Chapter 690 Hesitation
Falling into that familiar embrace, with its familiar scent, body temperature, and even the familiar rise and fall of the chest against her back, Shang Ruyi felt her heart pounding like thunder, unable to move, and almost slipping out of his arms.
That strong arm wrapped tightly around her slender waist.
"...!"
This time, Shang Ruyi couldn't even breathe.
The person holding her didn't say much, only seemed to glance down at her. His hot, heavy breath brushed against Shang Ruyi's ear, making her flinch slightly. Then he let out a deep breath, pulled on the reins with his other hand, turned the horse around, and prepared to ride away.
Although her heart was pounding and she was barely breathing, Shang Ruyi managed to hold onto a sliver of reason and whispered, "Wait a minute!"
The hand immediately stopped: "Huh?"
"Lei Yu..."
"What?"
"Lei Yu is still in the Turkic camp."
"You want me to take her with me?"
"I--"
“You should understand that if I insist on taking her along, you will have to take a risk. And the result of that risk is that neither of us may be able to leave.”
"..."
"I've come here only for you this time."
"..."
"Lei Yu's marriage to the Turks was the result of an alliance between Liang Shide and them. Regardless of whether Ashina Zhuye succeeds today, he will not immediately break this alliance and offend Liang Shide when he has just ascended to the position of Turkic Khan."
"..."
"Lei Yu is not in danger."
"...!"
Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi froze.
Not only did Yuwen Ye say that Lei Yu was not in danger because of the alliance with Liang Shide, she also thought about Ashina Zhuxie's feelings for Lei Yu.
And what she didn't finish saying today.
Lei Guo had already submitted to the Great Sheng Dynasty. From beginning to end, she never mentioned this matter to the Western Turks. However, besides her, there was another person who knew about this matter, but he also never mentioned it. This person was Ashina Zhuxie.
He did not report to Ashina Shali in order to protect Lei Yu, because even if Iasu had been there before, Shali Khan would not have killed Lei Yu, but at least he would have punished him as an example.
Ashina Zhuxie wouldn't even spare a single bolt of lightning to fall upon her.
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but wonder if his willingness to let her leave today, besides the direct threat posed by Yuwen Ye's arrival at Cangtou River, was also partly due to Lei Yu's final words to Yiasu during their parting earlier that day—
"Either you send her away safely, or you bring her back safely."
Ashina Zhuxie was listening as she said these words.
Therefore, before Yuwen Ye appeared, he sent people to protect him; after Yuwen Ye arrived, he let him leave.
His devotion to Lei Yu was undeniable. Whether having such a person by Lei Yu's side was a blessing or a curse, a fortune or a calamity, was truly hard to say.
"so,"
Just as Shang Ruyi was caught in a tangle of emotions, that deep, resonant voice rang in her ears once more, and this time, it seemed to strike straight into her heart: "This time, I will only take you with me."
After saying that, he didn't say anything more, turned his horse around, and galloped off in the direction he had come from.
Shang Ruyi was in a state of utter confusion, but one thing she understood was clear: everything was already set in stone. From the day Lei Yu married Yi Asu, all she could do now was turn her head and look behind her, past those tall, broad shoulders—in the thick fog of blood, there were still people charging towards Ashina Zhuxie with reckless abandon. But, in the face of absolute power, anger and perseverance could only turn into a sigh in the wind.
...
The rider and his horse gradually moved away.
When the outlines of the two people huddled together could no longer be seen, Ashina Zhuxie finally withdrew his gaze, and the thick blood mist around him slowly dissipated. The last general who refused to surrender was grabbed by the hand behind his back and brought to his horse.
Ashina Zhuxie simply waved his hand, and instantly, a flash of light appeared, and a head fell to the ground.
Everyone around lowered their heads, not daring to look any longer.
He offered no explanation or reassurance, only his cold gaze sweeping over each trembling face before he said, "Come back to the camp with me and inherit the Khan's throne. You are all my meritorious subjects!"
The heavily armored cavalrymen, covered in blood, immediately raised their swords and shouted in unison, "Yes!"
