The day after returning to the Yelü clan, a grand tournament was held on the vast open grounds outside the royal residence. All the young men of the clan were allowed to participate. Those who excelled would join the clan leader two days later in the capital for the great hunting event two months later.
What an honor it was! Not only would they get to hunt alongside the Khan, but they would also participate in the Eight Tribes Grand Competition!
Competing for the title of the Eight Tribes Leader wasn’t just for the tribe leaders; even their subordinates competed, and those under them also competed among themselves.
Upon their victorious return, these warriors would be officially appointed as the tribe’s soldiers, taking on the responsibility of defending their territory. Those who were already soldiers would remain in the Yelü clan, except for the Twelve Riders, who only protected the clan leader and did not participate in the competitions.
This three-yearly event was the most significant rite of passage for the young men without rank in the tribes. However, they had to pass the clan leader’s approval to compete today.
Since the clan leader had to first visit the capital to meet with the Empress Dowager, the selection had to be made within these two days. The training would be left to Duo Luo Qi. The training period would last about two months, and after it concluded, the warriors would join the clan leader in the capital. Therefore, the tournament was held around the clock.
At dusk, Jun Qiluo was led outside the royal residence by a maid. She had spent the entire day sitting idly in Yelü Lie's room, not seeing him once, and though she should have felt relieved, her mind was a mess of confusion and contradictions. Only after stepping out of the warm room did she realize how cold it was outside; the brocade jacket she wore was hardly enough to fend off the chill. In this deep autumn, winter had already arrived in the north, and a light snow was falling, the icy wind cutting straight to the bone. No wonder the northern people slept on heated brick beds, ingeniously designed with stoves underneath to keep them warm.
A towering bonfire had been lit in the great square in front of the royal residence, illuminating the twilight with a bright white light. Torches were also set up around the square to enhance the lighting.
Around the bonfire, smaller fires were roasting whole pigs and sheep, the smell of fragrant spices wafting in the air from afar. In front of the bonfire stood a large pavilion, where he was seated in the main seat. Seeing her, he immediately extended his hand.
Jun Qiluo placed her cold hand in his, and he helped her sit beside him, wrapping his white fox fur cloak around her and holding her close.
Sitting just behind him to the right, the Lady Dowager’s expression changed. How improper! To let that woman sit beside him— even the junior lady of the clan should sit behind him to the left, not at his side!
“Lie'er! What is she doing here?” the Lady Dowager asked, her tone dignified as she stood before her son. A courtesan had no place in the clan leader’s tent! No matter how much she respected her son, she couldn’t allow such a disgraceful thing to happen. Hmph! This woman belonged in the sheep’s pen!
“She’s here to accompany me,” Yelü Lie said without standing, looking up at his mother. “Please return to your seat, Mother.” His tone made it clear that he would not tolerate any argument.
“Don’t forget your position!” the Lady Dowager said, pursing her lips before turning back to her seat, casting a hateful glance at the Han woman—such a frail girl who looked like she could be blown away by the wind. What did her son see in her?
Jun Qiluo could feel the disdainful gaze of the Lady Dowager, as well as the curious and speculative glances from those around her. She looked up at Yelü Lie.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To show you the culture of the Great Liao.” He lifted a cup of wine to her lips, intending to warm her up. A few snowflakes landed on her hair, and he gently brushed them away.
Jun Qiluo took a small sip, and as soon as the wine touched her tongue, her mouth burned with its intensity, and she immediately choked it out. She had never known northern wine to be so strong! It was pure firewater! She had only ever drunk osmanthus wine before, thinking all wine was sweet with a hint of bitterness.
The instigator, however, laughed. He rested his hand on the table, propping up his face with it, and lightly patted her back, admiring her flushed cheeks, which looked as if they were dusted with a layer of rouge—so beautiful!
She could feel the small amount of wine burning its way down her throat, igniting her entire body. She pushed his hand away, deciding not to take another sip.
After last night, something seemed to have shifted between them. Since returning here, he had become easier to get along with, no longer showing anger, and even doting on her. Compared to his previous forceful and domineering behavior, this new demeanor made her even more uneasy. How much longer could she maintain this cold facade? She couldn't help but glance at him, surprised to notice that his attire was different from usual. This must be his formal attire, something she hadn't paid attention to earlier.
He wore a black fur hat made of black fox fur, the fur facing outward, with a white jade carved with the Yelü clan's emblem set in the center of the hat. His narrow black sleeves were lined with golden fur, with wide cuffs fastened by golden bands. A jade belt cinched his waist, and over his left shoulder, he wore a cape made of golden sable fur. The cape bore the Yelü clan's totem, and the cloak that had originally been on him was now draped over her, its collar adorned with luxurious pearls.
