freeze to death

After winter set in, Yanzhou was covered in snow, making travel impossible. Everyone stayed indoors, wealthier families heating stoves, poorer ones huddling together.

"Add some more straw. Do we have any left?" Chi Ying held an umbrella in the snow, directing next door in the mansion, "Get more straw. If they freeze, it's a loss."

In the freezing weather, the sow in the mansion gave birth, squealing loudly, distracting children from studying. They all ran out to watch. Baili Zan sighed, rubbing his hands, walking out, "No classes today, go back."

The sow gave birth to piglets, smeared with feces, struggling under the sow's belly, crying from the cold. Chi Ying worried, "What if the piglets freeze to death? Should we move a stove into the pigsty?"

"That won't work. The sty is full of straw, a spark could start a fire, burning them alive," Baili Zan shook his head.

Chi Ying sighed, "Raising pigs is harder than raising kids."

Baili Zan mimicked her sighing, teasing, "Yes, how hard can it be?"

Troubles didn't stop with pig-raising. Snow-covered fields couldn't be worked, soldiers trained in the morning, idling in barracks in the afternoon. Idle hands lead to trouble; some soldiers roamed the city, causing friction, harassing women, making Yanzhou chaotic.

Cui Yi slammed the table, furious, "I'm overwhelmed with work, yet they cause trouble! Unbelievable! Zhongxing, pass my order. Anyone caught causing trouble gets punished with military sticks, harshly!"

Cao Qian returned to the barracks with the order, seeing Yang Qiong there, facing a line of soldiers, heads down, being scolded.

Approaching, he heard Yang Qiong say, "Lady says this time let it slide. She'll talk to His Highness not to punish you. But you must patrol the city morning and night. Only if you catch troublemakers can you be replaced. Understand?"

Soldiers answered weakly, Yang Qiong barked, "Louder!" They straightened, answering in unison, "Yes!"

Yang Qiong dismissed them, Cao Qian laughing, "Lady's method is better, teaching a lesson without punishment, more effective than sticks."

Yang Qiong agreed, "This should deter future trouble. Cold patrolling is punishment enough."

Cao Qian squinted at dark clouds, predicting continuous snow till March. "But keeping everyone idle isn't good. — Are you healed?"

"Almost, the doctor says it's fine," Yang Qiong teased, "Looking forward to your wedding wine."

Cao Qian chuckled, "His Highness proposed, but acceptance is uncertain. But if it works out, wine is guaranteed."

They chatted about Cao Qian's encounter with the girl, praising her beauty and kindness, worrying about being unworthy. Yang Qiong reassured him.

"Hey, about last time..." Cao Qian hesitated. Others knew about Yang Qiong saving Cheng Fuyi, avoiding mentioning it. But Cao Qian, concerned, wanted to know.

Yang Qiong grabbed two wooden spears, tossing one to him, "Long time no practice, muscles stiff. Let's spar."

Cao Qian accepted, stepping into the arena. Soldiers gathered to watch.

"Embarrassing matters, better left unsaid," Yang Qiong attacked, Cao Qian dodging, "Your feelings for Lady Cheng..."

Yang Qiong evaded, countering, spear tip aiming at his face.

Cao Qian blocked him, saying, "Do you love her? Or do you merely want to repay her for saving your life?"

Yang Qiong remained silent, quickening his pace. The two men exchanged more than a dozen moves in the center of the cleared training ground, wet sand scattering with each thrust of their spears, rustling softly. "What I think isn't important. I just hope she lives well. As long as she is safe and happy, I am content," Yang Qiong said decisively, retreating to create distance before he revealed any weakness, repositioning into a defensive stance, breathing slightly hard.

Cao Qian sighed deeply, saying, "If you had killed Hu'erhana back then, it might not have saved her either. Brother, pardon my bluntness, but once she fell into the hands of the Beidi people, there's an eighty percent chance she was already..."

Yang Qiong's expression was blank, revealing no emotion. Cao Qian changed his approach, asking, "What will you do after rescuing her?"

Yang Qiong replied, "I'll send her back to the capital to reunite with her husband and daughter."

Cao Qian asked, "What if Zhai Zicheng doesn't want her anymore?"

Yang Qiong's eyes instantly widened in anger: "Impossible! If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have personally fought Hu'erhana back then, getting seriously injured, and still entrusted someone to travel thousands of miles to Yan Prefecture to ask the king and lady, Cheng Lady... She would never choose such a man!"

"Even if he isn't, what will the elders of the Zhai family think? Sending someone out who returns? What will the emperor think? There are so many harsh and critical officials in the capital..."

Anger surged in Yang Qiong, raising his spear for a fierce attack. The wooden spear swung with a roaring wind, each move ruthless. Cao Qian retreated while fighting, eventually unable to speak coherently due to the relentless assault.

