Chapter 91, first published on Jinjiang: 091 Great sweat, collapse.
It was late at night, but Prince Chen had not yet rested. In recent days, many matters concerning the Central Plains had been constantly being delivered to the prince by special envoys, which had been quite a burden for him.
A-Yuan watched from the side and said with concern, "Your Highness, you should rest early. There are always political affairs to be dealt with."
King Chen hummed in response, but remained unmoved.
A Yuan sighed.
Tell me, did I really do something wrong today?
Suddenly, King Chen spoke up and asked.
A Yuan's heart skipped a beat: "You mean... the princess's return?"
"Um."
"This old servant... although I don't understand why you said those things to the princess, I can guess a thing or two."
King Chen: "Is that so? Tell me about it."
A-Yuan smiled and said, "We've just arrived on the grasslands and don't know much about the Fourth Prince. Although this old servant thinks he's stronger than the Great Khan, who knows what the future holds? Besides, given past experiences... it's perfectly reasonable for you to be cautious. Moreover, the princess's health isn't very good right now. If we don't administer a strong medicine, she'll probably prioritize her feelings. And..."
"And what?"
"Moreover, the princess has been too aggrieved before. It wouldn't be a bad thing for you to take her to Chang'an to recuperate. In addition, it can also test the character of the Four Princes."
Prince Chen slowly raised his head, raising an eyebrow: "Did I say I was going to test him?"
A Yuan smiled faintly and replied, "It was this old servant who presumptuously made this assumption; please do not take offense, Your Highness."
King Chen put down his book and pondered for a moment.
"How is Hurile?"
"Dr. Li Su went to see him again that night, and it seems that the situation is really not good."
Prince Chen: "Arrange your return to the capital in five days."
"What about the princess..."
Recalling Ruan Yu's reaction today, Chen Wang said, "She will agree."
...
Inside the golden tent.
Lady Qiu would come to check on the Khan every day.
At this point, the Great Khan had been unconscious for almost three days. According to Xu Zhong and Li Su, if he did not wake up within two days, the danger would be even greater.
The person is still unconscious.
The golden tent was filled with people, keeping watch day and night. Madam Qiu slowly walked to the bedside and sat down. Looking at this man who was once extremely strong and mighty, now lying weakly and motionless on the bed, her complex emotions surged.
As usual, Madam Qiu wiped Hurile's hands and face, fed him his medicine, and then prepared to leave.
Just as she was about to get up, her fingers were suddenly touched lightly.
Madam Qiu suddenly turned around, "The Great Khan?"
Hurile on the couch twitched his eyelids and slightly opened his eyes—
"A-Wan...?"
Lady Qiu: "Your Majesty, you're awake?! Doctor! Physician!"
Soon, a group of doctors gathered around inside the golden tent.
Several Taijis also came over after inquiring.
Chaolu was initially excited, thinking that his father had survived this ordeal, but unexpectedly, after Xu Zhong, Li Su, and Li Yin all examined his pulse, their expressions turned somewhat grave.
They dared not lie, especially when facing the four Taiji.
"Your Highness... you may begin preparations for the worst..."
Chao Lu was stunned for a moment, then looked at the others, and they all had similar expressions.
He found it hard to accept the result; his eyes were filled with complex emotions, and his brows were furrowed.
"Alright...all of you step back...I know my own body..."
Sweating profusely, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he spoke with difficulty.
The servants, maids, and doctors had all left, but Lady Qiu, Hela, and several Taijis remained.
Hurile's gaze swept over each of them, and he said, "Damu."
Damu stepped forward: "Father Khan, your son is here!"
"Ben Khan...did you resent me for how I treated your mother before...?"
Damu: "Son... I dare not, son knows his mother was wrong..."
"You are my eldest son, and I have placed great importance on your upbringing and care. However, your mother has truly disappointed me greatly..."
Damu: "My son understands."
"And your personality is too straightforward, Damu. If I do not pass the throne to you, will you resent your father?"
Damu: "...Father Khan, I believe I lack the ability, and I have long since given up on this idea..."
