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

Capítulo 94

Wei Zijun closed her eyes tightly and whispered, "He Lu."

"Hmm?" He Lu responded.

"He Lu should find a good woman, start a family, and live a good life."

He Lu paused, "You don't have a woman either."

Wei Zijun chuckled, "Of course there are. There's a whole harem of them. They're just sitting there being fed and clothed, spending a lot of money on food and drink every day. They're completely useless."

He Lu tightened his grip, causing his subordinates to frown. "Since they're all useless things, and you don't even want them yourself, why make me look for them?"

“You and I are different.” Her tightly closed eyelashes trembled.

"How is it different? Just because you are the Khan and I am a subject?" He Lu pushed hard and walked towards the door.

“He Lu…you…” Wei Zijun straightened her body, which had almost been pushed over, and angrily said to the back of the figure, “Doesn’t Mi know that treating me like this should get me beheaded? He doesn’t even have the basic courtesy between a ruler and his subject.”

The night was quiet and still. A troop of cavalrymen dressed in the uniforms of the Dayu army set off from Yanqi, and infiltrated the rear of the Dayu army through Shanshan County along the border between the two countries.

Along the way, they encountered several Yu Jun sentries who questioned them. Asijie Nishusijin replied that they were "on the orders of General Cai to receive the grain supplies." Upon closer inspection, the Yu Jun realized that they were indeed all their own banners, so they did not think anything of it.

The army pressed forward along the pre-surveyed route until the Dayu army escorting supplies appeared ahead. Asijieni Shusijin led ten thousand troops openly forward. The Dayu army, assuming it was their reinforcements, lowered their guard and exchanged pleasantries. Only when gleaming longswords were pressed against their necks did they realize what was happening. But it was too late.

After dealing with the Yu army, Asijie Nishusijin ordered his men to pretend to be Yu soldiers escorting supplies and continue approaching the Dayu army camp. When they reached a point eighty li behind the Dayu army, he ordered them to set up camp.

Several days passed, and the Dayu army, almost starving, still hadn't received the expected supplies. Cai Liangao, whose temper was growing increasingly volatile, had no choice but to send another thousand cavalrymen to Shanshan County to procure provisions. The several thousand cavalrymen unexpectedly encountered their own troops halfway there. However, before the Dayu army could even exchange greetings, their heads rolled in a daze.

Several more days passed, and Cai Liangao, who was waiting in vain for the grain-gathering team to return, almost went mad. He hurriedly dispatched a thousand cavalrymen, but they never returned.

The Dayu army was already starving, the soldiers were exhausted and their horses were weak. The cold sandy ground had almost no water or grass, and many warhorses had starved to death.

When the starving soldiers began plundering food from the local people, Wei Zijun felt that the time had come.

Beacon fires were lit continuously, one every thirty miles, stretching endlessly. The bluish smoke billowed into the sky, dazzling under the clear sky.

Upon seeing the smoke signals, Asijieni Shusijin ordered the army to break camp, and the army escorting the supplies headed straight for the Dayu army camp.

As the autumn winds rose again and night fell, the exhausted Dayu army, tormented by hunger, stood guard. When they spotted the convoy escorting the supplies, the camp erupted in cheers.

Asijieni Shusijin's army marched straight into the Dayu camp. He gripped his longsword tightly, his muscles tense with excitement, awaiting the long blast of the bugle.

Finally, a deep bugle call sounded, followed by the thunderous boom of war drums and the thunderous sound of hooves sweeping in, accompanied by deafening shouts of battle. The Dayu army, which had been excited just moments before, was thrown into chaos upon hearing the powerful cries.

Upon hearing the shouts of battle, Asijie Nishusijin waved his hand, and all the soldiers escorting the grain fodder swung their broadswords. Countless elite soldiers also leaped out of the grain carts, brandishing their broadswords and sweeping them towards the exhausted and weakened Dayu army.

Instantly, the entire Dayu army camp was filled with bloodshed and slaughter. The exhausted Dayu soldiers had almost no power to resist and fell backward in droves.

Cai Liangao came out of the camp upon hearing the shouts, "What's going on?"

"General, the Western Turkic army is coming... is attacking our camp."

"What?! Prepare for battle immediately!" Cai Liangao roared, leaping onto his horse in a fit of rage. "Prepare for battle now—hurry—"

Before the soldiers, dulled by hunger, could react, a black tide had already engulfed the Dayu army camp.

That black tide, carrying a cold silver light, surged in, unstoppable. The hideous ghost faces and black robes resembled demons from hell, exuding a bloodthirsty chill.

Exhausted, the Dayu army retreated in terror, retreating again and again, falling to the ground, retreating, only to be cut down once more. Blood, with a dark purple glow in the night, flowed and mingled, staining the sand.

They fled, screaming and crying, no longer heeding their commander's orders, dropping their weapons in terror as they ran, but they couldn't escape. Another horde of dark, ferocious demons silently waited along the road, their gleaming black masks flashing coldly in the moonlight; even a single glance was enough to shatter one's heart. There was no escape, not a single one could escape.

