"Still feeling bad?"
Qi Changyi shook his head, "It's not painful anymore."
He seemed to recall it seriously, but he couldn't remember what happened last night. "Brother Pei, were those bad guys driven away? Did we escape?"
"Um."
"Last night, last night I only remember that I seemed to hear your voice, but I couldn't see your face clearly, and then, I didn't remember anything."
"Um."
"Brother Pei, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
As she spoke, her little hand reached out to touch Pei Zheng's forehead, but suddenly stopped in mid-air.
Qi Changyi seemed to have thought of something, slowly retracted his hand, and the light in his eyes dimmed.
"Brother Pei, let's ask Doctor Jiang to come and take a look at you."
Pei Zheng knew what he was thinking, "Why, now you know how to avoid suspicion? You were not like this last night."
Pei Zheng whispered, "We have done everything as intimate as possible. If Your Highness has forgotten, I can help you recall it."
—A hand slowly reached under the quilt. Qi Changyi's body suddenly stiffened and he moved twice. The sudden pain from under his body made him groan in pain.
Why? My butt hurts so much.
Qi Changyi didn't dare to move anymore, his eyes were red, "Brother Pei, I seem to be injured."
Pei Zheng checked his body and asked with a frown, "Where are you hurt?"
"I, I..." Qi Changyi said in a low voice with extreme shame, "My toilet area hurts..."
Pei Zheng felt relieved and patted him under the quilt, "It's okay."
Seeing that the little guy still looked worried and scared, Pei Zheng leaned down and said something in his ear. The little guy understood something and his face suddenly turned red.
"Ah? Did we really, do something like that? I, I..."
Because I had witnessed it with my own eyes before, and the old maid in the palace had also taught me some things.
Qi Changyi blinked and big tears rolled down. He looked very sad. Even though his body was aching, he still struggled to sit up.
Pei Zheng wiped away his tears with his fingers.
"I haven't even met my husband yet, how can I do this with Brother Pei? Am I not qualified to marry? I already, already..."
Seeing the little guy's tears rolling more and more, he didn't cry so sadly even when he was so scared in the cave before.
Pei Zheng held him in his arms and comforted him softly, "Okay, don't cry, I'm here, no one dares to do anything to you."
Qi Changyi raised his head, as if he had made a great decision, "Brother Pei, I, I don't want to go to the marriage."
Pei Zheng paused.
The little man sobbed, "I don't want to at all. I don't want to leave my father and go to the barbarians. I don't know anyone there, and I don't know the barbarian leader. I don't want to marry him."
Qi Changyi put his arms around Pei Zheng's waist and buried his face in his chest.
"Brother Pei, I don't want to leave you either. Please take me back, okay? Please, take me back. I don't want to go to the marriage, I don't want to go..."
Only in front of such a gentle Pei Zheng did Qi Changyi muster up the courage to speak out the words that had been suppressed for so long.
But Pei Zheng, who had been hugging him and coaxing him just now, now said nothing. He just stroked his hair again and again, letting the little boy's tears wet his robe.
Qi Changyi was tired of crying and finally calmed down slowly, but she still held Pei Zheng tightly.
Pei Zheng saw that he was quiet, so he lowered his voice and said, "I will take you back, but not now. Just be obedient and I will stay with you, okay?"
Qi Changyi raised her tear-stained face, "Really? You must keep your word."
Pei Zheng nodded, "It's a promise."
"Well, let's make a pinky promise."
The white and tender little hand hooked the slender fingers.
Qi Changyi saw the white gauze under Pei Zhengkuan's sleeves and asked nervously, "Brother Pei, what happened to your arm? Is it injured? Let me see."
As he said this, he pulled Pei Zheng's arm and looked at him carefully.
"I'm fine."
"Who said that? You lost a lot of blood, it must be painful. I'll help you blow it and it won't hurt."
The little girl pouted her lips and breathed softly into the gauze, the corners of her eyes were still red from crying just now.
Pei Zheng raised his arms and looked at his serious expression, as if he was the one who was in pain due to his injury.
He had been injured many times before, and even almost lost his life several times, but no one had ever asked Pei Zheng if he was in pain, and no one really cared about him.
All those insincere concerns turned out to be false in the end.
It seems that the only one who cares about him is this little fool.
No matter what his original purpose was in approaching him, he really didn't want to give him away now.
The original plan was to just get away. Now, Pei Zheng wanted to bring this little fool back safely.
The team marched for more than a month before reaching the barbarian territory.
As far as the eye can see, this place is a desolate desert, with only small patches of grassland that are oases suitable for human habitation.
Although the population is far less than that of the Celestial Empire, the people here are all strong, brave and good at fighting, especially good at horse riding and archery. In the past few years, they have often invaded the border areas of the Celestial Empire, causing constant wars on the borders.
The barbarian leader is named Asuran, who is Amul's uncle. It is rumored that although the uncle and nephew are at peace on the surface, they have been fighting secretly.
After the Celestial Empire's troops entered the barbarian capital, Asuran sent people to receive them and settled them all.
Qi Changyi was taken directly to the palace where Asuran lived and settled down temporarily in preparation for the grand wedding ceremony tomorrow. Chengfeng also went along on Pei Zheng's orders.
