Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Looking at Li Ru's evasive yet tacitly agreeing expression, and then glancing at Gongsun Rou kneeling on the ground, her eyes red and on the verge of tears, Dong Bai's initial anger gradually subsided. She sighed, her voice softening: "Since you also have your heart set on a husband, please get up. From now on, we'll be sisters living in the same household."

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the hall froze. Gongsun Rou looked up at Dong Bai in disbelief, as if she hadn't heard him at all.

Dong Bai, supporting Ma's mother, slowly sat down and said softly, as if explaining, "Auntie, as you know, over the years, as I've been with my husband, I've gradually accumulated more and more sisters around me. I've also come to understand that my husband is a man destined for great things, and he always needs people who understand and care for him by his side." She looked at Gongsun Rou with sincere eyes, "Since you've come and treated me with such sincerity, please stay. But let me make this clear from the start: once you enter this mansion, you must abide by its rules, get along well with your sisters, and not cause your husband any trouble."

Upon hearing this, the worry on Ma's mother's face immediately vanished, and she hurriedly went to help Gongsun Rou up: "Get up, get up! Bai'er has said so, from now on we're family!"

Gongsun Rou was pulled to her feet by Ma's mother. Her eyes were still red, but she gave Dong Bai a deep bow and said, "Thank you for your kindness, sister."

Dong Bai nodded slightly, but she had her own plans in mind. Over the years in the Ma family, Ma Teng and his wife had long regarded her as their daughter-in-law, and this recognition was unbreakable. Moreover, she knew Ma Chao's character best. He was loyal and righteous, and he already had many close friends. Rather than stubbornly blocking him and making him unhappy, it would be better to accept him generously, which would make her appear magnanimous.

Moreover, Ma Chao is now the King of Liang, having defeated the Xianbei and shaken the world; his future achievements will certainly extend far beyond this. It's only natural for such a man to have several confidantes by his side. As long as her position is secure and she can stay by his side, she doesn't need to worry too much about anything else.

Seeing the commotion subside, Li Ru breathed a long sigh of relief and looked at Dong Bai with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes—this young lady has finally grown up, with such magnanimity and composure, which is why she is valued by Ma Teng and his wife and taken seriously by Ma Chao.

Cai Wenji and Lu Wan exchanged a glance, both seeing the understanding in each other's eyes. Dong Bai's move, seemingly a retreat, was actually a strategic advance. It saved Gongsun Rou's face, consolidated his own position in the household, and reassured Madam Ma. It was truly a well-thought-out move.

Gongsun Rou stood there, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She had expected a tough battle, but it had gone so smoothly. Looking at Dong Bai's composed demeanor and then at the peaceful expressions of the women around her, she suddenly realized that those whom Ma Chao cared about were indeed extraordinary.

The flames in the charcoal brazier blazed brightly again, casting warm light on the shadows of everyone in the hall. The tense atmosphere of the past was gradually replaced by a subtle peace. But everyone knew that beneath this peace lay a deep longing for the one who had not yet returned—when the Xiliang cavalry finally returned, what would the King of Liang's reaction be when he faced these women, each with their own unique charm?

The wind outside the window seemed to have subsided a bit, and sunlight filtered through the window paper, casting dappled shadows on the ground, as if quietly awaiting the return of that glorious figure.

----

The snow started falling again, the goose-feather-like snowflakes swirling in the cold wind, rustling against the helmets. The year-end was drawing ever closer, the air seemingly filled with the festive spirit. In just two or three days it would be New Year's Eve, and this large army, fighting far and wide, finally caught sight of the city walls of Chang'an.

The city walls loomed in and out of sight amidst the wind and snow, their familiar outlines like a light ink painting, yet striking a deep chord in the hearts of every soldier. Even Ma Chao, the King of Liang, who had grown increasingly composed and stoic over the years, could not contain the joy in his eyes. He reined in his "King of Horses," the pure white steed, which seemed to understand human nature, its breath steaming in the air, its hooves gently pawing the snow, its silvery mane rippling in the wind and snow like flowing ribbons of light, clearly eager to return home.

Ma Chao turned around, his gaze sweeping over the generals Zhang Liao, Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang, and others behind him. A hint of youthful arrogance appeared on his face: "Chang'an is right before us. Gentlemen, do you dare to compete with me and see whose horse will step through the city gate first?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Liao burst into laughter: "If the King of Liang has such a refined interest, how could this humble general dare to refuse!" He patted his yellow horse, which neighed and reared up.

Zhang Xiu also reined in his horse and stepped forward, his eyes flashing with fighting spirit: "I hope the King of Liang doesn't lose!"

Xu Huang was even more direct: "Let's compete! This 'Flying Cloud' of mine is no joke!"

The generals responded in unison. In an instant, the tense atmosphere of the previous march was dispelled by this sudden competition, and everyone's face was filled with eagerness and joy for returning home. They all put aside their usual hierarchical differences and acted as a group of people longing to go home.

"Giddy up!" Ma Chao shouted softly, and Ma Wang Jiguang, like a white lightning bolt, rushed out first. His snow-white figure was particularly dazzling in the swirling snow, as if he had gathered all the light in the world into his body.

"Keep up!" Zhang Liao and the others followed closely behind. A dozen or so horses chased each other across the snow, their hooves kicking up clouds of snow that mingled with the falling snowflakes, creating a magnificent scene.

Seeing this, the army behind them quickened their pace, but no one dared to disturb the jubilation of the generals ahead. The soldiers joked among themselves, "Look at the magnificent steed of the Liang King's horse, who can catch up!" "General Zhang's horse is fast! Maybe he can catch up!"

