Chapter 32 032 Goblin, used to seducing me

"Are you crazy? Why are you following a powerless woman?" One person appeared and pulled the other person back.

"That's Xie Zhan's woman. If we kidnap her, we'll have leverage. Why would we be afraid that Xie Zhan won't come to see the master?"

The man snorted coldly, "He's quite patient. A minister, do you really expect your master to come and see him?"

"Shut up." The man pulling him was having a headache and whispered, "The master is kind and has already warned everyone below not to involve a woman in this matter."

He mocked, "Besides, she's just an insignificant concubine. Even if Xie Zhan dotes on her, how could he compromise for her on major issues? I'm afraid he wouldn't mind taking in ten or eight more. If she disappears now, and the matter becomes a big deal, it might alert the enemy."

The most important thing is that Xie Zhan controls a large number of troops, and Emperor Yonghui is clearly wary of him. If this man can be won over, there will be no worries about achieving great things.

He sighed. Xie Zhan was a tough guy, unlike his father, the old marquis. Otherwise, he should have changed his mind long ago.

"In that case, let this woman go for now."

"Alright, alright, come with me now. Now is not the right time. We need to figure out the defenses."

_

Yun Sheng's sleep was a little uneasy at night due to the sudden change of location. But fortunately, Ah Xi was there to keep him company, and after turning over twice, he fell into a deep sleep.

Xie Zhantian rushed over from Mount Li before dawn. Yun Sheng was still asleep at that time and was suddenly awakened by a burst of cold air.

She rubbed her eyes, quickly propped herself up and sat up, and asked in surprise, "Why did the Marquis come so early?"

Xie Zhan withdrew his hand from Yun Sheng's neck and looked at her. "Don't you want to learn horseback riding? I'll take a quarter of an hour or two, and after inspecting the defenses, I'll rush back."

Yun Sheng opened her mouth, it seemed that Xie Zhan wanted to teach her personally.

Yes, she was his concubine, how could he tolerate the groom getting close to her?

She didn't ask any more questions, but just asked Ah Xi to help her wash up.

Behind a screen, Xie Zhan sat on a low couch, looking calmly at the slender and graceful figure behind him.

The vagueness makes it even more alluring.

Xie Zhan pinched his eyebrows and closed his eyes.

He had extraordinary hearing, and he could hear the sound of water passing by his ears, so soft and gentle. The sound was like a little claw, scratching his heart twice, making him feel uneasy.

It was Yun Sheng who was cleaning and wiping his face.

After a moment, she came around from behind the screen and asked, "Are you in a hurry, my lord? If not, you should have some porridge before returning."

Xie Zhan opened his eyes, reached out his long arms, and pulled Yun Sheng into his arms.

Yun Sheng's face flushed red as she struggled to get up, but Ah Xi was still there. Suddenly, the man slapped her on the buttocks, and she froze, not daring to move.

Xie Zhan held her tightly, looked up and told Ah Xi: "Tell the people in the kitchen to move faster."

He then rubbed Yun Sheng's waist hard twice, his breathing becoming a little unstable.

"Of course you have to eat, but if you're riding a horse and eat too much, your stomach will feel uncomfortable. Just eat less porridge to fill your stomach."

He leaned close to Yun Sheng's ear, and the warm breath he exhaled sprayed on her neck. Yun Sheng felt a little itchy and subconsciously shrank back.

"My Lord, you are right. I will do as you say." She clutched the hem of her skirt, feeling a little nervous.

Xie Zhan was a very lustful person, and Yun Sheng was afraid that he would drag her along and do something stupid, which would ruin her horse riding lessons.

Fortunately, he didn't make any big movements. He just covered her waist with his big hand and rubbed it again and again. Even through the layer of clothes, Yun Sheng could feel the temperature of his palm, which burned her.

Her body had long since adapted to his touch, and soon he rubbed it until it softened.

