Anari gradually understood. “You mean to say, for her looks?”
Siqin nodded and smiled. “Suffice it to say that Pang Zhixi fancies her because of her face. If you ruin it, you destroy the only quality that redeems her in his eyes. What if he refuses to pay the ransom then?”
Though his line of logic was correct, Anari still felt discontent. However, the thought of all the potential gold and silver they could get from Qin Yining’s ransom lifted her spirits somewhat.
“Very well.” Her anger dissipated slightly and she smiled apologetically. “Forgive me. I let my emotions get the better of me and disregarded my consort’s plans as a result.”
“Think nothing of it. I know you do this because you care for me.” Siqin tugged at her hand, swinging it to and fro.
Flattered and appeased, Anari’s face flushed. She chattered and laughed with Siqin like a young maiden, then happily headed off to attend a roasted lamb bonfire party. It was almost like the one waving a knife to kill just moments before was a different person entirely.
Qin Yining dabbed at her forehead with her sleeve as she thought about what a brainless lunatic Anari was!
Watching Siqin console Anari as if she were a child, it was clear the khan’s anger was just a joke in Siqin’s eyes. With how simple it was for him to sooth her with his words, Qin Yining came to another definitive conclusion.
There was definitely something wrong with this Siqin!
The khan consort smiled. “You see now, do you not?”
“See what? How the consort coddles his khan?”
Siqin's features were tinged with satisfaction as he drew near Qin Yining once again, murmuring, “In Tatar, the one the khan listens to the most is me. I have complete confidence that I can convince her to do anything I ask her to.” He raised a hand to caress Qin Yining’s cheek. “If you submit yourself to me, I will persuade the khan to release you immediately. How about it?
“You lose nothing from this transaction. You’re already married. Even if something happens between us, no one will know if I say nothing. Even if your man pays the ransom to get you back, your virtue will still be untarnished if neither of us tell him, and you will remain exclusively his......”
Smack!
Qin Yining whacked Siqin hard across the face. She breathed heavily, her chest heaving as she seethed in rage. “Who do you think you are?! You think someone like yourself is on the same level as my husband? What an insult to his name! And you call yourself a man? Despicable!
“Let me tell you, I am a virtuous woman who will not serve a second husband! I will never submit to you! Kill me or slice me to ribbons—do what you will! But if you mean for me to live without dignity as your mistress, forget it, I will not!”
Her slap left Siqin with a split lip. Blood slowly trickled from his mouth and his cheeks stung terribly with immediate swelling.
His ears rang from her strike—he didn't anticipate a woman who looked as gentle as calm waters would be so savage when angered. The nerve of her, slapping someone like him!
“Do you really want to die?!” Siqin spat the blood pooling in his mouth.
Qin Yining smirked frostily. “As I said before, I do not fear death. If you kill me, then you’d only be granting my wish!”
Siqin pursed his lips and glared at her. People who feared and wanted nothing were the most difficult to deal with. They had no inhibitions, rendering any threats against them useless. If there was nothing he could use against her, he had no way of intimidating her. As for compelling her with an incentive, nothing came to mind.
Scaring her with the threat of death was also useless, as she seemed not to care about the prospect of being killed. The only thing that seemed to concern her was whether she was a burden to Pang Zhixi or not.
She was a beauty who followed her heart, yet that heart didn't belong to him. The thought of that was rather depressing. However, Qin Yining likely cared very much whether Pang Zhixi would come rescue her or not, no?
From the reactions Siqin had elicited from Qin Yining thus far, he deduced that such a woman who’d devoted her heart and soul to her man naturally wished for her feelings to be returned in kind. If Pang Zhixi didn't come for her or went through the motions of it, that would break her heart then, wouldn’t it?
Though Qin Yining didn't say so, Siqin had his way of knowing how she felt. Women were creatures of emotion—Anari was this way, so the same could be said for Qin Yining.
He poked at the corner of his mouth with the tip of his tongue, filling his mouth with the taste of blood. He spat in disgust before turning to make his leave.
Qin Yining coldly watched him exit out the door, then relaxed her clenched fists and fell back to sit on her cot. At least she had managed to emerge victorious this round. She rubbed her slightly swollen neck. Her face was the pallor of exhaustion, both physical and mental.
Lying down once more, she pulled the blanket over herself. She was stuck on Tartar soil with a brainless lunatic and a scumbag who loved to play pretend. They could barge in at any second, so Qin Yining thought it best to rest up while she could to restore energy needed to deal with urgent situations at the drop of a hat.
She slept vigilantly. Even if she only got a light sleep, it was better than wandering aimlessly through the desert.
The next morning, the servant girl who’d helped her wash and get changed the day before came back. As she helped the princess consort get dressed, she wore a smile on her face as she chattered at her in the Tatar tongue.
The servant girl also seemed troubled. Her eyes lit up when inspiration struck. She tugged at Qin Yining’s hand and pointed outside the tent.
Chapter 475: Provocation
Qin Yining didn’t want to go, but it was a rare opportunity to take in the lay of the land. Whether or not she eventually came up with an escape plan, it was better to be familiar with the surroundings.