The soldiers watching from the sidelines seemed to sense something off in the air, ceasing their cheers and watching the intense battle silently.

Fortunately, someone noticed the abnormal atmosphere between the two men early on and went to notify Cui Yi. Cui Yi arrived, took one look, and immediately shouted angrily, "Stop!"

Cao Qian had long wanted to stop but was forced to continue due to being relentlessly pursued by Yang Qiong. Hearing Cui Yi's voice, he promptly withdrew his spear and stepped back. Yang Qiong, however, still tried to attack but was restrained by four or five soldiers who disarmed him, calming down gradually.

"The soldiers causing trouble outside are punished, and you two are also full of nonsense!" Cui Yi strode forward and slapped Yang Qiong's head hard, "Why don't you show this determination when killing enemies, bullying your own comrades instead? Yang Gongqi! Go receive twenty military rods!"

Cao Qian hurriedly pleaded for leniency, "Your Highness, please calm down. This subordinate and Brother Yang were merely practicing and didn't mean to cause trouble! Please forgive us!"

Yang Qiong turned away silently and left. Cui Yi then scolded Cao Qian, "And you! Kneel on the grindstone in the middle of the field until an hour has passed, go!"

Cao Qian, feeling like a clay Buddha crossing a river, could only obediently accept his punishment. Soldiers brought the grindstone, and Cao Qian rolled up his pant legs and knelt. Soon, his knees felt like they were being bitten by countless ants, burning painfully. Despite the bone-chilling cold, he was sweating profusely.

After receiving twenty military rods, Yang Qiong returned to the training ground bare-chested, pushed Cao Qian's shoulder, who moved aside with difficulty, and knelt beside him.

The two knelt side by side in the bright sun and cold wind. After a long time, Yang Qiong spoke, "What you said earlier... it's true. It's my fault, I shouldn't have lost my temper and involved you in this punishment."

Cao Qian smiled, saying, "How can it be called involving me? It's my brother's business. Seeing you worried every day, I just wanted to get to the bottom of it."

Yang Qiong gazed blankly at the snow outside the field, murmuring, "I've thought about those possibilities too, but... rather than not believing it could happen, it's more that... I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe they would treat her that way."

Cao Qian sighed heavily, "Lady Cheng is a good person, she saved you and the king's life. It's just a pity... sigh!"

While they lamented Cheng Fengyi's tragic fate, she herself was in the depths of suffering in Changyao.

Hu'erhana was discussing strategies for the next year against the Great Chu with his ministers when a palace maid reported urgently. He overturned the table and rushed out, heading straight for Cheng Fengyi's palace.

The room was filled with maids and imperial physicians. Hu'erhana barged in, pushing through the crowd, and saw Cheng Fengyi lying pale-faced on the bed, looking unusually serene. Her gaze caught his entrance, and she sneered.

An imperial physician knelt tremblingly, reporting the situation to Hu'erhana. Enraged, Hu'erhana kicked him, "Useless bunch! You couldn't even save my son. What use are you to me? Take them out and execute them!"

Guards dragged all eight physicians out. The maids in the room feared they might suffer the same fate if the king's wrath continued. But Hu'erhana had no intention of punishing the maids. He approached the bed, grabbed Cheng Fengyi's hand resting on the quilt, and roared, "Do you hate me so much? Willing to die rather than bear children for me? That was also your child!"

Cheng Fengyi sneered, her lips pale, whispering, "That wasn't my child, just a b*st*rd."

Enraged, Hu'erhana slapped her, blood flowing from her nose. The maids trembled in fear, afraid to breathe.

"You dare call my son a b*st*rd?" Hu'erhana choked her throat, lifting her from the quilt, "I am the mighty king of the Beidi. A thousand times better than your pitiful husband. It's your fortune that I chose you! Don't take it for granted and disrespect me!"

Cheng Fengyi endured the beating without flinching, squeezing out broken words, "A gentleman... how can he... discuss righteousness... with beasts..."

Hu'erhana threw her back onto the bed and walked towards the door, then stormed back, pointing at her, "Don't think I'll let you off now. I won't! I must have you! Once spring arrives, I'll launch an attack on the Great Chu. If the emperor of the Central Plains wants peace, he must offer Zhai Ren's head to me!"

Cheng Fengyi struggled up from the bed, shouting, "Don't harm Zicheng! If you touch a hair on his head, I will drag you to hell with me!"

Hu'erhana snorted heavily, seeming to find pleasure in tormenting her with words, continuing, "Not just him, I will also have the emperor of the Central Plains cook your daughter into meat porridge to reward my troops! And your useless old father! I won't spare him either! Unless you submit to me, they will all die!"

Cheng Fengyi burst into tears, crying, "Kill me!"

Hu'erhana flung his sleeves, leaving her behind mercilessly.