Batur paced impatiently in the hall. He had a broad back and a strong build, wearing a tiger-skin outfit unique to his tribe, with two knives, one long and one short, hanging at his waist. His dark face was adorned with pictographic tattoos, and his eyes, like copper bells, were full of spirit. With a fierce appearance, his current impatience made him look even more intimidating.
He was not alone; four Xifan warriors followed him, all dressed in tiger skins.
The guest hall was elegantly decorated, with a landscape painting hanging on the central wall and calligraphy masterpieces from ancient famous artists on both sides. A side wall held a shelf adorned with exquisite jade and a few flowers. Six yellow sandalwood screens were arranged in a zigzag pattern, embroidered with images of maidens.
Batur and his four warriors looked completely out of place in this setting.
“Why hasn’t your master arrived yet? I’ve drunk so much tea already!” Batur’s voice boomed like thunder, giving a sense of his explosive temper. The Xifan had their own language, and his pronunciation of Central Plains speech was heavily accented and awkward.
“Please be patient, Khan. Cold tea is not good. I’ll brew you another pot, a different kind!” Yanzhi smiled, though her heart pounded.
She told herself there was nothing to fear; could the Xifan Khan really kill her on the spot? But looking at Batur’s face, she couldn’t help but feel frightened. Goodness, she wasn’t even as tall as Batur’s chest!
“No more!” Batur slammed his hand heavily on the table, making the tea utensils clatter loudly.
Yanzhi jumped in fright, turning her face away in terror. She exchanged a glance with Yudian, trying to encourage each other with their eyes.
Gathering her courage, Yudian said, “Khan, please don’t be angry. Our master is not at home. He has sent someone with a message, but it must have been delayed on the way. Why don’t you wait until our master and mistress return, and then visit again?”
Batur angrily said something in Xifan, which neither Yudian nor Yanzhi could understand, making them even more uneasy.
Batur turned around and spoke rapidly in Xifan to the four warriors he had brought. After a while, he beckoned to Yanzhi and Yudian. The two exchanged a glance and reluctantly stepped forward, standing in front of him.
“What orders does the Khan have for us?” Yanzhi asked.
Batur waved his hand, and one of the warriors behind him unfurled a painting, presenting it to Yanzhi and Yudian.
This man, named Sabir, spoke the Central Plains language much more fluently than Batur. He asked, “Is this painting something your household has lost?”
In the painting, Gu Jianli was wearing a long dress of imperial purple, the hem gracefully trailing on the ground. It depicted her attire on the day of Gu Jingyuan’s birthday banquet. The artist’s skill was superb, capturing Gu Jianli’s beauty with a few strokes, adding a touch of ethereal charm.
“Well…” Yanzhi hesitated.
Yudian’s eyes flickered, and she suddenly spoke before Yanzhi could respond, “In reply to the Khan, this beauty looks familiar. If I am not mistaken, the person in the painting should be the most beautiful woman of the Li tribe from years ago.”
“The Li tribe?” Batur frowned, his forehead creasing deeply. Such a small tribe was insignificant, something he could crush with a single punch. Wouldn’t it be more convenient if she were from the Li tribe rather than the Central Plains? He could seize her as he pleased!
Batur’s eyes lit up with a greedy look as he stared at the beauty in the painting.
Yanzhi immediately understood Yudian’s intention and added, “That’s right. It should be a portrait of the old madam when she was young.”
“The old madam?” Batur’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes, the old madam is our mistress’s deceased mother.”
“The old madam? When she was young?” Batur patted the hilt of the long knife at his waist. “Deceased?”
“Yes,” Yanzhi and Yudian bowed their heads in unison.
Batur cursed irritably in Xifan, shaking his head as he did so. He paced around the hall twice before finally sitting heavily in a chair.
Since he had come today, he was determined to get to the bottom of this and see the person in the painting!
Gu Jianli, hiding some distance away, listened carefully to the conversation in the hall. She furrowed her brows, her heart sinking. If she had previously had no idea why Batur was visiting, now, seeing him bringing her portrait to find someone and thinking of Batur’s misdeeds over the years, how could she not know what was on his mind?
Jixia quietly tugged on Gu Jianli’s sleeve, looking at her and shaking her head in worry.
It wasn’t just Jixia who was worried; Gu Jianli was also unsure. The barbarism of the Xifan and Batur’s rudeness and arrogance were well-known. Gu Jianli had to worry that if she went in to meet him, Batur might directly harbor ill intentions.
Gu Jianli had seen many shameless men driven by lust.
She thought of many things, but it was only for a moment. She leaned in close to Jixia’s ear and whispered instructions, which Jixia nodded at repeatedly, her face serious.
Gu Jianli still didn’t go in, but instead sent Jixia on an errand.
When Batur heard someone pushing the door, he stood up with a look of delight, but seeing yet another maid, he nearly couldn’t contain his anger. He grunted and sniffed repeatedly in frustration.
Jixia performed the Central Plains’ formalities and respectfully replied, “Khan, the household servants have gone to find our master and mistress, but they cannot return at the moment. Our Fifth Master said he would visit the Khan at the other residence on another day.”
Sabir pointed at Jixia and cursed in Xifan.
