Chapter 96 Bonfire Party Chu Yueyuan suddenly raised her head, recognizing... for the first time...
Inside the carriage, Chu Yueyuan saw Feng Qi casting an inquiring glance at the carriage. Her breath caught in her throat, and she gripped the curtains tightly, almost unable to resist leaning out of the window to call for help.
She finally managed to hold back.
Feng Qi doesn't have many people around her. If Erhe finds out that he knows Feng Qi, he will surely bring about her death.
Hearing the arguing outside, Xia Lian hurriedly went forward and closed the car window tightly. She didn't notice the fleeting change in Chu Yueyuan's expression, but asked anxiously:
"What happened outside?"
Chu Yueyuan shook her head calmly: "I don't understand this foreign language."
Xia Lian raised her eyebrows, clearly looking down on Chu Yueyuan's knowledge, and said contemptuously, "If only the princess were here. Our princess is so knowledgeable; she not only understands Hu language but also Persian. She's a true talent, unlike some people who sit in the imperial study with just their looks, without even a shred of shame..."
Chu Yueyuan pretended to be annoyed and turned her head away, but actually kept an eye on the commotion outside.
When he heard Feng Qi jokingly ask him, half-jokingly, if he had stolen some treasure from Daqi, Erhe's gaze suddenly turned cold, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
The carriage door clicked open, and a woman as beautiful as the moon gracefully stepped down. She walked to Feng Qi's horse, gave a graceful curtsy, and spoke in a soft voice:
"I am Princess Nianyi of the Great Qi Dynasty, born into the Xie family. My father once served as the General Who Guards the North. A month ago, I was granted a marriage by His Majesty, betrothing me to the Great Khan of the Canglang Tribe to forge an alliance between our two nations. This is the decree of marriage bestowed by the Regent of the Great Qi Dynasty. I humbly request Princess Feng to take a look."
After Xie Nianzhi finished speaking, she repeated herself in Mandarin, revealing her identity as a person from the Great Qi.
Feng Qi dismounted, took the imperial edict of marriage from Xie Nianzhi, glanced at it, and showed admiration in her eyes: "So you are General Xie's daughter. No wonder you have such an extraordinary temperament. Since it is the princess's dowry procession, I will not check it."
Erkh's gloomy expression eased slightly, and he bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, Princess Feng. The misunderstanding has been cleared up, and I will continue on my way."
"Great Khan, please wait."
Feng Qi raised her hand and pointed to the distant canyon, blinking: "Ten days ago, in order to block the fleeing remnants of the Miao Kingdom, I ordered people to use the huge rocks on the mountaintop to completely block the only road leading to the Canglang tribe. If the Great Khan wants to pass through here, I'm afraid... it will take some effort."
Ilhé: ....
“However, I know another way. By going around that poplar forest and then following the stream through two mountain ridges, we can reach the Canglang tribe directly. If the Great Khan does not mind, I am willing to lead the way for you as an apology for my previous rudeness.”
Erkh's lips curled into an arrogant smile: "No need. My men are all warriors who can take on ten men each. Moving a few stones is no difficult task."
Feng Qi said no more, nimbly mounted her horse, and bowed to Erhe.
“In that case, Fengqi will take her leave here. If the Great Khan changes his mind, he may find me in the Populus euphratica forest. There is a temporary camp in the forest. Although it is a bit simple, it is enough to accommodate the Great Khan and Princess Nianyi to rest.”
With that, she spurred her horse and turned back to the poplar forest without looking back.
Erhe's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He stared coldly at the departing Xixia troops and decisively ordered, "Continue forward."
Two hours later, the carriages and horses stopped at the entrance of the canyon.
Nagur stared dumbfounded at the completely blocked mountain road and couldn't help but curse, "That Xixia woman didn't just throw a few stones, she brought the whole mountain!"
"What should we do? Right now, the Great Qi is cracking down hard on merchants smuggling horses and tea. All the major roads are blocked. The only way back to the tribe is through the Miao Kingdom."
"How about we go and ask Princess Xixia to lead the way? I think that little woman doesn't have many men with her, enough to easily take them all. We can also plunder some supplies to bring back."
Listening to his subordinates' chatter, Erhe frowned and remained silent.
“Great Khan…” Xie Nianzhi spoke softly, his voice drowned out by the noise.
Erhe immediately raised his hand to silence his noisy subordinates. He turned to Xie Nianzhi, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed: "What does the princess have to say?"
A faint smile appeared on Xie Nianzhi's lips:
“I have something that might dispel the Great Khan’s concerns.”
