Wei Yan arrived in Dai Commandery and at the third watch that night, he left the city alone to wait in the desolate outskirts, gazing at the bright moon rising above the distant mountain mists in the deep blue night sky, his figure motionless.
Shortly after, from behind him, two fast horses gradually approached. As they neared, one of the riders dismounted first and quickly walked towards Wei Yan. Upon reaching him, the man bowed deeply. It was Hu Yanlei, the Xiongnu Qianqi commander whom Wei Yan had previously released.
Wei Yan angrily said, “You have such audacity to patrol the border with your troops! Do you think I would show you mercy when it comes to armed conflict?”
Hu Yanlei kowtowed, “Young Master, please calm your anger. We have no intention of causing trouble. It’s just that we’ve sent you several letters before, but received no response. Left with no choice, we thought of this way to meet you in person. Young Master, you may not know that the King was assassinated during last month’s Tuhe Festival. An arrow struck his chest, but fortunately, he was wearing inner armor at the time and narrowly escaped death, though he was still seriously injured and hadn’t fully recovered. The Left Wise King is closing in, intending to kill the King. Of the four great Xiongnu clans, only the Hu Yan clan remains loyal to the King, the Lan clan is wavering, while the Xubu and He clans obey the Left Wise King. The King urgently needs Young Master to return and assist him!” He finished speaking and kowtowed again.
Wei Yan remained silent for a moment, then coldly said, “He has his sons to help him, why must he force me to go?”
Hu Yanlei looked back. Wei Yan followed his gaze and turned his face. In the moonlight, he saw the other man dismount and walk towards him. As he came closer, Wei Yan could gradually see clearly that the man wore black clothes and deerskin boots, his figure slightly thin. Although he was past middle age, his facial features were still handsome, and he must have been even more striking in his youth.
This man was Xiongnu, but if he were to wear Han robes, his bearing would surely be exceptional.
Hu Yanlei stood up and took a step back, then knelt again to this middle-aged man, calling out “My King.”
Wei Yan was startled. He hadn’t expected that this middle-aged man accompanying Hu Yanlei was Wuzhu Qu, the King of the Rouzhi. Seeing him stop in front of him and their eyes meet, Wei Yan’s expression gradually becomes rigid.
In the moonlight, Wuzhu Qu’s face was slightly pale. He stared at Wei Yan without blinking, his expression becoming emotional. Suddenly, he took a step closer to Wei Yan, called him “my son,” and reached out his hand as if wanting to grasp Wei Yan’s.
Wei Yan took a step back and said coolly, “I have no Xiongnu father. My father died before I was born twenty-eight years ago.”
Wuzhu Qu slowly lowered his outstretched hand and after a moment of silence, said, “I know it’s difficult for you to accept me right away. I didn’t risk crossing the border this time to forcibly take you back. Your mother was indeed abducted by me and taken to the Xiongnu lands. We lived together for three years, and in the third year, she finally became pregnant with you.
When she was five months pregnant, there was a rebellion by the Great Yuezhi, and I went to suppress it, having to leave her in the Eastern Court. When I returned four months later, I learned that Wei Jing had raided the Eastern Court and taken her back. I planned twice to recapture her, but Wei Jing thwarted my attempts.
I even sent letters seeking peace, but he ignored them and killed my envoys. Considering she was close to giving birth, I had no choice but to postpone, thinking I would find an opportunity to bring her and the child back after the birth. Unexpectedly, I later received news that she had died in childbirth…”
Wuzhu Qu paused, tears glistening in his eyes.
“When I first saw her, I was only eighteen. Your mother was extremely beautiful, and I was captivated at first sight. She was my first wife. It was five years after her death that I finally obeyed my father’s order to marry a woman from the Hu Yan family, who bore me two other sons. You may hate me, but I know your mother must have had feelings for me. Otherwise, after Wei Jing took her back, she could have chosen not to give birth to you. Yet she bore you, at the cost of her own life!”
“For these twenty-eight years, I have never forgotten you for a moment! I’ve long wanted to bring you back. But with the Han and Xiongnu in opposition and my constraints, I had the will but not the means. As I grow older, I increasingly wish for your return, not only to assist me but also because I long for the son born of my beloved woman to be by my side. My son, when your mother was just pregnant with you, I had already chosen a name for you. Your name is Hu Tuokun! It means ‘the eagle soaring in the sky.’ You are not Han! I am your father, and you are the eagle soaring in our Xiongnu sky…”
As Wuzhu Qu spoke, his emotions intensified. Suddenly, his face contorted in pain, and he raised his hand to clutch one side of his chest, coughing violently. A trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Hu Yanlei beside him quickly supported him and turned to Wei Yan, saying, “Young Master! The King has not yet recovered from his injuries and has risked crossing the border to see you. How can you be so cold-hearted?”
