Chapter 48
When Shen Ah Heng regained consciousness, he first smelled a light warm fragrance, mixed with the scent of dried herbs, which was soft and reassuring.
She slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on a wooden bed covered with a soft velvet blanket and a thin quilt embroidered with cloud patterns.
Looking around, they saw several brightly colored tapestries from the Western Regions hanging on the walls, woven with grape vines and flying birds. They were not as cold as the furnishings they had seen in Qushuzhi's palace. There was also a small wooden table by the window, on which was a coarse pottery vase with two fresh sea buckthorn branches in it.
Even the hanging lamps on the ceiling were wrapped in a layer of gauze, filling the room with warm light without any sense of oppression.
The house is not big, but it is warm everywhere.
Where...is this place?
As Shen Ah Heng was propping himself up and looking around, there was a sudden sound at the door.
A girl in a light green Western maid's uniform came in carrying a silver tray. Her hair was adorned with small silver ornaments that rustled slightly when she walked.
Seeing Shen Aheng wake up, she first smiled and spoke a string of crisp Western dialect. Seeing Shen Aheng's dazed expression, she suddenly reacted and quickly switched to the very awkward Central Plains dialect, stumbling and saying: "Miss...are you awake? Are you hungry? Eat something first to fill your stomach."
Shen Ah Heng had no intention of eating. He hurriedly lifted the quilt and sat up, grabbing the maid's wrist and asking, "Where is this place? Where is the old man who brought me here? And... and the young man who was with me... where is he?"
The maid was stunned for a moment, tilting her head to ponder for a moment, before she finally understood what Shen Aheng said. Then she smiled shyly and explained slowly in awkward Central dialect: "Miss, are you talking about...our prince? He is fine, he is recuperating next door, his life is definitely safe, Miss, don't worry too much."
As she spoke, she placed the tray on the small table beside the bed and pointed to the naan and goat milk soup inside. "Miss, eat something first. The imperial physician said you were frightened earlier. Rest well. When the prince wakes up, you can go see him."
Shen Aheng listened and couldn't help but be stunned, his voice full of surprise: "Prince? You mean...Ayu is your...Prince?"
The maid nodded vigorously, her eyes dancing with joy as she slowly explained in her awkward Central Plains dialect, "That's right! Not long after our prince was born, he was stolen and lost by bad guys. His Majesty and the Queen have been searching day and night for years, their hair has turned a lot white, and they finally found a clue recently. This time, His Majesty brought the girl and the prince back together, hoping that the prince would recognize his ancestral home!"
Shen Ah Heng was even more confused, his tone full of bewilderment: "Your Majesty? Who is Your Majesty?"
The maid's eyes lit up, her face filled with joy. She said in her clumsy Central Plains dialect, "Your Majesty is Your Majesty! You are the prince's father, the most honorable person in the entire Yuezhi Kingdom!"
Looking at the maid's excited look, Shen Ah Heng knew that it would be difficult to explain it if he asked further, so he smiled helplessly and did not continue the topic.
After the maid left with the empty tray, Shen Aheng's heart, which had been hanging for a long time, finally fell to the ground. As long as Ashina Yu's life was not in danger, the rest of the things would be figured out slowly.
Just then, she heard a slight rumbling sound from her stomach, and she remembered that she had not eaten anything since yesterday.
Shen Ah Heng picked up the naan on the small table and took a bite. The crust was crispy and there was a faint sesame fragrance inside. He scooped another spoonful of milk soup. The warm taste slid across his throat, and the warmth instantly spread to all parts of his body.
After dinner, Shen Aheng lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He was always thinking about Ashina Yu. He couldn't wait for others to inform him of the news, so he simply got up and thought about going out to look for her and get some fresh air.
But the terrain of this place was even more complicated than she had imagined. After walking around several times, she still couldn't figure out the direction.
It was not until he walked into a small garden full of flowers from the Western Regions that Shen Ah Heng realized that he seemed to be lost.
