“Very well. Find a place to rest, but don’t leave this room,” Na Zhan said, his voice thick with desire as he focused his attention on You Jia. Huang Bei Shuang was surprised at how easily Na Zhan let her off, guessing that he was already preoccupied with the beauty in his arms. She couldn’t help but smile.
Huang Bei Shuang wandered around the room, eventually stopping by a small table near the window. There, she noticed a book—it was the very one she had presented earlier that day: The Collected Works of the Great Desert. Feeling a surge of interest, she picked it up and began reading, completely absorbed in its contents. The intimate atmosphere in the room and the sensual sounds from You Jia did nothing to distract her.
This book held deep significance for Huang Bei Shuang. When she was young, she had saved an elderly traveler in the northern desert. The man had stayed in Ernaqi for only three months before passing away, leaving The Collected Works of the Great Desert to Huang Bei Shuang before he died.
Even as a child, Huang Bei Shuang had been remarkably intelligent, and she quickly became fascinated by the book, which documented the cultures, geography, climate, and history of the desert from north to south. Her father and brother had also been interested in the book for a time, but eventually dismissed it as being of little practical use for Ernaqi. After all, they lived in a small oasis, with a population of just over seven thousand, and had little need to concern themselves with the broader world. Moreover, the book’s detailed descriptions of geographic and climatic changes were too complex for most people to understand.
Huang Bei Shuang, however, had memorized the book over the years, though some parts still eluded her full understanding. Every time she reread it, she uncovered new insights. It was this knowledge that had helped her lead Ruo Wen’s two thousand men safely to Yunpei.
“If you like the book so much, you may keep it.”
Na Zhan’s voice suddenly broke the silence, startling Huang Bei Shuang. She quickly stood up, realizing she had been lost in thought for quite some time. A glance around revealed that You Jia had already fallen asleep, exhausted. Lowering her head, she wondered if it was now her turn.
Na Zhan, watching her, found the situation amusing. He sat down and casually flipped through the pages of The Collected Works of the Great Desert. “Do you like this book?” he asked, looking at Huang Bei Shuang, who stood nervously before him.
Caught off guard, Huang Bei Shuang decided there was no point in lying. She quickly replied, “Yes, very much.”
“You’re the first woman I’ve met who likes this book,” Na Zhan said, tossing the book aside with a smile.
Huang Bei Shuang couldn’t quite read Na Zhan’s thoughts at that moment, so she chose to remain silent.
“Do you know who wrote this book?” Na Zhan asked, his figure half-obscured by the moonlight, as if he were partially hidden in another world.
“I’m not entirely sure. The book was given to me when I was young by someone named Rong Ruo,” Huang Bei Shuang replied.
“Hmm. Rong Ruo stole it. The person who wrote this book was my great-grandfather, Na Qida, the 33rd King of Yunpei,” Na Zhan said, his words shocking Huang Bei Shuang. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
“Have you read the whole book?” Na Zhan asked.
“Yes, I have,” Huang Bei Shuang answered.
“The Collected Works of the Great Desert, Chapter 3, Line 10. What does it say?” he asked casually.
“Chapter 3, Line 10 describes the behavior of sandstorms and the period of the largest erosion caused by wind erosion,” Huang Bei Shuang answered with precision.
“Chapter 5, Line 3!” Na Zhan continued.
“Chapter 5, Line 3 covers the distribution and movement patterns of fixed, semi-fixed, and mobile sand dunes in the northern desert. It also predicts three significant sand migrations across the Junggar Desert. The first happened in the year 311 AD, the second in 320 AD, and the third is predicted to occur three years from now,” Huang Bei Shuang answered confidently.
“Chapter 10, Line 13!” Na Zhan asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Chapter 10, Line 13 provides an analysis of the formation of the five great ruling nations, the slave nations, and the nomadic tribes. It also offers a complete evaluation and prediction of the ancient empire that existed on the desert millennia ago. I remember it said: ‘A thousand years of decline, who could foresee the hardships of the past? The Celestial Empire spanned a million miles, surrounded by green mountains and flowing rivers, nurturing billions of souls. Of its people, only sixty-one ethnic groups remained. The supreme ruler was called Emperor, holding the power of life and death, governing rewards and punishments.’”
Huang Bei Shuang had taken a particular interest in this section and remembered it vividly.
Upon hearing her flawless response, Na Zhan clapped his hands and said, “Impressive! It seems you really have read the whole thing, and thoroughly too!” His expression was suddenly bright and cheerful, a demeanor Huang Bei Shuang found somewhat unsettling. What surprised her even more was that Na Zhan seemed just as familiar with The Collected Works of the Great Desert, knowing it down to the smallest detail. Clearly, the Yunpei royal family had copies of the book in the palace. She couldn’t help but feel foolish for having sacrificed her own cherished copy as tribute.
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