Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zou's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Zhang Ji, as if searching his face for even the slightest hint of deceit. Her lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't believe Zhang Ji's words. In her mind, those brave generals who fought decisively on the battlefield were often honed to extreme selfishness by the bloodshed and conquest of war. How could they possibly be so empathetic and considerate? She knew her current situation well; even the slightest misstep could lead to her own death. Therefore, she bit her lower lip tightly, not daring to utter a single sound, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Zhang Ji looked at Zou's expression and saw that she still didn't believe him. He couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Bitch, do you think I did this for you? Haha, you don't have to be so surprised. It's because my nephew is deeply in love with you. The way he looks at you, and the way you look at him, how could I, with my eyes that have been tempered by years of battle and can see through people's hearts, not see it?"

Upon hearing this, Zou's face paled with fear, the color draining from her face instantly. Her body trembled violently, and she strained to keep her voice still. She spoke anxiously, "General, I, Zou, swear on my life that there is absolutely no illicit relationship between Ah Xiu and me. Ever since I married into the Zhang family, I have always been mindful of my status, and Ah Xiu is no different. In that courtyard, and in various family gatherings, whenever we met, our words always adhered to the duties of aunt and niece, and our behavior never failed to be inappropriate. Ah Xiu has always been a well-mannered and well-behaved child, deeply respecting the family's rules and your authority."

As Zou spoke, she knelt forward, her forehead touching the ground. "General, Ah Xiu's respect for you is as deep and pure as Mount Tai. I've seen countless times, upon your return, Ah Xiu's eyes were filled with admiration and respect, the true love a son has for his father. He always listened carefully to your teachings, taking your every word to heart. He did his utmost to complete the tasks you assigned him, never daring to slack off. Whenever he mentioned you in front of me, his words were filled with pride and admiration. He often said that you were the person he respected most in this world, the role model he would emulate and follow throughout his life. General, how could you destroy Ah Xiu's sincere filial piety for you with this groundless suspicion?"

Zhang Ji tilted his head slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of nostalgia and reluctance for Zhang Xiu's deep affection for him. A slight smile played at the corner of his mouth as he spoke slowly, "How could I not know that my nephew respects me highly and regards me as a father. Don't be so afraid. If I weren't in such a frail and precarious state, I would never be sharing these heartfelt words with you tonight. I'm afraid my old bones and body won't hold out for much longer. My Zhang family has weathered many storms in these turbulent times, and now only Ah Xiu remains. My life's efforts and hopes are all tied to him."

He sighed softly and continued, "I've always hoped that he could soon have children for the Zhang family and continue the family line. Over the past few days, I've carefully selected many girls for him and arranged blind dates time and time again, but he's simply ignored them all. Although I'm extremely anxious, I've never been able to fathom his true feelings. It wasn't until today that I suddenly realized he's truly in love with you. That's why he has no interest in other women and rejects them all."

A flicker of determination flashed in Zhang Ji's eyes. "I'm not even afraid of death anymore, so what else in this world could possibly concern me? The future of our Zhang family depends entirely on Ah Xiu. Since he's deeply in love with you and has rejected all other possibilities for you, I can only fulfill his wish. Only by letting him have you can he truly open his heart, shoulder the responsibilities and mission of the Zhang family, and face the unknown storms and challenges. I have no other wishes now, except to see him get what he wants before I close my eyes, and see the Zhang family have new hope and vitality."

Zou's delicate body trembled violently upon hearing Zhang Ji's words, her face, once still tinged with color, instantly turning as pale as paper. She was a weak woman, helpless in the turbulent times. She had been forced into marriage by Zhang Ji during the chaos, and she had already been living like a frightened bird in the Zhang family compound, cautiously living each day. She had never imagined she would be caught up in such a turbulent situation.

Zou was terrified, her voice trembling as she spoke, "General, Ah Xiu and I are nominally aunt and niece now. Under these circumstances, how can I continue to commit myself to him? This... how will the world view me? My personal reputation might be damaged, but Ah Xiu is a man of honor. Wouldn't his reputation be tarnished by this? How will he survive in the world from now on?"

Zhang Ji's brows knitted tightly together, a hint of obvious displeasure flashing across his eyes. He then snorted coldly and scoffed disdainfully, "When has it ever been your turn, a mere woman, to point fingers at and question this general's decisions? Don't you think about how lucky you are that Ah Xiu chose you? If not, after I die, you'll be buried with me! It's common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. As long as he doesn't give you a name for the time being, you can just quietly accompany him like this. Who in this world could possibly know the trivialities of a general's inner chambers? As your uncle, I don't care about these things at all. Don't act so pretentiously here, your so-called aunt. Go pack up in a while, and while Ah Xiu is drinking tonight, go sleep with him, so that I can fulfill my wish."

