Chapter 429: A Slave's Heart Without Regret

Not long after, Wang Dou led his army to the walls of Gaoyi. At the sight of the great host rolling in, whether Xu Yue'e and her subordinate generals, the local county magistrate and garrison commander, or the gentry and common folk, all showed expressions of awe and fear.

At that moment, a large crowd of onlookers gathered around the south gate, and everyone was full of praise: "Though Lady Xu's troops are crack soldiers, they still cannot compare with these government forces."

"I wondered who it was — so it is Grand General Wang, whose valor crowns the three armies. No wonder Lady Xu receives him with such deference."

"I hear the Grand General has again won great victories at Luoyang and Xiangyang. His Majesty has enfeoffed him as Count of Loyalty and Valor and bestowed upon him the Seal of the General Who Subdues Captives."

"Grand General Wang is also a man of loyalty and righteousness. I hear that back in the day he followed the Duke of Loyalty and Fierceness and killed quite a few Tartars at Julu."

"The Count of Loyalty and Valor and Lady Xu are truly a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a pair destined by heaven..."

Amid the commoners' chatter, Wang Dou rode up before them on his horse. Xu Yue'e led the crowd, both civil officials and military officers alike, and all prostrated themselves: "Your subordinates pay respects to the Count of Loyalty and Valor."

Wang Dou said, "You are all most thoughtful. Please rise."

He carefully studied Xu Yue'e before him. She was as valiant and dashing as ever, wrapped in a tight military tunic that accentuated her curvaceous, well-proportioned figure, exuding the allure of a fully mature woman. A silk kerchief wrapped her head, and she wore a cloak, lending her an air of authority and heroic spirit. After not seeing her for some time, Xu Yue'e had grown even more refined in her bearing.

After Xu Yue'e rose, she dared not meet Wang Dou's gaze. The female soldiers standing in attendance behind her — the same women who had fled with her from Shunxiang Fort that day — likewise averted their eyes, not daring to look at Wang Dou's face.

At last, Xu Yue'e looked at Wang Dou and said softly, "The Count of Loyalty and Valor has endured a hard journey. Yue'e has already prepared a banquet within the city, as well as lodgings. Please enter the city and rest."

Seeing her bashful and gentle demeanor, the people of Gaoyi were utterly astonished. Lady Xu had always been cold and proud, never showing a pleasant face to any man. No one expected that before the Count of Loyalty and Valor she would be as docile as a kitten.

Many sighed inwardly: "A leopardess like Lady Xu can only be tamed by a fierce tiger like the Count of Loyalty and Valor."

Some local scholars who secretly admired her, seeing their goddess behave this way, could not help but feel dejected and heartbroken.

Wang Dou said, "Very well."

South of Gaoyi city stood a great temple with a brick pagoda, called the Southern Temple by the locals. Wang Dou ordered the main army to encamp around the Southern Temple, while he himself led his personal guard and followed Xu Yue'e into the city through the Chengxun Gate.

The terrain of Gaoyi was entirely flat; only near the southwestern border with Zanhuang was there an earthen hill called "Mount Fenghuang," hence Gaoyi city was also known as "Phoenix City." Gaoyi's walls were not large, and the streets and alleys within were laid out perfectly north-south and east-west. Outside each city gate was built a wickerwork bridge, with wooden beams laid across and covered with sorghum stalks and mud to form the bridge surface.

According to local lore, these straw-covered little bridges were like nests where the phoenix laid its eggs, and each time an egg was laid, Gaoyi would produce a high official. In its history, Gaoyi had produced Zhao Nanxing, Minister of Personnel, who was one of the "Three Great Leaders of the Donglin Party," so the locals believed this saying without the slightest doubt.

Xu Yue'e led Wang Dou into the city, pointing out the sights along the way, and also spoke of what she had accomplished in Gaoyi and other places, clearly seeking to claim credit before Wang Dou.

Wang Dou said, "Lady Xu, you have done very well. Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish. Using work-relief both aids the disaster victims and prevents them from developing lazy habits. Very good."

Hearing Wang Dou's praise, Xu Yue'e was even more delighted.

They soon arrived at Wang Dou's lodgings, which turned out to be the garden estate of a local gentry family.

When Xu Yue'e had hurried from Zanhuang to Gaoyi, this gentry man, hearing that Lady Xu was temporarily requisitioning a place, had vacated it to curry favor. He never imagined that the guest would be the Count of Loyalty and Valor, and was overjoyed, bustling about to serve him, hoping to gain some recognition before Wang Dou.

By now, Wang Dou's fame filled the realm, and having been enfeoffed as a count, he had already transcended the category of mere military men. Neither civil officials nor military officers could afford to slight him...