He Lu, charging ahead in a black robe, his fierce eyes searching beneath a hideous mask, was determined to find that person and avenge him. After a series of battles and searches, he finally spotted the figure surrounded by soldiers.

Thinking of Cai Liangao's direction, He Lu brandished his longsword, and a large number of Western Turkic troops surged toward the direction he pointed.

Under the protection of his soldiers, Cai Liangao fought his way out of the camp. He Lu gave chase, his hand on his quiver, nocked an arrow, and shot it. Cai Liangao was hit by the arrow and swayed on his horse. Before he could land, a flash of silver light appeared, and He Lu's broadsword slashed down, severing his right arm.

“I hate wearing black,” He Lu said coldly, swinging his Mo Dao again, but was surrounded and blocked by a swarm of soldiers. The horse carrying Cai Liangao galloped away.

In the Battle of Shanshan, thanks to Wei Zijun's meticulous planning, the enemy was defeated in one fell swoop when they were exhausted and hungry. In this battle, the Western Turkic army, with a small force of 70,000, annihilated 150,000 enemy troops. The once mighty Dayu army was completely wiped out, and the fate of Cai Liangao, the General of the Dayu Cavalry, remains unknown.

At the celebration banquet, everyone again praised Wei Zijun as a goddess. Wei Zijun let them lavish praise on her, feeling utterly helpless. Ba'erke clung to Wei Zijun's side, refusing to leave, while Helu, seeing the tender look in Wei Zijun's eyes, grew increasingly angry and left the table early once more.

Unable to bear the noisy scene, Wei Zijun returned home early to rest. Dragging her weary body, she lay down on the bed. Finally, it was over. So tired.

Just as he was about to unbutton his outer robe, Geshufa's voice came from outside, "Khan, Ba'erke requests an audience."

"Sigh." Wei Zijun sighed. This woman couldn't be allowed to have a moment's peace. She came almost every night, and once she arrived, she wouldn't leave. She only refused her request to see her one day, and the next day, the woman's face looked like she was about to cry. She was truly defeated by her. "Let her in."

Slowly sitting up from the couch, Ba'erke flew in like a butterfly and immediately pounced into Wei Zijun's arms. "Khan—" He pressed his lips to Wei Zijun's cheek. "Khan is truly incredibly brave. He annihilated the enemy army in just one night. Ba'erke admires the Khan so much."

For some reason, Wei Zijun thought of Re Yikan, who had also rushed into her arms in the same way, longing for a little love. A pang of sorrow swept through her heart; they were both pitiful women. She could no longer bear to push that body away, letting her lie there, letting her lips part and close on her cheek, whispering her love.

"Khan, let Ba'erke go back with you." The person in her arms breathed hot air onto her face.

After a long silence, Wei Zijun finally said, "Ba'erke, it's not that I don't like you, it's just that I don't want to hurt you. You should have heard about my hidden illness; I can't give you happiness." She sighed, "You should find a good man to marry."

"Khan, how do you know you can't do it with Ba'erke if you haven't tried? People say that when you're with a woman you love, that kind of illness can be cured. How will you know if you don't try? Please, Khan, try it. Please, Khan, love Ba'erke." The person in his arms suddenly got up and trembled as he unbuttoned his clothes. In an instant, his outer robe was off.

“Ba'erke—” Wei Zijun stood up and grabbed Ba'erke’s hand, “Don’t do this, Ba'erke, you are a good woman, but don’t do this.”

"Khan—" Ba'erke's voice was choked with sobs as he lay on Wei Zijun's body, tears welling up in his eyes.

It's so frustrating, so truly frustrating. Isn't it incredibly painful for a woman to fall in love with someone she shouldn't, someone she can't have?

Volume Two, Turkic Chapter Eighty-Four: Ceasefire

"Change the dressing!" He Lu said coldly to the person lying leisurely on the bed. He Lu had maintained a cold expression the entire way back from Yanqi.

He claims he doesn't like women, yet he flirts with them, causing that Ba'erke to run out disheveled and crying. What did he do? Did he force himself on that woman?

Wei Zijun put down her book, sat up in bed, and finally felt like reading for a while, but he started yelling again. Listen to his tone! Does he ever treat her like a Khan?

Wei Zijun slowly unbuttoned her clothes and loosened the collar of her inner garment. "That's enough."

He Lu stared intently at her slow movements, then stepped forward and roughly pulled down her collar, exposing a large expanse of her snow-white skin. Almost her other shoulder was also exposed.

"He Lu—you—" Wei Zijun was so angry that she didn't know what to say.

"What! Look at your movements, showing such a tiny gap, how am I supposed to change your dressing? Are you afraid of people seeing your body?" I don't know how many times you've seen it.

