Yet, despite being so minimal, this was enough to slowly erode her defenses.
She had a premonition that this was only temporary. He was being kind to her now, either because he was about to leave her or because he believed she had willingly surrendered and was ready to live out her days in this place. She knew he was leaving for the Liao capital the day after tomorrow and that he would be gone for the entire winter.
This meant she had an opportunity to escape—she just needed him to be away.
With this plan in mind, she no longer resisted his advances and didn't push him away when he tried to be kind. Even though she knew he was using different tactics to make her abandon her resistance, she let him believe his strategy was working. She was merely playing along, wasn't she? He knew that forcing her would only provoke a fierce backlash, and she knew that openly defying him would only make him more determined to conquer her. So, they both adjusted their approach to each other.
He wasn't sincere; he had no heart. She kept telling herself that she had to escape. She must escape his clutches! If she didn't leave soon, she would completely surrender to him as he desired. The favor he showed her now was just a fleeting infatuation! Once she gave him her heart, he would begin to discard her, treating her as if she were nothing. At that point, it wouldn't just be a matter of dignity or personality. She would abandon everything, groveling for his attention, but by then, he would have grown tired of her and found a new beauty to capture.
When that time came, she would surely die—die in a pitiful and humiliating state, with a broken heart!
Such was the tragedy of a woman. After a man has claimed her body, she starts to believe that he is the only one for her. Even in the most unbearable circumstances, she will endure anything just to believe that he will be her lifelong companion.
But she wouldn't allow herself to end up like that! Yes, she was like every other woman in the world, unable to accept a second man, but she would not debase herself. She would rather give up everything—no husband, no marriage. After all, he wouldn't give her a formal status.
Throughout history, what beautiful woman who relied on her looks ever had a good ending? After spending four years in business, she was no longer the naive, dreamy girl she once was. Even if his tenderness ensnared her, just thinking about a future without hope extinguished any passion in her heart.
She remained cold. Yelü Lie studied her for a long time, her gaze fixed on the distance, ethereal and distant, like a pair of cold stars. Whenever she took on this isolated look, he felt an overwhelming urge to hold her close, to confirm that she was still in his arms, not disappearing.
What should he do with her? How could he conquer her iron will? What kind of passion could bring a smile to her face?
He had never seen her smile. Could she even smile? She was colder than a snowman carved from ice. Could she really smile?
He desperately wanted to see her smile, just for him.
But how long would he have to wait? Or was it a lifelong dream that would never be realized?
The music suddenly stopped, replaced by the deep, resounding beat of a massive drum…
Jun Qiluo saw someone bringing Yelü Lie's mount, and the crowd, which had originally formed a circle, now divided into two lines on either side. About thirty young men also led their own fine horses to an open space, standing in a row. These warriors had large bows slung across their backs and were receiving blessings from family members or young women. Some mothers were giving final words of advice to their sons, while others—wives or lovers—stood before their men, offering blessings with a special gesture. The men then handed over their jaha to the women.
Before she could even turn to look at Yelü Lie, she felt something draped around her neck—his golden jaha. At the same time, she caught sight of Yelü Lie's mother, her face pale with anger. The Duchess had already been standing behind her son, expecting him to give the jaha to her. She hadn't anticipated that he would give it to that harlot instead!
Slap!
The sound was swift, echoing before anyone could react. The Duchess's heavy palm had landed squarely on Jun Qiluo's face, sending her sprawling outside the tent, falling into the yellow dirt.
"You..." Yelü Lie, who had just stepped outside the tent, instantly flashed back inside, catching his mother's foot as she attempted to kick Jun Qiluo again. He hadn't expected his mother to lose her composure so thoroughly, and in front of the entire tribe.
The Duchess felt her palm nearly shatter from the impact, and in pain, she collapsed to her knees. She hadn't anticipated that her son would humiliate her like this over a mere concubine.
"Someone, take her back to the manor!" He threw the Duchess towards the handmaidens, then bent down to help the swollen-faced Jun Qiluo to her feet.
"Are you alright?" he asked tenderly, wanting to touch her face.
But she avoided his touch. The pain left her speechless, fearing that if she spoke, tears would fall. She could only grit her teeth to hold them back.
Seeing this, Yelü Lie's anger flared even more.
"Grand Tutor!" he roared.
"Here!" Yelü Kuanhe quickly emerged from the right-side tent.
"When I return from the hunt, I don't want to see any of the De clan in my sight! Send my mother back to the De tribe along with the rest of her people. None of them are to remain in the manor."
"Understood!"
The De clan was a poor and weak tribe, never strong enough to even be considered for the Eight Great Leaders' list. Traditionally, after a tribal leader passed away, his widows would either be sent back to their original tribe or remarried by the new leader.
Yelü Lie had never considered sending his mother away, out of consideration for the De clan's long dependency on the Yelü tribe for survival. Keeping her in the manor protected her from external threats. Additionally, years of Han cultural influence had instilled in him a respect for his parents, making him reluctant to send the Duchess back to the De tribe's territory.
But this time, she had gone too far! Not banishing her immediately was already a mercy. He had tolerated her overbearing behavior, her fear of losing power leading her to fill the manor with her people and close allies. He had also endured her shielding of De tribe members who committed crimes within the Yelü tribe without paying taxes. But enough was enough! He had never been willing to harm Jun Qiluo himself—anyone who did would die. His mother had to go!
