In Shangjing, Yelü Lie had a separate residence. While it didn't have the grandeur of the royal palace, it was refined and elegant, filled with porcelain and paintings from the Central Plains. The architecture reflected a blend of Hu and Han styles.
"Madam, you should rest. After spending so many days on horseback, a short nap will make you feel better."
Among the five maidservants, Dong Yin was the most attentive and capable. A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old orphan of mixed Hu and Han descent, she had no status in the Khitan tribe and had been taken in by the old prince years ago, providing her with a place of safety. Because of her efficiency and diligence, Yelü Lie had appointed her as Jun Qiluo's personal maid. Of course, her ability to speak Han was also an important factor.
To this day, Yelü Lie still believed that Jun Qiluo did not understand the Khitan language.
"Don't call me 'Madam.'"
"But..."
Jun Qiluo withdrew her gaze from the sky and looked at Dong Yin with determination.
"Call me Miss, or anything else, but do not call me Madam." Without a proper status, she could not bear the title of "Madam."
"Yes, then please return to your room and rest. It looks like it might snow soon, and the Chief instructed that you mustn't catch a cold."
"Leave me!" Jun Qiluo ordered sternly.
The commanding tone left Dong Yin stunned for a moment, but she quickly bowed and replied, "Yes." After lightly draping a cloak over Jun Qiluo's shoulders, she quietly left.
Jun Qiluo looked around, using her memory to locate the back door. This villa, though large, was nothing compared to the grandeur of the Jun family's estate in Jiangnan. It was easy to familiarize herself with the layout.
When she came in at noon, she had observed her surroundings and noticed that there was a bustling market nearby.
This was Shangjing, very close to the Outer Great Wall. She needed to find out how many days it would take to reach the Outer Great Wall from here.
As long as she could reach the Outer Great Wall and get to Yunzhou, where there were more Han people, it wouldn’t be difficult to contact her family.
If she remembered correctly, the Jun family had cloth shops in both Shunchuan and Xingchuan. But taking this shortcut would surely be the first place Yelü Lie would search, so she would have to take a longer, more difficult route, heading east through the Outer Great Wall and entering through Shanhai Pass. However, doing so would make her escape much more arduous.
She quietly pulled open the back door, but gasped when she suddenly saw Duo Luo Qi, who was standing like a mountain, filling the doorway.
"Miss Jun, are you going out?"
She bit her lower lip, saying nothing.
"If you want to see the northern landscape, the Chief will certainly take you when he returns! As a young lady, you mustn't wander off on your own. There are men in this area who are quite reckless; seeing you alone, they might take liberties. Especially since you are not a Liao native."
She turned back to her room, reassuring herself that there would be another opportunity. As she turned toward the corridor leading to the side rooms, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her beautiful eyes fixed on the flower pavilion across the garden.
It was Yelü Lie! He had returned, and he brought with him a northern beauty. She wasn't dark-skinned and coarse; rather, she was healthy and delicate, the kind of beauty that matched Yelü Lie in both appearance and stature.
Dressed in a red fur robe, holding a red whip, with several red flowers pinned to her snow-white fur hat, the young woman gazed at Yelü Lie with adoration, while he, seated casually on the railing, looked back at her with a deep expression.
Oh, heavens! What was she doing? Jun Qiluo clutched the collar of her cloak, anxiously questioning herself. What did it matter if he brought another woman back? Why did she feel a pang in her heart, as if she'd been slapped hard, or as if her chest was bleeding...
Wasn't this a good thing? If he had a new target, then her escape would be much easier!
With her unsettled heart, she quickened her pace, trying to make it back to her room as quickly as possible. But...
"Hey! Who are you?" The beauty in the red fur robe called out to her in Khitan, her tone haughty.
Jun Qiluo ignored her completely, pretending not to understand Khitan. She didn't stop walking, knowing that she could reach her room if she just turned one more corner. But before she could, she found herself suddenly in Yelü Lie's embrace.
With a swift movement, he lifted her by the waist and set her on the high crossbeams of the corridor, her feet dangling in the air. Jun Qiluo had never known she had a fear of heights, but now she realized it. Just looking at the stone floor, three feet below the corridor, made her instinctively grab onto Yelü Lie's shoulders.
"Who is she?"