Wei Zijun grew increasingly angry. "No need for Protector Ye to come all this way. I'll have Bahar change the dressing. Protector Ye, please return."

He Lu stared at her for a while, then grabbed a handful of small porcelain bottles and threw them on the couch. "Fine, let someone else change them. This messy pile of stuff, let them mix and apply it together. It will definitely leave an ugly scar, just as you wish."

Wei Zijun let out a long sigh of relief, "Then why aren't you applying it yet? What are you waiting for?"

It's infuriating! Why does she have to put up with his attitude? Every subordinate treats her like a goddess, so respectful they don't dare utter a sound. But this He Lu is becoming increasingly casual with her, constantly giving her attitude. And now, she doesn't know where she offended him again. How did they develop this kind of relationship? When did it start? It seems like it's all her fault. If she hadn't teased him by calling him her male concubine, he wouldn't be so blatant.

He Lu sat down and grabbed Wei Zijun by the collar. The latter clutched her clothes tightly, fearing that he would tear her naked if he pulled her too roughly again.

Unwrapping the cloth binding the wound, his fingers ruthlessly traced its surface, deliberately applying pressure, causing Wei Zijun to groan in pain. Although more than ten days had passed, the wound was not shallow and would still take some time to heal.

That painful groan pierced He Lu's heart. His movements became gentler. That expanse of white skin dazzled He Lu's eyes. On that day in the woods, he had only seen her bare skin, but he could not see the texture of her skin. Now that her skin was exposed in front of him, although he could imagine how beautiful her skin must be, he was still shocked by its translucent and delicate appearance.

Unconsciously, his long, slender hand began to wander over her shoulder, sliding up her alluring, slender nape. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

A tingling sensation ran through her shoulder, and Wei Zijun's heart skipped a beat. "He Lu, are you applying medicine?"

"Mmm." Her lips parted, and the light kiss turned into a gentle bite. The bite traveled from her shoulder to her neck.

"He Lu, do you want to die?" Wei Zijun said angrily, feeling the rage in his mouth.

Ignoring her anger, he continued to gnaw at her relentlessly.

It feels like tiny insects are constantly crawling around, tickling and tingling, making you unconsciously become absorbed in it.

He sighed softly, "He Lu, what should I do to you? How should I treat you?"

The person behind her trembled, his arm wrapped around her from behind, holding her tightly against his chest, his lips pressed against her shoulder for a long time.

The two of them remained in that position for a long time.

After a long silence, the person in his arms sighed again: "I don't know what to do, I don't know how to treat you."

Yes, what should we do with him?

"Khan—Zhang Shi requests an audience," a voice announced from outside.

"Quickly call Mr. Zhang in." Wei Zijun reached out to quickly pull up her collar, but He Lu grabbed her hand. "The medicine hasn't been applied yet."

"What? What... what have you been doing all this time?" Wei Zijun had barely asked when Zhang Shi walked in.

Upon seeing this scene, he immediately turned away and coughed.

Wei Zijun awkwardly explained, "He Lu is applying medicine to me, hehe, Mr. Zhang, please sit down." Then she turned her head down and said fiercely, "Hurry up."

Volume Two, Turkic Chapter Eighty-Four: Ceasefire

Zhang Shi sat down and couldn't help but glance at her bare shoulders, his face immediately flushing slightly. His eyes darted around, unsure of where to look.

Wei Zijun pulled her clothes up even higher. "Mr. Zhang, is there something you need?"

"Ah, Khan, the harvest is complete and there is basically nothing to worry about in the country. Zhang Shi intends to return to his hometown. I humbly request your permission, Khan." Zhang Shi replied with his brows furrowed and head bowed.

"Alas—" Wei Zijun sighed, "Sir, you are skilled in irrigation and adept at water management. I would like to ask you to help me repair dikes and build canals. Would you be willing to help me?"

“This… Khan. My lord sent me back to my country, how could I dare to linger?”

"What if you're not allowed to go back?"

“Well, Zhang Shi really has no choice. But I’m afraid the Khan will have to bear the blame, and detaining the hostages will anger the Emperor of Dayu.”

"Then don't go back, stay for another year." What does it matter if there's a charge? He's already furious.

"Khan, your thirst for talent and your broad-mindedness in accepting capable people are truly admirable to Zhang Shi, but you really don't need Zhang Shi alone."

"Who says? I am the only one who is missing you, sir. You must stay, not for me, not for the Western Turks, but for the people of the world, okay?" Wei Zijun's tone was somewhat roguish, yet also pleading, which indeed made people feel sorry for her and unable to refuse.

“This…” Zhang Shi hesitated, unsure how to answer.

“Sir, look at this book. It’s about methods for repairing canals and building dams. I’ve been looking at it for a few days now, and I have two questions for you.” Wei Zijun leaned forward to pick up the book, and as he straightened up to hand it to Zhang Shi, he suddenly fainted.

The person fell backward, and in a moment of panic, turned around and hugged He Lu.