Xie Zhan stroked the back of Yun Sheng's neck and suddenly bit her small earlobe, nibbling it gently. Yun Sheng didn't notice and let out a low moan.

"You little devil, you're always trying to seduce me." Xie Zhan let out a deep breath, rubbed Yun Sheng again, and finally managed to suppress the anger in his heart.

Ah Xi brought people to deliver the meal. Hearing the footsteps approaching outside, Yun Sheng hurriedly got out of Xie Zhan's arms.

With her back to the man, she couldn't help but puff up her cheeks slightly. How could she be a fairy, and how could she seduce him?

The two of them simply had some red date porridge, and it was just dawn.

As Yun Sheng opened the door, she felt the autumn air coming in. She gathered her clothes and followed Xie Zhan in small steps.

A servant brought over a medium-sized white horse with snow-white fur, which looked very docile.

Xie Zhan took the reins and handed them to Yun Sheng again: "I have asked someone to pick out a docile horse. You will ride her in the future."

Yun Sheng carefully looked around the horse twice, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. He couldn't help but ask, "Thank you, Lord. Does she have a name?"

Xie Zhan said calmly, "Since it's your horse, you can call it whatever you want."

Yun Sheng frowned, feeling a little embarrassed for a moment.

After thinking for a moment, she murmured, "Chengfeng, let's call him Chengfeng."

Ride the wind.

Xie Zhan paused for a moment and asked unhappily, "Why did you choose this name?"

Yun Sheng clenched his palms, his heart pounding.

She was afraid that Xie Zhan would see through her intentions, so she said stiffly, "Didn't the Marquis say I can call you whatever I want?"

Xie Zhan stared at her straight, his sharp eyes dark and deep.

Yun Sheng's mind suddenly flashed back to an article he'd read recently, and he opened his mouth to explain, "The book says that depending on one's state of mind, one can ride the wind as far as one goes or as far as one returns. That day, when the Marquis took me on a horse race, the wind whistled, and I thought of this name. Is there anything wrong with it?"

Xie Zhan fixed his eyes on her and then looked away in a moment.

"Nothing wrong with that. If you like, call it that."

He just didn't expect that Yun Sheng had a good understanding. In just a few days, he had made great progress under the guidance of the teacher.

Yun Sheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Zhan said, "Come here and step onto the saddle."

Yun Sheng is a little afraid of heights, but since he wants to learn, he can't back out at the last minute.

"Hold my shoulder." Xie Zhan extended an arm.

Yun Sheng gently put his hand on him and leaned over to support his shoulders.

"With me here, what are you afraid of? Straighten your legs and don't tremble."

Xie Zhan held Yun Sheng's ankle and told her to stay on the saddle. He then said, "Lift your other leg and step over."

Yun Sheng tilted her head slightly and saw the man frowning and looking focused. She suddenly saw a hint of tenderness in Xie Zhan's eyes.

The autumn wind blew by, making her mind clearer.

Yun Sheng pursed her lips, she must have been dazzled and seen it wrong.

"What are you standing there for?" Xie Zhan raised his eyes and raised his chin towards Yun Sheng: "Go up."

Yun Sheng had come back to her senses. She nodded softly and did as she was told.

Fortunately, the horse was just the right size, so she didn't have to exert much effort.

Yun Sheng sat on the horse, looking at the endless mountains in the distance. She exhaled and felt that the air high up was sweet.

When Xie Zhan saw Yun Sheng sitting down, he immediately jumped on the horse.

He asked Yun Sheng to hold the reins and explained to her the strength and techniques of horse racing.

The two of them were very close, Yun Sheng's back was pressed against Xie Zhan's broad chest, the tall man completely enveloped the petite woman, Xie Zhan lowered his head slightly, and the two of them whispered to each other, showing their intimacy.

Princess Anle, who couldn't sleep last night, was out for a walk and saw this scene from afar.

She stamped her feet in anger and shouted arrogantly as she walked away, "Xie Zhan."