This was how he was meant to dress! No other clothing could suit him better! Tall, handsome, and exuding an air of authority—this was truly the commanding presence of a northern warrior!
"Are you teasing me?" he asked, lifting a lock of her hair that had fallen over her forehead and kissing it gently, his wild gaze piercing her.
She quickly averted her eyes, looking into the distance, and only then noticed that people had gathered around the square, forming circles upon circles. There were men and women, young and old, all dressed in their finest clothes, gathering together; the soldiers had retreated to the open space behind the main tent.
Tonight was a banquet to welcome them back and a blessing ceremony for the clan leader who was about to embark on a journey to the capital. So, the entire Yelü community from within a ten-mile radius had come. In no time, there were people as far as the eye could see, and fires sprang up everywhere. The people had brought their own livestock to slaughter and roast, while soldiers from the royal residence carried out barrels of fine wine. All the clanspeople were waiting for the festivities to begin.
For a moment, Jun Qiluo forgot about the cold, watching the sea of people and the flickering flames, accompanied by the sounds of laughter. Somewhere in the distance, the music of reed pipes floated through the air, enhancing the lively atmosphere of the northern plains.
So, even the fierce Khitan people had such a warm and friendly side. Their leisure and joy lay in gathering together like this, without any concern for grandeur or ceremony. They were happy simply to sit together on the ground, wherever they pleased!
Then she saw Yelü Lie raise his left hand, and immediately, everyone fell silent, with only the firelight remaining bright. That was truly the aura of a ruler—without the need for any verbal command, all eyes were respectfully and loyally fixed on him. Then, he helped her stand, and everyone else immediately rose to their feet as well.
Ten shamans, dressed in colorful robes and with shaved heads, approached Yelü Lie, each holding a strange-looking golden vessel. They bowed respectfully before him, chanting prayers, then circled the bonfire three times before pouring the liquid from their vessels into a golden dragon basin in front of the clan leader. Each shaman then bit their finger and let a drop of blood fall into the basin. Forming a circle, they clasped their hands together and recited incantations, while Yelü Lie dipped his right hand into the basin, marking his forehead and chest with the blessed water. Once the shamans completed the blessing ceremony and stepped back, the people erupted in cheers. Next, a group of warriors, bare-chested and carrying bows and arrows on their backs, began to dance a hunting dance around the fire. The lively night had officially begun!
When a large piece of meat, about the size of her head, was placed in front of her, she didn't know how to eat it, even though it smelled delicious. The Khitan people ate with their hands, but she couldn't bring herself to do it and didn't know what to do. Whenever she had dined with Yelü Lie before, there had been spoons and chopsticks, as the Khitan had become highly Sinicized after founding their state. But tonight's gathering was distinctly Khitan in style, and apart from using knives to cut the meat, the only utensils were one's hands.
Yelü Lie noticed her discomfort and wrapped her in his arms, using a dagger to cut the meat into small pieces for her.
"You should try the feeling of taking big bites of meat and drinking wine; it's a unique experience," he said, feeding her a small piece of lean meat.
Taking big bites of meat and drinking wine? And then ending up like those women?
Jun Qiluo glanced at a group of lavishly dressed girls not far away. By the standards of Song aesthetics, they were tall, robust, and somewhat overweight—women with a rough kind of beauty. However, the women of Liao wouldn't have a favorable opinion of her, a Song woman, either. Her frail body couldn't handle heavy labor or household duties, and she lacked the ample bosom necessary to nourish a child in the harsh northern climate. Any sensible man would never consider her as a wife. If she were to marry a Liao man, she might not survive even one winter. Her face was the only thing that might arouse jealousy among the Liao women. While the standard of beauty concerning body shape differed on either side of the Great Wall, a delicate and beautiful face was universally recognized as a mark of beauty. Otherwise, how could she explain Yelü Lie's attachment to her? Why did he cherish her so?
She realized that his anger was often provoked by her words. Whenever she remained silent, he would treat her with great tenderness. Back in Helan, she had been too preoccupied with maintaining her dignity and fearing pregnancy to notice this pattern.
But what lay behind this tenderness? What was his true intention?
The "tenderness" he showed was not the refined gentleness of southern men. He was bold, unrestrained, and rugged. A man like him expressed tenderness simply by being more careful than usual and by attending to her needs.
0 Comments