Chapter 73 Drinking Snow (Thirteen) Heading south was an opportunity for her…
It was snowing when we arrived at the royal tent.
On the second day of the eleventh month, just three or four days before the originally scheduled wedding date, the Khan of Beili had no intention of moving the royal tent too far from the royal court's residence. Based on this alone, everyone believed that the Khan was not sincere about marrying Princess Yan.
As more people talked about it, the words naturally reached Huai Xian's ears. To avoid showing her emotions, she tried to avoid people and stayed in the carriage for a long time until the yurt was built before she showed herself.
Zhi Rou thus gained a few days of free time. She and Jing Yao memorized the customs of Bei Li. Ma Tongshi praised them repeatedly, saying that they were clever and quick-witted and would surely be able to protect the princess.
The wind blew snowflakes into people's robes, and the clouds seemed to shrink, almost within reach.
Further on, several felt tents can be vaguely seen in the distance, which must be the Khan's residence. The tents are magnificent and grand, like palaces and fortresses.
The messengers, who had been shuttling back and forth, had already informed the Khan of the Yan entourage's itinerary. Knowing that they would arrive today, the Beili people, fully prepared, lined up and came over as soon as they saw the princess's carriage, showing their eagerness to welcome her.
Zhi Rou observed her surroundings discreetly and soon saw Alamusu ride forward on horseback, ordering someone to open the carriage door and let Huai Xian down.
She endured it all, her already pale face hardening even more. As she bent down to come out, her gaze deliberately swept over him, revealing a hostile intent.
The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as Huai Xian straightened her clothes and adjusted her veil, when a burly figure tumbled off the horse.
It is the Northern Khan.
He wasn't as old as I'd imagined; his cheeks were slightly sunken, his features were well-defined, and his hawk-like eyes shone brightly, making it difficult to look him in the eye. Just standing there, his figure and bearing resembled that of a king of the grasslands.
Huai Xian was taken aback and remained silent for a few breaths.
It is said that when he was young, he followed the previous Khan to fight in various places. At the age of sixteen, he killed more than thirty people by himself. Since then, he has repeatedly made great achievements. When other tribes on the grassland heard his name, they were terrified, as if they had heard the roar of a tiger.
The man stood before Huai Xian, his eyes narrowed, like a beast scrutinizing its newly acquired prey. Huai Xian's heart pounded, and she dared not utter a sound.
Ma Tongshi translated for the two of them, and Zhi Rou lowered her eyes, feeling a sense of unreality.
At this moment, she was standing in a foreign land.
Zhi Rou frowned deeply, already contemplating returning to the capital from the grasslands. With no food or horses, and so many people patrolling the border, she would die if she set off rashly.
I can't run away. Zhi Rou repeatedly told herself this in her heart.
To leave the grasslands, she needed to find someone she could entrust with her mission.
The sounds of the two countries exchanging pleasantries crawled into her ears like insects. Zhi Rou pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and met the gaze of a man beside the Khan.
He didn't flinch, but instead stared at her silently, his gaze fixed on her with a hint of scrutiny.
Zhi Rou recognized him; he was an advisor to the seventeenth prince named Su Du. After the Khan arrived, he bypassed the prince's left and stood next to the Khan.
He is not the prince's man.
Su Du's gaze lingered on Zhi Rou's face for a moment, his eyes deep and unwavering. After a short while, his gaze fell upon En He.
The Khan spoke a few words to Huai Xian and asked her to remove her veil. Huai Xian complied, though she was afraid, she held her chin high.
Seeing her putting on airs like a princess, the Khan laughed heartily, a laugh that seemed to see through her, but he didn't say anything.
Seeing that the conversation was over, Alamusu stepped forward: "Father Khan, Enhe has gone south without permission and has been delaying his arrival to join us! This behavior is clearly an act of rebellion..."
"Shut up." The Khan interrupted him, glancing sideways and staring at Enhe's slightly awkward braided hair for a moment. "You two did a good job bringing the beautiful Princess Yan here. That's all."
Upon hearing this, Alamusu's cheeks hardened slightly, and he glared angrily at Enhe.
He shrugged innocently, but his eyes held a smile that seemed more like self-mockery than sarcasm.
His father ignored the fact that he had left the grassland without permission, seemingly protecting him, but he knew that his father was just reluctant to punish Alamusu.
Enhe was used to being treated unfairly and no longer felt any resentment. However, he had a personal grudge against Alamusu and would fight him until he got revenge.
The interpreter, Ma, would not convey the internal conflicts of their steppe to the princess. When the Khan waved his hand and summoned them to the tent, he gestured to Huai Xian with his sleeve and said, "Your Highness, please."
Watching them leave, Enhe smiled slightly. He stepped in front of Alamusu and shook his head gently: "Aha, you were in such a hurry. Didn't you wait until I left to report to Father Khan? I'm heartbroken by what you've done."
