Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 104

He Lu turned his head and remained silent.

The army moved slowly, none of the ministers left, and the people continued to shout.

Helpless, Wei Zijun walked towards a luxurious carriage behind the imperial carriage, hoping to escape the scene and catch up with her father. She still had many unanswered questions.

She lifted the carriage curtain, gracefully stepped onto the bed, and then, quite unceremoniously, leaned backward until she landed on a solid chest. "Sit in the front," Li Tianqi said forcefully, pulling on the back of her clothes.

Wei Zijun felt a surge of anger. She hadn't even done anything yet, and he was already bossing her around. "Your Majesty," she said, "as the saying goes, a gentleman uses words, not fists. Your behavior is unbecoming of a ruler. Please, Your Majesty, stop."

"What?" Li Tianqi asked expressionlessly. "Do you want me to carry you up here?"

Wei Zijun said helplessly, "Your Majesty, I would like to catch up with my father."

Li Tianqi called out towards the carriage, "Minister Wei, I have something I wish to discuss with your son. What do you think..."

With a flick of the carriage curtain, Wei Shulan stepped down. “Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to raise my son.” He then turned to Wei Zijun and scolded, “You unfilial son, what have you been doing with your studies? The ruler is the guide for his subjects. How dare you be so disrespectful to His Majesty! When we return, I will confine you for a few days so you can learn the proper way of ruler and subject.”

Li Tianqi, standing nearby, couldn't take it anymore; he hadn't intended for her to be scolded like that.

"Father—" Wei Zijun called softly, "Father, don't be angry, Zijun will be obedient."

"Then hurry and go with His Majesty."

"yes."

The emperor's dragon carriage was unlike any ordinary carriage; it was a small, luxurious palace. A large, soft couch sat at the back, covered with a gold-threaded quilt and several cushions. In front of the couch was a desk, complete with the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper). At the very front was a bookshelf filled with rare and precious books, numbering at least a thousand. The latticed windows on both sides of the carriage were covered with sheer gauze, trembling slightly in the gentle breeze.

Wei Zijun secretly admired it; it was much more cozy than her golden carriage. The Western Turks revered gold, so naturally the Khan's carriage was also made of pure gold. Every time she sat in it, the dazzling gold almost made her dizzy. Therefore, she almost never rode in that carriage; she preferred to ride on horseback.

With a shout of "Let's go!", the carriage began to move. The ministers, their eyes wet with tears, chased after the imperial carriage, while the people of the Western Turks prostrated themselves on both sides of the road, calling out their Khan incessantly.

A dampness slid across my eyes. I rolled down the car window to let the wind blow away the moisture, but when I saw the people crawling on the ground through the window, my eyes welled up with tears again.

Li Tianqi leaned against the cushion, staring at her intently, watching her gaze as she looked out the window at the herdsmen, watching her struggle to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. He took in everything about her.

Until there was no one left on either side of the road, until those people were far behind, Wei Zijun sniffed, lowered her eyes, and only then did she notice the gaze that was staring straight at her.

He initially intended to ignore it, but the gaze was so intense it felt almost tangible, like thorns pricking his skin, making him restless. Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, he finally asked, "What do you want?"

"Can't I look for someone if there's nothing wrong?" Li Tianqi turned his head to look at her, scanning her entire body without moving.

Wei Zijun remained silent and did not look at him, her eyes fixed on the bookshelf. "May I take those books to read?"

"Not now!" Li Tianqi took out a plate from under the table, which was piled with various candied fruits and delicate pastries. He handed the plate to Wei Zijun, gesturing for her to pick it up and eat.

Wei Zijun looked at the plate of delicious food and really wanted to take a piece to eat, but his eyes were filled with a slight smile, as if to say: Eat it, I knew you would like it.

A surge of pride got the better of him, and despite his overflowing mouth, he still refused, saying, "That's something women eat."

Li Tianqi chuckled, "Alright, stop pretending. I knew your problem back in Yuhang—you love eating those little snacks that women like." He picked up a candied fruit and held it to her lips. "Open your mouth."

Wei Zijun felt a flush on her face and turned her head away. She absolutely couldn't eat this stuff; if she did, where would she put her face? "That habit has already been corrected."

"Hahahaha—" Li Tianqi burst into laughter, "Did I see through you? Are you ashamed? Why are you so concerned about saving face? Come on, eat."

Seeing his mocking expression, Wei Zijun gritted her teeth in hatred. She closed her eyes and leaned against the soft satin-covered carriage wall, saying, "I'm not hungry, I'm sleepy." She then ignored the man.

