The Underdog Romance of the Scholar and the Beauty

The next two days were the most unbearable days in the history of Pujiu Temple.

On the surface, the temple was decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments, filled with joy, as if truly preparing for a grand wedding. On Sun Feihu's side, they had completely lowered their guard, sending only a small number of soldiers to patrol the foot of the mountain each day, while most of the men feasted and drank in the camp, waiting to claim the beauty in three days.

But secretly, everyone in the temple felt as if they were being roasted over a fire.

Lady Cui was restless, constantly chanting Buddhist scriptures. Yingying couldn't eat or sleep, and every day she would run with Hongniang to the cliff at the back of the mountain, gazing longingly toward Puguan.

The calmest of all was Zhang Sheng.

He knew that at times like these, one must remain composed. Every day he read and wrote as usual, and even had the leisure to teach young Master Cui Huan a few poems. His calm composure was like a stabilizing pillar, unconsciously soothing many people's emotions.

On the third day, the final deadline arrived.

Early in the morning, Sun Feihu sent people to "hurry the bride's preparation," his words already carrying a hint of impatience.

The atmosphere in the temple was tense to the extreme.

"Young Master Zhang, it's already the third day, why is there still no sign?"

"Yes, could something have happened to Monk Huiming?"

"If reinforcements don't arrive soon, we'll really have to send the young lady away!"

Panic spread once again.

Lady Cui was so anxious she nearly fainted. She grabbed Zhang Sheng's sleeve, tears streaming down her face: "Young Master Zhang, will your plan... really work? If... if reinforcements don't come, what... what will happen to my daughter!"

Zhang Sheng supported her and said firmly: "Madam, please rest assured. Du Que is my closest friend, a man of honor and integrity. After receiving my blood letter, there's no reason he wouldn't come. The lack of news actually indicates they're on their way! Please give me half a day more!"

His words carried a powerful confidence that temporarily stabilized the situation.

However, time ticked by minute by minute.

The sun rose higher and higher, gradually reaching its zenith.

At the foot of the mountain, Sun Feihu's patience finally ran out. He gathered his troops, the war drums beating deafeningly, and began to approach the temple gate.

"You bald monks! You old religious hag from the Cui family! The time has come! If you don't send Cui Yingying out now, I'll attack the mountain!"

Sun Feihu's roar was like a death sentence, making everyone's hearts sink to the bottom.

It's over, everything is over.

Lady Cui's vision darkened, and she completely fainted. Yingying held her mother, tears pouring down like rain, her face filled with despair.

Just at this critical moment—

"Rumble—rumble—"

A sound of hoofbeats, more magnificent and intense than Sun Feihu's war drums, suddenly came from the eastern valley!

The earth trembled!

Everyone involuntarily looked toward the east.

In the distance at the horizon, dust filled the sky, and a white banner embroidered with a giant "Du" character fluttered in the wind, like a white lightning bolt cutting through the sky!

Following closely were countless cavalry in white armor, holding long spears, pouring out of the valley like a tide! Their formations were orderly, their momentum unstoppable. Leading them was a general riding a magnificent white horse, holding a gleaming silver spear, majestic and imposing, like a god descending from heaven!

It was the White Horse General, Du Que!

The reinforcements had finally arrived!

"It's reinforcements! The reinforcements are here!"

The temple erupted in deafening cheers! The joy of escaping from death moved everyone to tears.

Yingying raised her tear-filled face, looking at the white tide, knowing they were saved. She instinctively searched for Zhang Sheng and saw him standing at a high point, facing the wind, his clothes fluttering, with a satisfied smile on his face.

That smile brought her more peace than all the gods and Buddhas in heaven.

Sun Feihu's troops at the foot of the mountain were stunned by this sudden turn of events. Before they could react, Du Que's cavalry had already pierced into their chaotic formation like a sharp knife.

On one side were the disciplined regular troops of the imperial court, on the other was an unprepared rabble.

This wasn't even a battle; it was a one-sided massacre.

Sun Feihu's army instantly collapsed, crying for their parents and fleeing in all directions. Sun Feihu himself was unhorsed by General Du Que's spear and captured on the spot.

In less time than it takes to burn a stick of incense, the three-day crisis besieging Pujiu Temple had dissipated.

With the danger averted, Du Que rode to the temple, dismounted, and called out loudly toward the gate: "Your old friend Du Que has come to lift the siege at the request of brother Zhang Junrui! Where is brother Junrui?"

Surrounded by admiring and grateful gazes, Zhang Sheng slowly walked out of the temple gate.

He bowed deeply to Du Que.

"Brother Du, great kindness needs no thanks."

Du Que laughed heartily, helped him up, and patted his shoulder firmly: "Between brothers like us, thanks are unnecessary! Your blood letter worried me sick, fortunately I didn't arrive too late!"

In the sunlight, the two friends smiled at each other.

Zhang Sheng, this penniless scholar, had through his wisdom and courage turned the tide, becoming the great hero who saved everyone at Pujiu Temple.

His gaze, passing over the crowd, met Yingying's once more.

This time, there were no barriers in their eyes, only the relief of surviving disaster, and endless anticipation for the future.

That marriage agreement, which Lady Cui had considered a "reward," had now become his well-deserved, most beautiful trophy.