Chapter Five: Thoughts on the Postal Road

  On the day Zhou Wenbo set out for Mr. Lin's residence, snowflakes fell from the sky, and this year's first snow had already begun to envelop the city of Luoyang. After finishing his breakfast, Zhou Wenbo bid farewell to Old Lady Lü and then took the manuscript he had been working on recently, exited the Zhao Guo Gong Fu from the corner gate, and boarded a horse-drawn carriage that was ready and waiting.

  This was a single-horse carriage, with Zhou Wenbo and the maid Hong Zhuang sitting opposite each other inside, while outside sat Liu Meng, the charioteer, alongside him was the attendant Zhou Bao.

  These three people were the close associates of Zhou Wenbo. The guard Liu Meng was originally a member of Zhou Deyan's personal guard, brave and daring. Because he committed a crime punishable by death, Zhou Deyan pitied his talent and spared his life, making him a household slave. For more than two years since Zhou Wenbo joined the Lin He door, all his comings and goings were attended by Liu Meng.

  Zhou Bao is the nephew of Zhou De, the manager of the inner courtyard. He was originally sent to serve as a book boy for Zhou Wenbo, but unfortunately, Zhou Bao had been mischievous since childhood and would complain of headaches whenever he held books, so serving as a book boy came to nothing, and instead followed Zhou Wenbo around as an attendant.

  It happened that at this time, Hong Zhuang, who was only eleven or twelve years old, was assigned to come over as a maid. The clever and kind-hearted young girl Hong Zhuang loved books and was infatuated with them, which made Zhou Wenbo and Lao Tai quite satisfied, so she finally stayed by their side in the position of a part-time book boy.

  Along the bluestone road in the city, after walking two or three miles, I left the Luoyang City Gate, and to the north was the Luo River, which was more than ten zhang wide. The horse carriage galloped quickly along the riverbank.

  This was Zhou Wenbo's first time leaving the Zhao State Duke's Manor in several days, but unfortunately it was already deep autumn. The horse carriage was sealed with thick cotton to keep warm, so that he couldn't see the scenery on the riverbank through the small windows on both sides.

  Hong Zhuang turned over the manuscript in her hand and began reading it in this somewhat bumpy train carriage.

  Zhou Wenbo sitting opposite looked somewhat helplessly at the beautiful girl in front of him who was immersed in an ocean of knowledge.

  A silk brocade jacket with a pink sleeve skirt, outside with a large red fur coat without sleeves. Due to the warm temperature in the car compartment, she did not wear that thick outerwear, perfectly highlighting her slender and tall figure.

  Under the fluffy and lovely hairpin, there is Zhang Xuebai's delicate goose egg face, born with a pair of bright eyes, plump and ruddy lips hiding two rows of white teeth, tender and smooth skin with a blowable elasticity, just in terms of appearance, it can be said to be perfect.

  Like a beautiful jade, her slender neck is white and delicate, under which are thin shoulders. A pair of budding breasts pushes up the red jacket with a round curve, her long legs wrapped in light pink gauze, slanting across her body, and a pair of dark red bow-adorned shoes covers those small feet.

  Watching the young Zhou Wenbo as if in a trance, his Adam's apple "gulped" up and down.

  People say that beauty can be devoured.

  Now I have got it.

  This was the first time in many days that Zhou Wenbo had a chance to carefully observe the young maid beside him. The usually shy Hong Zhuang was so engrossed in her book that she didn't even notice the scorching gaze right next to her.

  Such a stunning beauty is truly hard to come by. If it weren't for the fact that Hong Zhuang was barely over ten years old three years ago, she would probably have been taken in as an imperial concubine by Emperor Zhuang of the Zhuang Dynasty long ago.

  It's rare to find someone with the same level of natural beauty as the girl in front of him, who has lived for over 30 years and never seen anyone like her. Yet, this girl is his personal maid, commonly known as a "bedroom servant". The unpredictability of life lies in this.

  A beautiful landscape and a beautiful woman.

  Since ancient times, heroes and outstanding individuals have pursued nothing but this.

  The founder of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, once made a vow when he was young: "When serving as an official, I should be like Jin Wu, and when marrying a wife, I should get Yin Lihua."

  At that time, Liu Xiu, who was still a commoner, rose up in arms with his elder brother to resist Wang Mang, and established Han Dynasty's imperial clan member Liu Xuan as the emperor. With the slogan of "opposing Mang and restoring Han", they changed the era name to Gengshi, and swept away all obstacles on their way, occupying the Central Plains.

