Chapter 90 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City) 090 The closer he got to that seat, the more...
Gedeng's dispatch of troops was indeed as Chaolu had thought: to take advantage of the Chaha's unpreparedness and reclaim some of the benefits that had been ceded to the Chaha tribe.
In addition, Hurile fell ill.
Although the news was immediately blocked, those with ulterior motives will surely try to find out.
It can't be hidden forever.
They all harbor ambitions and believe that the current four Taijis are not capable of holding the throne.
This has always been the case on the grasslands: fighting and biting, the strong preying on the weak.
For a time, the Chaha tribe was indeed facing enormous pressure and crisis.
It's inevitably a bit strenuous for Chaolu to carry the burden alone.
"Your Highness, the Great Khan has not yet awakened. Please take good care of everything."
"Your Highness, the people of Chaha are all counting on you."
While dealing with these matters, Chao Lu was also worried about Ruan Yu, and he felt depressed and had difficulty relieving his worries.
After arranging matters concerning the Kar tribe, he felt a bit tired. But thankfully, Afu quickly came to report: "Your Highness, good news! The Khatun has awakened..."
Chao Lu was startled, abruptly stood up, and strode outside.
-
Ruan Yu woke up half an hour ago.
It wasn't that Xu Zhong forcibly woke him up, but rather that the detoxification process had indeed stalled halfway through and could not continue. Once the medication was stopped, he naturally woke up.
Ruan Yu's face was a little pale, and her body was very weak. When she woke up, Prince Chen, Haila, and Lady Qiu were all by her side.
"An'an, how are you feeling...?"
Ruan Yu: "I...this is..."
Last time, when Ruan Yu was poisoned, in order to take care of her feelings, Chao Lu and Pei Du concealed the fact that they were looking for their loved ones, saying only that the poison could be cured and that she just needed to take the medicine on time.
But now...
"An'an, don't worry, you're just having a relapse of the poison from Lingzhou, you'll get better..." Madam Qiu gently stroked her hair.
Ruan Yu, however, clearly saw her mother-in-law's bloodshot eyes.
"Mother……"
"Sister..."
Her heart sank, and she lowered her eyes.
"Tell me the truth."
Hela: "No, An'an, don't overthink it..."
Before Hela could finish speaking, King Chen suddenly said, "Gentlemen, may I speak with An'an?"
Mrs. Qiu and Hela exchanged a glance, and Mrs. Qiu said, "Hela, let's go out first."
A hint of confusion appeared in Ruan Yu's eyes.
...
"Where's Yu Yu?!"
Chaolu rushed over, only to be stopped outside the tent. His mother and elder sister were talking outside the tent, and when they saw Chaolu, their eyes showed some complicated emotions.
Madam Qiu was alright; she could still smile and ask, "Has the matter with the Kar tribe been resolved?"
Chao Lu, however, couldn't care less about that: "Mother, isn't Yu Yu awake? I want to go in and see her."
"Don't worry," Madam Qiu said, pulling her son back.
"Prince Chen... is inside. Let them talk first."
Chao Lu paused for a moment, then suddenly frowned and said, "Yu Yu just woke up, what's he saying in such a hurry! I shouldn't have left!"
"We'll find out sooner or later, and... it's indeed an urgent matter."
Chaolu understood the meaning of "urgent matter" and lowered his eyes.
“I can send someone to fetch the medicinal ingredient from Chang’an, using the best horses.”
"But do you know what Prince Chen means..."
"What does he mean! He wants to take Yuyu back to Chang'an!" Chaolu suddenly became agitated.
"The war in the Central Plains is not over yet! What if something happens on the way? I disagree!"
He was panting heavily, his emotions running high.
Madam Qiu and Hela both fell silent. Hela sighed and patted Chaolu's arm: "Don't worry about Chaolu, it's not like he's not coming back... Besides..."
Chao Lu: "If he wants to take Yu Yu away, I want to leave too."
"..."
"Chao Lu, calm down..."
"I can't calm down!" Chao Lu said angrily.
"Now I finally understand why Mother didn't let me take this position! Father Khan is still alive, and isn't that Li Su very powerful? I'll arrest him and take him to the Golden Tent right now! Besides, Second Brother only has a leg problem, he's perfectly fine! Eldest Brother is still alive too, so why is everything being pushed onto me! I don't need this position!"
His voice wasn't quiet.
It even drifted into the tent.
Ruan Yu and Chen Wang both heard a bit of it and were slightly taken aback.
Prince Chen had already explained the whole story to Ruan Yu. Although Ruan Yu was quite surprised, she was always intelligent and it wasn't too difficult for her to accept it.
that is……
I definitely felt conflicted, and I didn't know how to react.
