If Ji Cheng had been holding water in her mouth, she would have spit it out. “That’s impossible!”
Zaiya’s youthful appearance was astonishing. As a woman, Ji Cheng’s first reaction was naturally to be curious about her secret. “What is her recipe for maintaining her youth?”
“Is she a demon?” The forty-year-old woman still looked like a young girl.
Shen Che touched his nose and glanced at Ji Cheng. “Of course not. She practices a particular skill that allows her to harness Yang energy to replenish Yin.”
Ji Cheng’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “What kind of skill? Can I learn it?”
Shen Che smiled at Ji Cheng and replied, “Yes, you can. I’ll teach you in the future.”
Ji Cheng felt she could never win an argument with Shen Che on such matters.
“So, according to what you just said, did she have her eye on you last night because she wanted to pick this fresh flower?” Ji Cheng said, then shook his head. “No, that’s not right. If she’s deeply entangled with Zhe Li, shouldn’t she know your identity?”
Shen Che replied, “No. Zhe Li knows Jing Zhu, but doesn’t know that Jing Zhu is me.”
“What about your Uncle-Master? Doesn’t he know either?” Ji Cheng asked.
“Jing Zhu’s identity is strictly confidential. When Master took me as his disciple, he already concealed my identity,” Shen Che explained.
Strictly confidential? Ji Cheng thought. Wasn’t she quite honored then? After feeling honored, she couldn’t help but feel afraid. Had Shen Che planned countless times to kill her to keep the secret?
“So, you mean Zha Yi Na truly took a liking to you last night?” Ji Cheng asked, his voice rising at the end. “But I think I’m not bad either. Cultured and handsome, is she blind?”
Shen Che replied, “She might have taken a liking to you too, but unfortunately, you were standing next to me last night.” Implying that Ji Cheng was outshone.
Ji Cheng clenched his delicate fist. This man was so annoyingly arrogant. “So what if she likes you? Isn’t it just to pluck you? You think she truly likes you?”
Shen Che casually took Ji Cheng’s raised fist, his thumb caressing the back of it. Ji Cheng tried to pull his hand back but couldn’t overcome Shen Che’s strength. He sighed dejectedly, “Why did Zha Yi Na appear in Zhaga Town? Did she come for you? Does she suspect your identity?”
After the banter, it was time to discuss serious matters. Ji Cheng was very curious. Yesterday’s scene by the river was too coincidental. In ordinary times, Ji Cheng might have believed it was just a bold Turkic girl taking a liking to Shen Che. But now, in these tumultuous times, with Zhe Li, or rather Shen Che’s Uncle-Master, about to ally with the Eastern Turkic forces to engage in a life-and-death battle with Great Qin, Zha Yi Na’s sudden appearance at this crucial moment made Ji Cheng suspicious.
Of course, Shen Che’s behavior also undoubtedly proved this point. No matter how despicable he was, he probably wouldn’t go out and fool around with another girl in front of his newlywed wife.
“Indeed, she came for me, but because I’m the younger brother of the Great Northern Marshal,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng puffed out his chest, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He knew it; why would she be so blind as to just take a liking to Shen Che?
“This Zha Yi Na is quite capable. We’ve only been on the grasslands for a few days, yet she’s already uncovered your identity and knows our whereabouts,” Ji Cheng said.
Shen Che nodded, “The Fire Robe Religion has great influence in the Western Turkic Khaganate. Almost half of the Turkic people follow them. As the Holy Maiden, Zha Yi Na has supreme authority.”
“Is there only a Holy Maiden and no Patriarch?” Ji Cheng asked.
Shen Che gave Ji Cheng an approving look, “There is, but they claim he’s in seclusion, with the Holy Maiden managing religious affairs. In truth, Zha Yi Na and Zhe Li jointly killed this generation’s Patriarch, but they haven’t announced his death yet.”
Ji Cheng nodded, “By the way, if Zha Yi Na knows you’re the heir of Duke Qi’s household, what does she hope to gain by seducing you?”
Shen Che said, “Naturally, she wants to change lovers, but first, she needs to test my abilities.” Shen Che’s eyes glanced down towards his crotch.
Ji Cheng laughed, “Then she must have been very satisfied last night?”
“Oh, so you found it satisfying,” Shen Che said, lowering his head to gently kiss Ji Cheng’s fist.
Ji Cheng’s face reddened again, but he stubbornly said, “My standards aren’t that low.”
Shen Che leaned close to Ji Cheng’s ear and said, “Then what didn’t meet your expectations? Length? Duration? Or not diligent enough?”
Ji Cheng pushed hard with both hands and Shen Che, “caught off guard,” fell off the bed. Though his falling posture wasn’t unsightly, it certainly wasn’t graceful either.
