The Turkic army had been fighting with Yingtang for several days. Due to heavy losses, they finally retreated and set up camp fifty li away, creating a temporary stalemate. However, the situation was not good for Yingtang either. It was said that the Prince of Chu had lost his beloved concubine and had gone mad, personally leading troops to search the city inside and out.
Ye Hui regained full consciousness three days later. It turned out that Yingtang had casualties every day, and on the day the Turkic army retreated, they opened the city gates to transport and bury a batch of bodies. Ye Hui and Li Weichen were drugged, dressed in soldiers' uniforms, and hidden among the corpses. The Turkic assassins also played dead.
At the burial site, the Turkic assassins suddenly sprang up, killing dozens of soldiers transporting the bodies. They carried Ye Hui and Li Weichen to the Turkic camp, throwing them into a felt tent and stationing a squad of soldiers to guard them.
"Young Master Li, are you alright?" Ye Hui awoke from her daze, seeing Li Weichen's pale face. Looking at his shoulder, she noticed the wound had been treated and the blood had clotted. She breathed a sigh of relief that he was not bleeding.
"Why didn't you listen to me and escape? Why do you care about me?" Li Weichen, bound with his hands, looked angry and resented her disobedience.
At this moment, Ye Hui felt a bit regretful but asked, "How could I just watch you die? Don't worry, the Turks won't let me die. They want something from my brain."
"Will you give it to them?"
Ye Hui thought of the city's people, of Huangfu Zezhuan, and her newborn son. She shook her head.
"Look!" Li Weichen said painfully, "They will try all kinds of cruel methods to torture you, in ways you can't imagine."
"If that happens," Ye Hui suddenly said, "can you kill me in advance?"
"I won't let you suffer. When the time comes, I'll ensure you die peacefully, and then... then I'll kill myself." His gaze was fixed on her: "If only I could die alone. Now I've dragged you into this. What a pity."
Ye Hui's mind flashed with scenes of him protecting her. She shook her head, knowing she would never be at peace if he died.
"Can I kiss you?" Li Weichen suddenly said after a long time.
Ye Hui looked at him in surprise, then thought it might just be a simple gesture of comfort in their most helpless moment.
She turned her face towards Li Weichen, but instead of kissing her cheek, he kissed her lips. She was startled but held back, thinking that in their current situation, who knew what might happen next?
Li Weichen, with his hands bound, raised his arms and encircled her neck. The movement caused his wounded shoulder to bleed. Ye Hui was surprised as he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her lips. It was his first time kissing a girl, and the soft sensation made him instantly lose himself.
Ye Hui felt his inexperience and was occasionally hurt. She extended her tongue into his mouth, teasing and gradually taking control.
That tongue was so smooth! He eagerly sucked it, trying to taste the liquid from her tongue.
Time passed slowly. Ye Hui found it hard to breathe and pulled away from his lips. Seeing his shoulder still bleeding, she tore a piece of silk from her undergarment to bandage his wound, softly saying, "The wound is quite deep. Don't strain yourself. Be careful of infection."
In ancient times, without antibiotics or disinfectant, many wounded soldiers died from infected wounds.
If she survived this ordeal, she would definitely create alcohol when she returned to Pingzhou! The method of making alcohol wasn't difficult, similar to gasoline distillation, and while flammable, it was much safer.
With Huangfu Zezhuan's status as a near-emperor, she would surely become empress. If possible, she should pave the way now to secure her future position in the Yingtang kingdom.
"Hui'er, what are you thinking?" Li Weichen, who used to call her "Young Mistress of the Qin Family," now used a different address after their kiss.
"Nothing. Let me untie your bindings," she said, easily removing the ropes from his wrists since the Turks likely underestimated her as a weak woman. Li Weichen laughed, "Even if the Turks tie me up, I'll find a way out." Seeing her frown and touch her chest, he quickly asked, "Are you uncomfortable?"
Ye Hui shook her head. Having not breastfed her child for several days, her milk had dried up. The rough handling by the Turks had caused pain in her chest, with some lumps forming. She knew they would eventually subside, but the constant pain was unbearable. The best remedy would be a hot towel compress and some brown sugar water. Glancing at the Turkish soldiers standing guard, she gave up the idea. If Li Weichen could endure such a serious wound, she could certainly handle this minor pain.
"If you're not feeling well, tell me. I'll try to help. Don't endure it. Things could get serious," Li Weichen said, worried by her pale complexion.
Ye Hui smiled at him, "I'm fine. What discomfort? I'm more concerned about your condition." Li Weichen also smiled, "It's normal for a man to be slightly injured. If I can't bear this much pain, I might as well return to the imperial capital." But the thought of returning made him think of Princess Baohua's entanglement, which he deeply resented.
At this moment, a very robust Turkic woman entered from outside the felt house. Ye Hui glanced at the other’s waist, which was twice as thick as her own, and lowered her eyes, looking at herself. During her postpartum period, she had finally gained some flesh, but these days of turmoil had made her lose it again.
The Turkic woman placed a greasy cloth-wrapped roasted lamb and a bowl of fermented mare’s milk in front of them, reached out and touched Li Weichen’s cheek, and laughed in Han language: “What a handsome young man, are you a virgin? How old are you?”
Li Weichen’s eyes turned cold: “What’s it to you?” He raised his hand and pushed away her thick wrist.
The Turkic woman laughed: “Young master is shy!”
Ye Hui couldn’t help but mock: “Please, you’re already in your thirties and still calling him ‘brother’, aren’t you embarrassed? I’m blushing for you.”
The Turkic woman’s face darkened, looked around, and sneered: “What’s the use of a pretty face? Your bones feel sharp to the touch. A real woman should be like me. You can forget about attracting a man.” She shook her large breasts proudly.
Different ethnic groups have different aesthetic standards, and in the Turkic woman’s eyes, Ye Hui was naturally inferior.
Ye Hui couldn’t be bothered to argue. She picked up a roasted lamb leg and handed it to Li Weichen, then picked up another piece and took a bite. She thought the Turkic barbecue technique was decent, but the meat was slightly overcooked. In her previous life, she had been to Mongolia and eaten lamb just taken off the fire, which was more tender and flavorful. She said to the Turkic woman: “The lamb tastes good, but you don’t know how to cook it. Real roasted lamb shouldn’t be this well-done.”
The Turkic woman was surprised: “I thought you southerners liked fully cooked meat, so I cooked it a bit longer.”
“I remember we’re enemies. You don’t need to be so nice to me.”
“We Turks have always respected those with skills. The fact that you can create such impressive things makes us admire you. If you were to submit to us, we would definitely treat you as the most honored guest on the grasslands.”
