Chapter 06 Helan

Yet I cannot even let out a single cry of pain

Why did I save him? Was it because he bore a slight resemblance to Zi Dan, or was it due to my woman's compassion... I am also unable to answer myself

I bit my lip tightly, yet tears flowed from the corners of my eyes to my temples, overwhelming me with fear and loneliness

I raised my hand to tidy my sideburns and walked slowly to his couch

Even though my heart is filled with countless doubts and struggles, I still grit my teeth and remain silent

Gradually realizing, this person is indeed extremely proud and sensitive, detesting the feeling of being pitied or sympathized with. Even if others, out of good intentions, show him more care and attention, he immediately perceives it as pity and becomes furious, turning against them.

I could no longer afford to delay the opportunity. I glanced back at the doorway, set him down, and as I turned, my sleeve was suddenly pulled tight—he had actually grasped my garment's cuff.

There is at least dim light, dry haystacks, no longer bumpy, no longer cold

At that time, the Helan Kingdom allied with the Turks against our dynasty, cutting off the essential routes for our army, burning supplies, which forced General Ning Shuo, Xiao Qi, into a furious rage. He led his troops to besiege Helan City, compelling the Helan King to commit suicide, while the heir apparent surrendered with the entire city, pledging loyalty to Xiao Qi.

He snorted coldly, "You are quite adept at defending your husband, but unfortunately, the King of Yuzhang does not appreciate the beauty of fragrant flowers. Such a lovely woman has been neglected in an empty chamber for three years"

This time, it is truly a state of utter isolation and helplessness

The curtain blocked the gaze of the observer outside the door, and no one heard the movements inside. The person on the couch was suffering from a relapse of their injuries... At this moment, it was the perfect opportunity to escape

This gaze, for some unknown reason, caused my hand, which was holding the medicine bowl, to tremble slightly

With a loud bang, I woke up, and the blinding light almost prevented me from opening my eyes

He still smiled, but the smile gradually turned cold and sinister, "You are the fish and meat on the chopping block, can the princess truly disregard life and death?"

In a state of drowsiness, I unexpectedly fell into a dream, the first time I dreamt of my husband... that general who rides with a sword, coming towards me from afar, extending his hand to me, yet I could not see his face clearly. Prince of Yuzhang, have you come to rescue me...

From this point onward, I remained confined in the cellar, yet during the day, I was brought to the room to attend to him

When he is awake, he will engage in trivial chatter with me, occasionally displaying a smile. Aside from that, most of the time he is harshly reprimanding his subordinates, exhibiting unpredictable moods and frequently imposing severe punishments.

This woman is on the brink of death; call Old Tian to take a look. We must not let her pass away after all the effort it took to bring her here

"Indeed, she is a beauty." He smiled coldly, "Xiao Qi is truly fortunate in love."

"But please, Your Highness, enlighten me, what is a gentleman?" His face was pale, still bearing the signs of illness, yet his piercing gaze showed no restraint, boldly fixating on me, filled with a sense of disdainful amusement.

Behind her stood three men, all of robust build, wearing high boots and carrying swords, seemingly from beyond the frontier

I was taken aback, stepped back, and scolded, "A gentleman values himself!"

I was stunned, unable to believe for a moment that such a person could be the leader of the bandits who captured me

Those subordinates, however, are exceedingly loyal to him; no matter how harshly they are scolded, they remain exceptionally respectful, without any complaints

"Do not put on that pretentious expression... I want to see how noble you can be, and how long you can hold on!" He shouted in anger, yanking me up forcefully and pulling me towards him.

I remain silent

The carriage raced on without pause, and in the moments of clarity, I strained to discern the sounds around me, which seemed to include the sound of water, the voices of the townsfolk, and even the sounds of wind and rain... I lost track of time, feeling increasingly cold and hungry, and in my stupor, I felt as though I was on the brink of death

I rushed out but only covered a few paces when suddenly I tripped, my clothing caught on something, and I fell to the ground, hitting my knee painfully.

Only the dead lie in coffins, yet I am still alive... A sudden chill runs down my spine, and cold sweat beads on my forehead

I suddenly looked up, as if struck by a bolt of lightning

Before me stands a living person, whose life hangs by a thread because of me

I smiled at her, but she glared at me coldly, muttering under her breath, "You worthless wretch who doesn't know when to quit"

I exerted all my strength, yet my limbs had no power at all, not even a single finger could be lifted

The unique fragrance of grains is emanating from this bowl

I forced a smile at her and said, "You don't look good in men's clothing; your family's young master should prepare more women's outfits."