"She is..." He glanced at her with a smile before turning to the young woman and replying in Khitan, "My beloved."
Jun Qiluo trembled slightly. He turned back to her and gently caressed her face. "Are you cold?"
"No!" She pushed his hand away, but when her body swayed, she quickly clung to him again.
"I really enjoy seeing you like this." Yelü Lie let go of her waist, satisfied to see her holding onto him tightly.
"Put me down!" Her face was pale, cold sweat beginning to form as she whispered in his ear, "I... I..."
His gaze softened instantly, like autumn waters, and he pulled her into his arms.
"Poor little thing."
"Brother Lie!" The girl in the red robe couldn't hold back her jealousy any longer. She couldn't bear being ignored and watching him show such tenderness to another woman!
"Qingkou, it's time for you to return to the palace!"
"No! I want to stay for dinner. I already got permission from the Empress Dowager!" Yelü Qingkou clung to his arm, complaining, "She's not a cripple who can't walk, so why are you carrying her?" If her beloved weren't watching, she would have whipped that shameless woman by now. How dare this lowly woman cling to her Brother Lie's noble embrace!
"Ah, but I can't bear to let her walk! Besides, she's so light, it's as if she could fly away."
"I'm not heavy either! Why won't you carry me?" She tugged at his arm, glaring at Jun Qiluo. If this woman dared to fall into her cousin's arms again, she would definitely hit her. In her limited Han vocabulary, she pointed at Jun Qiluo and said, "You, go away."
"Qingkou, you're making me angry!" Yelü Lie's face darkened.
"You’re getting angry with me because of that woman!" Yelü Qingkou screamed, raising her red whip to strike, aiming to scar that woman's face. Aside from her face, she had nothing else to offer!
Slap!
She hit Yelü Lie’s arm as he blocked her strike, drawing blood and tearing his sleeve. He grabbed her whip. "Stop this nonsense!"
"You... you... I'll tell the Emperor!" Princess Qingkou stomped her feet in frustration, tears streaming down her face.
"Duo Luo Qi, take the princess back to the palace!"
"Yes!" Duo Luo Qi hurried over.
But Princess Qingkou had already stormed off toward the gate.
He silently carried her back to the room.
"Chief... your arm!" Dong Yin gasped, quickly reaching for the medicine box.
After setting her down, Yelü Lie glanced at his left arm and licked away the blood. That girl needed a good lesson; she was becoming more and more spoiled and willful!
"Chief, let me apply the medicine for you..."
"No need, you may leave." He waved Dong Yin away.
Jun Qiluo looked at him with a certain understanding.
"You deliberately acted affectionate with me in front of her, didn't you? To make her think you care about someone else?" This would explain why he was particularly gentle earlier. How foolish she was to feel even a moment of dizziness, it was laughable.
Yelü Lie glanced at her indifferently and then walked to the table, rolling up his sleeve and immersing his left arm in water to wash away the blood. She always had a way of interpreting his kindness as some calculated move. If he wanted to keep his temper in check, he would have to ignore her questions. She was an exceptionally clever woman—smart, worldly, with clear distinctions between love and hate. She would never forgive anyone who wronged her and didn’t believe that anyone would be kind to someone else without a reason. It was no wonder she came from the Jun family; she was just as shrewd in business, which made her all the more difficult to deal with.
But it was precisely her stubbornness, cold pride, and unwavering will that truly captivated him.
Her beauty at first glance was dazzling, but if she were a weak or unremarkable woman, he might not have even wanted to touch her.
In his 25 years, women had never held significant importance to him—they were inconsequential. Every year, countless beauties were sent as tributes from various nations, and the Khan would distribute them to the chiefs of the tribes, but he never accepted them. Although Jun Qiluo’s beauty was rare, it was not unique. He had seen other women who could rival her beauty, but they never stirred the desire to possess them.
She was a paradox—a fragile figure, yet stronger and more unyielding than any woman. Her strength of will was almost on par with his own. Only a woman like her could survive proudly in the harsh climate of the north, despite her delicate appearance.
She was like a winter plum blossom—neither as flamboyant as the peony nor as vibrant as the rose, but she bloomed alone in the frost and snow. Small, elegant, and unassuming, she did not compete with other flowers for the glory of spring, nor did she sing romantic odes with the autumn moon. She stood alone against the frost and snow.
