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Towering, rolling hills stood on the endless snowfields. A clear river was winding out of the valley, flowing across the plain.
A felt tent, almost hidden in the sprinkling snow, was along the river below the hill. The people in the tent flocked out in excitement at the arrival of Princess Wenzhao, whom the Khan had welcomed from Great Wei.
The tents were overflowing with people, and there were cheers and laughter everywhere.
But it was a strange language, an unfamiliar accent.
The two Li siblings stood in front of the commanding officer’s tent, having nothing to say to the other.
Like a few years ago, when they discovered each other’s identity, standing at the bow of the boat, silently gazing at each other.
At the head of the Chibi Islet, there was a view of the mist and the waves.
The wooden door of the tent was opened from the inside. Yelu Khan came out, and his eyes fell on Yaoying who was travel-worn and tired but whose beauty still could not be hidden. Happily rubbing his hands together, his aged face had deep-set wrinkles. He patted Li Xuanzhen’s shoulder and smiled: “Princess Wenzhao arrived safely, Crown Prince can rest assured now.”
Saying that, without waiting for Li Xuanzhen to say anything, he attentively pulled open the curtain and invited Yaoying into the tent.
Without looking at him, Yaoying walked into the tent, passing the gloomy Li Xuanzhen.
After Li De set the wedding date, Li Xuanzhen led his army to Liangzhou. At this moment, he should still be guarding Liangzhou. Why did he go back to the Yelu tribe with Yelu Khan?
Did he have to confirm with his own eyes that she was married to Yelu Khan before he would feel at ease?
Yelu Khan followed her into the tent and seemed a bit bewildered. He laughed dryly and said, “The princess has had a long journey. Rest well tonight and the wedding will be held tomorrow night.”
He was not proficient in speaking Chinese, and his words came slowly.
Yaoying’s eyes were cast downward and she was silent, showing her exhaustion.
Yelu Khan looked at the snow-white and delicate skin of her neck, thinking that it would surely be more tender than mutton fat. He could not wait to taste it immediately. But looking at her weary face, he felt heartache. Thinking that the Han princess, who was not very old, was delicate and shy, and paid particular attention to etiquette, he could not be too rough and scare her. He rubbed his hands and led his people away.
Just as the tent door closed, Yaoying fell on the felt rug. Tali and Ayi kneeled on either side and took off the heavy flower crown and ornaments from her head.
Tali said sympathetically, “Princess, although the khan is old, he is strong and healthy. Moreover, he cherishes you. This slave has heard from the people of the Yelu tribe that the khan has never been so considerate to a lady.”
Yaoying did not say anything. She took off the hairpin and jade beads at her temples, and her dark, fine black hair fell over her shoulder.
Her bones were aching and she didn’t want to think about anything, so she laid down on the edge of the long couch and closed her eyes to nap.
It was a good idea to get some sleep. Sleep enough to raise her strength to cope with this unfamiliar environment.
A sound came from the door of the tent. A crescent-shaped scimitar separated the curtain, allowing the wind and snow to rush in, and black leather boots stepped into the tent.
Yaoying heard the sound and opened her eyes. Sweeping a glance at the boots, she signaled the maids and Xie Qing to all go out.
Only she and Li Xuanzhen were left in the tent.
Yaoying was still curled up by the long couch. Her gorgeous, silky hair poured down like a waterfall, spreading over half of the felt carpet, looking like a lazy cat.
“Does eldest brother want to stay and observe the ceremony?”
The flat tone she used was as if she was marrying someone other than an aging foreign tribal chief.
Black leather boots moved before Yaoying. Li Xuanzhen leaned down and pulled at her wrist, forcing her to look up. His phoenix eyes stared at her unblinkingly, and he said, enunciating each word: “Seventh sister, I will give you another chance to choose.”
Yaoying raised her eyes a bit, her eyes clear and bright.
“Okay. I choose Eldest Brother. Can Eldest Brother take me back to Chang’an?”
Li Xuanzhen froze.
Yaoying laughed and said mockingly, “Eldest Brother, things have reached this point. There is no way you can give me the chance to choose. The Yelu tribe has not broken any promise and tomorrow is the wedding. Does Eldest Brother want to ruin the diplomatic relations?
“You are not such a person.”
Li Xuanzhen could not do such a thing, nor would he offend the Yelu tribe and anger Li De for the sake of an insignificant little her. She was not Zhu Luyun, after all.
Yaoying glanced at the tent door, “You don’t have the ability either.”
This was the Yelu tribe’s territory. He could not take her away.
Li Xuanzhen looked at Yaoying silently, dark currents swirling in his phoenix eyes.
“Eldest Brother, I had already chosen that year. I am Li Zhongqian’s sister. If Eldest Brother harms my elder brother, I will be at odds with you.”
Li Xuanzhen’s fingers gripped tighter.
