Chapter 67 Drinking Snow (Part 7) He lowered his face to face her. ...
The rain fell heavily outside the window, and inside, a single lamp cast dim shadows.
Zhi Rou hesitated before getting up and looking around. She saw a table and chairs, curtains fluttering, and the room looked like an elegant pavilion, unlike any other camp.
Where is she?
"Awake?" Behind a round ebony table, the woman turned her gaze to look at her. "You're always out playing, you really don't give your father and me any peace of mind."
Zhi Rou was slightly taken aback: "Mother?"
Though there was something amiss in his heart, his body yearned to reach forward.
Unlike her memories before leaving Beijing, Lin He had a rosy complexion and a smile on her lips, looking as beautiful as a peach or plum.
"Mother, are you cured?" Zhi Rou sat down by the table, raised her eyebrows and looked at the person closely for a long time, but unfortunately the light was too dim, making her feel uneasy.
Lin He didn't answer her. Her warm fingers brushed across her brow, then her gaze fell, pointing to the fish soup on the table. "Are you hungry? Try this. Your father had it sent over."
Zhi Rou obediently picked up the spoon, stirred it slowly a couple of times, and ate while keeping her eyes glued to Lin He.
Seemingly amused, Lin He suddenly smiled. She followed suit, curving her lips and finishing the soup spoonful by spoonful.
As dawn broke, the figure in front of her gradually blurred. Zhi Rou panicked and reached out to grab the sleeve, but grasped nothing.
"Don't go... Mother!"
The surroundings were quiet, with occasional voices slipping in through the curtains. Zhi Rou suddenly opened her eyes.
My breathing was still rapid, and I lay on my back on the bed. It was all a dream.
She sat up, her gaze lingering blankly in the air for a long time before she got out of bed to dress, washed herself with water in a basin, and then went outside.
Outside, there was only a faint light, and wisps of smoke rose from the top of the tent, like a light veil.
"Miss Zhirou." A voice came from the side. Zhirou turned her head and saw Jingyao grabbing her skirt and running towards her. She stopped in front of her and smiled, "Did you just get up? Have you had breakfast?"
This was the second day that the group had lingered in Liangcheng.
Since Zhi Rou was transferred to Huai Xian's side, she has been separated from the attendants in terms of food and lodging. Not only that, Huai Xian does not require her to accompany and serve him, but treats her as someone to relieve boredom on the road, and occasionally summons her to the tent to chat.
Zhi Rou was initially very unwilling. How could she possibly submit to the culprit who had caused her to be separated from her family like a subject? But after thinking it over, she realized that she could only get to know the nobles of Bei Li by being by the princess's side.
Since it was in her own interest, Zhi Rou had toned down her sharp edges. Whenever Huai Xian asked her something, she would answer with a few words. After spending half a month together, there were very few unpleasant moments.
Someone carrying a lantern walked past the tent. Zhi Rou gathered her thoughts, shook her head, and asked again, "Sister, when will the group set off?"
Jing Yao was promoted to work for the princess because of Zhi Rou's influence. Zhi Rou held a nominal position, but Jing Yao actually served the princess.
"Your Highness has been sleeping poorly lately and is not feeling well. The imperial physician is treating you, and it is estimated that you will need to stay here for a few more days."
As Jingyao spoke, she took out a stack of sesame seed cakes from the food box and handed them to Zhirou, "Want some?"
She accepted it without hesitation, saying, "Thank you, sister."
In September, when autumn is in full swing, the climate in Liangcheng is not much different from that in the capital during winter.
Zhi Rou has always been sensitive to the cold, but fortunately everyone in the group was given winter clothes. Huai Xian made an exception for Zhi Rou and rewarded her with several sets of thick men's clothing. Right now, she was wearing a lake-blue cloak, which made her already fair face look even more listless.
"Miss doesn't look well. Are you ill?" Jingyao asked with concern.
Zhi Rou, still recovering from a nightmare, paused slightly upon hearing this before quickly replying, "No, I just..."
