Volume 1 Chapter 66: Embracing a Little Beauty

  "Brother Zhou, have a drink of water."

  Jin Shu held a handful of creek water in both hands and handed it to Zhou Xianzhang's mouth.

  Zhou Xuanzhang took a big gulp of the water from Jin Shu's hand and drank it all, then wiped his mouth: "This water is really fragrant!"

  "You're talking nonsense," said Jin Shu, "water is either sweet or bitter, where's the fragrance?"

  "The water in the river doesn't have any fragrance, but once it's in Rourou's hands, it becomes fragrant." Zhou Xuanzhang said with a smile.

  "Zhou Dage, why are you always bullying me!" Jin Shu pouted.

  Zhou Xuanzhang sighed: "How could I bear to bully our Xiao'er? Oh, right, you need to touch up your makeup again."

  "But I didn't bring charcoal."

  Zhou Xuanzhang picked up a handful of muddy water from the stream, black and sticky. Jin Xiu was frightened and shook her head repeatedly: "No, I don't want it!"

  "Listen!" Zhou Xuan Zhang shouted: "Who asked you to be so beautiful!"

  "What's wrong with being beautiful?" Jin Shu protested.

  "It depends on the time," Zhou Xuanzhang sighed: "In peaceful times, it's good to look beautiful, but in this chaotic world, being beautiful is a big mistake! Jiu'er, let's put on some mud, I guarantee that when peace comes, I'll buy you the best rouge and let our Jiu'er shine!"

  "Then be gentle when you wipe it off."

  Zhou Xuan Zhang used muddy water to powder Jin Yu's face and said: "Yu'er, when we arrive at the city gate later, if someone asks you questions, just say that you are from Yashan and going to the capital to find relatives. I am your brother, called Jin Chengwu, and I am mute."

  "Jin Chengwu, this name sounds good."

  "Haha, this is indeed the name of a big star."

  "What a big star, how come I've never heard of you?"

  "Heaven's secret cannot be revealed!" Zhou Xuan Zhang laughed and pulled Jin Shu up.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang let Jin Shu say they are from Yashan, but it's not nonsense. The situation in Korea is very complicated, both Japan and the Qing Dynasty have troops stationed in Korea, the Korean people and the royal court all regard the Japanese as invaders, while regarding the Qing army as their savior, the Qing army's garrison is located in Yashan. Therefore, people from Yashan generally receive more leniency from the Korean officials and military.

  Two men walked out of the forest and onto the main road leading to the east gate of the capital city, blending in with the crowd. They arrived at the entrance of the city gate, where Korean officials wearing straw hats and holding large knives loudly shouted at passersby, occasionally pulling suspicious individuals from the flow of people for questioning and body searches.

  Jin Xiu looked at Zhou Xuanzhang with some trepidation, Zhou Xuanzhang smiled and took big strides forward, Jin Xiu followed behind him with her head lowered.

  A soldier blocked Zhou Xuanzhang, and Zhou Xuanzhang pointed to his mouth and shouted a few times. Jin Shu hastily walked forward and said a few words in Korean to the soldier. Jin Shu's voice was sharp but calm and fluent, and the soldier waved his hand and let them go.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang smiled foolishly at the soldier, pulled Jin Shu's hand and just walked a few steps when he suddenly heard a loud shout from the opposite direction.

  They were stopped by a middle-aged man in military uniform.

  That man was tall and burly, with a short mustache, wearing a leather hat, with a leather belt around his waist, on which hung a revolver, a pair of cold eyes staring at Zhou Xuan Zhang.

  Jin Shu hastily lowered her head, pulled Zhou Xuanzhang's hand, and trembled slightly.

  Zhou Xuanzhang felt Jin Shu's palm trembling and knew that something was wrong.

  These days, Zhou Xuanzhang and Jin Shu have been together day and night, clearly understanding Jin Shu's temperament. This young lady seems gentle and weak, always timid when meeting people, but when faced with big things, she can remain calm and composed, with extremely strong willpower.

  However, the North Korean officer in front of her made Jin Shu's hand tremble, her palms were full of sweat, suddenly, Jin Shu's small hands seemed to have gained strength from somewhere, tightly grasping Zhou Xuan Zhang's hand, almost pinching into the flesh.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang hastily turned around and faced Jin Shu, making two "ah" sounds, hoping to ease Jin Shu's tension.

  However, he saw that Jin Shu's eyes were filled with tears, and behind the tears, a spark of hatred was ignited.

  Zhou Xuanzhang suddenly felt that something was wrong, and wondered if the Korean military officer in front of him knew Jin Shu.

  Kim Soo-mother and daughter are wanted criminals of the Joseon court!

  Zhou Xuan Zhang hastily blocked Jin Shu in front of him, gesticulating wildly at the officer and muttering "ah ah" nonstop, secretly waving his hand to signal Jin Shu to let go and hurry away while he himself held up the officer.

