Жизнь сельских жителей в городе во времена династии Сун

Глава 154

He leaped rapidly to the mountaintop, his chest pounding as if it were about to burst. He clutched his chest, gripping it tightly; it hurt terribly, his heart ached, as if something was about to fall away, his most precious piece of flesh about to slip away. He clutched his chest as if trying to hold onto that person.

Zijun, you can't abandon me, you absolutely can't. Even if you're just a bone left, I'll bring you back to my side and never let you escape again...

The autumn wind sweeps across the land, cold and desolate, its endless howling seemingly traversing the skies of history, the long river of time, and the mortal world...

In that instant, the stars shifted and the winds changed. The long sword, along with the autumn wind, swept towards that peerless, slender figure.

Wei Zijun slowly closed her eyes. He Lu, in the end, I died with you, but I truly don't know if I died a step later than you. If I died before you, I'm sorry…

"No--"

In that instant, she heard a heartbroken cry.

Her body sank as something covered her. She heard a muffled groan, felt a sharp pain in her chest, and heard the sounds of fighting suddenly erupt. She abruptly opened her eyes.

A person was lying on her body. She tried hard to make out the person on top of her. It was a delicate and slightly childish face. In just an instant, she understood what had happened.

No! "Dieyun—" With a strength she didn't know came from, she rolled over and hugged Dieyun.

The long sword pierced his body and then plunged into her chest. He used his body to block the sword's attack, and with his life, he demonstrated his love.

That infatuated young man, that young man who loved so deeply and suffered so much pain.

Fresh blood continued to gush from the wound that pierced his body. Wei Zijun tightly covered the wound, and the blood seeped out between his fingers, running down his fair palm, hot and burning.

"Dieyun—" Wei Zijun cried out in anguish. "Quick—come quickly to save Dieyun, come quickly to save him—"

However, no one heard his hoarse and weak cries. Liu Yunde and Chen Chang were already entangled in a battle with Songtsen Gampo, but they did not expect Songtsen Gampo to be so powerful. Only by working together could they prevent him from getting close to Wei Zijun.

The troops they brought were locked in combat with the men in black, the sounds of fighting and the clanging of swords filling the air, and chaos reigned all around.

“Don’t cry…” Dieyun smiled weakly. “…This is the first time…I’ve seen you cry…” He held her face tightly, as if trying to memorize her features. “Don’t cry…don’t cry…I love the way you smile…”

"...Help! Help! Help!...Die Yun..." Wei Zijun's voice was hoarse from crying. Her weak body embraced Die Yun, and she used all her remaining internal energy to transfer it to him, sealing the blood that kept flowing from his wounds. She was exhausted. The blows He Lucheng had dealt to her had broken her body. She was like a weak rag doll.

The person in his arms grew weaker and weaker, and he gave a faint smile. "I...don't want to die, I like it when you comfort me...I want...to be with you..."

Wei Zijun sobbed as she hugged his neck, "Dieyun, don't die, don't die, I'll coax you every day, as long as you don't die..." Tears streamed down her face, falling onto his chest, soaking large patches of his white clothes with blood, whether his or hers, she couldn't tell.

“I… kissed you… when I first met you… when I was treating you…” A longing shone in his eyes, “Kiss… kiss me…” The shy man finally mustered the courage to express his last desire.

Tears streamed down her face. "Okay... but you can't die. If you die, I won't kiss you."

"I...I won't die...I won't die..."

Wei Zijun trembled as she pressed her lips to Dieyun's dry lips, and Dieyun sighed contentedly.

She owed him so much—her life, his lifelong love… She wanted to give him a real kiss. Her light lips pressed harder, and she began to lick his dry lips… Her tears slid down his face…

After a long while, she raised her head, her tearful eyes looking at Dieyun. "Do you like it?"

"So...beautiful..." Dieyun gazed at Wei Zijun with dreamy eyes, raising her hand to caress her cheek, but it fell limply halfway down. Wei Zijun quickly grabbed Dieyun's hand and pressed it to her face, tears streaming down her face. "If you like me, don't die. From now on, I'll kiss you like this every day, every day...every day..." Wei Zijun was already sobbing uncontrollably.

