Chapter 8 Bedding "Don't worry, no one will laugh at you."...

The grassland nights are quiet, but accompanied by howling winds. Autumn has arrived, and it is indeed much colder than Chang'an.

Most of the tents had their lights off, but in Madam Qiu's tent, one could still faintly hear the sound of a wooden fish being struck, long and quiet.

The old woman beside Madam Qiu was named Qing Gu. She was carrying a lamp and walking outside when suddenly she stopped and looked up in surprise.

"H-Huge sweat..."

Qinggu's path was blocked by the tall figure in front of her. Hurile looked down at her with an icy expression and said, "Is it necessary to be so surprised to see me, the Khan?"

Qing Gu had already knelt down, and looking around at the maids, they were already prostrate on the ground.

Hurile didn't make things difficult for them and strode straight inside.

The knocking stopped inside the tent.

Wei slowly opened her eyes: "Why has the Great Khan come?"

The voice was calm as still water, without any ripples, and there was no attempt to rise and greet.

Hurile glanced into the tent. He hadn't been here for a long time, and everything in front of him felt somewhat unfamiliar.

The man stood not far away with an arrogant expression, his tone indifferent: "Chaolu is injured, so I came to see him and, while I was at it, to check on you."

Wei said, “If the Great Khan wants to see Chao Lu, he should just summon him. Why should he lower himself to such a lowly position?”

Khurel frowned: "He is my son, not my subject. Is it not allowed for me, the Khan, to care about my son?"

Is that so?

"But the Great Khan had Chaolu train the horses; I didn't see in you that you treated him like a son."

There was also a maid inside the tent, who didn't dare to breathe at this moment, and was sweating profusely as she listened to her mistress's words.

Footsteps approached from behind, and a man in a thick sweat drew near.

His voice carried a strong sense of oppression and hidden anger: "What do you mean by that? Do you think I'm deliberately making things difficult for Chaolu?"

Madam Wei finally stood up and turned to look at him—

"I dare not, but I cannot understand why, out of so many Taijis, it was Chaolu who was chosen?!"

Hurile stared at the woman in front of him, his gaze moving from her eyebrows and eyes to her lips, and then back up.

He hadn't really looked at that face in a long time.

Hurile suddenly gave a sarcastic smile: "If you want to know, why didn't you come and ask during the day?"

Wei looked up in disbelief, as if confirming her suspicions. Surprise and anger flashed in her eyes, followed by a feeling of utter absurdity.

Hurile, of course, took in her emotions. His expression suddenly turned terrifying. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed the woman's chin, and forced Wei to look him in the eye—

"Yes, just as you guessed."

He uttered chilling words, but his eyes were filled with immense resentment.

Wei was stunned for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile.

She uttered a few words silently, and Hurile was stunned. The next moment, he let go of her hand.

The Khan, who had just lost his composure, instantly regained his haughty demeanor.

“Wei, my patience has its limits. Recently, Aohan has been challenging us frequently, and I am in dire need of a general to lead the expedition. Chaolu is my flesh and blood, and he should also have the spirit of a man of the grasslands. Today, after training the horse, I have a new respect for him!”

After saying that, Hurile turned around abruptly and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Qinggu, who was outside, was already drenched in cold sweat. Only after seeing Dazhan disappear into the distance did she snap out of her daze and run back into the tent, calling out, "Madam, Madam..."

Qinggu immediately checked her mistress's face and body with anxiety, but Madam Wei smiled faintly and said, "It's alright, he won't do anything."

Qinggu seemed about to cry: "Madam..."

Wei sighed, "I'm a little tired, I'm going to rest now. How's it going with Chao Lu?"

"His Highness went back to rest this afternoon... I inquired and it seems that Fourth Princess personally went to take care of His Highness, so he should be fine..."

Mrs. Wei nodded with satisfaction: "That's good."

Qinggu helped her slowly walk into the tent. She hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Madam, what did the Khan mean by what he just said? Does he want the Fourth Prince to go on the expedition...?"

A hint of worry flashed in Wei's eyes, but after thinking carefully, she said, "It shouldn't be. If a war really breaks out with Aohan, his pride will not allow him to lose the war. He will definitely choose a capable and prestigious Taiji to pave the way for his son... As for Chaolu..."

He was just trying to threaten me.

Qinggu sighed, her eyes filled with deep heartache.

After calming herself down, Wei said, "Let Chaolu come to see me tomorrow."

...

Chao Lu didn't return to his room that night, and Ruan Yu didn't intend to wait for him. She went to bed early to prepare for sleep.

Strangely, the man came out of the bathroom and passed by her as if fleeing, going straight to the study without saying a word.

Then he didn't come out all afternoon.

Does he really dislike being around her? Or is it that the rumored warlike and combative Four Taiji is actually a book lover?

Ruan Yu couldn't understand it, and she wasn't about to be rude, so she asked the kitchen to leave some food for her, planning to reheat it and send it over when the person returned in the evening.

Unbeknownst to Ruan Yu, Afu had already woken up after two naps in the study at that very moment.

I rubbed my eyes and saw that my master was also fast asleep in the wicker chair.

"Your Highness, Your Highness!"

When Afu saw that it was already dark, he immediately went to call for help. Chao Lu frowned and opened his eyes with displeasure.

"Your Highness, it's getting dark...it's time to go back..."

Chao Lu glanced outside and muttered, "So fast?"