Yun Sheng was startled and looked back at the person behind him helplessly.

Xie Zhan said in a deep voice, "Look ahead, what am I doing?"

"The...Princess..." Yun Sheng was a little worried.

"Princess Anle is spoiled by His Majesty and Concubine Shu, so there's no need to bother with her." Xie Zhan said coldly.

He told Yun Sheng to hold the horse's belly, raised his hand and whipped it, then he raised his horse's hooves and galloped forward.

When Princess Anle approached, apart from the horse's tail swaying in the wind in the distance, there was only a cloud of floating dust.

She twisted her fingers, her face turning pale and red.

How dare Xie Zhan? How dare he ignore her, a princess, as if he couldn't see her.

Princess Anle gritted her teeth and went to Concubine Shu's palace with a lot of anger.

Concubine Shu had just gotten up and washed. She sat before the bronze mirror, looking at her angry daughter reflected in it. She said with a headache, "Who has provoked you to get up so early today?"

"Who else could it be? Besides Xie Zhan, who else could it be, mother?" Princess Anle sat down on the mahogany chair, muttering to herself.

Concubine Shu's face turned cold. "Why are you so troublesome? Hasn't mother told you many times that there is no possibility between you and him? But you are so stubborn and can't think straight. You insist on waiting for him in vain, and have wasted years of romantic love. From now on, you should calm down. Mother will find a suitable prince consort for you."

"Mother, why is that? You know I just like him and I don't want to marry anyone else. He is willing to take a concubine, so how could he look down on me, a princess?" Princess Anle was not convinced.

"Why do you say that? How could I have given birth to such a foolish daughter like you? Xie Zhan's achievements surpass his father's, and he has been reluctant to hand over his military power. Your father has always been wary of him. What good would it be for you to marry him?"

Even Concubine Shu could imagine that if her daughter married Xie Zhan, there might be suspicion of dictatorship by foreign relatives in the future.

Would the country still belong to the royal family at that time? Therefore, unless Emperor Yonghui was completely out of his mind, he would never agree to his daughter's ridiculous request.

Princess Anle curled her lips, turned around and ran out crying.

Her mother had always forbidden her from begging her father, and she was not going to obey him anymore.

If you don't try your best to fight for what you like, what's the point of liking it?

_

Xie Zhan taught Yun Sheng to ride a horse for two quarters of an hour, and then hurried back to Mount Li. At that time, the civil and military officials had just finished their breakfast.

Yesterday, the vassal states first arrived, and Emperor Yonghui held a banquet to entertain them. Today is the highlight of the autumn review.

The rules were established during the reign of the late emperor. This dynasty values ​​archery and horseback archery, so the first competition involves shooting long target points from horseback, combining both mounted and foot archery. The second competition involves wrestling. The third competition tests the soldiers' physical endurance, requiring them to run long distances while wearing armor and carrying food or weapons on their shoulders, a test of their physical ability to carry heavy loads.

Finally, the two sides will have to conduct a grand military deployment drill, which will not only demonstrate the power of our dynasty, but also deter the vassal states from making any rash moves.

The military viewing platforms on both sides were filled with dense crowds of people. The Northern Court Army and the Southern Court Guards were clearly separated in the venue, and there was a sea of ​​heads.

Emperor Yonghui sat high above, and the eunuchs shouted, "Kneel."

The crowd knelt and bowed in worship, saying in unison: "Long live His Majesty."

"Stand tall, my dear ministers, please excuse me."

Emperor Yonghui lifted his dragon robe, sat down, and waved his hand casually.

After the ceremony, when the auspicious time arrives, the grand review will begin.

The first day started with horse riding and archery.

The autumn review lasted for three days, and it was not until the fourth day that the two armies began to deploy their troops for drills. The magnificent square formations and the sea of ​​heads made the chiefs of the vassal states tremble with fear.

