Chapter 87: Taking risks without a fierce tiger to protect you, the jackals will surely bare their fangs...
Their whereabouts are unknown, and their fate is uncertain!
Chu Yueyuan's heart felt as if it had been shattered by those words. She tried her best to calm herself, but her voice trembled uncontrollably:
"Lord Lin, please put down your sword and tell me what happened."
When Lin Sizhou saw the young Empress Dowager, his eyes lit up, and he quickly lowered his sword, briefly recounting what had happened.
Just fifteen minutes earlier, several hunters covered in blood fled from the forest in panic. They claimed to have encountered more than ten rabid brown bears in the hunting park. These brown bears, which were about to hibernate, had inexplicably gone berserk and were attacking and biting anyone they encountered.
Furthermore, eight brown bears surrounded the Emperor and the Regent's entourage and launched a frenzied attack. Several hunters tried to rescue them, but were knocked off their horses by a slap from a crazed bear and trampled to death. Seeing this, the remaining hunters dared not attempt a rescue and had to rush back to their camp for help.
When Prince Anxian heard that the emperor was in danger, he organized his men to go into the forest to rescue him, but Lin Sizhou strongly opposed it.
"It's getting dark, and there are still Canglang tribesmen in the camp. At least half of the Imperial Guards need to be left to guard against them causing trouble. If that happens, we won't have enough troops to search for His Majesty. Prince Anxian has voluntarily offered up his men, but Commander Lin not only doesn't appreciate it, but also suspects that the prince has ulterior motives. I'm afraid the longer this drags on, the more dangerous it will be for His Majesty and the others!"
"We urge Your Majesty to make a decision quickly!"
Upon learning that Xiao Yun and Pei Muwei had been attacked by brown bears in the hunting park, Chu Yueyuan felt as if her blood had frozen, the world was spinning before her eyes, her ears were ringing, and she could barely stand.
Jin Tong rushed to help, but lost her composure and dropped the fish basket in her hand. Two silver-scaled bass fell out, their tail fins slapping the ground with a loud cracking sound, and their gill covers thrashing violently.
Chu Yueyuan stared intently at the struggling fish, trying her best to calm herself down.
She understood Lin Sizhou's concerns. If the power to rescue the emperor were given to Prince Anxian, Pei Muwei would likely face not only a raging bear but also arrows shot from behind.
Moreover, Erhe is still in the camp; we must not let him know that Pei Muwei is in danger.
Without a fierce tiger to guard the area, jackals and wolves will surely bare their fangs.
Chu Yueyuan steadied herself, suppressing the tremor in her voice: "His Majesty's safety is of utmost importance. Issue my imperial decree to immediately dispatch seventy percent of the Imperial Guards deep into the hunting grounds to rescue His Majesty. The leader will be..."
She slowly scanned the panicked crowd, remembering that General Kan and Meng Xun had long been sent to the outskirts of the capital to supervise the army, and Lin Mu was also trapped in the hunting grounds. Right now, she could hardly find anyone she could fully trust.
Upon hearing that there were more than ten rabid giant bears in the hunting grounds, and seeing that the few hunters who had managed to escape were seriously injured, some with severed arms and bleeding, and others unconscious, it was clear that the situation was extremely dangerous. For a moment, everyone lowered their heads and dared not meet the Empress Dowager's gaze.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead a team into the forest to rescue you."
At the crucial moment, Shen Zizhan strode out, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting, and his clear, gentle voice always had the power to soothe the anxiety and unease in people's hearts:
"Your Majesty, I will do everything in my power to bring you back safely."
The flickering campfire cast a shimmering glow on his blue cattail-patterned crane cloak, making his amber eyes shine with burning sincerity.
Chu Yueyuan no longer hesitated and immediately decided: "In that case, I hereby specially order Shen Qing to temporarily assume the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard and immediately lead troops to rescue the Emperor!"
Before leaving, Shen Zizhan stepped forward and whispered to the woman, "After I leave, please order the Imperial Guards to patrol all night. Soldiers in each camp must not act without the permission of their commander."
