Be My Concubine

They finally reached the Command Tent, Li TengFei instructed Wang Lei and company to wait outside.

Wei Li Na looked around. It was still hot outside, but inside the Command Tent it felt cool and refreshing. There was a writing desk, and a few other low tables to receive guests. To the side was a screen, and a low bed. Carefully hung on poles were the spare robes of Li TengFei. So this is where he had been staying when he didn't go back to the courtyard they shared.

Wei Li Na was pushed to sit on the desk. Li TengFei stood in front of her at an uncomfortably close distance.

"Who told Li Na, you were allowed to leave the general's courtyard?"

"I didn't know I was being held prisoner." Wei Li Na's speech pattern immediately changed. She was speaking to a person from her own time, so her language was less deferential, and more to the point. Even if Li TengFei was older, she treated him like an equal.

Li TengFei lifted his hand to pat her head, he took off her cloth cap to reveal a bald head. A soft fuzz of hair had already started to grow back. "You're my guest and my junior. I only want to keep Li Na safe. This ancient time and place is very different, it's difficult especially for a young girl like you."

As Li TengFei moved closer, almost touching his body, Wei Li Na subconsciously pulled back. This guy was invading her personal space big time! Li TengFei pushed further, he braced both hands on either side of her body trapping her to the desk.

"I'm your benefactor, so tell me Young Mistress Wei Li Na, why do you want to kill me?"

Li TengFei's face was so close, Wei Li Na could feel his breath on her cheek. The closeness made her feel very uncomfortable. She raised her hand to his face, her palm crushing his nose. She slowly and unrelentingly pushed his face away. Her palm firmly pushed up Li TengFei's soft nose bridge, which caused a little pain.

Grunting, Li TengFei stepped back. Rubbing his nose in resentment.

"That's ridiculous! Why would Li Na want to kill senior, I have no intentions. Where'd you even get that idea?" She was freeloading off Li TengFei afterall, she's not stupid enough to bite off the hand that feeds her!

Li TengFei stood silently in thought, he studied Wei Li Na for a moment. It was easy to see, she was sincere. There was no intent to kill at all. She was telling the truth. And yet, back at the courtyard it was a different situation. He sensed from her a murderous intent that was so intense and directed towards him, it was frightening. So aside from the first night, he spent all his other nights in the last few days at the Command tent to avoid her. He even left several guards to keep her from escaping.

But now, looking at Wei Li Na with her fresh face, bright eyes, and goose egg shaped head, she clearly did not want to kill him and Li TengFei reluctantly believed her. Perhaps she changed her mind? It was better to just start over, since the initial hostility he felt from her was gone.

"Alright, I believe you. Let's have a serious talk."

Wei Li Na remained seated on the desk, posture upright. She nodded her head obediently.

"Now that you're here. What are your future plans?"

Didn't she already have this conversation with her parents years ago? That kind of tone: "what do you plan to do with your life?", "what are you going to do for money?" , "are you taking higher studies?" It's that kind of condescending question.

Wei Li Na wasn't going to tell Li TengFei she was in ancient time to find her ancestor to save his life, make sure he has descendants, and save the Wei Clan bloodline. No way! Never reveal your biggest weakness! If Li TengFei had bad intentions, he could oppress her and wipe out Wei Clan in one strike. The less anybody knows about her mission, the better.

"Senior, my plans are to find a job. Support myself and live decently." That's the kind of generic answer that never fails to counterattack that kind of condescending question.

Li TengFei burst out in laughter.

"Find a job?" From his tone of voice, Wei Li Na could tell he was talking down on her. "Do you know what kind of job a young girl can have in this ancient time?"

Li Na seriously considered her marketable skills. She has only ever worked for the military as an outpost guard. She could fight. She could see very far away with her Divine Third Eye. Her prospects were not completely hopeless!

"Women can only be of two types in this world - whores or wives. You can get married or enter a brothel. A young girl without family support or a husband, is sold as a slave. That's the hard reality."

Surely life for women is not that bleak! But Wei Li Na was unsure. She hasn't been in the ancient world for a long time. There's a lot she didn't know. Other than that, her knowledge of history and culture was also very low. She only studied military history, everything else was ignored. It did not help she was a poor student at school, and failed to even study the classics, literature, calligraphy, and art. Instead, her education focused on science and math.

"Li Na is only 14 now, marriageable age is 16 years of age. But there are those that marry even earlier than that. You can stay by my side and grow up. When you come of age, become my concubine."

Wei Li Na was at a loss for words. Li TengFei cautiously watched her reaction, assumed she needed time to think over all this new information. She was probably shocked. It will take a while for her to accept this new position in society, where women's position depended on men. Li TengFei was patient.

"What's a concubine?"

"...."

Li TengFei expected Wei Li Na to be uneducated about the customs of ancient time. But he didn't expect her to be so ignorant to the extent that she didn't know what a concubine was! Who hasn't seen a historical drama or read a history book. Apparently, Wei Li Na really was that uneducated.

Li TengFei had to explain to her about harems, first wives and concubines. While he droned off, Wei Li Na's eyes got bigger and bigger in amazement.

"So senior wants to build a harem?"

Li TengFei shyly looked away. What male does not dream about building a harem. The only difference is that it is completely possible and acceptable to so here. But he wasn't going to say that to a little girl, he'll seem too greedy and lascivious.

"Not that I want to, little Li Na. That's just how it's done here."

"Then why not make me your first wife. Why second place holder as a concubine?"

Li TengFei was secretly delighted. So Wei Li Na was considering! This little girl was impossible to get near to when they were in school. She came from a powerful family, she had older brothers and cousins around her, nobody dares to ask her out even for a date. But now she's in ancient time, approachable and defenseless.

It does not matter that she's physically immature right now, she'll bloom into a one in a million kind of beauty in a few short years. By that time he would have so much more competition, better to trap her into a marriage right now!

"Li Na would be my first choice for wife! Unfortunately I'm already engaged to be married. After this Western campaign is concluded, I'll return to the capital and get married. I'll take you with me. I'm my heart, you are the first wife."

Wei Li Na was beyond belief. She had no intention to marry Li TengFei or anybody at the moment. She didn't even think of marriage. Wei Li Na felt she had no right to hope for a future, until her mission was completed. If she didn't save her ancestor, she had no future! She and her entire clan would just disappear from existence!

The end of the Western Campaign was still two years or longer into the future. These were Li TengFei's long term plans. He'll finish up in the western region, go back and get rewarded by the Emperor. Get his own residence in the capital, and fill up with beauties. Starting with his fiance and Wei Li Na.

Wei Li Na saw Li TengFei's sparkling eyes full of hope. She's never been asked to be anybody's concubine before. Should she be flattered? Or insulted because he didn't ask her to be first wife? Naturally, she wanted to be the one and only wife. That was the best option. But seeing as Li TengFei was currently her biggest supporter, she'll cling to his thigh for the moment and avoid offending him.

"I'm confused. I'm still young, I don't have plans for marriage." Wei Li Na smirked, she's only just met this person less than four days ago. And he's suddenly talking marriage, isn't that too much?

"There's plenty of time to think about it. For now, just stay close to me. I can protect you."

There was no other option for Wei Li Na, except to agree. Until she found her Wei ancestor, she'll stick to the high ranking thigh of this perverted classmate.