Pei Zheng, Zhao Litang and others followed the attendants into the main hall to meet the barbarian leader Asuran.
Qi Changyi changed into new clothes, and after entering the barbarian territory, he changed back into men's attire. However, he looked half pure and half seductive, so it was inevitable that he looked a little feminine.
This palace was far inferior to those in the Celestial Empire, but its decoration had a strong exotic feel that made Qi Changyi feel very unfamiliar.
After he was brought in, he sat obediently on the stool, tugging at his clothes and looking around with his eyes rolling.
"Your Highness," said Li Yu, who was following him, "someone just sent some fresh goat milk over. Would you like to try it?"
Qi Changyi nodded, took a sip from the white cup, and the smell of mutton filled his mouth, causing him to frown tightly. He drank several sips of water before he could suppress the smell.
"I don't want to drink anymore, you drink it."
Li Yu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't stand the strong smell, so he put down the cup.
"Xiao Yuzi, what do you think Brother Pei and the others are doing now?"
"I should be attending the banquet of the barbarian leader to discuss the wedding ceremony tomorrow."
After hearing this, Qi Changyi lowered his head and said nothing.
Li Yu knew that he was extremely unwilling and could only stay with him quietly, not knowing how to comfort him.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and it was Amul who came in with several servants.
"Are you hungry, little one? I brought you some delicious food."
The servants put down the food and went out one after another.
Qi Changyi looked up at Amul and said unhappily, "Thank you, Amul, I don't want to eat yet."
Amul came over and sat down. "You haven't eaten well these days. What's wrong? You have no appetite?"
Qi Changyi shook his head, still keeping his head down as if he was unwilling to speak.
Amul stopped forcing him, "Okay, I'll leave the food here for you. You can eat whenever you want. Have a good rest tonight. Tomorrow, you'll be busy."
Li Yu saw Amul off. It was already dark outside, so the banquet in the main hall should be over by then.
After sitting for a while, several servants brought hot water and clothes, and Li Yu helped Qi Changyi change clothes and rest.
He lay down on the bed covered with a thick blanket. Although his body was warm, Qi Changyi felt very uneasy in his heart.
He thought about it over and over again, and tossed and turned several times but couldn't fall asleep. Later, he simply kept his eyes open and looked at Chengfeng who was standing straight outside the door.
He has been standing for so long, isn't he tired
Brother Pei always kept Chengfeng by his side in the past, but now he wants him to follow him. Is it to protect himself
As he was watching, a figure about a pound tall suddenly appeared beside Chengfeng. He said something to Chengfeng with his hands behind his back, then walked to the door of the hall and stood still.
Qi Changyi's eyes lit up. It was Brother Pei!
He quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, ready to give him a sudden scare when he came in.
But after waiting for a long time, there was no sound of the door being pushed open. Qi Changyi opened his eyes slightly, and the figure at the door had disappeared.
Qi Changyi lifted the quilt, jumped down from the bed, ran barefoot to the door and opened it, looking left and right for a long time, confirming that Pei Zheng had left, and then the deep disappointment in his eyes was about to overflow.
Chengfeng was startled by the little man who suddenly ran out, "Your Highness, why are you still awake at this late hour?"
"Afeng, didn't Brother Pei come here just now? Why didn't he come in to see me?"
The disappointment in his tone could not be concealed.
Cheng Feng saw Qi Changyi's bare feet and said quickly, "Your Highness, the master has something important tonight and can't be delayed. He left without even seeing you. You should go into the house quickly."
"oh."
Qi Changyi turned around, closed the door, walked back to the bedroom step by step, and lay back down obediently.
Brother Pei said that he would take him back, so he should believe him.
Believe in him.
Thinking of this, Qi Changyi still felt a little sad. He pulled the quilt over his eyes and fell asleep in a daze.
The next morning, Li Yu hurriedly woke him up.
Qi Changyi was still drowsy when she was surrounded by a group of people and started to dress up.
Unlike in the Imperial Palace, this time he was wearing the unique ethnic costumes of the barbarians. His black hair was half scattered behind his back, and he wore a hat embroidered with colorful auspicious clouds on his head. He also wore a brightly colored robe with special horseshoe sleeves at the ends.
The main color of the body is still red, which makes the little man look elegant, agile and dazzling.
Before the barbarian chief's wedding officially takes place, there will be a ceremony to worship the heavens, which will be held in the palace, and the chiefs of various small tribes will come to participate.
When Qi Changyi was led into the palace, the magnificent hall was already full of people. When they saw the newcomer, they all looked towards the door, wanting to take a closer look at what this prince from the Celestial Empire looked like.
The barbarians have an open-minded customs, and it is not uncommon for them to take men as wives or concubines.
But this person, who was pure and had a natural charm in her eyes and eyebrows, instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
Qi Changyi followed the attendant carefully, walked from the door to the center of the hall, and slowly saluted the leader Asuran who was sitting right above him.
Asuran's face was covered with beard, and he looked a bit fierce. Qi Changyi didn't dare to look at him again after just one glance. Instead, his eyes met with Pei Zheng who was sitting next to him.
Pei Zheng held a glass of wine, his hands covering most of his face, leaving only a pair of cold and narrow eyes exposed.