That night, the First Prince led his personal guards with drawn blades, slaughtering all the sons and loyal servants of his other brothers. The women were taken as his concubines.
Screams and wails echoed along the riverbank. The snow on the ground drank deeply of blood, staining a brilliant crimson.
By the third day, the camp still reeked of thick, metallic blood.
With Yelu Khan unconscious, the remaining tribal elders made no move to stop the First Prince's extermination. The patrol guards were all replaced by the Prince's personal followers.
Yaoying's tent was surrounded day and night by the Yelu Tribe's most valiant warriors, with Xie Qing guarding her almost without stepping away.
On the fourth day, a guard rushed into the tent anxiously: "Princess, the Yelu Tribe plans to slaughter our horses!"
When Yaoying married, she brought a hundred fine steeds from Great Wei, including a Wusun treasure horse gifted by Li Zhongqian. In the Yelu Tribe, her horses were tended by both Yelu herdsmen and her own guards.
Xie Qing sprang to her feet: "I'll go see."
Yaoying also stood: "You stop them. I'll confront the First Prince."
Since the order came from the First Prince, only by stopping him could her horses be saved.
After brief consideration, Xie Qing dispatched other guards to the corral while staying by Yaoying's side to accompany her to the First Prince.
The First Prince was drinking in his tent. When a slave girl announced them, he set down his bowl and rose with booming laughter to greet them.
Upon entering, Yaoying immediately confronted him coldly: "Has the Yelu Tribe forgotten its alliance with Great Wei? If the First Prince won't honor promises, return me to the Central Plains! I am a princess of Great Wei, the Khatun your tribe wedded. Do you not fear Great Wei's armies when you insult me so?"
The First Prince feigned surprise, narrowing his eyes with a smile: "Princess misunderstands. Our tribe admires the Central Dynasty—how could we break faith?"
He paused, scanning her from head to toe with a gaze that roamed over her like a blade.
"Rest assured, Princess. By our customs, even if my father the Khan passes, I shall keep our vow of friendship with Great Wei. Under a new Khan, you'll remain our most honored Khatun."
Meaningfully, he added: "I shall cherish you well in my father's stead."
Yaoying lowered her lashes, trembling as if unable to bear his brazen stare, pale hands clutching her sleeves tightly.
The Prince noted her poorly concealed terror, feeling as if hundreds of cat claws were scratching his heart. He leaned closer, inhaling deeply.
Indeed, Han women differed from the horse-scented tribal women—delicate, soft, snow-white and tender, carrying an alluring fragrance.
More exquisite than the sweetest cheese.
Enraptured, the Prince stepped forward again, reaching to embrace her.
Yaoying recoiled in fright, shaking violently: "First Prince, we Central Plains people value propriety. If anything befalls the Khan, I must petition the court and await imperial decree before following your customs. Otherwise, I'd rather die than suffer disgrace!"
She lifted her face, tears shimmering in her eyes like spring ripples.
The beauty sought to hide her weakness, yet every gesture and glance betrayed her fear and helplessness. Facing this tearful countenance, even the First Prince felt a pang of softness.This peerless beauty would eventually be his.
The First Prince smiled meaningfully and said, "I will have someone write the letter immediately. There is no need for the Princess to trouble herself with such matters."
Yaoying remained silent for a moment before hardening her expression. "Then why did the First Prince order the slaughter of the horses I brought? Those fine steeds are part of my dowry, assets of the Yelu Tribe, and gifts I prepared for the tribe's warriors."
The First Prince curled his lips. "Since they are the Princess's dowry, naturally they should not be killed."
He raised his voice and called his attendant into the tent, instructing him to release Yaoying's horses. His gaze remained fixed on Yaoying, carrying an oppressive intensity.
"The Princess is as delicate as water. I cherish her too much to bear letting her suffer any grievance."
Yaoying's shoulders trembled slightly as she turned and left.
Xie Qing followed closely behind her.
Returning to her own tent, Yaoying lifted her hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
Xie Qing said softly, "Princess, you have been wronged."
Yaoying shook her head to indicate it was nothing, then sat cross-legged on the felt rug and lowered her voice. "It seems the First Prince will not kill Yelu Khan immediately. He acknowledges the alliance between Yelu Khan and the Wei Dynasty."
From her earlier probing, she could confirm that the First Prince would not break the alliance. As long as the First Prince still had reservations about the Wei Dynasty, she remained relatively safe.
"However, I still feel deeply uneasy..."
