Chapter 172: One Wife, Two Concubines
Harsh Winter has arrived!
The gale winds were like wild beasts breaking free from their cages, carrying ice shards and yellow sand, rampaging across Jin Prefecture Grassland, emitting deafening roars.
Another cycle, the long winter descended upon Jin Prefecture Land, with the endless heaven and earth completely covered in thick snow.
Ice sealed a thousand miles, like a lifeless human forbidden zone.
Nightfall quietly emerged, darkness spreading rapidly like tides, swallowing the entire grassland.
In the distance, a few wolf howls sounded, the eerie voices echoing in the night sky, adding a touch of strangeness and eeriness to this desolate and lonely grassland.
Only in fortress gathering places like Hexi Fort did a few dim yellow lights occasionally shine from rooms and tents, flickering in the darkness.
Outside the room, the gale winds howled, but inside the room it was exceptionally warm, adding even more infinite charm.
After an unknown amount of time, everything returned to calm, with no more woman’s moans, nor man’s roars.
There was only a pair of male and female figures curled up in the bedding.
Under the firelight, what came into view was a delicate face as smooth as blown jade.
Han Ying’er quietly curled up in Li Xiao’s arms, her fair skin tinged with a faint pink, eyelashes still bearing undried tear stains, clearly having been roughly treated by Li Xiao.
And she was Han Jiuyuan’s daughter, the girl captured by Li Xiao when Kuyun-Ordu City fell.
However, the girl admired him, and Han Ying’er had reached marriageable age. Han Jiuyuan originally wanted to slowly find a family for her.
But after Li Xiao learned the news, he directly came to demand her.
In this way, the old man Han had no choice but to pinch his nose and accept the matter.
Han Ying’er became Li Xiao’s Noble Concubine.
The so-called Noble Concubine referred to the highest status among concubines, second only to the main wife in family status.
Noble Concubines were generally of high birth, or particularly favored by their husband, or meritorious in bearing children.
Han Ying’er’s appearance was excellent, her figure slender and graceful, very beautiful; matching Li Xiao’s taste was secondary.
The main reason was Han Ying’er’s background.
Han Jiuyuan was originally the Minister of Revenue of the Royal Court, and now Li Xiao had also handed over part of Jin Prefecture’s financial power to him.
Moreover, Han Jiuyuan had an elder brother currently serving as Southern Privy Councillor in the Royal Court, holding high position and great power.
Worthy of Li Xiao’s attention.
So he simply took his daughter as a Noble Concubine.
After more than half a hour of exertion, Li Xiao was full of vigor, while Han Ying’er was utterly exhausted.
She had to beg for mercy: “Great Governor, Great Governor, no more.”
“Let the maidservant come instead.”
The Han Family, as a great noble household, certainly had accompanying maidservants, but Li Xiao had little interest in them.
Ultimately, their looks were not outstanding enough.
In the end, Han Ying’er bore it all alone.
Early the next morning, as Li Xiao prepared to rise, Han Ying’er was instantly startled awake, letting out a cry of alarm.
She panickedly pulled over the silk quilt, tightly wrapping her naked body, her eyes full of panic and unease.
Last night’s memories surged like tides, making her body tremble slightly, her cheeks turning red like ripe apples.
She had clearly realized that Li Xiao was not an outsider, but her man.
“Great Governor…”
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s, timidly calling out.
Li Xiao dressed, his bronze muscles faintly visible in the morning light, full of strength.
Even though it was freezing cold outside, Li Xiao felt no chill at all.
Han Ying’er inadvertently glanced over, recalling last night’s madness, her cheeks instantly flushing red, alluring like ripe apples.
Li Xiao’s lips curved into a faint smile, sitting back on the bed’s edge, gently caressing her tender cheek, lightly saying: “Still calling me Great Governor?”
Hearing this, Han Ying’er blushed deeply, softly calling: “Husband.”
As the Great Governor of Jin Prefecture, Li Xiao held high position and great power, with all of Jin Prefecture and the Great Desert under his control.
On the battlefield, his prestige was renowned, striking fear into foreign races; his appearance was heroic and resolute, tall and mighty, exuding masculine charm, attracting countless women.
Han Ying’er was one of his many admirers; now able to serve by his side, her heart was full of joy.
If she could bear him a son or daughter in the future, she would be content.
Thinking of this, she softly called again: “Husband…”
Her voice soft and glutinous, full of dependence.
Li Xiao smiled, a heat surging within him, itching to punish her again.
But there was no way; today was Han Ying’er’s first day entering the household, he couldn’t let her rise too late.
