El amor de un mortal a través de la dinastía Song del Norte

Capítulo 90

Did something happen to them?

My heart was clenching tighter and tighter, beating wildly and fast.

She had to find them, she had to go back to Dayu, she had to go back, to Deer Ridge Valley, she had to go back…

Back at the Khan's court, sitting in his tent, he gradually calmed his thoughts. "Let's wait a couple more days," he thought. "These things need to be settled. Can He Luneng handle things here?"

With a mind full of thoughts, he slowly walked towards He Lu's sleeping tent, and bumped into someone's arms halfway there. It was Zhang Shi.

Wei Zijun touched her nose, which she was pretending to have a sore. She was walking so slowly, wouldn't he try to avoid her?

Zhang Shi stood there with a smile, "Khan, is something on your mind?"

"No!" Wei Zijun smiled. She was growing to like this person more and more; he was so refined and elegant, like a spring of water that could soothe and comfort one's heart. Was he really just a lowly soldier in the Ministry of Revenue?

Upon reaching He Lu's tent, he raised his hand to stop Fu Li from announcing his arrival and strode inside, with Zhang Shi following him in.

Dressed in a snow-white Hu-style robe, He Lu leaned against the couch, engrossed in studying a book. His long eyelashes trembled, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his face was full of expressions. Sometimes he would furrow his brows in deep thought, and at other times he would look surprised. He was so absorbed in his reading that he did not notice the person who had come into the tent.

"He Lu, what are you looking at? Why are you so focused?" The sudden appearance of the figure made He Lu sit up in a panic, and he quickly stuffed the booklet under his pillow.

Seeing the strange red color on He Lu's face, Wei Zijun's curiosity was piqued.

Without warning, she leaned over and put her hand under the pillow. He Lu was startled and tightly grasped her hand that had reached under the pillow. "It's just some dry prescriptions. They give me a headache. Did Feng come here for something?" She deliberately changed the subject and called him "Feng" again, just to divert her attention.

Wei Zijun glanced down at him across her chest, then stubbornly continued to reach her hand under the pillow. He Lu, however, was no match for her inner strength. He grabbed her hand and pulled it under the pillow, Wei Zijun's chest pressing against his face. That fragrance wafted out again—her unique scent—making He Lu dizzy, and his grip loosened.

Grabbing the book and straightening up, Wei Zijun gave He Lu a provocative look, staring at his face as she deliberately and slowly opened the book. Seeing He Lu's increasingly conflicted expression, she then looked down at him.

Upon closer inspection, Wei Zijun's face flushed. It was a book of erotic illustrations from Dayu, mostly depicting men with their hair tied up in brocade robes, their clothes disheveled, their lower bodies exposed, in various positions of intercourse. Some showed two men on camels, some a man and a woman under a tree outdoors, and some two men indoors by a table with red candles. Each picture was vivid and erotic, making one blush and feel a racing heart.

When Wei Zijun arrived here, she hadn't seen such erotic scenes in a long time. Upon seeing them for the first time, she couldn't help but feel a little breathless. Her hand trembled, and the book fell to the ground. She turned away awkwardly and coughed lightly.

Standing behind Wei Zijun, Zhang Shi glanced at the book, picked it up gently, and handed it to Wei Zijun with a refined and polite manner.

Wei Zijun looked at He Lu, whose face flushed red, and he awkwardly touched his neck, as if trying to cover up some evidence of his crime.

Wei Zijun took a closer look and noticed a red mark on He Lu's neck. Based on her experience, she knew what it was. A hickey!

"Has this kid finally figured it out? Started sneaking food?" A mocking smile appeared on his face. In front of Zhang Shi, he deliberately embarrassed him, "He Lu, where did you spend the night last night? Looking at your panda eyes, you must have stayed up all night."

He Lu felt a surge of bitterness and anger. How could this person forget something so badly done? Did he have no recollection at all? If it weren't for him, how could he have been pacing outside the tent until midnight last night, ending up with panda eyes?

Wei Zijun truly did not remember the bad things she had done. It was not that she deliberately ignored the bad things she had done; it was simply that she was so drunk that she couldn't remember what she had done at all.

"He Lu, whose daughter is she? I'll stand up for you," Wei Zijun said gently with a smile.

A thin layer of anger rose on He Lu's face. "It's not a girl, it's a man!"

"Huh?" Wei Zijun exclaimed in surprise.

Could it be that she really made him develop homosexual tendencies? It was purely a prank, an act of revenge; she hadn't intended to harm him. Now that the rift between them had healed, if that were indeed the case, she felt somewhat apologetic.

"He Lu? Do you really like men?" I asked tentatively, hoping he would answer "no".

“Yes! Here!” He Lu pointed coldly to the hickeys he was ashamed to expose and had been covering with his hands all day. “This is where that man kissed me last night.”

Wei Zijun's eyes widened.

Zhang Shi was speechless; the way this ruler and his subject interacted was truly interesting.