Miss Xiaoye said nothing and stepped forward to bind my hands again, the hemp rope deliberately tightened even more.

His gaze was piercing, anger flaring, and his smile concealed malice. "It is rare for you to possess such compassion; why not use your life to atone for Xiao Qi's sins"

The woman before me was dressed in a bulky cotton robe, wearing a felt hat, and was attired in men's clothing. Her face was beautiful, yet her expression was fierce, appearing more menacing than the several burly men standing beside her

In the dilapidated wooden house, I once again saw the "Wu family daughter" in her yellow dress, graceful and elegant as on that day

In front of me were several individuals, varying in height, all dressed in the attire of northern herdsmen, their faces obscured beneath felt hats, making it impossible to discern their identities

I do not know what has angered him, but I raised my head and said, "Have you ever heard of anyone from the Wang family of Langya who is afraid of death?"

My eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light before me, and I could faintly see that the ridge was dilapidated, the entrance was shabby, resembling a run-down dwelling.

The hunchbacked old man with a long beard lifted the curtain and stepped out from behind the door, speaking in a deep voice, "The young master has instructed that no disrespect should be shown to the princess consort"

A pair of rough, dark hands reached out towards me. I turned to the side to avoid them and coldly said, "There is no need to trouble yourself; I will walk back on my own"

I suddenly closed my eyes, afraid to listen any longer, afraid to think, yet scenes of blood-red images emerged before me

I paid no heed to any taboos, hurriedly climbed onto the bed, circled around the curled-up figure, and pushed open the window, allowing a gust of cold wind to sweep in

Falling onto the soft haystack beneath the window, I stumbled to my feet and hurriedly ran away

A strong herbal scent wafted from the medicine jar, pungent and irritating; the old man behind silently retreated, and the cloth curtain was lowered once more

At this moment, the only discernible elements that remain are sound and a faint sense of perception

Even so, I think of Xiao Qi

Just as I was pondering that this place might be to the north, close to the border, my body was suddenly pushed by someone, stumbling towards the side door

Yet, I caught a strange scent at the tip of my nose, familiar yet fragrant, suddenly making me unbearably hungry

No, do not cry, I cannot cry

"Princess, do you know how your husband's illustrious achievements were obtained? Beneath your family's glory, how many wronged souls and withered bones lie?" He leaned in, staring at me with eyes as sharp as frost blades, his face pale to the point of being frightening. "On the day the Helan clan fell, over three hundred members of the royal family were slaughtered by him, not even sparing newborn infants! Commoners were trampled under iron hooves, crushed like ants..."

The person was taken aback, immobilized by my presence, staring blankly as I stood up, calmly adjusted my clothing, and walked back to the room, followed closely by them

The girl raised her hand once more, but then she heard a sharp reprimand, "Stop it, Xiao Ye!"

I swallowed the last mouthful of rice porridge and silently told myself in my heart— I will survive, I will escape from here, I will return home

The sound of hooves can be heard nearby, occasionally accompanied by the clattering of carts.

Old Tian is currently tending to the young master’s injuries, so he has no time to deal with her; just throw her into the cellar, she won't die.

He leaned forward, reaching out to untie the rope around my wrist. His fingers were slender and long, cool to the touch, with only a hint of warmth in his palm... somewhat reminiscent of Zidan.

He was just a little short of reaching the medicine bowl; if he couldn't reach it, I feared he would succumb to his illness... I did not anticipate that my elbow strike would trigger an old injury, leading to his demise.

Peering through the narrow gap of the window, my gaze fell upon a pair of deep, dark eyes.

A myriad of thoughts swirled chaotically in my mind, my body felt stiff and numb, and a sudden soreness struck at the tip of my nose

"Not bad, it was my confusion." I glanced at him lightly, "Since you, young master, can mobilize troops and capture a mere woman, it is evident that you do not adhere to trivial matters. It is indeed laughable to discuss the ways of a gentleman with you, young master."

I changed into clean clothes, tied up my wet hair, and stepped out of the tent feeling refreshed and invigorated

In front of me was a clay bowl left by that person, containing half a bowl of gray mush.

I have a husband who is a heroic figure, capable of pacifying the world, and he will undoubtedly instill fear in the hearts of bandits.

"It is indeed useful." He smiled playfully, looking me up and down, "but it depends on how I like to use it."

"Who has bound you?" He frowned, "Give me your hand"

Yet he suddenly let out a cold laugh, "The heart of compassion!"

Unexpectedly, good fortune has indeed arrived

I also smile, "If the general does not slay the enemy, could it be that he is learning to be a physician, hanging up his pot to save the world?"