Emperor Yonghui looked at the different expressions of the people below and was very satisfied. However, when he noticed the ashen-faced Tuque Khan standing beside him, his expression paused slightly.

Tuque Khan's face was quite grumpy. He looked at Xie Zhan and said bluntly, "I heard that the Southern Court Guards' commander-in-chief this year is Marquis Xie. He is indeed a veteran of many battles and well-versed in military manuals. This Khan has seen that although the Southern Court Guards are slightly inferior, their momentum and tactics are on par with the Imperial Guards. Since Marquis Xie took over, the guards, which had been weak for years, have suddenly risen to prominence. Marquis Xie is truly a master at training troops. I really admire him."

His words clearly revealed the conflict between Emperor Yonghui and Xie Zhan, and all the civil and military officials present could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

This Tuque Khan is really good at adding fuel to the fire. Isn't his statement clearly saying that the soldiers led by Xie Zhan are stronger than those of Emperor Yonghui?

Xie Zhan's achievements were already greater than his own, and with the praise, how could Emperor Yonghui not feel resentful?

Emperor Yonghui's face was gentle, but his hands under the dragon cannon were clenched tighter and tighter.

He looked at Tuque Khan and said with a smile, "Khan is right. Thank you, my dear, for your ability and your service to me."

Xie Zhan, dressed in purple court robes, stood quietly in the setting sun, motionless.

The blood and sweat washed over his skull during the rainy night surged in his mind, and before his eyes there was nothing else except the scarlet blood and the fighting between the soldiers.

Xie Zhan closed his eyes, and his furrowed brows suppressed the bloody storm in his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, his expression was gloomy, and there was a calmness in his dark eyes like a pool of stagnant water.

"Your Majesty and the Khan were joking. It is my duty as a minister to eat the emperor's salary and share his worries. I do not deserve such praise from Your Majesty."

His face was calm, showing no emotion at all, and then his sharp eyes were fixed on Tuque Khan.

"The Southern Court Guards are loyal to the Imperial Family and to Your Majesty. They are Your Majesty's soldiers. This Marquis is in charge of training the troops for Your Majesty. How can there be any supremacy, as the Khan said? Does the Khan have any other opinions?"

Tuque Khan gritted his teeth in hatred. Xie Zhan was so secretive that it was hard to find a way to attack him.

A strange smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he looked up and said, "This Khan doesn't have any profound opinions, but I just thought of the late Marquis for no reason. Marquis Xie is truly a disciple who surpasses his master. This Khan admires him."

As soon as Tuque Khan finished speaking, there was an uproar.

Xie Zhan's father guarded Beiting for many years and died in a battle with the Tuqun people five years ago. The Xie family and the Dingbei Army have an irreconcilable feud with the Tuqun people.

It was also that night that Xie Zhan hurriedly inherited the title of Marquis Dingbei. He then rested his army and led his troops to attack the Tuque lair a few days later. He personally chopped off the head of his father's murderer and hung it outside the city gate to be exposed to the sun for three days and three nights.

The Tuqu people were defeated, and the current Khan took the place of his deceased brother and delivered the letter of surrender to Chang'an overnight. It can be said that the Tuqu Khan and Xie Zhan also had a grudge against each other for killing their brother.

The court argued for several days. Although the Tujue were treacherous and had broken the alliance, our dynasty was a great nation, and the peace advocates believed that continuing the attack would be a betrayal of the great nation's righteousness. It would be better to go with the flow and renegotiate the alliance.

The pro-war faction believed that the Tujue people were treacherous and should ignore the letter of surrender sent to them, so the army went straight to the royal court.

At that time, Emperor Yonghui had just hastily ascended the throne. Perhaps in order to demonstrate his benevolence and righteousness and secure his position as emperor, he handed the matter over to the peace faction and sent an imperial edict to Beiting overnight, urging Xie Zhan to withdraw his troops.

The war finally ended with Tujue surrendering and seeking peace, offering silk and tribute to our dynasty.

