Chapter 46
After the two men ran away, Ashina Yu pulled Shen Aheng towards the room, his steps were very slow, and his voice was low: “Don’t rush out suddenly in the future, what if something happens?”
There was a subtle hint of fear in his tone, and his eyes were on her, as if he was afraid that she would disappear from his sight again like she had done before him.
After entering the door, he fastened the latch and turned to help her tidy up her messed hair. The gloom in his eyes dissipated a little, but he still couldn't help but remind her: "Next time you hear any noise, just wait for me to come back, don't force yourself to come out."
Shen Aheng looked at his frown which had not yet been completely relaxed, and listened to his admonition with fear, and couldn't help wanting to laugh.
He was clearly lecturing others with a cold face just now, but now he is like a little animal that is afraid of losing its treasure. He is a little too nervous.
Shen Ah Heng pursed his lips hard to suppress his smile, then raised four fingers, looked at him seriously, and said, "Okay, okay, I swear, if I hear any noise again, I will definitely not rush out by myself, but wait for you to come back to deal with it, and I will never cause any trouble and make you worry!"
Ah Shinayu stared at the four fingers she raised, then looked at the smile hidden in her eyes, and sighed helplessly.
She was like this in the past, always nonchalant about everything, and could make light of any serious matter. But she made him worry from three years ago until now. Even though she was right next to him, he couldn't help but worry that she would cause another accident in the next second.
The uneasy thought at this moment is like a thin string, always stretched in my heart. I dare not relax for a moment, nor do I want to relax.
After all, he knew better than anyone that he wanted to hold on to her too much, and her kindness to him was perhaps more out of guilt, guilt for abandoning him for those three years and indulging him like a puppy that needed to be coaxed all the time.
No one cared as much as he did.
Ah Shi's throat tightened, and she reached out and gently pressed down her fingers, her voice softening a little: "Don't laugh so much, I'm really worried that something will happen to you."
Shen Aheng saw that he didn't speak again after pressing his fingers down, his eyelashes drooped, and even his voice was half softer. For a moment, he couldn't guess the reason for his sudden depression.
She didn't think much of it, thinking that he hadn't recovered from what had just happened, so she hooked her fingers around his and shook them gently, her tone a bit playful: "Okay, okay, I really remember this. I will wait for you obediently from now on and won't run around anymore. Look at you, your brows are almost twisted into a knot. Can you please stop being angry?"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently rubbed the wrinkles between his brows with her fingers, as if coaxing a naughty child, with soft patience in her eyes.
Ashina Yu felt a numbness between his eyebrows when she rubbed him. When he lowered his eyes to look at her, the corners of her eyes were slightly curved, and her big eyes were filled with warm light, even the curvature of her eyelashes was a little soft.
The gloom in Ah Shi's jade eyes slowly dissipated, and he suddenly felt that he was too greedy. Although he knew that her indulgence might be mixed with a bit of guilt, he still couldn't help but hold her hand tightly, wanting to keep her by his side.
He didn't respond, but just rubbed his fingertips lightly across her knuckles, and a low and hoarse "hmm" escaped from his throat.
Although the uneasiness in his heart had not completely disappeared, looking at her pair of gentle eyes, his heart suddenly became clear. In fact, he did not need to ask for too much. As long as she could stay by his side like this, it would be enough.
The next morning, the carriage sent by the Wulun Kingdom stopped outside the yard. The body of the carriage was wrapped in a thick wool blanket, and the wheels were wrapped with non-slip animal skins, looking very exquisite.
Ashina Yu helped Shen Aheng get into the car, and handed the heater to her before lifting the curtain and sitting down.
When the carriage started, Shen Ah Heng lifted the corner of the curtain and looked out. He saw that on the khaki street, people were wearing patched coarse clothes, hunching their shoulders and hurrying on their way.
A few children, so thin that they were just skeletons, were standing on the roadside, pulling a few people in brocade clothes to beg for something, but they were driven away by a guard with his hand on his sword, waving a whip. The children fell to the ground, and half a piece of dry and hard bread in their hands rolled to the feet of the guard, who crushed it to pieces with his foot.
Outside a pharmacy not far away, an old woman was sitting on the ground crying, with a young man lying next to her with a weak breath. However, no one came forward to help. They just stood far away, their eyes full of fear and numbness.