"I...love...you..." Dieyun used her last strength to say these three words, and closed her eyes contentedly.

"No—Dieyun—don't die—don't die—I haven't found you a wife yet, please...Dieyun..." Wei Zijun cried out in anguish, shaking his body repeatedly, trying to wake him up.

"Dieyun—" she cried as she channeled her inner energy into his body. Although she had little inner energy left, she continued to repeat the action, even though she was too weak to support her body.

Finally, all her strength was drained, and Wei Zijun pressed her head against Die Yun's chest. She quietly held that body, reminiscing about the past.

Why, why did they take him away? Why did her beloved family members leave one by one? Why couldn't she protect what she cared about and defended? Life is so cruel, and the world is so bitter. All she wanted in her life was family. She never asked for wealth or fame. Why couldn't such a simple wish be granted to her? How could she bear it when Heaven treated her like this?

On the horizon, the red sun is setting in the west, a streak of blood-red afterglow.

His hand gently caressed Dieyun's body, the body that had once saved her life and accompanied her through carefree years. She had given him nothing in return, only a parting kiss. She owed him so much, so very much.

She had no desire to be entangled in the love affairs of this other world, yet she had incurred a debt of affection that she could not repay. She was powerless to do so and had no words to ask the heavens, but all she saw was blood everywhere and no sign of her loved ones returning... They were all gone, one by one, leaving her alone in this world. What meaning did she have? This long and bitter mortal world was unbearable and had no shore... Only the wind and smoke filled the sky... She slowly pressed her face against Dieyun's.

His body was still warm, his face still burning hot; she almost thought she could hear his faint breathing… With her last bit of strength, she turned her head to look, wanting to see her beloved one last time, Liu Yunde, Third Brother, Dieyun…

She kept their last images etched in her heart... and slowly collapsed...

The wind howled, the sounds of battle faded, and the swirling dust blurred the sky, blurred the past, blurred the years, blurred past lives and present lives, blurred her eyes...

Her eyes were still open, reflecting the azure sky, though the sky was now filled with smoke and dust, yet her eyes remained clear and radiant.

She was unconscious, incapable of thinking, only stubbornly staring with her clear eyes...

Her eyes reflected the fighting crowd, the sudden commotion, and a figure rushing in recklessly.

That figure was strangely familiar. Something deep inside seemed to be awakened, and in a blur, I seemed to know, Second Brother, he's here.

She could no longer hear anything. She was picked up and a familiar, fresh scent filled her nostrils.

She opened her clear eyes, trying her best to keep them open.

Until an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face appeared in her clear eyes, it seemed as if the last bit of strength within her had been summoned, "Master...save Dieyun..."

Her eyelashes trembled, and she slowly closed her eyes—those eyes that remained clear and radiant until death, eyes that refused to be tainted by even the slightest speck of dust…

In the autumn of the fourth year of the Jiande era of the Dayu Kingdom, the last battle between Tibet and Dayu in the sixth century AD came to an end.

This battle is known to the world as the Battle of Qingtangla. It revealed that the renowned Western Turkic Khan, Yibi Shekui, was still alive. However, this battle also nearly cost this wise, brave, and charismatic Western Turkic Khan his life.

In this battle, the mysterious and highly skilled black-clad figures from Tibet not only utterly defeated the army led by the renowned General Chen Chang of Dayu, but also routed the army brought by Emperor Li Tianqi of Dayu. The cause of this decisive victory was none other than an elderly recluse from Dayu, along with nearly a hundred martial arts practitioners. They annihilated the mysterious black-clad figures, ultimately leading to the Dayu army's triumphant return.

The Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, known for his unparalleled bravery and ruthless military tactics, was defeated in this battle and fled back to Lhasa. From then on, Tibet never recovered and eventually submitted to Dayu.

Supi, who had participated in the campaign against Tibet, finally regained his self-control because of the promise made by Wei Feng, the Khan of the Western Turks and Prince Dayufeng.