Ji Cheng giggled, finally feeling relieved. He didn’t care whether Shen Che had let him push him or not; as long as it felt satisfying, it was fine.
Before Shen Che could stand up and sit down again, Ji Cheng assigned him to fetch new undergarments.
Without Ji Cheng having to do anything, Shen Che very conscientiously arranged the collar of the undergarments and helped Ji Cheng put them on. Ji Cheng asked, “I’m being serious. Why is Zha Yi Na looking for you?”
Shen Che said, “I’m being serious too. Zha Yi Na couldn’t get anywhere with my elder brother, so she turned to me as the next best option.”
Ji Cheng thought, this ‘next best option’ was quite lucky. If Zha Yi Na had dug a little deeper, she would have caught the big fish.
“Nonsense, doesn’t she have Zhe Li? Would Zhe Li be comfortable with her getting involved with you?” Ji Cheng asked.
Shen Che said, “Of course, he’s not comfortable, but Zhe Li is now willing but unable.”
Ji Cheng didn’t understand.
So Shen Che briefly told Ji Cheng about what had happened in the Western Regions back then. What was once extremely difficult to speak about now seemed effortless to say.
Ji Cheng, on the other hand, felt a bit embarrassed. After all, it was a trap she had set. Although Shen Che had turned the tables, there must have been some psychological knots. If they had parted ways forever, it would have been fine, but now fate had played a trick on them, and they had become husband and wife. Ji Cheng felt a bit of pain in her foot.
This time, it was Ji Cheng’s turn to rub his nose. “So, because Zhe Li can’t… you know… anymore, Zha Yi Na has developed wandering eyes?”
Shen Che said, “Zha Yi Na and Zhe Li were only united by mutual interests. With Zha Yi Na’s influence among the Turks, she was able to establish Zhe Li in just a few short years.”
Ji Cheng quickly grasped the key point, “Then what benefit did Zha Yi Na get from Zhe Li?”
Shen Che pondered silently, only looking at Ji Cheng with a teasing gaze.
Ji Cheng said, “Don’t talk nonsense. Four-legged toads are hard to find in this world, but two-legged men are plentiful.”
Shen Che innocently said, “I wasn’t going to talk nonsense. It’s just that Zhe Li has his advantages, and that’s also the reason for Zha Yi Na’s youthful appearance. Ten years ago, Zha Yi Na wasn’t as young as she is now.”
Now Ji Cheng was curious, “Is it related to the cultivation method she practiced with Zhe Li?”
Shen Che straightened up, sneered, and started changing clothes, “Save your energy. Even if Zhe Li can stand up now, he can’t get it up anymore.”
Ji Cheng thought, Shen Che truly was a ruthless man. Not killing Zhe Li back then, was it because he was thinking of separating him from Zha Yi Na today? He even went so far as to make sure the other man couldn’t get it up.
Ji Cheng got up with Shen Che, surrounding him and refusing to leave. Shen Che handed the belt to Ji Cheng, who naturally helped him tie it, just like a real wife helping her husband dress.
Who told her to be curious?
“You still haven’t said what Zha Yi Na wants to get from you,” Ji Cheng asked.
“Three years ago, Zhe Li was severely injured. I thought he wouldn’t be able to stand again, but somehow my Uncle Master used some method, and he could walk again. Zha Yi Na might have some genuine feelings for Zhe Li, or maybe she was brainwashed by my Uncle-Master into thinking Zhe Li could recover. So she wants to approach me to gather some internal information about the Western Expedition Army.”
Ji Cheng laughed, “You’ve always been known for your debauchery. Since Zha Yi Na has uncovered your identity, shouldn’t she know what inside information you can gather? Isn’t she using an ox cleaver to kill a chicken by putting effort into you?”
Hearing Ji Cheng belittle himself like this, Shen Che had nothing to say, “Don’t you know the situation is different now? Getting married means becoming an adult, and I should at least strive for some career prospects. Besides, with my elder brother being the Marshal of the Western Expedition, if I go to the Northwestern Army to gain some military merits, I could rise to prominence in no time.”
Ji Cheng thought about it and realized it was true. Shen Che entering the Western Turkic grasslands with this identity couldn’t be more legitimate; no one would suspect anything.
A wastrel playboy, even when coming to the grasslands to earn military merits, would bring along a pretty maid and someone who looks like a “male companion,” dragging numerous pieces of luggage. It very much fits Shen Che’s image.
“Zha Yi Na’s reason for seeking you out can’t be that simple,” Ji Cheng said. Even if what Shen Che said made sense, it was too much for Zha Yi Na to lower herself to approach Shen Che.
“Zha Yi Na has great ambitions. She wants to spread the doctrines of the Fire Robe Religion to the Central Plains. Zhe Li can’t help her with this, so she’s also looking for new partners. If I can prove that I’m more valuable to her than Zhe Li, she might betray Zhe Li to help me,” Shen Che said.