I remain silent and compliant, no longer engaging in futile resistance, but quietly keeping an eye out for an opportunity to escape

His gaze seemed to penetrate my face

Unexpectedly, the Helan royal family in the city took advantage of Xiao Qi's departure to launch another rebellion, killing the stationed general and attacking from both sides with the Turks, jointly assaulting Xiao Qi's army. In that battle, our forces suffered heavy losses, fighting fiercely for two days and nights, and finally repelled the strong enemy. The Helan troops were almost completely annihilated, and the royal family retreated into the city and did not emerge. The Helan heir once again sought surrender, but Xiao Qi refused, leading his troops to break into the city and executing all more than three hundred members of the Helan royal family, with the entire family of the Helan heir beheaded in the market

A sudden tightness gripped the throat, followed immediately by intense pain

In a state of confusion and disorientation, I felt a mix of fear and anxiety, suffering from both cold and hunger, repeatedly slipping into unconsciousness, only to awaken time and again amidst the jolting of the carriage

Finally, I reached the bowl, and I gulped down the rice porridge. The coarse grain husks scraped my throat, causing a faint pain, yet the taste surpassed that of exquisite delicacies by a hundredfold. I detected a hint of saltiness and bitterness in my mouth, which was my own tears falling into the bowl

I pressed my lips tightly together, striving to suppress the shame and anger within me, unwilling to let him perceive even a hint of my embarrassment. I coldly replied, "Matters of my household are hardly worth discussing with outsiders."

This time, in order to prevent me from escaping again, my hands and feet were bound with hemp ropes.

I withdrew my hand, stepped back, and quietly observed him

Later, during the turmoil of the Seven-Year Rebellion, the Turks took the opportunity to invade. In order to seek self-preservation, the Helan Kingdom submitted to the Turks, leading to a deterioration of relations with our dynasty

"How is the young master?" The young girl, disregarding me, hurriedly grabbed the old man and asked anxiously

Helan, he is a member of the Helan ethnic group

"I cannot, I am very afraid of death." I sighed, raised my eyes and smiled at him, "But you will not let me die."

For the first time in my life, I came to know this feeling, which is fear

Aunt once said that women tormenting women is much harsher than men do

What awaits me ahead, is it a bottomless abyss or a den of dragons and tigers, or perhaps a cold grave

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Xiao Qi kills without mercy, yet he has married a princess with a heart of a bodhisattva. How ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!"

At this moment, if someone were present, they would see the princess, adorned with golden branches and jade leaves, prostrating herself on the ground, exerting all her strength, crawling forward like a dying little beast... just to reach this bowl of coarse rice porridge

He no longer had the strength to raise his hand, so I had no choice but to bring the medicine bowl to his lips and gradually pour the medicinal liquid into his mouth.

This is a dream, it must be a nightmare

I lifted my sleeve and wiped away the bloodstains from the corner of his lips

This frost-like, solitary visage evokes pity in its frailness, yet in its indifference, it seems to reject others from a thousand miles away

He stared at me intensely, his chest heaving as if suppressing immense anger, "Get out, get out!"

My vision darkened, and a metallic taste of blood seeped into my mouth. In the midst of my shame and pain, tears involuntarily welled up in my eyes. I gritted my teeth and turned my face away, forcing myself to hold back the tears.

The Turks occupied the northern frontier for many years, until they were decisively defeated by Xiao Qi at the Shuo River. After a stalemate lasting three years, they ultimately retreated into the desert

The two individuals turned around and closed the door

My father and brother will definitely come to rescue me

He took a breath, still pale, but gazed at me intently, his eyes filled with sorrow, as helpless as a child

The person appeared to be injured, leaning against the kang, and coldly gazing at me

Only in slumber does one appear calm and delicate, unlike the usual gloominess and irritability.

I was brought back to the room of that young master

Under his gaze, I gradually felt a chill on my skin, and an unbearable discomfort surged from the depths of my heart

The gentleman leaned against the edge of the couch, bent over in hearty laughter, his white garments disheveled and stained with crimson blood

Could it be the political enemies of my father, old grudges, or rebels of the court...? But what use would it be to them to capture me?

Wang Xuan. He seemed to be lost in thought, softly murmuring my name, and suddenly raised his gaze to look at me, "Why did you not take the opportunity to kill me, but instead came to my rescue?"

I am still useful, am I not? I walked slowly to an old chair, brushed off the dust on it, and sat down with a smile

The man was seen clutching his chest and trembling, as if enduring immense pain, straining to reach for the medicine bowl beside the couch, but just barely unable to grasp it.