Zou wept uncontrollably, her heart swirling like a raging sea, her mind already swirling with the sheer joy and sorrow of the moment. Still kneeling on the ground, she frantically touched the scabbard of her sword hanging beside the bed. Zhang Ji said weakly, "You're still crying! Do you want me to kill you?" Terrified, Zou recoiled in fear, not daring to utter another word. Zhang Ji added, "Go ahead. Dress up beautifully and make sure Ah Xiu is satisfied." With that, he closed his eyes and waved her away. Zou stood there, bewildered, unsure of what to do. She felt that fate had mercilessly thrust her into a dark abyss, a future filled with chaos and despair.

Zhang Ji frowned, closed his eyes, and thought for a moment. Then he suddenly opened them and saw that Zou had not moved. His eyes widened with anger and he shouted, "What are you still doing here? Go now! If you miss this golden opportunity, or if Ah Xiu doesn't favor you, I will kill you tomorrow morning. I've even ruined my own reputation to help you, to find you a way out. I've already sacrificed my dignity, and you're still pretending to be a chaste heroine? I'm just fulfilling your wish. When you leave, call Hu Chi'er in. I have something to tell you."

Zou watched the furious Zhang Xiu and heard those chilling words. She trembled with fear, as if she were in a nightmare. She could never have imagined that the man she'd thought about so long and nightly would be so forcibly brought to his side by Zhang Ji. Flustered, she kowtowed repeatedly, her voice tingling with tears, "Master, if this is how I'll face Ah Xiu tomorrow when she wakes up?"

Zhang Xiu's expression brightened slightly, and his tone softened. He said, "I'll call Hu Chi'er here and make arrangements. Don't be so fussy. If I change my mind, even if it displeases Ah Xiu, I will make sure you are buried alive with me. Hurry and prepare. Remember, I'll keep my promise tomorrow morning. If things don't go well, I'll kill you to save my reputation."

Zou stood up and left tremblingly. Soon, Hu Chier came as requested.

Hu Chier walked in hurriedly, kowtowed to Zhang Ji in front of the bed, and said with tears in his voice: "My lord, why hasn't your health improved yet?" The foreign man showed his true feelings and tears burst out of his eyes.

Zhang Ji, despite his illness, managed a forced smile. His gaze fell on Hu Chi'er, and he spoke slowly, "Hu Chi'er, you and your brother have followed me since our early years, marching with me through battles across the country and achieving numerous remarkable feats. Yet, I have never granted you high positions, generous salaries, or wealth. Do you two feel any resentment?"

Hu Chi'er replied with a sincere and puzzled look, "My lord, what are you talking about? You have rescued my brother and me from a life of savagery, a life of uncertainty. Now we are by your side, enjoying good food and wine every day, and living a life as carefree as that of gods. How could we two brothers be dissatisfied? We only hope that one day we can sacrifice our lives for you, my lord. That would be the best destination."

Zhang Ji couldn't help but burst into laughter at his words, but after only two laughs, he was struck by a violent coughing fit. After finally recovering, Zhang Ji said, "I'm afraid my health is failing. From now on, you must treat the young master as if he were me and assist him wholeheartedly. Don't be careless or negligent in any way."

Hu Chi'er kowtowed several times again, speaking earnestly, "My lord, I will keep your words in mind. From now on, our young master will be just like you. We will repay you with our lives." This tough warrior on the battlefield was naturally open-minded about matters of life and death. Since Zhang Ji said he was dying, he didn't think much of it. Moreover, Zhang Ji had been gradually handing over all matters to Zhang Xiu. In their minds, protecting Zhang Xiu was no different from protecting Zhang Ji. Being loyal to Zhang Xiu was also a way of repaying Zhang Ji's kindness.

Zhang Ji's breath was weak, but he still managed to raise his hand slightly. His dry fingers trembled slightly, signaling Hu Chi'er, who was about to speak, to be quiet for a moment. Then he slowly said, "Well, I called you here because I have something extremely important to entrust to you. Please take two steps closer to me." Upon hearing this, Hu Chi'er did not dare to slack off. His expression froze, and he quickly and cautiously took two steps forward. Then he leaned over Zhang Ji's bed. His rugged face was full of solemnity and loyalty. He said in a resounding voice, "My lord, if you have any orders, just give them. I will do my best to carry them out, even if it means sacrificing my life. I will never retreat."

Zhang Ji's eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and determination. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "Tonight, I have made arrangements for Zou to serve Ah Xiu. I am now at the end of my life, and Ah Xiu has an indescribable feeling for her aunt. On your vast grasslands, customs are very different. A son inheriting his father's property and even wives and concubines may not be shocking or unacceptable in your traditional concepts, but in this land of etiquette and rituals, the Han Dynasty, which respects Confucian orthodoxy, "This kind of behavior is a taboo despised by all. Tonight, I deliberately let Xiu'er drink more wine, and now he is already intoxicated. I thought that if Zou went there, it would be able to fulfill her wishes and make this ill-fated relationship come true. However, I am deeply worried. I am worried that once he sobers up tomorrow morning and regains his composure, he will be filled with shame for this immoral act, suffering immensely, and unable to accept his own actions. If he loses control of himself for a while, I am afraid he will do something extreme, which will lead to unforeseen accidents."