Despite knowing that Zhaina was a 40-year-old woman, Ji Cheng still felt a twinge of envy and even jealousy towards her natural gifts.
Turning forty wasn’t shameful; everyone would age, including Ji Cheng. However, when she reached forty and stood next to someone like Zhaina, she’d truly look like a crumbling edifice in comparison.
Even at nineteen, Ji Cheng felt somewhat inferior to Zhaina. The latter’s bosom was as full as the sweet melons from the Western Regions, her whole body brimming with wild energy, and her waist exuded flexibility at first glance.
She was a woman who inspired desire; even Ji Cheng couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Zhaina radiated allure, attracting the souls of surrounding men like a magnet.
The fellow who had been flexing his pectoral muscles in front of Ji Cheng turned around, directing his impressive chest towards Zhaina.
Zhaina smiled and said to Shen Che in Chinese, “I thought he looked somewhat effeminate, but it turns out he truly fancies men.”
Shen Che nodded with a smile, “Indeed, people often yearn for what they lack.”
Zhaina’s gaze naturally swept over Ji Cheng’s chest, noting the lack of pectoral muscles. Even for a woman, it was rather pitiful.
“What do I lack?” Ji Cheng had now stepped in front of Shen Che. “If I don’t have it, do you?”
Shen Che frowned, “Mind your words.”
Ji Cheng retorted, “Then you should be more mindful of your actions. Is this how you treat my sister?”
Shen Che tilted his head without answering.
Zhaina let out a meaningful “Oh?” “Sister?”
Shen Che responded frankly, “That’s my wife from the Central Plains, quite the tigress.” He shook his head as he spoke.
Ji Cheng was already gritting her teeth.
Zhaina giggled coquettishly, pushing Shen Che’s shoulder gently, “You men are always so unfaithful.”
Shen Che stepped back accordingly, smiling, “I haven’t been unfaithful yet.” He draped his arm over Ji Cheng’s shoulder and turned back to Zhaina, “Pardon us. If I don’t accompany my wife’s younger brother, he’ll tattle on me when we return.”
Shen Che did leave Zhaina behind, only turning back to smile at her from across the crowd when they were about thirty paces away. Then, without looking back, he led Ji Cheng toward the most crowded area.
A small, thin man in his forties from the Central Plains emerged behind Zhaina. “How was it? Did you notice anything amiss?”
Without turning or answering the newcomer’s question, Zhaina asked, “Your master says he’s a well-known playboy from Great Qin, hmm?”
“Yes.”
Zhaina narrowed her eyes, “What kind of woman is his wife?”
“She’s said to be exceptionally beautiful.”
Zhaina lowered her eyelids and turned to face the man, “For now, I haven’t noticed anything unusual. If he’s as formidable as your master suspects, you should appear less frequently before me to avoid alerting him.”
The man in black nodded respectfully and disappeared as swiftly and suddenly as he had appeared.
Shen Che seemed completely unaware of Zhaina’s meeting and was now watching a wrestling match with Ji Cheng.
Two burly, dark-skinned men grappled with each other, their bare upper bodies glistening with sweat. The air was thick with the scent of cattle, sheep, milk, and fermented mare’s milk, combining into a potent, stimulating concoction.
Ji Cheng’s palms were nearly red from clapping, and her voice was growing hoarse as she cheered along with the crowd, “Helie! Helie!”
“You don’t know either of these men, so why are you only cheering for Helie?” Shen Che leaned lazily against the fence surrounding the two wrestlers who were burning off excess energy.
Ji Cheng’s cheeks were flushed from cheering so enthusiastically. She turned to look at Shen Che, pondering why she had chosen Helie at first glance.
Well, perhaps because his strength was more appealing.
“Your eyes keep darting to his waist,” Shen Che continued.
Ji Cheng’s face reddened further, “So what if I look at his waist? Weren’t you staring at Zhaina’s chest the whole time?”
Shen Che laughed a deep chuckle that resonated in his chest. “Aren’t you jealous?”
“Jealous of what? A scoundrel like you deserves to be snatched up by that old witch,” Ji Cheng retorted.
