Chapter 658 Old Friends
At that critical moment, a very light footstep sounded in the quiet royal tent.
As Shang Ruyi looked up, she saw the charming middle-aged woman who had just been standing in front of her walk around the table and slowly approach Ashina Shali's side, smiling as she said to him, "Khan, you flatter me."
"..."
“Lei Yu has already married Yiasu, so she is one of our Turks now. How could she still be our enemy?”
Iasu...
Shang Ruyi's brow furrowed involuntarily as she immediately retrieved the name from her memory.
Ashina Yiasu.
That was the Turkic prince whom Lei Yu married.
She glanced around instinctively. The men sitting behind the tables in the tent were all burly and robust, some with thick eyebrows and beards, making their features almost indistinguishable. However, it was clear that they were all quite old, none of them younger than Ashina Zhuxie. She didn't even want to associate these men with Lei Yu's marriage.
Therefore, that Turkic prince is not here.
I wonder where he went?
Sure enough, when Yiasu was mentioned, even Ashina Shali frowned, glanced around, and looked behind Lei Yu, but there was only pitch black night outside the tent, and no one else came in.
So he said, "Where is the Iazus? I haven't seen him for the past two days."
The woman chuckled and whispered a few words in his ear.
After hearing what she said, Ashina Shali frowned, turned and glared at her, and said angrily, "Useless thing, all you do is fuss over women!"
The woman gave an awkward laugh and took a step back.
Although he was reprimanding her, Ashina Shali's anger subsided somewhat. When he turned to look at Lei Yu and Shang Ruyi again, the bloodthirsty ferocity in his eyes had faded, leaving only an undiminished coldness and sharpness.
He let out a long breath and then said, "Lei Yu, I don't care what you think, but once you marry into our Turkic community and become my daughter-in-law, you are a member of the Western Turkic people. Whatever you think or do can only be for the sake of the Western Turkic people!"
Lei Yu lowered his head slightly: "...Yes."
But the next moment, she raised her head again, her eyes, which had softened, revealing an unwavering determination, and said, "But I still beg the Khan to spare my old friend."
"..."
“She was just a woman. Although it was her husband who injured the Khan, a duel between men should end between men, and a woman should not bear the consequences of the duel.”
"..."
"Please grant my permission, Khan!"
For some reason, she spoke with unusual firmness, but Shang Ruyi could detect a slight tremor in her voice.
A duel between men should end between men.
The woman should not bear the consequences...
When she said these words, did she think of herself—because as a woman, she bore consequences that she shouldn't have to bear?
Liang Shide's collusion with the Western Turks was originally an exchange of interests between them, but in order to win over both sides, he married Lei Yu to the young prince of the Western Turks.
She clearly... loves Yuwen Ye!
Although this had made her uneasy and somewhat displeased before, at this moment, Shang Ruyi's heart was filled with only bitterness, only for her unwillingness and grievances, and even tears welled up again, scalding her eyes.
Upon hearing her words, Ashina Shali's face darkened.
He looked at Shang Ruyi again. Although his eyes still held undisguised murderous intent and hatred, the anger and ferocity he had shown just moments before, as if he wanted to tear her apart, were gone. He took a deep breath and finally said, "I can agree to your request."
"...!"
Lei Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Ke—"
Before she could finish speaking, Ashina Shali interrupted her, saying, "But this is only temporary."
"..."
"Because the Khan hasn't decided what to do with her yet, she can be safe—by your side—during this time."
"..."
"But if she tries to escape, or if she cannot submit to our Western Turkic Khaganate like you, then she will still be our enemy. As for how I will deal with enemies, you should know very well!"
Lei Yu's shoulder twitched slightly again.
But regardless, she was safe for the time being. She immediately bowed her head and said, "I understand. Thank you, Khan! Thank you, Khan!"
Perhaps she was truly overjoyed, for she said "Thank you, Khan" twice before turning to look at Shang Ruyi with a delighted expression. Shang Ruyi, her eyes red, looked at her and choked out, "I..."
Lei Yu grabbed her hand.
At this moment, Ashina Shali turned his back to them and said coldly, "Alright, you may leave!"
The middle-aged woman nodded to Lei Yu, signaling them to leave quickly and avoid causing any further trouble. Lei Yu gripped Shang Ruyi's hand tighter and whispered, "Come on, come with me first."
After saying that, he led her out of the tent.
As soon as they stepped out of the tent, they felt a biting wind blow in, instantly taking away the last bit of warmth they had left inside the royal tent. The two of them shivered immediately, and then, Ashina Shali's icy voice echoed from inside the tent—
"I haven't let you leave yet. Do you think the fall of Taiyuan is just going to end like this? You still haven't given me an explanation!"
"……yes."
Shang Ruyi subconsciously glanced back.
The one who answered that question was Ashina Zhuxie. He had already turned away, seemingly wanting to leave as well, but upon hearing Ashina Shali's words, he had no choice but to stay, turning back to face his father, the Khan. His originally very tall figure, standing alone in the center of the even taller, somewhat empty tent, appeared very small and helpless at that moment.
Ashina Shali had already returned to the table and sat down. The woman had also returned to stand behind him, facing Ashina Zhuxie, with a cold, amused smile on her face.
The tent flap closed the next moment.
Although it was dark outside, many soldiers were still holding torches to light their way and the path ahead. Lei Yu pulled Shang Ruyi a few steps away from the tent and walked to an open space next to the royal tent. He immediately turned to her and said, "You—"
"I--"
The two of them were stunned when they opened their mouths.
Lei Yu smiled slightly and immediately said, "You go first."
Shang Ruyi's original words were cut off, and she smiled. When she looked at her again, her eyes were filled with tears. As soon as she opened her mouth, tears started falling.
She choked back tears and asked, "Are you... alright?"
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