Before the words were finished, a beautiful figure came from afar, her gaze sweeping over Zhi Rou with a critical look, and she said with her chin raised, "Miss Song, His Highness invites you."
Liangcheng is separated from the northern desert by only one mountain. As the sun rises, golden rays descend one by one, casting long, slanted beams of light among the trees.
Huai Xian hadn't had a proper rest for days. The moment she closed her eyes, the figure that had suddenly attacked her in the tent that night seemed to be bound to her like a curse.
She wanted to thoroughly investigate the matter, but the Crown Prince repeatedly obstructed her, as if he were afraid of ruining the alliance between the two countries.
Yanliu was loyal to her, yet she couldn't even deal with a thief to appease his spirit. Because of this, Huaixian couldn't eat or sleep. Today, she went to the forest for some fresh air and saw birds and beasts roaming around. Unexpectedly, she was in high spirits and called Zhirou over.
Hearing a voice behind him, Huai Xian turned her gaze away.
After that night, the number of people guarding her increased by half. Zhi Rou walked out from among them and curtsied to her.
Huai Xian's gaze never left the newcomer. After arranging Zhi Rou to be by his side, things were indeed slightly different. She rarely used flowery language anymore, and her words carried a more respectful tone.
"Your Highness," Zhi Rou said, lowering her head.
Huai Xian casually asked, "Does Miss Song know how to hunt?"
"Your Highness, I hunted a few rabbits in the mountains when I was young." Zhi Rou lifted her eyes and silently looked at her for a while. "Your Highness seems to be in much better spirits. Will you be setting off tomorrow?"
That was really inappropriate; it sounded like urging someone to do something.
Huai Xian glanced at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "Miss Song, are you unwilling to stay in Yan for even a day longer?"
"I am like a drifting duckweed, adrift wherever I am. It would be better to leave my homeland sooner rather than later, so as to avoid adding to my worries."
She responded naturally, as if she hadn't even thought about it, let alone hesitated. Huai Xian was taken aback. For some reason, she felt that Huai Xian was mocking her. Her docility a few days ago was just an act, and Huai Xian was still holding a grudge about being forced into a marriage alliance with her.
A gust of wind swept by, ruffling Huai Xian's robes. She smoothed them down without a word, her eyes scanning the woods below for a while before she suddenly suggested, "Why don't we hunt rabbits and see who catches them first? If you win, I will inform His Highness the Crown Prince that we will set off at sunrise tomorrow."
"Your Highness!" The palace maid who had brought Zhi Rou exclaimed in surprise. The princess had just been distressed and physically exhausted by the matter of Yan Liu, and the imperial physician had instructed her to rest well. How could she change her schedule for a mere subject's daughter?
Huai Xian glanced at her, and she could only lower her eyes sullenly.
Zhi Rou glanced at her, then looked back at Huai Xian for a moment before bowing and saying, "I will certainly not disappoint Your Highness."
Lacking bows and arrows, Huai Xian ordered his guards to fetch them. The leader remarked that this was against protocol, his words carrying a hint of admonition.
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, and being disappointed by others, Huai Xian said angrily, "It's just a matter of needing six arrows and two bows, yet you've gone to such lengths. Then go and ask His Highness the Crown Prince for instructions. I'll wait for you here."
Even if she was a princess appointed halfway through her life, her prestige still surpassed his. The leader hesitated for a moment, then finally agreed, clasped his hands in greeting, and left.
Upon returning, Zhi Rou and Huai Xian each received three feathered arrows and a bow.
Without a horse, the maidservants thickly covered Huai Xian's legs and feet to prevent chafing. Zhi Rou, of course, didn't need these restrictive things. She took off her cloak and gave it to Jing Yao, then stretched her muscles to the side.
Huai Xian's hands, which were used to playing the zither for many years, could unexpectedly also draw a bow. She pulled the bowstring and turned to Zhi Rou, saying, "Miss Song is a martial arts practitioner, so her archery skills must be exquisite as well. Why don't you let me shoot an arrow, as a fair treat?"