Wei Yan’s expression was tense, his entire body like a rigid stone. He stared at Wuzhu Qu, then suddenly turned and mounted his horse, galloping away swiftly. In the moonlight, his figure quickly shrank to a black dot and disappeared from view.
Wuzhu Qu’s coughing gradually subsided, and he took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“My King! The Young Master is so unyielding, why don’t you spread the news of his true identity in Yuyang? Why go to such great lengths and even risk crossing the border yourself? If everyone knows the Young Master is not Han, he naturally can’t stay with the Wei family anymore. At that time, he’ll have no choice but to come to you!”
Hu Yanlei’s expression was anxious and helpless.
Wuzhu Qu looked in the direction Wei Yan had left and slowly shook his head, “I want a son, not an enemy who hates me.”
Hu Yanlei fell silent.
Wuzhu Qu was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “That Lan family girl sent to serve my son three years ago, is there any news of her now?”
…
Every year at this time, as long as there was no war, the Luli Assembly would be held as scheduled at the Luli Platform outside Yuyang City.
It wasn’t just about gaining fame in one battle and then rising to prominence. After all, only a minority had the confidence to step up onto the platform. For most middle and lower-ranking officers and soldiers, the Luli Assembly was more like a grand entertainment event for the entire army, eagerly anticipated by all. Unfortunately, two years ago at this time, Wei Shao’s army was fighting in Ji Province, and last year at this time, he was contending for territory with Chen Xiang. Having missed it for two consecutive years, this year finally presented a good opportunity. Last month, Xing Xun in Luoyang and Yuan Ze in Qing Province were fighting, now embroiled in a fierce battle. Wei Shao was recuperating behind closed doors, his illness not yet recovered, unable to go out. Naturally, he focused his energy on the Luli Assembly, this grand entertainment event for the entire army.
The assembly was to be held in three days. Starting today, not only from Yuyang, but also from military camps in Fanyang, Zhuo Commandery, Gaoyang, and Xindu, selected warriors began to arrive successively. The streets became even more lively, and the most talked-about topic among the city’s residents was the upcoming assembly.
What interested them, besides watching the military competitions, was the female members of the Marquis’s household.
At every assembly, Madam Xu would personally attend to drum and cheer for the competing warriors.
This year, the Marquis had newly married a wife. Everyone in the city knew that the Lady was as beautiful as a celestial being. It was rare to have a chance to see her normally, but on that day, the Lady would surely make an appearance.
How could they miss such a good opportunity to feast their eyes?
…
Wei Shao had been very busy lately.
Ever since he discovered the pleasure of sleeping with her, his mind had been consumed by this matter.
The intoxicating satisfaction of holding her while sleeping was gradually beginning to rival the sense of achievement he felt after capturing a city.
To be honest, he hadn’t had time lately to think about how he used to dislike her or hate the Qiao family.
Even if he accidentally thought about it, he could quickly push that thought out of his mind.
Recently, he had only been busy thinking about how to create more time to lie in bed and sleep with her in various positions.
But Youzhou was already very large, and with the addition of Jizhou which he had conquered later, plus Bingzhou which he had acquired a few months ago, there were so many cities. Even if there were no major issues arising in various places, there were still one or two matters that required his decision every day. When all these were sent to Yuyang and reached his hands, it became a large pile.
Originally, when he was out fighting, the official documents in the Youzhou government office were handled by Wei Yan.
If Wei Yan wasn’t available, there were Gong Sun Yang and Chief Clerk Wei Quan.
Unfortunately, Wei Quan had been sent to Jinyang. Gong Sun Yang had recently been suffering from his old cough problem. Hearing him sit there, coughing as if he was about to cough up his lungs, even Wei Shao, thick-skinned as he was, felt embarrassed to force him to report to the office morning and evening. It wasn’t appropriate to hand it over to others. He could only handle it himself.
The days felt too long, and the nights too short – this was Wei Shao’s recent profound experience.
So this evening, when he finally freed himself from the paperwork and walked out of the government office door, his steps were swift.
In the morning before leaving, he had promised Xiao Qiao that he would come back early to have dinner with her. Just now, he had been slightly delayed by a matter, and he left later than he had planned.
Wei Shao took a few steps down the large stone steps at the entrance of the government office. As he was about to mount his horse after taking the reins, he saw a beautiful young woman walking towards him from across the street.
He had seen this woman before, one of his cousin Wei Yan’s favored concubines. She had been with him for about two or three years. He just didn’t know her name. Seeing her stop in front of him, he guessed she was here to ask about Wei Yan, so he said directly, “My elder brother should return in a day or two.” He then mounted his horse.
