"Chirp..."
As Murong Chi and Murong Kang entered the city, they rode at the very front. Murong Huiying and Zhou Fugui rode together, trailing behind. They were talking about something, and Murong Huiying even burst into laughter.
"These two little ones," Murong Chi said, looking back from his horse.
It was said that she had found a sweetheart and her brother was now cast aside... In the past, Murong Huiying had always clung to Murong Chi. But now, she barely paid attention to her elder brother, instead chatting and laughing merrily with her sweetheart.
"Hmph, congratulations, Brother Chi," Murong Kang, riding alongside Murong Chi, said with a snort.
"Congratulations on what?" Murong Chi asked.
"Congratulations on finding a good brother-in-law," Murong Kang replied.
"Oh? Heh heh..." Murong Chi said, stroking his beard with a laugh. "It's just that Ziyue has taken a fancy to this pretty boy. What does it have to do with me? Ziyue has always had high standards since she was young, and no one has ever caught her eye. I'm quite surprised. What kind of ability does this pretty boy have to have hooked Ziyue?"
"Hmph, it's a pity he's a Han," Murong Kang snorted again.
"What's wrong with being a Han?" Murong Chi asked, giving Murong Kang a displeased look. "As long as Ziyue wants to marry, I, as her elder brother, will naturally stand by her. Who dares to object?"
Things were far from certain, yet Murong Chi was already acting like a brother-in-law...
"Hmph..." Murong Kang snorted again.
"What are you humming about? Do you also have eyes for my Ziyue?" Murong Chi asked, seeing his reaction.
"How could I dare? I wouldn't presume to aspire so high," Murong Kang replied, suppressing the annoyance in his heart and maintaining a calm expression.
"Hmm..." Murong Chi nodded. "Actually, you two are quite well-matched. But Ziyue doesn't want it, and there's nothing that can be done. Ziyue has a strong will. If pushed too far, she'd dare to kill someone with a knife..."
Murong Chi was hot-tempered but also straightforward. He said whatever came to mind. These words instantly made Murong Kang feel ashamed, angry, and awkward.
"Big Brother, I need to ask you something." Just then, Murong Huiying, who dared to kill with a knife, rode up... and asked Murong Chi.
Zhou Fugui, following closely behind, cast a grateful glance at Murong Huiying.
"Ziyue, what is it?" Murong Chi turned and asked.
"Have you seen Arbugu and Balhu?" Murong Huiying asked.
Murong Chi looked at Murong Kang with surprise and then both shook their heads.
How could people like Murong Chi know the whereabouts of minor figures like Arbugu and Balhu?
Seeing this, Murong Huiying gave Zhou Fugui an apologetic look. Zhou Fugui signaled that it was alright.
Those who do much injustice will perish by their own hand. Even if they didn't, Zhou Fugui would find them and avenge his fallen brothers.
...
Chilesi, beneath Yinshan Mountain. The sky is like a vast tent, covering the four directions. The sky is azure, the wilderness is vast. The wind blows and the grass parts to reveal cattle and sheep.
Beneath Yinshan Mountain, on the northernmost grasslands of the Great Yan Kingdom, a thousand cavalry arrived that day. A thousand elite cavalry surrounded a corpulent man, around fifty years old, and galloped towards a tent.
"Du Yongjian Chanyu!"
Hundreds of tribal leaders, who had been waiting outside the tent, bowed with one hand over their chests and chanted in unison upon seeing the corpulent man.
Du Yongjian Chanyu was the leader of a branch of the Northern Xiongnu and also the strongest Xiongnu tribe in the northern regions, commanding a hundred thousand soldiers.
The purpose of Du Yongjian Chanyu summoning the northern tribes to a meeting was to discuss whether to move west or south.
The Xianbei had risen and defeated the Xiongnu many times, occupying Xiongnu lands and driving the Xiongnu north or west.
At this time, Yan and Xia were at war, and the Xianbei Yan had suffered a great defeat, their strength greatly depleted. Thus, the Northern Xiongnu like Du Yongjian Chanyu were becoming restless, intending to move south and contend for the Central Plains.
The harsh and cold northwest was no match for the abundant resources and large population of the Central Plains. It was a land of gold and silver, filled with beautiful women. In addition to gold, silver, and women, there was also the population of the Central Plains and Jiangnan, whom they could capture as slaves, which was a great joy in life.
Du Yongjian Chanyu and his subordinates thought of this and their mouths watered.
"Enter the tent, drink, and eat meat."
Du Yongjian Chanyu was too obese, so he dismounted with the help of four of his subordinates. His sturdy horse seemed to heave a sigh of relief and its body appeared to have risen several inches...
Assisted by several of his subordinates, Du Yongjian Chanyu, surrounded by over a dozen Yanzhi, or wives and concubines, entered the large tent first. The hundreds of tribal leaders followed suit, sitting inside. Each person had two beautiful female slaves serving them, with minimal clothing, revealing more than half of their bodies.
After Du Yongjian Chanyu and the tribal leaders were seated, roasted lamb, fine wine, and various other delicacies were served like a flowing river. Beautiful female slaves danced to entertain them, and musicians from the Western Regions played music.
The meetings of the Xiongnu tribes, as usual, began with unrestrained drinking, feasting, and even revelry before discussions commenced, excluding those who drank themselves into unconsciousness.
"Wu Yi Yuan..." Du Yongjian, his obese body half-reclining in the arms of two Yanzhi, asked a Qiang chieftain while drinking, "I heard you've captured quite a few women recently. Are there any attractive ones among them? Let me and the other leaders take a look, or perhaps have a taste?"
