The closer they got to the north, the more desolate the autumn landscape became.
Unlike the scenery of the northwest, it was an expansive, windswept plain. Particularly around the Yin Mountains, the nomadic lifestyle became increasingly evident. And as they moved further north, the weather grew even colder.
Half a month later, the group finally returned to the Yelü tribe, and Qiluo finally learned who he really was—Yelü Lieqin, the cousin of the current emperor of the Liao Dynasty.
His two lieutenants, Duo Luo Qi was the officer in charge of the imperial guard, while Dahe Jiyao was the commander of the tribe's army.
The twelve riders were Yelü Lieqin's personal bodyguards.
She shouldn't have been surprised; his bearing was always that of someone of his kind—a noble with command over a powerful army, a member of the royal family.
All the Liao people lived in tents, but the clan leader had an official residence—a palace granted by the emperor. The clan leader's status was equivalent to that of a prince in the Central Plains. So then—did he have a harem of wives and concubines? Did he have a princess?
Yelü Kuanghe was the Taishi of the Yelü tribe, and during Yelü Lieqin's absence, he took on all the major responsibilities.
At this moment, he was leading the clan members, standing respectfully on the plain, welcoming the clan leader. The line of people stretched for miles, extending all the way from the palace.
Wherever Yelü Lieqin's horse passed, the clan members knelt in greeting, and it wasn't until the sound of hooves entered the palace that Yelü Kuanghe led everyone back to the palace, ready to report to the clan leader on the events of the past two months. His wise eyes still couldn't believe that the young master had brought a woman on horseback! This had never happened before!
They should all start addressing Yelü Lieqin as the king, but since the old clan leader had not been dead for three years and the old princess was still alive, Yelü Lieqin insisted that everyone continue to call him the young master.
"What? He brought back a Han woman?" Princess De angrily slammed her teacup down, her beautiful eyes still sharp and clear despite her age. She had just heard that her only son had returned and was about to happily go see him when she heard this news from her closest maid, and her face immediately darkened. She refused to go see him out of spite. The Yelü family was a noble clan, how could they allow a Han woman to set foot on this land, let alone bring that filthy woman into the palace! Even if he took her for pleasure, he should have discarded her as soon as he returned. How dare he…
"I also heard from Keli Han that the woman has bewitched the young master so much that he’s lost his senses. I hope she’s not some kind of spirit from Helan Mountain!" the maid added.
Keli Han was the red-haired giant—the one who had been whipped by Yelü Lieqin.
Princess De first frowned, then smiled. "Isn’t the Empress Dowager summoning Lieqin? He should be leaving in two days, right? He won’t be back until after the Eight Tribes' hunting competition." Now, she was relieved; with her son gone, she would have plenty of time to deal with that Han woman who dreamed of rising above her station. With that thought, she sat back down gracefully, waiting for her son to come greet her.
* * *
Qiluo's hair was half-wet, cascading down her back, and she wore a snow-white sable fur robe, trimmed with rabbit fur at the cuffs. The robe flowed all the way to the floor, with a jade belt at her waist, the red belt adorned with white jade at each knotted flower. Over the robe, she wore a light cloak.
As soon as they entered the palace, Yelü Lieqin brought her to this luxurious and masculine courtyard. It wasn't like the buildings of the Central Plains, which were divided into many small rooms. Here, the first thing she saw upon entering was a large desk and walls full of scrolls. Passing through a side curtain and a small vestibule, drawing back the drapery, she entered a bedroom. The room was filled with rare and precious items, fully embodying the spirit of the northern people. To the right of the bedpost hung a large sword, its hilt inlaid with many jewels, the blade wrapped in a brocade sheath.
She was now standing by the arched east-facing window. On the west side of the room, behind a curtain, was a bath and a large wardrobe.
This must be his room, she thought. He had said little before leaving, merely instructing four guards to stand at the door and summoning two maids to help her bathe.
Now, about two hours had passed. The eastern window didn't allow her to see the sunset, but the room was filled with cold air. She sighed, lowered the bamboo shade, and stepped away from the window.
Did he have wives and concubines? She couldn't bring herself to ask, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. And as she thought, she mocked herself for caring. Even commoners could have multiple wives, so how could a clan leader not? With imperial gifts, volunteers willing to serve, and a harem full of concubines, he was probably busy comforting all his wives right now. And what was she supposed to feel about that?
During the half month of travel, there wasn't much time to rest, and he hadn’t touched her. She was relieved to find that she wasn’t pregnant because her monthly cycle had come, but he had noticed and his face had darkened.
As soon as she entered the palace, she felt the disdainful gazes of the Khitans. Even though they didn’t dare insult her outright because of Yelü Lieqin’s protection, their eyes couldn’t lie. They prided themselves on their superior bloodline, especially in this purely Liao environment. So, not being pregnant was the best outcome, for her and for any child that might have been.
