The choice is yours: stay or return to the You tribe.
"After you left, I sent people to follow the You tribe, but they didn't find any men. Urentuya's people have already withdrawn from Lingzhou, leaving you a message saying they hope to discuss cooperation again when you return to Lingzhou." Aunt Pan looked up and saw that Jiang Yanhui's expression was normal and she didn't intend to say more, so she continued to report on other matters. In short, everything was fine in the manor and in Lingzhou after Jiang Yanhui left.
After all the reports were finished, Aunt Pan looked at Wang Zun, who was sitting motionless behind the table, and noticed that she was lost in thought. She then asked, "Wang Zun, is there anything else you need to instruct us on?"
This pulled Jiang Yan back from her wandering thoughts, and she rubbed her forehead wearily.
"Your Majesty, you have only recently returned to Lingzhou. Why not rest for a while longer? I will take care of everything." Aunt Pan noticed that she was distracted. She had heard from the servants in the main courtyard that Your Majesty had been eating less these past few days. She asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, should we have Physician Zhang come to check your pulse?"
"I am unharmed." Jiang Yan Hui's eyes were slightly dark, which added a touch of decadence to his handsome face, creating a unique kind of beauty. His dark eyes rippled, and he tapped his fingertips on the armrest twice before slowly saying, "Go back to Urentuya. See you at the usual place in three days."
Jiang Yanhui didn't shy away from discussing matters with Achou, but Achou couldn't simply stay in the study. Having regained his memories, Achou was no longer just a servant of the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion; he was also Prince Luosang of the You tribe. Torn by the desire to avoid being caught in the middle, Achou wanted to know as little as possible about the secrets of Lingzhou, lest he inadvertently cause Jiang Yanhui unnecessary trouble.
The quiet study was filled with the scent of ink, and golden sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the pattern on the carpet, with tiny dust particles dancing and swaying in the beams of light.
Jiang Yan looked up at A Chou as she entered, her eyes filled with a deep, melancholy. She beckoned A Chou to her side. A pale blue stream of water poured from the narrow spout of the teapot, the delicate aroma of tea diluting the heavy ink and paper, adding a touch of brightness to her gloomy mood.
After pouring the tea, Ah Chou naturally stood beside Jiang Yan Hui, leaning her lower back against the table with her upper body slightly tilted. Her eyes were big and bright, very beautiful and eye-catching. When she focused on Jiang Yan Hui, it always aroused the deepest desires in her heart.
Jiang Yan closed her eyes briefly, burying her turbulent emotions once more before opening them again. She played with Ah Chou's smooth, calloused hand, casually dropping a bombshell: "Would you like to see your family?"
Ah Chou's pupils constricted sharply, almost instantly thinking that his regained memories had been exposed, but he quickly calmed down. As the Jiangbei King stationed in Lingzhou, Jiang Yan Hui could not possibly calmly ask if he wanted to see his family after knowing that he was a prince of the You tribe; this was tantamount to giving up the best hostage he had in his hands.
Furthermore, if A Chou had known Jiang Yan Hui's identity earlier, given their relationship and Jiang Yan Hui's personality, she would have locked him up in a place where no one knew him, so that from then on, no one in the world would know that A Chou was actually Prince Luo Sang of the You tribe.
His mind raced for a moment. Ah Chou thought that he had probably mistakenly contacted the wrong family. In order not to arouse suspicion, Ah Chou slowly nodded and showed a shy smile of expectation. His thick, black eyelashes drooped down, so much so that Ah Chou failed to notice Jiang Yan Hui's fleeting reluctance.
Jiang Yanhui fondled Ah Chou's soft and delicate fingers, her tone calm and unreadable, saying, "Then rest well and come with me in three days."
Three days later, it was a day of continuous rain. The damp air and low pressure made people feel stuffy and uncomfortable. Spring in Lingzhou always brings light rain, but the number of ships coming and going at the dock did not decrease. Clever merchants always brought beautiful silks and porcelain ornaments to Lingzhou to sell, or to foreigners who liked them.
Two more armed boats appeared on the Duoluo River. Unlike the first time when they hesitated and pulled each other, the other side decisively lowered their small boats and approached, their demeanor suggesting they were on the verge of attack.