The maid lifted the door curtain and respectfully helped the Great Zhou princess consort out.
A verdant, grassy plain greeted her eyes. Round, white-roofed tents were arranged in neat rows while colorful pennants fluttered in the wind. A great many people were gathered in a spot five hundred paces away, whooping and hollering at a group of mixed gender horse riders.
The riders were hunched over their steeds, reins in hand and legs clamped tightly around horse bellies. Rider buttocks raised slightly as dashing horses sped across the field like arrows loosed from bows. Every pass they made in front of the crowd resulted in raucous cheers, the loudest of which were reserved when Anari galloped past, her red riding outfit brilliantly offset by her white horse.
“Yeah! Yeah!”
“Our khan is mighty!”
“The khan is a hero among women!”
“The khan is the best woman among the Tatars!”
……
The crowd bubbled with excitement, a loud hubbub accompanied by the drumming of horse hooves. A delightful sense of free spiritedness rose from one’s heart, lifting the spirits of even a hostage like Qin Yining.
Her maid pointed at the riding range and murmured something. She then looked at the princess consort with a merry expression, evidently waiting for a reply.
Now Qin Yining understood. The maid wanted her to go look at the horses. She expressed her thanks with a nod and a smile. “Alright, let’s go with your suggestion. Thank you for telling me how lively it is outside.”
The maid didn’t understand Great Zhou speech, but a blush crossed her face nonetheless when she looked back at the princess consort’s gentle smile. She is so stunning when she smiles! Eyes sparkling, the maid said something and pointed again at the riding range, tugging Qin Yining in that direction.
The princess consort looked to her left and right, affirming that though there’d been people surveilling her since she left the tent, no one made a move to stop her. This obviously was out of the purview of a little maid, so Siqin must’ve sanctioned her freedom of movement.
Just how confident i
s this man? Isn’t he worried I’ll take advantage of this to escape?
Qin Yining followed the maid’s footsteps, slowly padding over the grassy plain to the range. The scent of grass and livestock wafted into her nostrils as she breathed. It didn't make for a bad odor, but rather relaxed the body and mind. Even the sky and white clouds here seemed further away than usual.
As Qin Yining made her way closer, many tall and stocky men watching the horses noticed her. Though she was tall and limber for a Jiangnan woman, she was of middling height in Tatar. However, she was much wispier and frailer than most Tatar women, and crucially on display were the manners and gestures she’d learned from strict teachers.
She walked with a natural elegance that was wholly different from what the simple, honest Tatar girls showed on a daily basis. An innate bearing of nobility flowed from her very bones; plus, she had a stunning face that was difficult to describe or draw.
The men on the outskirts stared dumbly at her and parted to the sides. As more people saw her, all came under her spell, no matter their gender and they too parted way before her. The constant whoops and cheers from the crowd abruptly died down.
Qin Yining was a bit discomfited by the attention. Whether in Great Zhou or Great Yan, she’d always worn a hat with a veil when she ventured outside. Though she’d had to be in the public eye when she was young, no one had stared at her like this. With the simple honesty of the Tatar people, they directly expressed their likes and dislikes. Their gazes upon her were hardly restrained, and the fervor of their looks made her wholly uncomfortable.
But even so, she couldn’t reveal any fear.
Expressionless, she smoothly made her way to the riding range and observed the charging horses from behind a wooden slatted fence. She pretended to be engrossed in the animals, but her gaze was surreptitiously scanning the terrain in the distance.
Anari adored receiving her people’s compliments and cheers. The repeated cries of awe and accolades brought her great satisfaction. It spurred her to new heights in displaying her riding skills, so that even more people would praise her. It also served to show her people that though she was their first ever female khan, she was in no way inferior to men.
But for some reason, the heart-pounding hurrahs and applause suddenly grew weak. Confusion crossed her mind, as well as some displeasure.
She hauled her horse around to where the people were gathered and flashed a confident grin, but instead saw a charming figure in the middle of the crowd, obviously out of place in a group of herdsmen.
She drew her brows together with irritation and yanked on the reins. The white horse protested with a long whinny to be suddenly yanked to a stop, reared back on its hooves, then stomped fretfully a few times on the ground.
Anari perched primly on her horse, casting a look of supercilious disdain down on Qin Yining. She raised an eyebrow and lifted her chin. “Who let you out? This khan has not permitted an ugly thing like you to walk around the campground!”
Qin Yining responded with a faint smile. “No one stopped me from moving around and with how weak I am, I would never make it out of your campground. I hear that the Tatars are a warm and hospitable people. Surely the khan still respects the customs of your ancestors?”
“You…” Anari had no comeback to that. She frowned grumpily, then burst into laughter. “Everyone knows you’ve got a silver tongue and can talk your way out of any situation. You just use your looks to make life easy for you and go around seducing any man you see.”
Qin Yining frowned ferociously. As a fellow woman, how could the khan show this kind of attitude and voice such vicious things in public? The crimes she mentioned were completely baseless and extrapolated from speculation!
This khan had obviously been spoiled in childhood and continued to get her way in everything after marriage. And someone with such a straightforward temper has a very extraordinary consort.
