The city is surrounded by water on all sides and stands majestically on a cliff, which is ten zhang high. It is a natural fortress, so there is no need to build city walls. It has always been an important town in Gaochang and is often guarded by the princes of the Gaochang king.
Most houses in the city were built by directly excavating the original soil layer for the foundation and lower walls. More elaborate houses used wooden planks with mud for the upper walls, and finally the roof was covered. Roads were also built by excavating soil layers. This method was economical and convenient, avoiding the trouble of firing bricks, and also provided the benefits of being warm in winter and cool in summer.
The Prince's Mansion, also known as the Jiahe Prefectural Governor's Mansion, was located in the southeast of the city. Li Weiying was sent to the music hall within the mansion. Lord Yao gave her a few brief instructions before hurriedly leaving to attend to other official business, leaving her temporarily settled. Li Weiying was a skilled zither player, and the music master immediately arranged for her to perform at banquets. Although she didn't know the whereabouts of Huan She and the others, and was not free in the Prince's Mansion, she was at least out of danger. She could only comfort herself by telling herself that she would find a way to find Huan She in a few days.
That evening, as the banquet was in full swing and the musicians were playing together, Li Weiying lowered her head and stroked the loom with her delicate hands. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Who changed my score?"
A richly dressed young man stepped down from the table and paused before her for a moment. Holding a still-greasy meat-cutting dagger in his right hand, he used the hilt to prop up her chin. Li Weiying was forced to stand up as he raised the dagger, looking up at him, and was immediately stunned: his young, handsome, aloof face was one thing, and his powdered face and painted lips, reminiscent of the Wei-Jin era, were not surprising. But what were those eyes? His grey-blue pupils were like shards of ice from an ancient, icy pool under a clear sky, dark and unfathomable. Li Weiying's eyes widened in surprise, but the man said coldly, "What a heartbreaking beauty." The dagger lightly grazed her cheek, and his left hand gripped her chin, cracking with pain. Li Weiying opened her mouth wide in pain but refused to utter a sound.
Le Zheng hurriedly said, "It was my fault for not disciplining her properly. Please forgive her, Your Highness." The prince pressed his face close to hers, so close that Li Weiying could see the reflection of her own fear in his eyes. He breathed out a strong smell of alcohol and whispered in her ear, "Have you seen enough?" Only then did he release his hands.
Li Weiying, still catching his breath, said in a low voice, "How dare you tamper with my score? Don't you know that everyone praises my music? Tell me, what part of my composition doesn't suit your taste?" Li Weiying retorted, "In Wang Zi's score of 'Clouds Come,' the stopped notes following several open notes are too heavy and harsh, hindering the continuity of the rhythm. The way of the zither is to show the intensity within a single note, without necessarily forcing a strong sound. A cool, subtle tone and a still, even sound are what bring out the imagery of lightly flying clouds and snow."
The Little Prince sneered, "What do you know? My Yunlai is not a weak and powerless floating cloud. How do you know it's not a dangerous situation with dark clouds looming overhead and a sudden downpour?" Li Weiying chuckled, about to say a few more words, when Le Zheng said in a panic, "Shut up. Little Prince, she's new here and doesn't know the rules..." The Little Prince said coldly, "How did such an untrained thing get into the manor?" Le Zheng was trembling, "It was... it was Lord Yao Siding who sent her."
The little prince said, "Yao Siding, good. It seems you've realized that following my good-for-nothing second brother is too futile, so you've come here to curry favor. No wonder he was much more obedient when he came to see me the other day." Turning to Li Weiying, he said, "Hmph, why didn't you just say you were coming? Were you afraid I had too many beauties in my household, so you deliberately altered the score, hoping to attract my attention at the banquet?" Staring at Li Weiying, he suddenly slapped her hard across the face, causing her to fall onto the zither. Instantly, all seven strings flew off, breaking two frets. Looking at the clear five-finger mark on her swollen cheek and her eyes, which were stubbornly looking back at him despite holding back tears, he said, "Yao Siding, I'll just say he's doomed."