Yaoying shuddered at the memory of Bie Mutie's golden eyes.
The First Prince was rough and bold, even daring to rob Dharmaraga's merchant caravan. He did not seem like someone who could patiently endure half a year for an assassination plan. Yet, judging by the hasty reactions of the other princes at the wedding, the elders' self-preservation, and the First Prince's composed and ruthless methods, it was clear he had been preparing for a long time.
In less than three days, he had eliminated all opposition within the tribe.
Not a single one had escaped.
Without meticulous planning, how could it have been so thorough?
"All the other adult princes are dead, including the Khan's two adopted sons... Bie Mutie, who was highly trusted by the Khan, remains unharmed and has even become the First Prince's right-hand man."
"Everyone is trapped in the camp, and only the First Prince's trusted followers can come and go." Yaoying murmured, "I suspect Bie Mutie is the true mastermind behind all this."
Bie Mutie had not appeared these past two days, but her intuition told her that everything happening in the tribe was inextricably linked to him.
Xie Qing also had a deep impression of Bie Mutie. That foreign man was tall and burly, with bulging muscles and eyes as sharp as an eagle's—clearly an expert in riding and archery. During Li Xuanzhen's campaigns to recapture Liangzhou, Bie Mutie had displayed remarkable bravery, and Li De had even rewarded him with a precious bow.
He wondered, "Why would Bie Mutie betray the Khan, who trusted him so deeply, and instead support the narrow-minded First Prince? Is he not afraid the First Prince will kill him once his goals are achieved?"
Yaoying's hands trembled slightly as a previous suspicion slowly surfaced in her mind.
It had only been a suspicion before, but now it seemed highly likely.
She never expected to encounter that merciless killer in the Yelu Tribe.
Yelu Khan was not fearsome, and she could manage the First Prince to some extent, but against Bie Mutie, she stood no chance. All she wanted was to avoid him as much as possible.
Yet avoiding him did not mean she was safe.
Yaoying pressed her lips together, suppressing the unease in her heart, and summoned a guard among her attendants who had some knowledge of medicine. She then led her people to Yelu Khan's main tent.
"The Khan is gravely ill. As his Khatun, it is my duty to care for him and fulfill my responsibilities."Tali translated her words into the tribal language.
The warriors in front of the main tent exchanged uneasy glances and sent someone to report to the First Prince.
The First Prince, who had just indulged his desires while frolicking with a Hu woman, grinned upon hearing the news. Stroking the woman in his arms, he said cheerfully, "It is a blessing for our Yelu Tribe to have such a righteous princess. Let her take good care of my father, the Khan."
The old man wouldn't last much longer anyway. If the princess wanted to care for the dying Khan, so be it. It would be the perfect opportunity for her to witness his death and submit to him completely.
The thought of Princess Wenzhao, with tears glistening in her eyes, lifting her delicate face to look at him with such captivating charm made the First Prince's heart itch with anticipation.
The sounds of the Hu woman's cries echoed from the tent.
Inside Yelu Khan's main tent, a strange, foul odor—a mix of rancid mutton fat, strong liquor, and decay—permeated the air. Yaoying nearly choked upon entering, struggling to keep her head up.
Several Hu women stood by the bedside, exchanging surprised glances when they saw Yaoying.
Yaoying signaled her guards to step forward and check Yelu Khan's pulse. Taking the felt cloth from one of the Hu women, she naturally settled herself beside the bed.
The Hu women hesitated for a moment before respectfully withdrawing.
Yelu Khan lay among the felt blankets, his face pale and his breathing faint. The guard examined his complexion, lifted his eyelids to look, and shook his head at Yaoying.
Yaoying had expected as much. Yelu Khan was beyond saving; otherwise, the First Prince would never have allowed her into the main tent.
She remained seated by the bedside, gradually growing accustomed to the smell inside the tent.
That night, she stayed. Voices could be heard outside the tent as the First Prince and Bie Mutie entered one after the other.
The First Prince glanced at Yaoying but paid her no mind, turning instead to speak with Bie Mutie.
Yaoying kept her eyes lowered, her demeanor meek and submissive.
Bie Mutie's light-yellow eyes lingered on her for a moment before a roguish smile curled at the corners of his lips. He said something to the First Prince in the Hu language.
Upon hearing it, the First Prince looked at Yaoying with a lecherous gleam in his eyes and replied in the same tongue.
Yaoying remained motionless.
But Tali, standing beside her, paled and trembled uncontrollably.