Dragon City was not yet built; after marrying Xiao Yanyan, Li Xiao had built a new courtyard in Hexi Fort.
The layout was not complex, just a row of main rooms and a few side rooms.
There were also several courtyards around, housing Li Xiao’s personal guards.
At this moment, in the main hall, Xiao Yanyan sat at the head, with several Khitan robust women attending her.
On the other side stood a Uyghur woman.
Hami’s daughter, Tajiguli.
Alkus played a great role for Li Xiao, equivalent to a puppet ruling Gaochang; for his daughter, Li Xiao also gave her the title of Noble Concubine.
At this time, she stood respectfully to the side, carefully responding to Xiao Yanyan’s questions.
“Princess Ayina has a kind personality, always residing in the Royal Palace, with many noble young masters wanting to marry her~”
“The Queen particularly dotes on Prince Qibidu, having a very poor relationship with Prince Barshu on weekdays; she wants to support Prince Qibidu to inherit the throne.”
What Xiao Yanyan wanted to understand was mainly the Queen of Gaochang and her daughter.
The once high and mighty Queen and Princess, after Gaochang was breached, lost their halos and became no different from ordinary female slaves.
Apart from their beautiful looks as a mother-daughter pair, there was nothing else worth Xiao Yanyan’s attention.
The reason she thought of these two was mainly because she heard that the afternoon before last, Li Xiao went to that mother-daughter pair’s courtyard and stayed for quite a while.
Xiao Yanyan didn’t believe Li Xiao had simply gone to chat with them.
“Our Li Family may not be imperial royalty, but we’re no small household either.”
“The Great Governor is a man, inevitably unable to control his lower body outside, but we as wives and concubines should guard the household gates for the Great Governor.”
“Don’t bring all sorts of messy women into the home.”
Xiao Yanyan lightly sipped a cup of clear tea, saying in a faint voice.
“When you have time, go chat with that mother-daughter pair; if they want to stay well in Jin Prefecture, they should dutifully serve the Great Governor well, without thinking messy thoughts.”
“Yes, Madam.” Tajiguli softly responded.
Though the Queen and her daughter once had noble status, now they were not even as good as her.
Sometimes, kind-hearted Tajiguli even secretly looked after the mother-daughter pair.
“Don’t stand, sit down, we’ll eat soon.”
Xiao Yanyan casually gestured, letting Tajiguli sit on the chair below.
Then she looked toward the west side room, faintly hearing footsteps, and spoke to the robust woman behind her in Khitan language.
“It’s a bit cold in the main hall, the Han Clan’s body is weak, don’t let her catch a chill.”
“Add a few more pieces of coke to the room.”
The robust woman nodded lightly: “Yes, Madam!”
Then she took a few pieces of coke from the side room in the courtyard and threw them into the charcoal stove.
Though the temperature hadn’t risen immediately, psychologically it felt much warmer.
Xiao Yanyan then said to Tajiguli: “In previous years in Eastern Capital, every winter we burned wood for warmth.”
“The tents were filled with smoke and fire daily, the smell very unpleasant, and not even warm.”
“If I’d known coke was so useful, why suffer those years of bitter cold.”
Hearing this, Tajiguli’s fair pretty face showed some fear.
“Still, still cold?”
Gaochang’s winter was warmer than Jin Prefecture.
So Tajiguli couldn’t stand Jin Prefecture’s severe cold now; she couldn’t imagine that without this coke, she’d probably freeze to death at night.
“There’s a man!”
“Won’t freeze you to death.” Xiao Yanyan chuckled.
On the grasslands of this era, nobles could still use wood for warmth, but ordinary herdsmen or even slaves could only endure it.
Or rely on the most primitive exercise for warmth.
So every winter’s end, many women were seen with big bellies.
Mainly because heavy snow blocked roads, stuck at home with nothing to do, they could only do womanly things daily.
But similarly, Northern Frontier’s severe cold caused many newborns to die young, so Northern Frontier population was never large.
But this year, Jin Prefecture’s winter saw a divine artifact for warming.
Coke.
Li Xiao ordered prisoners of war to dig coal and produce coke at Golden Mountain Coal Mine; besides supplying Tang Valley’s iron forging, there was plenty left over.
So Hexi Merchant Guild sold this coke to Jin Prefecture’s common people.
And taught them how to use coke correctly: just leave a vent on the windward side of the room or tent to avoid poisoning.
So this winter in Jin Prefecture, many common people started using coke.
Room temperatures were much warmer than usual.
