Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 75

Shaking off her thoughts, Wei Zijun walked out of the tent and happened to run into Helu, who was passing by. These past few days, the Khan had been seriously ill, and Helu had been staying at the Khan's court, not returning to the right wing tent.

When He Lu saw Wei Zijun walking out, he naturally adopted the same attitude he had shown her over the past few days: a cold glance and ignoring her completely.

Wei Zijun found it amusing and couldn't help but chuckle. She let him be awkward and ignored him, walking past him without paying him any attention.

"What is the Left Wise King laughing at!" It was unpleasant to be ignored, and he finally couldn't help but speak up.

"What? Did my laughter provoke Ye Hu? If so, Wei Feng feels deeply uneasy." Despite his words, his bright, handsome eyes still held a hint of a smile, showing no trace of unease.

"Heh, exciting!? Of course! Seeing a man surrounded by a group of men every day, exchanging glances and flirting, would be incredibly stimulating for anyone!" He Lu said coldly, inwardly furious that she could remain so composed after doing such a thing, wishing he could devour this vixen alive. "Don't pretend to be innocent anymore! In the end, you're nothing but a seductive vixen!"

"Thank you, Lord Ye, for bestowing such an elegant name upon Wei Feng. Lord Ye, you say that Wei Feng is a bewitching man. Has he bewitched you?" Wei Zijun moved closer to He Lu and changed the subject. "However... Lord Ye is also partly responsible for this bewitching accusation!"

"What nonsense are you going to spout now! How could I, He Lu, believe you!" He Lu glared coldly at the person who had come closer.

"Ye Hu is truly forgetful. Have you forgotten that day when you were intimate in the snow?" Seeing He Lu's face turn bright red, Wei Zijun continued with satisfaction, "That day, it was not that Wei Feng intended to humiliate you. It was because he saw Ye Hu's charming appearance that Wei Feng could not control himself and thus took liberties with Ye Hu. In fact... it was you, Ye Hu, who seduced Wei Feng."

"Shut up! The dignified Left Wise King, uttering such lewd words, is utterly shameless!"

Seeing that he had finished cursing, Wei Zijun pretended to be lost in thought and stared intently at He Lu. "Today, seeing Ye Hu's angry expression was truly captivating, making me, Wei Fengqing, unable to restrain myself. I really want to..." As she spoke, she pressed her face close to He Lu's ear, blew a soft breath, and murmured, "I really want to..."

He Lu's body stiffened, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and his originally white ears instantly turned a crimson red.

Upon seeing this, Wei Zijun burst into laughter, leaving He Lu frozen in place, and strode away.

Today, I've twisted his image into something alluring and seductive, and thoroughly humiliated him. I'm afraid he'll be so angry he won't be able to eat for days. Ha! How satisfying, truly satisfying.

He walked briskly forward, and after a while, he heard a loud roar from behind. His already slightly upturned lips curled into an even wider grin.

Upon entering the tent, they saw that Ashina Yugu had already sat up, with Khatun and Reyikan sitting beside him.

Ashina Dilan was also playing here. When he saw Wei Zijun come in, he pounced on her and clung to her.

As soon as Wei Zijun stepped forward to greet the two women, she was met with a slap from Ashina Dilan, followed by endless smacking sounds until Wei Zijun's face was covered in saliva.

Wei Zijun smiled wryly, wiping the wetness from her face with her sleeve.

Ashina Yugu found it amusing and teased, "Dilan, you'd better seize the opportunity to kiss her a few more times now, or you won't have any left to kiss later."

"Why? I still want to marry my brother, so I can kiss him every day." Ashina Dilan blinked his big gray-brown eyes and gave him another kiss.

“Because by the time you grow up, your handsome prince will already have a harem of wives and concubines and will have returned to Dayu. He will have long forgotten you.” Ashina Yugu gave Wei Zijun a meaningful look and emphasized the words “Dayu”.

Ashina Dilan blinked, looked at Ashina Yugu, then at Wei Zijun, and suddenly burst into tears.

Wei Zijun hugged her tenderly and gently comforted her, "Don't cry, Dilan. Your brother will always wait for you."

Children's hearts are the purest. They take everything they see as fact and hold onto innocent wishes, hoping for anything they think is beautiful, until those dreams are shattered one after another. And the pitiful and aggrieved feeling when those dreams are shattered is the most heartbreaking.