The First Prince kicked Tali and barked, "Wretched slave! Why aren't you translating my words for the princess?"
Tali shrank back, hiding behind Yaoying, too frightened to utter a sound.
Seeing Yaoying's hands trembling slightly with fear, the First Prince burst into loud laughter before turning and leaving the tent.
Bie Mutie followed him out.
Just before turning away, he suddenly glanced back, his sharp gaze sweeping over Yaoying from head to toe.
Yaoying, with her back to him, bent her head to comfort Tali, her palms damp with cold sweat.
A moment later, the tent flap closed softly as Bie Mutie departed.
Yaoying whispered to Tali, "What did the First Prince say just now?"
Tali replied in a hushed voice, "The First Prince spoke crude and disrespectful words."
He had threatened to tear the princess's clothes off in front of all the Wei dynasty guards, but she dared not translate that for the princess.
Yaoying fell silent for a long while before tears began to stream down her face. She leaned over Yelu Khan's bedside and wept softly.
"Even if you don't tell me, I can guess... What decent words could these barbarians from beyond the frontier possibly utter?"
"I hate Li Xuanzhen! How heartless he is! I am a princess of the great Wei dynasty, born of noble lineage, yet I've been reduced to this wilderness, forced to mingle with these savages... And the Khan won't live much longer... What will become of me?"
She cried for a long time.
Tali, at a loss for what to do, wrung out a cloth to wipe Yaoying's tears and comforted her with gentle words until her sobs gradually subsided.The biting northwest wind howled, shadows flickering outside the tent entrance.
Yaoying lowered her head to wipe her tears, her eyes rimmed red from crying, yet beneath them lay a pool of clarity and calm.
In the days that followed, Yaoying kept watch over Yelu Khan daily. The First Prince and Bie Mutie occasionally brought tribal elders to pay their respects.
Yelu Khan’s condition worsened with each passing day. After more than ten days, he finally breathed his last.
Late one night, Xie Qing informed Yaoying that after the Khan’s death, Bie Mutie had left the camp with a few followers, and no one knew where he had gone.
With her suspicions confirmed, Yaoying’s heart raced wildly.
Bie Mutie was indeed no ordinary man.
According to the customs of the Yelu Tribe, the clansmen would hold a cremation for the deceased Khan. They would wrap the Khan in white cloth, carry him to a raised platform, and set him ablaze, allowing his soul to return to the embrace of the Zoroastrian God.
The next day, as night fell, the men and women of the tribe gathered in the square to pay their final respects to Yelu Khan and bid him farewell.
Under the cold moonlight, the clansmen sang mournful dirges.
The First Prince grew impatient. He barged boldly into Yaoying’s tent and reached out to tear her clothes. "From today onward, I am the new Khan. Tonight is the wedding of the princess and me. No one is allowed to disturb us!"
Xie Qing immediately drew his blade, shielding Yaoying.
The First Prince missed his grasp, frowned, and sneered. "What? Is the princess unwilling?"
Dressed in the elaborate attire of a Yelu Tribe woman, Yaoying gracefully bowed to the First Prince. "Please forgive me, First Prince. Tonight is the funeral of the old Khan. Allow me to send him on his final journey. Otherwise, my heart will be troubled, and I cannot serve you wholeheartedly."
Her voice softened, carrying a gentle tone, and the exposed curve of her neck beneath her crossed-collar robe was as smooth and pale as jade. "By tomorrow, you will be my Khan."
Hearing this delicate, melodious tone, half of the First Prince’s resolve melted away. After a moment’s hesitation, he relented. "Fine! Go ahead!"
Yaoying rose and strode out of the tent without looking back, making her way to the crowded square.
A great fire blazed at the center of the square. People knelt before the flames, some weeping softly, others wailing loudly. Some huddled together, drinking to ward off the cold, while others stared blankly as the old Khan’s body turned to ash in the inferno.
Yaoying moved through the crowd, step by step, until she reached the earthen platform at the front.
Her hair was braided and adorned with a floral crown, strands of pearls and gems woven into her plaits. A necklace of beads hung low around her neck, and a colorful sash cinched her waist. She wore the embroidered narrow-sleeved robe reserved only for the Khatun. Under the moonlight, she moved like a goddess from legend.
One by one, the people stopped weeping and looked up at her in unison.
Standing on the platform, facing the crowd, Yaoying felt the gaze of hundreds of unfamiliar eyes fixed upon her.
Tali stood beside her and cleared her throat.