The so-called serving, apart from offering medicine and water, consists merely of sitting beside him to listen to his words, occasionally enduring his insults

The young man dressed as a girl raised his hand and struck down again, "Wretched person, dare to offend the young master, and still dare to run!"

The indoor lighting was even dimmer, and only a figure could be seen reclining on the earthen bed across the room

More than a hundred years ago, the Helan tribe gradually grew from a small nomadic clan, established its own borders, founded the Helan state, and paid tribute to our dynasty annually, facilitating trade and travel. Many Helan people intermarried with those from the Central Plains and gradually assimilated into the cultural norms of the Central Plains, with their language and etiquette becoming indistinguishable from those of the Central Plains.

The speaker had a strong accent, unlike that of the people from the capital, and the latter's cold and harsh voice surprisingly resembled that of a woman

"Come in." A cold voice from a man echoed.

I was frozen, a chill running through my heart, yet a surge of anger welled up within me—never before had anyone dared to be so audacious, openly speaking with such flippancy.

"Hey, what a hot woman!" The man reached out and grabbed again

I exerted all my strength to prop myself up and crawled over with great effort... My fingertips almost reached it, yet I could not touch the bowl

A low grunt escaped his lips, and the grip that restrained my strength suddenly loosened. I fell to the ground, and when I looked up, I saw him clutching his chest with one hand, a vivid patch of red seeping from the wound on his chest

"You flatter me, young master." I met his gaze with calmness.

He also looked at me quietly for a long time, then suddenly smiled lightly and said, "Regret saved me?"

A hint of mockery curled at the corners of his lips

The whole world knows of your grievances, so why must the princess put on a brave face? He smiled, yet his words were filled with venom.

Xiao Qi left a guard to garrison Helan, while the main army continued to pursue the Turks to the north

"In the end, I saved you once, so let me go." I sighed, pulled out my sleeve, and bent down to leap out of the window.

I took a deep breath, immersing my entire body in the water, disregarding their intentions, completely forgetting the perilous situation I was in, feeling as if having a bucket of hot water for a bath was an immense blessing

Before I could see clearly, a figure in front of me moved, a sharp sound rang in my ears, and my face suddenly felt a searing pain.

Pitch black, bumpy, suffocating, amidst the sound of steady horse hooves, I suddenly realized I couldn't move my body, my mouth was stuffed, unable to make a sound... In the darkness, I strained to open my eyes wide, but I couldn't see anything.

I bit my lip and sat still, unwilling to show even a hint of weakness in front of him. My heart gradually grew cold, yet the blood surged from behind my ears straight to my cheeks

Huo suddenly caught sight of the half-closed window beside the bed.

I covered my mouth to suppress a scream, my heart racing in fear and confusion

In the midst of panic and struggle, I don't know where I found the strength, and suddenly I forcefully struck him in the chest with my elbow.

Could it be that today, a perfectly fine person is going to die at my hands?

He still reclined on the couch, his deep gaze lingering on my face for a while before shifting to my hand

"You are not me, so how can you know my grievances?" I proudly said, "Even if Xiao Qi has countless shortcomings, he is still the husband of Wang Xuan, and no one else can slander him."

He leaned his whole body against me, frowned, and breathed slightly.

Fortunately, with a kind heart, otherwise I do not know how they would torment me... If I had known earlier that running away would be in vain, I might as well have done more favors for that young master

As soon as I stepped inside the door, I was greeted with the word "jerk".

The King of Yuzhang is a heroic figure, if he were to learn that his queen had been unfaithful to him with the remnants of the Helan clan... His gaze is burning, his smile chilling and intimidating. "Tell me, how do you think General Xiao would feel?"

Feeling exhausted and weary, I curled up in the pile of grass as drowsiness swept over me.

I don't know where I am, I don't know who is here, and the maids and guards who used to be by my side day and night are nowhere to be seen at this moment.

He remained silent, looked at me intently, and after a while, he let out a sigh.

Only the rapid beating sound, coming from my chest, echoes in the stuffy and pitch-black space, almost bursting out of my chest.

Who is it, daring to plot against me?

This is not true, he deceived me! A voice in my heart echoed unwillingly, King Yuzhang is a world-renowned hero, not the tyrant he claimed him to be!

The person untied the rope in my hand, took out the torn cloth stuffed in his mouth, and pushed me down onto the haystack.

That's it! After all, it's a matter of life! I made up my mind, went back to the bed, and picked up the medicine bowl.