Zhi Rou had never experienced Huai Xian's archery skills and dared not presume to be superior. She pondered for a moment and said, "This humble woman dares not speak presumptuously. Since this is just a normal competition, I hope Your Highness will show mercy."
Huai Xian sneered, "At such a young age, where did you learn such official jargon?" Anyone who didn't know better would think she had been immersed in the palace for years and could spout nonsense so easily.
"You all stay away, lest you disturb my prey." Huai Xianchong ordered the guards and palace servants, then glanced at Zhi Rou, "Miss Song, please."
Zhi Rou did not move.
She didn't want to go first.
You could say she was being polite, or you could say she was wary. In any case, Huai Xian was dissatisfied with Zhi Rou's actions again. She frowned and stepped out first.
The soft sunlight made the forest seem like a fairyland, and the leather boots rustled slowly on the fallen leaves.
Zhi Rou listened intently to her surroundings, needing to be wary of Huai Xian while also hunting the rabbit before her, so she never strayed too far from her.
Suddenly, an autumn wind blew by, and a dark shadow darted into the forest. Zhi Rou immediately nocked an arrow, squinted her eyes, aimed at it, and released her finger. With a "whoosh," the black arrow sped away into the distance.
But the shot missed.
Zhi Rou remained calm, drew the bowstring again, and in the blink of an eye, another arrow flew out, accompanied by a low "thump" sound. This time, she did not miss.
The smile that had just begun to curve at the corners of her lips vanished in an instant due to the commotion, and she quickly turned around: "Your Highness, be careful!"
Before Huai Xian could react, she felt as if she had been slammed backward by something powerful. She looked down and saw a bone arrow pierce through her skirt and pin it firmly to the ground.
Huai Xian was still in shock when Zhi Rou nocked the last arrow. As the man drew his bow at the princess again, she immediately released the arrow, and the two arrows collided, wiping the man's arrow away.
Then, she ran up to Huai Xian and tore off her skirt.
The sound of the brocade tearing brought Huai Xian's soul back to her body. She felt utterly humiliated but could not retaliate. Zhi Rou had already stood up and grabbed her wrist, saying, "Go quickly!"
No one expected that a perfectly good hunt would turn into a flight. The scene from that night seemed to reappear. Huai Xian was terrified, her body felt like it was filled with lead, and every movement was extremely difficult.
Hearing the commotion, the palace servants who were serving nearby immediately stepped forward to protect the princess, shouting for guards.
Unfortunately, they went too far, and the guards couldn't come to their aid in time. As if toying with them, the man shot arrows at their feet, even knocking off Huai Xian's boots.
What superb archery skills! If that person wanted to kill her, it would have been an easy task.
Zhi Rou refused to travel with them any longer. She had already done more than enough for Huai Xian, and her mother was still waiting for her to come home. She couldn't afford to have anything go wrong.
Thinking this, she changed her pace and took another route.
Unexpectedly, the person behind her suddenly changed their mind, and the bone arrow flew through the air, grazed her earlobe, and solemnly embedded itself in the tree trunk.
Zhi Rou froze, a burning sensation filling her right ear, and beads of blood dripped onto her shoulder, spreading into bright red spots.
The man's target was clearly not her, and besides, the arrow was aimed at Huai Xian, so there was no blood on it.
Zhi Rou clenched her fist and turned to stand still.
The light and shadow danced, like a layer of light smoke.
The surroundings were extremely quiet. Apart from the sounds of Huai Xian and the others leaving, not even the sound of birds flying in the forest could be heard.
The man walked very quietly, making it difficult for Zhi Rou to pinpoint his location. However, her intuition told her that he was approaching and could appear in her field of vision at any moment.
The intense pressure made her muscles tense as she secretly calculated that if she could stall for even half an incense stick's time, the guards would surely find her.
Such waiting was nothing short of torture. Zhi Rou seemed oblivious to time, holding her breath and staring intently ahead.