The little prince strode away, and several musicians hurriedly helped Li Weiying up and took her back to her room. They brought her cool water, and Li Weiying wiped her stinging face. Although she had suffered some hardships at the hands of Silifa before, she knew that outside the palace, especially in the Western Regions, one had to learn to endure everything. But being slapped like this was a first for her, and she was truly shocked and furious. The others comforted her, "Weiying, don't talk about you. Who among us hasn't been scolded by the little prince? His compositions are notoriously difficult to play, and everyone just dares not say anything and plays them anyway. But you, not only did you change his composition, but you also humiliated him. He only slapped you because he was being kind to you," said a musician named Lü'er.
Li Weiying's anger subsided slightly, and she said, "I didn't know this piece was composed by the little prince. I just changed it because I thought it didn't make sense. Why doesn't this prince look like a Han Chinese?" Another musician, An'an, said, "His mother is a Turkic princess." Ah, that explains it. No wonder his eyes were a greyish-blue. Everyone chimed in, and Li Weiying learned that this little prince's name was Qu Zhixiu, the youngest son of King Qu Wentai of Gaochang, born to a Turkic princess. Although the king entrusted the important town of Jiaohe to Qu Zhixiu, he seemed to favor his eldest son, Zhisheng, and second son, Zhizhan, born to Han concubines. Lü'er pouted, "I think the little prince must be upset about not pleasing the king, that's why he's become so eccentric." An'an quickly covered her mouth, "You have the loudest voice; make sure the little prince hears this."
After the musicians had fallen asleep, Li Weiying pondered the events of the previous day. The guests, including the young prince himself, had all been drinking heavily and making a great commotion. The instruments played were far more than just her zither, and the score had only been slightly modified. The fact that the young prince could discern the difference showed his intelligence. However, given his capricious nature, she would have to be careful in the future.
After entering the Prince's residence, Li Weiying inquired about the situation in Hejing and Heshuo. She only learned that the five cities of Yanqi had fallen into the hands of Gaochang, most of the houses in the cities had been burned down, and many people had been abducted and enslaved. She was worried about Huan She, but did not know where to find him. Suddenly, she thought that with his abilities, he should be able to escape the ravages of war. If he could not find her in Heshuo, or could not even enter Heshuo, perhaps he would return to Dahai Village. Having made up her mind, she paid attention to the terrain of the Prince's residence, looking for an opportunity to leave.
Having lived in the palace for nearly a month, it was now early autumn when Qu Zhixiu was appointed as a Buiruq by the Turks and would soon be going to Khan's Futu City to take up his post. Envoys from both the Gaochang royal city and the Turkic headquarters came to congratulate him. They also heard that the young prince might take his musicians to the Turks, which greatly alarmed everyone. Li Weiying was secretly anxious; if he really went to the Turks, it would be even more difficult to return to Dahai Village to find Huan She.
That morning, Li Weiying, along with Lü'er and An'an, got up. Hearing the neighing of horses, An'an went out to investigate and returned, saying, "It seems the young prince has gone out with his attendants." Li Weiying pondered this, thinking it was a good opportunity. Currently, the manor was busy preparing for the prince's journey north, and the soldiers weren't too strict. The young prince had gone out with several attendants; now was the perfect time to escape. She immediately told Lü'er and An'an her idea, but they were unwilling to go with her. Lü'er had been sold into a music troupe as a child, and An'an's deceased father had been a musician in the prince's manor. They had no home; even if they escaped the manor, where could they go?
Greenie further advised her, "Weiying, leaving the palace is already difficult enough, but leaving the city will be even harder. What if you get caught and brought back?" Li Weiying said, "Yesterday I saw the craftsmen repairing the grape orchard, leaving ladders and scaffolding. With most of the guards away and few people watching, it's a good time to escape. Greenie, An'an, I can't wait any longer. My brother is trapped in Hejing, his life hanging in the balance. Only by leaving here can I hope to find him. This little prince doesn't like me; who knows when he might give me away?"
An'an thought for a moment and said, "How can you run away by yourself? We're sisters, let me see you off." The three of them arrived at the grape orchard and found a long ladder left behind by the craftsmen. They quickly helped it up against the wall, and Li Weiying climbed up. As she approached the top of the wall, she heard the craftsmen talking. Lü'er and An'an, being quite clever, ran over and stopped their idle chatter. Li Weiying glanced gratefully into the distance, stepped onto the top of the wall, steeled her heart, and jumped down.