  Zhou Xuanzhang made up his mind that if things didn't go well, he would knock down the officer, grab the pistol from the officer's waist and force his way through the pass.

  Jin Xiu tightly grasped Zhou Xianzhang's hand and wouldn't let go.

  Zhou Xuanzhang had no choice but to use his body to shield Jin Xiu and continued to pretend to be deaf, shouting non-stop.

  The officer grabbed Zhou Xianzhang's collar and shouted in Japanese: "You are a Japanese!"

  Zhou Xuzhang could understand Japanese, and during his time at the Tianjin Military Academy, he had self-studied Japanese, which was actually forced upon him by Feng Guozhang. Feng Guozhang believed that war between China and Japan was inevitable, and that officers of the Qing Empire should master Japanese.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang naturally couldn't admit it and pretended to be confused.

  The officer shouted out another sentence in Chinese: "You are a Chinese!"

  Zhou Xuan Zhang was shocked, this officer could also speak Chinese. Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly realized that the officer was trying to extort him, so Zhou Xuan Zhang continued to pretend to be clueless.

  The officer suddenly pushed Zhou Xuan Zhang away and went to pull Jin Shu who was behind him.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang was in a hurry. If that officer faced Jin Shizhi directly, he would immediately discover the mud on his face.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang suddenly blocked the officer's way, grabbing his arm and shouting incoherently.

  The officer couldn't get away, and with a wave of his hand, he gave Zhou Xuanzhang a slap in the face. Zhou Xuanzhang stumbled back, but refused to let go, and the two men became entangled together.

  The city gate was crowded with people rushing to enter the city, and as soon as it got dark, the city gate would be closed. Suddenly, a shout rose from the crowd, and the crowd surged forward, rushing towards the city gate. The officials and soldiers guarding the gate could not stop them, and the area under the gate immediately became chaotic.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang let go of his hand, the crowd surged forward, separating him and the officer. Zhou Xuan Zhang tightly held Jin Xiu's hand, mixed in with the crowd, and quickly moved forward. Before long, they passed through the city gate.

  As soon as his foot stepped into the city gate, he felt a hand reaching out from the chaotic crowd and grabbing Zhou Xuanzhang's arm.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang turned his head and was overjoyed at once.

  A man beside him, wearing ordinary Korean clothes and a bamboo hat, beckoned to Zhou Xuan Zhang with one hand and walked quickly forward.

  That man was none other than his sworn brother Feng Guozhang!

  Feng Guozhang walked with quick steps, striding forward and soon walking a great distance.

  Jin Xiu walked slowly, Zhou Xuan Zhang didn't dare to let go of Jin Xiu's hand, the crowd surged under the city gate, if they were dispersed it would be troublesome. Zhou Xuan Zhang simply wrapped one arm around Jin Xiu's waist and hugged her thigh with the other, picking up Jin Xiu horizontally and jogging a few steps to catch up with Feng Guo Zhang.

  But around Feng Guozhang, there were seven or eight people following him. These people were also wearing Korean civilian clothes and formed a square in the chaotic crowd, closely following Feng Guozhang with hurried steps, yet not a bit disordered.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang said in a low voice: "Feng big brother, your soldiers are not bad, I admire you!"

  Feng Guozhang turned around and said, "Damn it, what's the use of having good soldiers? Can they compare to the little beauty in your arms?"

  Jin Shu heard Feng Guozhang's words and hastily said: "Brother Zhou, I can walk by myself."

  "My little beauty, you mustn't cause any trouble. If we get separated, I'll be at a loss in this big city and won't know where to find you!"

  Jin Xiu didn't make a sound anymore and honestly hugged Zhou Xuanzhang's neck.

  A group of people entered the city, walking west along the official road for 300 meters before turning south and entering a small alley. The alley was lined with low-rise Korean-style houses, mostly made of wood. The group walked through the winding alleys for about five or six li, until a high red wall appeared in front of them. The red wall was surrounded by numerous large willow trees, with dense foliage. Inside the red wall were buildings with flying eaves.

  The sky had darkened, and the alley was eerily quiet. The crowd arrived at the red wall's edge, where a row of fences overgrown with gourds appeared in the willow shade. The fence was as tall as a person, blocking the view behind it. A wooden gate was closed, with a sign hanging on it that read "Return Garden" in two characters.

  Feng Guozhang arrived at the gate, knocked gently three times long and twice short. The gate creaked open, and an old man with a white beard came out, wearing a tall hat, looked around, beckoned, and everyone entered in a line, then the old man closed the gate immediately.

  Inside is a courtyard, three sides are neat and tidy bungalows, the bungalows are not high, but extremely delicate, painted beams and carved pillars, flying eaves overlapping. Behind the courtyard is that high red wall.

  The old man made a welcoming gesture and led the crowd into the main hall opposite the gate.