Jixia kept smiling as if she didn’t hear it and looked at Batur, continuing, “If it were any other matter, our master would have returned immediately to see the Khan. But they are currently in the palace and cannot leave. Tomorrow is the coming-of-age ceremony for the Empress’s younger sister, and our mistress has been invited to perform the ceremony. Since our mistress has never performed the ceremony before, she is in the palace learning from the old nannies.”
As Batur listened, his brows furrowed again. Although he understood Central Plains’ speech, he didn’t understand rare terms like the coming-of-age ceremony. He turned impatiently to Sabir for an explanation.
“Your so-called country of etiquette treats guests like this? I’ll sit here and wait until your master returns!” Batur sat back in the chair, patting his stomach. “I’m hungry. Bring me some good wine and meat!”
Such a display of barbaric thuggery.
Gu Jianli felt anxious and uneasy. As long as Batur didn’t leave, her heart wouldn’t be at peace. Time dragged on, moving slowly. The servant sent to fetch Gu Jingyuan had not returned.
Gu Jianli knew her father hadn’t been home recently, visiting some idle noblemen in the capital. It was clear the servant hadn’t found him.
Gu Jianli worried Batur would cause a commotion and disturb Ji Wujing.
She tiptoed back to her room, added more charcoal to the brazier, keeping the room warm.
Batur not only stayed for a large fish and meat lunch but also lingered until dusk, demanding dinner and even specifying a few dishes.
“Madam! Madam!” Lu Chai ran quickly, holding up her skirt. “Something’s wrong! That Batur is coming to the rear courtyard! You must hide! Sister Jixia is trying her best to delay him!”
Hide?
Gu Jianli turned to look at Ji Wujing, who was peacefully sleeping on the bed.
“Madam, Changsheng is back, but he came alone. He couldn’t find Prince Wu Xian…”
Gu Jianli’s eyes flickered, and in an instant, she made a decision. She told Lu Chai to quickly summon Changsheng.
In desperate times, one must be brave enough to fight back. What was there to fear now?
Batur, holding Gu Jianli’s portrait, strode towards the rear courtyard. The resistance from the servants he had imagined did not occur. He walked unimpeded, occasionally spotting a maid who hurriedly avoided him.
Batur was puzzled.
He and his four warriors stepped through the courtyard gate, looking towards the half-open door of the main house.
Gu Jianli walked out calmly, standing in the doorway, looking at Batur with composure. She spoke softly, “I just returned home to change my clothes to meet the Khan, but it seems the Khan disregards etiquette and barges into the rear courtyard. Is the reception in the front hall not satisfactory?”
“It’s you! It’s you!” Batur pointed at Gu Jianli, his eyes widening with excitement. He laughed heartily and strode towards her, paying no heed to her words.
“Khan.” Gu Jianli raised her voice, “do not overstep your bounds.”
Batur laughed loudly, “Even your Emperor is trying to please me. Your sickly husband is no longer as glorious as before. You are just a woman, and I’ve already given you a huge favor by waiting so long. Come with me quickly!”
Gu Jianli took a step back, a faint smile on her lips.
Batur sensed something was wrong and abruptly stopped. With a loud bang, red smoke filled the air.
“Khan!”
Sabir, Sadik, and the other two warriors rushed to protect Batur.
As the red smoke dispersed, twelve crimson figures appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the five of them.
“Who gave you the guts!” Batur roared.
“Khan, it’s the Twelve Disciples of the Xuanjing Sect!” Sabir whispered.
Batur squinted his eyes at Gu Jianli, his lustful look replaced by anger.
“This is Xuanjing Sect territory.” Gu Jianli said softly, her tone calm.
Ji Wujing had given her half a packet of red smoke before going to sleep.
Although Ji Wujing hadn’t said much, Gu Jianli knew it should only be used as a last resort. She hadn’t planned to use the red smoke for Batur; there were other ways to ensure safety.
But Gu Jianli had changed her mind.
Batur’s audacity to swagger through Xuanjing Sect’s territory relied solely on his status as the Xifan monarch, the strong soldiers and sturdy horses of Xifan, and the flattery and hospitality extended to him by Ji Lan upon his arrival in the capital.
Ji Lan’s internal power was empty, forcing him to seek external support. This made Batur believe that whatever he desired, the Emperor of Great Ji would eagerly offer, let alone a mere woman. Moreover, in the barbaric Xifan lands, women were no different from slaves.
But to obtain what someone else holds, there is more than just flattery; there is also seizure.
A spark of fire flickered in Gu Jianli’s phoenix eyes as she spoke, “I want to borrow twenty thousand Xifan soldiers from the Khan.”
Batur flew into a rage, cursing in Xifan and drawing his long knife. The warriors behind him also gripped their weapons.
Blades flashed and swords clashed.
In this crumbling dynasty destined for ruin, the wise seek a worthy lord, while the foolish perish in chaos. But if there is no branch to lean on, one might as well rise up and become the general who expands the territory.
She had no intention of this, but the fat morsel had delivered itself to her doorstep.
Watching Batur and his four warriors resist with brute force, Gu Jianli’s lips curved slightly. Both Emperor Chang and Batur looked down on women from the depths of their bones.
Thank you for your disdain.
Gu Jianli smiled gently.