King Chen sighed: "An'an, I heard that this name was given to you by your mother... Your suffering over the years has been largely due to me, and I can accept whatever decision you make. But I think that given your health, it might be better for you to go to Chang'an. Your brother... has had a meteoric rise, and Chang'an is about to change."
Ruan Yu pursed her lips.
"Your Highness... I... I still find it hard to accept. Could you tell me about what happened back then? How exactly did I end up at the Marquis's residence..."
"I am still investigating this matter. Perhaps I will be able to find out the truth once I return to Chang'an and interrogate the people from the Marquis of Zhenbei."
At this point, King Chen's expression naturally turned quite unpleasant.
"I will thoroughly investigate the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion and settle accounts with you."
Abducting his daughter was one thing, but the other was the matter of her being forced into a substitute marriage. Prince Chen could hardly imagine the immense pressure and malice she faced back in Chang'an!
He will naturally settle accounts with the old emperor one by one, matter by matter.
But when facing his daughter, Prince Chen was still very gentle.
The sound of Chao Lu outside was a bit jarring, and his lips twitched slightly.
"An'an, if you don't want to leave, is it because of Chaolu?"
Ruan Yu paused, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
"I want to know first, what exactly is the nature of my poison? Don't hide it from me."
Chen Wang's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a complex and cunning glint.
"Chao Lu and the others probably didn't tell you the truth before. Your poison has reached your heart meridian, and you need the blood and flesh of a close relative to cure it. I have already had Li Su try it, but your brother, who is your half-brother, is the best candidate. There is also the Nine-Layer Grass from Chang'an, but even so..."
Chen Wang's last sentence made Ruan Yu realize something.
Even so... is there still no guarantee of salvation?
Chen Wang's fingertips curled slightly as he clenched his fist.
"We'll split it 50%."
Ruan Yu's figure swayed slightly.
A Yuan: "Princess..."
Ah Yuan had forgotten the prince deeply. Doctor Xu had not said this, but soon he understood the prince's deeper meaning.
Chen Wang's hand had already reached out, but Ruan Yu caught the bed in time: "I'm fine..."
"Thank you for informing me, Your Highness..."
Upon hearing her address "Your Highness," Prince Chen understood her meaning; it was indeed difficult for her to accept it so quickly.
He sighed: "An'an, then you should rest well. Do you want to see Chaolu? I'll let him in. If you don't want to see him, I also have ways to get rid of him."
Ruan Yu suddenly smiled palely: "He is my husband."
King Chen understood: "Okay."
Although he had promised his daughter, when his wheelchair slowly walked out of the tent and was about to rush towards Lu, two guards, at the behest of Prince Chen, stepped forward to stop him.
This is no longer the joking inclusion it once was.
It was real swords and spears.
Chao Lu felt uneasy and glared at the other person.
Chen Wang smiled faintly: "You don't need to look at me like that. If I want to take An'an away by force, you can't stop me."
Chao Lu: "You..."
He wanted to curse, but he didn't dare, because...
This is true.
If Prince Chen were still the same Prince Chen, he would have definitely punched him. But he is indeed Yu Yu's biological father.
He cannot.
This feeling is really frustrating.
Madam Qiu said helplessly, "Your Highness, although my son is a bit impulsive, he is sincere towards An'an."
"Is that so? But she has been married to you for only six months and has already almost died at the hands of others twice. If I hadn't accidentally come to the grasslands this time, how would you have handled it?"
Chao Lu: "..."
"Impossible, is that right? Don't tell me all the objective reasons; it's the truth: your abilities are insufficient."
Chao Lu's lips were tightly pressed together, and a look of dejection flashed in his eyes.
Hela: "Your Highness! Perhaps my brother is not as outstanding as your son, but you don't need to be like this... You know the environment and situation on the grasslands, why do you have to do this?!"
King Chen looked at her and smiled: "Dabieji, I didn't say anything. There are many hardships in the world, and many twists of fate. I will not pursue the past, but you all know about An'an's health condition. Why dwell on something that is already set in stone? As for Chaolu, I can send troops to help you with the matter of Karl again, as a way to help you ascend to the throne of Khan."
Chao Lu's fists cracked: "No need."
His tone was curt.
"Chaha can handle a small Khalkha."
Chen Wang smiled and said, "Alright then. An'an still wants to see you. You may go in."
Chao Lu immediately strode inside.
There were three people outside the tent, and Hela sighed anxiously.
Lady Qiu then looked at King Chen.
"Your Highness, let's talk too."
...
"Yu Yu!" Chao Lu composed himself before going inside.
But his tone betrayed his anxiety.
He rushed to the bedside, dismissed the others around him, and eagerly took Ruan Yu's hand.
His brows were furrowed.
His expression also contained a subtle hint of ingratiation.
"Yu Yu, how are you feeling..."