Chu Yueyuan nodded: "I have noted it all down. Shen Qing, you must also be careful."
Shen Zizhan gazed at the woman's exquisite face, his eyes landing on her tightly furrowed brows. His fingers twitched unconsciously, but he ultimately suppressed his inner impulse, clenching his fist slightly. A gentle smile, as always, graced his lips as he softly replied:
"Your subject obeys."
Back in the golden tent, Chu Yueyuan, now calmer, felt increasingly suspicious about the matter.
The hunting grounds are vast, stretching for hundreds of miles, with towering mountains dividing them into two distinct forests: the outer, bright forest, meticulously maintained by hunters regularly dispatched by the imperial court, teeming with herds of deer and roe deer, mostly docile animals. Further in lies the dark forest, unattended year-round, where ancient trees reach for the sky, vines intertwine, and dense foliage blocks out the sun, providing habitat for many ferocious wild beasts.
Although Xiao Yun kept talking about cheetahs, Pei Muwei was a steady and reliable person. On their first day of hunting in the forest, he would definitely not take Xiao Yun into the dark forest to risk danger.
Moreover, brown bears prefer to live alone, and it is late autumn at this time. These bears should be hibernating in the deep mountains to prepare for winter and would rarely be active in the Minglin area.
Furthermore, there are only about thirty brown bears in the hunting park, and it's rare to see even one on a normal day. How could half the number of brown bears suddenly appear and actively attack the hunters?
Chu Yueyuan summoned the three hunters who had escaped and learned more about what had happened in the hunting grounds from them.
"Suddenly, several brown bears appeared in the forest. These wild beasts rushed towards the imperial carriage, tearing the emperor's fiery steed in two. Fortunately, the Regent Prince's arrows were incredibly accurate, and he managed to kill two bears, risking his life to rescue the emperor from their clutches. The emperor was unharmed, but the Regent Prince's right arm was scratched by a bear's paw, causing him to bleed considerably..."
"These brown bears have thick hides and are numerous; they become extremely ferocious at the sight of blood, forcing the Regent and his men into the dark forest..."
Chu Yueyuan was horrified. Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she didn't realize it until Jin Tong, with tears in her eyes, pried open her tightly clenched fists and discovered that her palms were bleeding.
After listening to the hunters' words, she became even more convinced of her guess: someone had tampered with the hunting grounds, wanting Xiao Yun and Pei Muwei to die in the jaws of beasts.
If she hadn't been exhausted from the man's antics last night, she should have gone to the hunting grounds with them today. If that had happened, when the brown bear attacked, she and Xiao Yun would have become a burden to him, and the man would have been unable to attend to everything. In that case, all three of them would probably have perished.
Fortunately, she stayed at the camp and escaped the assassination attempt. Pei Muwei was able to protect Xiao Yun with all her might, but she was still injured.
How badly is he injured? The environment in the dark forest is harsh; will his wounds fester?
Chu Yueyuan was extremely anxious at this moment, but she knew she couldn't lose her composure. If the person behind the scenes hadn't succeeded, they would definitely try to finish the job.
Only by standing in the open and maneuvering could she secure a chance for their survival.
————
Three days passed, and after Shen Zizhan and his men entered the hunting grounds, they vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea.
As time went by, the news could no longer be kept secret. When the officials and their families in the camp heard that the young emperor and the regent had encountered danger in the hunting grounds, they were immediately filled with anxiety.
The camp, which was once bustling and lively day and night, suddenly fell into a deathly silence. The bleak autumn wind, carrying a sense of decay, howled and passed through the tents.
For several days in a row, King Anhyeon repeatedly led his court officials to request an audience, intending to send his personal guards deep into the hunting grounds to rescue the emperor.
Chu Yueyuan politely declined his requests every time.
During their final conversation, King An-hyun finally couldn't hold back any longer and bluntly revealed the truth:
"The whereabouts of His Majesty and the Regent are unknown. In order to prevent any trouble from the imperial family, I have joined forces with the Duke of Fengguo to mobilize 50,000 troops from seven prefectures and station them temporarily in the capital region. Once His Majesty returns safely, I will disband the troops."
