Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Li Ru gestured with his hands as he spoke, his face looking very sincere: "But now that we have brought Zhang Fubao back, the situation is different. She is the saint of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. For Zhang Lu and the people of Hanzhong, she is a spiritual pillar. We have this trump card in hand, and even if Zhang Lu is unwilling in his heart, he dare not act rashly. As long as he still cares about his daughter and the stability of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, he can only cooperate with us and ensure the smooth flow of grain. What do you think, is this reasonable?" After Li Ru finished speaking, he looked at Dong Bai eagerly, hoping that she would nod in approval.

When Dong Bai heard this concern about her lover's safety, her jealousy and dissatisfaction instantly vanished, replaced by a burning anxiety. Her eyes flushed slightly, and her voice trembled unconsciously. "As long as Brother Chao returns safely, I won't pursue the matter. But if anything happens to Brother Chao, I'll hold you responsible! Then, you can see if I won't let you go!" The fierceness in her eyes seemed to say that if anything really happened to Ma Chao, she would eat Li Ru alive.

Seeing that he had finally gotten past Dong Bai, Li Ru felt a huge weight lifted off his chest, and he relaxed completely. He patted his chest, a confident smile on his face, and said, "Auntie, you can put your mind at ease! Everything is up to your uncle! Since I've decided on this plan, I'm absolutely certain that the young master will return safe and sound. If anything goes wrong, I won't even have the face to live in this world, even without you having to do anything!" He then raised three fingers and solemnly swore an oath, hoping that Dong Bai would be completely relieved.

Dong Bai's expression eased slightly after hearing Li Ru's assurance, but she soon remembered something else and asked, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this for now. What do you think of Miss Fu Bao? What are you going to do with her next?" She frowned slightly and looked at Zhang Fu Bao not far away with a scrutinizing look in her eyes.

Li Ru was well prepared, and upon hearing this, he immediately said, "She has already agreed with Zhang Lu that she would come here to preach. I'm thinking of sending her to Ma Chao's mother. On the one hand, she can pray for Ma Chao's safety while he's fighting outside; on the other hand, your wife also believes in Taoism, and Miss Zhang Fubao can preach there on her behalf. Of course, if you have other ideas, we can discuss it. I'm sure you'll be satisfied, right?" Li Ru smiled and stared at Dong Bai, fearing that she would be dissatisfied again.

Dong Bai rolled her eyes at Li Ru, knowing that he had already made up his mind and was just saying this because he was afraid she wouldn't agree. He was clearly trying to fool her. But she also knew that this matter concerned Ma Chao's safety, so this was no time to act petty. How could she let her unfounded suspicions delay such a big thing? Thinking of this, Dong Bai sighed softly and said, "Alright, I'll do as you say. I hope you don't mess this up."

Zhang Fubao possesses a naturally sweet and adorable disposition, beaming with laughter all day long, like the warm spring sun, warming the heart. She is outspoken and innocent, full of curiosity about everything, her eyes always gleaming with a lively glint. Meanwhile, Dong Bai, despite her impulsive nature, possesses a genuinely honest and straightforward character.

From the moment they met, they were like two magnets drawn to each other, becoming intimate within a few days. The resentment and suspicion that had arisen from Li Ru's return of Zhang Fubao melted away like spring snow as they spent time together. Dong Bai completely forgot the wariness and resentment he had felt upon first meeting Zhang Fubao. The two spent their days together, inseparable, having become close friends.

Not long after, Li Ru made arrangements to send Zhang Fubao to Wuwei City. Dong Bai was filled with reluctance to let go upon hearing the news. At the gate of Longxi County, she held Zhang Fubao's hand, reluctant to let go, her eyes filled with longing. "Fubao, take care on your journey to Wuwei. Remember to write to me often," Dong Bai whispered softly, her voice choking with emotion.

Even so, Dong Bai remained uneasy. She glanced at Li Ru, then at Zhang Fubao, and with a firm resolve, she decided to personally escort Zhang Fubao to Wuwei. "Li Ru, I'll go with you. I'm really worried about Fubao," Dong Bai said firmly, her eyes revealing an undeniable determination. Li Ru had no choice but to nod in agreement, and Dong Bai and her guards set off for Wuwei.

The carriage moved slowly along, its wheels chugging across the loess, making a rhythmic "gurgling" sound. Zhang Fubao, like a bird out of its cage, was intrigued by everything outside the carriage window and kept looking around curiously. Her eyes widened, taking in every detail, and she kept letting out exclamations of "wow!"

Dong Bai sat nearby, watching Zhang Fubao with a gentle smile on her face, patiently explaining the customs and practices of Xiliang. "Fubao, look over there! That's a beacon tower unique to Xiliang. If there's an enemy, the beacon fires are lit, and the news spreads quickly." "And look at this endless desert. Although the climate is bitterly cold, every sunrise and sunset is a breathtaking spectacle that's impossible to look away from. You can't experience that in Hanzhong," she said, gesturing out the window, her eyes filled with love for this land.

One asked curiously, the other answered patiently, their conversation lively and filled with laughter. But for Li Ru, who was also in the carriage, this was a disaster. The chattering gave him a splitting headache. He had been resting his eyes, but the clamor was disturbing him. His brows knitted into a frown, and he hesitated several times before finally giving up.

