Window paper clacked in winds, almost breaking. Outside wind whistled more and more.

It was the seventh day to stay here. I did not know where here was. In April, it was still windy. In these two days it rained heavy and blew strong wind. The cold wind blew inside. The window was open a bit. When I reached for it to close, my sleeve was hooked by a skew batten. My hand was stuck.

I jerked and my hand hit on a wood prick. My little finger was prickled to bleed a little.

“Freeze.”

Before I looked back, arms behind my back embraced me. He unhooked my sleeve and held my palm.

His warm breath came at me. I shivered and warded off.

“You can't even do such an easy thing. You are really delicate.” He sneered at and taunted me while he took my hand to his lips.

I felt clamped in my heart and pushed him away. My hand however touched his chest while he just wore a single shirt.

My embarrassment incurred his loud laughter.

“Young master... What happen?” The door curtain was lifted and Xiao Ye leaned in to ask him as she was alarmed for his laughter.

I got out from his embrace at this moment. He however shouted at her, “Get out. Who asks you in?”

Xiao Ye was frightened at door, being stiff.

Raging, he grabbed the bowl and threw it at her. “Piss off!”

Xiao Ye turned away and rushed out, with tears gushing out.

I stayed far at room corner, uninterested to look at him.

In these days, his would healed quickly. Though it did not heal completely, his vigor almost recovered.

The prince of Helan was very odd. When he was in sickness, his languishing condition made me sympathetic; once he recovered some, he became capricious and violent. Sometime, he said a few words in a whole day and ignored others; sometime he was very irritable, sinking into anger without any reason.

He scolded to drive away Xiao Ye but he was still in irritation.

I stood up to walk to the door.

A pain in my arm, I was jerked back by him.

“I let you leave?” His voice was curt.

“I leave to get another bowl. Just now you smashed one.” I was deadpan.

Having stared at me for a long while, he clenched my arm and lifted my chin.

“Put your hand down!” I shouted in anger.

“Have you not serve Xiao Qi as such?” He gazed at me, giving me a half-smile.

I was dazed. Another angry shout was stuck in my mouth, and I could not say anything.

All at once, bitterness, grievance and helplessness gushed out.

It began with marrying ordered by the empower, which was a bolt from the blue; and then it was his leaving without goodbye in wedding evening; at last I was abducted and sank into danger. All unexpected miseries resulted from my husband who I did not even meet in person. I was insulted because of him while where was he? He knew that I was being suffered? He had any worry? I was afraid no.

It was ten more days since I had been abducted. My parents stayed far in the capital and could not do anything to save me; he was a top general who guarded north but could not protect his wife. I swallowed humiliation and served this man in order to wait rescue. Up to now, I was disappointed however.

I could endure others' insult and ridicule but could not stand being deserted again and again.

“I wonder about the fact -- until now, as a titular prince, are you a virgin?” He pinched my chip, leaning close to me.

He astounded and irritated me. I gave him a smack on his face.

He was shocked, scowling at me. Palm-shape red appeared on his face. He stroke back with a hard smack and hit me down.

Sparks flew before my eyes and pang was felt on my face.

He overlooked me coldly and his sneer around lips made me terrible. “I want to see how consort of Yu Zhang King preserve her chastity.”

My collar was suddenly jerked and gave off breaking sound of cloth. He tore off my clothes.

I trembled. “I am Xiao Qi's wife. If you are a real man, you should fight against him in battle. To humiliate a woman is not revenge. If the dead of Helan know this, they are ashamed of you!”

His hands paused on my breasts. His handsome face became distorted and eyes got red by rage.

“The dead know!” He screamed and laughed. “Twenty years ago, Helan tribe was ashamed of me. Never mind for second time today.”

He yanked my underwear off my breast, and groped my body down.

“Shameless!” I struggled in tears, hair disheveled and jewelry falling. I grabbed a pearled hairpin backhand. In shame, desperation and all strength, I was out to immediately stab him with the hairpin. It pierced his skin. My strength waned and it stopped. He clutched my wrist. With pang, I dropped the hairpin.

His clutch was tightened and murderous look appeared much.

The pang made me break out in overall cold sweat.

He pulled out the hairpin backhand in his shoulder. Blood meandered down. “You try to kill me?” His voice faded hoarse and murderous look waned.

“I regret having saved you.” I met his gaze.

His pupils contracted. He looked sad as if he was so lost and desolate.

I closed my eyes, dropping my tears. If I would die, I accepted it calmly.

I felt hot and then pang in my neck; he bent to bite me.

He raised his head and wiped blood on lips with the back of his hand, with malicious smile and lustful glare.

“I retaliate against you the way you hurt me.” He gently stroked my neck. “The wound is my mark. From now, your master is me, Helan Zhen.”

The wound was not serious but it still pained me when moving.

I was cooped in the cellar for two whole days. I was not led out and nobody came in, expecting the one who sent meals.

Recalling of Helan Zhen, I still shuddered with him. On that day I was lucky to escape from his attempt to deflower. He was completely mad. I did not know how he would torture me. He hated Xiao Qi while he inflicted all malice to me.

