Chapter 163

In a joint operation, the Great Zhou and the Western Turkic forces trapped the Eastern Turkic army within a narrow gorge. After nearly ten days of brutal and bloody combat, the canyon was littered with corpses and ran with rivers of blood, thick with a pungent stench. Although Khan Tuolie, despite severe injuries, managed to break through with a mere fraction of tens of thousands of men and escape, his days were numbered. Following this devastating battle, the Eastern Turkic forces would likely never rise again.

Both the Great Zhou and the Western Turkic forces suffered considerable casualties by the end of the conflict, but compared to the Eastern Turkic losses, these were merely superficial wounds.

While both sides cleared and organized the battlefield, Yang Yaozong, accompanied by Nangong Qingyi and Liao Qiniang, set off for Daizhou. A few days prior, Jing Yijun, Yin Ruxin, and Yin Ruyun had already arrived in Daizhou alongside Little Xiuzi, who had been dispatched to deliver the imperial decree.

Liao Qiniang had arrived at Yanmen Pass much earlier. After meeting with Yang Yaozong, she had been introduced by him to Nangong Qingyi. Because Yang Yaozong remained occupied with military affairs, and Nangong Qingyi—recovering from her own injuries—was responsible for logistical coordination and arrangements, Yang Yaozong entrusted Liao Qiniang to Nangong Qingyi's care.

Both women were magnanimous and poised, and after a few days of companionship, they had become close sisters. Although Liao Qiniang was several years older than Nangong Qingyi, she steadfastly insisted on addressing Nangong Qingyi as her elder sister, a gesture Nangong Qingyi gracefully accepted. Furthermore, upon discovering that Liao Qiniang possessed formidable martial arts skills, Nangong Qingyi disguised her slightly and assigned her to serve at Yang Yaozong's side.

Yang Yaozong was naturally overjoyed. Though Liao Qiniang's prowess could not quite match that of Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin, she was nonetheless an exceptional martial artist. He trusted that she could protect herself and, by extension, keep him safe.

Even though Liao Qiniang had been given a darkened complexion, thick eyebrows, and a pasted-on mustache—rendering her appearance somewhat comical—Yang Yaozong found her immensely endearing. Whenever he snatched a moment to look at her and caught the bashful expressions she made beneath that disguise, he felt greatly amused. It provided a much-needed release from the immense pressure of directing the campaign day after day.

Little Xiuzi had naturally come at Yang Yaozong's request. Once the imperial decree was delivered, Yang Yaozong informed him that he had located his elder sister. He outlined the situation regarding Sewu to Little Xiuzi in detail and promised to arrange a reunion for the siblings once the fighting concluded.

Overjoyed beyond measure, Little Xiuzi was lost for words to express his gratitude. Disregarding Yang Yaozong's attempts to stop him, he wept tears of emotion and knelt, kowtowing heavily to Yang Yaozong several times.

Only now, with the battle finally concluded, did Yang Yaozong have the opportunity to visit them.

"Your younger sisters pay respects to Elder Sister!" Jing Yijun and the other two curtsied to Nangong Qingyi.

Nangong Qingyi hurried forward to help the three women up, saying, "My sisters, there is no need for such formalities!" At the same time, she cast a silent plea for help toward Yang Yaozong. Seeing him standing there with a beaming smile, completely unwilling to intervene, she could only shoot him a playful yet reproachful glance.

Yang Yaozong thoroughly enjoyed watching their polite and deferential interactions. Though he made no strict distinction between wives and concubines in his heart, establishing a proper order of seniority was nonetheless appropriate.

After introducing the women to one another, Yang Yaozong said, "In my household, we do not stand on such rigid ceremonies. There are no princesses or female ministers here; you are all my wives, and my only wish is for you to live together in harmony. My upcoming journey to the Turkic lands will be quite lengthy, so you must mind yourselves at home and consult one another on all matters. Besides, this time I have Qiniang by my side to protect me, and you have all witnessed her capabilities. Therefore, you may rest easy."