This battle was adapted into a storytelling tradition, repeatedly recounted by storytellers in teahouses, taverns, and on the streets. However, what captivated people's interest and remained a topic of conversation was not the brutality of the battle, but rather the poignant and forbidden love between Emperor Li Tianqi of Dayu and Wei Feng, the Khan of the Western Turks.

It is said that when Emperor Li Tianqi of Dayu arrived at the top of the cliff, he encountered the Western Turkic Khan Wei Feng lying on the ground. He rushed over without hesitation, held Wei Feng in his arms, and then fainted.

This embrace lasted for days, and no one could pry his hands off. It was unexpected that a person who had fainted possessed such strength. Fearing to harm the emperor's precious body, Wei Feng had no choice but to have his chest wound treated in Li Tianqi's arms. One can imagine the depth of Li Tianqi's affection.

However, when Wei Feng awoke, the Emperor of Dayu did not bring this only male empress in history back to the country. Instead, he returned alone in silence, which led people to speculate about the reasons behind it and became a topic of constant discussion.

Autumn goes and winter comes.

Snow covered the withered yellow grass, and the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains were a vast expanse of white. The high peaks were shrouded in mist, and the setting sun cast a warm orange glow on the snow-white peaks.

A young man rode a snow-white, golden-glowing Akhal-Teke horse across the snow-covered plain. He wore a snow-white fox fur robe with white trim, exuding an air of refined elegance and coldness like the moon. His dashing figure on horseback captivated the eyes of his entourage, who couldn't help but admire him. Even though they saw their Khan every day, they still couldn't get enough of him.

This young Khan was none other than the renowned Western Turkic Khan, Wei Feng, also known as Wei Zijun.

Wei Zijun dismounted and leaped a few times to the summit, slowly walking towards the precipice. Her tall and slender figure, ethereal and otherworldly, exuded a sharp and arrogant aura as she arrived at the precipice that separated people between life and death.

"Khan—it's all done." Several attendants on the cliff top reported, then stood respectfully to the side.

"It's done! Is it done?" Wei Zijun walked over and gripped the brocade box tightly in her hand.

The setting sun cast a blush on her fair cheeks, highlighting her clear, snow-white complexion through her white fur trim. Her lips appeared exceptionally bright red, and the sunlight shining through her cool, clear eyes made them seem like pure crystals, sparkling with a crystalline luster.

She placed the handkerchief that He Lu had torn from his arms into a brocade box. Since he cherished it so much and kept it close to his heart every day, it must have been something he wanted to take with him until his death.

She gazed at the pit the laborers had painstakingly dug, her long fingers stroking the brocade box. After hesitating for a long while, she placed the box into the pit. Then she straightened up and said, "He Lu, if you don't like this grave, come back and dig your own."

She turned and walked forward. She had searched for him for far too long. She built a hut on the edge of the cliff and, despite her frail health, searched for him for three months, going down the cliff every day to look for him. Winter was almost over, but he never returned.

She took a few steps and stopped. "He Lu—" She covered her face and finally cried. After so long, after finally deciding to stop looking for him, her tears fell.

Scenes of their time together flashed before my eyes. He was like a shadow, tirelessly following me. But now, he's gone. I don't know where he went, whether he's still here, whether he's done something rash again, I don't know...

"Khan, it's getting cold, don't hurt your skin." Geshufa draped the bright red cloak over her shoulders.

I don't know... She suddenly turned around, walked back quickly, took the brocade box out of the ground, and handed it to Fu Li beside her, "Take this box to He Lu's account."

He Lu, she couldn't believe he was dead. Not even a scrap of cloth, not even a bone, had been found. She knew he wasn't dead; he'd just run into trouble. He wasn't dead; she just didn't know where he was. She simply... didn't know...

She turned and leaped down the mountain, mounted Tesalu, and galloped towards the Western Turkic Khanate. Her graceful figure faded into the distance, her bright red cloak billowing in the wind. She was still the same person, with the same temperament, unchanged.

Winter goes and spring comes.

On the vast grassland, new grass grows again; in the boundless sky, wild geese cry out.