Xiao Yanyan’s favorite daily activity was sitting by the stove, sipping clear tea, watching the snowscape outside.
Soon after, Li Xiao entered the main hall, with Han Ying’er carefully following behind him.
Supported by a little maidservant, it was clear every step she took was quite strenuous.
Her legs dared not take large strides, each step bringing a tearing pain.
“Did Madam sleep well last night?” Li Xiao came forward, sat in the main seat beside Xiao Yanyan, picked up a cup of clear tea, drained it, and asked with a cheerful smile.
“Hehe, didn’t sleep well.”
“Night owls howled all night, annoying enough to keep me awake.” Xiao Yanyan chuckled lightly, her gaze faintly glancing at Han Ying’er.
Making her face flush completely red, wishing she could burrow into the ground.
She naturally understood Xiao Yanyan was referring to her.
But she hadn’t expected her voice last night to be that loud?
Audible to Xiao Yanyan across several rooms?
Ashamed, embarrassed, annoyed.
Han Ying’er tightly clutched her skirt hem, nearly about to cry from shame.
“Hehe, Madam.”
“The Han Clan’s skin is thin, don’t tease her.” Li Xiao cheerfully came to Han Ying’er’s defense.
Then pointed to the clear tea on the table: “Offer tea to Madam.”
This was also a traditional etiquette; concubines had no right to offer tea to parents-in-law, but on the morning after the wedding, they had to offer tea to the main wife.
Showing respect and obedience to the main wife, clarifying her status in the family.
With that, Han Ying’er moved her steps lightly, somewhat arduously walking to Li Xiao.
The maidservant quickly picked up the clear tea, handed it to her, then supported Han Ying’er to kneel.
Then Han Ying’er respectfully said to Li Xiao: “Master, please drink tea.”
Privately she could call Li Xiao husband or lord, but in formal settings, this address belonged only to Xiao Yanyan.
Han Ying’er had to call Li Xiao Master.
Tea offering went to Li Xiao first.
Li Xiao took the clear tea, drained it: “Rise.”
Then Han Ying’er stood, moved her steps lightly, brow slightly furrowed in pain, knelt beside Xiao Yanyan, and respectfully said.
“Madam, please drink tea.”
Seeing Han Ying’er’s trembling legs, Xiao Yanyan faintly glanced at Li Xiao.
“Great Governor Li’s might is undiminished as ever.”
Xiao Yanyan deeply understood how beastly Li Xiao was.
She had ridden horses and hunted since childhood, and trained good martial arts in camp with Xiao Simo.
Her physical fitness was unmatched among women.
Yet she still found it very taxing.
Compared to her, Han Ying’er was even more exaggerated.
If not for the tea offering, she’d definitely be unable to walk for three days.
“Rise!”
After drinking the clear tea, Xiao Yanyan faintly said.
Then she began instructing Han Ying’er.
“As a woman of the Li Family, obey the three obediences and four virtues~”
“Quickly bear children for the Li Family~”
This was also part of tea-offering etiquette, a way to establish the main wife’s status.
Li Xiao smiled faintly, sitting to the side watching.
His gaze constantly shifting between these three women.
During campaigns, women by his side changed like a lantern show, mostly casual encounters; after one night of pleasure, even their faces were hard to remember, mere diversions between wars.
Yet truly brought into his household were few.
Currently only these three women: one main wife, two concubines.
Main wife Xiao Yanyan was dignified and generous, exceptionally talented, most importantly with invincible background, the greatest help to Li Xiao.
Next was Tajiguli, as the daughter of Gaochang’s Prime Minister, her presence a form of political marriage alliance.
Then Han Ying’er, also carrying political elements.
As for others like the Queen and her daughter, Huang Xiuer, etc., all kept outside by Li Xiao, visited only in leisure, not entering the Li Family gates.
As for the reason, Li Xiao knew well.
Beautiful women under heaven numbered in thousands; Li Xiao never lacked beauties by his side.
But at his level, beautiful flesh could only spark momentary interest.
What truly caught Li Xiao’s eye was the connections behind the woman, whether they brought real interests.
Political creatures needed political marriage alliances; looks were secondary.
Jin Prefecture’s winter was extremely cold.
Sometimes with nonstop heavy snow for over ten days.
At such times, Jin Prefecture’s common people basically couldn’t go out.
And Li Xiao could only hole up in the room, playing the most primitive games with his three wives.
Once the heavy snow eased slightly, Li Xiao successively received reports from various departments.
Snow disasters happened every year, with many cattle and sheep freezing to death annually.
But this year there were exceptionally many.