———
Half a month later, Chu Yueyuan finally saw Xie Nianzhi again.
The woman stepped into the carriage, removed her moon-white brocade cloak, revealing a carnelian pendant hanging from her chest. She skillfully brewed a pot of tea, her every move still elegant and graceful, without the slightest flaw.
It was as if the woman who had been enraged after Chu Yueyuan exposed her secrets was just an illusion.
Xie Nianzhi gently pushed the teacup she had just brewed towards him and broke the silence by speaking: "Your Highness has lost a lot of weight since I last saw you."
Chu Yueyuan couldn't guess the other party's sudden intentions, and stared at her warily without picking up the teacup on the table.
Xie Nianzhi smiled faintly as she picked up her teacup, the rising steam blurring her gentle features.
"Your Highness is far more stubborn than I thought. Even after leaving Daqi, he has never given up the idea of escaping."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered, but her face remained impassive as she calmly asked, "Why does the princess say such a thing?"
Xie Nianzhi still had a smile on his lips, but a sharp light flashed in his eyes: "Your Highness lied to Xia Lian that you did not understand the Hu language, but I clearly remember that Your Highness once visited Xixia Kingdom and mentioned the customs and culture of Xixia Kingdom to the ladies who entered the palace at a flower appreciation banquet."
"I suspect that Your Highness may also know Princess Feng,"
Chu Yueyuan's heart sank suddenly.
How could she forget? Erhe didn't know she had been to Xixia, but Xie Nianzhi did.
Chu Yueyuan readily admitted, "That's right, I did meet Princess Feng a few times in Xixia. However, at that time... we had some unpleasantness, and the Queen of Xixia severely reprimanded her for it. Therefore, even if Princess Feng recognizes me, not only will she not lend a helping hand, but she will probably kick me while I'm down."
She continued, "If I had a close relationship with her, why would I have remained silent while the Great Khan and Princess Feng were talking, instead of taking the opportunity to call for help?"
Xie Nianzhi stared at the woman with a calm gaze, his fingertips gently stroking the red carnelian pendant on his chest, as if weighing the truth or falsehood of her words.
"Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent and resourceful, capable of plotting an escape with Imperial Physician Zhao in full view of everyone. The Great Khan is still worried about Your Highness, and to ensure that nothing goes wrong, please take this medicine."
After Xie Nianzhi finished speaking, he took out a beautifully carved sandalwood box, opened the lid, and inside was a translucent insect egg.
Chu Yueyuan was terrified of insects. Just one glance at them made her feel uncomfortable, and she quickly looked away.
"What is this thing?" Her voice was strained, barely concealing her disgust.
Xie Nianzhi explained softly, "This is the 'Love-Longing Gu.' It consists of two worms, a mother and a child, and is a Gu worm specially bred for couples who want to stay together for life. The longer the worm survives in the host's body, the more feelings will gradually develop between the man and woman, and they will eventually find it hard to part."
"This box contains the eggs of the Zigu worm. If Your Highness ingests it, the Zigu worm will reside in your body."
"Once Your Highness is more than a hundred feet away from the mother Gu, the offspring Gu will gnaw at your heart, causing excruciating pain that will make it impossible for you to move an inch."
Chu Yueyuan frowned. The thought that she would gradually develop feelings for Erhe after taking this poison made her feel more disgusted and nauseous than if she had swallowed a hundred live insects.
"Has the Great Khan already ingested the mother poison?"
"The mother Gu does not need to be swallowed; it only needs to be fed with fresh blood every day."
"So the mother Gu is in the Great Khan's hands?"
"Exactly."
Chu Yueyuan looked at the insect eggs in the box with disgust, and took a deep breath: "What if I... refuse to take this Gu?"
Xie Nianzhi said with a half-smile, "Nagul is waiting for orders outside the carriage. If Your Highness does not wish to maintain a dignified appearance, you will have to suffer more."
Having said that, Chu Yueyuan understood. It seemed that she had no choice but to take the "Love-Sickness Gu" today.
She closed her eyes, picked up the smooth insect egg from the sandalwood box, and hesitated slightly before finally steeling herself and swallowing it.
A nauseating feeling lingered in her throat, so she quickly picked up the half-cold tea on the table and forced herself to suppress the urge to vomit.
She knew in her heart that even if she vomited now, she would only be forced to swallow it again.
A handkerchief with a delicate fragrance was handed to her.
Chu Yueyuan pushed the other person's hand away expressionlessly, wiped the tea from the corner of her lips with her sleeve, and said coldly, "I don't need your hypocritical charity."