The sunlight of late spring and early summer was warm and pleasant, and the morning breeze gently caressed her. Lying in such sunlight felt like lying in her mother's arms. At the end of the corridor, a gentle breeze blew, and her thin black shirt fluttered lightly in the wind. Wei Zijun leaned against the soft couch outside, her eyes gently closed, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly in the breeze.

Five years have passed. She has been in this world for five years, and her appearance has not changed at all. Only the charm between her brows has become more intense, and the elegance between her every smile and frown has become more and more captivating. Her every move is still free and easy, but her aura has become more and more alluring.

In five years, she left so much in this world. Her love, her emotions, her tears, her blood, and her loved ones remained. Everything about her was imbued here, making it impossible for her to leave. Perhaps one day she could return to her original world, but she would choose to stay, for she wanted to remain here to protect those she loved, to protect those devoted men, to protect their pure love, to protect her family, her people, her subjects… Harming them brought her happiness, and even if some were gone, she would remain with them, dedicating her life to them.

She picked up her teacup and took a small sip. After resting for a while, she had to go back to reviewing the mountain of memorials. Under her rule, the Western Turkic Khaganate's economy continued to develop, and its national strength grew stronger. Whenever the herdsmen of the Western Turkic Khaganate saw her, it was as if they had seen a goddess. They loved her so much that they went to temples to pray for her blessings, for longevity, for her to have a happy marriage, to grow old together with her, to be surrounded by family, and to never be lonely.

Wei Zijun chuckled, amused by the variety and countless requests they made. Some even prayed for her to never grow old. She laughed, thinking, "Do they want me to be an old hag?!" Others prayed that she wouldn't get athlete's foot. Listening to Geshufa's report, she almost laughed until her stomach hurt. Her people were so adorable.

A warm smile gradually spread across her lips as she brought the teacup to them.

"Brother—" A voice called from afar, and Di Lan ran over, pulling her kite. She leaned against Wei Zijun.

The little girl from back then had grown a head taller, and she looked even more like her mother. Wei Zijun thought of Reyikan's face. She held Dilan in her arms, lost in thought for a moment. "After you finish your homework today, I'll take you to see Father Khan and Mother Consort."

“Brother, we are all orphans now.” Di Lan tugged at Wei Zijun’s black shirt.

“Dilan is not an orphan. Dilan has a brother who will take care of Dilan for the rest of his life.” Wei Zijun held Dilan’s small hand.

Di Lanchui lowered his head and stroked Wei Zijun's hand, "Brother, I'm almost twelve years old. I'll grow up quickly, and when I'm fifteen, we'll get married."

"Ugh...cough cough..." Wei Zijun choked on her tea. "Dilan...Brother...what's so good about you, Brother? What do you like about me?"

“Brother is handsome.” Di Lan raised his large, grayish-brown eyes and looked at her.

“But a handsome face can’t fill an empty stomach. Look at the prince, he doesn’t have any manly qualities.” Wei Zijun patted her body.

"You have!"

Wei Zijun's lips twitched. "I have masculinity?" She felt like a complete failure as a woman. "I... really... am I that much like a man?"

“You are skilled in martial arts and can protect me, so you have a heroic spirit. However… you just don’t look like a man.” Di Lan seemed to feel a little regretful. “You’ve grown even more handsome than you did two years ago, so you don’t look like a man anymore…” She raised her small face and gave an encouraging smile. “Don’t be sad, brother. Although you’re becoming more and more feminine, I won’t dislike you too much.”

"Ugh...cough cough..." Wei Zijun choked again, panting as she said, "Di Lan doesn't look down on you, brother, you are very touched...very touched..."

"Khan—faith—faith—" Geshufa was a little out of breath.

"Nian—" Wei Zijun leaned back on the soft couch and gently closed her eyes.

"This is...this is...a letter from Shabolo Yaghu..."

Wei Zijun's arm around Di Lan trembled, and she suddenly looked up. She glanced at Ge Shufa, then snatched the letter from his hand, took a deep breath, and looked down at it.