Hurile nodded: "Alright... From now on, live a good life and assist your fourth brother."
"yes……"
"Bayar".
Bayar stepped forward with a complicated expression: "Father Khan."
How is your leg?
"Much better...it still hurts a bit on rainy days."
"It's also Father Khan's fault. He wasn't prepared enough when he sent you to Aohan."
“Father, please don’t say that. It is your son who is useless and does not know how to be flexible.”
"That is indeed one of your problems. You have a straightforward personality. From now on, you should do a good job of assisting your fourth brother..."
"Father, rest assured, your son understands."
Hurile gave a long explanation before finally looking at Chaolu.
"Chao Lu, come forward..."
Chao Lu had remained silent until now, when he finally stepped forward, and everyone made way for him.
Hurile struggled to raise his right hand and remove the thumb ring from his finger. "Chaolu..."
Everyone stared at the four Taijis. After a moment's hesitation, Chaolu grasped his father's hand.
Hurile slowly put the thumb ring on his fourth son's finger.
"Chaolu, your father... has always thought of you as brave and intelligent. I have no regrets entrusting the Chaha tribe to you..."
Chao Lu's expression was extremely complicated, but everyone behind him was looking down at him.
"Father, please hang in there a little longer."
Khuril: "This Khan... doesn't have much time left, I know my own body... Alright, if there's anything else, this Khan would like to talk to your mother..."
Chaolu glanced at his mother and nodded with a complicated expression: "Okay."
The others also tactfully withdrew, and the tent fell silent, leaving only Lady Qiu and the Khan.
“A-Wan…”
Madam Qiu slowly stepped forward.
"Great Khan, I am here."
Hurile reached out, seemingly wanting to pull her, but Madam Qiu looked down and saw his trembling hand. After hesitating for a moment, she still took his hand.
"I'm sorry, Khan..."
Wei Wan lowered her eyes: "Your Majesty, there's no need to say that."
"No, I would say that a dying man's words are good... Back then, back then..."
“What happened back then is all in the past,” Wei Wan sighed.
"If it weren't for the Great Khan, I wouldn't have survived until Suizhou."
She has always remembered this.
"But your marriage to me is indeed... not what you wanted."
Wei Wan lowered her eyes and remained silent.
“Awan, I have always been serious about you… as the sun and moon bear witness… but I didn’t know… how difficult your life was on the grasslands. I’ve overlooked it all this time, and I’ve held a grudge against you for so many years…”
Suddenly, the sound of a wheelchair came from outside the tent.
Before Wei Wan could say anything, she froze and turned her head to look.
Prince Chen walked in.
Hurile also sensed something, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and he seemed to have some difficulty even turning his head.
"You...you've come here to...see me make a fool of myself..."
Prince Chen stopped just a few steps away.
"So many years have passed, but the Khan's heart hasn't grown much broader. I've only come to see you off."
Hurile laughed.
"In the end, it was I who owed you, which is why I passed away before you. Your legs... I do owe you an apology. But for now, it seems you've won..."
Chen Wang shook his head, his tone tinged with sadness: "I have never competed with you for victory or defeat. The current situation is nothing more than a lose-lose situation."
Wei Wan's eyes flickered slightly as she stood to the side.
“And Awan was never an accessory to winning or losing. You brought her back to the grasslands, but you made her life miserable. Hurile, that’s the most pathetic thing about you.”
Hurile's heart suddenly surged: "Yes... I, the Khan... brought this upon myself. Prince Chen, if you were in a high position... could you guarantee that you... would remain faithful to one man until the end?"
"I don't know, I only ask to have a clear conscience."
"What a fine statement of having a clear conscience... good..."
Hurile was very agitated, and his breathing became somewhat labored.
Wei Wan: "Your Majesty, please calm down..."
"Awan, Awan..." Hurile grabbed Awan's hand desperately, like a drowning person trying to grab onto the last piece of driftwood.
"Chaolu...Chaolu will be the new Great Khan. Everything I own will be left to you as compensation. Forgive me...forgive me..."
Wei Wan looked at him calmly.