After their voices faded, the other soldiers raised their weapons and echoed, "Yes, sir!"
Ashina Zhuxie immediately turned his horse around, abandoning the mountain of corpses and sea of blood beneath his feet. He left only a few soldiers to guard the bodies of Ashina Shali and Yiasu, who had been riddled with arrows and turned into two pincushions. With a wave of his hand, he led his men and horses galloping toward the camp.
Although he blocked the news, the camp was not that far from Cangtou River.
The people here gradually noticed something was wrong, and they saw that the army that was supposed to go to meet the invading forces of the Great Sheng Dynasty had turned back to the royal tent so quickly. Immediately, a group of people came out from near the royal tent and walked along the straight road to the entrance of the royal tent. It was Shi Shu'anyi who had come to greet them when he brought Shang Ruyi back before.
Upon seeing that the group of people were covered in blood, clearly having been through a fierce battle, he quickly glanced around but did not find Ashina Shali. He immediately asked, "Where is the Khan?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ashina Zhuxie dismounted and walked up to him.
Shi Shuanyi frowned, about to say something, when he saw Ashina Zhuxie suddenly wave his hand at him.
A flash of cold light passed before my eyes.
The words Shi Shuanyi was about to say were abruptly cut off by a cold gust of wind. He stared wide-eyed at Ashina Zhuxie, and the next moment, he saw a spray of blood gushing from his throat, splattering half of Ashina Zhuxie's face red.
Shi Shuanyi fell straight down like that.
The soldiers behind him were terrified. Before they could say anything, Ashina Zhuxie's men swarmed forward and killed him in a few swift strokes, leaving him silent.
That kill was swift and clean!
Even though there was almost no warning, the army returned to their tents, and those inside instinctively came out. Upon seeing the scene, they were all stunned and dared not utter a word. Meanwhile, Ashina Zhuxie's men quickly rushed to the various camps and units to announce—
"The Khan has died in battle, and Prince Iasu has died in battle!"
"Prince Zhu Xie has succeeded to the throne of Khan!"
"No one should move. Serve the new Khan, and you will be richly rewarded!"
With just a few words, she seemed to have explained everything that had happened outside, but some people still couldn't believe it. Especially the slender figure who rushed out of the royal tent in a panic upon hearing the news. Lady Jia Yuan almost fell to the ground, her beautiful face turning ashen. She held onto the tent flap with one hand, her eyes red as she stared ahead: "Impossible!"
At this moment, Ashina Zhuxie had reached the end of the straight road, below the royal tent.
He glanced up once, then turned and gave a signal to the two soldiers behind him. The two soldiers immediately obeyed and led a group of men to rush forward, dragging Lady Jiayuan directly into the royal tent. A scream was heard, followed by a strong smell of blood emanating from inside the tent.
Immediately afterwards, more screams rang out.
These were several ministers whom Ashina Shali had left in the royal tent before the expedition. They had been talking with Lady Jiayuan in the royal tent, enthusiastically discussing how Prince Yiasu would take command of the heavy cavalry after today's great victory, and that he would only need to achieve military merit—or even without achieving any merit, given Shali Khan's favor towards his wife and Prince Yiasu, it was only a matter of time before he inherited the throne.
These ministers, having already chosen sides, naturally continued to be highly valued and enjoy wealth and honor.
But now, the dream has been shattered.
Ashina Zhuxie glanced at the enormous royal tent but didn't linger. He turned and headed towards a slightly smaller tent, the one that had been holding his heart in suspense these past few days.
It's Lei Yu's tent.
He stopped at the door and waved to those behind him. The guards who had been following him immediately took a few steps back, but they did not disperse completely. Instead, they remained stationary a few feet away from the tent, waiting for Ashina Zhuxie's instructions.
Ashina Zhuxie raised his hand, first wiping his face with his sleeve to clean the blood that Shi Shuanyi had sprayed on his face, before taking a deep breath.
Then he reached out and lifted the curtain.
This tent was much smaller than the royal tent, but still much larger than his own tent. This was because it was originally the residence of Iasus, and because Iasus was always favored, even as the second son, he received far more love, rewards, and even more luxurious living conditions than Iasus.
