Heaven is the shore of mortal dust - Chapter 70
His gaze swept across to the other side, where stood Ashina Yugu's son, Jiebi Dadushe, with a broad, narrow face, a high nose, deep-set eyes, and grey-blue pupils, wearing a gentle and harmless smile. Then he looked at Ashina Helu beside him. How could he look so different from the rest of the Ashina family? His face lacked any Turkic features whatsoever; it was so beautiful that any woman would be captivated. Could it be that he possessed other bloodlines?
He Lu noticed Wei Zijun's gaze, met her eyes, gave her a cold glance, and then turned his face away.
Wei Zijun smiled faintly. She hadn't avenged the kidnapping yet. One day, she would make this person change his cold and indifferent face.
"Brother----" Ashina Dilan clung to Wei Zijun again, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Brother, feed me."
This seven-year-old girl is the daughter of Ashina Yugu and his concubine Reyikan. She is well-behaved and cute, and always clings to Wei Zijun.
Wei Zijun smiled and tore off a piece of mutton, bringing it to her lips.
"No, I want what's in my brother's mouth."
Wei Zijun was startled and swallowed the food in her mouth with a gulp.
"You naughty brother, chew some more for me."
"Diran, eat it yourself! How can you eat food from someone else's mouth? It's disgusting!"
"No, I want to eat, brother, feed me with your mouth."
"Dilan, stop fooling around." Ashina Yugu's face darkened, and he grabbed Ashina Dilan and pulled him away. Ashina Dilan broke free from Ashina Yugu's grasp, pounced on Wei Zijun, hugged her neck, and gave her a "smack" kiss on her red lips.
Wei Zijun's eyes widened immediately. She had actually been forcibly kissed by a little girl! Although Ashina Dilan was a child, she was still a woman! Ugh, Wei Zijun wiped her greasy lips with her sleeve. Damn it, she always forgot to bring a handkerchief.
Ashina Dilan swallowed with satisfaction, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. She wrapped her arms around Wei Zijun's neck and said, "Brother, we kissed. From now on, Dilan will be your wife. When Dilan grows up, she will marry you."
Wei Zijun felt a chill, but then smiled gently, "Alright, then Dilan, grow up quickly so your brother can marry you." After saying that, she herself got goosebumps.
The ministers, who had been keeping a close eye on Wei Zijun, felt a chill run down their spines as they stared at the scene before them.
Wow, this kid really has a thing for both father and daughter!
A male concubine is a male concubine indeed; this seductive vixen truly has a way with things, not even sparing children.
Just as these people were muttering to themselves, a servant entered the tent and reported: "Khan, a messenger has arrived with news."
"Bring it here." Ashina Yugu bowed slightly and glanced at Wei Zijun beside him.
After unfolding the secret report in his hand, he sighed softly, "Tibet knows that I am seriously ill and is about to launch a major attack."
The entire tent fell silent instantly, the lively scene from moments before freezing in place.
Ashina Yugu gently squeezed Wei Zijun's wrist, "Feng, I'm afraid we'll have to rely on you again this time."
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In the days leading up to the winter solstice, it gets dark early and light late, but Wei Zijun still insists on getting up to practice martial arts before dawn.
After regaining her strength, she found herself quite weak. Her hard training over the past few days helped her recover and her strength increased.
Entering unfamiliar territory for the first time, surrounded by people who were either friends or enemies, she was wary. The only thing she could rely on to protect herself was her martial arts skills.
Moreover, this is a barbaric land, and the people are savage and arrogant. If she hadn't won with her martial prowess, who would have taken a weak and uneducated girl like her seriously? Therefore, she must rely on her own abilities. Even if she doesn't want to be superior to others, she must never be subservient to them. Not for herself, but for the soldiers who are loyal to her, she wants them to be respected because of her, not bullied.
As for this Turkic Khan, not to mention the fact that he had saved her life, she couldn't just abandon him because he had fallen ill from worry because of her. Once she had accompanied him through this period, she would have repaid his kindness and could then return to her Dayu without any worries.
She looked up at the sky, gazing absently at the distant horizon. More than ten days had passed since she arrived in Khan's court; the messenger sent to report her safety should have arrived by now. She only hoped her master would know of her whereabouts soon, so he could be relieved of his worries.
A soft sound behind her interrupted her thoughts, causing her to turn away from her gaze and turn her head.
Without even thinking, she knew who it was.
"Feng—aren't you going to feed me my medicine?" A coquettish voice rang out, and Wei Zijun couldn't help but shiver.
People in their thirties and forties can be more charming than babies when they're being pampered.
She had already forced herself to endure it, but she would still feel chills from time to time from the stimulation.
Helpless, he turned and headed towards the yamen (khan's tent). Unlike the palace in Gaochang, the Khan's court of the Western Turks was a huge and luxurious yamen, located on Sanmi Mountain, adjacent to the Tianshan Mountains.
The golden wolf-headed Khanate inside the tent and the golden wolf-headed banner fluttering outside the tent clearly demonstrate that this was a Khanate with the wolf as its totem.
Inside the tent, the aroma of ghee and milk filled the air; it was time for breakfast.
Throughout the entire process of administering the medicine, Ashina Yugu's eyes were fixed on Wei Zijun's face, making her extremely uncomfortable.
She finally managed to finish feeding the medicine while enduring those stares, and then began to eat. The large chunks of mutton made her frown again.
She has always preferred light food, and usually likes to have some porridge and side dishes for breakfast. She would never eat something so greasy so early in the morning.
Ashina Yugu noticed her predicament and said apologetically, "Feng, I know you don't like greasy food. Soon, we'll have vegetables to offer as tribute."
Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun felt a pang of heartache. "Khan, why not build cities and develop agriculture?"
“Call me Yugu!” Ashina Yugu corrected.
“Okay… alright… Yugu, what I mean is that the Turks do not build cities, live without a fixed abode, and rely on water and grass for sustenance. If they encounter wind, rain, snow, severe cold, drought, or epidemic, livestock will die in large numbers, the economy will wither, and the regime will inevitably decline rapidly. If they develop agriculture and store rice, they can survive even natural disasters for a while.”
“Feng, you said something like this before, which is not without reason. However, the Turks are few in number, less than one percent of the population of Dayu. The reason they can contend with Dayu is because they live a nomadic life, following the water and grass. Our Turkic people are hunters, and everyone is skilled in martial arts. Everyone is a soldier. When they are strong, they advance to plunder; when they are weak, they hide in the mountains and forests. Dayu has many soldiers, but they are useless. If we build cities and change our old customs, we will surely be controlled by Dayu if we suffer a defeat.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun fell into deep thought and remained silent. Ashina Yugu's analysis was reasonable, but what she said also hit the nail on the head. How could they find a way to satisfy both sides?
She was not being overly pessimistic. She had long ago learned from historical records that the Turks had suffered from natural disasters, and at times, the Turks were so hungry that they could not get food and even had to grind their own bones for food. There were also many plagues, and the death toll was extremely high.
Whether it was the Dayu or the Turks, when power struggles occurred, it was the common people who suffered; when natural disasters struck, it was still the common people who suffered. How could this not weigh heavily on her mind?
"Alright, Feng, with you here, how can the Turks not be strong? Eat up, the Turks may not have much else, but this fine grape wine is your favorite." With that, a full glass of grape wine was placed in front of Wei Zijun.