I suddenly looked up, and my gaze swept coldly towards him.

The doors and windows are tightly shut, the surroundings are empty and desolate, the tables and chairs are askew, and hay sacks are haphazardly piled in the corners. To the right, a side door is securely covered with a cloth curtain, and a faint scent of medicine wafts out from within the room

I have finally realized that there is nothing in this world more important than being alive

Come here. The person's voice was low, making it difficult to discern any emotions of joy or anger

Lying on the pile of grass, I no longer have the strength to get up

I slowly clenched my teeth and sat up, my heart plummeting into a deep abyss

Outside, the grassland is a disordered grayish-yellow. Gritting my teeth, I am just about to crouch down and push through when I suddenly hear a mournful groan from behind me

He was indeed a very young man, with a pale face, deep contours, slanted long eyebrows, and thin lips that were devoid of color. However, his pair of eyes was sharp and compelling, concealing a dazzling brilliance.

Zidan's hand, pale as jade, yet warm and gentle

That person suddenly opened his eyes and looked at me— in that instant, I seemed to see Zi Dan, who in his past illness had also been so frail and helpless, who had also looked at me with such sorrow, unwilling for me to leave his bedside even for half a step

A cold smile lingered at the corner of his lips, and he was momentarily lost in thought

Another person entered and placed something on the ground

May good people be rewarded with good fortune

Upon waking from a deep sleep, the young girl Xiaoye led me out, untied the ropes, and took me to the backyard, unceremoniously pushing me into a felt tent

"Do you think the more than ten people outside are blind? Can they just run away when they want to?" A coarse-voiced man laughed heartily.

He squinted at me, his gaze piercing like a thorn, as if he were a wolf assessing its prey

She blushed with anger and pinched me hard under my ribs

But he is a remnant of a foreign tribe... My heart is in turmoil, and I feel that in a single thought, there lies the distinction between life and death

His thin and emaciated body curled up like a baby, emitting a low and hoarse moan from his throat. His face was pale to the point of transparency, as if he would breathe his last breath in the next moment.

An old man with a stooped figure and a beard lifted the curtain and whispered towards the door, "Young master, the person has arrived."

Both are bruised. He grabbed my wrist.

Helan clan, this tribe has almost been forgotten by people.

I had half my body out of the window, yet in that moment, I hesitated

I don't know how long it has been, the door was locked and someone came in, pulling me up and leading me out of the cellar.

This should be a galloping carriage, with a narrow rectangular box...!...Could it be a coffin!

At this moment, I am strongly homesick, missing my parents, my brother, and Zidan... Recalling the people who care about me silently, every time I think of someone, I gain a little more courage.

The elder glanced at me lightly and said, "The medication was taken in time, and there is no major issue now"

The cellar is much better than the previous coffin.

Before my eyes, it became bright, dazzlingly bright, the light of the blade shining like snow

The cellar door closed heavily, and in the darkness, I smiled wryly to myself

He fiercely grabbed me, his eyes were bloodshot, pressing me onto the chair. The hard armrest almost broke my back.

He suddenly straightened up, and in his eyes, there seemed to be two clusters of dim flames, pressing directly into my heart. "Have you ever seen lonely widows and orphans, alive yet frozen to death or starved to death, collapsing by the roadside, their bones left for wild beasts to gnaw? Elderly men burying their tragically deceased children and grandchildren with their own hands? Villages turning into seas of fire in an instant... just because they are not from the Central Plains, do they deserve such a calamity?"

I felt weak all over, my throat dry and about to crack, as I was seized by a burly man and stumbled into a door.

His gaze was sharp and bright, revealing a hint of anger, as he coldly remarked, "The princess possesses quite a bit of courage and insight"

It is such a sorrowful gaze that pierces deep into my heart, causing a soft and tender collapse within.

A group of people was busy taking care of their young master, and they once again dragged me back to the cellar

As the figure swayed, I was held up by someone, dragged out, and my whole body was so sore that it seemed to be about to split.

Everyone has a sense of empathy. I turned my head lightly.

A small effort, no room for regret. I said lightly.

He glared at me with hatred, his face pale and suddenly trembling, choking and coughing in a muffled voice, blood spattering from the corner of his lips, a shocking sight.

There was actually a bucket of hot water, and clean coarse cloth clothes.

His hands were rugged, but his strength was surprisingly great. I was pulled so forcefully that I fell straight onto the edge of the bed, and ended up prostrating myself in his arms.

Upon hearing him mention Xiao Qi, I was momentarily stunned. However, he leaned forward and reached out, pinching my chin.