Chapter Seventeen
17. [Water Head]
He fell with a thud onto the hard, dry yellow earth, his foot aching so badly he couldn't stand up for a long time. "Ah, if only Huan Lang had been there to catch me!" he thought. Thankfully, his bones weren't broken. He struggled to his feet, limping a few steps, and began to consider how to get out of the city. Jiaohe City was built on an isolated island in the river, surrounded by steep cliffs, with only two gates: east and south. The east gate was mainly for the city's residents to draw water from the river, while the south gate was mostly used for large armies and for transporting provisions. Li Weiying had entered through the south gate after disembarking when Yao Siding brought her there last time. The south gate was a frequent stop for government troops, and since he had performed at the Little Prince's residence, he couldn't guarantee no one would recognize him. It would be safer to go through the east gate.
As they approached the East Gate, Li Weiying suddenly heard the sound of iron hooves grinding dust behind her. She glanced back and saw about twenty riders chasing after her. Terrified, she realized her legs were aching terribly, making it impossible for her to run fast. Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed past her ears, and she was lifted up, feeling light as a feather. "Where are you rushing off to?" It was Qu Zhixiu's voice, speaking in Turkic. Li Weiying, held tightly on the horse, was startled and frantic, unable to wriggle free. Qu Zhixiu said to the group of Han and Turkic officials around him, "My heart is burning with anxiety; please excuse me." He then carried Li Weiying towards an apricot grove.
The moment Li Weiying fell from her horse, Qu Zhixiu pinned her to the ground. He began to tear at her clothes, and Li Weiying screamed and struggled desperately. However, Qu Zhixiu only ripped her collar and shoulders before stopping, scoffing, "Alright, if you move again, I'll really force myself on you." Li Weiying tried to get up, but Qu Zhixiu pulled her back down to sit. "Are you leaving so soon to tell everyone that Xiao Wang is useless?" Li Weiying crossed her arms and said, "What do you want? Just kill me, don't torture or humiliate me." Qu Zhixiu looked at her coldly. "I am the Demon King, the Asura, the chief evil Rakshasa. I have many ways to torture you. You'll suffer in the future." Then he smiled. "But I'll let it go today. You have a unique charm when you're angry. I'll have to appreciate it. Hmm, what's the use of glaring at me?" Li Weiying, who had been glaring at him angrily, suddenly smiled, her gaze sweeping over him. Seeing the mockery on her face, Qu Zhixiu's expression gradually darkened. He grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them hard, which made Li Weiying laugh even harder.
Qu Zhixiu said fiercely, "Am I that funny?" Li Weiying replied, "I didn't say that; you're the one who thinks that way." Today, he was not only dressed in Turkic attire, but also had his front half shaved bald, following Turkic custom, with the rest of his hair hanging loose. He wore two large earrings in his left ear, making him look comical and strange. A fierce look flashed between his brows and then faded. He released his grip and said, "The day after tomorrow, I'm going to Khan Futu City to become a Turkic official. So many Turkic officials have come to congratulate me today; shouldn't I put on a show of loyalty?"
Li Weiying said, "The dignified prince of Gaochang is indeed extraordinary." Qu Zhixiu sighed softly, "Everyone knows what kind of prince I am. I heard from Yue Zheng that you are from the Central Plains?" Li Weiying replied, "That's right." Qu Zhixiu said, "If I were to offer you to my father, you would surely gain his favor." Li Weiying angrily retorted, "You dare!" Qu Zhixiu laughed brazenly, "My mother is a Turkic princess. Hmph, though she's called a princess, the Turkic Khan changes every three years for a minor change and every five years for a major change, plus the Eastern and Western Khans, and the Great and Small Khans..." Khans are as numerous as hairs on a cow, and princesses are practically worthless. I, their mother, am probably just barely passable. The Gaochang royal family originally came from the Central Plains, yet they were forced by the Turks to marry barbarians. Can you imagine how unhappy my father must be?" He raised his head, his grey-blue eyes fixed on her: "My eyes, my face, my very existence is a constant reminder to Father how pathetic he is as king. Fine, send me to Jiaohe, out of sight, out of mind. Father can hope to live a few more years."