A woman like this, her heart was precious. He wanted her heart and was determined to have it, even if it took a lifetime—he would do so without regret.
She stared at his arm, noticing that he had no intention of applying medicine and simply sat in the chair, seemingly lost in thought.
She twisted her fingers, unable to stop glancing at his arm. The blood was still oozing! Was he deliberately playing the hero?
Even the strongest body was still made of flesh—how could an injury not hurt?
Or perhaps, the wound inflicted by that girl was something he was reluctant to heal too quickly?
"How long have you been dressing as a man?" he asked, catching her off guard.
Jun Qiluo hesitated before answering, "Four years."
"No one discovered it?"
She shook her head. Why was he suddenly curious about her past? Before, his only actions were to tease her, with no other intentions.
He got up and sat beside her on the bed, pulling her into his arms.
"You must have made your father, Jun Chengliu, wish you were a son, so he never arranged a marriage for you, right?"
"No! I was determined not to marry. I didn’t want any man to be my master or to control my future life." She met his gaze firmly, her beautiful eyes conveying that she was the master of her own fate.
Yelü Lie smiled, getting the answer he wanted.
"So, it’s not that you rejected me specifically, but that you reject all men in the world!"
"There’s no difference!"
"Is that so? At least now my sense of failure doesn’t feel so deep."
"Your blood is getting on my clothes!" She looked down, glaring at the bloodstains on her snow-white robe, which were numerous enough to seem like someone had died. Would his blood run out?
"You can just change into another robe!" He didn’t care and seemed to be in a rather romantic mood, leaning in as if to kiss her rosy cheek.
She couldn’t help but cry out, "Why won’t you stop the bleeding?"
"A wound caused by a woman won’t kill me!"
"Oh, really? Then let me make another cut to give your wound a companion!" She grabbed the scissors from the table and pretended to stab his hand. She was furious at his nonchalant attitude, and even more so at her own concern for him!
He laughed heartily, dodging her as he retreated to the bed, as if mocking her for not having the guts. She climbed onto the bed, holding the scissors in her right hand and making a fist with her left. Despite the bed being small enough to easily reach his large frame, she couldn't even graze his sleeve.
Finally, she caught hold of a piece of his clothing, but it happened to be the fabric near his wound. She couldn't bring herself to stab or hit him, and that hesitation allowed him to pull her into his arms.
"Ah!" She gasped as the scissors slipped from her hand, but Yelü Lie quickly caught them. Otherwise, they would have fallen right onto her delicate face.
He pressed her down onto the bed and sighed.
"You are the fiercest woman I've ever met."
"I'm not!" She rejected his description. She could accept any adjective, but she refused to believe that she possessed the "virtue" of being fierce. "I'm nothing like your spoiled Princess Qingkou."
"Of course! She’s young and naive, lacking your mature charm and composure." He kissed her, his intentions clear—he wanted her.
Jun Qiluo pushed against his chest.
"No! You're injured, and it's broad daylight..."
"That’s not an excuse! Are you playing hard to get?" He wasn't buying it, his deep blue eyes filled with excited anticipation.
Playing hard to get? She bit her lip, glaring at him with all her might.
"Fine, let your blood flow until you die then!"
"Such a considerate sentiment! I love it!" He laughed heartily, sweeping aside the curtains from the bedposts. The white gauze curtains fell like waves, covering the room in a soft glow, shielding them from the rising brilliant light outside.
Gradually, their two hearts pressed closely together, expressing feelings that words could not convey...
* * *
As winter set in, the garden no longer boasted the vibrant colors of blooming flowers. Instead, the fragrant scent of plum blossoms began to fill the air from a corner of the plum grove. Under the plum trees, music played, and the melodious sound of the zither echoed like a heavenly tune. Dozens of women dressed in feathered robes danced gracefully to the music. These fluttering butterflies in the cold air made it easy to forget the chill.
"I heard that Qingkou caused trouble at your place yesterday?" A young man dressed in a yellow robe with a fur cloak smiled as he spoke. Despite his gentle and warm tone, there was an undeniable air of authority about him. Tall and robust like Yelü Lie, his fair skin and refined demeanor were complemented by his well-groomed mustache. At twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, his wise deep blue eyes marked him as Yelü Longxu, the Emperor who ascended the throne at twelve years old and became one of the most renowned rulers in the history of the Khitan Liao Dynasty. He expanded the empire's military prowess, commanded respect from other nations, and led the empire into a golden age.
