Chapter 46 (Bonus Chapter) First Release on Jinjiang Literature City 046 "Choose one, I'll raise it..."
Chao Lu quickly boarded the carriage, and as soon as he entered, the spacious carriage immediately felt a little cramped. Moreover, he insisted on sitting very close to Ruan Yu, who felt a surge of heat and suddenly felt a little regretful.
"Move over a little..." Ruan Yu moved over and lifted her skirt.
Chaolu seemed somewhat displeased, "This place is only so big, it can only be next to you."
Ruan Yu didn't argue with him about it, but instead closed the window. Chao Lu saw this and his expression gradually became strange.
"I want to ask you, back then... you went to another tribe for three years? Do you remember why that happened?"
Chao Lu was taken aback.
He seemed surprised that she would ask that question.
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Ruan Yu: "I know it might have awakened some unpleasant memories, but I really do want to know... because I talked a lot about the past with my mother today and learned some things..."
Chao Lu responded with an "oh".
“Yes, I went. I visited three tribes and stayed in each for a year.” Chaolu spoke of this in a nonchalant tone, but his expression clearly showed his displeasure. Ruan Yu didn’t dare to ask him what exactly happened during those three years, but only asked, “Why? What happened?”
Chaolu: "My father Khan needed to win over some tribes at that time, and this was a tradition of every Khan. The Taiji went there, firstly to stabilize people's hearts, and secondly to give the other side a handle to use against him. I was of the right age, so I went."
Give the other party a handle to use against them.
Ruan Yu gasped.
There was a moment of silence.
Chao Lu smiled, then suddenly reached out and picked her up, placing her on his lap.
Ruan Yu was startled—
"you!"
Chao Lu: "You asked first, so why are you suddenly upset?"
Ruan Yu: "Who's upset? Don't try to make yourself look good."
She denied it, but Chaolu wasn't angry. "Fine, I'll take it as you being sad for me."
Ruan Yu's expression relaxed. She was indeed quite sad. The Khan had many sons, but each son was like a pawn he sent out, each with their own purpose. They were even soldiers who had to charge into battle when the time was right.
Chao Lu held her in his arms, and Ruan Yu sat on his lap. He was dressed in thin clothes, and the part of his thigh that was in contact with her gradually became hot. The man's large hands also went around her waist and moved intermittently.
"What did your mother say to you just now? Why did you suddenly think of asking this?"
Ruan Yu had been thinking about Madam Qiu's words, and when Chao Lu asked her this question, she didn't notice Chao Lu's little gesture: "It's nothing, I just found out about my fifth and sixth brothers... I have a lot of thoughts on this."
Chao Lu was about to succeed when he heard what she said, and he stopped.
"Did Mother tell you about your fifth brother?"
Ruan Yu: "Hmm..."
Chao Lu slowly withdrew his hand, and only then did Ruan Yu notice. She stared in astonishment as she looked down, her cheeks instantly turning red.
Chao Lu frowned and straightened her clothes.
“You don’t need to worry about what’s going on outside. I’m not a teenager anymore. I’m capable of protecting you. I’ll take revenge myself this time.” After saying that, Chao Lu leaned in and kissed her cheek.
He always does this when we're talking about serious matters. Ruan Yu's cheeks flushed, and she didn't want to talk to him anymore.
"Your Highness, we will arrive in Haling in half an hour." Yang Chong's voice suddenly came in, and Ruan Yu was taken aback.
"Are we going to Haryan again?"
She knew she would pass through the Haryan tribe on her way back from the autumn hunt, but given the current relationship between Chaha and Haryan…
Chao Lu suddenly sneered: "Since we've passed by, we should at least meet up with some old acquaintances. The group won't stop, so you should get some rest tonight. I'll catch up with you."
Before getting off the carriage, Chao Lu stroked Ruan Yu's cheek again, and the next moment, Chao Lu got off the carriage.
Ruan Yu wasn't too worried; that scoundrel Cha Su couldn't do anything to Chao Lu.
-
The sky was getting dark.
A scream suddenly came from inside one of the tents of the Haryan tribe—
It's Chasu.
After being stripped of his title as heir apparent, he was essentially a homeless dog, and could only sit in a wheelchair all day long, no different from a useless person.