At that time, his fingers were tightly squeezing Yaoying’s fragile neck. So long as he exerted a little more force, she would have died in his hands.
He and Li Zhongqian, she could only choose one.
Either completely sever the relationship with Li Zhongqian and Xie Manyuan and live as Ah Yue, or die with them.
She couldn’t even breathe, but still chose Li Zhongqian without hesitation.
And he had made it difficult for Li Zhongqian over the years, forcing her to choose again and again. Knowing that she would not say the answer he wanted to hear, he still asked again and again.
Li Xuanzhen’s fingers were burning hot.
Yaoying lowered her head and her cold fingertips plucked away his fingers one by one.
She previously thought she could reason with Li Xuanzhen, but later found that it was all futile. In front of the strong, the argument of the weak was the most useless thing.
Tang shi’s words “kill them all” was Li Xuanzhen’s heart demon. Xie Manyuan, Li Zhongqian, Li De, the Xie’s clansmen, the Li’s clansmen. Regardless of whether they were innocent or deserving, all could not escape.
So she did not want to waste her breath.
So what if Li Xuanzhen was the heavens’ destined son?
Li Zhongqian would never leave her behind, and she would never give up on Li Zhongqian. When it came to a desperate situation, if worst came to worst, she would take Li Xuanzhen with her.
Li Xuanzhen looked down at Yaoying, not saying a word, not moving. Some fierceness appeared on his handsome face.
Yaoying leaned against the edge of the couch, her chin resting on her arm, her expression indifferent.
“I’m tired. Eldest brother, make yourself comfortable.”
She closed her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling lightly. In a short while, she seemed to have truly fallen asleep, breathing evenly.
Li Xuanzhen stood in the tent, waves surging in his eyes. Both of his hands slowly clenched into fists.
He should not have gone to Chibi.
Then, he would not have met her, would not have felt pity for her, would not have thought of taking good care of her, would not have been tormented between his mother’s instructions and her.
He was actually praying for the daughter of his enemy to choose him.
And she disdained him.
Li Xuanzhen shuddered as if he had been roused from a dream and turned around with a jerk, striding away with reddened eyes.
Not much later, Xie Qing entered the tent, informing Yaoying that Li Xuanzhen had left.
Yelu Khan repeatedly urged him to stay, asking Li Xuanzhen to attend the wedding before leaving, and said that Bemutai was waiting to drink with him. He said there were still military affairs over in Liangzhou, and left with his personal soldiers.
Yaoying faintly gave an ‘en’.
Xie Qing sat cross-legged beside the rug, and his line of sight fell on Yaoying’s snow-white wrist, where there were a few faint fingerprints.
“What happened between the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Yaoying slowly said: “It is nothing… I grew up in poor health. That year, someone said that there was a divine doctor in Chibi who was highly skilled in nursing and healing. Elder Brother immediately took me to Chibi to seek treatment. At that time, Chibi was under the rule of Southern Chu so the divine doctor only saved the subjects of Southern Chu. Elder brother had previously attacked Chibi with Commander-in-Chief Pei. He was afraid that if he exposed his identity, the divine doctor would be unwilling to save me. He had a servant take me to seek medical treatment…”
The dialects of Jingnan and Chibi were very similar. Yaoying could speak a decent Chibi dialect. The divine doctor did not suspect her identity, and seeing that she only had a few old servants with her, she stayed with him and he treated her attentively.
The divine doctor’s medical skills were truly exceptional. After staying at his house for a few months, Yaoying looked better and better.
It was there that Yaoying met a young boy who was seriously injured.
“He said his name was Yang Changsheng and he was from Southern Chu.”
Yaoying smiled.
When she was young, she had bad legs and did not go out much. Li Xuanzhen had always held a grudge against Xie shi and never met her face to face. Furthermore, he was often away on campaigns, so the siblings knew of each other’s existence, but had actually never met.
They both disguised themselves as Southern Chu people. Li Xuanzhen had injuries on his face, so she did not recognize Li Xuanzhen. As for Li Xuanzhen, it was impossible for him to recognize her.
The divine doctor urged Yaoying to move around more, so she often helped the divine divine run errands and help take care of patients. Seeing that Li Xuanzhen was alone and unattended, she took the initiative to undertake the task of delivering medicine for him.
Little by little, they met as Ah Yue and Yang Changsheng.
Later, when the wound on Li Xuanzhen’s face healed, Yaoying even joked with him, “Changsheng gege, your appearance looks a bit like my elder brother’s. Your height is also similar.”
Li Xuanzhen frowned, “Your elder brother left you at Chibi for several months without a care. Are you not angry?”
Yaoying softly hit him with dissatisfaction, “My brother did not leave me without a care. He had something important to do! Anyway, I am old enough to take care of myself!”
Li Xuanzhen laughed and lowered his head to make clay figures for Yaoying.