His enemy was Xiao Qi but he abducted me. If his purpose was to afflict me for revenge, why they hid me carefully on the way?

I was afraid that they had a crazy scheme.

However, what did he make use of me? Did he hold me hostage to coerce Xiao Qi?

If so, Helan Zhen would be disappointed -- Yu Zhang King did not care about my life.

Thinking about this, I laughed bitterly to tears.

If I could escape from here, when I was alive to meet the king, I would ask him to give me a letter of divorce.

I preferred being alone in lifetime to living as consort of the king.

At night clamor aroused me.

Door of the cellar open, Xiao Ye entered in quiet way and threw clothes to me.

“Change clothes!” She glowered at me as if her eyes could dig two holes on my face.

On that day Helan Zhen ripped off my clothes; now I was in rags and covered with a robe.

I picked up the clothes thrown to me, which was however gaudy one of north foreigner.

After I dressed myself, Xiao Ye herself wore my long hair in two braids hanging over my shoulders. She covered my head with a garish scarf, which concealed most of my face.

She shoved me out of the cellar, taking me outside.

In the hurried escape, I had not watched the surroundings. Now it was well-illuminated through it was at night. As I watched, it was a stronghold with clamors. I saw campfires over there, which were surrounded by clay shanties. Near the shanty carriages waited there and people bustled and hustled.

It was almost dawn. Dim light shed from the sky and it was chilly. It was about five o'clock.

The people besides me looked like residents outside the north pass. Even some looked like north foreigners.

Two strong men awaited outside the door. They and Xiao Ye took me into a carriage on which thick curtain hung, ready for travel. Suddenly I heard woman's wail followed by shout and whipping.

“Please, I pray you for mercy. I still breast-feed my baby. He would die without me. Please let me home. I kowtow to you.”

“Shut up. Your husband sold you to me and I paid money. You must work for me. After eight or ten years, you will be released possibly, or I kill you now.”

In front of a carriage, a young woman gripped a thill of carriage. A big man behind whipped her and she screamed.

I shivered with horror, shrugging while my arm was grasped

Behind me Helan Zhen stood, wearing clothes of north foreigner. Deadpan, he stared at me.

“The women in the carriage are private prostitutes. Today they will be sent to Ning Shuo and sold to the army.”

I was appalled.

“Get on. Don't make me whip you too.” With half-smile, he tugged me onto a carriage.

The curtain was put down and the carriage departed.

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I leaned against on wall of the carriage chamber, hearing gallop. I thought about ins and outs and woke up to their scheme.

They acted as broker of private prostitute and made me be one of the prostitute sold to army. To my surprise, they planned to infiltrate Ning Shuo City.

Nobody could realize it: they had abducted Yu Zhang King's consort and sent her in open way to the king's place.

To send prostitute to army was usually in the wake of military provisions transporting.

In order to keep the provisions transported smoothly to the frontier, on all way along, the transporters showed their passing tally issued by the Ministry of Military and went through without scrutiny.

It was the safest way to act as transporters of private prostitute for army to send a woman to Ning Shuo.

It was a clever dodge! Helan Zhen, perverse and tricky, was so terrible.

The purpose of travel to Ning Shuo was not me indeed but Xiao Qi.

How did Helan Zhen assassinate Xiao Qi... Uneasiness occurred to me.

Anyway, he was my husband.

Maybe, Helan Zhen was no match for Xiao Qi. Surely he would fail and I was rescued.

He was a great general who could overcome all enemies. It was him who could rescue me. I buried my head in arms and bent knees, with bitter laugh.

“What are you thinking?”

Helan Zhen raised my chin suddenly and his voice became tender.

I turned away, ignoring him.

“We go to Ning Shuo to make you and your husband reunite. Are you not happy?”

His cold fingers stroked along my face, making me shiver.

I remained silent and closed eyes. Whatever he said was ignored.

He reduced to silence too, not pestering me. He quietly stared at me.

Abruptly the carriage received a jolt, which thrust me forwards to knock floor of chamber. I gave off a cry with pain.

Immediately Helan Zhen reached for holding me.

I flinched to shun off him.

His hands that reached out stopped halfway, and his lips showed a bitter laughter.

I sat up by myself to fully beware of him.

“Am I so hated?” He looked down at floor with a scorning laugh.

“In past they all hated me and feared me. As long as they saw me, they chased and beat me.” Reminiscence smile emerged on his face. He murmured about his story. “Each time my mon held me, crying and applying medicinal liquid to me. Sometime, I would rather be beaten and wounded, and then mom would hold me.”

I was transfixed, wondering about the reason why he recalled his story in childhood, while I felt bitter and sad for the story.

In trance, he looked up at me. “On that day, you feed me with medicine... I was reminded of my mon.”

I flushed and lowered my head. I did not know how to answer. “Your mother stayed in Ning Shuo too?”

He was silent.

For a long while, he answered coldly, “She passed away long before.”

I was surprised.

“What does your mon call you?” He asked me suddenly.

“Afu.” I blurted out and immediately regretted.