Only because over ten thousand households from Dunhuang and Guazhou hadn’t fully adapted to Jin Prefecture’s harsh weather.
“Great Governor ordering coke production is truly immeasurable merit.”
“Without this coke, who knows how many Jin Prefecture common people would freeze to death.” Zhang Xinghua sighed.
Hexi Corridor’s winter was also exceptionally cold; as former Dunhuang Prefect, Zhang Xinghua was somewhat adapted to such severe cold.
But he too was bundled tightly, sheepskin over cotton cloth, cotton cloth over cotton cloth, looking like a furry bear.
At this time, the heavy snow had stopped; Li Xiao was leading people to inspect various departments, checking disaster situations.
Zhang Xinghua was now an advisor to Jin Prefecture Governor’s Mansion; Li Xiao had specially arranged a courtyard for him in Hexi Fort.
But he insisted on coming to see these common people’s situations.
“Not just frozen to death, but also suffocated.”
Li Xiao said in a faint voice, tone slightly annoyed.
Because he had instructed Hexi Merchant Guild when selling coke to clearly tell the common people how to use it.
But after this inspection round, some still suffered poisoning.
“Order each Centurion to personally check every common household’s tent.”
“If suffocation incidents happen again, wait for the military cudgel.” Li Xiao said gravely.
This era’s common people had generally low awareness, poor learning ability; needed repeated teaching, even Centurions’ cudgel supervision.
Democratic civilization was a joke in this era.
Had to centralize power, make common people feel awe, only then would they obediently follow orders.
After this inspection round, Li Xiao found few people frozen, but many cattle and sheep.
But fortunately, the vast snow between heaven and earth was a natural giant icebox.
No worry of cattle and sheep corpses rotting before next summer.
Then Li Xiao entered a common household.
The tent was very dilapidated; inside besides the bed, basically nothing else.
A couple around thirty, faces weathered, stood nervously restrained in place, with two sons and a daughter behind.
On the bed were a little son and little daughter, fully wrapped in sheepskin mats for warmth, gazing at Li Xiao with tense yet curious eyes.
A family of seven was a sizable household, crammed in this small tent, very crowded.
Li Xiao just casually glanced, then called the man out, asking: “Can you still get by?”
The man wore sheepskin freely issued by Governor’s Mansion, awkwardly saying: “St-still okay~”
“Speak truthfully about any difficulties.” Li Xiao feigned displeasure.
Though Great Governor, he would never overlook grassroots common people’s lives.
Because every dynastic change often showed signs from common lives.
This was a terrifying force that could topple all rulers.
“How does Jin Prefecture compare to Dunhuang? Life better?” Li Xiao guided.
“Better~”
“Dunhuang’s taxation was high, yearly paying lots of money and grain to those masters; after a hard year, nothing left at home, children starving too.”
The man slowly spoke, then showed a silly smile on his face.
“Jin Prefecture is different, basically eat full every day~”
Jin Prefecture had taxes, but compared to Western Xia Court’s squeezing of common people, Jin Prefecture’s were much lower, fully within common endurance.
Moreover, Li Xiao promised these new common people tax exemption for five years.
Within these five years, just return a certain number of sheep annually.
Overall, these common people’s days were passable, but not good.
Because besides herding sheep, no other extra income.
Jin Prefecture north was cold; even growing grain yielded low.
“After this heavy snow, how many sheep did your family lose?”
“Twenty-two~” The man said with a worried face.
The man’s family of seven had borrowed 140 sheep total from Governor’s Mansion.
Before ewes lambed, over twenty died.
Though enough for the family to eat their fill, the man clearly worried more about future life.
“Twenty-two!”
Li Xiao sighed softly, then lightly patted the man’s shoulder: “Eat freely.”
“Let your family’s children properly nourish their bodies.”
“Next spring, follow me to rob Naiman people’s cattle and sheep.”
“Merit brings reward.”
Thus, Li Xiao had another reason he must fight the Naiman people.
He finally understood why these nomadic people always raided south.
Because they really couldn’t survive otherwise.
Moreover, under survival pressure, these common people would have more battle motivation.
Like the man before him; hearing of spring raids on Naiman people, his face instantly firmed.
He turned to look at the children behind, seeing their eager eyes, the man gritted his teeth.
Even for family, he had to fight.
“Order each Centurion: if affiliated common people can’t survive, immediately report to Governor’s Mansion.”
“Distribute grain for relief.”
Li Xiao instructed Zhang Xinghua behind him; after the order was passed, he headed to the next Hundred Households Office.