I can't catch it, I can't see it, I can't think about it, thinking about it hurts.

With a sigh, the tip of the pen lightly touched the vermilion ink, and on the paper, a young man stood with a white horse in the setting sun, smiling gently. His eyes were like the blue sky, shining brightly. His white robes fluttered, exuding a free and proud air. Behind him, the sunset glow spread, and the green lotus flowers swayed... The tip of the pen lightly touched the paper, and the young man's beautiful lips instantly became dazzling.

“Your Majesty, Wei Feng has made preparations in advance, assembling 100,000 Ghost-Faced Cavalry, who are brave and invincible. Moreover, he has no ambition to invade the land of Dayu. Therefore, I think we should put aside the matter of attacking the Western Turks for now.” It was that man in blue again.

"Well, I was just angry for a moment. Let's talk about this later."

"Your Majesty, Wei Feng has successfully cultivated vegetables, and the grain harvest is almost complete. The Western Turks are now well-fed and clothed. He has also vigorously raised livestock, especially the Akhal-Teke horses. He has dispatched special personnel to establish the largest horse farm exclusively for the royal family. These superior horse breeds are all prepared for warhorses. He has also prohibited the buying and selling of Akhal-Teke horses. Foreigners who want them will have to pay ten thousand gold pieces. Therefore, although the Western Turks appear to be recovering from disaster, they are actually quite wealthy."

A gentle smile emanated from his handsome face, his eyes sparkling with light. He ran his fingers over the dried paint, stroking it lightly. "He's very good at making money."

"Yes, he traded large numbers of sycophantic livestock with Dayu, Tubo, and Western Regions countries for large quantities of cloth, silk fabrics, tea, and grain, but he never used superior horse breeds in exchange. To demand good horses, one had to pay a considerable price." The man in blue seemed to have a hint of pride in his expression.

“This is his strategy. Turkic horses are exceptionally skilled, with well-proportioned physiques, capable of long-range flight, and even more effective in combat. Our warhorses were all imported from the Western Turks, which improved their combat capabilities. He does this because he doesn't want the military power of neighboring countries to grow strong, or at least not because of him.” He picked up his brush and added some embellishments to the jade pendant at his waist, then suddenly asked, “Do you think he would agree to submit to us, just like the Eastern Turks?”

"The Khan is a proud man and will certainly not agree. Moreover, the Khan has sworn an oath to the late king to protect the Western Turks with his life, so it is even more impossible for him to agree."

He gave a mocking laugh, "His relationship with that Ashina Yugu is really quite unusual."

"..."

"How is he doing with that Ashina Helu?" Another blob of ink appeared.

"This... I dare not conceal it, he summoned Ashina Helu to his bedchamber."

"Plop!" A drop of ink from the pen tip landed on the table and gradually spread. Seeing that the ink was about to flow onto the paper, he hurriedly used his sleeve to wipe away the ink stain in a panic.

Why is it so sour? It's both sour and bitter. He wants to send troops. He immediately wants to capture that person and lock him up.

Volume Two, Chapter Eighty: The Turks, The Enforcement

Above the endless yurts, the air is filled with the delicate aroma of yak butter tea. Beef and mutton are roasted until their fat drips into the fire, igniting a burst of flames. The sun on the grassland is always so bright, and the refreshing autumn breeze brings a sense of clarity and tranquility to the heart.

“Brother Zhang, I will be returning to Dayu soon. Is there anything you would like me to bring as a message or gift?” These days, Wei Zijun would invite Zhang Shi to her meals, and conversations with him gave her the feeling of meeting a worthy opponent.

"Thank you, Khan. I have nothing to send to my family," Zhang Shi said politely.

“Brother Zhang, please don’t use such a humble title. I admire you and would very much like to ask you to be my teacher and come to my Western Turkic Khaganate to participate in the administration. What do you think? Look at this beautiful land. Wouldn’t you like to use your talents here?” Wei Zijun really wanted to recruit him to her service, so she kept persuading him every day.

"Khan is too kind. Khan is wise, intelligent, and exceptionally talented. His fame has spread throughout China. I, Zhang Shi, am humbled and admit my inferiority." He declined gently and tactfully.

"Sir, you are too modest. You are knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and you are both proficient and specialized. I am truly inferior to you."

"Khan is being modest again. Khan, your military strategy is unparalleled. The so-called strategy is to always deploy troops in a position where you are invincible. So far, I have only seen one person who can do this, and that is you, Khan."

"Alright, let's stop here. I'm starting to feel like we're just flattering each other." Wei Zijun said helplessly.

The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

After laughing for a while, Wei Zijun noticed a grain of rice stuck to Zhang Shi's chin and gestured with her hand to have him remove it.

Since the availability of grain, she started eating rice, and Zhang Shi, a native of Dayu, had the same taste as her, so the two of them eating together was quite economical.