He smiled, raising his long eyebrows and his gloom in eyes melt into water in bright spring.

“Afu...” He called me in low voice that was tender like warm wind in spring evening.

I did not answer, face in arm. With eyes closed, I pretend to doze.

I felt warm soon. He covered my shoulders with his rope.

“Keep warm in sleep.” He raised head to lean against chamber wall, stretching his legs and closing eyes for rest.

I was confused. Who was the real Helan Zhen, the tender man before me or the young master of gloom, caprice and irritation?

On the way, only when Helan Zhen and I stayed alone was it peaceful. Bearded man sat before us and drove the carriage, and the others in other carriages followed. In each travel station, we rested and horses were feed. Xiao Ye, who disguised herself as a prostitute, monitored me all time.

I heeded chance for being rescued every time and everywhere, but there was not any, letting alone escape.

Day by day we travel northbound. Ning Shuo was near.

Ning Shuo was a town, which I ever read it many times on royal map of the kingdom.

It was unexpected for me to step into it by this way.

It was an important town of military defense in north pass. In past its name was not Ning Shuo.

Then Ning Shuo General, Xiao Qi, ever overwhelmed Tujue. The battle made him rise to stardom and ended the war of years in north. His prestige spread widely in north. Local people changed the town name into Ning Shuo in memory of him.

The town witnessed multiple legends of blood and tear.

Xiao Qi and his crack troops of four hundred thousand soldiers had stationed in Ning Shuo for years. Defense of north border was impregnable and unbreakable.

Even Tujue's crack cavalry troop could not shake it a little. Only ten persons of Helan Zhen dared enter the lion's den?

What was his malicious scheme planned to revenge themselves on Xiao Qi?

The closer Ning Shuo was, the more uneasy I became. I dared not imagine what await me as I enter the town.

Xiao Qi, did we meet in such a situation?

How did he cope with the revenge of Helan remainders?

How did he treat me...

In the evening, fog blurred winding and mountainous road and carriage trekked. We had to stop at Changfeng Travel Station.

From the station, it took half day to reach Ning Shuo.

The minute I got off carriage, Xiao Ye sent me into room and monitored me all the time.

In these days I was submissive and silent, and did not resist any more. Sometime I spoke mildly to Helan Zhen.

When I smiled and talked, he expressed rare delight.

But Xiao Ye became more aggressive to me. If possible, she always abused me.

As I guessed, she must have admired Helan Zhen.

Meal was offered. It was porridge with minced meat and leek leaves. When I approached table and took up wooden spoon, Xiao Ye smacked the spoon off.

She threw two cold steamed buns at me. “Do you deserve meat porridge? Buns are yours.”

Buns flew at my body, falling down and rolling under table.

I raised my eyelids slowly, staring at her.

“Bitch, don't look at me, or I dig out your eyes!”

“Yes, come and dig.” I gave her a faint smile. “You'd better offer my eyes to Helan Zhen and see how your young master rewards you.”

She stood up immediately, flushing and raging. “Shameless bitch. You are going to die and still try to seduce my young master.”

“Really? It is pity for you not to see seducing in person. Who is trying to covet him?” I gave her a calm glance.

She was choked, blushing overall as if her face bled.

“You shameless, shameless...” She trembled with anger. “Within three days, I can see how you die.”

Three days! My heart quivered with surprise. Do you act so soon?

“I am afraid that Helan Zhen has changed his mind.” Giving a chuckle, I raised my eyebrows and asked her, “Feel free to ask him if he want to kill me or not.”

She laughed so loud as to distort her face. “Just you can spoil the revenge of our young master? Xiao Qi ruined my homeland and we have death feud! You bitch couple, both will pay Helan with your lives.

My face fell and turned away. I could not restrain my worry.

Her laughter turned scream, full of pleasure of revenge.

It seems that within three days, as long as they entered the town, they acted at once.

Light of oil lamp flickered. Over there, a big part of bed was shadowed, on which a cotton quilt was jumbled.

This was the last opportunity to escape. No time to observe and wait. I had to take desperate measure.

Without a word, I bent and picked up the buns.

Xiao Ye sneered, “Bitch, don't eat if you are so noble.”

Ignoring her, I took buns close to the lamp and brushed dirt on them.

“No, so nice buns.” I looked back and gave her a smile. Meanwhile I snatched the lamp and threw it hard to the bed in the room corner.

The lamp flew into the quilt, oil splashed. The quilt caught fire immediately.

Xiao Ye shrieked and rushed to swat the fire on the quilt.

In north it was dry. Cotton was enveloped at once in flame. It was not easy to put out. When she was swatting, her clothes caught fire too and blazed. She was frightened to throw off the quilt, and thus the fire spread to table and chair. The room burst instantly into flames.

As she stuck in fire, being appalled, I turned and rush out of door.

Helan Zhen and the others stayed in the rooms on the left, so I dashed right.

Someone shouted, “On fire...”

Soon, clamors and bustle appeared in the compound of the station.

Someone ran past me; oncoming someone carried a bucket of water and rushed.

In chaos, I dashed with head down.