Just as she was about to turn back in frustration, a gentle male voice suddenly came from behind her: "Little girl, what are you looking for?"
Shen Ah Heng turned around suddenly, and saw a middle-aged man wearing luxurious Western clothing standing not far away. The fabric was embroidered with exquisite dark patterns, and his temperament was gentle and calm.
Behind him followed two attendants, both wearing the same black shorts, standing on either side with their hands hanging down and their heads bowed respectfully.
Seeing the man's eyebrows and eyes, there was an indescribable familiarity. Shen Ah Heng was stunned for a moment and asked tentatively: "You are..."
The man looked at her bewildered expression and couldn't help but smile. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I just rescued you from the stone platform yesterday, and you don't recognize me today?"
This sentence was like a thunder, Shen Ah Heng's eyes widened instantly, and his voice trembled a little: "You...you are the old servant from yesterday?"
"Exactly."
Shen Ah Heng looked at him in luxurious clothes and with a calm demeanor, and he could not connect him with the old servant who always had disheveled hair, hunched back, and was timid.
The man seemed to see through her thoughts and explained with a smile, "My son was kidnapped shortly after he was born. The Queen and I have been searching for him for years. Recently, we found out that he might be in the Yaochen Sect of Wulun Country, so we disguised ourselves as an old servant and went in to get information."
"When I heard you were coming that day, I wanted to take the opportunity to find out, but I didn't expect to be discovered by the guards outside. Luckily, you rescued me."
There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone when he said the last sentence.
Shen Aheng's cheeks flushed instantly: "I just helped casually... and... and your own kung fu is so good, even if I don't take action, you can solve it yourself, right?"
The man smiled upon hearing this, his eyes gentle. "If you hadn't been protecting my son, I might not have found him so quickly. I should thank you very much."
When Shen Aheng heard this, he became even more panicked and waved his hands quickly: “I, I really didn’t know he was your son…” The rest of the words were stuck in his throat and he couldn’t say them. His heart was in a mess and he didn’t dare to speak again.
Three years ago, if she had known that Ashina Yu was a young prince who had been exiled to the countryside, she would never have dared to yell at him like a little snail to help pick herbs, cook, clean the house, and even enslave and bully him... She was simply too audacious...
Seeing her hands trembling with nervousness, the man couldn't help but soften his tone, smiling and waving his hands: "Don't always address me as 'you, you, you'. It's so formal. My name is Ashina Lan. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle."
Shen Aheng was stunned for a moment before he realized that he was trying to ease his embarrassment. He quickly calmed down and called out respectfully, “Uncle.”
Ashina Lan nodded with satisfaction and was about to say, "I'll take you back first and let the Queen see you," when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him. A man in guard uniform hurried over, knelt on one knee to salute, and then quickly reported a few words in the Western dialect.
Ashina Lan listened, frowned slightly, then shook his head helplessly, laughed softly, and replied a few words.
Shen Aheng didn’t understand their conversation, so she just stood aside and watched blankly, until the man turned his head, with a little helplessness in his eyes, but also a little smile hidden, and said to her: “Ayu is awake, and she has been looking for you everywhere as soon as she opened her eyes. Let’s go over and see now?”
When Shen Ah Heng met the smile in his eyes, his cheeks instantly became hot again, and he stuttered in response: "Okay, okay."
Led by a servant, the group came to a house. The door curtain was gently lifted, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out from inside.
Ashina Lan stepped aside to let her in first. When Shen Ah Heng looked up, he saw Ashina Yu half leaning against the headboard covered with soft pillows, covered with a thin light green quilt, and her wrists exposed were so thin that they seemed to break if bent.
His face was almost transparently pale, his lips were also light in color, and a few strands of hair hung in front of his forehead, hiding the emotions in his eyes. His clear-cut jawline was taut, revealing a sense of aloofness and coldness.
Perhaps because he had just woken up, his breathing was still a little shallow. When he lowered his eyes, his eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes, which had a kind of fragile beauty.