Finally, a young man emerged from view, wearing a narrow-sleeved robe, carrying no bow or arrow. The sunlight shone on him, highlighting the tall and upright figure of his mature body.
“You are not Han Chinese.” Zhi Rou made the judgment almost immediately.
Although he was unarmed, his sharp aura was impossible to conceal. She was certain that this was the man who had drawn his bow and shot an arrow at her.
Zhi Rou recalled the night she went to see Physician Zhao; the main tent was heavily guarded, and just a few days later, Huai Xian looked unwell when he summoned her; initially, those arrows were also aimed at Huai Xian...
This has happened twice; could it be that the Northern Li delegation is deliberately sabotaging the marriage alliance?
Zhi Rou's heart was pounding, and she mumbled something incoherently to stall for time: "If what you're asking for is Princess Huai Xian, I can help you."
The man walked towards her step by step, his face revealed in the sunlight, even more beautiful and clear than when he had appeared from afar.
His features were strong, but his eyes, hidden by long eyelashes, held a hint of childish ignorance. He seemed impatient to hear her speak, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze never leaving her for a moment.
Is this person mute? Or does he not understand what she is saying?
Thinking of this, Zhi Rou paused in her breath.
This wasn't a prank; this person wanted to capture her alive.
Zhi Rou couldn't spare the thought to consider the reason. Seeing him approach, she immediately pulled out a short knife from her sleeve and stabbed at the newcomer.
The man reacted quickly, dodging her attack, but his finger was cut and bled.
Enhe lowered his eyes for a moment, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.
He kept talking, and he still thinks he's like the Han emperor, afraid to use force.
Seeing the fierce look on the young man's face, Enhe's chest seemed to boil. Qingsi's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He moved swiftly, and even without weapons, his attacks were so fierce that they were difficult to deal with.
Zhi Rou had never hurt anyone before, and her knife attacks aimed at his chest were all deflected halfway, leaving her with no advantage. In the end, she was forced to retreat repeatedly, which inevitably made her a little annoyed.
She clenched her fists tightly and, taking advantage of the opening, slashed at the man's throat with the back of the knife. Enhe was startled and dodged to the side, grabbing her wrist with his left hand and her shoulder with his other, slamming her to the ground.
Feeling a sharp pain in her back, Zhi Rou bit her lip, no longer caring about the fear in her heart, and held the short knife to his neck.
Enhe's pupils contracted slightly, then he grabbed her wrist and twisted it forcefully, like suppressing prey. Zhi Rou's hand was pinned to the ground by him, and she was already in pain, but now she was even more unable to move.
The sunlight enveloped her, her deep, beautiful eyes set beneath her long eyebrows, like snow, both cold and bright.
Enhe finally had a chance to observe her properly. He leaned down to face her, and the thing he was wearing around his neck fell off and rubbed against the bridge of her nose.
It is a string of animal tooth beads.
Zhi Rou turned her face away. He couldn't understand Mandarin, so she simply stopped talking and waited while looking for an opportunity.
Enhe's brows furrowed slightly; the young man was silent and proud, reminding him of his rivals on the grasslands. But... are all the men of Yan so fair-skinned? The more he looked, the more the person beneath him seemed like a girl.
He turned Zhi Rou's face, and with a slow movement of his thumb, lifted her chin along the edge of her jawbone, while his other hand reached for her collar.
Zhi Rou was taken aback. Where had she ever seen such a reckless and rude person? Before she could make a move, he had already torn off her collar and thrown it aside. The cold wind clung to her collar, and Zhi Rou shivered.
Enhe's gaze lingered on her smooth neck, and he remained silent.
A moment later, he chuckled softly, his clear features relaxing, and said something in a language she couldn't understand.
“Hoo hoo.”①
The author's note: ① Mongolian word for "girl".
Some of the names used in Beili are borrowed from Mongolian, but Beili in the text is not the same as Mongolia. If any customs or celebrations have a real source, I will mark it in the author's notes. If not, they are all my own creations and serve the purpose of the plot.
There are mountains of personal interpretations! (Pay attention!)
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