Many of the young guards dared not look too far into the distance, staying close to their companions to keep up their courage. The darkness was so thick that they constantly felt as if some monstrous creature might suddenly leap out.
“Guo’er, bring me a wooden pole and a white cloth.”
Huang Bei Shuang’s voice remained clear, unaffected by the eerie surroundings. She had been observing the sky and the wind patterns on the ground for quite some time, secretly calculating in her mind: the weather was strange, and it seemed wise to be cautious. If they encountered a storm or quicksand, they would be in serious danger.
“Duo Zai, go get it! Nashou wants a wooden pole and white cloth!” Guo’er raised her head reluctantly, her sluggish tone interrupting Huang Bei Shuang’s thoughts.
Duo Zai, startled by the command, immediately stood up and went to the carriage to fetch the items.
As Duo Zai’s dry hands delivered the pole and cloth to her, Huang Bei Shuang frowned in displeasure—it was the same situation as before, when she had asked Guo’er and Yan’er to bring water for the white horse, but Duo Zai had done it instead.
“Tie the white cloth to the pole and plant it on that hill—it’s the most visible spot, and it can serve as a wind marker,” Huang Bei Shuang instructed, without taking the items from Duo Zai, looking at Guo’er instead.
But Guo’er had already turned away, waving her hand dismissively as she muttered, “Let Nanny Duo Zai do it!” She promptly returned to her slumber.
Duo Zai, holding the pole and cloth, turned unsteadily to head toward the hill. But before she could take a step, Huang Bei Shuang grabbed her arm. Suddenly, a roar louder and fiercer than the howling wind erupted—
“Everyone, get up!”
The entire group awoke in fright, scrambling to stand at attention.
Huang Bei Shuang’s cold gaze swept over the twenty-four maidservants standing in front of her. Finally, she handed the wooden pole and white cloth to a guard and had him plant it on the hill. She then turned to Duo Zai and asked, “How long?”
Duo Zai tugged at Huang Bei Shuang’s sleeve, knowing that this was her way of asking how long they had been bullying her. But Huang Bei Shuang decisively shook her off. “How long have you been mistreating Duo Zai? Who started it?”
The twenty-four maidservants turned pale with fear, too frightened to respond.
“I will only ask this once!” Huang Bei Shuang pulled a whip from the camel’s saddle and cracked it fiercely, the sound ripping through the air.
“Since... since the wedding convoy set out. It was Guo’er who started it,” a maidservant in yellow finally blurted out, unable to endure the pressure.
Huang Bei Shuang turned to Guo’er. “Is that true?”
Everyone else nodded.
“Everyone but Guo’er, sit down. If you’re really tired and want to rest, you can go back to sleep.”
Though Huang Bei Shuang had said this, no one dared to actually sleep. They only sat down quietly. In the Ernaqi tribe, Huang Bei Shuang had been a skilled falcon rider, known for hunting in the desert. She ranked first in her tribe for the number of her hunts, and many families had received her help. Moreover, she held the title of Nashou, a position of great respect.
Guo’er, on the verge of tears, couldn’t believe her companions had betrayed her like this. After all, she wasn’t the only one who had bullied Duo Zai. She clutched her clothes tightly, fearfully glancing at Huang Bei Shuang.
Whip! Whip!
The sound of two harsh lashes cracked through the air as Huang Bei Shuang struck Guo’er, sending her sprawling to the ground. Finally, Guo’er couldn’t hold back her grief any longer and began to sob loudly.
“Waaaah! It was the tribe mother’s orders. We were chosen as backup peace brides because Ershou was worried that if you, sister, couldn’t please the king of the warring state when we arrived in Yunpei, we would be the replacements. Even though if you, as the eldest sister, couldn’t succeed, it’s even less likely we would... but still, there was always a hope that one of us might be the exception.”
She sobbed and poured out her grievances all at once, clearly harboring her own sorrows. “Sister, you are precious, and your peace marriage is dignified, righteous. What are we? We are slaves of slaves! Before you left for the peace marriage, you only had to say your farewells to everyone and left with grace. Hardship? We suffer too! But before we were sent, we had to learn how to serve men, how to use ways you couldn’t even imagine to please them, becoming nothing but degraded creatures inside and out. Sister, we didn’t bully Nanny Duo Zai too much. We just wanted to know, before arriving in Yunpei, what it feels like to have others serve us instead. We’re not wrong! The tribe mother said it was fine.”
Whip!
Before she could finish, Huang Bei Shuang’s whip cracked down once more, mercilessly.
This time, Guo’er fell silent, no longer daring to make a sound.
Huang Bei Shuang let out a cold snort, then suddenly lifted Duo Zai’s aged hand high for all to see. The crowd couldn’t help but look, and they heard her angry voice ring out: “Look at this! This is the hand of an almost hundred-year-old woman who raised five sons and three daughters. Now, all that’s left is this frail, bony body. And for what? To accompany us on a journey from which there is no return. Her children did not keep her, nor did they even come to see her off.”
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