Unusually, Jiang Yanhui wasn't carrying a knife at her waist. She was dressed in a smart, narrow-necked black robe, and on her shoulder was a garment that Uncle Ban had forced on A Chou when it started raining, which A Chou had then suggested Jiang Yanhui wear to keep her dry. Standing beside her were Aunt Pan and Lang Rong, who had come from the military camp. If Lang Rong hadn't come to see her the day before after learning of Jiang Yanhui's return to Lingzhou, she probably wouldn't have known until Jiang Yanhui had met Urentuya.
Unlike the wary and hateful emotions of the others on the ship, Jiang Yan Hui was surrounded by an extremely suppressed restraint. Her bloodshot eyes were a sign that she couldn't sleep, as if the slightest provocation could cause her to collapse completely. However, no one present knew what she was worried about or what she was suppressing.
As the small boat carrying Urentuya approached the ship, the two crew members lowered the ladder rope. Jiang Yanhui, who was standing motionless at the bow, turned to look at Achou, who was pale with tension on the deck. In the instant their eyes met, Jiang Yanhui clearly saw the fear and panic in Achou's eyes.
Jiang Yan sighed silently and said to Aunt Pan, "Take A Chou to the dark room."
Aunt Pan looked puzzled, not understanding why she had to bring Ah Chou along when negotiating with Urentuya. However, due to her long-standing trust in Jiang Yanhui's decisions, Aunt Pan did not hesitate to bring Ah Chou, who was also acting strangely, into the cabin.
The incessant sound of the river lapping against the water echoed in her ears, and Ah Chou's mood sank to the bottom with each crash of the waves. All her wishful thinking was wrong; when she finally saw the familiar, longed-for face appear in her field of vision, Ah Chou felt no joy at reuniting with her sister, but rather her hands and feet turned icy cold and her teeth chattered.
Jiang Yanhui knew everything. When did she find out his identity? Why had she kept it a secret all this time? And why was she bringing him to Urentuya now? A Chou bit his lower lip anxiously, his tongue tasting the sweet, metallic flavor of blood.
Aunt Pan led him into a room that was only half the size of the other rooms. Ah Chou sat on a chair, feeling uneasy, rubbing his hands together on his knees to relieve his tension. Aunt Pan showed no intention of leaving. She closed the door and sat down behind Ah Chou, not saying a word, her breathing very soft, so that you could hardly tell that there was another person in the room.
Before a cup of tea had been brewed, Ah Chou heard someone enter from the next room, and their voice was so clear it was as if they were face to face. Upon closer inspection, the barrier in front of him turned out to be a partition disguised as a wall. If the voice hadn't been so clear, Ah Chou wouldn't have noticed anything amiss.
"Jiang Yanhui, you're playing me! There's no brother of mine in Lingzhou!"
Upon hearing her sister Urentuya's voice, Achou's heart leaped into her throat, and her hand unconsciously gripped the dagger hanging at her waist. The ruby embedded in the scabbard reddened her soft palm, but Achou seemed oblivious, straining to listen intently to the conversation next door.
"When did I ever say that your brother was in Lingzhou? You were the one who came to me on your own initiative, negotiating terms to enter Lingzhou to find him." Jiang Yanhui's dark gaze fell on Wurentuya's face. It is undeniable that, aside from Wurentuya's unique attire from the You tribe and the fierceness in her eyes, her features were seven or eight parts similar to A Chou's. However, her domineering personality often made people overlook her delicate appearance.
Jiang Yanhui calmly withdrew her gaze, rubbing her fingertips to suppress the urge to vent her emotions. She pursed her pale, dry lips and sneered, "You can't even protect your closest people. The leader of the You tribe is nothing special."
Almost out of spite, Jiang Yan Hui jabbed at Urentuya's sore spot, hoping to provoke her unbearable madness in front of A Chou. Of course, Jiang Yan Hui would not openly admit her secret selfish motives.
The unexpected scene did not occur. The self-important Urentuya lowered her eyes in dejection, quiet unlike the aggressive person she had been just moments before. "It is I who failed to take good care of my younger brother."
Without uttering a single word of explanation.
His eyes, now raised again, looked firmly at Jiang Yan Hui, burning with a fierce flame. "I have always believed that Luo Sang is alive. I will find Luo Sang even if it costs me everything."
In the dark room separated by a screen, Ah Chou had already covered her face, biting her lower lip hard to hold back her sobs. A torrent of tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. Sitting behind her, Aunt Pan frowned. Years of worldly experience told her that the situation was beyond her expectations and was developing in an unexpected direction.