Alamusu, impatient with his provocation, flipped his hand across Alamusu's chest and said coldly, "Get out of here."
Enhe was shameless and seemed even more heartless. After everyone left, he raised his hand to stop Su Du, wanting to thank him: "Come drink with me."
Throughout the entire grassland, apart from Ao Yun and Xi Mule, only Su Du knows that he is particularly skilled in archery.
Everyone thought his archery skills were mediocre, so when he was in Yan territory, he used Sudu's name as a pretext to tease the Yan princess, and no one suspected him. When his father told Alamusu to shut up, Sudu didn't say a word, as if he had tacitly agreed, leaving him to suffer in silence.
Although Enhe and Sudu were rivals, they could occasionally find a tacit understanding of tolerance between them.
"There will be drinks tonight." Su glanced at him for a moment, his tone teasing, "I heard that a Han Chinese cut off the prince's hair. How careless."
Upon hearing Song Zhirou's name, Enhe's expression suddenly turned serious. She looked at him directly for a moment before lowering her hand.
The wedding was to be held that evening, and the Khan's wife brought female slaves and jewelry and silverware given by the Khan to help Huai Xian dress up.
The woman at the head of the group had a beautiful face, but was three cycles older than Huai Xian; she was Alamusu's birth mother. Beside her, a woman with lowered eyebrows and drooping eyes, who looked somewhat timid, was the Khan's first wife.
They sat on the felt rug and, seeing Princess Yan being manipulated like a puppet, couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
After all, in the Northern Li Royal Court, only women who possess both wealth and wisdom can pose a threat to them. The sheep-like Princess Yan is harmless in their eyes.
Zhi Rou silently observed the Khan's two wives, wanting to approach them but unwilling to take off her men's clothing.
She hadn't thought anything of it before, but now, given the current situation, Qing Tang couldn't stand the sight of her in the princess's tent. So she went over and said, "Miss Song, either change your clothes, or just leave."
Zhi Rou hesitated for a moment, then left the yurt.
At this moment, the sky is ablaze with rosy clouds, and starlight flows slowly across the colorful heavens.
A campfire was lit outside the main tent, and one could vaguely see the Khan talking and laughing with several valiant young men. Soldiers were stationed around the outermost circle, making it quite tranquil compared to the noisy surrounding tents.
Before long, she saw Enhe stride forward from behind the torch and say to the Khan, "Father Khan, let me go."
Zhi Rou was somewhat confused.
A cold wave was approaching on the grasslands, and in theory, it shouldn't cause any conflict with the surrounding areas. But judging from the appearance of those people, her intuition told her they were a group of military generals.
Suddenly, a voice rang out beside her.
What are you looking at?
Su Du stood not far away, holding a bow and arrow, coldly watching Zhi Rou.
“This is not a place for you. Men drink in those felt tents over there.” Su Du said, turning his back, his plain robe still looking sharp in the firelight.
Zhi Rou followed suit, her gaze quickly sweeping over his face: "Are you from the Central Plains?"
As if she had heard something amusing, Su glanced at her sideways, her expression somewhat sarcastic: "You are the one from the Central Plains."
“You don’t have an accent,” Zhi Rou commented.
A moment later, she furrowed her brow slightly. "Those yurts over there...do we really have to drink?"
Where glasses clink, trouble is most likely to arise, and she didn't want to get involved.
“You don’t drink alcohol,” Su Du chuckled softly, glancing at her again for a moment, “Then you should be with the child.”
Zhi Rou stopped and stopped following.
The wedding was held in the open space in front of the large tent.
Huai Xian donned the wedding attire of a grassland tribe, her hair and neck adorned with dazzling jewelry. Supported by an elder, she walked onto the felt carpet to greet the Khan.
The onlookers cheered and jumped for joy, and when the shaman gave them blessings, they all chanted an ancient ballad.
Zhi Rou stood in the crowd and felt a sense of calm for no reason, as if the snow falling from the sky had fallen into her heart and frozen all her uneasy feelings.
However, marriage alliances ultimately cannot bring lasting peace.
The following spring, the air above the royal court was thick with the stench of blood, and the men were rubbing their hands together, excited for the upcoming war.
Why? What is it about me that I can't compare to Urentuya?
Thinking of Song Zhirou's smooth-talking demeanor among the alien races, Huai Xian's expression hardened. He slowly straightened his back, his eyes gradually gathering a complexion.
She raised her hand and called to Qingtang: "Go and find out what the Seventeenth Prince has been busy with lately, and also... Song Zhirou."
People who are good at planning are often meticulous and quick-witted.
Zhi Rou could see clearly that Bei Li had been conserving his energy all winter, preparing for war.
Although she didn't know whether this was a tribal war or a southward march into the Central Plains, it was an opportunity for her.
She wanted to go with them.
