In a valley, thousands of cattle and sheep gathered together, trampling the snow on the ground into black mud, their cries echoing incessantly.
People were moving around among them, wrapping some of the newborn lambs in fur and carrying them away.
Near the mountains and forests, there was a row of tents where women, children, and the elderly were busy sorting wool and carrying hay.
Outside the valley, several people on horseback hurriedly escorted one of them into the valley.
The horses stopped in front of the central tent, and someone came out to greet them. After a few words, they led them into the tent.
The tent contained a stove and a row of low cabinets painted with gold flowers.
Inside, a dozen people were spinning wool yarn, and two spinning machines were placed in the middle of the tent.
"Madam, news has come from outside!" A maid ran in and whispered to a beautiful woman sitting by the spinning machine.
Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman put down the crank in her hand, straightened her clothes, and quickly walked to the low cushion beside her to sit down: "Let them in!"
The curtain was lifted, and several people bowed as they entered. They were covered in mud and snowflakes, and dared not step on the carpet on the ground. They knelt down and said, "Greetings to Lady Uya!"
Lady Uya gestured for them to stand up and asked, "How is things going in Dongyue?"
The leader replied, "The Dongyue tribe is holed up in their camp and won't come out. I estimate there are still about a hundred elite cavalrymen. We keep getting messages from the royal court saying that Abli wants to negotiate peace, and the royal court wants to mediate and make the Dongyue tribe pay compensation and apologize. The young master has not agreed and is waiting for the right opportunity for a final battle."
Lady Uya's face was as cold as frost, her eyes filled with icy intent: The royal court mediated and made Abuli admit his mistake and apologize!
That's so easy to say!
Previously, when the Uda tribe was hunted down to extinction and sought help from the various tribes of the royal court, none of the major tribes that made up the royal court spoke a word of justice.
They also said that it's normal for the strong to prey on the weak on the grasslands, and it's also normal for the weak to be wiped out and swallowed up.
Which of these large tribes didn't grow stronger by sucking the blood and flesh of others and annexing them?
Now that the Dongyue tribe is about to be exterminated, the royal court has spoken out. What are they afraid of?
Was it because they feared the Uda tribe would grow stronger and demand answers from them, or were they worried that the Dongyue tribe would disappear from the Dilu grasslands?
The Wuda tribe and the Dongyue tribe have an irreconcilable feud, and Ashi will never accept reconciliation.
The atmosphere inside the tent became inexplicably oppressive and tense. Upon hearing that the lady wanted to discuss important matters, Granny Qi dismissed the women and stayed behind alone.
Lady Wuya remained silent, calming herself before asking, "How is the young master? Is he injured?"
She asked about the battle situation first, and then she asked about her son.
"Young Master has a minor injury, it's nothing serious. He asked me to tell Madam not to worry, he will definitely be able to wipe out the Dongyue tribe and return to celebrate the festival with Madam during the Wuli New Year."
The messenger who brought the message back quickly replied.
Zhao Tingduo was slashed on the cheek with a knife half a month ago. Fortunately, she had medicine to stop the bleeding, and the wound has now scabbed over.
Hearing that her son was injured, Lady Uya felt a pang of pain in her heart. He was her only son, who had to fight for the tribe.
Upon hearing that her son wanted to spend the festival with her, Madam Wuya smiled and said, "Who wants him to spend the festival with me? As long as he comes back safely, that's enough. Remind him that he's waiting for her to deliver New Year's gifts in Broken Gold Town."
In front of her clansmen, she couldn't show too much concern for her son's safety, so she could only express it in this tactful way.
Granny Qi interjected, "The ice road to the Yellow Sand River has been opened, and two hundred cattle and sheep were sent there a month ago. Tell the young master not to worry."
The messenger nodded in agreement and turned to leave the tent.
The next few people reported on trivial matters such as how many lambs and calves were born in the tribe that day.
After everyone left, Granny Qi smiled and said, "Although we encountered heavy snow, we live in a valley, sheltered from the wind, and have dry grass, so the livestock won't suffer."
During the summer pasture season, the tribe has been working hard to cut grass and send it to Kara Mountain for storage. In addition, with the grain seized after conquering several tribes, the Uda tribe now has plenty of food and grass, and even the newborn lambs are not worried about freezing to death.
With no outsiders around, Lady Uya's smile faded. Looking at the pile of cashmere yarn in the tent, she said to Granny Qi, "I hope Ashi can avenge his grandfather, then marry and have children, and that the couple can live happily together, working together to strengthen the tribe. Granny, do you think I'm being too greedy?"
Lady Uya, supporting Granny Qi's arm, led the two to the spinning machine and sat down.
Granny Qi, while tidying up the thread, shook the carriage: "Ashi is the young master of the Wuda tribe, and it is his responsibility to avenge his people. Miss Song's personality and temperament are like yours. If you want him to be a loving couple... it's only possible if Ashi doesn't marry any other wives besides Miss Song!"
Lady Wuya's hands, still spinning on the loom, continued: "In our Di tribe, the number of wives a husband can have is his own decision. I won't cause my daughter-in-law any trouble. However, Miss Song is from the Wu Dynasty, and in the Wu Dynasty..."
She paused, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, before finally saying in a low voice, "In the Wu Dynasty, there is only one principal wife; all other women are merely servants."
Granny Qi stopped spinning and looked at her with a pained expression: "Wuya, in the end, you still can't forget that man, can you? It's because he couldn't give you the status a wife should have that you resent him!"
Sigh! Why did you have to do this?
With the Marquis of Zhenbei, you have had happy days and a most intelligent and capable son. These are all gifts from the gods. The happiness that man brought you is something you should be grateful to. You should also be grateful that he didn't force you to go to the Wu Dynasty.
Granny Qi sighed again as she finished speaking: "You should know that if this were the Wu Dynasty, you would only be a concubine. You would have to serve his wife tea and meals when she ate, and you would have to make her bed and fold her blankets when she slept."
How could a girl of our Di ethnicity endure such a life?
"The Marquis's decision to separate from you and let you take one of his sons back to the grasslands is the best choice."
Granny Qi understood Madam Wuya's thoughts. The two had shared a 20-year friendship and had gone through several dangerous moments together. How could they possibly erase it all at once?
When the tribe first returned to the grasslands, it was only a few days away from Xiashi Pass, so they would meet again sometime.
But now that Zhao Yanjiao has returned to the capital of the Wu Dynasty, the two will never see each other again in this lifetime.
At this moment, talking about Ashi's marriage inevitably brings a touch of sadness to my heart.
Madam Uya's voice trembled with emotion, and tears welled in her eyes: "I don't blame him, but my son's marriage can't be like this again. If he's going to marry, he should marry one woman, instead of causing women so much suffering."
Granny Qi breathed a sigh of relief: "Ashi is a man of his own mind. Even if he were to marry, he would not be tempted by beautiful women."
Upon hearing Granny Qi mention beauty, Lady Wuya blushed slightly, revealing a hint of shyness like a young girl.
The marquis was initially captivated by Wuya's beauty, which led him to defy the decree of the Wu Dynasty emperor and take in the Wuda tribe.
Only Granny Qi dared to discuss these matters.
The two exchanged a few more words and were about to have someone bring in some hot water to wash their faces when the little maid Yuquan rushed in.
"Granny, Madam, news has come from those who stayed in Dongshan. They say they've spotted a group of Wu Dynasty people, who seem to be searching for something."
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