Qu Zhixiu rubbed his ears and continued, "My elder brother fears my mother even more than my father. Do you know why? Haha, he's always worried that my young mother will be widowed, which would force him to repeat the mistakes of my ancestor, King Xianwen, and take my mother as his wife. Poor King Xianwen, after resisting for several years, was still forced to marry his father's Turkic wife, who was actually his nominal grandmother. She was strong and married my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, and even lived to see my grandfather ascend the throne. Hehe, my elder brother worries about this day and night. Fortunately, my mother died when I was fourteen. As for the Turks, the Great Khan has changed several times, but they still remember me, their nominal grandson. Alright, I'll ask my maternal grandfather to send my father another princess as a wife, hahahaha."
Li Weiying seemed delighted by his teasing words, yet she knew the bitterness beneath them, and a pang of sympathy stirred within her. Seeing her shift to pity, Qu Zhixiu flew into a rage, saying, "Who wants your pity? Saying these things is just stalling for time." He stood up, took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body. Li Weiying, thinking he was about to force himself on her again, screamed, "Don't come any closer!" Qu Zhixiu unfastened his sword and handed it to her, extending his right arm, saying, "Strike hard here." Li Weiying retreated, refusing to take the blow, but he grabbed her, saying, "Don't move, stand still, or I'll kill you right now." He braced his right hand against an apricot tree, and with his left hand swung his sheathed sword, brutally striking her forearm once, twice… with a crack, her arm broke.
Li Weiying gasped in surprise. Qu Zhixiu's face contorted in pain, cold sweat pouring down his face. His left hand was still braced against the tree trunk as he whispered, "Wipe the blood off for me." Li Weiying said, "Settle the bone first." She broke off an apricot branch to fix the broken bone, but Qu Zhixiu said, "No need... just wipe the blood clean." His forearm had been broken by the knife, and some blood had flowed. Li Weiying took a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe it for him, but as soon as it touched his arm, Qu Zhixiu cried out in pain, "Gently... gently."
Li Weiying carefully wiped his face, and he said again, "Put my clothes on." Li Weiying said, "Why are you hurting yourself like this?" Qu Zhixiu frowned, "Stop arguing, put them on for me." Li Weiying picked up the clothes from the ground and put them on him. When she put on the right sleeve, she had to support his broken right arm, and Qu Zhixiu closed his eyes tightly in pain, his left hand gripping her shoulder tightly. Li Weiying endured the pain in her shoulder and finally managed to put them on for him. He said, "Just tie them casually, it's better if you tie them wrong..." She then folded the blood-stained handkerchief twice, revealing the clean part, and used it to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Qu Zhixiu slightly opened his eyes, "You should save your sweat, it's not easy to get sweat out like this..."
Li Weiying stared at his pained and contorted face and said, "Why do you have to do this if you don't want to go to the Turks?" Qu Zhixiu exclaimed, "You're quite clever... Alright, can you ride a horse?" Li Weiying said, "Yes." Qu Zhixiu said, "You get on the horse first, we'll ride together, you can drive."
Li Weiying mounted the horse, and Qu Zhixiu grabbed her with his left hand and also mounted, saying, "Let's get out of the woods now." The horse trotted along, Qu Zhixiu's right hand hanging loosely at his side, while his left hand unceremoniously wrapped around Li Weiying's waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. Li Weiying tensed up, trying to pry his left hand away, but Qu Zhixiu whispered, "I'm so badly injured, and you still want to push me off the horse?" Li Weiying swallowed hard, looking down at his tightly gripping hand: long, slender, and fair fingers, neatly trimmed nails, showing excellent grooming and care, with agate and white jade thumb rings on his index, ring, and little fingers.
--Once upon a time, there was also a strong and powerful hand that gripped her waist as she rode her horse. But that rough hand, frozen stiff in the wind and snow, was covered with scars, dirt, and bandages, and the knuckles were calloused from wielding swords and knives... Huan She... Li Weiying felt a pang of sorrow, but Qu Zhixiu cheerfully called out from behind her, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed to have kept you all waiting."