After a lively conversation with his wives and receiving a series of parting admonitions, the night grew deep. Although Yang Yaozong would have happily shared a bed with all of them, the women were too shy, and because he had private matters to discuss with Jing Yijun, Nangong Qingyi led the others out of the room to settle into their quarters.

Pulling Jing Yijun into his embrace, Yang Yaozong slipped a hand beneath her robes to gently caress her supple and bountiful curves. "Now that the war is over, upon your return to the capital, you and Prince Xian must work with Qingyi to arrange the Imperial Grandson's wedding as soon as possible. Once he is married, we will time the announcement of the Emperor's passing so that the Imperial Grandson may properly ascend the throne."

Burrowing into the crook of his neck, Jing Yijun murmured a soft assent, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. "Once things in the capital are settled, I will come to the Turkic lands to find you. You had better behave yourself while you are there, and don't let that Turkic princess bewitch you and make you forget about us!"

Chuckling low in his throat, Yang Yaozong gently untied Jing Yijun's sash and pressed her down onto the bed. "Are not every one of my wives brilliantly clever and blessed with peerless beauty? How could I ever abandon an entire forest for the sake of a single tree?"

"That is clearly sophistry! Why is it that whatever you say always sounds so impeccably righteous and justified?" Jing Yijun asked, casting a blushing, reproachful glance at him.

Noticing that Yang Yaozong was beginning to strip off his own clothes, Jing Yijun hastily stopped him. "Tonight, you should go rest in Ruxin's room! I can tell that you have never truly consummated your marriage with Ruxin. Since you are going to the Turkic lands for so long, how much longer do you intend to make her wait? She has sacrificed so much for you; you must not fail her."

When a woman is this gentle and considerate, she can melt a man's heart entirely. Yang Yaozong was utterly melted by Jing Yijun's words. He kissed her tenderly and murmured, "When I return from the Turkic territories, if the court is stable, I will take all of you away to live in seclusion. By then, you can be responsible for teaching the children martial arts, Qingyi can teach them to read and write, and Ruxin can teach them medicine. Ruyun and Qiniang can handle the hunting and look after us all. How does your husband's arrangement sound?"

Blushing, Jing Yijun asked, "And what about you?"

A wicked grin spread across Yang Yaozong's face. "I will be responsible for teaching you all the profound truths of human relations!"

***

After lingering in tender intimacy with Jing Yijun, Yang Yaozong was gently ushered out of the room by her. Just before the door closed, Jing Yijun made sure to remind him that Yin Ruxin had been settled in the room right next door.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

To his surprise, the door was opened by Yin Ruyun, who was showing the early signs of pregnancy. She froze for a moment before blushing and saying, "Sister is bathing inside. Go on in." With that, she stepped out past him.

Catching her by the wrist, Yang Yaozong asked, "Where are you going?"

Flustered, Yin Ruyun pulled her hand free. "I'm going to rest in the Princess Sister's room."

Watching Yin Ruyun flee as if escaping into Jing Yijun's room, Yang Yaozong smiled helplessly, closed the door behind him, and walked quietly toward the mist-shrouded area behind the indoor screen.

"What are you looking at?" Yin Ruxin asked, shooting him a sultry glance from beneath her eyelashes.

Seeing him still staring at her with a smile, Yin Ruxin squared her proud, elegant chest. Two alluring red peaks drifted in and out of view amidst the ripples of the steaming water. The single bead of Acacia red hanging between her collarbones complemented the twin peaks on her chest, lending her an extraordinary, enchanting allure.

Yang Yaozong instantly felt his throat go dry. Scooping Yin Ruxin straight out of the wooden tub, he strode decisively toward the bed.

An inch of time in the nuptial chamber is worth a thousand pieces of gold! Yet the two figures intertwined on the bed regarded this precious moment as worth far more than ten thousand.