As soon as we entered, we saw the girl sitting next to the clan leader. I felt worried when I saw her, so I took Xie Yuancheng's hand as soon as I sat down.
Men are all fickle and easily bored; I hope he doesn't take a foreign mistress as a concubine for me here!
"Ying'er, this is a tent, sit down quickly~"
Xie Yuancheng looked serious, so I let go of his hand, hoping that this girl was already engaged or didn't like the effeminate manner of the men from Dazhao.
It must be a banquet now. Soon, some people came into the tent, and after everyone was seated, the chieftain began to read again.
Fortunately, he didn't talk much this time. Everyone raised their glasses with him, and I drank a little too. They said it was a strong liquor from the Western Regions, and I felt dizzy after just one sip.
The clan chief started letting the people opposite him speak, and I couldn't eat anymore after a few bites of what was in front of me. Luckily, it was all pre-cut, so I didn't grab it with my hands and it wasn't a waste.
At banquets in the Western Regions, there are always dancers. As the young girl began to dance to the music, I realized that her dance was particularly alluring. Every time I glanced at her, I felt my heart flutter, not to mention other men.
The young woman had skin as smooth as jade, and every gesture she made exuded elegance. I just hoped such a beautiful woman wouldn't fall for Xie Yuancheng. I prayed silently for a long time, thankfully she was just dancing and didn't do anything else.
Then some more dancers came in and started performing. Compared to them, you could tell how amazing the girl's dance was.
I don't know who she is. She looks like this and is wearing daring Western Region clothing. Every part of her is excessively beautiful. I wonder if she will attract unwanted attention.
After the singing and dancing ended, everyone drank the wine that lasted for an incense stick. I was still lost in thought when Xie Yuancheng told me to go back first. How was I supposed to know where to go back to?
Fortunately, a dancer came and led me out. People inside the tent were also gradually leaving. When I got outside the tent, I saw that only the clan chief, Xie Yuancheng, and the girl remained inside.
I shouldn't let my mind wander. I followed the dancer forward. Everyone around me was watching me, laughing, and I laughed along. It was a bit silly, but this was their territory, so of course I had to behave myself.
The dancer led me to a small tent, where horses were parked on both sides.
She spoke stiffly in the Da Zhao language: "Young master, you should get some rest."
"Thank you~" I was still a little surprised. I've been here for a day and I can already understand what she's saying.
I put the horse's things away, and there was a small pool nearby. I quickly washed myself and then went to lie down in the tent. The tent here was very similar to the tents in the military camp, with wooden plank beds, which felt hard as soon as I lay down.
I propped myself up on the bed, lost in thought. I wondered why the clan leader had kept Xie Yuancheng here, and why that young girl was here too. If it were just a few grown men, I wouldn't be worried, but the girl was here as well.
"Ugh, this is so annoying! I don't want to think about anything, I'll just go to sleep first!" I just covered myself with the blanket and went to sleep. Even if I racked my brains, I couldn't come up with a good conclusion.
They are all people from the martial arts world. I've been a woman for too long, and I even had his child, which is why I'm so insecure.
I had already taken a nap and woken up, but Xie Yuancheng still hadn't returned. I went out of the tent to check, and the large tent in the distance was lit up, while the other small tents were all dark.
I went back inside; it was incredibly quiet here, not a sound at all.
I went back to my bed and tried to sleep, but as soon as I closed my eyes, my mind started racing. Marrying such an outstanding man was not a wise choice, if it weren't for the many beautiful women surrounding him.
When I was half asleep, I felt someone touching my face. I immediately woke up, pulled out the Phantom Sword from under the covers, and stabbed at it.
Before she could even open her eyes, her eyes were blocked. Xie Yuancheng's voice rang out: "Ying'er, what if you hurt yourself while sleeping with your sword without the key!"
I opened my eyes and said, "You're back."
Xie Yuancheng confiscated the sword from my hand. Just as I was about to grab it back, he tossed it aside and said, "Are you sleeping with a sword to protect yourself from me, or someone else?"
He must have been on edge tonight, his temper is so bad: "I'd be scared to sleep alone, I need to hold my sword to feel safe."
"It's just past midnight now, go back to sleep, I'll wake you up when it's light." Xie Yuancheng leaned closer, there was nothing on him except for a faint fragrance.
Even if I asked him, he wouldn't tell me, so I'd better hurry up and go to sleep. I covered myself with the blanket again, leaving him a gap. Just as I was about to fall asleep, Xie Yuancheng leaned closer.
"Ying'er, why don't you ask me what I'm doing in the big tent?"
"I asked you but you won't tell me. It's getting late, let's talk about it tomorrow." I'm so sleepy, sleeping is the most important thing now, otherwise I'll be sleepy again tomorrow.
"The chieftain said that I should marry his daughter as my second wife, and from then on, the Western Regions under his jurisdiction would all be mine."
I was no longer sleepy, so I quickly got up, glared at him, and asked, "You agreed?"
Xie Yuancheng looked at me with a half-smile, "Of course not."
I could hear the displeasure in his tone; I knew he was resentful. The Ji family is no longer a general's mansion, nor is it royalty anymore. Aside from occasionally having a dream about it, there's nothing I can do to help him.
I continued to lie on the hard bed, still clutching the blanket. I had been complaining about how it was rubbing against my back, but now I felt that lying down would help me wake up.
"Ying'er, don't worry, I won't let you down."
"Okay, go to sleep first." My heart was pounding, and I had a feeling that if I hadn't come, he might have agreed.
Xie Yuancheng lay down next to me, fully clothed and covered by a blanket. I couldn't sleep at all. I used to think I could solve anything. Now I realize that many things are not as simple as they seem.
The clan chief's intention in allowing him to participate in the sacrificial ceremony and treating him as an honored guest was quite clear.
I lay awake until midnight before finally drifting off to sleep. Now it's just the two of us. Even if I were to grant his wish, I need to leave myself a way out. We'll see how things go from here on out.
Before dawn, Xie Yuancheng woke me up. I had just finished packing my things when the girl came over. She was dressed in red, making her stand out in the late autumn morning.
Xie Yuancheng said a few words to her, then led his horse away. I turned around once and saw that she was still in the same place.
She was an exceptionally beautiful girl. Such a rival is the most silent. Her eyes were firm, and I began to feel afraid.
We walked for a while longer, and I was worried that Xie Yuancheng would see through my apprehension, so I did the same thing as before. He had worked so hard over the years, and success was just around the corner.
However, I'm not that magnanimous to share him with another woman. I can't even imagine how my parents would react if they knew. We also have three other children, the oldest being just over two years old.
The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I became. Luckily, I was sitting in the front, so I could sometimes pretend to be asleep and escape his notice.
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