He smacked his lips, got up and walked outside, and Afu quickly followed.

After Chaolu returned, the lights in the inner tent were all dimmed. He glanced at it and then looked away, asking, "Is there any food left?"

Upon hearing that the Fourth Prince had returned, the maid outside went to the kitchen early to heat up the food: "Your Highness, the Khatun asked me to save it for you in advance, and it will be delivered shortly."

Chaolu nodded and waited inside the outer tent.

He injured his left arm today, but it didn't make his life too inconvenient. Soon, the maids brought him the food.

A bowl of meat, a bowl of soup, and large pan-fried buns.

Chao Lu was unrefined; he grabbed the bun with one hand and took a bite.

He ate very quickly, practically devouring everything in a flash.

After finishing her main course, she glanced around and asked curiously, "Didn't my sister send it over?"

Afu asked, puzzled, "What?"

"pastry."

The pastries from yesterday were delicious, so he sent Ah Fu to ask for some this morning.

Afu slapped his forehead: "I have given instructions, but I guess the people below have forgotten. It was my fault. I will go there myself tomorrow."

Chao Lu was clearly a little disappointed, but it wasn't a big deal: "Yes, I remember."

Afu: "It's late, Your Highness, you should rest now."

Chao Lu clicked his tongue, "You're all so talkative. Go and rest, you don't need to serve us anymore."

"yes."

Soon, he was the only one left in the tent. Chao Lu glanced around the tent and suddenly felt a little guilty.

He was a little... unsure how to face her.

In the afternoon, it was an absolute disgrace!

He had no idea why he reacted that way at the time.

It was so embarrassing that he slept in his study all afternoon and didn't want to come back.

But this is his official tent!

Thinking of this, Chao Lu coughed lightly and stood up.

...

Ruan Yu has always been a light sleeper. She was too tired when she first arrived at the grassland a few days ago, but she has recovered a little in the last two days. When she hears any movement around her, she opens her eyes in a daze.

"Your Highness...?"

Chao Lu paused in the act of taking off his shoes, and his back stiffened.

"Um."

"What time is it?"

When Ruan Yu saw the man sitting on the edge of the bed, she thought it was dawn and instinctively tried to get up.

"It's still early, it's past midnight."

As he spoke, Chaolu lay down, resting one hand behind his head.

Ruan Yu was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening. She gave a soft "oh" and lay down again.

But damn it, once she lay down, she couldn't fall asleep at all.

Chao Lu, on the other hand, had slept for most of the afternoon and was even more awake now than he was in the morning.

But you still have to pretend you're asleep and stay completely still.

Torture, it was pure torture.

Ruan Yu also felt a little uncomfortable. She was sleeping soundly by herself, but as soon as the man came back, most of the space next to her was taken up... She could only keep quietly moving inwards. One of them was lying on the outside, sprawled out, while the other was pitifully huddled in a corner.

Suddenly, Ruan Yu felt a bit cold and couldn't help but sneeze.

This is not her fault; the two slept under separate blankets on their wedding night.

Of course, the servants wouldn't prepare two quilts, so Ruan Yu was covered with a mattress, while a slightly thicker cotton quilt was placed on Chao Lu.

She sneezed, and Chaolu opened his eyes.

Are you cold?

The man was a little surprised, and only then did he notice the thin layer on her body.

Chao Lu frowned: "Why didn't you ask someone to fetch a thick quilt?!"

Ruan Yu felt a little wronged. She had originally planned to have Xuan Niang prepare it secretly, but she had been busy these past two days and forgot. Who knew that a sudden gust of wind would rise tonight.

Chaolu suddenly sat up and shoved the bedding he was wearing onto her, his movements somewhat rough.

He was panting heavily: "What are you doing? Anyone who didn't know better would think I'd wronged you!"

"No...it was my oversight, and besides, this mattress was quite warm the past two days..."

Chaolu was a little annoyed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. So he got up to calm himself down, but Ruan Yu suddenly called him back.

"Where is Your Highness going?"

Chao Lu turned and glanced at her, raising an eyebrow: "What?"

Ruan Yu bit his lip. One can only do it once, twice, but not a third time. If people find out that he left his tent again tonight, he will really lose his position as Si Ke Dun.

Although they were a couple who valued appearances, she didn't want anyone to laugh at them.

So Ruan Yu bit her lip and said, "The reason I didn't let the maids bring another quilt is because I don't want everyone to know that we..."

Your Highness, I know you don't like me much, but for the sake of your reputation, could you please put on a show in front of others...? You went out on our wedding night, and if you go out again today, I really won't be able to face anyone..."

This was the first time Chaolu had heard her say so much.

He finally understood why he had been feeling annoyed.

I feel I did something wrong, but I won't admit it. I also feel I've wronged her, but I don't know how to respond...

After a moment's thought, Chao Lu went back to bed and lay down.

"Go to sleep. Give me the thin mattress, and you can use the thick blanket."

Ruan Yu bit her lip and looked at him: "Thank you, Your Highness..."

The tent fell silent again, but after a while, the man slowly spoke again.

Don't worry, no one will laugh at you.

Ruan Yu had already achieved her goal for the night, and now that it was warm and she was feeling sleepy, she didn't take his words to heart at all.

He simply gave a perfunctory "Thank you, Your Highness..."

Chaolu still couldn't sleep, staring at the top of the tent, lost in thought.

A note from the author:

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[Shrugs][Shrugs][Shrugs][Shrugs]