As dawn broke, Li Ru opened his eyes, turned his head to look at A Yue curled up beside him, and a tender look flashed in his eyes.
Gently withdrawing his arm, Li Ru got up from the bed and began to dress.
"Sir, why don't you let your concubine serve you?"
Li Ru had just finished dressing when a sweet voice came from behind him. A Yue was sitting on the bed, gazing at him with affection in her eyes.
Li Ru turned her head and smiled gently, "You were too tired last night, you should get some rest!"
Seeing Li Ru's smile and his considerate words, A Yue's heart pounded like a deer.
A-Yue got up from the bed and hugged Li Ru tightly, pressing her chest against his back.
"A-Yue lost both her parents at a young age. After becoming a dancer, she was destined to become someone else's slave and plaything."
After meeting Mr., he never let Ah Yue dance again, nor did he treat Ah Yue like an object of play, as is the case with ordinary men. He also taught me to read and to be a person, making Ah Yue feel the warmth of family.
Ah Yue's heart has long belonged to you, sir. For you, Ah Yue is willing to do anything…!
Feeling the softness on his back and Ah Yue's heartfelt words, Li Ru's heart couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Since A-Yue came to his side, Li Ru has been constantly watching and guarding against her every move, and often teaches her some Han culture and various etiquette, thinking of observing her through these methods.
After a long period of contact and investigation, Li Ru confirmed that A Yue was indeed just an accessory in the trade between the Wusun nobles and Tan Shihuai, and that she came to his side only because Tan Shihuai wanted to win him over.
Moreover, Li Ru could also sense that A Yue had been studying with him for so long and had been completely impressed by his knowledge, developing a sense of dependence and affection, wholeheartedly serving his daily life and taking care of his emotions and needs.
He was only human after all, and naturally, he couldn't help but be moved by this woman who was devoted to him.
Taking a deep breath, Li Ru turned around, gazing affectionately into A Yue's eyes, and said softly, "A Yue, don't worry, it won't be long before I go to Wusun to find you!"
"Sir, rest assured, A-Yue will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Ah Yue's voice was soft and gentle, yet firm.
Li Ru's heart stirred, and he reached out and hugged her tightly.
After their tender moment, Li Ru led A Yue to an inn in the royal city.
The people living here are also women from Wusun.
Upon learning of Li Ru's arrival, the head of the inn personally came to greet him outside the inn.
"This humble servant greets you, sir. May I ask what your instructions are?"
The head of the inn showed exceptional respect to Li Ru, the king's confidant.
Li Ru waved his hand: "The eldest young master instructed me to organize a caravan to go to Wusun to exchange for some refined iron."
I've come here to select some Wusun women to serve as guides for my caravan!
After hearing Li Ru's request, the head of the inn hesitated and said, "Sir, the women here are all reserved by the King as gifts for others. If you take one, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it when the King returns..."
Li Ru smiled, then took out a letter and handed it over: "Take a look. This is from the King, who told me that I can come and choose the woman I like at any time!"
"I see, then please make yourself at home, sir!"
Seeing the handwriting on the letter and Tan Shihuai's seal, the head of the inn had no suspicions and led Li Ru and A Yue into the inn.
Soon, the more than twenty women living there were summoned to Li Ru's presence.
Li Ru glanced at it indifferently, then nodded to A Yue beside him.
Ah Yue understood and immediately stepped forward to begin carefully selecting.
Soon, A-Yue selected four beautiful women from among them. These four women had all arrived at the grassland at the same time as A-Yue and had a clean background.
After returning to his residence with A-Yue and the four women, Li Ru's spies also came looking for him.
"Sir, as you instructed, I have selected twenty brothers and requisitioned three hundred fine horses and five thousand taels of gold using He Lian's warrant. They are ready to depart at any time!"
Li Ru nodded: "Okay, you can go now!"
"yes!"
The underling agreed and then bowed and withdrew.
Then, Li Ru found A Yue and said softly, "Go on, be careful on the road!"
"Ah Yue will protect herself!"
A-Yue smiled slightly and buried her head in Li Ru's chest again: "Sir, you must come. A-Yue is waiting for you in Wusun!"
"Yes, it will! It won't be long!"
Li Ru gently stroked A Yue's hair, closing his eyes and murmuring softly.
Afterwards, A-Yue and the others boarded a carriage and followed a group of people disguised as merchants, leaving the royal city and heading west.
After seeing A-Yue and the others off, Li Ru also arrived at the palace.
He Lian's personal guards also came over. "Sir, according to the eldest son's orders, all the men from various tribes have gathered in the open space outside the south of the city, totaling 34,500 people."
"Alright, immediately open the granaries and storehouses, move all the supplies out, and have them divide into teams based on the leaders of their respective tribes!"
"yes!"
He Lian's personal guards responded loudly, then quickly left.
Soon, all the granaries and warehouses storing various supplies in the royal city were opened, and cartloads of goods were being transported out.
"Let's go!" Seeing the guards who came to report, Li Ru mounted his horse and rode south.
He Lian's personal guards led more than 30,000 young and strong herdsmen to follow closely behind, followed by a long transport team.
...
Juyan.
At this point, eight days had passed since Liu Hong arrived.
Inside the prefectural governor's mansion, Liu Hong was sitting behind a desk, reviewing the marching reports sent by various armies.
Following Liu Hong's orders, Huangfu Song's cavalry units, including the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, White Horse Camp, and Blazing Fire Camp, have arrived southeast of Juyan today.
Wang Yue and Tong Yuan led 15,000 Imperial Guards and 1,000 Imperial Cavalry to a place 20 li south of Juyan.
Behind the Imperial Guards were officials such as Cao Song and Xun Shuang who had followed them all the way, and further back were as many as 50,000 young people who had spontaneously come to join the battle.
Setting down the memorial in his hand, Liu Hong turned to Tao Qian beside him and said with a smile, "Minister Tao, Minister Cao and the others will be arriving soon. Go and greet them."
"Also, inform the residents of the city and ask them to prepare some rooms to accommodate the young people who have come spontaneously."
"Here you go!!"
Tao Qian respectfully agreed, then bowed and withdrew.
"Also, bring Mengde along, so Cao Song can see what his son has done!"
"Your subject understands!"
Even the usually serious Tao Qian couldn't help but purse his lips and turn to leave.
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