Li Tianqi's hand was left hanging in mid-air. He watched her quietly for a while and realized that she had actually fallen asleep.

He falls asleep really quickly; he still loves to sleep as much as before.

She was indeed exhausted. In the days leading up to her departure, she tried her best to arrange the unfinished matters, working late into the night every day and instructing everyone on every detail during the day. She hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.

Now, for better or for worse, things have come to an end, and my heart has finally relaxed. With the slight swaying of the train carriage, drowsiness quickly crept in, and I leaned back and fell asleep.

Looking at her sleeping face, Li Tianqi smiled teasingly. She clearly loves to eat, but stubbornly refuses; he'll make her eat even while she sleeps. He gently touched the candied fruit in his hand to her lips, and a moment later, he was astonished to see a sensual scene.

The dignified Khan of the Western Turks was actually pouting his red lips and sucking on the candied fruit in his hand. The sight of those soft lips gently moving made Li Tianqi's heart flutter, and his body instantly reacted.

No, no, how could he react to a man? He quickly withdrew his hand, sat up straight, and avoided looking at that sleeping face again. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, when suddenly the carriage jolted violently. Wei Zijun was thrown off the side of the carriage and fell straight onto Li Tianqi's lap, her face resting on the hard bulge in his lower abdomen.

Li Tianqi shuddered and took a deep breath.

That sleeping face, with the swaying of the carriage, pressed against his private parts intermittently, making Li Tianqi feel like he was going crazy.

Until the army stopped to prepare dinner.

The sudden stop of the train brought Wei Zijun back to her senses. She realized she was lying on an unidentified object and felt uneasy beneath her face. She instinctively reached out to touch it, and when she grabbed it, she was met with Li Tianqi's bright red face. Looking down somewhat bewilderedly, she was startled into full consciousness and quickly retreated. She was so embarrassed she wanted to jump out of the train window.

They disembarked from the imperial carriage together. Li Tianqi walked in front, and she noticed that his gait was strange, swaying back and forth. Had she numb his limbs?

Walking to the back of the carriage, Li Tianqi called out, "Minister Lin, give me some medicine to soothe my blood and qi; I have a bit of an abdominal pain."

As Lin Huajing got off, Wei Zijun climbed into the carriage. "Father—" she finally had a father again, and couldn't help but call out a few more times.

"Look at you!" Wei Shulan scolded, "Such a dashing Khan, and you call him that so sickeningly."

"Daddy~~~~" Wei Zijun said in a coquettish tone.

Wei Shulan's eyes immediately welled up with tears. "My son, you've suffered so much these past years."

"Father, don't cry. Zijun doesn't feel bitter." Wei Zijun grasped Wei Shulan's large hand.

"Sigh, how can it not be bitter?" Wei Shulan stroked Wei Zijun's head, "You've lost so many of the joys of being a young lady."

"Dad, keep your voice down," Wei Zijun reminded him.

"Oh, right, Dad forgot, forgot. My Ziju is always the most cautious."

"Father," Wei Zijun lowered her voice, "Do I dress as a man at home too?"

"Zijun, have you really forgotten? How can you still remember things from when you were little?" Wei Shulan asked, puzzled.

Wei Zijun thought for a long time. Should she tell him the whole story? Would it frighten her father? After much deliberation, she decided to put the old man at ease. "I've been thinking about some things lately."

"Hmm. Let's ask your mother when we get back. It's best not to say anything here." Wei Shulan glanced at the outside of the carriage.

"What happened to my mother? Where did Li Tianqi lock her up?" Wei Zijun asked anxiously.

“Your mother is perfectly fine at home. He didn’t do anything to her.” Wei Shulan laughed. “He only told me this before he left today, which fooled us all. I thought to myself, he’s not that kind of person. He even saved Father’s life before.”

"Really?" Wei Zijun asked in surprise.

“Yes, seven years ago, during the campaign against Tuyuhun, I killed Fuyun Khan and was pursued by his son Dayan Mangjiebo. I was shot in the back and almost lost consciousness. Dayan Mangjiebo rushed over and slashed at me with his sword, but fortunately, His Majesty, who was then the Prince of Jin, flew over and saved me from the blade.” Wei Shulan sighed. “So, I owe him my life, and that’s why I’ve always been loyal to him.”

Is that so? He also saved her father?

“Zijun, I can see that he dotes on you. Even when you bully him like that, he is never really angry. You are now a subject, so don’t always be so stubborn. After all, he saved your father’s life.”