  The Yin brothers followed Liu Xiu to battle, deeply conquered by Liu Xiu's talent and military strategy. They finally seized the opportunity to persuade their elders to marry Yin Lihua, the number one beauty of Nanyang, to Liu Xiu.

  Yin Lihua was good at planning and decision-making, gentle and kind, careful and obedient in dealing with her superiors, and compassionate and gentle in treating her inferiors, making her a perfect match.

  In the past, there was Zhou Youwang's "beacon fire teasing the vassals", and later Ping Xiwang's "rushing to wear a crown for one anger for a beauty". Like Daji, Bao Si, Xi Shi, Diaochan, Yang Yuhuan, Chen Yuanyuan and other peerless beauties, which one did not change the course of history in that era? How can beauties not be compared to the weight of rivers and mountains?

  In today's chaotic world, if one cannot control their own destiny, they may lose the beauty and charm that once belonged to them. If they do not awaken to this reality, by the time they realize what has been lost, it will be too late, and all they can do is lament in vain.

  Although his gaze was still on the girl, Zhou Wenbo's thoughts had turned around for many rounds, and for a moment, it seemed as if a huge force originated from his heart.

  The carriage sped along for over ten miles, and the speed finally slowed down. Zhou Wenbo knew from memory that they were almost at his teacher's residence. The red sedan opposite him finally lifted its head and began to tidy up the books.

  The horse carriage had just stopped when a loud and thick voice shouted, "Brother Zhou has finally arrived!"

  Zhou Bao had already jumped down from the carriage and lifted up the thick curtain.

  With a gust of cold wind, Zhou Wenbo got out of the carriage and only then discovered Wang Shixiong standing several steps away.

  Wang Yuan, also known as Fei He, is twenty-seven years old and the second disciple of Lin Shi. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, a sturdy build, and looks nothing like a scholar at first glance. However, Zhou Wenbo knew that this was just an outward appearance, for Wang Shixiong was actually the most meticulous and steady among all his fellow disciples.

  The snow is getting bigger and bigger, goose feather-like fluttering down, ten meters away can't distinguish human figures.

  Zhou Wenbo hastily quickened his pace and stepped forward, grasping the arm of this Wang brother with one hand, as they chatted while walking towards the inner chamber.

  Hong Zhuang also jumped off the carriage, wearing a thick and heavy coat, she hugged her manuscript tightly and followed closely behind the young master. Liu Meng and Zhou Bao drove the horse-drawn carriage to the backyard, where there were two wing-rooms specially prepared by Lin Shi for Zhou Wenbo.

  Lin Shi is just over forty years old, married to Tian Shi, with a son and a daughter. The eldest son Lin Yun, also known as Tui Zhi, has just turned twenty and is the third older brother of Zhou Wenbo. The younger daughter Lin Yaner is twelve years old, gentle and lovely, and is dearly loved by both her father and mother.

  Master Cui Hao, courtesy name Xuande, is twenty-five years old this year. He is an orphan and was adopted by Lin He since childhood. His knowledge is the most profound among all his fellow disciples.

  Fourth Brother Zhuge Yu, courtesy name Yunyang, is a young master of the Zhuge family from Yichuan. At eighteen years old, he enjoys reading history and is skilled in swordsmanship. Three years ago, after the fall of the Liang dynasty to the Later Tang, bandits invaded and pillaged the area. When he was just fifteen years old, Zhuge Yu stood at the gate of his family's estate and beheaded over a dozen soldiers, earning him great renown throughout the countryside. The villagers called him "The Gallant Young Hero".

  Zhou Wenbo and Wang Yuan walked side by side for dozens of steps, arriving at the eaves of the main hall. They had already heard a clear and elegant voice inside the door reciting "I was originally a commoner, personally farming in Nanyang, if I can survive in a chaotic world, I do not seek to be known by the feudal lords..."

  Zhou and Wang stood solemnly in front of the gate, quietly listening to Lin He reciting this masterpiece "Out of the Camp Gate" by Zhuge Kongming, Prime Minister of Shu Han.

  His voice was loud and powerful, when he read with enthusiasm, it was like piercing through clouds and splitting rocks. When he finally reached the part "Now that I am far away, my tears fall on the letter, I don't know what to say", he burst into tears and couldn't speak, sobbing uncontrollably.