Lin Sizhou strode out from the ranks, his voice ringing out: "Prince Anxian, are you threatening the Empress Dowager with these words?"
Another minister retorted: "According to the laws of the Great Qi, if the emperor is in danger and has no heir, a prince of the same clan has the power to mobilize troops from the prefectures and counties without needing to request permission. Prince Anxian's actions are not inappropriate."
Lin Sizhou refuted this incisively: "In just three days, the troops under the Duke of Fengguo arrived in the capital region. Such foresight suggests that Prince Anxian has the ability to predict the future! Did he foresee that His Majesty and the Regent would encounter danger in the hunting grounds?"
Prince Anxian chuckled sinisterly: "Lord Lin is being too aggressive. Even if I don't have the ability to foresee the future, I can still guess your fate. As for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager..."
His gaze turned cold as he looked at the woman sitting on the carved rosewood phoenix chair, his tone laced with threat: "If the Empress Dowager insists on obstructing my mission to save the Emperor, and if anything happens to His Majesty in the future, Your Highness will likely bear the blame alone."
Beneath the phoenix throne, a jade incense burner adorned with peony blossoms exudes a subtle fragrance, its wisps of smoke rising and swirling amidst the crimson and gold-embroidered skirt.
Having not slept for three nights, the woman had faint dark circles under her eyes, yet her striking beauty remained undiminished, like a drooping bellflower, possessing a captivating and pitiful charm.
Chu Yueyuan's gaze swept over everyone in the tent. Unlike Lin Sizhou, she didn't try to outdo Prince Anxian. Instead, she calmly said:
"In this world, no one is more concerned about the Emperor's safety than I am. Now that His Majesty is in danger, even though my heart is breaking, I must think of the future of the Great Qi Dynasty. Fortunately, the Regent had previously entrusted me with the Tiger Tally, in case of unforeseen circumstances..."
The woman calmly took out half of a tiger tally from her sleeve. King Anxian's smile suddenly froze, and his eyes stared intently at the crimson gold tiger tally covered with inscriptions.
"This tiger tally can command 200,000 Floating Iron Cavalry in the Northern Border. However, I believe that His Majesty is the Son of Heaven and will surely be protected by Heaven and turn danger into safety. Therefore, I have hesitated to use force, as the movement of a large army has far-reaching implications. But today, after hearing what Prince Anxian said, I think it makes a lot of sense. In order to prevent any changes in the imperial family, I am willing to do my part."
Now that things had come to this, they each revealed their trump cards to compete against each other.
Clearly, the tiger tally in Chu Yueyuan's hands is more intimidating. The Golden Spear Army under the Duke of Fengguo can only hold back the troops in the capital. If the 200,000 Floating Iron Cavalry of the Northern Border are added, Prince Anxian will have no chance of winning.
Despite all the careful planning, Pei Muwei overlooked the fact that the Xiao family had been known for their romantic nature for generations. Even after changing their surname, their nature remained unchanged. Before leaving, Pei Muwei actually entrusted the important tiger tally to the young empress dowager.
The young empress dowager is able to sit securely on the throne only because of her status as the young emperor's foster mother. If anything were to happen to the young emperor, her title of "empress dowager" would be completely lost.
Prince Anxian's eyes darted around, and he quickly adjusted his expression, a faint smile playing on his lips:
"The Empress Dowager is absolutely right. His Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will surely return safely. It is I who have been worrying too much and have lost my composure. I will now order the Duke of Fengguo to immediately withdraw the troops stationed in the capital region back to Jizhou and await His Majesty's safe return."
Jizhou is adjacent to the capital, only a hundred miles away. The army can arrive in a day if it sets out in the morning. Anxian King's move seems like a concession, but in fact it has not touched the root of the problem.
Chu Yueyuan knew in her heart that this was the biggest concession she could get. If she went any further, she was afraid that she would force Prince Anxian to take a desperate gamble.