Chao Lu stood in the darkness, his eyes revealing a hint of murderous intent.
Hass grabbed Chasu's arm, nearly breaking it: "Tell me, did you do it?!"
Veins and beads of sweat bulged on Chasu's forehead. He looked at Chaolu with pain in his eyes, hatred mixed with helplessness...
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Has: "The people who recently followed Your Highness to Liangzhou! Weren't they sent by you?! Speak!"
Chasu paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Me? Chaolu, you made me lose my position as heir apparent, and now I can only eke out a living like a cripple... Hahaha, I wish it were me..."
Chao Lu looked at the person as if he were staring at an ant.
A moment later, he slowly stepped forward from the darkness—
"Actually, I guessed it couldn't be you. You really don't have the ability anymore, but I'm here today to make things difficult for you..."
Chasu suddenly looked up, his face contorted with a dying rage: "You bastard...! You..."
"Aaaaaah!" Has suddenly exerted force, and Chasu's arm broke off.
His pitiful backbone vanished instantly.
"Chaolu... I was wrong, Fourth Prince, please forgive me... Please remember that I was still Buhe's father..."
“Father?” Chaolu interrupted him. “Buhe would only feel ashamed to have a father like you.”
Chasu was speechless for a moment, staring at the person in front of him in horror.
Chao Lu turned away with disdain. "I can indeed give you a way out, but you have to do something for me. If you're not willing to do it, you can refuse."
With his lifeline in his grasp, Chasu was utterly powerless to fight back.
"I do, I do..."
Chaolu glanced at Has, and Has nodded.
...
As expected, the Khan did not stop at Haryan that night, nor did the caravan stop. After nightfall, Ruan Yu fell asleep in the swaying but stable carriage.
As she drifted off to sleep, she suddenly felt a chill, followed by a wet sensation on her face...
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw that Chaolu had returned and was leaning down next to her...
Ruan Yu was stunned for a moment, then pushed the person away.
Chao Lu sat up as well. He had washed somewhere, and his body was still cool and damp.
"You're back...?"
Chaolu seemed to be in a good mood and hummed in agreement.
"We'll be passing through Yunqi Town early tomorrow morning. You didn't have enough fun in Liangzhou City, so how about I take you there for a look around?"
Ruan Yu was taken aback. "Is that alright?"
Chao Lu: "Of course, we can just stroll around for half a day, and I'll take you back on horseback in the afternoon."
Ruan Yu pursed her lips and softly said okay.
Chaolu leaned forward again and kissed her cheek.
"I really didn't mean what happened in Liangzhou."
He felt annoyed whenever he saw that person standing next to her.
The thought that the two of them might have almost gotten engaged in the past made her feel strangely jealous.
Ruan Yu lowered her eyes: "I know, there's no need to say anything more..."
Chao Lu smiled and patted her head: "Go to sleep."
-
The next morning, the team returned to the territory of the Chaha tribe.
At this point, there were only ten days left until the White Festival.
The White Festival is the Spring Festival on the grasslands. The festivities last from before the New Year until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The grasslands have long winters, and the White Festival symbolizes the melting of ice and snow and the growth of pasture. Everyone prays for abundant water and grass and thriving livestock in the new year. At this time, Yunqi Town is also bustling with activity, with many people going to the market to buy New Year's goods.
The carriages could no longer make it in; we had to walk.
Chaolu pulled Ruanyu along, with Afu, Qingguo, and the others following behind.
The two changed into ordinary clothes, and looked like an ordinary couple.
Chaolu was more familiar with this place, so he put aside everything else to accompany Ruan Yu shopping. Haila and Buhe did not come because Haila had to go back with Madam Qiu to prepare for the festival customs.
In Mongolian culture, white symbolizes purity, auspiciousness, and sanctity. During festivals, people eat "white foods," such as milk tofu, cheese, milk wine, and milk tea, which are commonly found everywhere.
Besides these, there was also hand-pulled mutton and fried dough sticks on the street. Chao Lu bought whatever he saw and then handed it to Ruan Yu to try.
"That's too much..." Ruan Yu advised him, seeing that he couldn't stop buying.
Chao Lu: "Not much! You take a bite and try it, give me the rest, you've never eaten any of these before!"
That's true...