At the tense negotiating table, no one dared to let their guard down. Lang Rong gripped the knife tightly in his hand, his eyes fixed on the burly man behind Urentuya, ready to strike at the slightest sign of trouble.
Jiang Yan smiled, trying her best to picture the pampered Losang in her mind. He must be even more dazzling than he is now, with his beloved father by his side and his caring sister always thinking of him. Who knows, the young and beautiful Losang might have many girls who like him.
"Lossan is a very nice boy."
Urentuya looked at Jiang Yanhui strangely, and said matter-of-factly, "My brother is the kindest and most lovable person in the world. Even the fiery red Sarilang cannot compare to his beautiful personality."
Jiang Yan closed her eyes, her breathing becoming heavier, and turned to Lang Rong, saying in a hoarse voice, "Go ask Ah Chou if he's willing to come over."
Lang Rong knew the layout of the cabin and that Aunt Pan was with Ah Chou next door, but she didn't understand why Jiang Yan Hui had asked her to bring Ah Chou at this crucial moment. With outsiders in the room, Lang Rong, full of questions, couldn't ask directly, so she could only follow Jiang Yan Hui's suggestion and ask Ah Chou.
Just as her hand touched the door, it was slowly pushed open from the outside. Standing outside, A Chou looked at Urentuya, whose face was full of disbelief, and her eyes reddened again, hot tears sliding down her cheeks.
The surprise came too quickly and was too overwhelming. Urentuya stared blankly at Losang for a long time before tentatively calling out, her throat dry. Her voice was soft and gentle, as if afraid that it was all just a dream.
Losang remained silent, his tears flowing even more profusely, answering everything for him. He wept for the hardships he had endured since the assassination attempt, for his sister's unwavering search, and for Jiang Yanhui's arrangements…
Upon finding the Youzu prince, the warriors who had accompanied Urentuya became restless, immediately looking at Jiang Yan Hui with suspicion. Their suspicion wasn't entirely unfounded; the two sides were enemies, and they had searched Lingzhou for a long time without finding a trace of the prince. Jiang Yan Hui had only been back in Lingzhou for a few days, yet she had brought Losang, whom they had searched for with all their might, before them. How could they not suspect that Jiang Yan Hui had hidden him all along, using him as a bargaining chip now?
Urentuya naturally thought the same way. An ambitious and scheming politician would not naively believe that her opponent would help her out of kindness for no reason. She would definitely make her pay a price, and the ransom for important people would most likely be a heavy blow.
"Losang." Jiang Yan ignored the gazes focused on her and Lang Rong's questioning look, focusing on the pitiful woman with tears in her eyes, and raised a gentle, comforting smile, "Whether you stay or return to Youbu, the choice is yours."
Losang's eyes trembled as he stood helplessly between the two forces, his hands clutching the hem of his clothes. On one side was his sister, Urentuya, and on the other was his lover, Jiang Yanhui. His heart felt like it was being torn in two.
Perhaps it was the unusual way Losang looked at Jiang Yanhui that made Urentuya keenly aware that their relationship was unusually close. Alarm bells rang. Time was of the essence, and she couldn't afford to think about how to retaliate against Jiang Yanhui for what he had done to her brother. Getting the wavering Losang back to the safe Youbu with him was the top priority.
He immediately said, "Losang, I've sorted out Father's belongings. There's a letter he left for you inside. Would you like to go back and take a look with your sister?"
The handsome man, weeping, widened his eyes slightly, involuntarily recalling the scene of his father protecting him as they fled while he was being chased, a bittersweet feeling welling up in his chest. Losang, adrift in the world, longed for home immensely, fantasizing countless times about returning to his family's embrace; this longing only intensified after regaining his memories. He should return to his hometown, collect his father's belongings, and spend time with his sister, whom he had searched for for so many years.
Losang looked at Jiang Yanhui, who remained silent, again, tears blurring his vision and obscuring his face. Each step was difficult and hesitant. Losang couldn't know if he would have another chance to see Jiang Yanhui after returning to Youbu, but he had no choice in the matter. The responsibility on his shoulders forced him to return.
As Urentuya grabbed Losang's wrist and pulled him behind her, the waiting You tribe warriors gripped their sword hilts, ready to pounce and subdue Jiang Yanhui's men at any moment. Lang Rong's expression changed, and he and Aunt Pan each flanked Jiang Yanhui, lowering their brows and standing ready for battle.
Urentuya looked relaxed, and raised her chin slightly with a smug look. The ship under her feet was from Lingzhou. If she could negotiate, she would not want to fight on territory that did not belong to her.