"Now, Your Highness has finally tasted this flavor."
Xie Nianzhi scrutinized the woman's disheveled appearance, a morbid satisfaction spreading in his eyes: "Back in the palace, didn't Your Highness also do the same, feigning 'charity' to me?"
Chu Yueyuan didn't want to waste her breath on a self-deceiving madman.
Xie Nianzhi poured all his resentment into her, simply to divert the hatred he felt for his loved ones from the depths of his heart, so that he could continue to maintain that flawless appearance.
But the festering wounds beneath the skin will only breed more resentment in the shadows.
Chu Yueyuan sat up straight, too lazy to look at her again, and parted her red lips to utter a single word:
"roll!"
Xie Nianzhi's eyelids twitched slightly, her fingertips secretly tightening around the blood-red chalcedony pendant on her chest, a mocking smile playing on her lips:
"I hope Your Highness will take good care of your health."
———
The following day, at dusk, the poplar forest was bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Every leaf seemed to be on fire, rustling in the breeze, like a shimmering golden ocean.
A campfire was lit in the makeshift camp, and the air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of meat and strong liquor.
Feng Qi looked at the approaching procession of carriages and horses in the distance, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up slightly.
"I didn't see the Great Khan yesterday, so I thought your generals had already broken through the boulder and left!"
Erhe was not a reckless man. The reason he waited a day before entering the forest was that he first sent people to carefully explore the area within dozens of miles of the poplar forest to confirm that there were no troops lying in wait before he felt at ease to come.
He sat on his horse, his tone haughty: "There was a slight delay on the way, and I need to rest and reorganize at your camp tonight. I apologize for the inconvenience. If Princess Feng needs anything in the future, I will certainly do my best to help her."
Even after annexing the Kingdom of Miao, Xixia was still far from being comparable to the Canglang tribe, which had dominated the grasslands for many years. Erhe had always looked down on this country where women were respected, and if he hadn't wanted to avoid trouble, he would have ordered the slaughter of everyone in the camp, leaving only Feng Qi alive to lead the way.
"With the Great Khan's words in mind, I won't hold back in the future..."
Feng Qi smiled and pointed to the campfire not far away, saying enthusiastically, "The Great Khan has arrived at the perfect time. The mutton on the rack will be cooked soon. Please take a seat."
While the two were talking, Xie Nianzhi and Chu Yueyuan quietly got off the carriage. To prevent Feng Qi from recognizing them, Chu Yueyuan put on a veil and used face powder to slightly modify her eyebrows and eyes.
Several members of the Canglang tribe nimbly took tents out of the vehicle, preparing to set up camp and start a fire.
Erkh waved his hand and declined, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Princess Feng. We are tired from the journey and the Khan and I should rest now."
"It's still early, Great Khan, there's no need for you to be so polite. Since you've had a long day, you and the princess should have some roasted mutton to nourish yourselves!"
Feng Qi rushed out in one stride, grabbed Xie Nianzhi without saying a word, and headed towards the campfire.
Chu Yueyuan, disguised as Xie Nianzhi's maid, naturally followed along.
Erhe's expression tightened, and he immediately dismounted and chased after them.
In the center of the camp, a campfire was burning brightly.
Several animal skin blankets were laid around the campfire, and on the table were Tusu wine, freshly baked naan bread, and several plates of freshly cut mutton, glistening with oil and exuding a fragrant aroma.
Xie Nianzhi's gaze slowly swept over the prepared wine and dishes, and he said softly, "Princess Feng is truly a genius; she had already foreseen that I would return with the Khan."
Feng Qi turned her head and blinked: "Your Highness is too kind. I don't know anything about witchcraft, but when I saw the Great Khan's carriage entering the forest, I quickly ordered my servants to prepare more dishes."
The group took their seats one after another.
Under Erhe's intense gaze, Chu Yueyuan knelt silently behind Xie Nianzhi, her expression calm and showing no sign of anything amiss.
"The Great Khan's love for the Princess is as deep as the sea. Ever since she stepped out of the carriage, the Khan's eyes have never left her..."
Feng Qi smiled and joked, then raised her wine cup: "I wish the princess and the Great Khan a long and happy marriage, and that they grow old together."
Xie Nianzhi raised her wine glass and smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Princess Feng."
After drinking the wine, Feng Qi couldn't wait to ask her, "By the way, I heard from the Queen that the Empress Dowager of the Great Qi was burned to death by the rebels. May I ask if this is true, Princess?"
