After the Alluring Beauty Was Forced into a Political Marriage - Chapter 29

Shen Lianzhi had not slept well for several days. Having been married into Great Xia for nearly a year, he had never been separated from Lu Jingce for this long. He should have been overjoyed at the prospect of seeing the cousin he thought he would never see again in this lifetime, so why was he so filled with trepidation?

Lianzhi had no heart for intimacy, and thus his attitude toward Shiqin Bari became increasingly cold. Shiqin Bari naturally noticed this change; though he said nothing, a sense of dissatisfaction brewed in his heart.

The two lived together for a month like strangers sharing a bed, their conversations missing each other entirely, until the day the Great Zhou envoys were to arrive at court.

Now that the Great Zhou and Great Xia had turned their weapons into gifts of silk, the Zhou Emperor had specifically sent a Prince as an envoy. Great Xia, in turn, prepared the proper etiquette to receive this high-born guest. As the Khatun of Great Xia and the blood cousin of the Prince of Chu, Lianzhi could not avoid this duty by any reason or logic.

Despite a sense of “homesick anxiety,” Lianzhi longed to see Lu Jingce. Lu Jingce was not only his former lover but his childhood companion. The kindness Lu Jingce had shown him in the Zhou palace was something Lianzhi kept in his heart and had never forgotten.

Before dawn, Lianzhi rose to wash and dress. Xiao Anzi helped him into a moon-white nomadic robe; the Xia people regarded white as a noble color, and the last time Lianzhi had worn this garment was on his wedding day.

Xiao Anzi brought a comb to do his hair. After combing, he prepared to braid it as usual, but Lianzhi looked into the bronze mirror and suddenly stopped him. “Wait.”

“Khatun?” Xiao Anzi asked, confused.

Lianzhi remained silent for a moment before unraveling his dark braids. “Go fetch the gold crown inlaid with white jade that my cousin sent.”

His cousin had never seen him with his hair bound in the style of a man.

Xiao Anzi froze, then bowed in fear. “Khatun, I fear that is unwise. Have you forgotten? The last time you bound your hair, you received a harsh lecture from Princess Su Rina.”

Shen Lianzhi knew the advice was sound, but his selfish desires won out. He was about to argue when Shiqin Bari’s voice suddenly rang out from behind him, “What are you master and servant whispering about?”

Lianzhi looked up at him. Shiqin Bari was already fully dressed; his narrow black nomadic robe accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist, making him look handsome and tall. Lianzhi recognized this outfit; it was what Shiqin Bari had worn the day they first met.

Lianzhi’s eyes lingered on him for a moment before he said with some surprise, “You seem to have grown taller.”

Shiqin Bari puffed out his chest. “Naturally. Who else is as thin and bony as you?”

Shen Lianzhi did not see how height and thinness were related, so he ignored him. Receiving no rebuttal, Shiqin Bari felt a bit bored and scanned Lianzhi up and down. “Why are you wearing that?” he asked with dissatisfaction.

“Oh,” Lianzhi quickly lowered his gaze, fearing Shiqin Bari would detect something. “I just picked it up. Since my cousin is coming, I should dress properly.”

Shiqin Bari knew of Lu Jingce’s existence. However, when Lianzhi mentioned Lu Jingce to him, he had omitted their private romance, describing him only as his cousin.

Shiqin Bari felt a bit uneasy. That garment was Lianzhi’s wedding robe. Shiqin Bari’s own wedding robe was still carefully stored away, as he was loath to wear it again casually. Yet to Lianzhi, it was merely something he “just picked up.”

“Great King,” Lianzhi called softly. “Today, may I wear my hair in the Zhou style?”

Just then, Xiao Anzi approached holding the gold crown. Shiqin Bari glanced at the glittering crown, then at Lianzhi’s slightly upturned face. Meeting those shimmering eyes, he could not bring himself to refuse even if he wanted to.

“Wear it if you want,” Shiqin Bari muttered, feeling somewhat stifled.

Shen Lianzhi had never dressed so meticulously just to see him. Shiqin Bari could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy and grumbled, “Why are you so fond of your reflection today? Looking at you, one would think you were going to meet a lover instead of a cousin!”

The speaker was casual, but the listener was not. The smile on Lianzhi’s lips vanished instantly, and he shouted instinctively, “I am not!”

“I am not. My cousin and I are perfectly innocent; there is nothing between us. I am your Khatun. Do not talk nonsense,” Lianzhi said anxiously.

Shiqin Bari had only spoken in passing and did not expect such a frantic denial. He felt Lianzhi’s reaction was a bit excessive, but he did not dwell on it. He only focused on one sentence: “I am your Khatun.” Those words made him feel comfortable, and his jealousy dissipated.

He leaned down and pressed a heavy kiss on Lianzhi’s face, grinning to show his sharp teeth. “Fine, fine, I will not talk nonsense, Khatun.”

Shen Lianzhi stole a glance at him. Seeing him smiling sincerely, he finally felt at ease. He did not dare to have feelings for his cousin anymore; to him, Lu Jingce could only be the bright moon hanging in the sky. He must never, absolutely never, entertain the thought of plucking that moon.

After Lianzhi finished dressing, he followed Shiqin Bari out of the Royal Tent. However, he immediately ran into a problem. Since coming to Great Xia, the days he had spent outside were few. This was his first time traveling a long distance. “I do not know how to ride a horse,” he admitted.

Shiqin Bari, who had brought a horse to him, widened his eyes in disbelief. “You do not know how to ride?”

He could hardly be blamed for his shock; the Xia people, young and old, male and female, were all skilled in riding and archery. Lianzhi felt ashamed. “I studied it in the Zhou palace, but I only know a little. I am not a good rider.”