The crowd waiting outside the apricot grove, seeing their disheveled hair and unkempt clothes, with Qu Zhixiu covered in sweat, all smiled knowingly: "Such a wonderful thing, we are all extremely envious." Someone even teased, "Little Prince, how was it?" Qu Zhixiu laughed and said, "The King of Xiang finally met the Goddess, and the clouds and rain met at Wushan. The taste is not for outsiders to know." The crowd laughed even harder: "The Little Prince, compared to King Xiang of Chu, it seems this time is truly extraordinary." Li Weiying felt anger rising in her heart, and Qu Zhixiu whispered in her ear, "Don't speak, help me this once."
She pursed her lips in resentment, but then heard a Turkic voice say, "How could the little prince have taken a fancy to such a piece of trash?" Li Weiying was startled; the speaker was none other than Silifa, with whom she had a grudge from that day. Qu Zhixiu said, "Oh, does Silifa also know my beauty?" Silifa replied, "I've seen her a few times before. At that time, she was always accompanied by a Han Chinese slave. Little prince, don't be bewitched by her." Qu Zhixiu said to Li Weiying, "No wonder she didn't submit to me; it turns out she has another lover. Go back and tell me all about it. Gentlemen, I've been delayed a bit; let's board the ship now."
The group rode to the East Gate Wharf and boarded a large ship. Qu Zhixiu instructed his attendants to help him and Li Weiying wash up. Li Weiying said, "Have someone bring me some clothes first." The attendant replied, "Your Highness, please forgive me; in the rush, I didn't have time to prepare women's clothing." Qu Zhixiu nodded, "Just find something else to wear." The attendant kowtowed, "But... I didn't prepare any other clothes either... I'll take off my outer garment now..." Li Weiying quickly said, "No, no." Another attendant said, "It seems Your Highness's fur coat from last winter is still kept in the hold." Qu Zhixiu said, "Then hurry up and go."
The attendant returned shortly after and draped a black fur coat over Li Weiying. It was early autumn; though the nights were chilly, the days were still sweltering. Li Weiying, wearing the coat, felt sweating profusely and glared angrily at the jovial Qu Zhixiu. He said, “Don’t you like this coat? It’s a top-quality garment, traditionally worn only by the principal wife of a prince.” Silifa replied, “It’s probably rare in the Central Plains; how would she recognize such a treasure?” Li Weiying smiled slightly, “Just a black fox fur coat.” A complex look flashed in Qu Zhixiu’s eyes, then he smiled amiably again, “Silifa, I wonder what Khan Yipi Dudu has his tastes? I’d like to arrange something for him.” Silifa arrogantly said, “What don’t we Turks have? The young prince must be loyal to the Khan and not be fickle or harbor other ambitions.”
These words were extremely impolite, and immediately a Gaochang official retorted, "How dare you speak like that, sir? Gaochang may be small, but it is still a country. Although the prince is young, his status is still higher than yours. The Western Turkic Khan has taken a liking to our young prince's exceptional talent and invited him to serve as an official. In the future, he will be your colleague. Your words are disrespectful to Gaochang and to the Khan." Silifa said dismissively, "What matters to our Turks require the young prince's personal attention? Hmph, it's just that we have too many cattle and sheep and no one to graze them."
The Gaochang official was furious, but Qu Zhixiu shouted, "Shut up!" He put on a smiling face. "Actually, there's nothing wrong with herding cattle and sheep. Back in the day, the Qu family of Jincheng was very powerful. When people admired us, the first thing they sang was: 'Qu and You, cattle and sheep, so many…'" Suddenly, he couldn't continue, cursing inwardly, "You damn bastard, what a load of crap! You're forcing me to put on this fake smile. I must be out of my mind today. I only heard my uncle casually recite it once before, why did I have to repeat it again?" Sweat beaded on his forehead, but then he heard Li Weiying say in a melodious voice, "Qu and You, cattle and sheep countless, south gates open, north brothels gaze." Upon hearing this, the Gaochang official on the boat began to cheer.