“So, you’re going to help her spread the Fire Robe Religion’s doctrines?” Ji Cheng asked in surprise.
Shen Che said, “I have no such intention. Even if Zha Yi Na wants to, her plan is doomed to fail. The people of the Central Plains are stubborn in their beliefs. With Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism already saving the world, it’s very difficult for them to accept another god.”
Ji Cheng raised an eyebrow, understanding Shen Che’s plan. This man intended to get something for nothing, but in the process, he would inevitably become entangled with Zha Yi Na.
“No wonder you were so generous in letting me dress as a man. You had ulterior motives all along, didn’t you? And you patiently explained all this to me. I thought the sun was rising from the west, but it turns out my husband is persuading me to turn a blind eye to his intimacy with another woman,” Ji Cheng said sarcastically.
Shen Che said, “I knew you would overthink it, so I brought you along, didn’t I? You can supervise in person. I entrust my innocence to you. Just don’t let me get plucked by that older woman.”
Ji Cheng snorted heavily, “Your legs are yours to control. I can’t manage them.”
Shen Che calmly replied, “It’s just a matter of whether you’re willing to manage or not.”
Of course, Ji Cheng wouldn’t manage. She was a very tolerant woman. This man’s legs were his own, and if his third leg wanted to take a walk, she couldn’t stop it even if she wanted to. After all, Shen Che had enough money to keep several concubines, and it wouldn’t cost Ji Cheng anything.
So, when Shen Che went out, Ji Cheng also took Nan Gui and Lian Zi out for a stroll.
Zhaga Town wasn’t big. In Great Qin, it would be at most the size of a village. The whole town had just one street, with a few scattered shops, mostly food stalls.
Given how rudimentary it was, Ji Cheng naturally couldn’t wander around the town. But she didn’t understand the Turkic language and couldn’t walk around freely. Fortunately, she met a Turkic child on the street who had been making a living since he was eleven and spoke decent Han Chinese. After chatting, Ji Cheng learned that Wu Mu was of mixed Turkic and Han descent. His mother had been captured and brought to the grasslands by his father and had passed away several years ago. His father didn’t care much for him, so he had to fend for himself.
Wu Mu received a large sum of money from Ji Cheng, at least large for him. So, with great enthusiasm, he took Ji Cheng to a plain twenty li away to watch the Yugur people’s festivities.
“Brother Ji, your riding skills are quite good. Let’s see if we can make it in time. Maybe you can even participate in our Yugur horse racing. The winner gets to sing and drink with our chief’s daughter, and might even be able to sneak into her tent,” Wu Mu couldn’t stop talking about the chief’s daughter. “She’s the pearl of our grasslands. I’ve never seen a girl more beautiful than her, just like the moon in the sky.”
The festivities on the grasslands were as lively as a market fair in Great Qin. Nearby herdsmen, upon hearing the news, came with their families, pitched their tents on the vast plain, called their friends, and engaged in singing and dancing.
The unmarried girls of the Yugur tribe set up small white tents not far from their family tents. After sunset, the young men would try to find ways to sneak in. If they managed to get in without being chased out by the girl, they would hang their horsewhip at the entrance. Perhaps to indicate that this “horse” had been ridden?
Ji Cheng marveled at the boldness of the Turkic people, yet couldn’t help but feel envious.
There were quite a few Han people on the Yugur plain, all captured from Great Qin in recent years. Some had escaped back, while others had taken root on the grasslands.
So although Ji Cheng’s presence as a Han person on the plain was abrupt, it wasn’t particularly outstanding.
However, Ji Cheng’s skinny physique earned him quite a few sympathetic and contemptuous glances. Those voluptuous and charming Turkic girls covered their mouths and laughed as they passed by him. And those tall and sturdy men, with their half-bare chests, looked at him with even more disdain.
One man was even more exaggerated. He walked up to Ji Cheng, pulled open his robe to reveal two robust pectoral muscles, flexed them, and then lifted his chin provocatively at Ji Cheng, muttering something Ji Cheng couldn’t understand at all.
Wu Mu translated from the side: “He’s asking you to feel his chest.”
Is there such a thing? Ji Cheng was quite curious about these two large chests, bigger than those of ordinary girls. He asked Wu Mu, “Is it okay to touch?”
“It’s fine. He just wants you people from the Central Plains to know what a real man is,” Wu Mu said.
Ji Cheng indeed reached out his hand and felt the man’s robust chest, pressing it. It was firm and felt quite good. Then he smiled and gave a gesture meaning “You’re very impressive.”
Ji Cheng was smiling more brilliantly than a flower when he saw Shen Che standing behind the man, along with Zha Yi Na beside him.