Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 82

"Mmm...uh..." Freed from all restraints and the shackles of reason, the person beneath him let out a soul-stirring moan.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, He Lu felt he should do something more. He didn't know what to do, but his hands trembled as he reached to unbutton the shirt. Even if he couldn't do anything, just looking at his body would be enough...

The outer robe had just been unbuttoned, revealing only a corner of the moon-white inner garment, when He Lu woke up with a start.

He is now Khan! No longer the pale-faced boy who always opposed him, no longer the Left Wise King who often teased him... He is Khan!

A pang of pain rose from the depths of his heart, a bittersweet feeling spreading uncontrollably. He slowly fastened her clothes, propped himself up on his elbows, and leaned down to look at her sleeping face, as peaceful as a baby's. This person no longer cared that he was a man, truly, he no longer cared. Yet, he had become her king.

His slender fingers slid down her delicate face, gently brushing against her lips, and a tenderness, unlike anything he had ever seen, appeared in his usually cool eyes. Remembering her innocent, playful way of sucking his fingers earlier, a smile played on his lips. He was about to slide his fingers back to her lips when a sudden, unusual sound from outside made him stop.

Listening intently, a faint sound of a knife pierced the air. He Lu sprang from the bed and swiftly hid behind the screen. A moment later, there was a slight rumbling of tiles on the roof. He Lu held his breath, and as he saw a patch of dark blue twilight appear above the palace roof, he suddenly realized something. He lunged at the person on the bed, and simultaneously, an arrow shot down from the sky, striking He Lu, who was tightly wrapped around Wei Zijun.

"Catch the assassin..." He Lu roared.

Volume Two, Turkic Chapter Seventy-Two: Natural Disasters

In the third month of the fifth year of the Tai Ning era of the Dayu era.

Emperor Kaihuang, Li Luan, died and was posthumously given the title of Emperor Yucheng. The whole country mourned. The new emperor ascended the throne fifteen days later and changed the era name to Jiande.

The new emperor who ascended the throne was unexpected by the people of Dayu. He was not the eldest prince, Prince Yue, Li Beiji, nor the second prince, Prince Jing, Li Hongyi, but the third prince, Prince Jin, Li Tianqi.

Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor immediately issued an edict to the world, reducing taxes and dispatching inspectors to various regions to investigate corrupt officials at both the central and local levels. Because these inspectors were directly appointed by the Censorate and not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, and were all newcomers without any collusion with various factions, this anti-corruption campaign was remarkably effective.

Almost simultaneously with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, Li You, the Prince of Qi, who had been bestowed the surname Li by the previous emperor, rebelled in Qi County. Li Kaiqi, with unusually ruthless methods, sowed discord among the rebels, prompting his subordinates to personally deliver Li You's head, and swiftly quelled the rebellion within a single month.

He then ordered each prefecture and county to recommend three outstanding talents to participate in the palace examination together with the students who participated in the imperial examination in February, so as to recruit talents and cultivate his own power.

All of this was completely unexpected by the veteran officials. This third prince, who had always seemed gentle and reasonable, never concerning himself with the struggle for the throne, was now so decisive and ambitious, as if he already held the world in his grasp, waiting only for the right moment to unleash his power. This swift and decisive new emperor made them dare not underestimate him.

It was early March, and forsythia was in full bloom throughout Daxing City.

Inside the Wood Hall of the Dayu Imperial Palace, a bunch of tender yellow flowers in a vase exuded a faint fragrance.

“Your Majesty, Wei Feng’s military tactics are always swift and decisive. This time, he defeated the Tubo with just four arrows, in less than two hours,” a man in a fur robe said respectfully from the side.

"He's doing quite well as the ruler of the Turkic Khaganate," Li Kaiqi said, waving his folding fan. His expression remained completely unchanged.

The man in the fur robe thought to himself, "Why is His Majesty fanning himself in this chilly weather? Could it be that the fire in the palace is still burning and making His Majesty too hot? But it's not that hot. However, the writing on the fan seems to be the Khan's handwriting."

Li Tianqi stretched out his long, slender hand and gently stroked the fan. After a moment, he looked up and said, "Why did you stop? Continue!"