The earliest ancestor of the Qu family can be traced back to Qu Tan, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat during the reign of Emperor Ai of the Western Han Dynasty. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Qu family was prominent in Jincheng Commandery (capital Yuzhong, now northwest of Yuzhong, Gansu). Later, a branch of the family was established in Xiping Commandery (capital Xidu, now Xining, Qinghai). The Qu family was originally a prominent family in Longxi. Other famous families in Gaochang, such as Zhang, Ma, You, Duan, Linghu, and Zhao, also had illustrious origins. Therefore, after migrating westward, they never forgot their ancestors' glory. Although the country was under the control of the Turks, they looked down on these barbarians.
Qu Zhixiu, slightly surprised, smiled at Li Weiying and said, "Hmm! How come you remember so clearly everything I said when I held you, yet you still won't obey me?" Li Weiying had only spoken up because she saw the Gaochang officials being bullied by the Turks, and upon hearing his frivolous behavior again, she immediately turned her face away coldly. Qu Zhixiu laughed and said, "Alright, alright, the Gaochang Turks are like brothers. We'll go to Liugu to pay respects to the water god later, everyone should think carefully about how to pray." Seeing him endure the pain of his broken arm while pretending to be nonchalant and chatting and laughing, Li Weiying admired him but couldn't help feeling a chill. This man's perseverance was far more formidable than that of Si Lifa.
The boat soon docked. Qu Zhixiu and the others disembarked, but Li Weiying, whose foot ached, stayed on the boat. Qu Zhixiu instructed his servants, "Take good care of my wife, and make sure she doesn't fall into the water." His implication was that he was wary of Li Weiying escaping. Li Weiying gazed at the rolling river, ignoring him, but he quickly kissed her cheek, laughed wildly, and left.
In this desolate and rocky land, water is of paramount importance. Rainfall is rare, unlike in Gaochang, and drinking water is entirely dependent on melting snow from distant mountains. Locals call the clear, pure streams that converge in the mountains "water heads," and revere them as sacred. Liugu is northwest of Jiaohe, and Qu Zhixiu and his companions were on their way to pray and offer blessings at the water head of that mountain stream, hoping for prosperity for Gaochang and the Western Turkic Khaganate, and for Qu Zhixiu's own safe passage.
Li Weiying asked a servant for a water bowl. Her right cheek had just been kissed by Qu Zhixiu's wet lips, making her feel nauseous, so she washed it repeatedly. That barbarian! She was furious. Ever since she met him, nothing good had happened—beatings, falls, failed escape attempts, and public humiliation. Next time, she'd smash his head before trying to escape.
Wrapped in a long, heavy black fox fur coat on a sweltering day, Li Weiying was furious. Back in the palace, her father and brothers doted on her, Cao Ling was in love with her, and Huan She always pampered and protected her. Although she had suffered some hardship with Si Lifeng, she had never met anyone as self-important, strange, ruthless, deceitful, and annoying as Qu Zhixiu.
Li Weiying kept wiping away her sweat as a servant brought her some grapes to quench her thirst. The glistening, white grapes were incredibly sweet and refreshing, truly a perfect summer treat. She remembered eating many dried grapes with Huan She when they strolled through the capital of Gaochang, but the fresh grapes tasted a hundred times better. The servant said, "My lady, these are fine fruits from the Weilin Forest, with thin skin and delicious flavor. If used to brew wine, the wine will be smooth but pale in color." Hearing this, Li Weiying couldn't help but think that Huan Lang loved to drink. If they were to meet again, the first thing she would do was offer him a hearty drink of Weilin grape wine. Alas, Huan Lang, where are you now?
As they rested on the boat until they were nearly unconscious, several riders rushed from the shore and summoned the people on board. Li Weiying heard a man's painful cries and hurriedly went up to the deck to see what was happening. Several attendants carried Qu Zhixiu in, and Li Weiying was horrified to see that he was covered in wounds, especially his previously broken right arm, which was bleeding profusely and had exposed bone—a gruesome sight. Qu Zhixiu had already fainted. Li Weiying asked the Gaochang official who had been with him and learned that while they were climbing the mountain, Si Lifang had slipped, and Qu Zhixiu had fallen while trying to save him. The Gaochang official lamented, “This morning, when we left through the south gate, a salt boat capsized. I immediately said it was an ominous sign and advised the young prince not to go any further. But the Turks insisted on leaving through the east gate, since the Turks have always revered the east, and their tents face east so they can see the sun. Now they have caused the young prince to be seriously injured. The gods have shown us that we must never go to the Western Turkic Khaganate.”
