Chapter 696 Two-pronged approach
It gets dark very quickly.
As the entire grassland was shrouded in the pitch-black night, Yuwen Ye's men found a small river that had not yet frozen over and set up camp by its banks. In an instant, countless bonfires were lit, their glow reflecting off the twinkling stars in the dark sky.
Shang Ruyi washed her face with warm water in the tent, tidied herself up a bit, and then came out.
Not far from her tent, a bonfire was burning brightly, illuminating Yuwen Ye's face as he sat by the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames. His already handsome profile, with its high eyebrows, straight nose, and clear features, appeared even more striking in the darkness and firelight.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but sigh softly.
To be honest, she was a somewhat frivolous person. She was immediately attracted to Yuwen Ye at first sight, and almost imperceptibly changed her mind, altering the course of her life. Looking back now, it was truly a close call. What can a handsome face foreshadow, and what can it guarantee?
That's why she told him it was a miracle from gods and Buddhas.
Her choice, made under the influence of lust, turned out to be correct.
However, the real miracle should be the "resurrection" that truly changed her fate. It was because she snatched those things from Yu Mingyue—perhaps memories, perhaps knowledge—that she decided to change things. It was also because of that unseen but life-or-death struggle that took place in her own body that she felt a chill whenever she saw Yu Mingyue. At first, even the familiar pain of her soul being torn apart would be resurrected.
But now, all of that is in the past.
She had grown accustomed to that person's presence and accepted the potentially turbulent and perilous fate that lay ahead.
However, looking at Yuwen Ye's slightly furrowed brows and complicated expression, he seemed to be still somewhat dazed.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi lifted her foot and walked over there, but after taking only two steps, a small figure suddenly rushed out and blocked her way. Like a little calf, it almost knocked her over. Looking down, she saw that it was Shan Tong'er.
He smiled and hugged her, saying, "Sister Ruyi."
Shang Ruyi was startled, but when she looked down and met his smiling eyes that curved like crescent moons, she immediately became happy again. She reached out and touched his short stubble that made his head look like a little hedgehog, and asked, "Are you cold?"
"It's not cold."
Why did you come here?
I've come to see you.
As she spoke, Shan Tong'er's smile faded, and she said, "I know you were captured by the Turks. I was so worried, Sister Ruyi. Did they beat you?"
Shang Ruyi laughed and said, "No. Look at me, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
Shan Tong'er actually took a step back, looked Shang Ruyi up and down, and only after confirming that Shang Ruyi was not missing any limbs or had any injuries did he breathe a sigh of relief and say, "That's good."
"..."
"We were all so worried about you after we found out you were arrested. Everyone was supposed to come."
"Everyone?"
"Yes, it's Brother Shen, and Brother Mu Xian and the others."
"oh……"
Shang Ruyi nodded.
Hearing news of Shen Wuzheng from someone else again, even if it was just a few words, the reassurance that "he is still alive" still made her feel very happy. Moreover, what Yuwen Ye said before was also true; Shen Wuzheng had indeed gone to meet the rest of the team. Mu Xianzheng was leading the rest of the team, and the two of them met up after passing Tongguan and came to Taiyuan together.
Then, during the attack on Taiyuan, they learned that they had been kidnapped.
Shan Tong'er continued, "But I don't know why, Second Brother Yuwen—" At this point, he seemed to realize something, stuck out his tongue, and changed his words, "His Highness Prince Qin, he forbade them to come along. Sister Ruyi, I don't understand, isn't it better to save you if more people come?"
"..."
"But, for some reason, Brother Shen and the others actually agreed."
"..."
"But before he left, Brother Shen told the King of Qin that if he couldn't bring you back safely, he wouldn't let the King of Qin go. I was terrified. They looked like they were about to fight."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.
Seeing that Shan Tong'er was still clearly shaken, she said softly with a smile, "Don't worry, they won't fight."
Shan Tong'er then nodded.
As she spoke, Shang Ruyi looked around again. Actually, when she got on Yuwen Ye's horse and followed him through the procession to the front, she noticed that the composition of the procession was wrong. Although she saw the familiar Shan Tong'er and Shen Tu Tai, as well as their troops, who were the first to join Yuwen Ye's camp and were trusted and skilled warriors from Wanggang Village, there was a group of people in the middle who clearly did not look like soldiers.
Rather, they were Turks.
At this moment, this group of people was placed in the southeast corner of the camp. Although they were allowed to move around freely, there were still people watching them. Moreover, they were mainly tasked with boiling water and cooking, which was obviously hard labor.