Yaoying waved her hand slightly, scanned the crowd, and spoke slowly. "The Khan once told me that the Yelu Tribe are descendants of the Divine Wolf. In the veins of every Yelu warrior flows the blood of the Divine Wolf."
The men and women of the Yelu Tribe below the platform stared at her in astonishment.
The princess’s words were clear and crisp—not in the Han language they could not understand, but unmistakably in the language of the Yelu Tribe!
Tali also looked at Yaoying in disbelief: The princess actually knew the Hu language!Yaoying’s expression remained calm as she gazed at the unfamiliar tribespeople, their faces etched with sorrow before the bonfire. “My husband, Yeluhazhu, was a brave warrior. At the age of twelve, he left his parents with his tribal followers to lead armies for his territory. He led you to defeat countless arrogant enemies, found fertile lands for you, seized innumerable cattle and sheep. He protected you, nurtured you. He was the son of the divine wolf, a heroic father, a wise Khan.”
She glanced into the distance—The First Prince and his attendants had yet to notice the commotion here.
“And you…” Yaoying’s tone suddenly turned bitingly sarcastic, her eyes sweeping over the numb faces of the tribal warriors. “You are so cowardly! The First Prince Fuman brutally murdered his own brother, betrayed his father, slaughtered your tribespeople—yet you hide like docile lambs, indifferent and silent! You have defiled the bloodline of the divine wolf and shamed the spirit of the Khan in the heavens!”
A deathly silence fell over the dark, densely packed crowd.
The men, women, and children of the Yelu Tribe stood motionless, staring blankly at Yaoying.
One of The First Prince’s attendants, enraged, turned to rush back to the tent and report to the prince but was restrained by others.
Standing before the bonfire under the silvery moonlight, Yaoying faced the crowd’s silent gaze and quickened her pace, declaring loudly, “The spirit of the Khan watches over us! I, Princess Wenzhao of Great Wei, Khatun of the Yelu Tribe, will personally avenge the Khan, offering the blood of the traitors to honor his soul!”
No sooner had she spoken than The First Prince’s attendants pushed through the crowd and lunged at her. She immediately turned and leaped off the earthen platform. Xie Qing, hidden among the people, sprang up, caught her, and with a few swift leaps, evaded the pursuing attendants.
“Seize her!”
More and more Yelu Tribe warriors joined the chase.
Xie Qing, carrying Yaoying, ran swiftly. Yaoying pulled a whistle from her sleeve and blew it sharply.
The piercing sound echoed beyond the camp. Suddenly, several sharp whistles cut through the air from the surroundings of the silent camp. In the dark night sky, streaks of silver light flashed like meteors streaking across the heavens, emitting eerie, terrifying shrieks as they hurtled toward the camp.
The Yelu tribespeople, who had never witnessed such a horrifying sight, stood dumbfounded, staring at the falling “meteors.”
The tranquil sky seemed torn apart by an invisible hand as one silver-tailed streak after another swooped down with a roar.
Then, flames erupted everywhere.
Tents suddenly burst into flames on their own, clusters of bright yellow fire leaping high into the air.
The warriors chasing Yaoying halted in panic.
Amid the stunned crowd, shrill cries arose: “Divine punishment! Divine punishment! This is the divine punishment sent by the Khan’s spirit!”
Terrified out of their wits, the Yelu tribespeople tried to flee but found their legs too weak to move.
“Divine wolf, protect us! Zoroastrian God above!”
“I am not one of Fuman’s men!”
They knelt on the ground, wailing and trembling, begging for mercy.
The entire camp descended into chaos.
Inside his tent, The First Prince, who had been drinking, finally sensed something amiss. He rushed out, saw the flashing lights in the sky, and widened his eyes, a flicker of fear crossing his gaze.
“Divine punishment! Great Prince, this is divine punishment!”
“The Khan has manifested his wrath!”The First Prince's face twisted into a savage mask as he suppressed his fear. Drawing his blade, he cut down several attendants who had turned to flee, roaring, "Do not fear! This is sorcery!"
Brandishing his blood-stained sword, he charged into the square, slaughtering any attendant who dared retreat while his eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty chill.
The tribespeople grew increasingly terrified, no longer daring to follow him as they scattered in all directions.
Meanwhile, by the river east of the camp, Yaoying swiftly mounted a Wusun horse. Digging her heels sharply into its flanks, she galloped toward the Central Plains under the protection of Xie Qing and other elite guards.
Behind them, the camp continued to blaze fiercely.
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