Qin Yining didn’t want to stick her nose where it didn’t belong and didn’t care to warn her enemy either. She only knew that she couldn’t lose here and be made a fool of.
“Why does such a young and beautiful khan say such atrocious things? I’ve always thought that only women who suffered from low self-esteem would doubt their husbands like this. Besides, I have a husband, and he happens to be a hero who shakes the heavens. I studied Admonitions for Women and the Domestic Lessons when I was a child, as well as Biographies of Exemplary Women. I understand the logic of a woman not serving a second husband. I would never do something like that that brings dishonor upon my ancestors. If the khan wishes to make up a crime for me, it’s best to find one that’s worthy of your station.”
Though there wasn't a single curse word in her response, Qin Yining managed to mock everything about Anari from her education to moral character to worldview.
The herdsmen whispered to each other, wondering who this girl was. The buzz of the crowd added fuel to Anari’s flames of rage, and she pointed at Qin Yining with her whip.
“You Great Zhou people only know how to flap your lips! We Tatar women don’t follow your tricky twists and turns. You can only strut around when it comes to words!”
Chapter 476: Declaration of War
Qin Yining flashed a smile brilliant enough to take one’s breath away.
“The khan quite knows how to jest. To persuade others, you must present them with concrete facts and logic. If one is unable to win a debate, it simply means their views don’t make sense or that they can’t think in a logical manner.
“The khan should not belittle all Tatar women. Women of Great Zhou follow certain rules and manners due to the traditions in which they were raised. Likewise, Tatar women learn many incredible things thanks to the nomadic lifestyle. As long as women are able to carry out their duties and make a living, there is no question of who is superior.
“Different environments call for different ways of life and different fields of expertise—that is all there is to it. The khan is a formidable woman in her own right, no less than any man. You must not downplay your own merits.”
The philosophies Qin Yining spoke of were too deep for Anari to wrap her head around. She glared at the repulsive face, itching to carve a few lines into it to let off steam. How dare a hostage challenge her in front of her subjects!
“Stop playing up your little bit of learning! Of course I’m no less than any man—I just don’t hide behind men like a parasitic flower, the way you do! If you really have anything real about you, bring it out and show me! All you know how to do is prance around with flowery words. What’s so impressive about that?” [1]
Qin Yining dimpled. “What does the khan think a noble, official daughter of a Great Zhou minister and a princess consort should possess, then?”
“You! Don’t brag about your father or your man if you have the guts to! How about you and I compete against each other, fair and square?” Anari had her mind set on embarrassing Qin Yining. She looked left and right before flicking her whip. “A horse-riding competition!”
The princess consort arched an eyebrow, her eyes looking around as she politely declined. “The khan is a master equestrian. How can I hope to be your equal? Perhaps this is not a good idea.”
Her soft words were spoken with the gentleness unique to the woman of the south. Those who understood the tongue of Great Zhou translated her words to others around them.
The crowd thought the delicate young lady sounded sincere enough.
The khan had been riding horses since she was a child—how could a rich young miss from Great Zhou ever hope to best her? They’d even heard many Great Zhou noblewomen had to cripple themselves by binding their feet; that was what those people thought to be beautiful. How could women who could hardly stand without falling over ride a horse?
Thinking about this, some of the more forward nomads attempted to look at Qin Yining’s feet out of curiosity. Unfortunately, they were obscured by her long robes, so no one was able to get a good look.
Anari laughed
with satisfaction and jeered, “In other words, you’re just a useless vase who only knows how to run her mouth. If you don’t want to compete, that’s fine. I will take that to mean that the women of Great Zhou are just pretty faces with nothing underneath. It’s one thing for the common woman to not know how to ride—I just didn’t expect the Wise Pan An to raise such a spineless daughter who doesn’t even have the guts to answer a challenge.”
She shook her head in mock regret. “I truly feel sorry for Wise Pan An. His great legacy will be destroyed in your hands.”
By now, everyone could see what was going on—the khan despised this Great Zhou woman with every fiber of her being. The reason was likely because there was something going on between this beautiful lady and the khan’s consort.
Above all, married women hated it when their husbands hung around young and pretty girls. They understood all too well why Anari scrutinized Qin Yining relentlessly. A ruckus started brewing with murmurs that Qin Yining would be a disgrace to all the women of Great Zhou if she didn’t accept the challenge.
Qin Yining didn’t want to compete against the khan. Whether she won or lost, challenging someone in their own territory left her open for denunciation regardless of the outcome. What’s more, she knew her wounds and ordeal through the desert left her much weaker than she used to be—she didn’t possess her usual stamina at all.
However, she’d never been one to give up easily.
Anari’s taunts had succeeded in rousing her competitive nature. She would rather lose than tap out without even fighting! Otherwise, she had no right to call herself the daughter of the Wise Pan An or the wife of the Faithful Prince of the First Rank!
“Very well.” Qin Yining took a few steps forward and circled around a gap in the wooden fence to stand before Anari. “However, I do not have a horse.”
With a wave of her hand, Anari ordered one the men competing in the long-suspended horse race to bring forth a chestnut horse.
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