"Hahaha!" All the leaders burst into laughter.
"Ah?" Wu Yi Yuan hastily spat out a piece of fatty mutton he had just bitten into and said, "Wu Yi Yuan led people south and captured quite a few, including women, of course. But there were no beauties among them. Besides, no matter how beautiful they are, can they compare to the Great Chanyu's Yanzhi?"
Wu Yi Yuan vehemently denied it, refusing to reveal the truth, fearing Du Yongjian would snatch them away.
Du Yongjian's tent was filled with countless beautiful Yanzhi and female slaves, more than he could count. Yet, he was still not satisfied. If any tribe had beautiful women, he would find a way to claim them for himself.
"Haha..." A tribal leader, friendly with Wu Yi Yuan, seeing Du Yongjian's displeased expression, quickly came to his rescue and said, "I heard the Great Chanyu recently took in another beautiful woman, a Han person? Why not let the Great Chanyu show us, so we can broaden our horizons?"
"She's not exactly Han..." Du Yongjian glared fiercely at Wu Yi Yuan, then said with a smile, "She's from the Huyan clan. Lin Yue, go out and dance for them."
Lin Yue, a maiden of the Xiongnu Huyan clan, recently taken by Du Yongjian as an Yanzhi, walked expressionlessly to the center of the tent and prepared to dance.
"Wait!" Du Yongjian said to Lin Yue with a grin. "Dance the sheer veil Kuqi dance."
Du Yongjian had too many women, so many that he couldn't count them himself, let alone remember them all. How could Du Yongjian possibly visit them all? At most, after visiting once or twice, he would have no interest or energy left. For the rest, it was all about humiliation and degradation, from which he derived pleasure.
Lin Yue's beautiful eyes welled up with tears upon hearing this, and she stood frozen in the center of the tent.
What was the Kuqi dance? It was a song and dance that entered the Imperial Music Bureau during the Han Dynasty, originating from the Western Regions. To the Han people, it was a seductive dance. Female dancers had to spin frequently, twist their waists, sway their hips, and cast flirtatious glances, while male dancers had to do push-ups and splits.
Du Yongjian's demand was even more outrageous: he wanted Lin Yue to undress, wear a sheer veil, and perform the Kuqi dance.
Thus, Lin Yue would not only have to perform the seductive Kuqi dance but also reveal every inch of her body, which was extremely shameful.
Although Lin Yue was from the Xiongnu Huyan clan, she had lived in the Central Plains for a long time and had learned some Han customs. She had also read many Han books. To be asked to perform a sheer veil Kuqi dance in front of everyone, with everyone's eyes on her, how could she not feel utterly humiliated?
"Lin Yue, do you dare disobey the Great Chanyu?" Du Yongjian's other Yanzhi, from the Qiulin clan, seeing Lin Yue standing there frozen for a long time without moving, scolded her.
Du Yongjian's Yanzhi all watched Lin Yue with schadenfreude.
Qiulin clan had served Du Yongjian for many years and bore him three sons and one daughter. Du Yongjian doted on Qiulin clan, and she was on the verge of becoming a true Yanzhi, a queen. However, with the young and beautiful Lin Yue becoming Du Yongjian's Yanzhi, Qiulin clan felt immense pressure and a sense of crisis.
However, Qiulin clan was not targeting only Lin Yue, but all the young and beautiful women Du Yongjian had.
Hearing this, Lin Yue had no choice but to slowly undress, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her elder brother, Huyan Heng, sat nearby, drinking and eating meat with a smile, as if he saw nothing.
Kuqi dance, Kuqi dance, entered the Imperial Music Bureau in the Han Dynasty. Though its name is known in the world, it is unknown if it is still passed down. In wealthy residences, there is no business during the day, and beauties personally seek the music bureau's score. Their attire and ornaments are all seen in paintings, and the instruments are mostly from the Western Regions. Red and green silk cushions are placed at the back, and long flutes and short pipes are of ancient form. The Ji Lou Kaigu drum is familiar, and shells and tassels adorn the white feathers. Jade-faced two girls with high buns and flowers, wearing peacock silk robes with golden embroidery. Red boots and jade belts step onto the mat, startling one as if a flying phoenix descends from the heavens. Among them, one person plays the Jie drum, their head like a mountain, their hands like rain. The melodies blend Jin and Chu, and the lyrics are still sung in the Jin language. In a moment, the performance ends, and they stand at the front porch, sighing that they have never seen such a sight in their lives. In Qingdu Langyuan, there was once a dream, but where is it now? My home is by the rivers and seas, and I know little of the affairs of the capital. The jade-faced maiden invites me to write a poem, but with whom can I share my dreams in the future?
Lin Yue shed her clothes and donned a sheer veil. Accompanied by the singing, she danced gracefully.
The song was melodious, and her dance was elegant. Lin Yue's Kuqi dance was not at all lewd, but like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world and dancing gracefully.
All the tribal leaders were stunned into silence, their hearts devoid of any lustful thoughts.
Du Yongjian raised an eyebrow and watched Lin Yue, his heart deeply stirred.
After Lin Yue became Du Yongjian's Yanzhi, he had only visited her once. At that time, Lin Yue was like a walking corpse, showing no interest, and Du Yongjian had almost forgotten her.
At this moment, Du Yongjian was captivated by Lin Yue's dance.
The other Yanzhi, such as Qiulin clan, gnashed their teeth in hatred.