Shen Aheng couldn't bear to watch and said, "The officials here are so fierce."
Under the emperor's feet, the people lived such a miserable life. The officials had no regard for the law, whipped the unarmed children, and trampled on ordinary people.
Shen Aheng couldn't help but stretched out his hand to grab Ashina Yu's sleeve, and said anxiously: "Hurry up and stop the carriage. We still have a lot of dry food. Let's share some with the children and that mother-in-law."
Ashina Yu didn't say anything, just ordered outside the car: "Stop."
As soon as the carriage stopped, Shen Ah Heng jumped down with the dry food wrapped in oil paper. She handed the cakes to the children first, watched them nibble on them, and then turned to the old woman sitting on the ground. She squatted down and stuffed the remaining dry food into her arms. She then fished out the purse at her waist, took out all the banknotes inside, and gently placed them in the old woman's palm, saying, "Here, take it, treat your son's illness, and buy some hot food."
The old woman was stunned. Although she didn't understand the Central Plains dialect, she looked at the banknotes in her hand and suddenly knelt down and was about to kowtow.
Shen Ah Heng quickly supported her, smiled and shook his head: “Get up quickly, don’t be like this.”
The people around watched this scene and gathered around. Their originally numb faces finally had some light, and they cheered softly around Shen Ah Heng, and whispered their thanks in the Western language, their voices full of gratitude.
When Shen Ah Heng finished distributing the things and turned to walk towards the carriage, the group of people were still standing there waving their hands in gratitude.
Ashina Yu lifted the car curtain, reached out and pulled her into the car. His fingertips touched her slightly cold hand, and he silently covered it with his hand, then pushed the heater towards her.
Shen Ah Heng patted the crumbs on his hands and lifted the corner of the curtain to look back. Thinking of the appearance of the people on the street just now, he couldn't help but frowned: "The emperor of your Wulun country is too unreasonable. There are still people starving and being bullied under the feet of the emperor. If it were us in the Central Plains, someone would have stepped in to deal with it long ago. How could he let these guards be so lawless? He is too unworthy of being an emperor!"
Ashina Yu sat aside and listened quietly, his pale fingertips gently stroking the back of her slightly cold hand, and suddenly asked: "So, you don't like it here?"
Without thinking, Shen Aheng shook his head, his tone firm: "I don't like it! I thought the people in the Western Frontier were simple and honest, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Who knew... Life here is too hard, and the people don't live in peace at all. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't come here."
Ashina Yu didn't ask any more questions. He stared at her furrowed brows for a moment and said in a low and light voice, "I understand."
The carriage was silent for a moment, with only the sound of wheels rolling over the gravel road. His hands on his knees clenched slightly.
After a while, the carriage stopped at the gate of the palace, and Ashina Yu took Shen Aheng’s hand and went to the palace.
A scarlet carpet was laid outside the palace gate, and guards in silver armor stood on both sides. The pillars were made of pure gold, dazzling in the sun, making people unable to open their eyes. The wind chimes swaying on the eaves were all made of gold chains inlaid with gems. The luxury was ten times more exaggerated than the Central Plains Imperial Palace.
The Hu girls were waiting in the corridor holding pure gold wine jugs, the sound of ram's horns shook the whole area, and the banquet ceremony was lively and grand.
When the ceremonial drums stopped beating, the two men walked up the steps and saluted the throne.
Sitting high up in the sky, King Qu Shuzhi of Wulun, wearing a robe embroidered with gems, smiled and raised his hand to support the other side. He spoke in fluent Central Plains dialect, "No need to be so polite, the two of you. Today is a family dinner. You have come from afar, so please don't be shy. Just treat yourself as if you were at home and enjoy your food and drinks!"
As soon as they finished speaking, maids wearing pomegranate red short jackets with narrow sleeves came with roasted lamb legs and jade cups filled with wine and placed them on the table in front of the two people.
Shen Ah Heng saw the luxury in the palace, then looked at the food in front of him. The images of the people on the street wearing patched coarse clothes and the children holding crushed dry biscuits flashed before his eyes, and his appetite instantly dissipated.
She picked up the silver chopsticks and stirred the meat on the plate, then put it down after just two bites.