Ruan Yu looked at him, about to say something, but suddenly coughed twice, which startled Chao Lu so much that he tightened his grip on her fingers.
"I'm fine... don't worry..."
Chao Lu immediately released her: "I'm sorry... I was too rough... Did I hurt you?"
Ruan Yu: "A little..."
"It's my fault." Chao Lu was very anxious, as if he was about to start spinning in circles.
Ruan Yu glanced at him and asked, "How did you get yourself into this state?"
Chao Lu was already busy lately, and after Ruan Yu fainted, he didn't close his eyes for two days.
They didn't even bother with washing up.
Chao Lu paused for a moment, then stroked his chin.
"I am a bit unkempt, but please don't mind. I'll shave in a bit."
Ruan Yu forced a smile.
"Yu Yu...did Prince Chen tell you everything just now...?"
Ruan Yu nodded.
"So... what do you think?"
Chao Lu's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, clearly indicating extreme tension.
Just as Ruan Yu was about to speak, he suddenly couldn't help but step forward and hug the person: "Please take me with you... I'll take care of things on the grassland right away..."
Ruan Yu: "..."
At this moment, Chaolu resembled a child afraid of losing his precious treasure.
She felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
"I haven't said I'm leaving yet..."
Chao Lu slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly red.
"Although I hate his tone, he's right. Going back to Chang'an is the best thing for you."
He could travel 800 li to fetch medicine with the utmost urgency, not caring how many horses would die from the effort, but what about other things?
A comfortable environment, better medical skills, and what if we need more...?
Should we go to the northern border again?
Is it worth the trouble?
Ruan Yu: "You want me to leave..."
Chao Lu: "...I just want to walk with you."
He doesn't care about the damned position of Khan.
After learning Yu Yu's true identity, he suddenly had a feeling.
The closer he got to that position, the further he got from his beloved Yu Yu.
No, he won't allow that.
…………
Outside the tent, Lady Qiu and King Chen's conversation was much more rational.
Chen Wang said, “When I first met Chao Lu, I felt that his eyes resembled yours, but his personality also resembled that of Hurile, which made him somewhat unpleasant.”
Madam Qiu: "..."
“I know my son well; he’s not like his father.”
Chen Wang looked at her and smiled: "Perhaps. I do not know him very well, so I'm sorry, I cannot just hand An'an over to him."
Madam Qiu sighed: "Why not respect An'an's thoughts? In her nearly twenty years of life, the Prince has been absent, hasn't he? We can't just force him to act as her biological father, can we? This isn't the Prince I know."
King Chen was taken aback for a moment.
“An’an is a child with a strong will and is very intelligent. I like her very much. Chaolu has some problems, but perhaps you should respect An’an’s thoughts. None of us can make decisions for her.”
King Chen lowered his eyes.
“A-Wan is right, but no one else can interfere with my compensation to An’an. I can’t just stand up for my daughter after knowing she’s suffered so much injustice in Chang’an for so many years. As her father, I have the right to do that.”
Madam Qiu remained noncommittal.
"Given An'an's health condition, I must take her with me. And you and I both know that the grasslands can't do without Chaolu now."
A flicker of pain crossed Madam Qiu's eyes.
"Yes, we need Chaolu here..."
It's like fate.
It's like a cage.
Both of them fell silent.
"Then... if Chaolu resolves the situation on the grasslands and follows An'an to Chang'an, what are your plans?"
King Chen refused to answer the question and chose to remain silent.
Madam Qiu smiled: "You still don't want to marry her off to the grasslands, do you?"
King Chen turned his head.
"I never thought this was a good place."
Mrs. Qiu's eyes suddenly reddened.
Indeed, it's not a good place.
But she has also been here for more than twenty years.
"I understand." She slowly turned around.
I calmed myself down.
"Your Highness, thank you for your concern for the Wei family over the years. I am just a weak woman, and my family has suffered misfortune. Even if I go back with you, I cannot help in any way. My father is watching over us from heaven, but my son is still here. This time, I will not return..."
A gust of wind blew by, and two round water droplets appeared on Madam Qiu's embroidered shoes.
She walked away quickly, without looking back or lingering...
...
King Chen sat alone in the wind for a long time.
After that figure left, A-Yuan let out a long sigh. Only he knew why the prince insisted on making this trip north in person.
The Wei family has been dead for many years. Whether the case is overturned or not, what they care about is not the Chen Prince's Mansion, with whom they have no connection.
The prince had already made his plans... but who knew...
Fate is cruel...
A tear stain suddenly appeared on Chen Wang's sleeve.
He said softly, "It's raining. Let's go back."
A Yuan gave her master a deep look.
"yes."
Perhaps it's not that it's raining on the grassland, but rather that the rain in my heart has never stopped.
There's nothing I can do about it in this lifetime.
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