The man in the fur robe quickly regained his senses and continued, "What's most amazing is that he didn't covet the 100,000 troops. Instead, he made a deal with the Tibetan king, selling them back to Tibet for ten dan of barley, ten dan of wheat, and ten taels of gold per person."

Li Kaiqi suddenly burst into laughter, "Is that really so! Hahahaha—he really came up with that idea, but it's certainly his style. For the Western Turks, doing this is undoubtedly the most correct choice."

"Yes, but the ministers are puzzled. Why did the Khan send back an army of 100,000? That's an army of 100,000!"

"But in return, he received two million dan of grain! The Turks are frequently struck by natural disasters, and I've heard the snow is falling endlessly, so a snowstorm is likely on the horizon. He's probably stockpiling grain in preparation for a disaster. Two million dan of grain! Enough for the entire Western Turkic Khaganate to survive this disaster. Besides, those 100,000 soldiers are 100,000 mouths to feed; keeping them is pointless, so it's better to give them back to Tibet. I just didn't expect him to get such a good price. Two million dan of grain! Enough to keep Tibet poor for a while, hahahaha—" He then burst into laughter again.

After laughing for a while, he continued, "Who does he usually associate with? Is the rumor about him and Ashina Yugu true?"

"This... Your subject dares not speculate... Moreover, after Ashina Yugu died, he took all the imperial concubines as his own, except for the Khatun and a few others who were buried alive with him."

"Hmph! He's enjoying himself with a beauty in his arms." Li Tianqi's face turned cold as he closed the folding fan that he had been waving.

"Yes, but although he takes meticulous care of those women, providing them with fine clothes and food, he rarely goes to the harem. I suppose the Khan is worried about the country and is therefore ascetic."

"Not necessarily. Perhaps he doesn't like women and only loves men. Hmph, don't mention him again. I don't want to hear it." Li Tianqi waved his hand coldly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, then I shall take my leave." The man in the fur robe was about to turn around.

"Wait, is he... eating well?"

"The Khan was not as extravagant as other rulers. He reduced his own expenses considerably. He ate very simply and in small amounts."

"What good food could there be in a place like that?" Long eyelashes drooped, concealing the coldness in her eyes and a trace of emotion she didn't want others to know. "I suppose she's trying to save money and take better care of the people. The Turkic people are blessed."

"Yes!" Hearing him praise his idol, the man in the fur robe's face lit up. "The Khan is frugal and never asks for new clothes, but he pays great attention to his appearance. Even his old clothes, which he has washed many times, are not allowed to have a single stain. He looks radiant no matter what he wears." A cold snort escaped his lips, accompanied by a sharp glint of light. The man in the fur robe realized he had spoken out of turn and stood respectfully to the side, not daring to say another word.

"I am well aware of his brilliance; there is no need for you to tell me. You may leave."

"yes."

The heavy snow continued to fall without any sign of stopping, its fluffy white feathers covering everything in the world.

Wei Zijun stood before the tent, gazing at the overwhelming snow, her heart tightening with each passing moment.

It should have been time to prepare for spring, but the weather was colder than deep winter. The snow on the ground was more than a foot thick, and countless herders suffered from frostbite. The livestock could not dig through the thick snow to find pasture, and some livestock had already frozen and starved to death.

I fear that after this snowfall, someone will once again be eyeing the Western Turks with covetous intent.

"Why didn't you put on another layer? It's so cold!" Dieyun draped a cloak over Wei Zijun's shoulders. Ever since the day she went to war, Dieyun and Liu Yunde had been extremely worried. When they heard that she had been assassinated, Dieyun cried for two whole days. Seeing that she had returned safely, she immediately stopped arguing with her.

Wei Zijun turned around and grasped Dieyun's hand, her clear eyes looking at Dieyun. "I've trapped you all here, sigh!" A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. "Since Dieyun can't go back for a while, let's find him a Turkic wife to warm his bed!"