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Towering, rolling hills stood on the endless snowfields. A clear river was winding out of the valley, flowing across the plain.
A felt tent, almost hidden in the sprinkling snow, was along the river below the hill. The people in the tent flocked out in excitement at the arrival of Princess Wenzhao, whom the Khan had welcomed from Great Wei.
The tents were overflowing with people, and there were cheers and laughter everywhere.
But it was a strange language, an unfamiliar accent.
The two Li siblings stood in front of the commanding officer’s tent, having nothing to say to the other.
Like a few years ago, when they discovered each other’s identity, standing at the bow of the boat, silently gazing at each other.
At the head of the Chibi Islet, there was a view of the mist and the waves.
The wooden door of the tent was opened from the inside. Yelu Khan came out, and his eyes fell on Yaoying who was travel-worn and tired but whose beauty still could not be hidden. Happily rubbing his hands together, his aged face had deep-set wrinkles. He patted Li Xuanzhen’s shoulder and smiled: “Princess Wenzhao arrived safely, Crown Prince can rest assured now.”
Saying that, without waiting for Li Xuanzhen to say anything, he attentively pulled open the curtain and invited Yaoying into the tent.
Without looking at him, Yaoying walked into the tent, passing the gloomy Li Xuanzhen.
After Li De set the wedding date, Li Xuanzhen led his army to Liangzhou. At this moment, he should still be guarding Liangzhou. Why did he go back to the Yelu tribe with Yelu Khan?
Did he have to confirm with his own eyes that she was married to Yelu Khan before he would feel at ease?
Yelu Khan followed her into the tent and seemed a bit bewildered. He laughed dryly and said, “The princess has had a long journey. Rest well tonight and the wedding will be held tomorrow night.”
He was not proficient in speaking Chinese, and his words came slowly.
Yaoying’s eyes were cast downward and she was silent, showing her exhaustion.
Yelu Khan looked at the snow-white and delicate skin of her neck, thinking that it would surely be more tender than mutton fat. He could not wait to taste it immediately. But looking at her weary face, he felt heartache. Thinking that the Han princess, who was not very old, was delicate and shy, and paid particular attention to etiquette, he could not be too rough and scare her. He rubbed his hands and led his people away.
Just as the tent door closed, Yaoying fell on the felt rug. Tali and Ayi kneeled on either side and took off the heavy flower crown and ornaments from her head.
Tali said sympathetically, “Princess, although the khan is old, he is strong and healthy. Moreover, he cherishes you. This slave has heard from the people of the Yelu tribe that the khan has never been so considerate to a lady.”
Yaoying did not say anything. She took off the hairpin and jade beads at her temples, and her dark, fine black hair fell over her shoulder.
Her bones were aching and she didn’t want to think about anything, so she laid down on the edge of the long couch and closed her eyes to nap.
It was a good idea to get some sleep. Sleep enough to raise her strength to cope with this unfamiliar environment.
A sound came from the door of the tent. A crescent-shaped scimitar separated the curtain, allowing the wind and snow to rush in, and black leather boots stepped into the tent.
Yaoying heard the sound and opened her eyes. Sweeping a glance at the boots, she signaled the maids and Xie Qing to all go out.
Only she and Li Xuanzhen were left in the tent.
Yaoying was still curled up by the long couch. Her gorgeous, silky hair poured down like a waterfall, spreading over half of the felt carpet, looking like a lazy cat.
“Does eldest brother want to stay and observe the ceremony?”
The flat tone she used was as if she was marrying someone other than an aging foreign tribal chief.
Black leather boots moved before Yaoying. Li Xuanzhen leaned down and pulled at her wrist, forcing her to look up. His phoenix eyes stared at her unblinkingly, and he said, enunciating each word: “Seventh sister, I will give you another chance to choose.”
Yaoying raised her eyes a bit, her eyes clear and bright.
“Okay. I choose Eldest Brother. Can Eldest Brother take me back to Chang’an?”
Li Xuanzhen froze.
Yaoying laughed and said mockingly, “Eldest Brother, things have reached this point. There is no way you can give me the chance to choose. The Yelu tribe has not broken any promise and tomorrow is the wedding. Does Eldest Brother want to ruin the diplomatic relations?
“You are not such a person.”
Li Xuanzhen could not do such a thing, nor would he offend the Yelu tribe and anger Li De for the sake of an insignificant little her. She was not Zhu Luyun, after all.
Yaoying glanced at the tent door, “You don’t have the ability either.”
This was the Yelu tribe’s territory. He could not take her away.
Li Xuanzhen looked at Yaoying silently, dark currents swirling in his phoenix eyes.
“Eldest Brother, I had already chosen that year. I am Li Zhongqian’s sister. If Eldest Brother harms my elder brother, I will be at odds with you.”
Li Xuanzhen’s fingers gripped tighter.
