How come you are here?
"Tuoba Hong, why are you here?"
Tuoba Hong's gaze passed through the intersecting blades and fell on her face.
The flickering firelight illuminated her dusty and sweat-stained cheeks. Her once carefully drawn eyebrows and eyes now only showed stubbornness. Her frail back shielded everyone behind her, like a solitary tree on the Beishuo grassland, trying its best to spread its branches in the strong wind, even though it knew that its branches were too thin to bear the weight.
"Have you forgotten? Our end-of-year appointment."
"I'm here to marry you."
He actually came? He was now the Khan of Beishuo, sneaking into the heart of the Southern Dynasty. If his identity was exposed, he would be doomed.
He shouldn't have come.
A sour taste rushed to the tip of her nose, blocking her throat, making her words sound damp: "Actually, you don't have to..."
Before she could finish her words, he cut her off, his eyes following her closely without any avoidance.
"You're here," he said firmly, "of course I'll come."
Just this one sentence, no more words, thousands of words are all contained in it.
Tuoba Hong dismounted and strode towards her. He took off his thick black sable fur cloak with steady and natural movements, carefully draped it over her thin shoulders, and tightened the straps around her neck.
The wide cloak instantly wrapped around her, carrying his body temperature and a cool, dry scent that dispelled her chill.
He lowered his eyes, and her pale and tired face was reflected in his deep pupils. His gaze lingered on the fatigue in her eyes for a moment, and his voice became low: "You have been wronged."
Days of desperate flight, the pain of witnessing the tragedy of loved ones, the burden of bearing the life and death of my siblings, the despair of the uncertain future...
All the panic and grievance that she had forcibly suppressed could no longer be suppressed and burst out at this moment.
It turned out that she was only eighteen years old.
Her straight back trembled almost imperceptibly. She saw the despair of her father paralyzed in bed, his life or death uncertain; her mother's grief, isolated and helpless in the palace; the glaring scarlet face of her brother, the crown prince, who had died by hitting his head against a pillar; the confused and frightened faces of her younger brothers and sisters... Countless images swirled in her mind.
She thought she was strong enough to bear the collapse of the sky.
But at this moment, in the darkness and blood all over the mountain, in front of the man who came for her regardless of his life, the shoulders that had been holding on for too long finally relaxed for a moment.
A hot tear slid down without warning, hitting the fur collar of the cloak, quickly leaving a small dark mark.
She didn't even realize she was crying.
Tuoba Hong looked at the tear and was slightly stunned.
Then, almost clumsily, he imitated his memory of his mother comforting her young son, stretched out his strong arms, and very carefully, held her in his arms.
Ning Lingyi's body stiffened for a moment. She should have let go of his embrace, but...
Finally, she closed her eyes and did not struggle. She rested her forehead on his solid chest. She could hear his steady and strong heartbeat through the clothes. She closed her eyes and let herself draw strength to breathe in this brief warmth.
However, this moment of tenderness completely ignited the wrath of the Yulin Army Captain. With his illustrious military achievements, how could he allow a lunatic of unknown origin to treat him like nothing?
"How dare you! We have ordered the arrest of the criminal. Anyone who obstructs us will be killed!" the captain roared.
Several Yulin Guards raised their spears and stabbed Tuoba Hong fiercely in the back!
Tuoba Hong didn't even look back.
He simply casually swung the hand holding the whip back.
"kill."
The silent Beishuo elite behind him moved instantly, so fast that only afterimages were left. Screams and the sound of metal clashing broke out, and then returned to silence in a very short time.
But within a few breaths, dozens of Yulin Guards who were so aggressive just now had all fallen on the icy mountain road. The strong smell of blood spread in the cold wind, so pungent that it was nauseating.
Everything happened so fast that I didn't even have time to react. I only saw a flash of knife and blood before my eyes, and the crisis was over.
The cold wind still howled, rustling, but it could no longer disperse the darkness. In this corner of darkness, two figures clung to each other. The lone tree in the wind finally found a temporary shelter.
After a moment, Ning Lingyi left the embrace, her voice regaining its usual clarity: "We can't stay here for long, we have to leave."
My arms are empty.
Tuoba Hong watched her go to comfort her brother and sister-in-law, and after a moment of silence, he turned around and gave orders for the elite troops of Beishu to clean up the scene and bring over the prepared horses.
