prince has learned that Your Excellency intends to lead your army south across the river, and has led the troops of Yanzhou to come and meet you. The Second Prince is currently outside requesting an audience."

"Quickly, let Xianyi step forward!"

"promise!"

A moment later, Yuan Xi was seen running up the hill. Upon seeing the haggard-looking Yuan Shao, he knelt on one knee and said, "I am sorry that I am late in welcoming you, Father!"

Yuan Shao reached out and helped Yuan Xi up, saying with emotion, "Even if the world turns its back on me, my sons will still be loyal to me. Xi'er has not come late, but just in time."

Then Yuan Shao asked, "How many troops did Xianyi bring with him this time?"

Yuan Xi hesitated for a moment and said, "Because Lü Bu, Chen Gong, and Zhang Miao are in Chenliu and Shanyang, I have only brought five thousand infantry and cavalry here today, leaving heavy troops to guard the cities along the Ji River. Therefore, I am afraid that I will fail my father's expectations this time."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao felt a surge of dissatisfaction. He had expected Yuan Xi to arrive with ten thousand men to greet him, but now there were only five thousand infantry and cavalry, which was far too few. However, considering Yuan Xi's arduous journey and the complex situation in Yan Province, Yuan Shao refrained from venting his anger.

"I am satisfied that Xianyi has brought his troops here!" Yuan Shao asked, "But Xianyi's troops are few. How will he defend Dongjun?"

Yuan Xi said solemnly, "I have left several thousand soldiers in Dongjun. If Zhang Yu sends his generals south, Jiao Chu can still resist. If the enemy has a large army, I will lead troops to their aid. If Zhang Yu leads a large army, I will do my best to defend Dongjun."

Seeing Yuan Xi's statement, Yuan Shao patted his shoulder and sighed, saying, "My army has been defeated, and I only have more than 10,000 soldiers by my side. It is difficult to divide my troops with Xian Yi for the time being. If Zhang Yu leads a large army, Xian Yi can lead his troops to retreat to Henan or Lu. We cannot fight against him for the time being. Allow me to rise up on the coast and fight Zhang Yu again."

“I will remember my father’s instructions!” Yuan Xi said.

After a pause, Yuan Xi, thinking of his beautiful new wife, asked, "Father, how is my wife?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao looked at Yuan Xi, but swallowed the words he was about to say. Perhaps it was inappropriate to face Yuan Xi, so Yuan Shao patted Yuan Xi on the shoulder, then sighed and left.

Seeing that Yuan Xi's expression was not good, Feng Ji hesitated for a moment before truthfully saying, "Second Young Master, Zhang Yu has captured Xindu, and now not only your wife has been captured by Zhang Yu, but also your wife and your favorite concubine. And according to those in the know, Zhang Yu has already taken your wife as a concubine."

Feng Ji wanted to finish speaking, but seeing Yuan Xi's face darken, he wisely kept quiet. It was common knowledge in Hebei that Yuan Xi's wife was exceptionally beautiful. How could he tolerate such humiliation now that she had been taken by Zhang Yu?
Thinking of this, Feng Ji sighed deeply, remembering his family stranded in Xindu. If he had a choice, he would also like to reunite with his family. However, compared to fame and fortune, the importance of family was secondary.

"Father, the boats are ready. Shall we cross the river now?" Yuan Tan greeted Yuan Shao and said.

Yuan Shao stood on the banks of the Yellow River, looking back towards Ye City, and sighed deeply. He had started his rebellion in Bohai, seized Ye City, and eventually unified Ji Province. Now, abandoning his base of operations, he feared he would never return!
“Father, Ju Shou is temporarily unable to reach Liyang, so it will be best to leave my second brother in Hebei to meet him.” Yuan Tan took Yuan Shao’s hand and said, “Father, you need to come with me to Qingzhou first to secure the coastal area.”

“Let Tan’er assist me!” Yuan Shao said.

On November 10th, Yuan Shao, finding Ye City unsuitable as a base, adopted the advice of his advisors and led his army to Liyang. There, under the patronage of Yuan Xi, he sailed south to Qingzhou, intending to establish his capital on the coast.

Yuan Xi, in his capacity as governor of Yanzhou, remained to guard the ferry crossings in Hebei, trying his best to incorporate the defeated soldiers of the Yuan clan and to coordinate with the troops under Ju Shou.

On the 12th, upon learning that Zhang Yu had led a large army south to Wei Commandery, Yuan Xi, seeking revenge for being cuckolded, launched a night attack on Zhang Yu's forces. However, he was defeated by Zhang Yu and subsequently led his troops to retreat to Liyang.

On the 14th, after Zhang Yu defeated Yuan Xi's troops, the soldiers and officials of Ye City surrendered the city.

On the fifteenth, Zhang Yu left Zhang Yang to guard Ye City, and led a large army north to Handan, intending to capture the city.

(End of this chapter)