In the Yelü family, the leaders were often distinguished by a unique pair of blue eyes. In the northern regions, particularly where the Khitan people bordered with the Russians, the bloodlines differed from those of the Central Plains. Red-haired and blond-haired individuals were common, though black hair and eyes were still predominant. Strangely enough, in recent generations, every heir had inherited blue eyes. With Yelü Lie as an only child, there was no alternative choice. Yelü Longxu, as the only blue-eyed heir among the royal princes, was destined for the throne, where he would write a glorious chapter in the history of the Khitan people.
Yelü Lie sipped his strong liquor slowly. Despite the cold weather, he wore a short-sleeved shirt with fur wrist guards. The bandaged wound on his left arm was clearly visible.
"Did she do that?" Yelü Longxu frowned.
"Who else?"
"How reckless! She actually had the nerve to complain to me that you bullied her."
"It would be easier if she were married off soon." Yelü Lie didn’t want to dwell on the topic and changed the subject. "What are the Empress Dowager's plans?"
Yelü Longxu stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Among the eight tribes, our military strength and resources are the greatest. However, the Xi tribe holds the most territory. The Empress Dowager hopes to strengthen our position through marriage alliances. Zhiluo Zhiwa’s ambitions are clear, and if we don't use marriage as a strategy, we'll have to find a way to reduce his military power. Last month, Kuge Yande submitted a petition asking me to arrange for his daughter, Huhua, to marry you..."
"Don't tell me you want me to marry them!" Yelü Lie's face darkened instantly.
"Marriage is the quickest way to strengthen ties! And you, my dear cousin, are the most sought-after man among the young women of the empire. Even Qingkou is infatuated with you. If it weren’t for your close blood relation, I would have married her to you long ago." Yelü Longxu smiled slightly, adding, "And you should have produced an heir for the Yelü family by now. The Empress Dowager has been looking for a wife for you."
Yelü Lie fixed his gaze on him.
"How many do you expect me to take? The position of primary wife can only go to one, but three women are vying for it. If I take the other two as concubines, won’t that risk offending the other tribes? You might as well take them all as your concubines!"
Yelü Longxu laughed. "Although our Liao Dynasty doesn’t have the elaborate palatial system of the Central Plains, with thirty-six palaces and seventy-two courtyards, I already find the hundreds of concubines in the royal court more than enough. I don’t need those three women. It’s simple, I’ll officiate the wedding, and all three will be your primary wives. What do you think? I hear they are all northern beauties. They’ll be attending the upcoming hunting event, so you can get a good look at them. It’ll also be a good opportunity to find a husband for Qingkou."
Yelü Lie looked at the map on the stone table and replied calmly, "I’ll consider it." Marriage alliances were indeed the quickest way to achieve results.
"In any case, we’ll have something to celebrate in the capital before spring!" Yelü Longxu suddenly remembered something.
"I heard that when you intercepted the Jun family’s caravan at Helan Mountain, you captured an extraordinary beauty?"
Yelü Lie frowned.
"Is that just a rumor?"
"Word of you expelling the De family has spread throughout the Liao tribes, and everyone is talking about how you did it for the sake of a beautiful woman. I’d like to see for myself what kind of beauty could captivate you so much! In the past, no matter how beautiful the women I offered you were, you always refused, not even sparing them a glance. I was beginning to worry you had no intention of taking a wife!"
"She’s just a woman from the Song Dynasty, no different from the Han women in your palace!" Yelü Lie brushed it off, clearly indicating that he didn’t want to discuss it further.
Yelü Longxu gave him a deep, contemplative look.
"Just be careful not to fall too deeply! Women can be pampered, they can be cherished, but you mustn’t love them! Once you fall in love, you’ll find yourself at their mercy, and it will hinder many things. Remember your position!"
He remained silent, reaching out to gently caress the newly bloomed plum blossoms outside the pavilion. He absentmindedly plucked a branch, almost entranced by the sight—the beautiful plum blossoms, each petal like an embodiment of her.
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