The group galloped on horseback and soon arrived at a sheltered valley. The Beishuo soldiers were well-trained and quickly set up camp and lit a bonfire to dispel the cold.
Tuoba Hong personally selected a location for Ning Lingyi and even built a relatively spacious and comfortable tent for her. He moved quickly and with the unique strength of a northern man. He laid out the last felt blanket before standing up and looking at her.
The firelight danced on his well-defined profile, reflecting his deep eyes. Their gazes met in the air, and unspeakable emotions flowed.
"I'm tired today," he said in a low voice, "have a good rest."
Ning Lingyi saw the fatigue that was equally hard to conceal in his eyes, and thought of the risks he took in sneaking thousands of miles. The resentment in her heart was finally suppressed by a deeper emotion.
She nodded gently: "Thank you."
This thank you contains so much, for saving the life, for the cloak, and for the brief hug that was enough for a moment of respite.
She lifted the heavy curtain, bent down and walked into the warm tent. The curtain fell, isolating the inside and the outside.
Tuoba Hong stood where he was and did not leave immediately.
He raised his head and looked at the deep night sky. The valley was silent, and the cold wind whimpered as it swept through the treetops. In the sky, the stars hung low, shining like broken diamonds, and the light was cold and distant.
But in his eyes, the starry sky was not as good as the fragility and dependence revealed in her eyes just before the tent curtain fell. It shocked his heart more and made him feel that he was willing to go through thousands of mountains and rivers to do this.
He exhaled a breath of white air, his eyes as dark as the night.
It turns out that he was also a tyrant described in history books.
Zhaoyang sat in the corner with his arms around Yan and Lingyao, his eyelashes drooping. He seemed to be comforting his younger siblings, but his eyes were closely following the tent that was rapidly taking shape.
The firelight danced in her eyes, reflecting the deep-seated worries. So thoughtful, so appropriate, a man's tenderness and affection can most soften a woman's heart.
If Mingzhu left, how would these helpless orphans survive in this world full of dangers? Her hand on her brother and sister-in-law's shoulders tightened unconsciously.
Ning Lingyi slept very soundly, as if to dispel all the fatigue from running for days. When she woke up, it was already bright outside the tent, and the clear laughter of children could be heard faintly.
She opened the curtain and walked out, the warm sunlight making her squint slightly.
Nearby, by a bonfire, Yan He and Ling Yao excitedly surrounded Tuoba Hong, their faces flushed red from the heat. Tuoba Hong, a tall figure, squatted by the fire, roasting several prepared wild birds with branches, his movements appearing quite serious.
"Sister! Sister is awake!" Ling Yao was sharp-eyed and saw her first. She immediately pounced on her like a happy little bird and hugged her legs. Yan He followed closely behind.
"Sister, look!" Yan He pointed at Tuoba Hong, her eyes sparkling.
"That brother is so awesome! With a whoosh, the arrow flew out and the bird fell down!" He imitated the action of drawing the bow, his little face full of admiration.
Ling Yao nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "Yeah! Brother even helped us light the fire! Brother said that sister was too tired and asked us not to disturb her sleep!"
She tilted her little face up and repeated it innocently.
Tuoba Hong raised his head at the sound, his gaze passing over the cheerful children to rest on Ning Lingyi. A gentle warmth lingered in his deep eyes, a stark contrast to the ruthless and murderous man she had seen yesterday.
"Awake?" He said in a steady voice, "Come and eat something first."
Several people gathered around the campfire, sharing the roasted bird meat, which was tender and crispy on the outside. The crackling fire dispelled the morning chill from the valley. Yan He and Ling Yao temporarily forgot the panic of the previous night and immersed themselves in the novelty brought by Tuoba Hong, unaware of the difficulties and dangers ahead.
Only Zhaoyang had doubts in his heart, but did not speak out.
Ning Lingyi ate silently. The warm food soothed her cold stomach and made her completely awake. A night's rest and this moment of warmth were like stolen time.
She looked at the carefree smiles of her brother and sister-in-law, and at the powerful man across the campfire. The sense of relief brought by the brief dependence last night quickly faded away, replaced by responsibility and clarity.
My father is paralyzed, my mother is imprisoned in the deep palace, and Prince Yong is watching closely...
The burden on her shoulders has never been lifted. Minnesota is her only hope.
