History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 157 The Samurai Gathering Information

"Yes," Bu Yanzhen replied shyly. He knew that A-Zhen loved him, so he couldn't let her never see him again in this life. Even if A-Zhen could see him once and then no longer love him, he would keep the disappointment to himself rather than let A-Zhen have any regrets.

While the two were talking, Wei Mao quickly told Wei Yao that the scoundrel Fei Ming and the rumor-monger had all been arrested. "That scoundrel finally got his comeuppance, A Yao, aren't you happy?"

Wei Yao looked at him but didn't reply.

Wei Mao stared directly at Wei Yao. The more he understood what was making her angry, the more he couldn't help but get angrier. Wei Mao repeated a string of words: "A Yao, A Yao, A Yao, A Yao..."

"I'm going back to read." Wei Yao turned and walked away.

“Ah Yao, Ah Yao, Ah Yao…”

Good heavens! Wei Yao really wanted to smear this guy's mouth shut with horse manure.

"Ah Yao, Ah Yao! Ah Yao, Ah Yao!" He jumped left and right behind her, the first sentence irritating her left ear and the next sentence irritating her right ear. Seeing that Wei Yao was about to enter the tent, Wei Mao changed his address back to: "Fellow disciple Yao, tomorrow morning Wu Ji and I are going to practice riding and archery, are you coming?"

"go."

Wei Mao grinned and left reluctantly.

It was late at night, around 7 PM.

There is a mountainous area in the southern part of Hengzhou called "White Wolf Mound".

The name "White Wolf" originated during the reign of Emperor Taizu. At that time, Taizu's uncle, Kudu, allied with the Dugu tribe to compete with Taizu for the throne. Taizu wanted to know whether the people in the area were on his side or his uncle's side, so he sent Duke Mu Chong of Yidu to investigate incognito. Mu Chong thought he had disguised himself without any flaws, but at night, a white wolf suddenly came to Mu Chong's side and kept howling. Mu Chong sensed something was wrong and quickly fled, causing the bandits who came to capture him to miss their target.

Yuan Yi: "White wolves have been considered auspicious omens since ancient times, and this place was later called White Wolf Mound."

After visiting Woye Town, the three teenagers, Zong Yin, Yuan Yi, and Feng Xing, turned back along the same route to return home. They did not want to sleep in the open, but they had no choice; only after entering Bingzhou would there be more post stations and inns along the official road.

At night, Feng Xing became timid. He was afraid of the strange cries of night birds and the distant howls of wolves. He was also easily startled and would say that there were sounds of branches being trampled. Yuan Yi had to tell his companion that the only wild animal in the area was the white wolf, and that the white wolf was an auspicious sign.

Zongyin stared blankly at the fire, and Yuanyi waved a stick in front of his companion, which brought Zongyin back to his senses.

"What are you thinking about?"

Feng Xing interrupted Zong Yin, saying, "What else could he be thinking about but Miss Wei?"

Zong Yin: "Don't talk nonsense. I'm homesick. I've been away for so long, I miss my father and mother, haha, and I miss my younger brother and sister even more."

Feng Xing: "You're worried about how to tell your family that you want to marry Miss Wei, right? I don't think your parents will agree."

Zong Yin's face showed worry, indicating that he also knew this matter was difficult to handle.

Yuan Yi gestured to Feng Xing to stop talking about Miss Wei, but Feng Xing insisted on going on: "Miss Wei is literate and good at studying, but we've found out that her family isn't well-off. Her family is a patron of the family of the Vice Minister of the Imperial Household Department, Wei Guanchang. Your father is a clerk in the Court of Justice, and your family runs shops inside and outside Dongyang Gate. In the future, you'll have to find someone from a family of similar means, right?"

Zong Yin immediately retorted, "I don't mind her family background!"

Feng Xing sneered: "You don't mind? Ha, fine, let me ask you, if you marry Miss Wei, and she still needs to continue her studies, how will you support her with paper and ink? Won't you have to ask your family for money!"

Yuan Yi quickly advised, "Alright, stop talking. It's just that there are few schools in Luoyang, and even fewer female students. That's why A Yin is fascinated by girls who are focused on their studies." "Tch."

This sneer completely enraged Zong Yin, who retorted sarcastically, "You were just tricked by Miss Hu, and you're angering all the female students because of it!"

Feng Xing stood up: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Did I say something wrong? All along the way, you've seized every opportunity to criticize my marriage proposal. Every time I mentioned Miss Wei, you subtly mocked her background. What does it matter to you how humble her background is? As long as I don't mind! Miss Hu comes from a noble family, a stable and aristocratic one. It's a pity you're not good enough for her..."

"Ah—" Feng Xing swung his fist to punch, but Yuan Yi, who was prepared, grabbed his waist to stop him.

"You two can fight back in Luoyang. I won't be around then. Even if you cripple each other, it won't concern me."

Click, click...

It was obvious that there was a sound of trampling on the branches and leaves behind the three people.

Zong Yin and the other two remained in their current positions, glancing over first before slowly looking back.

He was a tall, thin middle-aged man who looked weary from his travels, but he had no horse or weapons with him.

Yuan Yi whispered to his two companions, "Be careful, there are definitely accomplices of this person nearby." This was a warning to Feng Xing and Zong Yin to calm down and not to vent their anger on the person who came.

This young man's surname is Ru and his given name is Junxia. He comes from the Pulou Ru clan and is the leader of the warriors sent by Yuan Chuntuo to Hengzhou to investigate the whereabouts of the Hu family.

Ru Junxia noticed the three boys' wariness and stopped about ten feet away, saying, "Young man, there's no need to be afraid. I just happened to be passing through this forest. I overheard you mentioning the young lady from the Hu family of Anding. She is very likely the niece I'm going to visit in Pingcheng. I'd like to ask you when and where you saw my niece. If she's not in Pingcheng, then my trip won't have been in vain."

Yuan Yi asked, "How old is your niece?"

"Ten years old."

Their ages were about right. Yuan Yi was about to ask some more specific questions to confirm whether the other party was looking for the Hu girl from Cui Xueguan's traveling group when Zong Yin had already spoken up: "The last time we saw the Hu girl was in the countryside northeast of Pingcheng."

Ru Junxia looked worried: "What is she doing in the countryside?"

“She was traveling. She was in the choir at Cui Academy. When we met her, she was traveling with a group of students. I asked those students, and they said they would return to Cui Academy at the end of June. So you can definitely find her if you go to Pingcheng.”

Ru Junxia took out a portrait and walked closer.

After the three teenagers saw clearly, they had no more doubts and nodded in unison. "Yes, the young lady we met, Ms. Hu, is your niece."

Ru Junxia feigned relief and then asked, "Does she get along well with her fellow disciples? I spoil my niece at home, afraid of spoiling her temper, haha."

Feng Xing curled his lip and replied with a dissatisfied tone, "She chats and laughs with everyone."

"That's good, that's good. Actually, I was overthinking it. Our Hu family is a powerful clan. Even if we go to Pingcheng, we're no worse off than the local nobles. Besides, my niece is extremely intelligent. No matter where she studies, she'll definitely make friends. I won't disturb you any longer, young man. The night is so beautiful, I'll continue my journey under the moonlight."

As soon as Ru Junxia left, Feng Xing, who had been holding back his words, let out a sigh of frustration and said, "Hmph, Miss Hu chats and laughs with everyone, but the students at Cui Academy completely ignore her. Especially someone's Miss Wei—"

(End of this chapter)