Chapter 82, first published on Jinjiang (2nd update) "Great Khan, this king..."
Amidst Chao Lu's astonished gaze, King Chen smiled and slowly descended the mountain, his subordinate reporting—
"Your Highness, there are ambushes by the Chahar within a hundred li of Hurile."
Chen Wang was not surprised at all: "Well, let's go down the mountain and see our old friends."
Chao Lu was stunned for a moment and immediately followed, but was stopped by the surrounding guards who drew their guns.
Without turning his head, King Chen said, "Chao Lu, take a good rest. Tonight, you'll be able to return to the grasslands."
In the valley.
Hurile stood still, coldly watching the person who emerged from the jungle. Compared to him, Chen Wang, sitting in a wheelchair, looked exactly like a frail scholar.
The two were less than ten feet apart. Hurile glanced at him, his expression complicated: "I heard that you have raised an army and headed to the Central Plains. Prince Chen is indeed not to be underestimated."
Chen Wang smiled faintly: "It's been more than twenty years since we last met. The Great Khan still retains his former glory."
Hurile had no time for pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Where is my son? What brings you to see me, Khan?"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, there is no problem with Chaolu. I hit it off immediately and we get along quite well."
Hurile's expression changed slightly.
When Chen Wang saw this, he smiled calmly again: "The Aohan tribe's attack this time was only about five thousand people, yet it was enough to send three Taijis from the Chaha tribe to fight, and one of them even fell off a cliff and was saved by me. How come the strength of the grasslands has been declining day by day during the more than twenty years of the Great Khan's rule?"
Hurile scoffed coldly.
"You came here just to say this? Chen Wang's army is indeed powerful, but it's not like he would travel thousands of miles just to see me make a fool of myself, is it?"
"It was just a joke between old friends, why did you take it so seriously, Khan? I have come here for a reason."
Hurile: "Speak if you have something to say."
King Chen: "Looking for someone."
Hurile stared at him intently, his eyes flashing with hostility in an instant.
Chen Wang's eyes also darkened, but the change was fleeting.
"What's the rush, Daddy?"
Hurile: "Looking for someone? What a joke! His Highness Prince Chen has been living in seclusion in Youzhou for over twenty years. What kind of person could he possibly be looking for on the grasslands? Your Highness has probably forgotten that we grassland people are xenophobic. But if you want to take someone away from the grasslands, it's not that simple..."
King Chen chuckled: "Great Khan, the person I am looking for has nothing to do with you."
Hurile's eyes flickered slightly.
"Of course, finding the missing person is one of my purposes. Another is to discuss cooperation with the Chaha tribe."
"cooperate?"
"With my army raised, Chang'an is within my grasp. Doesn't the Chaha tribe consider how the two tribes will coexist if the throne changes hands?"
Hurile: "You're quite confident, but we haven't even taken it yet."
"The Great Khan is truly oblivious to what's going on around him. Even the Fourth Prince has said that our army will surely win within three months. Great Khan, if you are getting old, you should perhaps step down."
Hurile's forehead throbbed with anger. The Chaha tribe, unable to tolerate Chen Wang's arrogance, secretly raised an army.
Suddenly, tensions rose between the two sides.
Just then, Chaolu suddenly rode in on horseback: "Father Khan!"
Prince Chen turned around in surprise, and his guards caught up with him, their expressions not very pleasant.
"Chaolu!" Hurile was furious and immediately prepared to step forward, but Chaolu shouted, "Father Khan, there are traitors in the army. We must go back and investigate this matter carefully. Aohan has not yet withdrawn. If... Prince Chen really wants to befriend Chaha, it would be better to show some sincerity first. We can discuss it in detail after we have completely defeated Aohan."
King Chen curled his lips: "Khan, the student surpasses the master. The four Taijis are much more rational than you. I am sincerely discussing this with you, but I don't know if the Great Khan welcomes it?"
Chaolu looked at Hurile, and after a moment Hurile smiled: "Your Highness Prince Chen has come from afar, how could we not welcome you? Since Your Highness is willing to befriend the Chaha tribe, you are naturally an honored guest of our Chaha."
King Chen said, “Since the Khan says so, let’s sit down and have a detailed discussion. Aohan only has two thousand cavalrymen left, two days will be enough.”
Hurile lowered his eyes: "Then I really thank you, Your Highness. Chaha invites you in."
...
The Great Khan and His Highness Prince Chen cooperated to repel Aohan!
The news greatly boosted morale in the army!
Many ministers breathed a sigh of relief: "Heaven is on our side! It is the will of Heaven!"
When Lady Qiu and Ruan Yu heard the news in their tent, they were filled with mixed feelings.
Ruan Yu asked, "What about Chao Lu?"
"His Highness should be back soon! I heard he's alright! That Prince Chen even saved His Highness!"
Ruan Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but glanced at her mother-in-law and pursed her lips.
That afternoon, Chaolu returned to camp.
"Jade!"
Ruan Yu was waiting for news in his tent; he was quick on his feet.
The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and Chaolu saw the person he had been thinking about day and night for the past few months.
Ruan Yu also showed some joy, but when she saw his arm, her expression suddenly froze.
Chaolu saw this and deliberately hid his arm.
"What are you hiding? Let me see!" Ruan Yu stepped forward, and at this moment, Madam Qiu also came out.
Chao Lu paused for a moment: "Mother."
"You're back? Come here, let your mother see you too."
With his mother and daughter-in-law both there, Chaolu had no choice but to walk over.