"You! You're still so irresponsible! If you say another word, I'll see if I even talk to you anymore!" Dieyun glared angrily at the smiling person. Wei Zijun's clear, handsome eyes held a bright smile as she looked directly at Dieyun's flushed face. A smile involuntarily appeared on her lips, and her pitiful appearance made her tighten her grip on Dieyun's hand.

Looking at her like this, with that gaze and those tightly clasped hands, Dieyun's heart began to pound wildly, and she unconsciously lowered her eyes.

Dieyun's shyness only fueled her teasing interest. She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Dieyun, you don't need to be so shy. Being shy like this won't allow your Turkic wife to have a child!"

"You...you..." The wretched woman! Enraged, Dieyun let go and ran back to her tent.

Wei Zijun laughed heartily, but as she watched the figure run away, a hint of worry appeared in her eyes. She shook her head and turned to walk into He Lu's tent.

The ground, where the soldiers had already shoveled away the snow, was covered with a thick layer of snow again.

Just as Fu Li was about to report, Wei Zijun raised her hand to stop her, shook off the snowflakes, and stepped into the tent.

The fire in the tent was burning brightly. He Lu was fast asleep on the bed, his long eyelashes gently closed, and his fair skin was flushed with a light pink.

She really is a beauty, Wei Zijun thought to himself.

The arrow missed its mark, striking Helu squarely in the right hip. Fortunately, it hit that spot, as the wound was extremely deep. However, the arrow was poisoned, causing the wound to repeatedly flare up and refuse to heal. It took half a month for it to show any signs of improvement.

Gently lifting the blanket to check the wound, the slight touch startled He Lu awake. Opening his eyes, He Lu saw Wei Zijun beside him, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.

Startled, he realized she was pulling back his blanket. In a panic, he quickly covered the blanket with his own, saying, "Don't look, it's all done!"

Wei Zijun chuckled softly, looking down, "What haven't I seen of you before?!" She then yanked the blanket off.

Upon seeing the wound, she frowned. "Why is it bleeding again? Have you been misbehaving?" She picked up a cotton cloth and gently wiped away the blood. Seeing He Lu's body trembling, she couldn't help but say impatiently, "Don't keep twisting and turning like that, you'll hurt the wound!"

"It itches!" He Lu managed to utter a single word.

Wei Zijun was speechless. Looking at He Lu's face, which was as red as a wedding cloth, a wicked smile appeared on her face. "He Lu, are you heartbroken to see such a round and beautiful buttocks ruined like this?"

The more He Lu listened, the more conflicted his expression became. How could he describe him like that? Beautiful buttocks!!! Was it unintentional? Was it deliberate?

Seeing his unpleasant expression, she ran her slender finger across his smooth back and waist. "Wow, such beautiful skin, so white and smooth, you're truly a peerless beauty. It's such a waste to waste such a face."

Seeing He Lu's face growing increasingly ashen, Wei Zijun leaned closer to him and whispered, "He Lu, be my... male concubine, okay?"

He Lu was taken aback, then lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. He remained silent for a long time, as if he were really considering whether to agree. Wei Zijun couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He Lu suddenly realized that she had tricked him again. He pulled up the blanket, turned his face away angrily, and stopped talking.

He Lu looked up, then lowered his head again, unable to resist turning around as the person's footsteps echoed as they left.

Outside, the temperature seemed to continue to drop, and two feet of snow had accumulated on the ground. Countless livestock and warhorses had frozen or starved to death, and herders frequently perished on the snowfields. Without pasture, the animals were emaciated, and the frigid climate caused frequent miscarriages, with only a small fraction of the offspring surviving. This was undoubtedly a disaster for the Western Turks, whose economy depended entirely on livestock. Livestock were the backbone of the Turkic economy, and warhorses were their means of warfare. The constant deaths of these warhorses further weakened the already formidable military strength of the Western Turks by half.

Gazing at the swirling snowflakes, Wei Zijun felt a sudden sense of powerlessness. How could she possibly protect her country from such a devastating border situation?

"Khan, I've made you a bowl of osmanthus porridge. It's made with dried osmanthus from Dayu. Please drink it while it's hot." Reyikan brought over a steaming bowl of porridge. "Khan, you haven't eaten much these past few days. Don't worry, Khan. The snow will eventually stop."

