Barbarian's Wife
Chapter Ten
Not long after the ceremony, before Lan Feiyu and I could even exchange a few words, a young man, also bare-chested but with far fewer ornaments than Prince Asa, came to inform us that the eldest prince had also arrived and that we should hurry back.
Lan Feiyu's expression changed, and she coldly replied with a local phrase. The man bowed, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
I'm a little worried about my older brother. The eldest prince has also come. What's going on? I've heard that most barbarians are as fiery as fire, but they are princes after all. If they're so proud of their status, they wouldn't just start fighting in front of my older brother, would they?
If a fight really breaks out, wouldn't the older brother become an innocent bystander? Even without physical violence, if it's just a war of words and a head-to-head confrontation, it won't be easy to force the older brother to make a choice.
Thinking of this, I pulled Lan Feiyu along, saying, "Let's hurry back and take a look."
"Okay...but Xi'er, you have to promise me that no matter what Amuyue...the eldest prince says, you must never get angry in front of him. He's the most petty and holds grudges."
As I agreed, I wondered what could possibly anger this prince.
He said I was his older brother's concubine? He already knows that's not true. Besides, with his older brother around, it's not my place to throw a tantrum.
Lan Feiyu is overthinking it.
However, as it turned out, Lan Feiyu was prescient. As soon as we entered the main hall, the eldest prince's cold laugh was already right in front of us, followed by his sinister words: "So the old master's daughter is so capable, hehe! Asa, don't you have enough women already? Want to do more?"
I didn't understand everything, but judging from the prince's disdainful expression, I was sure he had ill intentions towards me and Lan Feiyu. Moreover, there seemed to be something in his words that I really didn't want to hear. Before I could figure it out, my older brother chuckled and said, "Prince Asa is a hero with countless wives and concubines. I am humbled by him."
“Your Highness looks down on the wildflowers and weeds of our desolate lands.” Prince Xian Asa laughed without any joy. “Indeed, the capital is full of beauties, just look at Xinan, hahaha!”
The older brother glanced at me, a slight smirk playing on his lips—a clear sneer: "My marriage is not a matter for me to decide; how can I be as carefree and romantic as the two princes?"
“That’s right, that’s right!” Xian Asa nodded and smiled. Prince Amuyue, who was standing to the side, was stunned at first, but after a while, he probably felt that it would be inappropriate not to laugh along, so he also threw his head back and laughed loudly, which directly drowned out Prince Xian Asa.
I was still confused. I looked at my older brother, but he didn't look at me. Then I turned to Lan Feiyu, and she noticed me and gave me a forced smile.
Next came the time for the men to talk loudly, while I, besides being mute, also pretended to be a fool, silently wearing a fake smile and sitting quietly behind the older brother.
Lan Feiyu didn't even have a seat. She stood with her hands hanging down behind the second prince, Xian Asa. She didn't look like the old king's daughter at all. They clearly treated her like a maid.
I'm angry, but if I were to use that trick again now, I reckon my older brother would turn on me right then and there.
These important figures, however, kept chatting about trivial matters of pleasure, going on and on. My only takeaway was the shock that my older brother was no stranger to womanizing. I wondered if my uncle would be furious if he saw him in such a carefree manner.
Well, I don't think I've ever seen my uncle angry. Both he and my mother can intimidate me with just their eyes. If my mother's eyes well up with tears, my uncle's gaze will turn cold. I have no choice but to admit my mistakes and beg for forgiveness.
well……
I secretly glanced at Lan Feiyu, who also looked at me from time to time. Every time our eyes met, she would smile.
This is someone who can bring me joy just by looking at them.
I shamelessly thought of the phrase "exchanging glances," and wow, being educated really makes a difference.
Yeah, shameless.
Finally, after much effort, the conversation drifted from beautiful women to fine wine, and then from fine wine to hunting. Prince Amuyue finally invited his older brother to go hunting at the hunting grounds the next day. The older brother readily agreed, and the two laughed heartily at each other, raising their cups in a hearty drink—how much wine had they already drunk? Why weren't their stomachs full yet? And why was no one going to the latrine?
Finally, the two princes stood up at the same time and bid farewell to their elder brother.
Seeing that these three were even walking rather unsteadily, I couldn't help but hope that one of them would fall to the ground and be unable to get up, so that I could gloat and reward myself for sitting and waiting for so long.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that the smell of alcohol emanating from them could be detected from about ten miles away, the princes still left the mansion without any trouble. Lan Feiyu naturally followed along. Before leaving, she slightly raised her arm to me, which warmed my heart. I nodded firmly to her.
From this day forward, she and I are sworn sisters, vowing to share joys and sorrows, and to live and die together.
After seeing the two princes off, the older brother returned to the main hall. His face became serious, and his previous drunkenness vanished. I watched from the side, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Xiao Xi, after Lan Feiyu took you away, did she say anything to you?"
He had someone pour him a glass of water, and while drinking it, he dismissed everyone else, leaving only me to ask questions.
I couldn't help but ask curiously, "Big brother, don't you need to relieve yourself?"
The older brother glared at me, so I had no choice but to ignore the topic and replied with an awkward smile, "He didn't say anything... Ah, he just asked if I wanted to be her sister, and I could be the older sister."
"How will you answer?" My older brother's expression made me even more certain that this was a question that needed to be taken very seriously. I dared not hide anything and told him everything about my sworn brotherhood with Lan Feiyu.
Unfortunately, the way my older brother looked at me was definitely not one of praise.
He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before sighing, "Xiao Xi, the timing of your coming out with me this time was really bad."
"That princess..." It was my turn to ask, and I was almost impatient. "If this nonsense gets back to the capital, won't it embarrass my uncle again?"
My older brother finally showed me some appreciation, but his expression instantly turned serious: "It's better to act in a time of crisis and go back to apologize to the Emperor than to watch you become the wife of a barbarian."
My jaw dropped to the ground.
“A barbarian's wife? Who, who! Who dares!” After I struggled to straighten my jaw, I still stammered and couldn’t speak fluently. Words could not express my anger, so I jumped up.
“Your illness came at just the right time, and I arranged for you to go to the clinic, where there was plenty of medicine, so that it would be more convenient for you to take care of yourself. Who would have thought that the two princes somehow heard that you came here specifically to get married, and that your husband was the ruler of Bozhou. If they hadn’t been wary of your status, I’m afraid you would have been violated while you were sick.”
I can no longer speak.
The elder brother frowned deeply: "Now you know the trouble, right? My trip was originally to reward the chieftains of the border barbarians and to demonstrate the benevolence of our great nation. Although my attendants are all elite soldiers, they number less than ten thousand. If they launch an attack, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out for long. Once the position of ruler of Bozhou changes again, those two princes will both demand the imperial edict of investiture from the Celestial Empire, and you and I will inevitably become their hostages. Even if the Emperor sends a large army to flatten Bozhou, you, Xiaoxi, will already be one of their wives, and possibly even a concubine."
Then, Lan Feiyu's sisters... could it be...?
I dare not, and do not want to, think about it further.
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