For no reason, the Turkic Khan mentioned the former marquis, which was nothing more than a provocation to Xie Zhan and the court. Everyone thought that a barbarian was a barbarian and had no knowledge of etiquette.

Xie Zhan twitched the corners of his lips and said in a deep voice, "Since the Khan said that I am even better than my father, then according to the Khan, how do you compare to my elder brother?"

Tuque Khan's face flushed with anger, and recalling his brother's tragic death, he raged, "Since Lord Xie has spoken so, and on this occasion, do you dare challenge me to a duel?"

The people of the Central Plains are treacherous and cunning.

He had always looked down upon the white faces of men from the Central Plains. His brother's defeat by Xie Zhan was nothing more than a misuse of military tactics, falling into the man's scheme. If he had not been young at the time, everyone would have stopped him from fighting with Xie Zhan.

Tuque Khan threw his head back and laughed, then looked at Emperor Yonghui and asked, "Your Majesty, do you think this is feasible?"

Emperor Yonghui's eyebrows moved slightly and he nodded in agreement.

The envoy who had been winking at the Tuque Khan had dark eyes and completely lost his spirit.

The two khans who came before him had both been impulsive and had underestimated this Marquis Xie. He had done his best, and the rest depended on fate.

A hint of coldness flashed across Xie Zhan's eyes, and he said firmly, "Khan has invited me so kindly that I cannot refuse. Khan, please go first."

Tuqu Khan said, "I grew up on the grasslands, and my horsemanship is among the best there. To be fair, let's dismount and fight with spears. What do you think, Lord Xie?"

"It's okay. Khan, there is no need to give in deliberately." Xie Zhan's expression was indifferent, and he immediately asked someone to get a spear.

Tuque Khan snorted in his heart. Since that was the case, he would have a good fight with him.

In the arena, the two men rode their horses and looked at each other.

Xie Zhan had already taken off his court robes and changed into a neat black robe. He sat on his horse with his back straight and a calm expression.

The Tuque Khan on the opposite side had a full beard, and the mockery in his eagle eyes could not be concealed, and his face was full of determination.

Everyone on both sides of the martial arts viewing platform broke out in cold sweat.

Xie Zhan was brave and the Tuque Khan was also physically strong.

The drums suddenly sounded, and the Turkic Khan roared. He squeezed the horse's belly hard, raised his two front hooves high, and rushed forward first, bursting out at lightning speed.

Xie Zhan pulled the reins, stabbed across the flat ground with a spear in his hand, and responded to the challenge with a solemn expression.

The two horses met, and in an instant there was a sound of stirrups, and the deafening sound of weapons and metal resounded through the sky.

The horses' hooves flew, stirring up waves of earth.

After two rounds, Tuque Khan saw Xie Zhan retreating repeatedly, sneered, and then made a few more powerful moves.

He was feeling proud of himself when Xie Zhan made a feint with his spear. Tuque Khan rode out to meet the attack, but suddenly the spear struck his horse's belly, and the horse's hooves tumbled uncontrollably. He subconsciously leaned back, and suddenly his body shook and he fell to the ground.

Xie Zhan's spear had already pierced his throat, and Tuque Khan broke out in a cold sweat, suddenly realizing that the other party really wanted to kill him. The sound of wind caused by Xie Zhan's spear sheathing passed by his ears, cutting off a few strands of his flying black hair.

"Khan, I accept your offer."

Tuque Khan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger.

The people from the Central Plains were really despicable. They actually used the fake spear to fool him. Now it seems that his two consecutive defeats were also to test his tactics, but he was stupid enough to fall into the trap.

He had already lost face, so he gritted his teeth and laughed, "This Khan has lost, so there's no need for Marquis Xie to continue to be humble."

He immediately stood up, looked up at Emperor Yonghui who had an unclear expression on his face, and contrary to his usual behavior, praised Xie Zhan fervently.