"Girls, chat, chat well. I'd better go out and ride my horse." Li Ru said with a wry smile, the helplessness on his face almost overflowing. This spacious, gorgeous and comfortable carriage, in his eyes, now became a "cage".

Dong Bai rolled her eyes at him and teased, "Uncle, this is a bumpy ride. You'd better be careful with your waist. If you get hurt, I won't let you go when I get back." There was a hint of playfulness in her tone, as well as a hint of deliberate teasing.

Li Ru waved his hand and quickly explained: "Hey, although this car is comfortable, the air is not well circulated. I'd better go out and get some fresh air." After that, he quickly opened the car door and jumped out as if he was fleeing.

Watching Li Ru's fleeing figure, Zhang Fubao and Dong Bai exchanged bewildered glances, then couldn't help but chuckle. Their laughter, clear and melodious, echoed across the vast land of Xiliang, adding a different kind of joy to this journey.

The carriage slowly moved forward, raising a cloud of dust, but the atmosphere inside was unusually lively. Zhang Fubao approached Dong Bai curiously, his eyes gleaming with gossip, and asked with a smile, "I keep hearing you call you Brother Chao, Brother Chao. What exactly is your relationship with this Xiliang Ma Chao?"

Dong Bai's face flushed instantly upon hearing this, the blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears. She felt both shy and proud, her lips curled up slightly as she spoke with unconcealed sweetness, "Brother Chao and I are almost getting married." At the mention of Ma Chao, Dong Bai's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Zhang Fubao looked at Dong Bai's infatuated look and couldn't help but jokingly said, "I don't know how good-looking Ma Chao is. Look at you, you're so infatuated."

Dong Bai wasn't annoyed. He enthusiastically described Ma Chao to Zhang Fubao, "Brother Chao, he's tall and straight, with a sturdy figure. He looks so majestic on horseback. His face is chiseled, his eyebrows sharp, his eyes sparkling. Everyone who has seen him praises his handsomeness."

Dong Bai was lost in memories, her expression filled with nostalgia and tenderness: "At that time, my grandfather was still alive, and Brother Chao was already one of the most powerful generals in Xiliang. Not only was he outstanding in appearance, he was also awe-inspiring on the battlefield, a well-deserved God of War of Xiliang. Moreover, he was not just a warrior. Even the great scholars in Luoyang praised him for his literary talent. He was truly a man of both literary and martial talents. The first time I saw him, I was filled with joy and fell deeply in love with him." As she spoke, she couldn't help but lower her head shyly, but a smile played on the corners of her mouth.

Zhang Fubao said with a teasing look on his face, "Oh, you speak so highly of Brother Chao. I really want to meet him soon. And then? What other interesting things happened to you?"

Dong Bai's expression darkened as he thought of his deceased grandfather. He slowly spoke, "At the time, my grandfather was at war with the other princes. The situation was difficult, and I didn't quite understand the political complexities. But I do know that after my grandfather was defeated, it was Brother Chao who braved all difficulties and dangers, overcoming all obstacles and risking his life to bring my grandfather back safely. After my grandfather passed away, it was Brother Chao who personally carried his coffin and handled the funeral arrangements. I will always remember his loyalty to my grandfather."

Seeing Dong Bai's gloomy expression, Zhang Fubao's heart tightened, and she secretly thought, "Oh no!" She realized that she had brought up Dong Bai's sad memories. Her thoughts raced, and she quickly said, "Come to think of it, although I've never met Ma Chao, I have some stories with him." This immediately diverted Dong Bai's attention. Dong Bai looked puzzled, "Oh? You haven't even met each other, what could possibly have happened?"

Zhang Fubao blushed slightly as he spoke hesitantly, "A while ago, a merchant caravan arrived in Hanzhong. A young man among them claimed to be Ma Chao of Xiliang. He was very elegant, with distinguished manners, and his every move revealed his extraordinary qualities. I had no idea who he was at the time, but I just heard him say he was Ma Chao, and I developed a liking for him out of nowhere."

Dong Bai was immediately excited when he heard this: "Impossible, how could Brother Chao appear in your Hanzhong disguised as a merchant caravan?"

Zhang Fubao quickly explained with a smile, "Oh, don't worry. Later I found out that he wasn't Ma Chao, but the young master of the Zhen family caravan, named Zhen Mi."

Dong Bai finally dispelled her doubts and put aside her previous sadness. Her curiosity instantly ignited: "Oh? You developed a crush on him, and then what? What happened between you two?"

Zhang Fubao's expression was slightly complicated, and he slowly spoke, "The situation back then was truly chaotic. As soon as the caravan entered Hanzhong, everything seemed strange. The leader, Zhen Mi, was a distinguished figure, her heroic demeanor tinged with gentleness. Furthermore, she claimed to be Ma Chao of Xiliang. Not only did she deceive me, but even my usually shrewd father was fooled. As you know, Hanzhong and Xiliang were locked in a fierce battle at the time. When my father heard that Ma Chao had been captured, he was overjoyed. He figured that if he took Ma Chao hostage, perhaps he could force you Xiliang troops to withdraw and end the war, so he immediately detained Zhen Mi and her group."