Anyway, he was a big eater, so Ruan Yu felt relieved. She tried several kinds and really liked one particular cheese.
Seeing that she liked it, Chaolu bought the entire stall.
"This can be stored. It's cold in winter, so you can eat it slowly."
Ruan Yu smiled helplessly.
As we strolled around, we suddenly arrived at the silver shop that Chao Lu had visited before.
Chao Lu glanced at the jade hairpin on Ruan Yu's head and curled his lips into a smile: "Would you like to go inside and have a look?"
Ruan Yu nodded: "Okay."
So Chaolu led his men inside. Baoli had been very busy lately, business was booming, but when Chaolu came in, the first thing he looked at was...
A lightbulb went off in my head!
"temple--"
Before he could finish speaking, Bao Li, with his keen eye, noticed their attire and stopped talking. However, he still pushed aside the guests beside him and stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Honored guests, honored guests."
Ruan Yu glanced at Chao Lu, "You've been here before?"
Bao Li noticed Ruan Yu, and his eyes were filled with amazement!
"This must be the lady."
Chao Lu raised his chin.
Bao Li smiled as brightly as a flower: "Madam, please come upstairs. We've received many new styles recently, and I was originally planning to take some time to deliver them to His Highness!"
Ruan Yu finally realized that Chao Lu had been here before, and the jade hairpin in her hair must have been bought here.
She glanced at Chao Lu, who smiled and said, "Choose."
Ruan Yu smiled and followed Bao Li upstairs to the second floor.
With just the three of them, Bao Li started talking: "The Khatun is truly beautiful and charming. I'll bring out my best goods right away!"
As he spoke, he turned and went to a locked cabinet, and soon returned with several of the most ornate boxes.
“Please take a look, Lord.”
Ruan Yu looked over at each of them.
"This is a rose-shaped gemstone, a tribute from the Western Regions, set in a pure gold pendant. It's quite exquisite—"
And this one, it's a snake totem from the grasslands, very grand, but I don't know if the Khatun would like it.
Chaolu's gaze lingered on the snake; it was a lifelike serpentine pendant adorned with rubies. The snake motif was a traditional totem of the grasslands, but he figured she'd be afraid…
Unexpectedly, Ruan Yu picked up the same thing.
Chao Lu was stunned.
"This is exquisite and very special."
Bao Li smiled broadly: "Yes, this is a high-quality piece of craftsmanship. There's also a matching bracelet. I'll bring it over for you to see!"
Ruan Yu wasn't particularly interested in these ornaments, but having grown accustomed to floral and dragon-phoenix decorations in Chang'an, she was quite taken with them when she first saw something like this.
Chao Lu raised his lips: "Let's settle on this one first."
Ruan Yu was startled, while Bao Li was overjoyed: "Do you want them all? Including the bracelet."
"Yes, it includes."
Ruan Yu tugged at his sleeve: "Don't be impulsive..."
Chao Lu took her hand in his and said, "Choose one, I can support you."
To be honest, Ruan Yu didn't know exactly how much money Chao Lu had, but since he had said so, Ruan Yu didn't intend to be polite with him.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Chaolu was very proud of himself and immediately told Afu to pay the bill.
Ruan Yu was indeed very happy; what girl wouldn't like these things?
But after they left the jewelry store, Afu suddenly stepped forward and quietly tugged at Chaolu's sleeve—
"Your Highness... we don't have much cash left after buying this set of jewelry..."
Chao Lu was taken aback. "What did you say?"
Impossible! This is impossible!
Afu said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, you used to spend very little money and didn't keep track of expenses, but ever since you married the Khatun, there have been huge expenditures. The First Prince and the Second Prince both have their own businesses, are you going to...?"
Ruan Yu suddenly turned around and looked at him: "Husband, what's wrong?"
Chao Lu immediately glared at Afu: "It's nothing, Afu was talking about New Year's goods."
Ruan Yu had no suspicions.
Chao Lu lowered his voice: "Watch your mouth, don't let anything slip! I'll figure something out."
Ah Fu sighed.
"Yes, Your Highness. But supporting a family isn't easy, you'll have to be careful!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: One second ago, the big dog was saying: Pick! Buy!
The big dog went back home: counting money, doing accounts, sighing... He never thought he had too little money before, but now he has to start earning money for his wife.
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