It was late autumn in the Western Regions, and the dry air in the city was filled with a strong chill. The setting sun in the evening shone obliquely on the yellowed poplar leaves, reflecting a continuous golden color. The tamarisks with slender branches swayed gently in the wind. The Peacock River that passed through the city was covered with reeds and rippling with blue waves, and the laughter of fishermen could be heard from time to time.
This was an ordinary day in Loulan in 102 BC.
But for Na Luo, who was only seven years old, this day was the darkest day of her life.
Because... in half an hour, her parents would be beheaded in public according to Loulan law.
At this moment, Na Luo was running barefoot in the dense poplar forest in the southwest of the city. This was the only way she knew to the execution ground.
Uncontrollable tears blurred the scenery in front of her, but she didn't care.
Her tender feet were scarred by the sharp sand and stones, but she didn't care.
The forehead that was smashed by her aunt with a vase was still bleeding, but she didn't care.
Her body, which had been hungry for two days, could hardly bear more loads, but she didn't care.
She didn't care! She didn't care about anything! There was only one thought in her mind - as long as she kept running forward, she would be able to see her parents for the last time!
The poplar forests on both sides quickly passed by her, and the whistling wind whistled past her ears. She wanted to go faster, faster! Not far ahead, she could almost see the road leading to the execution ground!
Just a few dozen more steps, just a few dozen more steps...
"Bang!" Perhaps because she was too anxious, she ran out of the poplar forest and hit a carriage squarely. The coachman pulled the reins suddenly, and immediately turned his head and looked into the car in panic. The man dressed as a guard also hurriedly got off the horse and asked the people in the car softly.
Na Luo didn't care about her injured ankle, and she got up from the ground and planned to continue running.
"Wait a minute, you hit my carriage and you want to escape?" Before she could take a step, a boy of her age jumped off the carriage. He wore a red pointed felt hat and deerskin boots. He was very handsome and noble. He didn't look like an ordinary child.
Na Luo didn't want to get involved with him at all. She turned around and left without paying any attention to him. Unexpectedly, the moment she turned her head, she was hit hard on the neck. The sudden pain almost made her cry.
"How dare you not even reply to my words? Do you know who I am?" The little boy held the whip in his hand, stared at his light brown eyes fiercely, and shouted to the guard, "Ali, catch this dead kid for me!"
Ali responded and took the little Na Luo to the boy without saying a word.
"I'm sorry! It's my fault! It's my fault!" Na Luo was so anxious that she was about to cry, "My parents are dying soon, I want to see them for the last time, I will never see them again, so please don't catch me? You can beat me and scold me as much as you want, as long as you let me go!" The boy's eyes turned, "Is that so? It sounds really pitiful. Then kneel down and beg me." Na Luo knelt down in front of him without hesitation, wiping her tears and begging bitterly, "Please, let me go! Let me see my parents for the last time! Please!" Although her parents taught her that people should live with backbone and not kneel casually. But now the situation is urgent, as long as she can see her parents, she is willing to do anything. The boy narrowed his eyes proudly, "I just told you to kneel down and beg me, I didn't say I would definitely let you go.