However, that gentry man's wish went unfulfilled; he was shooed far away by Xu Yue'e, who personally attended to Wang Dou with a few of her close female soldiers.

Wang Dou took a comfortable hot bath. After bathing and changing clothes, he attended a grand evening banquet, and only then returned to his room to rest.

His guards stood watch in the courtyard and garden outside, while Wang Dou reclined comfortably on the bed reading. The gentry man's study had a considerable collection of books, so Wang Dou had taken a few volumes to peruse.

As he was reading, the door creaked open, and Xu Yue'e entered carrying a cup of tea. She said softly to Wang Dou, "General, this strong tea is to help you sober up."

Wang Dou set down his book and smiled. "I am obliged to you."

In truth, Wang Dou had drunk very little that evening. Given his current fame and status, who would dare force him to drink? But since Xu Yue'e was so thoughtful, Wang Dou could not fail to thank her.

Xu Yue'e studied Wang Dou carefully and said with a hint of reproach, "Look at you, you still smell of wine."

She called out, and a female soldier brought in a basin of wash water. Xu Yue'e dismissed the soldier, tested the water temperature, wrung out a cloth, and said, "Let me wipe your face."

With her head lowered, she approached somewhat bashfully and wiped Wang Dou's face.

Wang Dou gave a light cough and let her attend to him, aware only of the faint fragrance wafting from Xu Yue'e and a few strands of her hair brushing against his face, tickling him.

After wiping his face, Xu Yue'e went back over to the water basin.

Wang Dou observed that Xu Yue'e seemed to have dressed up carefully tonight, with a touch of makeup. Her glossy black hair was casually gathered into a bun, and she wore a white silk skirt, revealing a few hints of allure. From this angle, Wang Dou could just see her profile; in the candlelight, her long eyelashes fluttered from time to time, her expression focused and soft.

Seeing Xu Yue'e approach again, Wang Dou said quietly, "Lady Xu, these tasks can be handled by servants and maids. You..."

Xu Yue'e said, "I am willing."

She again attended to wiping Wang Dou's face, then called the female soldier to take the basin away, and closed the door herself.

It was clear that she was breathing heavily. After a long moment, Xu Yue'e turned around, her cheeks flushed crimson. She looked at Wang Dou, slowly came to the bedside, and hung her head in silence.

Wang Dou looked at her and thought of this woman, who had originally been from the same village of Xinzhuang. Because of a cruel twist of fate, her life had slid step by step toward an unknowable future. Looking at her, scenes of the past flickered through his mind: the events at Xinzhuang, the events at Jingbian Fort, Xu Yue'e's flight from Shunxiang Fort, her aid at Julu...

He sighed and said, "Lady Xu, you..."

A soft finger pressed against Wang Dou's lips — Xu Yue'e stopped him from speaking.

She said urgently, "General, you need not say anything."

She gazed at Wang Dou besottedly and said, "I remember the General once said that you do not disdain me."

Wang Dou sighed. "What virtue or ability do I possess..."

Xu Yue'e shook her head and said, "I can see clearly that among all the men under heaven, only the General truly cherishes me, does not disdain me, and genuinely cares for me. Other men merely covet my beauty and my fame and position."

She said wistfully, "I saw it as early as our time at Jingbian Fort. From that moment on, my heart has been tied to the General..."

She looked at Wang Dou, her gaze burning with intensity. Suddenly she threw herself into Wang Dou's arms and whispered coyly in his ear, "General, give me a child."

Wang Dou found his arms full of fragrance and could not help but wrap his hands around her waist, which was plump and smooth to the touch.

Xu Yue'e took the opportunity to sit on Wang Dou's lap, her arms clinging desperately around his neck, her body seeming as if it wanted to squeeze itself into his very being.

Wang Dou felt her warmth and her heartbeat, and a great sense of tender pity rose in his heart. He lifted Xu Yue'e's face to look at it. Time had passed; Xu Yue'e was now twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Fine crow's feet had appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her skin was no longer as fair and creamy. The years had already left their mark...

Xu Yue'e was overcome with shyness under Wang Dou's gaze, her face as if brushed with a layer of rouge, her eyes growing so alluring they seemed about to brim with water. She merely pressed her body against him urgently.

She who was usually coldly glamorous and proud was now stirred by passion, and all the more captivating for it.

Wang Dou said, "You will not regret this?"

Xu Yue'e looked at Wang Dou and said with force, "I will not regret it. From this life onward, I am the General's woman, and in death I shall be the General's ghost."

She panted heavily and whispered in Wang Dou's ear, "Please take me, General. Only, I am but a willow of humble grace, and I beg you to be tender."

Wang Dou seized her red lips in a kiss, and the two of them tumbled onto the bed beneath them.