“Scoundrels only fancy little spirits,” Shen Che leaned in to whisper in Ji Cheng’s ear, “Especially peach spirits.”
Unfortunately, this particular peach was so sour that even Shen Che found it hard to stomach. He wondered if he had made the fox musk he’d applied to Ji Cheng too strong.
Ji Cheng didn’t trust the smooth-talking Shen Che. “By the way, why did you mention your wife to her? You weren’t thinking of…” Ji Cheng gave Shen Che a knowing look.
Shen Che gestured for Ji Cheng to walk out with him. Ji Cheng was about to follow but couldn’t bear to leave Helie. “Wait, let me see if Helie wins in the end.”
On the great grasslands, even a usually reserved girl like Ji Cheng had let loose, especially after Shen Che began openly flirting with other women, which eased Ji Cheng’s psychological burden even further.
Helie didn’t disappoint his fans and emerged victorious. As he left the ring, he planted a loud kiss on a Turkic girl who had rushed up to him, earning a chorus of cheers.
Everyone admired a hero.
“Do you know why girls fancy men like Helie?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng didn’t respond, knowing Shen Che was unlikely to say anything decent.
“Men as strong as Helie, with such powerful waists, can thrust with exceptional force,” Shen Che paused, “That’s why women like them.”
As expected, nothing good came from his mouth. Shen Che leaned in closer to Ji Cheng and asked, “This means that when you used to whimper and complain about pain, you were enjoying it.”
Ji Cheng aimed a kick at Shen Che, who dodged it just in time.
“Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you’re so angry?” Shen Che continued to provoke Ji Cheng, seemingly oblivious to the danger.
Ji Cheng wished she had a horsewhip to lash Shen Che with.
After Shen Che had sufficiently riled up Ji Cheng, he returned to the original topic, “Earlier, what were you asking about Zhaina?”
Ji Cheng replied irritably, “Why did you mention your tigress wife to Zhaina?”
“To indicate that I’m already spoken for, discouraging her from having any untoward thoughts,” Shen Che said shamelessly.
“Do you have any shame?” Ji Cheng spat. She had realized that Shen Che particularly enjoyed teasing her. What a jerk.
“So, are you angry that I called you a tigress, or that I mentioned you?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng smiled, “I’m not angry at all that you called me a tigress. I plan to live up to that name from now on.”
Shen Che leaned down close to Ji Cheng, “A tigress is good. Come on, tigress, pounce on me. I’ll give you some meat to eat.”
This was just too much…
Ji Cheng quickly walked past Shen Che. If Zhaina could take Shen Che off her hands, she’d be willing to light a longevity lamp for Zhaina. Before, she had only thought Shen Che was ruthless and deadly, but now she realized his shamelessness was even more lethal.
“Alright, alright, I’ll be serious now,” Shen Che said, grabbing Ji Cheng’s wrist.
Ji Cheng shook off Shen Che’s hand, “I’ve always been serious. You’re the one who isn’t.”
Shen Che said earnestly, “I don’t know why, but I can’t seem to be serious around you. What should I do?” His face was serious, but his eyes were full of mirth.
Ji Cheng retorted, “If you don’t want to tell me, then forget it. Don’t think I don’t know you. You wouldn’t mention me for no reason. You must be plotting something.” Ji Cheng knew Shen Che never did anything without a purpose.
Shen Che gave Ji Cheng a big approving look, “No one knows me better than Taotao.”
Ji Cheng crossed her arms and remained silent, waiting for Shen Che to become serious.
“Zhaina is extremely cunning. My attempt to get something for nothing didn’t quite work out,” Shen Che said, rubbing his nose.
“Couldn’t sell your male charm?” Ji Cheng asked, moving closer to Shen Che. Her face was already breaking into an uncontrollable smile, wishing she could hug and kiss Zhaina. Ji Cheng liked any woman who didn’t fall for Shen Che.
Shen Che replied rather embarrassedly, “A woman of Zhaina’s age has seen all sorts of men. Since I couldn’t do anything with her, my persuasion was even less effective.”
Ji Cheng said, “You’re dreaming. It’s more likely that she didn’t want to do anything with you.”
Ignoring Ji Cheng’s mockery, Shen Che continued, “However, formidable women all have one flaw.”