But he never harbored resentment because of these things.
Until one more person entered the tent.
At this moment, this person was sitting behind the low table in the center of the tent. She was different from when they first met. She had long been used to the fur coats worn by Western Turkic women, which concealed her dashing and beautiful figure. But Ashina Zhuxie still remembered the day she first married into the grasslands, wearing a red dress and with a red cloth covering her head.
A gust of wind, just as he wished, lifted the red cloth as she walked past him.
He saw an incredibly beautiful face, and even the way she blushed and glared at him with slight displeasure when he stared at her in a daze was so captivating.
From then on, he kept thinking about seeing that scene again.
He only had one way to see that scene again.
At this moment, he finally put everything into practice and reached the final step of his plan. He was about to possess the person he had longed for day and night, the person who haunted his dreams. Yet, for the first time, he felt his heart pounding uncontrollably. With each step he took, his heart pounded like thunder. He didn't even need to look; he could feel his face burning hot, as if it were on fire.
If Shang Ruyi, or any other person from the Central Plains, were here, they would tell him that this is "feeling timid."
But compared to his flushed face, Lei Yu, who was slowly standing up from behind the low table and walking towards him, had a deathly pale face.
Bai De, like a ghost just pulled from a body.
Only her eyes were bloodshot and red, as if they held the resentment of a ghost before its death. Upon seeing her eyes, Ashina Zhuxie's heart sank, and his breath caught in his throat.
Of course he knew that Lei Yu must have heard the words that had been shouted throughout the tent. Others might accept it completely, or they might reluctantly accept it after some doubt, but she would never believe it.
Although there was no reason for it, he knew it.
This woman understands everything that happens around her.
I understand him!
Thinking of this, he took a deep breath to calm himself down. Lei Yu had already walked up to him and stood there, her pale face slightly tilted up to look at him, but she didn't say a word.
Ashina Zhuxie was the first to speak.
He said, "I didn't bring her back safely, but I sent her away safely. She has now left with Yuwen Ye, and I don't think she will come back."
"..."
So you—
Lei Yu finally spoke, her bloodless lips like withered flower petals, her movements conveying a sense of listless helplessness: "What do you want?"
"You, come with me."
"Me and you?"
Lei Yu suddenly smiled, and her eyes, which were originally a little red, welled up with hot, crystal-clear tears that were about to spill over. But she gritted her teeth and stopped crying. She got up and slowly walked to Ashina Zhuxie.
She laughed and said, "You want me to be with you?"
Ashina Zhuxie looked at her and said, "Yes."
"Haha, hahahaha."
Lei Yu laughed again, laughing so hard she bent over, her hands clutching her lower abdomen as if she couldn't straighten up, or as if she was in so much pain she was about to collapse. But Ashina Zhuxie became even calmer. His face was expressionless, he just looked at her calmly, and a hint of warmth finally appeared in his usually cold and sinister eyes.
The next moment, a cold glint flashed before my eyes.
Lei Yu suddenly drew a knife from his waist and stabbed it fiercely at Ashina Zhuxie!
Just as the blade was about to pierce Ashina Zhuxie's chest, he reached out and firmly grasped Lei Yu's wrist. With a single pull, Lei Yu felt a sharp pain as if her wrist was about to shatter. She cried out softly, and the dagger fell to the ground.
Ashina Zhuxie pulled her in front of him with a force.
At this moment, Lei Yu had nothing left to resist, but she refused to submit. She simply raised her head and stared intently at Ashina Zhuxie with bloodshot eyes: "One day, I will kill you and avenge Yiasu!"
"...!"
Ashina Zhuxie's pupils trembled slightly.
But the next moment, his expression turned cold again, his sinister eyes returned to normal, and the hand that was holding Lei Yu's wrist loosened its grip, but he did not let go of her. He simply said calmly, "That's great."
"..."
“But if you want to kill me, you must stay by my side; otherwise, you have no chance.”
"..."
"Only by staying by my side can you kill me!"
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