Emperor Yonghui smiled and immediately gave rewards to Xie Zhan and his group.

The eunuch who served closely knew that His Majesty's smile was forced.

After several days of reviewing, the emperor's entourage set off for the imperial palace.

Xie Zhan and other ministers were by his side. Yun Sheng had received the news early and hurriedly told Ah Xi to ask the people in the small kitchen to boil water.

After spending these days together, she knew that Xie Zhan liked cleanliness and would always take a shower before returning to his room.

After giving instructions to his subordinates, Yun Sheng took advantage of the clear weather outside to take Chengfeng out for a walk.

During Xie Zhan's absence, Yun Sheng would practice riding with Zhao Yaoyao whenever she was not busy. After a few days of diligent training, she was already able to ride alone in a small area.

Yun Sheng leaned down and gently touched Chengfeng's head, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Madam Yun?" A clear male voice suddenly came from behind.

Yun Sheng subconsciously looked back and saw the man in a white brocade robe with a handsome face.

He walked closer, and Yun Sheng saw his face clearly. He was slightly stunned. It turned out to be the Duke of Pingyang, whom he had only met twice.

"Greetings, Lord."

To avoid being rude, Yun Sheng tried to dismount. Seeing this, the Duke of Pingyang waved his hand and said, "Madam Yun, there's no need to be so formal. I was just out for a stroll and happened to bump into you, so I just thought of coming over to say hello."

Yun Sheng remained silent. Seeing that the other party had no intention of leaving, she didn't know what to do for a moment.

She believed that she had little friendship with the noble Duke of Pingyang, and besides, she was now Xie Zhan's concubine, so it was not appropriate for her to have much contact with men outside.

The atmosphere between the two was quiet, so quiet that it was a little awkward. The Duke of Pingyang raised his eyes and looked at Yun Sheng's soft and beautiful profile, and the tips of his ears gradually turned red.

He knew that his behavior was very rude, but it was inevitable that he would lose control after seeing such a beautiful woman for so long.

The Duke of Pingyang breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "When I first met Madam Yun, you were still Xie Qingyuan's fiancée. When I met you again, you were Marquis Xie's concubine..."

Before he could finish his words, Yun Sheng interrupted him with trembling lips: "What did the Duke want to say?"

She had heard a lot of rumors outside.

"I just want to ask, is Madam Yun willing?"

The Duke of Pingyang clenched his fists, feeling that she must have encountered difficulties.

Yun Sheng's eyelashes trembled, and the five fingers pinching the cuffs of his sleeves gradually closed. He said softly, "Your Excellency, you are overthinking it. It is my own will."

The Duke of Pingyang looked at Yun Sheng, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

I met her three times in total, and she never smiled happily. There was always a hint of sadness between her eyebrows.

But she didn't want to say more, and he didn't want to, nor was he in a position to press her. After hesitating for a moment, the Duke of Pingyang said, "We've known each other for a while. If Madam Yun has any difficulties in the future, just send someone to find me."

Yun Sheng was stunned, then she shook her head and said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord."

She should not and cannot have any relationship with the Duke of Pingyang anymore.

A trace of disappointment flashed across the eyes of the Duke of Pingyang, but he then forced a smile and said, "Madam Yun, there's no need to reply so soon. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come find me."

"My Lord, please leave quickly." Yun Sheng pursed his lips and looked around.

The Duke of Pingyang also knew that he could not stay for long. If he was seen by others, it would inevitably affect her reputation.

With a "whoosh" sound, a sharp arrow suddenly flew through from behind, brushing past the ears of the two men. The body's reaction was greater than the brain, and the Duke of Pingyang subconsciously dodged twice with his shoulder.

Yun Sheng was also quite frightened. The cold wind from the sharp arrow blew up her hair and stuck to the sides of her face.

She covered her chest and looked back, only to see the dim sunset shining on Xie Zhan, casting a flickering light on his handsome face.