"Father Khan is so mean, sob sob... Dilan doesn't want Father Khan anymore." As if realizing that what her father Khan said was a cruel reality, as if resenting him for so cruelly shattering her dreams, she began to sob and resist Ashina Yugu.

Just as Ashina Dilan was constantly accusing her father, a messenger came to report.

"Khan, the Supi envoy has arrived with generous gifts and will be at the Khan's court in half an hour."

"Khan, what are they doing here?" the Khatun asked in surprise.

Ashina Yugu glanced at the Khatun and said to Wei Zijun, "I almost forgot about this. Two months ago, Su Pi sent a letter to request a marriage alliance. I agreed and didn't think much of it. I didn't expect them to be here so quickly."

Wei Zijun was stunned for a moment. “Now that Supi has been controlled by Tubo, their request for a marriage alliance must have an ulterior motive. Most likely, they want our Turkic people to help them recover their lost territory under the guise of marriage. A fallen country with no future achievements, the Khan should not agree to this marriage alliance.”

The Supi of today is no longer the Supi Women's Kingdom of the past. After learning about the state of the world, she discovered that Supi had been twice subjugated by Tibet. She sighed with regret, lamenting that this last remaining matriarchal state, where women were valued more than men, was about to perish. However, even after being conquered by Tibet, Supi still retained considerable power. As the largest of the four tribes within Tibet, it was understandable that they did not want to be controlled and were striving to restore their kingdom.

Ashina Yugu nodded. "Whether it's relatives by marriage or strangers, who would help for no reason? I'm just thinking of helping Supi restore its kingdom so we can expand our territory as well."

"What the Khan said is true, but our army has just finished fighting with Dayu. Military supplies are a burden, and with huge reparations, our national strength has not yet recovered. It is not advisable to fight again. Even if we do fight, it will be two years later."

“Feng, you’re right. Even if it’s war, our current national strength can’t allow it. I was just momentarily confused, but things have come to this point, and I can’t refuse. Feng, go and receive them for me.”

Wei Zijun had no choice but to agree to leave. She then gave orders to prepare a welcoming feast and led a group of men out of the camp, lining them up in a row.

Before long, a group of people appeared in the distance. They moved very fast and arrived in front of us in less than half an incense stick's time, stopping about ten meters away.

The carriage stopped ahead, and with a lift of its heavy curtain, two elaborately dressed women stepped out. The one in front appeared to be around forty years old, of medium build, with her hair styled in a bun, earrings dangling from her ears. She wore a lambskin coat adorned with brocade and leather boots. Though not strikingly beautiful, she possessed a composed demeanor that commanded respect.

Following the woman down was a woman dressed as a deputy envoy, with a striking appearance and an elegant demeanor. She wore a round leather hat, a blue woolen skirt, and a robe with sleeves that reached the ground. Her black hair was braided and hung down her back.

Wei Zijun dismounted to greet her. Upon seeing that she was a woman, he felt pity for her and became more polite, bowing and asking, "May I ask if you are the envoy from Supi?"

When the children looked up and saw Wei Zijun, they were both momentarily stunned. But being worldly envoys, the woman bowed and replied, "Indeed! I am Zhangarsunbo, an envoy from Supi. May I ask who you are...?"

"Wei Feng, the Left Wise King of the Western Turks, is here to welcome the Supi envoy on the orders of the Khan."

Upon hearing this, the deputy envoy behind him looked up at Wei Zijun again, his face flushing slightly.

"I have long admired the name of the Left Wise King. It is my great fortune to see his true face today. The Wise King is wise and brave, blessed with great fortune. Having gone through great hardships, he will surely have good fortune in the future."

Wei Zijun laughed loudly, "You flatter me too much. I am truly unworthy of such praise. If I were blessed with boundless fortune, what would become of my position as the Khan of the Turks?"

"This... I misspoke, thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty." Zangarbosun was slightly embarrassed.

"It's alright. I appreciate your kind gesture, please!" Wei Zijun gracefully extended his arm, gesturing for him to proceed.

At the banquet, Wei Zijun sat in the main seat, with the Supi envoy to her left and the Western Turkic ministers to her right.