After King Anxian and his entourage left the golden tent, a general immediately spoke to the young empress dowager:
"I dare to swear on my life that the Emperor and the Regent's encounter in the hunting grounds is definitely related to Prince Anxian. I implore Your Highness not to hesitate any longer and to immediately order the transfer of 100,000 troops from the northern border to guard the troops stockpiled in Jizhou, so as to prevent Prince Anxian from seizing the initiative!"
“Now that Prince Anxian is too lazy to even hide his tail, if Your Highness continues to hold back, even if the Emperor and the Regent return safely, we will still be at a disadvantage!”
The generals in the tent all prostrated themselves on the ground, pleading with the Empress Dowager to quickly use the tiger tally to mobilize troops.
Sitting on the phoenix chair, Chu Yueyuan did not respond. She lowered her eyes and stared at the half tiger tally in her palm, her eyes flickering slightly.
Lin Sizhou noticed the woman's doubt and asked, "Does Your Highness have any concerns?"
Chu Yueyuan pondered for a moment before expressing her concerns: "I believe that what happened in the hunting grounds was the work of Prince Anxian. His prior arrangements for the Princess and the eldest son suggest that he had planned this all along. However, I have a feeling that this matter is not so simple. I fear that it is a case of two birds fighting while a third party benefits..."
Perhaps it was a woman's keen intuition, but Chu Yueyuan felt something was amiss. With Khan Canglang still a guest in the camp, why did King Anxian choose this moment to strike?
Over the years, she had reviewed numerous memorials and had a fairly clear understanding of the military strength under the Duke of Fengguo's command. Even if the Duke of Fengguo and Prince Anxian, who were related by marriage, joined forces, they would still be no match for the northern army.
If King Anxian wants to usurp the throne, he should conserve his strength and proceed slowly.
Could there be other forces behind his sudden and ruthless attack?
Lin Sizhou's gaze darkened, and he immediately understood the Empress Dowager's worry. His expression changed as he asked, "Does Your Highness suspect... that the Canglang people are also involved?"
If the Floating Iron Cavalry were to be dispatched from the Northern Territory to the capital at this moment, the border defenses would be weakened, allowing the Canglang tribe to take advantage of the situation. If the Floating Iron Cavalry were to be driven out, they would have no choice but to return to the Northern Territory, leaving the capital isolated and helpless, which would give Prince Anxian an opportunity to exploit.
One of his generals asked in bewilderment, "Irkh is still within the territory of the Great Qi. If the Canglang people dare to march south and attack the city, aren't they afraid that we will kill their Khan?"
Lin Sizhou slammed his fist on the table and angrily rebuked, "Stupid! Now that Erhe and Prince Anxian are in cahoots, Prince Anxian will definitely ensure his safe return to the Northern Territory."
The tent fell silent instantly, the faces of the generals and soldiers were solemn, and their brows were furrowed with worry.
Although colluding with foreign tribes is an unforgivable crime of treason, if one uses this opportunity to become the supreme ruler, the historians will use their skillful pens to whitewash the flaws.
In the silence, the young empress dowager spoke softly: "Whether Erhe and Prince Anxian are colluding or not, I will find out by testing them."
"Your Highness, I will go with you!" Lin Sizhou blurted out, his handsome face slightly flushed.
"I'll go too! I'll go too!" The other soldiers volunteered one after another, none of them wanting the delicate Empress Dowager to face Erhe alone.
Chu Yueyuan surveyed the resolute faces of the men in the tent, feeling a slight sense of relief after days of tension. She said softly:
"Although Erhe is arrogant and conceited, he is extremely cautious in his actions. He would not be wary of a mere woman like me. If you all go, it will only make him more cautious. Moreover, he is still within the territory of our Great Qi and has not yet made his relationship with Prince Anxian public. I suppose he would not dare to act rashly towards me."
Lin Sizhou's face flushed red, clearly disapproving of her idea: "But Your Highness..."
Chu Yueyuan interrupted him, her eyes clear and her tone resolute: "The Emperor and the Regent are on the verge of death, and I can no longer sit idly by and wait for them to perish."