At that time, his fingers were tightly squeezing Yaoying’s fragile neck. So long as he exerted a little more force, she would have died in his hands.
He and Li Zhongqian, she could only choose one.
Either completely sever the relationship with Li Zhongqian and Xie Manyuan and live as Ah Yue, or die with them.
She couldn’t even breathe, but still chose Li Zhongqian without hesitation.
And he had made it difficult for Li Zhongqian over the years, forcing her to choose again and again. Knowing that she would not say the answer he wanted to hear, he still asked again and again.
Li Xuanzhen’s fingers were burning hot.
Yaoying lowered her head and her cold fingertips plucked away his fingers one by one.
She previously thought she could reason with Li Xuanzhen, but later found that it was all futile. In front of the strong, the argument of the weak was the most useless thing.
Tang shi’s words “kill them all” was Li Xuanzhen’s heart demon. Xie Manyuan, Li Zhongqian, Li De, the Xie’s clansmen, the Li’s clansmen. Regardless of whether they were innocent or deserving, all could not escape.
So she did not want to waste her breath.
So what if Li Xuanzhen was the heavens’ destined son?
Li Zhongqian would never leave her behind, and she would never give up on Li Zhongqian. When it came to a desperate situation, if worst came to worst, she would take Li Xuanzhen with her.
Li Xuanzhen looked down at Yaoying, not saying a word, not moving. Some fierceness appeared on his handsome face.
Yaoying leaned against the edge of the couch, her chin resting on her arm, her expression indifferent.
“I’m tired. Eldest brother, make yourself comfortable.”
She closed her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling lightly. In a short while, she seemed to have truly fallen asleep, breathing evenly.
Li Xuanzhen stood in the tent, waves surging in his eyes. Both of his hands slowly clenched into fists.
He should not have gone to Chibi.
Then, he would not have met her, would not have felt pity for her, would not have thought of taking good care of her, would not have been tormented between his mother’s instructions and her.
He was actually praying for the daughter of his enemy to choose him.
And she disdained him.
Li Xuanzhen shuddered as if he had been roused from a dream and turned around with a jerk, striding away with reddened eyes.
Not much later, Xie Qing entered the tent, informing Yaoying that Li Xuanzhen had left.
Yelu Khan repeatedly urged him to stay, asking Li Xuanzhen to attend the wedding before leaving, and said that Bemutai was waiting to drink with him. He said there were still military affairs over in Liangzhou, and left with his personal soldiers.
Yaoying faintly gave an ‘en’.
Xie Qing sat cross-legged beside the rug, and his line of sight fell on Yaoying’s snow-white wrist, where there were a few faint fingerprints.
“What happened between the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Yaoying slowly said: “It is nothing… I grew up in poor health. That year, someone said that there was a divine doctor in Chibi who was highly skilled in nursing and healing. Elder Brother immediately took me to Chibi to seek treatment. At that time, Chibi was under the rule of Southern Chu so the divine doctor only saved the subjects of Southern Chu. Elder brother had previously attacked Chibi with Commander-in-Chief Pei. He was afraid that if he exposed his identity, the divine doctor would be unwilling to save me. He had a servant take me to seek medical treatment…”
The dialects of Jingnan and Chibi were very similar. Yaoying could speak a decent Chibi dialect. The divine doctor did not suspect her identity, and seeing that she only had a few old servants with her, she stayed with him and he treated her attentively.
The divine doctor’s medical skills were truly exceptional. After staying at his house for a few months, Yaoying looked better and better.
It was there that Yaoying met a young boy who was seriously injured.
“He said his name was Yang Changsheng and he was from Southern Chu.”
Yaoying smiled.
When she was young, she had bad legs and did not go out much. Li Xuanzhen had always held a grudge against Xie shi and never met her face to face. Furthermore, he was often away on campaigns, so the siblings knew of each other’s existence, but had actually never met.
They both disguised themselves as Southern Chu people. Li Xuanzhen had injuries on his face, so she did not recognize Li Xuanzhen. As for Li Xuanzhen, it was impossible for him to recognize her.
The divine doctor urged Yaoying to move around more, so she often helped the divine divine run errands and help take care of patients. Seeing that Li Xuanzhen was alone and unattended, she took the initiative to undertake the task of delivering medicine for him.
Little by little, they met as Ah Yue and Yang Changsheng.
Later, when the wound on Li Xuanzhen’s face healed, Yaoying even joked with him, “Changsheng gege, your appearance looks a bit like my elder brother’s. Your height is also similar.”
Li Xuanzhen frowned, “Your elder brother left you at Chibi for several months without a care. Are you not angry?”
Yaoying softly hit him with dissatisfaction, “My brother did not leave me without a care. He had something important to do! Anyway, I am old enough to take care of myself!”
Li Xuanzhen laughed and lowered his head to make clay figures for Yaoying.