"Today, with your arrival, my Khan originally intended to personally accompany you, but alas, I have caught a cold and am slightly unwell. Therefore, I have had to order this king to host a welcoming feast for you." Wei Zijun held up a wine cup and gestured to Zhangarbosun. "Your Excellency, we, your ministers, will drink this cup with you."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Khan and Wise King. I have come today to discuss the marriage alliance. I, Queen Supi, have prepared a small gift, but I did not expect that the Khan is unwell. However, the Queen has instructed that this gift be presented to the Khan personally," said Zangarbosun, feeling rather embarrassed.

Wei Zijun smiled slightly, "There's no need to worry about the festival. You can simply present your gift at the court tomorrow."

Knowing that she only wanted to see the king, she used this trick, even though Ashina Yugu originally wanted to see her too.

"In that case, thank you, Left Wise King." Zangarbosun smiled and exhaled softly. Just as she raised her wine cup, the beautiful woman who had been following her whispered a few words in her ear, and she paused for a moment.

Zangarbosun put down his wine cup and said to Wei Zijun, "This humble envoy thanks the Left Wise King for taking the time to accompany you. Please allow my deputy to fill the cup for the Wise King on my behalf."

As soon as she finished speaking, the beautiful woman stood up, came to Wei Zijun's side, picked up the wine pot, and filled the latter's empty cup.

"Thank you for your trouble, young lady." Wei Zijun turned her head and smiled, her soft and magnetic voice ringing out. The woman's hand trembled, and a stream of wine slid out, splashing onto Wei Zijun's clothes.

The woman hurriedly tried to wipe the wine stain with her hands, but she didn't think that her hands could dry the wet stain. When she came to her senses and reached for her handkerchief, she was surprised to find that her head was buried in Wei Zijun's arms. A faint fragrance and the heat of his chest wafted over her, and the woman blushed even more and felt flustered. She froze there, not knowing what to do.

Wei Zijun looked down at the flustered girl, feeling a mix of amusement and pity. She gently took the hand that was clutching her clothes and said, "It's alright, Miss, you don't need to wipe it."

The woman looked up in a panic, meeting Wei Zijun's clear eyes. She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up and stumbled back.

Anyone with eyes could see why the woman was so flustered. He Lu's face was icy cold as he glared at Wei Zijun with vicious eyes.

This vixen, not content with bewitching men, she doesn't even spare women.

Throughout the banquet, the woman kept stealing glances at Wei Zijun. Seeing this, He Lu couldn't bear it any longer and left the table early with a cold expression.

The banquet lasted until 9 PM before it ended. Wei Zijun, slightly tipsy, walked towards the sleeping tent to check on Dieyun and Liu Yunde, who were already asleep.

"Your Majesty, you're back!" The maidservant rushed forward to greet her upon seeing her return.

"Okay! Bahar, go to sleep." Wei Zijun rubbed her temples, her head feeling a little heavy.

“Your Majesty, I have already heated the water several times. Please bathe first.” Bahar knew the Left Wise King’s habits well, so he simply placed the clean clothes by the tub and stood guard outside the door.

Wei Zijun had always maintained the habit of bathing daily, and even in this cold place, she still couldn't break her old habit.

This weary body really needs a soak. I went indoors, took off my outer robe, and soaked in the water.

A wave of heat washed over her, making her feel refreshed and almost drifting off to sleep, when she suddenly heard faint voices outside, followed by footsteps. Wei Zijun straightened her back alertly, because she heard the footsteps coming towards the room.

The bathroom door creaked open, startling Wei Zijun, who, slightly drunk, had forgotten to bolt it. Now half-sober, she quickly grabbed a nearby garment and covered her chest, shouting at the door, "Who's there?"

He Lu strolled in, closing the door behind him. "The Left Wise King certainly knows how to enjoy himself! I've heard that he forbids anyone from getting close when he bathes. I wonder if he has some kind of physical defect? Or is there something he's ashamed of?" He said as he walked forward step by step.

Wei Zijun clutched the clothes nervously; her cotton robe was already soaked with water. "Lord Ye, is there something you need for your visit so late at night? If there's nothing special, please return home first."

"Hahaha... Of course I have something to do. I came here today specifically to see the demeanor of the Left Wise King and to see what you have that you can't show for yourself. The Left Wise King won't disappoint me, will he?"

