Heaven is the shore of mortal dust - Chapter 65
"Second Brother—" Wei Zijun's voice was a little hoarse.
"It's cold outside... come back..." Knowing full well that the person could no longer hear her, could no longer hear her...
"Second Brother—he hasn't taken his medicine yet!" As if suddenly remembering, she tried to chase after him, but He Lu grabbed her. Wei Zijun struggled and finally burst into tears, "Let me chase after him! He hasn't taken his medicine yet, he'll catch a cold..."
"Why don't you go and catch him? He's escaped! Go and bring him back!" As if a glimmer of hope had suddenly appeared, Wei Zijun gripped He Lu's arm tightly, her bright eyes looking at him.
“He has severed ties with you and will no longer concern himself with your affairs or report you to the authorities. Since that’s the case, why keep him as a burden? What good will it do him to capture him and bring him back to the Western Turkic Khaganate? There’s no guarantee he won’t resist there, or that he won’t be killed. Considering his pitiful injuries, let him live.” He Lu turned to the burly men and ordered, “Move on immediately.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m waiting for him to come back! He’ll come back when he gets cold.” Wei Zijun shook off He Lu’s arm, her tone incredibly firm.
It'll come back when it gets cold...
He was sick, and he was dressed so lightly; she couldn't abandon him.
After He Lu finally experienced her stubborn temper, he had no choice but to compromise.
He didn't eat a single grain of rice at noon.
Li Tianqi didn't return until late afternoon. He thought, "I'll wait a little longer; he'll come back when he's tired tonight."
He still hadn't returned by nightfall. The night was unbearable; she lay on the couch, each occasional sound from outside sending shivers down her spine, but it was never him.
I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, finally exhausted, and fell asleep.
In the dream, he pushed open the door and came back. He walked to the bedside, pinched her nose, and then, as usual, took off his boots and crawled under her feet to the inside.
She turned her head, but there was no one there, only the empty pillow lying there alone. She looked around anxiously, and saw him standing outside the open window. Why was the window open on such a cold day?
She got up and went outside to look for him, but he was nowhere to be seen under the window. She looked around and spotted him at a fork in the road ahead. She ran excitedly towards him, but he vanished in an instant.
She stood at the intersection looking around, seeing only strangers passing by, but she never saw him again.
I never saw it again...
Perhaps because I hadn't slept much the night before, I slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.
She forced herself to drink a bowl of porridge, and when she was brought to the carriage again, she asked, "Do you really have to take me with you? Can't I refuse?"
"This is the Khan's order, we cannot disobey it. Compromise properly and suffer less, otherwise we will tie you up and take you away," Helu said coldly, turning his head.
"What if I die?"
"He knows you're not dead, so you'd better live well too."
"What if you bring back a dead body?"
"Don't even think about it!"
“I can’t go to the Turks; my master will be looking for me. If it were you, and you suddenly disappeared, what would your family think?”
"Your home is in Western Turks."
“No, I am not a Turk,”
"It will be like that in the future."
"I don't want to go to the Turkic Khaganate."
"There's nothing we can do if we don't want to. If we really don't want to, we'll just have to say it to the Khan's face!"
To speed up their journey and to prevent any unforeseen events from happening to her alone, He Lu abandoned the carriage, embraced Wei Zijun, and rode with her on horseback.
The clattering of hooves disturbed Wei Zijun's peace of mind, and the biting north wind made her wrap herself tighter in her heavy fur coat.
It's so cold, and he's only wearing so little. Won't he get frostbite? Where could he be? Does he know where to find shelter from the cold wind?
[Volume 2, Turkic Chapters: Chapter 57, Gaochang]
In November, the northern country is already bitterly cold.
On the snow-covered official road, a group of seven rode swiftly on horseback. They bypassed the Dayu Dunhuang Prefecture and headed straight for Gaochang, the capital of the Turkic Khaganate, along the Silk Road.
Gaochang, a treasure trove of world religious culture, was the largest city of the Western Turkic Khaganate and one of the few walled cities there, a vital town on the Silk Road. For many years, the Kan, Zhang, Ma, and Qu clans, relying on the fortified city, ruled this place, controlling an irreplaceable section of the Silk Road and monopolizing the profits of commerce and trade. In the second year of the Tai Ning era, the Western Turkic Khaganate defeated King Qu Wentai of Gaochang, unifying the Western Turkic Khaganate.
The clear, high northern sky was so cold it wasn't a single cloud in sight, and the gleam reflected from the snow made Wei Zijun squint. The city wall, originally built in the first century BC, stood majestically high, utterly aloof amidst the cold, clear blue sky and white snow.
In the first century BC, more than six hundred years had passed since the fourth year of the Tai Ning era! Wei Zijun sighed inwardly.
This ancient city on the Silk Road, having witnessed the prosperity of the world, now shows a slightly mottled face and is extremely lonely.
Upon entering the city, Wei Zijun was somewhat surprised by the bustling street scene. It was a vast city with houses scattered throughout, including workshops, markets, temples, and residential areas.
The group dismounted at a restaurant. He Lu handed the horses to a servant, saying, "Take good care of them and feed them the best fodder."
The servant responded and took the reins.
“Wait,” He Lu added, “Don’t touch anything on it. It won’t allow anyone to touch it, or it will kick you.”
Wei Zijun paid no attention to He Lu's words. Looking at the horse, panting heavily from exhaustion, she felt a pang of sympathy and gently stroked its face. The horse, carrying the two of them, still moved with incredible speed, without a moment's rest, covering more than a thousand miles a day! No wonder they were traveling so fast. Although she hated He Lu, she believed that animals were innocent.
When she ran her hand over the horse's neck, she was surprised to find red blood seeping from its shoulder and neck.
Akhal-Teke! Is this the legendary horse that's so hard to find? It turns out that the story of its blood and sweat isn't just a fabrication; it truly lives up to its name.
Surprised, I examined the horse closely. It was pure white with black hooves and a coat as shiny as satin. Under the sunlight, it shone with a golden light. The horse was tall, slender, strong, with a lean belly, a long neck, and a small head. It was poised to unleash its power, exuding the aura of a king.