So she asked softly, "Good boy, what's going on with that group of people over there?"
Shan Tong'er glanced back once and immediately said, "They are prisoners."
"captive?"
"That's right. This time when we captured Taiyuan, the Turkic garrison there didn't put up much resistance and quickly escaped. They were all wiped out by His Highness the Prince of Qin, who was waiting outside. There were more than 10,000 of them."
"..."
"However, their commanders had all fled, so these men quickly surrendered."
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, turned her head to look again, made a rough estimate, and said, "We've brought at least five thousand men here."
Shan Tong'er nodded: "Yes, they brought nearly half of the surrendered soldiers with them."
"Why bring them along?"
"Let's exchange them."
"exchange?"
"Yes,"
Shan Tong'er said in a matter-of-fact manner, "I overheard the King of Qin talking to Seventh Brother. However, I didn't hear what they said before. When I went there, I only heard the King of Qin tell Seventh Brother that if there is no internal strife in the Turks this time, then there is only one way to bring you back intact and safely."
"..."
"Therefore, he instructed Seventh Brother to keep a close eye on these people along the way, and no matter what happened in the Turkic camp, or what he did at that time, Seventh Brother must not act rashly and must keep his men under control."
As she spoke, she pouted and said, "Especially me."
"..."
"But I was genuinely terrified at the time. You were captured and taken to the Turkic side, and he went alone. What if they attacked? Wouldn't both of you be in trouble—"
This possibility frightened the innocent child, who subconsciously shrugged.
Shang Ruyi also gasped.
However, it wasn't because of the potential crisis, but because of the message conveyed by Shan Tong'er's words—Yuwen Ye actually wanted to exchange five thousand surrendered soldiers for her return!
He actually wants to exchange surrendered soldiers for my return!?
Putting aside the fact that such a thing would be extremely "humiliating" for His Highness the Prince of Qin, who was skilled in warfare, the more important point is that neither he nor the Prince of Han had the authority to deal with surrendered soldiers in this way.
In a crisis, they can lock people up, or even kill them!
But I can't pay it back!
After all, they and the Turks have now declared war on each other after the Battle of Taiyuan. Under these circumstances, returning the surrendered soldiers would be tantamount to aiding the enemy and weakening themselves.
If this really happens, when he returns to Chang'an, I'm afraid Yuwen Yuan won't let him off easily.
Now, Shang Ruyi understands why Yuwen Ye dared to arrive at the Turkic camp so openly and without any attempt to conceal his whereabouts. The fact that there were five thousand men was a temptation that even Ashina Shali would find hard to resist.
After all, I am just one person.
It goes without saying how much of a role these 5,000 men could play in such a chaotic world after returning to the Turkic Khaganate, and even in the ensuing standoff between the two sides.
However, things clearly did not go entirely as he had expected.
No, it's not necessarily true that it doesn't exist.
Because Shan Tong'er just said that he didn't hear everything Yuwen Ye said before, but Yuwen Ye also mentioned that the Turks might have internal strife!
Therefore, he made two preparations from the very beginning.
Either, as he has done this time, he used his power to intimidate Ashina Zhuxie, who was facing a crisis and urgently needed to quell the Turkic internal strife, and persuaded him to release him; or he exchanged five thousand surrendered soldiers for his release.
No matter what dangers we face, or what price we have to pay...
He just wants to go back by himself.
The moment this thought entered her mind, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a tremor run through her body. But it wasn't surprise or fear; rather, it was a shock that came from within her body. Her heart pounded like thunder, her blood surged, and a burning sensation, like flames, spread throughout her limbs.
Even now, I am still some distance from the campfire and from the body that brings me warmth.
But she already felt like she was basking in a spring breeze.
"Sister Ruyi, what are you laughing at?"
The sudden, puzzled yet innocent voice pulled Shang Ruyi back from her swaying thoughts. She looked down again and met the boy's chubby face and innocent, clear eyes, and blushed slightly.
Fortunately, it was already late, and the campfire was far enough away that it was not visible.
She shook her head and smiled, "It's nothing."
As soon as she finished speaking, another gust of cold wind blew in, making the two of them sway. When Shang Ruyi subconsciously reached out and pinched the child's firm, hard arm, a sudden thought flashed through her mind, and she realized something.
She suddenly grabbed Shan Tong'er's arm and said in a deep voice, "Wait, you just said that after we captured Taiyuan, Feng Chen—the Prince of Qin—was outside the city?"
"yes."
"Didn't he go into the city?"
No.
Shan Tong'er honestly replied, "After we captured these people, he immediately turned his horse around and came this way without even taking a break."
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