Wei Zijun was shocked upon hearing this. He Lu had come to take revenge on her, deliberately trying to embarrass her. "Lord Yehu, a person's naked body is naturally something that cannot be shown to others! Does Lord Yehu wish to see it?"

Hearing this, He Lu paused, stunned. He had intended to embarrass him, but he hadn't expected him to be so composed. But, was it really okay to look? If it was, there was no harm in looking; he really wanted to see anyway. The thought startled him, but he had already moved forward, walking towards the person with bare shoulders and back.

"Stop...stop...stop first..." Wei Zijun was a little flustered, really afraid that He Lu might do something outrageous just to tease her. Even if a fight broke out, He Lu was no match for her, but fighting would inevitably expose some of his body.

Seeing the person about to walk in front of her, Wei Zijun pressed her legs together, covered herself with her clothes, and stared straight at the person, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

He Lu slowly walked to the tub, then stopped and glanced at the body inside. Though most of the body was covered by clothing, the remaining, glistening limbs still radiated an alluring glow. He Lu's breath caught in his throat, his eyes swirling towards the snow-white, soft shoulders, about to trace upwards along the slender, white neck, but his gaze remained fixed on the beautiful collarbone, unable to look away. A drop of water trickled down his neck and into his chest; He Lu felt a dryness in his mouth.

The stalemate continued for a long time. He Lu came to his senses and remembered his purpose. A wicked smile appeared on his face. He leaned forward and brought his face close to Wei Zijun's. Just as he was about to say something humiliating, the sudden closeness of her face made He Lu's heart skip a beat.

The fair and radiant face before her glowed with a jade-like luster, tinged with pink from drinking and bathing. Her clear eyes, brimming with moisture, were wide open, staring intently at the newcomer, like a startled fawn, so endearing. Her slightly parted pink lips, trembling with surprise, exhaled warm, orchid-like breath, brushing against the newcomer's face.

He Lu's heart pounded erratically, his breathing became rapid, and the aura emanating from that body made him unable to resist wanting to press himself against it.

She whirled around, panting heavily to calm herself, angry at herself for still being bewitched by that person. With a determined stamp of her foot, and relying on her last shred of reason, she rushed towards the door.

He rushed to the door, then turned back, grabbed the change of clothes Bahar had prepared, glanced at the wet cotton robe in the water, and a hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes.

You vixen, I told you not to seduce people, now go back naked.

Wei Zijun watched helplessly as He Lu took away her clothes, and dejectedly lay on the water.

"Bahar—" he shouted, but there was no response. He told her to go to sleep, and she actually went to sleep. Why was she so obedient today?

Sigh! Wei Zijun sighed, and after a long pause, she had no choice but to wrap her soaking wet cotton robe around her body and run into her sleeping tent in a disheveled state.

Volume Two, Turkic Chapter Sixty-Seven: Slaughter

"Cough cough..." Ashina Yugu straightened his weak body and coughed twice more. His sallow and emaciated face was lifeless.

"Khan, you must rest well and not overwork yourself. The wedding can be postponed until you are better..." Zangarsunbo carefully chose his words.

"Alas! I fear my health will not recover for some time. I am afraid I will have to trouble your princess. Your Majesty, please report my condition truthfully. I truly cannot bear to burden the princess."

Just as Zangarsunbo was about to speak, he received a look from the side and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Khan need not worry. Marriage between our two countries is a good thing. If the Khan's health does not permit it for the time being, the Khan's sons or daughters can also be married."

"Oh? Which of my disciples has caught your eye, Your Excellency?" Ashina Yugu asked with some curiosity.

"This... the Khan's sons, Duheteqin and Jiexindadushe, are both married. I wonder... is the Left Wise King married?"

"Oh? Hahaha... cough cough... Your Excellency has taken a fancy to my Left Wise King?" Ashina Yugu coughed twice and turned to Wei Zijun: "This Khan has no objection, Left Wise King? What do you think?"

Wei Zijun, who was already surprised, hurriedly replied to Ashina Yugu's question: "Khan! Wei Feng has no intention of getting married yet. However, Wei Feng has someone to recommend, and Princess Supi will definitely be satisfied with him. This person is talented in both literature and martial arts, handsome, holds a high position, and is a member of the Khan's family. He is the most suitable person."

"Oh? You mean?" Ashina Yugu seemed to have guessed a bit, but everyone knew that He Lu didn't want women. Who else could it be but He Lu?