Ruan Yu directly took off his coat, and Chao Lu was a little awkward: "It's nothing, just a flesh wound, but the doctors in the Central Plains are so exaggerated, they wrapped him up like a rice dumpling. It's not as bad as when I was training horses last time."
Ruan Yu pursed her lips: "You have the nerve to say that? Last time you had your bone fractured and you removed the splint just a few days later!"
Chao Lu scratched his head, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Yu Yu, what brings you all here..."
Ruan Yu's expression turned somewhat somber: "Your whereabouts are unknown, how can my mother and I be at ease? It just so happens that Father Khan is on a campaign, so my mother and I have come here."
A complex look flashed in Chaolu's eyes as he looked at his mother: "I'm fine... Actually, I deliberately fell off the cliff. If that soldier hadn't ambushed me from behind, I would have taken Doyle's head long ago."
When this matter was brought up, Madam Qiu's expression turned grim: "That traitor hasn't woken up yet, and I suspect he might never wake up again. But Mother knows who did it."
Chao Lu lowered his eyes; he was actually well aware of the situation.
"By the way, have you seen your Uncle Yang?"
Chao Lu was taken aback.
"No."
For the past two days, Madam Qiu has been waiting for Yang Hu, but strangely, he seems to have disappeared.
She has been here for more than two days. Logically, I should try to meet her, but I haven't heard from her at all.
"Never mind, it's nothing. There might be other issues. Let's just wait and see."
Chao Lu said, “Mother, I have met with King Chen. He has agreed to help us send troops to completely defeat Aohan. He should be back in camp with Father Khan now to discuss important matters.”
Madam Qiu's hands, resting on her knees, clenched slightly: "Is that so... Mother also knows him, he's a hero..."
Ruan Yu: "Will you go?"
Ruan Yu asked a question that struck a chord with Chao Lu, who was somewhat frustrated: "I want to go, but Prince Chen and Father Khan won't allow it. They want me to recuperate. This time, we should send my sixth brother and eldest brother, along with Prince Chen's men."
Madam Qiu: "That's enough, stop being stubborn."
Chao Lu smiled and looked at Ruan Yu: "Well, I don't plan to go either. I'll spend more time with you all!"
After saying that, he grinned at Ruan Yu.
Ruan Yu also smiled at him.
-
The Khan decided to pursue Aohan. Turing and Damu led the troops, while the rest returned to the Chaha tribe a day later.
Hela had been waiting on the grassland for a long time. When she saw Chaolu and his party appear, she ran over excitedly, as did Buhe.
"Uncle! Aunt!"
Ruan Yu and Lady Qiu rode in a carriage towards Lu on horseback. When they saw their young nephew, Buhe, who was still injured in one hand, picked him up in one go.
"Uncle! You're hurt!"
During the months that Chaolu was away on his expedition, Xiao Buhe was very worried, his eyes red and teary-eyed.
The procession slowly came to a stop, and Ruan Yu and Madam Qiu also got off the carriage.
"Mother!" Hela hurried forward, clearly she had been very worried lately.
Mrs. Qiu patted her daughter's head: "It's alright, Hela, we're all back."
The Khan's carriage was in front, followed closely by Naren. When Haila saw Naren, she glared at her fiercely, while the Prince of Chen's carriage slowly approached from not far away.
Chaolu held Buhe in one arm, and Haila quickly took her son from him: "Buhe, be good, your uncle is injured, come to your mother."
Buhe nodded obediently.
Chao Lu: "I can finally relax for a few days. Sister, let's go back and talk. It's windy outside."
Hela smiled and nodded, but then glanced at Ruan Yu: "Actually, my mother and I are just glad to see you safe and sound. You should go back and spend more time with An'an; she's the one who's worried sick about you."
Ruan Yu blushed slightly, "Sister, you..."
“I didn’t say anything wrong, Chaolu, aren’t you right?”
Chao Lu nodded and smiled, "Sister is always right."
As he spoke, he took Ruan Yu's hand.
Ruan Yu pursed her lips, but did not break free.
Not far away, Prince Chen's carriage also stopped, and he slowly lifted the side curtain.
"Who is that?"
The attendant beside him glanced over and smiled, "Your Highness, those should be the Great Beggar and the young prince from the grasslands. The one beside the Fourth Prince should be the Fourth Khatun."
Goodbye...
King Chen's gaze settled on several figures not far away.
"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and her daughter has grown up so much..."
The attendant had clearly served Prince Chen for many years and knew some of the past events; at this moment, he lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Chen Wang's gaze, across the vast grassland, finally settled once again on the figure with its back to him.
They lingered for a long time.
...
It wasn't until long after that figure disappeared from sight.
He finally lowered the side curtain and closed his eyes to calm his mind.
At this moment, the guard beside him quietly stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, General Yang Hu has woken up."
Prince Chen then opened his eyes: "Make arrangements tonight. I have something to ask him."
"yes."
...
Ruan Yu and Chao Lu had just returned to their tent when the curtain was drawn. Ruan Yu suddenly lost her footing and was caught by Chao Lu with one arm!
She gasped in surprise, but before she could turn around, Chao Lu pinned her against the wall and kissed her from behind.
Hot breath sprayed on my ear, making me feel tingly and numb.
Dry, hot lips pressed against Ruan Yu's ear, easily making her body go limp.
"I miss you so much."
-----------------------
The author's note: This circle will soon be complete.
Thank you to everyone who's been following the story! Without you guys, I really might not have been able to keep going [crying emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