“Father, you don’t understand. Things aren’t calculated like that. I can repay him for saving you, but the hatred for him invading our land and killing my beloved general cannot be erased. This is a principle, not something that can be forgotten just because he gives me a few candies.” Wei Zijun hugged her father’s neck. “Father, one cannot live without principles.”

"Alright, alright, you're still the same old you." Wei Shulan sighed, both affectionate and helpless. When setting up camp that night, Li Tianqi prepared a separate sleeping tent for Wei Zijun. He had originally planned for her to sleep with him, but then thought better of it. If she slept with him, his lower abdomen would definitely hurt for another night.

For several nights in a row, Li Tianqi tried his best to avoid Wei Zijun. He didn't understand why he had developed desire for a man. He admired his talent, his demeanor, his personality, and his heart, but he shouldn't have developed desire for him. The kind of feeling he had always despised was now coming to him.

No, definitely not. It must be because he looks too much like a woman. He really does look very much like a woman. If it weren't for the fact that he has no ear holes, if it weren't for his dashing and heroic appearance, if it weren't for his bold and decisive actions, if it weren't for his flamboyant aura, if it weren't for the fact that Wei Shulan has never had a daughter, he would really think he is a woman.

Yes, because he does look very much like a woman.

After a continuous journey, the army rested for a day when they arrived in Gaochang.

After getting off the carriage, Wei Zijun wandered around for a while, her body feeling numb from being in the carriage all day.

Not far behind, I saw He Lu removing his saddle, so I went up to him and said, "He Lu, rest for tonight, then go back."

He Lu looked up at her but didn't say anything.

Wei Zijun knew he was still feeling awkward, so she explained again, "I didn't want you to suffer. You'll be unfamiliar with the place and the people there, and I'm afraid you'll be bullied."

"Don't worry about me, I'll go find him myself and surrender to him. I won't follow you, right?" He Lu threw down his saddle and walked towards Li Tianqi's imperial carriage.

"He Lu—" Wei Zijun called out from behind him, "I won't allow you to be subservient. Isn't it enough that I suffer this humiliation alone?"

He Lu paused for a moment, but did not stop walking and continued forward.

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 93, Daxing

Dun, big. Brilliant, prosperous.

As the army entered Dunhuang Prefecture, the weather grew increasingly hot. The arid climate made the imperial carriage feel like a small steamer.

Knowing that the triumphant army would pass through here today, the roadsides were crowded with people watching the royal procession.

People had heard that their emperor had brought back General Wei Feng, the traitor who had once betrayed his country—the brilliant, wise, and brave Khan of the Western Turks. Filled with curiosity about this legendary figure, people gathered on both sides, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

The massive army and ceremonial guards moved slowly through the city streets, drawing murmurs and whispers from the crowd.

"Wow, how impressive! Look at this procession, so majestic."

"Yes, look at that imperial carriage. I heard Wei Feng is sitting inside. He's the Khan, so it's no wonder he gets better treatment."

"Who said that? That's not true at all. I heard that Wei Feng is His Majesty's favorite. His Majesty even went to great lengths to snatch him back from there. Now that he's been brought back with great difficulty, shouldn't we keep a close eye on him?"

"Oh, I heard that His Majesty is extremely fond of him. I also heard that his charm is simply unparalleled in the world."

"Huh? Could that be homosexuality?"

"Shh, don't talk nonsense, it'll get you beheaded."

"I heard he was the most favored male concubine of the Turks. Now that His Majesty has taken him back, how could he let him sit idle?"

"Hehe—" followed by a lewd laugh.

Listening to this endless discussion, Wei Zijun couldn't help but smile bitterly. Her reputation had really spread all the way here.

Just as they were feeling quite helpless about these comments, the procession suddenly stopped, and a commotion broke out ahead. The faint shouts of guards could be heard: "Get out of the way! Disturbing the imperial procession, do you have a death wish?"

A gentle male voice rang out from inside the imperial carriage, "Miaozhou, go and take a look."

"Yes." A moment later, Miaozhou returned and said, "Your Majesty, it's a group of merchants who say they want to see the Fourth Prince, apparently to repay a debt of gratitude."

When Miaozhou was in Yuhang, he always called Wei Zijun the Fourth Young Master, and he still can't change that now.

"Zijun, do you want to see her?" Li Tianqi asked.

"not see."

"Alright, just keep them outside, don't hurt anyone," Li Tianqi instructed.

"Yes," Miaozhou replied and left.

The procession continued forward, and soon a shout came from the side: "Benefactor! It is Zhang Zhisheng! I still owe you two thousand taels of silver. Even if you don't see me, I will still return the silver to you!"