That night, there was no end to the clouds and rain. Xu Yue'e was fiery with passion, clinging to Wang Dou and demanding him again and again.

The morning sunlight filtered through the thin window paper. Wang Dou awoke and looked at the beautifully curved naked body beside him, feeling as though he were still in a dream.

He listened, smiled faintly, and let his fingers glide along Xu Yue'e's delicate spine — the sensation was indescribably wonderful.

By now Xu Yue'e had actually already awakened. Remembering her abandon the night before — those moans of blissful ecstasy that seemed audible throughout the entire garden — her heart was filled with both sweetness and shame. She let Wang Dou do as he pleased, only pretending to still be asleep.

Wang Dou's hand probed, going to tickle her again. Xu Yue'e cried out in alarm, turned over, and pleaded repeatedly, "I'm awake, I'm awake — please, Grand General, spare this humble woman."

Wang Dou said, "Will you dare again?"

Xu Yue'e begged, "I won't dare, won't dare — this slave will never dare again."

Though her lips pleaded, her heart was utterly delighted. Then, giggling, she climbed onto Wang Dou's body and comfortably pillowed her head on his chest.

Perhaps this was her true nature — artless, lively. Wang Dou remembered that before the incident, Xu Yue'e had been very spirited in Xinzhuang, and could sing mountain songs beautifully. The devastation of war had forcibly turned a vivacious, open-hearted woman into someone cold as ice. Thinking of this, Wang Dou's tender pity for her deepened.

He held Xu Yue'e close, one hand stroking her smooth, sleek skin, and asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Xu Yue'e sighed softly. "This slave will remain in Zanhuang. Here, at least, I have built some foundation."

Seeing Wang Dou about to speak, Xu Yue'e placed a finger on his lips and said, "Don't laugh at me, General, but in truth this slave feels somewhat lowly and unworthy, always afraid of not being good enough for you. So I've fought desperately to climb higher, to gain status and power — that way I can take revenge, kill the Tartars, and also be a match for you, General."

Wang Dou sighed. "Why do you make it so hard for yourself?"

He looked at Xu Yue'e and said, "From now on, if you have any difficulty, tell me. Remember — in the Eastern Circuit, there is a man who cares for you."

Large teardrops rolled down Xu Yue'e's face. She clung tightly to Wang Dou, sobbing too hard to speak.

When the door opened and Wang Dou and Xu Yue'e appeared before everyone, their expressions varied.

Xu Yue'e's personal female soldiers revealed looks of relief. They of course knew Xu Yue'e's heart, and that Sister Yue'e was finally together with the General filled them with inner joy and blessings.

Xie Yike and the other guard commanders, however, knew of Xu Yue'e's past. This woman was not only damaged goods, but her heart was like a serpent's — she had even dared to kill her own son. Like the White Tiger husband-killer omen, many considered a woman like Xu Yue'e to be an ill-omened body.

Given Wang Dou's current status and position, a woman coming to attend him was nothing to make a fuss over — but this Xu Yue'e...

Xie Yike had already grown two dashing little mustaches. Now, stroking his whiskers, his thoughts raced, calculating: could this Xu Yue'e bring any harm to the Grand General? Would she bring disaster from now on?

Seeing everyone's expressions, a pain stabbed Xu Yue'e's heart. Her face slowly turned cold, resuming that usual look of icy aloofness.

Wang Dou turned around and gave Xu Yue'e a faint smile. A warmth filled her heart, and suddenly she felt that nothing else mattered anymore.

Yet before everyone, she had long grown accustomed to that cold demeanor, and no matter what, she could not return to the artless, lively manner she had when alone with Wang Dou.

Wang Dou said, "Many thanks for Lady Xu's hospitality. I am deeply grateful for your generous kindness."

Xu Yue'e bowed and said, "This is but this humble officer's duty. I shall see the Grand General off."

Everyone exited the city, with local officials and gentry also seeing them off. Outside the city, the great army had already assembled.

Wang Dou mounted his warhorse, gave Xu Yue'e one deep look, and said, "Take care."

His horsewhip cracked sharply through the air, and with a shout, he was gone in a trail of dust. Behind Wang Dou, the mighty army surged after him, merging into an irresistible torrent.

Xu Yue'e watched the army recede into the distance as if her soul had left her body, then slowly her expression recovered. A murderous gleam showed in her fine eyes, and she shouted, "Back to Zanhuang!"

Everyone beside her — whether subordinate officers or the officials and gentry of Gaoyi — all breathed a sigh of relief. The Lady Xu they all knew had returned.

That bashful, gentle manner she had shown before the Loyal and Brave Count had been truly disconcerting. This cold-faced look was far more agreeable to the eye.