"Cousin... You don't really mean it, do you?" De Jin ran to the tent entrance, crying out shrilly. She didn't want to go back! She didn't want to live that kind of harsh life, constantly moving camps, dealing with filthy sheep and horses!
Yelü Lie helped Jun Qiluo back into her seat, then walked out of the tent, needing to release his anger through action.
"Cousin!" De Jin clung to his sleeve, refusing to let go.
"Get lost... Duo Luo Qi! Arrange for her to leave immediately!" He shook her off, jumped onto his horse, took the bow and arrows handed to him by his subordinates, and galloped away.
Duo Luo Qi let out a sigh of relief; the young master had finally come to his senses. The sooner the De family left, the better! They had been lording over a land that wasn't theirs for years, and it was only a matter of time before their actions would provoke widespread anger. For now, everyone was still gritting their teeth and enduring it, but Duo Luo Qi believed that after witnessing this scene, the people would be cheering in their hearts. By tomorrow, news of this event would spread throughout the entire Yelü tribe, and there would be celebrations with pig slaughtering, sheep roasting, and fireworks.
"Miss, please," Duo Luo Qi said, feigning politeness as he gestured toward the donkey that had been prepared.
"Hmph!" De Jin jumped up, angrily pointing at Jun Qiluo. "You damned Song woman! I'll be waiting to see what happens to you. The Great Liao won't tolerate you! Witch! Fox demon!" She stomped her foot in frustration and stormed off.
She knew Yelü Lie's temper all too well—if she wasn't gone by the time he returned, the consequences would be dire.
"Miss Jun!" Dahe Jiyao handed her a cloth-wrapped bundle of ice.
Jun Qiluo took it but hesitated to press it against her burning, throbbing cheek. Now that her body had finally warmed up, she didn't want to touch any part of her skin with something cold.
It must be horribly swollen! When she had slapped Yelü Lie, the force was probably only strong enough to swat a mosquito.
Although it had humiliated him, he hadn't felt any real pain. Now, she finally understood the advantage of being a robust woman—you could always land a punch that really hurt!
Not wanting Yelü Lie to return and take a closer look at her face, she got up and headed outside the tent.
"Miss Jun?" Duo Luo Qi and Dahe Jiyao blocked her path, looking conflicted.
"Tell him I'm tired and want to rest." She covered her right cheek. Seeing their hesitation, she walked past them and headed toward the main gate of the royal manor. They silently followed her, ensuring she safely reached her room, and then assigned four guards from the Twelve Riders to stand watch.
After a while, he returned and found the room dimly lit.
"Don't light the lamps," she murmured from the bed, not wanting anyone to see her face in its swollen state.
But he still lit a small oil lamp and placed it on the small table beside the bed.
"Come, let me see."
He gently pulled her hands away from her face and touched the still-burning imprint on her cheek.
She felt a cool sensation on her right cheek and opened her eyes in confusion. He was holding a crystal-clear, fragrant fruit that looked like a peeled lychee. After he had peeled back the top of the fruit, he applied its juice to her face. To her surprise, the pain began to subside, and the burning sensation was replaced by a soothing coolness. What was this? The Jun family was wealthy beyond measure, and she had seen many rare and precious items.
But she had never encountered a fruit like this, with red, star-shaped leaves and a transparent flesh, covered by a thin outer membrane and filled entirely with juice.
"What is this?"
"Crystal ginseng berry. It comes from the snow-covered mountains of the Donghu Kingdom and bears fruit only once every ten years. Each time, it produces only ten berries. There are only two plants in the entire Donghu Kingdom. This spring, the Donghu Kingdom presented it as tribute to the imperial court."
"Is it very precious? A medicinal herb?"
"The concubines in the palace use it to preserve their youth and extend their lives, but that's a waste of its true value. For martial artists, it's a holy grail; for those with severe injuries, it can protect the heart meridian."
"Then it's wasted on me." She handed him his cloak. "You should go back out; the celebration isn't over."
He tossed the cloak aside and pulled her into his arms, struggling to suppress the anger she had once again provoked in him. No matter what he did, no matter how he treated her, her frozen heart would never thaw. He had thought that after being humiliated, she would bury herself in his arms and cry, but she hadn't! This clearly showed that she didn't need him.
"What do you want me to do?" His voice came out through gritted teeth.
She understood his meaning, but it was too late. After he had robbed her and humiliated her in such a way, how could he expect her to meekly become his woman? Her only option was to continue rejecting all his attempts at making amends, hoping that he would eventually stop seeking her out—giving her the chance to escape.
At this moment, she was more conflicted and in pain than anyone else. Angering him would only make him hold on to her tighter; pretending to yield would risk losing her heart. She had no choice but to reject him with all her might.
Duo Luo Qi had said she would drive him mad! But she was too! It wasn't just him who was being driven crazy! This mutual torment would lead them both to madness and death!
"Qiluo!"
"No need! Don't do anything! Except let me go. I don't want anything else from you, but will you do that? If you really want to make amends..."
As she expected, his response was, "No! Don’t even think about it!"
"I hate you!" Her fists pressed against his chest, and her breath held no warmth.
"I know," Yelü Lie said in a hoarse voice, with a barely noticeable bitterness; he was all too aware of how she saw him.
In her eyes, he was undoubtedly the most vile and despicable man in the world!
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