During those three years, he was used to giving orders in the Yaochen Sect. Even though he was sitting there without saying a word, the cold aura around him that he had cultivated in the Yaochen Sect still made people feel a little intimidated.
Several doctors standing nearby, still holding medicine bowls in their hands, were trembling with fear and dared not approach him. They were obviously intimidated by his aura.
When the doctors saw the emperor coming in, they quickly put down their medicine bowls and bowed.
Ashina Lan turned to look at Shen Aheng, with a mischievous smile in his eyes, and raised his chin towards the head of the bed: "Go over there, this kid woke up and didn't see you, he must have been angry for a while."
Ashina Yu raised her eyes and saw Shen Aheng. The cold aura around her instantly dissipated like a popped bubble. She supported herself on the head of the bed and wanted to get up, but as soon as she exerted force on her hand, Shen Aheng quickly went up and pressed it back.
"Don't move, don't move, your wound hasn't healed yet!"
Ashina Yu immediately stopped what he was doing. He no longer had the aloofness he had shown towards the group of doctors. He opened his clear eyes and fixed his gaze on her, from the tips of her hair to the corners of her clothes. Then he reached out his hand and gently grasped her wrist with his pale fingertips.
His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the skin on the inside of her wrist. The movement was very light, with a bit of unconscious attachment, as if he was afraid that she would leave in the next second.
After confirming that she was not injured, he pursed his lips, softening his tone and speaking with a hint of grievance: "Where have you been? I didn't see you when I woke up."
In front of so many people, Shen Aheng was embarrassed to say too much. His cheeks were a little hot under his unblinking gaze. He quickly withdrew his hand and explained: "I was just strolling around here and met Uncle, your father. I just talked to him for a few words. When I heard that you woke up, I hurried over."
Ashina Yu turned her head following Shen Aheng's gaze and met the gaze of the man in front of her. Her originally cold and indifferent expression became a little more awkward.
Maybe he had heard it a long time ago, but it was still a little awkward when father and son met for the first time.
Seeing this, Ashina Lan couldn't help but chuckle, and softened his voice: "The poison powder on your body has been cleared away. The old poison that accumulated before needs to be slowly treated. I have asked someone to invite the best doctor in the Western Regions. Later..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Ashina Yu. He lowered his eyelashes and spoke with a hint of uncertainty and hesitation: "Are you... really my father?"
Upon hearing this, Ashina Lan reached out and gently patted his shoulder, his eyes full of smiles: "Why, look at yourself, don't we father and son look alike enough?"
As he spoke, he turned his head and pointed at the outline of his eyebrows.
Anyone can see that the contours of their eyebrows and eyes are almost identical.
Ashina Yu looked up for a few seconds, then lowered her eyelashes, and gently crossed her side and grabbed Shen Aheng's wrist again, her fingertips gently clenching it, and no emotion could be heard in her tone: "I know."
At the dinner party.
The candlelight was warm, and Shen Aheng saw Ashina Yu's mother for the first time.
She was wearing a simple and elegant long dress, with gentle eyes and a quiet temperament. The contours of her facial features were very soft, without the deep features that are common among people from the Western Regions. She looked particularly friendly.
But her face was slightly pale, and there was a hint of illness between her eyebrows.
Ashina Lan noticed Shen Aheng's gaze and explained softly, his tone full of heartache: "Ayu's mother is from the Central Plains. Not long after she returned to the Western Regions with me, Ayu was stolen away. Over the years, she has been missing her homeland and looking for her child everywhere. She has been exhausted and has developed a heart disease. She has been taking medicine all the time."
Qiao Wanqing smiled when she heard this. Perhaps it was because the joy of finding her son washed away the depression that had accumulated in her heart for many years. Her originally pale face now had a little more color, and she even looked much better.
Her eyes fell on Shen Ah Heng, full of gratitude: "I have to thank you for taking in the seriously injured Ah Yu. We were able to see him again. Otherwise... I don't know how much longer we would have to wait."