Li Weiying realized why she had encountered Qu Zhixiu near the East Gate earlier; it was for the same reason. Seeing Qu Zhixiu's severely injured and unconscious state, even though she knew it was his own doing, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Qu Zhixiu's broken bones had torn his flesh, and his injuries were complex; his companions dared not move him rashly and could only hurry back to Jiaohe City. As the ship approached the shore, it inevitably bumped against the bank. Qu Zhixiu cried out in pain, half-opened his eyes, and said in a low voice, "Weiying, are you still there?" He was surrounded by officials and attendants; Li Weiying, standing behind, did not answer him. Qu Zhixiu then forcefully extended his broken right arm, startling everyone who cried out, "Prince, you mustn't be so rough!" They quickly made way for Li Weiying. Li Weiying stood there, quite embarrassed. Qu Zhixiu called her again, "Wei... Ying," and a servant beside him said urgently, "My lady, the prince is calling you, why aren't you going?" Li Weiying reluctantly walked to his bedside, and Qu Zhixiu said, "I... it hurts so much, hold my hand..." Li Weiying saw that his lips were white with pain, his face was covered in cold sweat, and he was calling her name again and again. Suddenly, she remembered the day Huan She was injured, and involuntarily she held his left hand: "Don't move, just bear with it." Qu Zhixiu groaned softly and fell into a coma again.
The servants carried Qu Zhixiu back to the residence. Li Weiying held his left hand the whole way. Several times, when her legs ached and she couldn't keep up, she tried to let go of his hand, but he seemed to intentionally or unintentionally tighten his grip. Finally back at the residence, a physician was summoned, and Li Weiying, exhausted, quickly sat down. The physician reset Qu Zhixiu's broken bones and shook his head, saying, "The young prince's injuries are too severe. His ulna is broken in two, his radius is shattered, and the fractures have protruded outwards, damaging his meridians. If he doesn't rest properly, I'm afraid this arm will be useless." Everyone was shocked. The Gaochang officials and servants first expressed their sorrow, then glared angrily at Silifa. Silifa quickly said, "The young prince is seriously injured. We should withdraw first and let him rest. I will report the truth to the Khan."
After a busy day, night had fallen. Everyone left, leaving only a few servants to take care of her. Li Weiying got up, but was stopped by a servant: "Madam, the little prince seems to care about you a lot. If you leave now, it will put us in a difficult position. Please, for the sake of the prince's injury, stay and help take care of him, okay?" Qu Zhixiu opened his eyes: "You must be exhausted too. How about I have a servant take you to bathe and change?" Li Weiying hesitated, and Qu Zhixiu sighed: "Don't worry, what can I do to you in this state?" Li Weiying thought it made sense. Besides, her clothes were indeed torn and she was covered in sweat. So she let the servant take her to the hot spring.
Amidst piles of gold and jade, draped with silk screens, and illuminated by towering candles, swirling mist filled the air. Li Weiying dismissed her servants and maids, stepping barefoot onto the smooth white jade steps. She gracefully removed her clothes and entered the warm bath. Since leaving the Chang'an Palace, she had never bathed so comfortably. Closing her eyes, she let the hot water soak her skin, inhaling the fragrance of flower petals on the surface, lost in thought. Suddenly, she heard a chanting: "That hot spring, where a beauty bathes." Startled, she opened her eyes to see Qu Zhixiu swaggering in.
PS: The folk song about the Qu family comes from the "Book of Jin, Volume 89, Biographies of Loyal and Righteous Men, Qu Yun": Qu Yun was a native of Jincheng, and the You family was a powerful clan for generations. Xichuan had a saying about them: "Qu and You, with countless cattle and sheep, opened their vermilion gates to the south and looked towards the brothels to the north."
Chapter Eighteen
18. 【螺黛】