Lan Yun bowed to Wei Shao and said, “Thank you for informing me, Marquis. My name is Lan Yun. I’m not here to ask about Lord Wei’s return. His return no longer concerns me. Before he left for Dai Commandery this time, he had already dismissed me, no longer wanting me.”
Wei Shao glanced at her.
He knew that women around Wei Yan often changed, but this woman who called herself Lan Yun had stayed the longest, which was why he had an impression of her.
Hearing her say this, Wei Shao nodded slightly and said, “If you have any matters, wait until he returns to discuss them with him.” He then spurred his horse to leave.
Lan Yun said, “Marquis, you may not know, but I’ve come to tell you something. Your elder brother, Lord Wei, has been disrespectful towards your wife.”
Wei Shao paused slightly, sitting on his horse, he looked down at her, his brows immediately furrowing, his voice turning cold.
“Do you know the punishment for speaking nonsense?”
Lan Yun said, “What I say is the truth, every word. Lord Wei has disregarded human ethics and harbors improper thoughts about a woman he should call ‘sister-in-law’!”
Wei Shao’s eyes flashed with a strange, cold light. He stared at Lan Yun for a moment, then said word by word, “I think you’re seeking death, daring to sow discord like this!”
Lan Yun suddenly knelt, “If the Marquis doesn’t believe me, you can come with me. Once the Marquis sees a certain thing, you’ll know whether what I say is true or false!”
Wei Shao’s expression darkened. He ignored Lan Yun and rode past her.
He had already ridden several zhang away when he suddenly stopped his horse and slowly turned his head back.
Lan Yun hurriedly got up from the ground and ran after him.
“If there’s even the slightest untruth, I’ll make sure you beg for life but cannot live, beg for death but cannot die!”
Wei Shao’s ice-cold voice rang in Lan Yun’s ears.
…
Wei Yan had gone to Dai Commandery and dismissed his concubines at home. Now only Zhu Quan and a few servants remained.
With the master gone, the servants had been going out privately these past few days, leaving only Zhu Quan. Just now, someone had come to invite Zhu Quan for a drink. Unable to refuse, he locked the main door and left.
The sky had darkened slightly. Lan Yun unlocked the door with a key, and Wei Shao entered without a word, striding directly to the door of Wei Yan’s bedroom.
Before Wei Yan left, the bedroom door had also been locked. An iron lock guarded the door.
He coldly watched as Lan Yun took out another key and successfully unlocked it, gently pushing the door open.
Wei Shao strode in and finally stopped in front of a wall.
On the wall hung a long landscape painting. The brushwork was unrestrained, the artistic conception ethereal.
Lan Yun lit a candle, held it in her hand, and walked over to provide light.
Wei Shao stared at the landscape painting for a moment, finally slowly raising his hand towards it.
His expression was unusually grave, his hand seeming as heavy as a thousand jun. It paused in the air for a moment, then suddenly swept aside the landscape painting.
The muscles on his face immediately stiffened. His gaze fixed on the wall, his figure as if frozen. Beside him, Lan Yun’s voice softly sounded:
“Lord Wei has been very different from usual lately. He summoned me less often to accompany him in bed. Often, he would return and enter his room alone, sometimes drinking by himself. He wasn’t like this before. I suspected he had taken a liking to another woman, so I paid extra attention to his actions…”
As she spoke, a trace of resentment appeared in her expression.
“That night, Lord Wei returned home and first drank alone in the courtyard, not calling for us to accompany him. Later, he suddenly returned to his room and closed the door, but he forgot to close the window tightly. Suspicious, I quietly crept under the window and saw him painting this portrait of beauty on the wall…”
“Once before, I happened to see the Lady from afar on the street. She was truly peerless in beauty, and I couldn’t forget her after just one glance. Lord Wei’s brush was also exquisite, and I recognized her at first sight. Terrified beyond words, I was about to leave for fear of being discovered when I suddenly saw Lord Wei…”
Lan Yun paused, “I saw Lord Wei lift his robe and pleasure himself in front of the wall… At that moment, he seemed intoxicated and entranced…”
Wei Shao suddenly turned around and with one hand swept away the candlestick in Lan Yun’s hand.
The candlestick fell to the ground with a faint, strange sound and rolled into a corner.
By now, the twilight outside the window was deep, but faces could still be discerned.
Lan Yun saw that Wei Shao’s eyes were cold, yet seemed to flash with anger, his face twisted, his expression terrifying.
Although this was what she had hoped for, when truly faced with such a scene, Lan Yun still felt terrified. Her legs weakened, and she involuntarily knelt, lowering her head, not daring to look at him.
Wei Shao remained frozen in place, the silence of the room heavy, broken only by his heavy breaths.