"oh?"

Jiang Ming laughed and said, "Tell me, how is it not simple?"

Murong Xue said, "Actually, the grasslands and water sources are just excuses. What they really want to fight for is you!"

"It's me?"

"Um!"

Murong Xue said, "The grasslands north of Yanshan are not fertile at all, and the water resources are limited. They are far less fertile than the grasslands near the Yi River and the old Xiongnu camp. However, Dugu Yan and Changsun Yuenu both want to set up camp here, mainly because... they know that you are a Gan person and still have a certain foundation and influence in Yan. They certainly do not want to live deep in the grasslands..."

Imagine this...

Murong Xue paused for a moment and continued, "Whoever occupies this grassland of Yanshan will be closer to you, and will have more opportunities to bear children with you. In this way... their status will be higher in the future... Husband, two tigers cannot share one mountain. These two principal consorts will definitely be jealous of each other!"

"Oh...hehe!"

Jiang Ming smiled faintly, not responding to her words, but instead asked, "Just now... I was resolving the battle between the two armies, why didn't you come? You were hiding inside the camp... You should have known I was back!"

"Yes! I know..."

Murong Xue nodded guiltily, tears streaming down her face again.

“I wanted to go out, but… Uncle Tuoba Ren told me not to go out, because going out would only escalate the conflict… Husband, I’m so useless!” Murong Xue sobbed.

"Oh? Tuoba Ren, how is his injury? Is he much better?" Jiang Ming asked.

"Um!"

Murong Xue nodded: "Although he still has some difficulty moving around, he's much better now. Before you came back, the two tribes were on the verge of war and almost came to blows... It was Tuoba Ren, supported by his servants, who came to the front lines and strongly persuaded Dugu Yan and Changsun Yuenu not to fight, but to buy time by 'duels'... He also wrote me a secret letter, telling me not to show myself and to stay in the camp. Everything... should be discussed after the Khan returns! Otherwise, I'll just be a hindrance, making things worse..."

"Hmm, that makes sense!" Jiang Ming nodded thoughtfully.

"My husband, what are you planning to do tonight...?"

Murong Xue asked worriedly, "You have to choose one of these two chief consorts, but no matter which one you choose to sleep with, you'll offend the other..."

"joke!"

Jiang Ming said speechlessly, "Why do I have to sleep with them? Can't I sleep with you instead?"

"no......"

Murong Xue pursed her lips sadly: "Aunt Dugu already dislikes me a lot... If I stay with you tonight, she'll definitely worry that I'll whisper in your ear, I'm afraid... I'm afraid of her..."

"Okay, I got it!"

Jiang Ming frowned and fell into deep thought...

The hierarchical relationships among these grassland tribes, as well as the alliances between them, are incredibly fragmented!

My current situation, while not as tragic as that of the Great Qian Emperor, is pretty much the same...

The feudal lords below call you "father" on the surface, but in reality, they all do their own thing and only care about decorating their own homes.

Murong Xue's so-called Xianbei princess seems to be just like the Daqian princess—powerful in name only.

This was back when Dugu Yan and Changsun Yuenu were both women.

If they were men, they would be even more difficult to control...

"So, what if I don't want to spend the night with anyone?" Jiang Ming asked meaningfully.

"My husband..."

Murong Xue said, "That's certainly a compromise, but what about tomorrow? The day after? You don't have a foothold between the two tribes right now. You need to find one to establish yourself with quickly. It's unrealistic to think you can immediately unite them as one..."

I understand what you mean...

"I think... how about it?"

Murong Xue suggested, "You could talk to them separately. You could try to appease one of them first, like... appease my aunt first. She's not as stubborn. Let her sleep with Dugu Yan tonight... and then talk to my aunt tomorrow. You have to do it one at a time..."

"Can't we have both together?"

"This...I've never heard of it..."

"Ahem! I was just joking..." Jiang Ming said with a wry smile.

He was thinking to himself, "What the hell haven't I heard of?"

When I raided the Xiongnu camp, wasn't that fat guy in the royal tent sleeping with two women every night?

However, considering that Dugu Yan and Changsun Yuenu were both imperial concubines, not ordinary maids... he dared not treat them so disrespectfully.

"My dear husband, please be patient when you try to persuade my aunt. Although she's not that stubborn, she still..."

Murong Xue awkwardly reminded her, "She's a bit petty and pays a lot of attention to detail..."

"Alright, I got it! You should get some rest... Hey? By the way! Where's Ah Lie?" Jiang Ming asked.

Murong Xue replied, "He returned with my father this morning... Now that the Xiongnu have been destroyed, my father may send him to lead troops to deal with the Guifang tribes that harass us in the east. Alie has made great contributions this time, and my father relies on him very much..."

"Alright! Go to sleep now. Those two concubines have been waiting for me outside for quite some time..."

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