"King of Jiangbei, tell us, what conditions will it take for you to let us leave?"
Jiang Yan shifted her gaze from Losang, loosened her grip on the armrest that had been tightly holding onto, and her deep eyes revealed no emotion. "Send the leader of the You tribe away." Her words were like a sigh, light as the wind.
Although she was irreconcilable with Jiang Yanhui, Urentuya inexplicably trusted the promise of this respectable opponent. She pulled Losang's wrist to her feet, cautiously scanned the people in the room, and led them out step by step, testing the waters.
The journey was smooth until they were lowered from the ropes and boarded the small boat, at which point Urentuya finally breathed a sigh of relief. To prevent the other party from going back on their word and launching a sneak attack from behind, Urentuya pulled Losang to her side to protect him. Keeping her promise to let him go did not quell Urentuya's anger. She said angrily, "Next time we meet, I will definitely take her head."
Urentuya struggled twice with her wrist clenched, looking up in confusion. She met her brother's tear-streaked, pained face, staring blankly at the deck as if waiting for someone to appear. Unfortunately, the figure she longed for never appeared on the deck, even after the large ship from Lingzhou had departed. Losang's heart sank to the bottom, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees.
When Losang woke up again, he was dizzy and had a terrible sore throat. His eyes, filled with tears, blinked slowly before he could barely make out his surroundings. The remaining bed board was shaking rhythmically, as if he were still on the ship.
"You're awake!" Urentuya grasped Losang's hand, a fierce glint in her eyes. "The doctor examined you and said you have a chronic illness, but with proper care you can recover. I'm worried that moving you too soon might not be good for your health, so now that we're on our ship, you can sleep a little longer in peace."
A torrent of memories washed over Losang, his face instantly turning grim. He struggled to his feet, surveying the layout of the cabin in an attempt to find pen and ink.
"Don't get up. The doctor said you're too frightened and need to rest." Urentuya hadn't expected Losang to have such unexpected strength, and he actually managed to break free from the bed. She said helplessly, "Why are you even more disobedient than when you were a child?"
Losang staggered, steadied himself on the table, and wrote a long string of words on the paper, his eyes reddening as he wrote, overcome with grief.
Urentuya didn't look at the contents of the paper at first. She stared intently at Losang's pursed lips, her eyes slightly red and filled with murderous intent as she asked, "What's wrong with your throat?"
The doctor said it was caused by fright that he lost his voice, but he can now say two sentences.
Losang didn't have time to show Urentuya the written text. He immediately pulled out a new sheet of Xuan paper from the side to explain, afraid that if he was late, Urentuya would misunderstand Jiang Yanhui.
As expected, Urentuya's murderous aura lessened considerably, replaced by guilt for failing to protect her younger brother. She carefully examined the words Losang had written, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
Although Losang subtly romanticized his relationship with Jiang Yanhui, making them seem like a perfect couple, Urentuya was an extremely intelligent person who had clashed with Jiang Yanhui both openly and secretly many times. She would never be foolish enough to mistake the gentle person Losang spoke of for Jiang Yanhui, and she would certainly not agree to Losang's request to return to Lingzhou to find Jiang Yanhui.
Urentuya crumpled the Xuan paper expressionlessly, her gaze fixed on her stubborn younger brother, her tone cold and almost ruthless: "I finally found you, and I can't let you go again. The outside world is too dangerous. Losang, stay in the You tribe and be a carefree prince of the You tribe."
The calligraphy brush in his hand fell straight onto the smooth paper, the glaring black ink stains mirroring Losang's feelings—suppressed to the point of being breathless, his face flushed red, unable to believe that his choice alone would mean he would never see Jiang Yanhui again.
Urentuya seemed to realize that she had been too cruel. Instead, she softened instantly, gently stroking Losang's reddened eyes, and earnestly advised, "Don't you want to live with your sister forever? Don't you want to see the letters your father left you?"
Losang's resolute expression softened slightly, and Urentuya pressed her advantage, using her father's name to persuade him on the issues that mattered most to Losang. In the end, Losang lowered his head and gave up arguing. Urentuya coaxed him to drink the sedative medicine prescribed by the doctor and stayed with him until Losang fell into a deep sleep before leaving.
Upon exiting the cabin, Urentuya's face instantly darkened. She said to the guards standing at the door, "Keep a close watch. Report any unusual behavior from the prince to me immediately."
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