Chu Yueyuan, who was pouring wine, suddenly paused and couldn't help but look up at Feng Qi across the campfire.
Erhe's gaze darkened slightly, his fingers casually toying with the wine glass, but in reality, he was keeping a close eye on the woman's every move.
Xie Nianzhi nodded slightly, a faint sadness in his eyes: "That is indeed the case. In order to protect His Majesty, the Empress Dowager resolutely stayed in the hunting grounds to deal with the rebels. Unfortunately, she perished in the fire. The people of Daqi were all moved by the Empress Dowager's righteous act!"
"Good riddance!" Feng Qi slammed her hand on the table and burst into laughter.
This sudden action startled both Xie Nianzhi and Erhe.
Feng Qi laughed heartily for a while before explaining to the two of them:
"Princess and Great Khan, you may not know, but the reason I was banished to this desolate borderland by the Queen is entirely because of that fox spirit reincarnated, the Empress Dowager Chu! When she and Prince Pei visited Xixia in the past, I treated her with utmost sincerity and even presented her with the most precious 'Qiongju Xianglan' of our country, begging her to grant my heartfelt wish for Prince Pei..."
When the matter was brought up, Feng Qi looked indignant:
"At first, the Empress Dowager Chu swore to me that her relationship with Pei Langjun was merely that of a subject and ruler. But in reality, she had already been having an affair with one of her own ministers! Afterwards, she repeatedly interfered, breaking up my marriage agreement with Pei Langjun and even sowing discord between me and the Queen! Such a treacherous and cunning scourge perished in the fire, which truly proves the saying that justice will prevail and retribution will be swift!"
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent, with the dry branches crackling in the campfire.
Erkh shifted his probing gaze from the woman, took a swig of strong liquor, and feigned surprise, raising his thick eyebrows:
"Is there some misunderstanding? I met Empress Dowager Chu when I was in the Great Qi Dynasty, and I found her to be gentle and dignified..."
Feng Qi snorted coldly: "You men can't see through this vixen's true nature. You're completely blinded by her face. Princess Nianyi, don't you agree?"
Xie Nianzhi remained calm and nodded slightly: "I am of lowly status and rarely enter the palace, so I know very little about the Empress Dowager Chu."
“Princess Nianyi is too modest. You are the successor of General Xie. Back then, General Xie’s reputation in the Northern Territory was no less than that of Young Master Pei.”
At this point, Feng Qi's eyes flickered slightly, her tone softened, and she sighed, "With that vixen gone, the most heartbroken person is none other than Pei Langjun. I wonder what his situation is like now..."
Throughout, Chu Yueyuan kept her head down, her long eyelashes casting a thick shadow beneath her eyes. In the flickering firelight, the shadows of her eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing a faint sadness.
She didn't care about Feng Qi's slanderous words towards her. After all, when they parted ways in Xixia, the two had parted on bad terms, and the old grudges remained unresolved.
Alas, Feng Qi hates her so much that even if she recognizes her, she probably won't reveal the news to Pei Muwei.
Silence fell again, the burning campfire illuminating the faces of the four people present, each lost in their own thoughts.
Seeing that the three women were all frowning because of Pei Muwei, Erhe felt a surge of jealousy and irritation. He impatiently slammed his wine cup down.
“There are other men in the world besides Pei Muwei. The men of the grasslands are all brave, strong and robust. How can Princess Feng waste her best years on a heartless man?”
"The Great Khan is absolutely right!"
Feng Qi slapped her thigh excitedly, laughing heartily as if she had found a kindred spirit. She raised her cup and said, "Guards! Bring fine wine and delicacies, play music and dance! Tonight, I will definitely drink to my heart's content with the Great Khan!"
Under the moonlight, several skilled musicians played their flutes, the melodies melodious and graceful. Over the campfire, roasted lamb sizzled, its fat dripping slowly, while the aroma of Tusu wine from Kaifeng filled the night air.
After several rounds of drinks, Feng Qi gradually became tipsy. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were hazy, and she swayed as she patted Erhe's shoulder, mumbling indistinctly:
"Great Khan, would you be interested in viewing the treasures I have collected over the years?"
The Xixia people are known for their business acumen. Since the establishment of the border market in Linchao City, merchants from various countries have flocked to Xixia, and countless rare treasures have flowed into the country, making many people envious.
Erhe did not drink much and was still clear-headed. When he saw Feng Qi about to display the treasure, a dark light flashed in his green eyes.