Hurile's breathing had clearly become very difficult, and he no longer argued with Prince Chen, but his eyes were fixed on Wei Wan with longing and anticipation.
Wei Wan seemed to sigh softly.
"Great Khan, Chaolu is very good, Haila is very good, I am very satisfied."
Hurile was suddenly drained of all his strength...
A breath welled up in his chest, but he couldn't exhale it for a long time.
"Ah..."
The last two words were not uttered yet.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away.
Wei Wan's fingertips turned slightly white, and she suddenly reached out with trembling hands to cover his eyes.
Hurile's breathing finally calmed down.
thorough……
There was no sound.
Silence returned to the tent.
Wei Wan's eyes reddened slightly at this moment, and she closed Hurile's eyes with trembling hands.
Wei Wan slowly got up and walked down the steps one by one.
There weren't many steps, but she walked very slowly.
King Chen was still inside the tent, but Wei Wan did not stop when she passed by him.
As Lady Qiu stepped outside the tent, a sudden chorus of wails erupted.
The sound of bugles soared straight up from the grasslands to the sky.
Sweating profusely, he collapsed.
…………
The Khan's funeral coincided with Chaolu's ascension to the throne.
However, Chaolu temporarily suppressed the matter and first gave Hurile a proper burial.
Ruan Yu was somewhat dazed when she heard the news.
Xuan Niang and Qing Guo sighed, "We never thought someone would just disappear like that... life is truly unpredictable."
"I heard that the Khan actually started taking medicine half a year ago, but he didn't take it seriously."
Footsteps could be heard outside. Ruan Yu said, "Let's not discuss this for now."
"yes……"
She's been feeling better these past two days, and she thought it was because Chaolu had returned.
Unexpectedly, it was Prince Chen.
He didn't use a wheelchair today; he walked here on his own.
Ruan Yu knew that his legs were not crippled, but he could not walk for long periods of time, especially on cold, damp days.
"An'an".
Ruan Yu: "Your Highness..."
She hasn't changed her tune yet, which shows she still finds it hard to accept.
Prince Chen did not force the issue.
How are you feeling today?
"I'm feeling much better... I just took my medicine this morning."
Prince Chen nodded: "Just now, your brother sent me news about two things."
Ruan Yu lowered her eyes: "Please speak."
"Most of our troops have reached the outskirts of Chang'an. The imperial clan is in chaos, and many relatives have either rebelled or fled, including the Marquis of Zhenbei."
Ruan Yu's eyes widened. "The Marquis's mansion?! He...where is my mother?!"
Marquis Zhenbei was a cowardly and timid man, a typical opportunist. He had the title of military marquis but when danger came, he was the first to run away.
"The Marquis's mansion must be in chaos. I've already sent people to meet your mother, but there's still no news. I heard that some of her wives and concubines have scattered and left long ago."
Ruan Yu suddenly grabbed Prince Chen's arm: "Your Highness, please protect my mother! She is innocent!"
Prince Chen: "Don't worry, I know."
He patted Ruan Yu's hand, offering words of comfort.
Ruan Yu calmed down.
"Chang'an is in chaos... I want to see my mother..."
Prince Chen's eyes flickered slightly: "This is the second matter. I have already made arrangements to return to the capital. The entourage will depart in three days. An'an, what exactly are your plans?"
Ruan Yu felt a stab to her heart.
"Your marriage was a ridiculous thing to begin with. If I were here, I would never have... Of course, I am also a negligent father, causing you to suffer for many years. But let's not talk about that now. An'an, you should know that the most important thing in life is to live... Your health... cannot be neglected."
...
Another sound of footsteps came from outside the tent.
The maids all bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Chao Lu kept his eyes straight ahead, but when he walked outside the tent, he also saw the Prince of Chen's wheelchair.
He paused in his steps.
The sounds inside the tent were very soft and faint.
"I'm going back to Chang'an with the prince..."
-----------------------
Author's note: Today's extra chapter is uncertain; I'm currently dealing with writer's block.
Don't wait, it will definitely be updated before tomorrow morning.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
