Chapter 3

Chapter 3

At night, I was taken to a tent. Caiwei was too young, so I didn’t let her follow.

Inside, a banquet was being held. The person sitting at the top was likely the Khan, around my father’s age. Yanleqi sat below him, his status obvious.

People on both sides ate meat heartily, their eyes constantly glancing at me.

A bold one spoke first: “Hahaha, this Central Plains woman is indeed different. Her waist is much slimmer than our grassland girls.”

The Khan didn’t get angry, teasing: “I heard that women of your Zhou Dynasty are good at singing and dancing. How about you perform a dance?”

“Sure, Khan.” I smiled and agreed.

On the day I arrived, I knew I would have no dignity here. The country behind me could not threaten them.

The Old Khan was used to the bold beauty of grassland women, and I could always provide some novelty.

That night, the Old Khan carried me back to his tent. Before leaving, Yanleqi stared at me meaningfully.

This Old Khan was a pervert.

The whip struck my body repeatedly, blood staining the bedding, reflecting in my red eyes. I gritted my teeth, not letting myself cry out in pain.

The people of the Nine Cities of Great Zhou were still under the Xiqing people, suffering torment. I had to endure.

I passed out midway and was woken up the next morning by Yanleqi’s voice.

The Old Khan tidied his clothes and let him in, completely disregarding me.

The old man gave a lecherous smile and said to Yanleqi, “Still untouched. Is the Zhou Dynasty’s emperor impotent or something?”

Yanleqi laughed, “Central Plains women are delicate. Khan, take it easy. Wouldn’t it be a pity if she died?”

After the Old Khan left, Yanleqi turned back.

Even though my whole body ached, out of instinct, I pulled the bedding up.

“What’s there to cover?” he mocked.

I said weakly, “I want to bathe.”

“You’re covered in wounds…”

“I want to bathe,” I insisted.

He reluctantly had people bring hot water and a bathtub in.

“Tsk, the old man really hit hard.”

“Get out.” I shrank under the blanket and said softly.

He didn’t argue over such trivial matters and threw a jar of ointment at me.

“Such delicate skin. If it scars, the old man won’t like it. Your body still has its uses, so take good care of it.”

As he spoke, he forcefully opened my mouth, stuffed a pill inside, and made me swallow it.

“Obey me honestly, and at least your fate will be better than being with that old man. Understand?”

“Yes,” I obediently replied.

“Your little maid will come soon.” With that, he left.

I stepped into the bathtub, soaking in the hot water. Warmth enveloped my body, and I sighed in relief.

Yanleqi indeed had no interest in me. He wouldn’t touch me either. That pill was a slow-acting poison that could be transmitted to another person during intercourse.

From that night at Yuezhou City, he had been giving it to me daily.

The Old Khan, though incompetent, wasn’t a fool. He was cautious about his own life. Yanleqi wanted to use me to kill the Old Khan.

When Caiwei came in, her eyes were red and swollen. She had obviously been crying. She brought me a change of clothes and tidied my hair.

I left with dignity, returning to my own tent. The Xiqing people passing by frequently glanced at me, but no one paid me any attention.

Every day, someone would bring meals. They didn’t mistreat me too much, nor did they guard against me.

The Khan would still summon me from time to time. Perhaps Yanleqi had reminded him, because the Old Khan was never as brutal as that first time again.

I’m still useful to him, so of course I can’t die before that old man.
The days are too peaceful, which is abnormal; a thread of panic stirs in my heart.

When I have nothing to do, I sometimes stroll the grasslands. No one restricts my freedom-not that I could run away anyway.
The grasslands are vast, the tents scattered like stars into the distance, endless.
I’m likely in the center of their camp, the heart of their power.

After observing for a few days, I’ve noticed there aren’t many men here-not even half the number of women.
In the distance, beyond a low hill, faint shouts drift over. It must be soldiers training. I summon my courage and head that way.

The grassland’s vistas always deceive the eye. What looked like a short distance left me breathless.
I climb the hill and look down: a group of riders are shooting arrows from horseback.

Warhorses are extremely scarce in the Zhou Dynasty, but the Xiqing Tribe treats them like wild horses, letting them roam free on the grasslands.
There aren’t many soldiers here, and from their skills they look like raw recruits. So where are their elite troops?
Some forces are still stationed at our border, but not many-just for intimidation. What about the rest of their army?
They might not attack our dynasty for now, but daring to provoke us shows they have real strength.
They must have a powerful army hidden somewhere.

Suddenly, the man at the front turns his head and looks my way. I freeze for a moment, then steady myself.
He’s already spotted me; there’s no point hiding.
He rides straight toward me, displeasure in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?”
I chuckle. “Just curious. Can’t I take a look?”
“This isn’t a place you should be. Go back to your tent and serve the Old Khan properly.”
“I need to rest a bit first. I’m exhausted from walking here.”

He stares at me, narrowing his eyes, then whistles down to the soldiers.
One soldier draws his bow and shoots an arrow at me.
My eyes widen, and I quickly twist aside to dodge.

I knew Yanleqi wouldn’t go easy on me. I was just testing his limits, but who knew he couldn’t tolerate even a glance at the training grounds?
I know when to back off, and I was about to leave quickly, but then I saw the astonishment in his eyes.

“You’ve trained in martial arts?”
I laugh lightly. “Just a little.”
I wouldn’t say I know martial arts-I’ve just spent a lot of time with Pei Yu, so my reflexes are a bit faster. But if another arrow had come, I’d be dead for sure.

He scoffs. “I thought all you Central Plains women were just vases-pretty but useless.”
“We are a land of rites in the Zhou Dynasty. It’s true few women learn martial arts, but we’re not completely worthless.”
“Hah, then what can you do? Play the zither and dance? Those useless things are only good for seducing the Old Khan.”
“At least I’m useful to you, Chief Yan?”

“I’m not like that muddle-headed, lecherous old fool. If you don’t leave now, I’ll drag you back behind my horse.”
I frown, turn, and hurry away without a moment’s pause. After the lesson of that arrow, I know he means what he says.

I don’t return to my tent. Since he won’t let me see the training grounds, I can go somewhere else, right?
Though the land is covered in grass, their food rarely includes fruits or vegetables; it’s almost all meat.
The sheep roam free, and once grown they’re herded into pens for milking and meat.