Three months have passed since Huai Xian's wedding to the Khan, and Zhi Rou, En He, and others have become quite familiar with each other.
She initially disliked Enhe.
He was savage, rude, and vindictive, like a snarling lynx in the forest. Every time Zhi Rou saw him, she would pretend to be blind or deaf, doing everything in her power to avoid associating with him.
On another occasion, he had likely angered the Khan again. In front of the ministers, the Khan threw the whip to Alamusu, ordering him to carry it out. Zhirou, accompanying Urentuya, passed by the royal tent and heard the fierce sound of the whip cracking from within. His brow furrowed slightly.
That night, Urentuya took the witch doctor to visit Enhe, and Zhirou also went.
His tent was spacious, with whips and various saddles in one corner, but no bow was visible.
It is said that every man in Beili possesses two bows, made by their fathers and brothers, symbolizing their bravery.
Seeing Urentuya approach, Enhe unceremoniously pulled up his outer robe and called out to her with a smile, "Eji③".
He seemed to have never been injured, his shoulders and back were straight, and his face had a bright and lively expression.
Although she wasn't his biological mother, Urentuya felt some affection for him, her eyes rolling behind him for a long time: "How many times did you get hit?"
Enhe's smile froze for a moment, but when you looked again, the stiffness was gone, and he was back to his carefree self: "Who will count them?"
Zhi Rou hadn't intended to look at En He, but when she caught a glimpse of his forced smile out of the corner of her eye, her gaze lingered.
Just as Ao Yun said, their nineteenth prince was pitiful, hateful, and also suffered a lot.
So after that day, when Enhe tried to talk to her again, she agreed.
Having built up a relationship over two months, Zhi Rou boldly went to see En He just as Bei Li was about to send troops.
She said she wanted to go with them.
He disagreed.
Under the rising smoke, yellow butterflies fluttered around the sheep, while Enhe watched Zhirou warily. She was undoubtedly clever, but also cunning.
Therefore, he replied very bluntly: "You are from Yan, bringing you along is useless. You will harm us."
With his words, Zhi Rou confirmed that they were going to the Central Plains.
She argued her case forcefully, but Enhe remained unmoved.
The meeting ended badly, and Enhe saw her again five days later.
Every spring, horse races are held on the grasslands to select the most capable and courageous men.
Since Zhi Rou followed Urentuya, all the prominent figures in the royal court had met her, knew her identity, and naturally knew that she was a girl.
None of the princes appeared; they had other important matters to attend to.
One of Alamusu's men was considered the favorite in this horse race. When he saw Zhirou, he spoke to her with disdain, not taking her seriously at all.
Zhi Rou wasn't usually combative, but that day she acted very strangely. She retorted with a few sarcastic remarks in Mandarin, and during the contest, she was even more competitive, winning by half a horse's length.
A dignified man of the grasslands was outshone by a woman from the Yan Kingdom. Alamusu didn't say anything, but he was still very unhappy. It was at this moment that Huai Xian's people came looking for him.
The results of the horse race reached Enhe's tent, where he was preparing for his journey south the next day.
Upon hearing this, he frowned: "Is she sick?"
Ao Yun nodded: "The witch doctor said she was bitten by a snake. Whether she can wake up depends on these two days."
There had never been a snake in the royal court, let alone anyone bitten by one.
However, he didn't believe that Song Zhirou would deliberately compete with the people of Alamusu out of momentary impatience. But then he thought, since he wouldn't allow her to go south with the army, it wasn't impossible that she wanted to vent her frustrations.
I secretly went to see her twice, and her face was completely lifeless. Enhe placed the herbs she had picked beside her pillow, stood silently for a while, and then turned and left.
As night falls, heroic battle songs resound across the grasslands, illuminated by the flickering firelight.
The soldiers gathered around the fire, roasting freshly slaughtered mutton. Laughter and songs mingled together, creating a lively and celebratory atmosphere.
Halfway through the banquet, someone got up to wash their hands, took a few steps, stopped, and glanced back at the scattered military tents behind them.
Zhuoyue caught a glimpse of a dark figure flashing inside.
The wind howled, making the tent poles creak and groan.
The man rubbed his eyes, opened them again, and everything seemed normal. He then tightened his belt and hurried away.
Meanwhile, the person who should have been "bedridden" held their breath and stood close to the felt curtain in the tent.
The firelight shone in from the outside, dim and barely illuminating the interior, but Zhi Rou was very careful and dared not move an inch.
When another round of singing began outside, she crept closer to the clothes rack, casually put on their clothes, hid in the tent, and waited until dawn.
As dawn broke and the banquet came to an end, the soldiers lined up outside and mounted their horses.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Zhi Rou slipped out, and with a practiced air, led the horse that had been parked there yesterday, blending into the rear of the procession.
Author's note: ①Aha: Mongolian for "elder brother".
②Shaman: Wizard.
③ Eji: Mongolian for "mother".
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