Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next day, Caiwei came in. She combed my hair and applied makeup.

I took her hand and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I will send you home.”

Her eyes instantly brimmed with tears, and she nodded repeatedly.

Although I was in a carriage, which slowed us down, I could clearly feel that they were taking a detour.

It wasn’t until we entered Su City that I understood their intention.

Su City was originally Zhou Dynasty territory, occupied by them three years ago.

I lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. The once lively and bustling street seemed to have turned into an execution ground.

Pastry shops and fabric stores still had their doors open, but the people inside were sharpening arrows and forging weapons, their hands worn to the point of bleeding, yet they dared not stop.

On the road, others carried heavy loads, transporting materials. Two rough, burly men brandished whips, ordering those ahead to speed up.

I lowered the curtain, unable to bear watching any longer. Beside me, Caiwei’s eyes were already red.

They had occupied our dynasty’s cities and enslaved our people.

Yanleqi had come to the side of the carriage at some point.

“Empress, won’t you go down and greet your subjects?”

I clenched my fists tightly and remained silent.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves approached, accompanied by several screams. I hurriedly pulled back the curtain to look outside.

Two Xiqing Tribe men were riding horses through the street, holding hemp ropes. Each dragged a thin, weak man on the ground, leaving a trail of blood.

Bastards!

“This is a race we especially came up with for entertainment. Guess which one will die first?” His tone was full of arrogance and insolence.

I was so angry my lips trembled, and I gritted my teeth. “What exactly does Chief Yan want?”

He chuckled lightly. “Can’t take it already?”

Suddenly, someone at the front of the procession shouted, “The Empress of Zhou Dynasty has arrived! Why aren’t you coming to pay respects?”

Caiwei was so furious she wanted to jump off the carriage, but I quickly held her back.

“Sit still.”

“Empress, they are too much! Savage! Cruel!”

“Remember, from now on there is no Empress. Call me Miss, as you did before.”

“Yes… Miss.”

Yanleqi’s actions were not just to humiliate Great Zhou, but more like venting his anger.

I felt that he harbored an inexplicable hatred toward me, or toward Great Zhou.

The Xiqing Tribe led troops to invade merely to expand their territory. It’s not strange for victors to humiliate the weak, but where did Yanleqi’s hatred come from?

After a torturous journey, we finally arrived in Xiqing territory.

It was completely different from Zhou Dynasty. They lived in tents, and on the vast grasslands were running wild horses and flocks of sheep.

If not for the circumstances, I might actually like this place.

They threw me, Caiwei, and my few clothes and belongings into a tent on the west side.

The Old Khan had not shown himself. I asked curiously, “Where is your Khan? His new bride has arrived; won’t he meet her?”

Yanleqi sneered, “You really think you came to marry him?”

I curled my lips and said lightly, “Since I came for a marriage alliance, if not him, then you?”

His eyes were full of contempt. “Marriage alliance? That’s just a pretext your Zhou Dynasty made up to save face.”

“What do you mean?”

He ignored me. It seemed the situation was worse than I had imagined.

“Tonight, the Old Khan may see you. Wait obediently.” Yanleqi said.

Seeing Caiwei’s worried face, I patted her hand to reassure her.

“Let’s tidy up. We’ll be living here for a while.”