When Shen Ah Heng heard this, she felt a little uneasy. If the parents knew that when she first brought their precious prince home, she always treated him like a "little snail" and asked him to help pick herbs, take care of the medicine garden, and feed chickens and rabbits, would they be so angry that they would throw her in jail?
Shen Ah Heng laughed dryly: "You are too polite, I just happened to... Or maybe the prince himself is blessed with great fortune and luck, and everything can turn bad luck into good luck!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Aheng couldn't help but look at Ashina Yu, but he didn't expect that he was also looking at him with a smile in his eyes.
The next second, I suddenly felt a warm touch under the tablecloth.
Ashina Yu quietly reached out and gently held her wrist, and his fingertips gently pinched her palm, as if to comfort her, and with a little pride.
Shen Aheng was so frightened that her whole body froze, and she subconsciously wanted to pull her hand out, but Ashina Yu's fingers quietly retracted and held her more firmly, leaving her no room to break free.
What's wrong with this guy?
Shen Ah Heng was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead. She was afraid that the two people opposite her would find out. She had no place to put her old face. She didn't dare to make any big movements and had to stand there stiffly, letting his warm fingers tightly grasp her wrist. Even her ears turned red.
After dinner, the group was about to return to their chambers when a guard, sword in hand, hurried over. Without even stopping, he reported, "Your Majesty! The Wu and Wulun kingdoms have suddenly sent a detachment of elite soldiers to the city gates, demanding to see you. They're armed and look like they're here to bring you justice!"
Ashina Lan's expression froze, and he immediately turned to them and said in a deep voice, "You all go back to your bedroom first and stay here. Don't go out. I'll go check on the situation."
As soon as the words fell, Qiao Wanqing took a step forward and said firmly: "I will go with you."
Ashina Lan frowned, but seeing her stubborn look, he finally nodded helplessly.
Qiao Wanqing turned around and called the guards to give them a few instructions. Then she quickly walked over to Ashina Yu, took his arm and warned him, "Ah Yu, take good care of yourself and Ah Heng. Your mother and your father will go check on them."
After saying this, he hurriedly left with Ashina Lan.
The noise from the tower was faintly heard. Shen Aheng subconsciously clenched Ashina Yu's sleeves with his fingertips, and his voice trembled: "What is the Wulun Kingdom trying to do? Are they... going to attack the city?"
If her two elders and millions of lives here were to suffer because of them, she would never be able to forgive herself.
Just as Shen Aheng's fingertips clenched Ashina Yu's sleeves, he was held tighter by his backhand, his knuckles slightly white, with a bit of soothing force.
Ashina Yu reached out and gently wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips. His tone was very gentle, and he added softly: "Don't be afraid. Attacking the city is not that easy. Besides, I'm here with you. I'll accompany you. Together we can help my father solve the problem. Nothing will happen to anyone."
The other side.
When Ashina Lan and Qiao Wanqing arrived at the city gate, they saw a large number of elite soldiers lined up below the city. Teams of armor were shining with a cold light, and their momentum was so stern that even the air was tense.
Ashina Lan stood still on the top of the city wall, took a deep breath, and asked loudly, "The Ulun Kingdom sent troops to the gates of our Yuezhi Kingdom late at night. With so much armor and armor, I am somewhat confused. Since you have come from afar, why not tell me clearly what is going on?"
A leading general at the foot of the city sat on a sturdy horse, slowly twirling his whip and speaking arrogantly, "Two people from our country are missing. I heard they fled to your place, so our emperor has specially ordered us to come and retrieve them."
Ashina Lan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? I didn't know there was such a thing. Since you're here to ask for someone, you should at least tell me clearly who you're looking for, right?"
The military advisor raised his eyes and glanced at the top of the city wall, and said word by word: "They are Master Lingchi of your Yaochen Sect, and a girl from the Central Plains named Chen."
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