"Hmm, how is Dilan?" Ever since Wei Zijun took those concubines as his successors, Dilan cried as if she had lost love and refused to talk to him anymore, but sometimes she couldn't help but come to the tent to steal a few glances at him.

"She's still heartbroken. Who told you, Khan, with your charm, to not even spare a child?" Reyikan smiled, leaning closer to Wei Zijun, her eyes filled with an overwhelming tenderness, and whispered, "Khan, you're quite the ladies' man..."

Wei Zijun gave a wry smile, "My beloved concubine has truly wronged me. Where do I appear to be a womanizer?"

"The Khan is a womanizer everywhere, here... here... and here..." Her voice was as soft as a feather as Reyikan nestled in Wei Zijun's arms, her hands caressing her body. "Khan..."

Wei Zijun's breathing quickened. She had never experienced this situation before. Being touched and caressed by a woman was far more embarrassing than being touched by a man. She would rather the person in her arms be a man.

As her flushed face drew closer, her slightly pouting lips pressed against his, Wei Zijun was terrified. "My...my beloved...I can't...I can't do it..."

Reyi Kan ignored her words and persistently offered her red lips. Wei Zijun turned her head to the side, and the kiss landed on the corner of her lips.

This kiss ignited the desire within Re Yikan, and her burning kisses continued to land on Wei Zijun's cheeks and nose...

"Re...Reyikan, you are Dilan's mother." Wei Zijun kept backing away, but Reyikan kept pressing closer, her hand caressing Wei Zijun's face. "Khan, Reyikan likes the Khan." She breathed heavily and pressed her face against Wei Zijun's, sending soft kisses down her cheek to her neck.

No...no, she couldn't go any further, she was going to faint, she couldn't worry about hurting the beauty's feelings anymore.

With a heavy heart, he was about to tear away the person who kept pestering him. But at that moment, a life-saving report came: "Khan, Geshufa has something to report to me."

"Qe in quickly, tell him to come in!" God help us!!!

Geshufa lifted the heavy curtain and entered. He glanced at the two men, both flushed and slightly panting, and, knowing he knew what they had just been doing, coughed awkwardly before saying, "Khan, the King of Khotan, Fuja, has submitted a letter requesting the royal court to send grain to relieve the disaster, as a large number of livestock have died and many herders are starving." Geshufa held up a letter and sought Wei Zijun's opinion.

Wei Zijun's lips curled into a cold smile. "Fu-Zhe-Xin! I haven't even settled accounts with him yet, and he's already pushing his luck. Knowing that I just received the grain, he's already asking for it so soon."

"Khan, Fujaxin seems to have always been loyal and dutiful. Doesn't the Khan want to help them?"

"Loyal? Geshufa, you can't judge a book by its cover. This man is not as weak as he appears. Starving to death? Not yet. They grow their own food. Does he think I'm a fool? A few freezing to death is no problem, but starving to death? Wait six months."

"Khan, what should we do? Should we stop giving him food?" Geshufu asked cautiously.

"What for? To fund his rebellion?" Wei Zijun's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.

"So, how should I answer him?"

"Tell him that the snow has covered the plains and the carriages can no longer pass. Tell him to wait a while, and once the snow stops, send 100,000 dan of grain over." He paused for a moment and then said, "Geshufa! I have already sent two more Tutun① to supervise him. The Tutun that was withdrawn must be interrogated thoroughly. Send more people over to investigate secretly and see who he is associating with closely. Oh, and his son too, keep a close eye on him."

"Khan, are you sure this assassination attempt was carried out by him?"

"It's probably true. But it's fortunate that we were assassinated this time. Otherwise, if we had been kept in the dark and lost our guard, we probably wouldn't even know what had happened by the time he reached the royal court." He sighed, a hint of worry flashing across his face. "I hope he won't do anything under these circumstances."

"If he dares, I will immediately raze Khotan to the ground."

Note: ① Tutun (tudun) was a Turkic official title, generally referring to officials stationed in countries conquered by the Turks to supervise and rule these countries and collect their taxes.

Volume Two, Chapter Seventy-Three: Vengeance