When everyone had rested and were ready to go, Ning Lingyi had regained her usual composure. She took Yan He's hand and prepared to mount the horse.
"Lingyi." Tuoba Hong's voice sounded behind him.
She looked back.
He stood in the morning light, his neat riding clothes making him look even more upright. He looked at her, who was wearing a coarse cotton skirt but could not hide her beauty, and finally spoke.
"The journey to Mingzhou is long and arduous, with mountains high and roads paved with dangers. Since the new emperor has ordered a manhunt, the road ahead will surely be crisscrossed with traps. Bringing your younger siblings along is like walking on thin ice with your young child; you are in danger of falling."
He took a step forward, his eyes calm, "Follow me, I'll take you to Beishuo."
"In Beishuo, you will be an unrivaled and noble consort. No one will dare to bully you. Why suffer the hardship of wandering here?"
He is the Khan of Beishuo, and he can indeed do it, enough to give her the most stable honor.
Ning Lingyi was slightly stunned.
After not seeing each other for nearly a year, the man in front of her, her fiancé, exuded an imperial aura that became even heavier and deeper.
A Khan left behind his state affairs, braved the danger, and traveled thousands of miles to marry her. If this affection and favor were recorded in a storybook, it would be enough to make all the women in the world envious.
But it happened at this moment.
She raised her head and met his deep gaze, her eyes clear and firm, without a trace of hesitation: "Khan, I am deeply grateful for your kindness."
"However, my father is paralyzed in bed, like a withered tree; my brother, the Crown Prince, has committed suicide out of hatred; Prince Yong has stolen the sacred artifact; my mother is still in the deep palace of the capital, treading on thin ice; Ji'er is mentally retarded, and Sister-in-law Shen is trapped in the cold palace; Yan and Lingyao are still very young...
"At this time when our country is destroyed, our families are ruined, and our flesh and blood are separated, how can I, as a daughter, a sister, and an aunt, give up all this and go to Beishu alone to enjoy the so-called honor?"
"If I follow the Khan to Beishuo now, coveting the honors of the Grand Concubine, and abandoning my loved ones to danger, how can Lingyi live as a human being and find peace of mind?"
Tuoba Hong looked at her in silence, his brow furrowed slightly. He understood her responsibility, but he couldn't fully identify with her seemingly pointless struggle. In his eyes, the Southern Dynasty was in a dead end. What could a woman with several children do to change it? It would only add to the hardships and dangers.
Ning Lingyi understood the disapproval in his eyes. She took a deep breath and asked more directly and pointedly, "Perhaps the Khan is asking if he could send troops to the Southern Dynasty to avenge me?"
Tuoba Hong stopped talking and remained silent.
Send troops? That would mean war between the two countries.
How would she, as the Grand Consort of Beishuo and a princess of the Southern Dynasty, cope with the blood feud between the two nations? Would she help Beishuo destroy her homeland? Or would she abandon Beishuo and protect the Southern Dynasty? Either path would lead to a dead end.
The last glimmer of light in Ning Lingyi's eyes dimmed, and she slowly shook her head: "So, thank you Khan for your kindness. But at this moment, I really can't let go of all this and enjoy the glory with Khan. I beg Khan to help me." She bent her knees slightly and saluted with a respectful attitude.
Tuoba Hong's eyes darkened completely. He stared at her drooping eyelashes, his heart churning with confusion and even more with a sense of irritation at being unable to control her. He was used to giving orders, used to controlling everything, even her fate.
The wind blew through the valley, bringing with it the chill of late autumn.
After a long moment, Tuoba Hong's frown seemed to relax a little. He spoke slowly, his voice low and emotionless: "The journey to Mingzhou is difficult and dangerous."
Ning Lingyi raised her head, her eyes firm: "Yes, but you must go."
Tuoba Hong looked at her and finally nodded: "Okay. I'll give you a ride."
He didn't say anything else, but just cast his gaze into the depths of the vast mountains.
Ning Lingyi felt a little relieved. Although she was a little surprised that he agreed so easily, the pressure she had been under in recent days left her no time to think too much about it. She just thought that he understood her persistence.
She bowed again, "Thank you, Khan."
Tuoba Hong said nothing, but his confusion only deepened. What woman in the world doesn't cling to tall trees for shade? Enjoying all the splendor is the right path.
Why is she the only one who would rather break off a lonely branch and jump into the abyss?
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