He had studied it, but not for long. Lianzhi had once fallen from a horse and nearly broken his bones, after which Lu Jingce forbade him from riding again.

“If you want to ride, sit on my horse. Your cousin will carry you; that way, you will not fall again. Lianzhi, what do you say to that?”

At that time, Lianzhi had naturally thought it was wonderful.

Shiqin Bari let out a hiss of annoyance, whistled through his fingers to call his horse, and took Lianzhi’s hand. “Step on the stirrup and mount.”

After Lianzhi climbed up, Shiqin Bari nimbly mounted behind him. He squeezed the horse’s flanks and shouted, “Jia!” as the horse surged forward.

Shiqin Bari held the reins with one hand and wrapped his other arm around Shen Lianzhi. He rested his chin in the crook of Lianzhi’s shoulder and mischievously blew a puff of air onto his ear. “This is not bad either.”

The willful young Chanyu took his Khatun and left the court as if no one else were there. A line of officials and servants followed them, the procession heading south in a grand display.

South of the court lay Mount Utuken, not far away. The Utuken mountain range stretched endlessly, crossing the central grasslands. It was now August, and the mountains were lush with forest and grass, full of life, with rivers winding at their base. Lianzhi was not unfamiliar with this place; the Xia sacrificial site of Longcheng was also nearby.

Shiqin Bari’s riding was superb. Lianzhi did not feel the jolting of the horse; instead, he felt the exhilaration of the gallop. Lianzhi gripped the reins, panting for breath. Before he could recover, he felt a pat on his back.

“Shen Lianzhi, look up. The Great Zhou envoy has arrived.”

Lianzhi looked up sharply. In that moment, he could almost no longer hear the whistling wind or the chaotic sound of hooves approaching from the distance. In that instant, heaven and earth became small.

Amidst the vibrant greenery, the upright figure on horseback drew closer and clearer, appearing exactly as he did in the depths of Lianzhi’s memory.

Lianzhi’s jaw trembled slightly, and tears fell uncontrollably down his face. He lacked the strength to even wipe them away. His heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by a hand.

“I, Lu Jingce, pay my respects to the Great King. Respects to the Khatun.”

Khatun and Lianzhi. What similar words.

Tomorrow would be the day of the grand wedding, but the Xia people had already begun celebrating in advance. Lianzhi sat beside Shiqin Bari, listening to the bursts of laughter, feeling only a sense of turmoil. “Great King.”

“Hmm?” Shiqin Bari turned toward him. Seeing Lianzhi’s brow slightly furrowed and his lips pale, he felt a bit displeased. “Why is your complexion so poor?”

“I fear I am a bit drunk, Great King. I wish to return to the tent to rest.”

He could not sit there any longer. The occasional glances from not far away made him panic, and sitting beside Shiqin Bari also made him feel uneasy. Once granted permission, Lianzhi walked quickly toward the exit. However, he truly was a bit intoxicated and could not find the way back to the Royal Tent.

The cool night wind did not clear his heavy head. Lianzhi grew tired of walking and crouched down on the spot. Holding his knees, he gazed blankly at the lush green grass swaying in the wind until the grass grew dim because of a shadow.

The shadow blocked the moonlight and shrouded the curled up Shen Lianzhi like spilled ink. Dullly, Lianzhi slowly raised his head and saw a pair of eyes like dark jade.

“Lianzhi.” Lu Jingce finally called his name. This voice felt like it came from another lifetime, nearly making Shen Lianzhi daze. “Why are you crouching on the ground again?”

“Lianzhi.” His voice was so soft, like the misty moonlight or a wind one cannot catch. “Why are you unwilling to even look at your brother?”

Shen Lianzhi’s eyes reddened. A force helped him up. He was drunk and his legs were numb, so he was unstable and had to grab Lu Jingce’s arm. The fragrance of spikenard unique to Lu Jingce enveloped him invisibly.

Lianzhi looked up and finally saw Lu Jingce’s face clearly at this moment. He was still as elegant as ever, like a piece of fine jade. At the moment their eyes met, Lianzhi almost thought they had returned to the past.

Lu Jingce’s dark eyelashes trembled. Lianzhi felt the hand supporting him tighten. Before he could regain his senses, their breaths had already mingled.

Their lips met.

The soft sensation on his lips was like a fire that suddenly burned Lianzhi awake. In that split second, another face flashed through his mind, sinister and handsome, with two sharp canine teeth showing when he smiled.

“No, it cannot be!” Shen Lianzhi suddenly pushed the person away, panting heavily. Lu Jingce still stood before him, but Lianzhi did not have the courage to look up again.

The past, they could not return to the past. They could not.

Shen Lianzhi ran away as if fleeing from a monster. He avoided Lu Jingce, never looking back once.

Lianzhi dashed back to the Royal Tent. Just as he was about to enter, the tent flap was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

“I thought you said you were going back to the tent to rest?” Shiqin Bari asked, his arms folded.

“I was drunk. I wandered around outside for a while.”

Shiqin Bari looked up. Seeing Lianzhi’s deathly pale face, he could not bear to scold him further. He stepped aside to let him through. Shen Lianzhi did not dare look at him and walked inside in a daze, wanting only to sleep.

“Wait.” Shiqin Bari suddenly called out to stop him. The hair on Lianzhi’s back stood on end, and he turned stiffly to look at him. “What is it?”

Shiqin Bari frowned and stepped closer to sniff him. Shen Lianzhi broke out in a cold sweat and pushed him. “What are you doing?”

“On your body,” Shiqin Bari’s voice dropped, and his eyes were covered in a layer of gloom that was chilling. “What is that scent?”

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