"Let me in!"
From outside, a girl's sharp voice in Khitan could be heard.
"Sorry, Miss De, but the Young Master ordered that no one is allowed to enter," the guard at the door was preventing her.
"I want to see how you intend to stop me!"
Jun Qiluo remained indifferent, sitting on the edge of the bed. Was this jealous concubine? A high-ranking concubine jealous of a mere servant girl? Did she even have that much fortune?
"What are you doing, Jin Jue?"
Yelü Lie had returned.
"Cousin, they're bullying me..." The once angry and raised voice instantly turned coquettish.
"As long as you don't bring shame upon yourself, no one would dare bully you. Someone, escort the lady back to her room."
"Yes!" responded the subordinate.
After that, there was no more noise outside. Jun Qiluo rubbed her cold hands and pulled the woolen blanket up to her shoulders.
Yelü Lie approached her, gently stroking her cold face. He gestured for the two maids behind him to place a heater under the bed and then waved them away, signaling them to leave.
He too removed his boots and got on the bed, pulling both her and the blanket into his arms.
"You smell so nice," he murmured, burying his head in her hair, inhaling the fragrance from her bath.
"Is this your bedroom?" she asked softly.
"Where else did you think this could be? A cold palace?"
A cold palace? This place was far too luxurious for that!
"You never carry a sword," she noted, her gaze landing on the large saber at the bedpost. Its curved shape made it look heavy.
She had always noticed that every Khitan man had a curved saber at their waist or a bow slung across their back, but he never carried one.
He gently stroked her hair, pleased to find that she was no longer cold. Yet he still tightened his embrace, keeping her warm and protected from the cold.
"I am not a person with a good temper; in fact, you could say I'm a very violent person. When I was fifteen, I was proud and arrogant, only knowing victory and refusing to accept failure. Once, when I went with my father to Yin Mountain to capture horse thieves, one of them shot a sneak arrow and injured my father. At that moment, I charged at the group of thieves with my sword, not only killing all who resisted but also slaughtering those who surrendered. Not a single body was left intact. My father knocked me out in my frenzy. When I woke, he took me to see the impoverished families of those thieves. They were also of the Yelü clan, but a horse plague had killed all their cattle and sheep, leaving them with nothing to survive the winter. Desperate, they turned to theft. Now, all the men had been killed, leaving only orphans and widows with no means to live. After that, I stopped carrying a sword. When I turned twenty, my father passed the Black Whip to me, as well as the inherited saber, but the saber was sheathed, a reminder that it was to be used only for inheritance, not for killing."
Only when she was at her most gentle could he speak so calmly and openly. He naturally shared with her the many things he had never spoken to anyone about.
She looked up at him, surprised to see the gentleness in his eyes. They were a beautiful, deep blue. She hadn't known he could be so... gentle, and his entire body was relaxed, making her feel... enchanted.
"Do you have children?"
"I haven't married yet." He smiled wickedly, understanding her thoughts.
Jun Qiluo bit her lip, trying to leave his embrace, but he only held her tighter, causing her face to flush with an unbearable redness—delicately lovely.
"Promise me, don't leave!"
"With such strict guards, can I even leave?" She couldn't even step out of his bedroom without an issue.
He pointed at her heart.
"Give it to me."
"No! I won't give it to anyone." She raised her chin, speaking firmly, but inside, she wasn't as resolute as she had been when they first met. If she were honest with herself, she would realize this, but she refused to think deeply about it.
He seemed to be gauging how much certainty there was in her words, staring straight into her eyes as she tried to escape his gaze, not allowing her any chance to evade his scrutiny. She had no choice but to cover his eyes with her hand.
He pulled her hand down, placing it on his chest, and softly recited, "In the fields of rushes, where the frost is white. My love is there, across the water. I long to follow her, though the road is long; I seek her, but she is in the center of the water."
She stared at him, speechless for a long time. Was this just another tactic? Her heart was shaken! He—had actually read the Book of Songs! He was well-versed in the classics! He—was also capable of romance...
She responded weakly, "But beauty fades, and love often dies before age does. And what of the day when the heart remains young, but the face grows old, and love wanes? That is the sorrow of those who rely on their looks." She shouldn't have engaged him in such deep conversation! He was a man, a clan leader—he could have any beauty he desired. When they both grew old, she would only face loneliness, while he could still embrace young beauties. He was infatuated with her body, her looks, but those were the easiest things to wither away.
His complex eyes flickered with a trace of anger, but he said nothing more. Instead, he kissed her deeply, as if trying to convey something, or perhaps suppressing something. Jun Qiluo could only breathe helplessly as she once again sank into the powerful pull of his presence. Hadn't she been moved? Who was she fooling?
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