It is also the land of Wulun Kingdom. There is such extravagance in the palace, but people outside the palace cannot even have a full meal. In comparison, this table full of delicious food seems a bit dazzling.
Ashina Yu, who was sitting beside her, noticed something was wrong with her and handed her a cup of warm tea. He lowered his voice and said, "If you don't have an appetite, you can move less. Don't force yourself."
Shen Ah Heng hummed, and just as he was about to say something to Ashina Yu, Qu Shuzhi on the high seat suddenly smiled and spoke with a somewhat joking tone: "You are the girl from the Central Plains that Ashina Yu has been thinking about for three years, right?"
Shen Aheng was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously turned her head to look at Ashina Yu, and caught a flash of panic in his eyes. Ashina Yu's fingertips gently touched the back of her hand, as if to comfort her, but also as if to cover up, and the tip of her ear turned red quietly.
Seeing this, Qu Shuzhi laughed heartily. He turned his gaze to Ashina Yu, his words full of emotion: "Congratulations! Your dream has finally come true. Over the years, the girls chasing you have lined up from the palace gate to outside the city, but you didn't like any of them. Even when I asked to marry my daughter to you, you found excuses to refuse. It turns out you already have someone you love!"
He raised his glass towards Shen Ah Heng again, his tone full of admiration: “This girl is so smart and beautiful, no wonder you even look down on my daughter, haha, good taste!”
After saying this, Qu Shuzhi suddenly changed the subject and brought up business: "Your trip to the Central Plains this time was very successful. The tribute the Central Plains emperor gave us was much more than we expected."
There was a hint of contempt in his tone, as if he was saying, "The Emperor of Central Plains finally knows what's good for him," without any respect for Emperor Jianye.
Shen Ah Heng was originally blushing because of what he had just said, but when he heard this, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable, and the smile on his face faded.
As soon as Qu Shuzhi finished speaking, everyone in the hall looked over.
Ashina Yu showed no signs of excitement. He simply stood up, bowed slightly, and said calmly, "It's not because I'm capable, but because the Emperor of the Central Plains is interested in establishing friendly relations with the Wulun Kingdom and doesn't want to see further border disputes that would cause suffering to both nations. That's why he's willing to offer mutually beneficial terms."
With just one sentence, he pushed all the credit aside without taking any credit at all.
Qu Shuzhi waved his hand, his wine glass pausing lightly on the table, his tone full of disapproval: "You are simply too modest! In recent years, our Wulun Kingdom has been strong and powerful, with lush grass and strong horses, and no shortage of manpower and food!"
He suddenly changed the subject and looked at Ashina Yu with a burning gaze. "The leader of the Yaochen Sect is dying. You will officially take over the leadership position soon. The Yaochen Sect is a powerful ally of our country. With you leading the Yaochen Sect and our military strength, isn't it just a matter of time before we conquer the Central Plains?"
When the last few words came out, Qu Shuzhi's eyes were filled with excitement, as if he had already seen the inevitable victory.
Shen Ah Heng’s hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped, and he was completely stunned.
She never imagined that the "friendship" mentioned by Qu Shuzhi was all a cover, and it turned out that he had the ambition to invade the Central Plains!
As soon as Qu Shuzhi finished speaking, Ashina Yu slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, I have no desire for power, and I cannot bear to see the people of the two countries fall into war and fight each other. Therefore, I cannot agree to the position of the head of the Medicine Sect or the plan to invade the Central Plains."
He lowered his eyes slightly, his tone firm but respectful: "Your Majesty, please give up this idea and prioritize peace between our two countries."
After hearing this, Qu Shuzhi's smile instantly faded and his expression darkened: "So, you don't want to?"
Ashina Yu did not give in, but just nodded silently.
Seeing him like this, Qu Shuzhi suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with coldness: "Well, what a 'peace first' thing! For a girl from the Central Plains, are you even going to betray your own country?"
He slammed the armrest of the throne and raised his voice, "I won't force you. Go back and think carefully about whether the future of the Yaochen Sect will be destroyed by your own hands. Also, think clearly about how long this girl beside you can live in peace in the territory of Wulun without my tacit approval!"
On the way back, the car was so quiet that the only sound was the sound of the wheels rolling over the road.