Ji Cheng raised an eyebrow.
“They’re competitive,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng didn’t understand what Shen Che was getting at.
“Especially when my wife is both beautiful and intelligent, Zhaina certainly won’t be able to swallow that,” Shen Che explained.
Shen Che was indirectly praising himself, definitely a weasel paying respects to a chicken. Ji Cheng wasn’t falling for it, but she couldn’t deny feeling somewhat pleased. So, she continued to listen to Shen Che’s nonsense.
“Zhaina will try to steal me away from you,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng replied, “The problem is, your wife – me,” Ji Cheng pointed at her nose, “is far away in the capital. Right now, I’m your brother-in-law.”
Shen Che chuckled, “With your appearance, you might fool yourself and those who can’t see clearly, but where do your words and actions resemble a man’s? Zhaina saw through you long ago. You’re the only one still happily pretending.”
Ji Cheng wanted to kick Shen Che again. She couldn’t go along with Shen Che’s words; if she did, she’d be led astray. So she changed the subject, “Did you have designs on me back in the capital? All that talk about taking me out to play, was it actually to make it easier for you to flirt with Zhaina?”
Shen Che tilted his head slightly, “I’m not that prophetic.”
Ji Cheng didn’t end up attending the horse racing event of the Yugur tribe in Zhaga Town, as they set off for Tongluo the next day.
Tongluo was considered a major town on the Eastern Turkic grasslands, its prosperity roughly equivalent to a county in Northern Jin. However, the diversity of its people was incomparable to any Central Plains county.
There were Western Region people with high-nosed bridges and blue eyes, Arabs wrapped entirely in black cloth, Hui people wearing small white caps, and others Ji Cheng couldn’t even name.
The Eastern Turks, having not gone to war with Great Qin, still appeared peaceful. Turning southwest from Tongluo would lead to the Turkic Khan’s encampment, but now the Turkic Khan existed in name only. The Western Turkic tribes led by Zheli completely disregarded the Khan’s royal decrees, and while the Khan still had some influence in Eastern Turkic lands, it was gradually dissipating.
“What are we doing in Tongluo? I thought you were going to the Khan’s encampment,” Ji Cheng said.
“Why would I go to the Khan’s encampment?” Shen Che asked, puzzled.
“To persuade the Khan not to cooperate with Zheli,” Ji Cheng said matter-of-factly.
“That’s not my job. I’m not that smooth-tongued,” Shen Che replied.
Ji Cheng sneered, “You may not be smooth-tongued, but who knows? Maybe the Khan’s consort is stunningly beautiful. If you could catch her eye, she might whisper sweet nothings in the Khan’s ear for you, and voila, mission accomplished.”
Shen Che hugged Ji Cheng from behind, saying, “You think my pretty boy tactics would work? So, Acheng thinks highly of me after all.” Shen Che rubbed his chin on Ji Cheng’s shoulder. “Hmm, I was at a loss before, but now that you mention it, it might work. However, if I give my essence and fluids to the beautiful consort, what will you use to bear my son?”
Ji Cheng felt that Shen Che had never known shame and each time he managed to be even more shameless. She was so embarrassed she wanted to cover her ears.
“Who wants to bear your son?!” Ji Cheng raged.
Shen Che said, “Alright, alright, I know you’re angry. Aren’t you just upset about my interactions with Zhaina? Why all this sarcasm and barbed comments? What’s the point?”
“Don’t change the subject. Who cares enough to be jealous of you?” Ji Cheng felt particularly wronged. She wasn’t jealous, but Shen Che always accused her of being so.
Shen Che raised an eyebrow, looking at Ji Cheng with a helpless smile as if she were an unreasonable child who wanted candy but was too shy to ask directly.
Ji Cheng pouted and pushed Shen Che, “You still haven’t said what we’re doing in Tongluo.”
“We’re here to meet someone,” Shen Che said.
He paused, then added, “A man.”
Ji Cheng raised her fist at Shen Che.
“You can go explore on your own these few days, just don’t leave Nan Gui and Lian Zi’er’s sight,” Shen Che said, grasping Ji Cheng’s fist and gently nibbling on it.