Zhang Shi fumbled around but couldn't find the grain of rice, so Wei Zijun had no choice but to smile and reach out to pluck it off Zhang Shi's face.

When He Lu came in, he had been standing outside the door. As he saw this scene, his expression grew colder and colder.

Wei Zijun raised her hand and said, "He Lu, come here quickly and have a good chat with Mr. Zhang. You should learn from Mr. Zhang more."

He Lu walked over and sat down next to Wei Zijun, not looking at the stone, but staring at Wei Zijun. He noticed a wet stain on her lips from drinking mare's milk, so he took out a silk handkerchief and reached out to wipe it, oblivious to everyone else.

The wiping on her lips left Wei Zijun somewhat stunned. She couldn't help but glance at Ling Zhangshi, who smiled faintly and remained silent, lowering his head to drink his tea.

"How can Feng be so careless with his clothes?" The hand that had just been removed from his lips went to straighten Wei Zijun's slightly crooked collar.

Wei Zijun was extremely embarrassed, her eyes darting around, not daring to look at Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi smiled knowingly, "Khan, I still need to go check on the fields. Please enjoy your meal, Khan. Yabghu, I'll take my leave now." He bowed and withdrew.

Seeing the man leave, He Lufang forced a smile: "Khan, you're so fond of talent that you've lost your composure. You keep calling him Brother Zhang and Mr. Zhang, you don't even know what to call him anymore."

"He Lu, how dare you! Don't think that just because you saved my life you can do whatever you want and speak so recklessly." Wei Zijun was somewhat angry.

He Lu's face turned cold, and he lowered his eyelashes. "I have angered the Khan and deserve to die a thousand deaths. Khan, please do as you please."

Wei Zijun rolled her eyes at him helplessly. It's always like this! He looks like a submissive wife.

"Khan! Ashina Buzhen requests an audience with the Khan." A messenger announced from outside.

Wei Zijun got up and walked out. He Lu glanced at her retreating figure, then stood up dejectedly.

Ashina Buzhen's sudden request to meet must mean he has something to say to her. What is it? Is he negotiating? What bargaining chips does he have? Is he willing to confess and request a change of sentence? That doesn't seem like his style.

While he was pondering, the man had already reached the tent where he was being held.

Ashina Buzhen saw her walk in and sneered, "Khan is truly a coward who fears death. You come before me, someone whose skills have been lost, and you still bring so many followers. Is the Khan afraid I will assassinate you?"

"So what if you're afraid? After all, you've done it a few times already, so it's not impossible for you to do it again." Wei Zijun said calmly.

"Hahaha... The Khan is truly extraordinary. He speaks without any pretense, which I greatly admire."

"Enough with the small talk, what does Da Tou want with me?" Wei Zijun disliked wasting her breath with useless words.

"Your Majesty, please read a letter." Ashina Buzhen opened a page and handed it to Wei Zijun.

Wei Zijun glanced at him, then reached out and took the paper. Looking down, she saw four large characters on the paper: Come and die!

Before she could even make out the words, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Wei Zijun swayed twice and collapsed to the ground. The several followers behind her also fell to the ground.

Ashina Buzhen grabbed Wei Zijun and rushed out of the tent. Fuli, who was outside the tent, panicked when he saw the Khan being taken hostage.

"Quickly, bring a fast horse, or your Khan will die on the spot!" Wei Zijun shouted at the group of followers, the dagger pressed against his neck.

"Yehu, what should we do?" Seeing Helu rush out of the tent, Fuli, who had lost his backbone, panicked.

Helu stepped forward and said, "Datoushe, I can give you the horse, but release the Khan."

"Release the Khan?! I'm afraid I'll shoot him through the heart the moment I turn my horse around. Bring me the horse first, and I'll put him down halfway."

He Lu whispered instructions to Fu Li, who immediately went and soon returned with a white horse.

Ashina Buzhen, carrying Wei Zijun, leaped onto his horse and galloped away, with Helu in hot pursuit.

Ashina Buzhen turned around and shouted, "Helu, if you chase us any further, Wei Feng will definitely die here."

He Lu immediately tightened the reins.

The white horse galloped swiftly. The constant jolting brought Wei Zijun back to her senses. Looking up, she saw that they were riding through a wooded area.

For some unknown reason, the horse suddenly neighed loudly, leaped up, and threw the two riders to the ground.

Wei Zijun seized the opportunity to retaliate, but found that her whole body was weak and she couldn't even lift her arms. She was immediately alarmed.

“Ashina Buzhen, instead of running away like this, you should run away alone. If you run away alone, no one will chase you. You can escape to Tokharistan, to Tibet, and make a comeback. But if you take me with you, you'll be a burden, and there will be a large group of pursuers behind you. Whether I live or die, you won't escape. Tell me, shouldn't you abandon me?” Wei Zijun dragged her weak body and tried her best to persuade her.

"Shut up!" Ashina Buzhen struck her acupoint, rendering her speechless, and Wei Zijun felt a surge of bitterness and anger.