Shen Ah Heng leaned against the window. When he thought of Qu Shuzhi's angry expression just now, and the words "Without my tacit consent, how long can you live in peace", his back felt cold and his fingertips trembled. At this moment, the back of his hand was suddenly wrapped in warmth.
Ashina Yu reached out and held her hand, gently stroking the back of her hand with his pale fingertips, with a gentle light in his eyes.
"Don't be afraid." His voice was low and steady, like a reassurance: "No matter what happens, I will protect you."
Shen Ah Heng looked up and met his gaze, which contained no hesitation, only a reassuring firmness.
Her tense shoulders slowly relaxed, and she nodded involuntarily. She held his hand in her backhand and said softly, "Well, I believe you."
When he returned to his residence, Ashina Yu expected that Shen Aheng had not eaten much at the banquet, so he ordered his servants to prepare some more food.
Not long after, there was a slight sound outside the door, and a hunched old servant came in carrying a wooden tray, still wearing the coarse cloth clothes that had been washed white.
Shen Ah Heng recognized him at a glance as the person she rescued in the corridor yesterday, and was a little surprised: "Hey, it's you, why are you the one who brought the food?"
The old servant lowered his head, his long, dry hair covering most of his face. He said nothing, but just waved his hand gently.
Shen Ah Heng was stunned: “You…you can’t speak?”
The old servant nodded slowly, placed the tray gently on the table with both hands, turned and left.
Shen Ah Heng was still staring at the old servant's back without coming back to his senses, when suddenly a faint voice came from beside him, like an ignored puppy: "Is it beautiful?"
When Shen Aheng turned around and saw Ashina's dark eyes, which contained a hint of grievance that was difficult to detect, he understood instantly and couldn't help but burst out laughing: "How can you be jealous of an old servant? I just think it's a coincidence and I'm a little curious."
Ashina Yu did not argue, but pulled her towards him, letting her get closer. The grievance in his eyes also dissipated a little, leaving only tenderness: "That won't work either. Your attention must be on me."
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of her favorite crystal cake and handed it to her mouth, his eyes shining as if they were filled with stars: "Eat first, okay?"
Shen Ah Heng couldn't help but laugh in his heart, why is this guy's jealousy getting stronger and stronger, but looking at the sparkling expectation in his eyes, he didn't want to make him unhappy because of such a small thing, so he obediently opened his mouth and ate the crystal cake.
In the middle of the night, Shen Ahheng subconsciously turned over and reached out to touch his side, but found nothing.
Usually at this time, Ashina Yu would hold her tightly and even turn over very carefully.
Shen Ah Heng woke up instantly, and with the moonlight coming in from the window, he glanced at the other side of the bed, and it was indeed empty.
Where is Ayu?
Shen Ah Heng waited for a while, but still didn't hear the familiar footsteps. He couldn't help but put on a coat, got out of bed, and gently opened the door to look for it.
The corridor was unusually quiet. Usually at this time of the day, there would always be disciples from the Medicine Sect standing guard downstairs, but today there was not a single person in sight, and even most of the lanterns in the yard were out.
Shen Ah Heng felt more and more strange in his heart and walked down the stairs.
In the past few days, she has been staying with Ashina Yu and has never gone out alone. She is very unfamiliar with the Yaochen Sect.
After leaving the residence, there were dark blue walls all along the way, covered with withered vines. Black banners were hung on the roofs of different heights, and the banners were painted with incomprehensible blood-red runes, like ghost eyes lurking in the darkness.
Shen Ahheng's heart was beating violently. He didn't dare to look too much along the way. He walked for an unknown period of time relying on his vague sense of direction. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a dark courtyard in front of him. There was a sticky green light, which made half of the sky glow with a strange green.
There was also an intermittent whimpering sound, like a clay pipe humming in the night wind, or like countless poisonous snakes drilling into the ears, making the hairs on one's body stand up.
Shen Ah Heng's heart tightened when he saw it, and his feet involuntarily walked over there.
As soon as I approached the courtyard wall, I heard an old and sinister voice coming from inside. It was a Western dialect with a cold and hard accent.
Shen Aheng's knowledge of the Western Region language was limited, and usually Ashina Yu communicated with her in the Central Plains dialect, but this time, she clearly caught a word.
The Western Region pronunciation of Ashina Yu's name.
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