Resources on the grasslands are limited, and people live in tribal communities. When resources are insufficient, they resort to plunder. Over time, plunder has become the way of life for the Canglang tribe, flowing in their blood.
Therefore, when Erhe first met Chu Yueyuan in Daqi, he had the idea of possessing this moon-like beauty.
Beautiful women and treasures are both symbols of power. Since Erhe kidnapped the beauties of Daqi, he would naturally not let go of the treasures of Xixia.
He looked at the delirious Feng Qi and curled his thin lips: "The princess is so kind, it would be disrespectful for me to refuse."
Feng Qi waved her hand, and eight men walked out of a tent not far away. Each of them was tall and handsome, and upon closer inspection, they looked like twins.
She raised an eyebrow and proudly introduced, "These eight legendary gentlemen are the result of my painstaking efforts over the years, searching for them one by one based on Pei Langjun's appearance and physique. Of course, compared to the real Pei Langjun, they are ultimately quite inferior..."
Upon suddenly seeing eight men who resembled Pei Muwei, Erhe's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand instinctively reached for the curved sword at his waist, almost drawing it.
Even Xie Nianzhi, who was usually calm and composed, showed surprise.
Of all those present, Chu Yueyuan had the calmest reaction, after all, she had witnessed such a magnificent lineup back in Xixia.
Feng Qi stood up unsteadily, reached out and lifted the chin of one of the legendary figures, beaming with delight, "You look even more like him when you're drunk... Come! Come and dance the bonfire dance with our distinguished guest!"
Before Xie Nianzhi could react in her surprise, Feng Qi pulled her to her feet.
Feng Qi reached out and pulled up Chu Yueyuan, who was wearing a veil, her gaze lingering on her face: "Hmm, why do I feel like you look so familiar?"
Erhe strode over, pulled Chu Yueyuan behind him, and said in a cold tone, "Princess Feng is drunk. She is just a maidservant who accompanied the princess."
Feng Qi seemed oblivious to Erhe's unfriendly expression, and instead chuckled as she pushed Xie Nianzhi into his arms: "The Great Khan has come at just the right time, you and the princess should dance together."
After saying that, she pulled Chu Yueyuan out from behind Erhe, then randomly grabbed one person from the group of heirs, forced their hands together, and nodded with satisfaction: "You two jump together."
Feng Qi raised her sleeves and shouted, "Come on, everyone, let's dance around the bonfire!"
The Xixia Women's Army in the camp smiled and took the arms of the Canglang soldiers, and countless men and women rushed forward to sing and dance around the campfire.
Erhe was eager to find Chu Yueyuan. He looked around and finally spotted her beautiful figure in the singing and dancing crowd.
"Don't worry, Great Khan, she has already taken the Love Poison and won't go far."
Xie Nianzhi said softly, "The Great Khan should be more wary of Princess Feng. Her overly attentive behavior must be for some ulterior motive."
Erhe's mind was entirely on the woman across the campfire. He didn't seem to care, but his gaze remained fixed on the couple dancing together.
"Princess Feng's excessive flattery towards me is nothing more than an attempt to use me to speak to their queen and persuade her to be transferred back to the capital from the border town. How dare the small kingdom of Xixia provoke my Canglang tribe!"
Across the campfire, the man's dance steps appeared somewhat awkward.
The successor of Xixia was selected through a series of rigorous processes. Not only must he be handsome and outstanding, but he must also be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and skilled in musical instruments, singing, and dancing.
Chu Yueyuan felt that the legendary man in front of her must have just entered the industry, as he had already stepped on her several times in less than half an incense stick's time.
She had no desire to dance, but the mother worm of the Love-Sickness Gu was on Erhe, and she couldn't be too far away from him, otherwise she would feel the pain of her heart being gnawed at.
Chu Yueyuan had read in "Miscellaneous Records of Southern Xinjiang" that once a person who feeds Gu poison has cast the Gu, they must feed the mother Gu poison with their own heart's blood every day. If the mother Gu poison dies, the offspring Gu poison will turn against the host.
The venomous insect inside her body was like an invisible shackle, binding her tightly. If she wanted to escape, she had to find a way to get the whereabouts of the mother venomous insect from Erhe.
As she was pondering how to get information out of Erhe, her toe was stepped on again by the legendary man opposite her.
"I'm sorry, it was my rudeness." The man spoke in a foreign language, his voice deep and resonant, like a bottle of aged wine opened in winter, clear yet rich.
Chu Yueyuan suddenly raised her head and looked at the man in front of her seriously for the first time.
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