The wind and snow grew heavier, but they couldn't stop the footsteps of those returning home. The city walls of Chang'an drew ever closer, the familiar crenellations and fluttering flags becoming clearer in the snow. Ma Chao lay prone on his horse, feeling the wind whistling past his ears. His steed, King Aurora, seemed to possess a spirit, its hooves pounding, its speed increasing ever more swift. Only one thought occupied his mind—he was home.

This horse race in the snowstorm was not about victory or defeat, but about a group of tough men yearning for home. When Ma Chao's hooves finally touched the official road outside Chang'an, he reined in his horse, turned back to look at the generals following closely behind, and burst into laughter. That laughter pierced through the snow and wind, reaching the distant city walls and the ears of the people in the city who were eagerly waiting, like a declaration: We have returned.

Preparations were already underway in Chang'an. Since the last time they mistakenly identified the Gongsun family's forces as the main army, causing a blunder, Dong Bai had ordered scouts to be sent out of the city daily to investigate and report back on the army's movements as soon as possible. Therefore, as soon as Ma Chao's troops came into view, the Red Monkey Camp's scouts galloped back, spreading the news throughout Chang'an.

As Ma Chao and his generals rode onto the official road, they could see in the distance that the area outside Chang'an was already teeming with people. The city walls were adorned with the wolf banners of Xiliang, and the open spaces outside the city were packed with people of all ages and genders. Even the eaves of the houses lining the streets were filled with people, all craning their necks to look towards the end of the road. The clamor mingled with the sound of the wind and snow, somehow drowning out the howling cold wind. Civil and military officials stood at the forefront, dressed in court robes, their expressions solemn yet unable to conceal their excitement, awaiting the return of the King of Liang.

Ma Teng had already donned his armor and was eager to go out of the city to greet the king, but Li Ru stopped him. "General," Li Ru advised, "you are the biological father of the King of Liang. How can a father go out of the city to greet his son? When you arrive, will he first perform the father-son ceremony for you, or will all the officials follow you to perform the monarch-subject ceremony for the king? Such a disruption of the rules would be unseemly."

Ma Teng was taken aback upon hearing this. After thinking about it, he realized it was true. He could only suppress his excitement and paced back and forth in the mansion, glancing towards the door every now and then, muttering to himself, "Almost there, they should be here soon..."

The women in the manor, however, received special permission from Ma Teng. "Go," the old general waved his hand, a smile of satisfaction on his face, "Your king has returned; it's time to go and greet him."

Dong Bai, Cai Wenji, Zhang Fubao, Zhen Mi, Gongsun Rou, and others had already changed their clothes and were dressed in a magnificent and luxurious manner. They rode in golden carriages to the city gate to wait.

The snow continued to fall, but it couldn't dampen the city's fervent anticipation. When the white horse named "Horse King Aurora" broke through the snow curtain, carrying Ma Chao clad in silver armor, a thunderous cheer erupted outside the city: "The King of Liang is back! The King of Liang is back!"

Ma Chao reined in "Ma Wang Jiguang," and the white horse reared up, letting out a long neigh that pierced the wind and snow. He looked up and saw a sea of ​​people thronging below the gates of Chang'an. The people, their necks craned out through the snow, their faces red from the cold, were full of eager anticipation, like a surging sea of ​​people.

The guards had already cleared a space in the crowd, where several familiar figures stood. Dong Bai, draped in a white fox fur coat, her crimson skirt flaming like a dancing flame against the white snow; Cai Wenji, wrapped in a light gray cloak, clutched a hand warmer tightly in her hand; Lu Wan, dressed in plain clothes, exuded a serene tranquility; Gongsun Rou, draped in a silver fur coat, stood slightly to the side, her gaze fixed on him… The wind and snow brushed against their hair, but could not conceal the deep affection in their eyes.

With a single glance, Ma Chao took in all of them, and the weariness of battle instantly vanished from his heart. He dismounted, the snow on his silver armor falling away to reveal his tall and imposing figure.

The civil and military officials were taken aback at first—there was no ceremonial procession, only this general dressed in light cavalry attire. How could he have arrived first? But looking at the heroic spirit in his eyes and his upright and pine-like figure, who else could it be but their King Liang?

"Your subjects pay their respects to King Liang! We welcome Your Majesty's triumphant return!" The leading official reacted the fastest, lifting his robe and bowing. The civil and military officials behind him followed closely behind, kneeling down in a dense, uniform mass, their voices echoing across the snow.

Dong Bai and the others bowed gracefully, their skirts brushing against the snow with a soft rustling sound. "Welcome back, my lord," Dong Bai's clear voice, though mixed with the wind and snow, reached Ma Chao's ears precisely.

The surrounding people then realized what was happening, and a deafening roar of "Long live the King!" erupted instantly. Men, women, and children all knelt down in the snow, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, unable to hide their excitement. The once bustling city gate was now only filled with the howling wind and snow and the rhythmic sounds of worship.

Ma Chao raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Everyone, please rise. People, please rise as well." His voice, carried by the wind and snow, was steady and powerful.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of hooves approached rapidly from behind. Zhang Liao, Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang, and the others dismounted in succession and, seeing this, quickly bowed and said, "Your humble general greets Your Majesty!"

Ma Chao turned around, patted Zhang Liao on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "It's good that you're all back."

He turned around, his gaze falling once more on the women. The fierce aura he had displayed on the battlefield vanished, replaced by gentleness in his eyes. Dong Bai was the first to stand up, and the women all smiled at him, their eyes and brows radiating warmth.

The wind and snow seemed to have lessened, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, falling on Ma Chao's silver armor and reflecting a dazzling light. He strode towards them, each step leaving deep footprints in the snow, as if he wanted to trample all the dust and longing of his journey into this long-awaited land.

"I'm back," he said softly, his voice not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly.

The wind inside the city gates seemed to soften as a result.