She had to take action. During the long wait, she became increasingly uneasy and couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenario. If she continued to wait, this anxiety would inevitably affect her judgment.
————
In stark contrast to the somber atmosphere in the camp, the dozens of felt tents where the Grey Wolf people lived were always bustling with noise, with singing and dancing continuing even during the day.
The Canglang people are skilled hunters. Following the customs of grassland life, they skin their prey whole and hang the pelts on the walls of their felt tents.
The tent was simply furnished, with only a couch covered with a striped tiger skin and a table for drinking. The exquisite screens, ornaments, and utensils were casually piled up in the corner.
As Chu Yueyuan entered the tent, she was greeted by a dense array of animal hides hanging on the tent walls. These hides were well-preserved, with even the hides of the ferocious beasts intact, their empty eye sockets arranged in a chilling manner that sent shivers down one's spine.
The air inside the tent was hot and dry, with the spiciness of strong liquor mixed with the pungent smell of animal hides. Although the smell wasn't pungent, it still made Eunuch Wang frown and hurriedly raise his wide sleeve to cover his mouth and nose.
This action immediately angered the Canglang soldiers present, whose faces darkened and they uttered a string of gibberish.
Chu Yueyuan understood the Hu language and knew how offensive their insults were.
Although Wang Gonggong did not understand the Hu language, he was so frightened by the fierce appearance of the group that he trembled all over, and his powdered old face cracked.
Erkh leaned lazily against the soft pillows, one hand resting on his raised knee, observing the beautiful woman who had unexpectedly arrived with great interest.
The woman's chin was hidden in a snow-white fox fur coat, the fluffy silver fox fur making her fair skin appear even more delicate, and her eyes, like obsidian, sparkled with light, making it impossible to look away.
The young empress dowager was quite bold; she dared to enter her own tent with only a spineless, effeminate eunuch as her companion.
When Erkh raised his hand, the officers who had been cursing him immediately fell silent.
Chu Yueyuan frowned slightly, because she felt an absolute pressure emanating from Erhe.
Fortunately, she had survived under such pressure for some time before.
Erkh pointed to the rattan mat beside him, striking a polite pose, but a playful smile played on his lips:
"There's a saying in the Great Qi Dynasty... Oh, I think it's 'A humble abode shines with glory.' Today, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's presence in this humble tent makes even this Khan's tent shine. I just wonder what brings Your Highness here?"
Chu Yueyuan untied her fox fur cloak and handed it to Eunuch Wang. She walked forward with composure, but instead of sitting down next to Erhe, she knelt at the other end of the long table, her moon-white skirt spreading out like a flower bud.
Her eyebrows curved slightly: "Khan is a distinguished guest who has come from afar. As the host, I have come to inquire whether you have been comfortable with your stay these past few days. If there is anything you are dissatisfied with, I will ask the officials of the Ministry of Rites to improve your living conditions."
Erkh's expression was nonchalant. He tapped the long table lightly with his long fingers, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "The Emperor of Great Qi and the Regent were attacked in the hunting grounds, and their fate remains unknown. Instead of searching for them, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager comes to inquire about my well-being. Could it be...?"
He suddenly leaned forward, like a wolf eyeing its prey, looking her up and down, his voice low and husky: "Could it be that Your Highness is tired of being the Empress Dowager of the Great Qi and wants to be the mistress of the grasslands?"
Faced with the suddenly approaching figure, Chu Yueyuan's heart trembled, and her fingers clenched tightly beneath her sleeves. She looked up to meet those exotic green eyes and smiled faintly:
"Khan is joking. I came to visit precisely because I wanted to find out the whereabouts of the Emperor and the Regent. After all, no one in the world understands the habits of wild beasts better than the Khan."
How could Erhe not hear the probing intent in the Empress Dowager's flattery? He knew that the woman's gentle smile was a trap, and to him, the trap was nothing more than a thorny rose. Getting pricked a few times would only add to the fun.
He grabbed the silver pot on the table, filled a cup with wine, and pushed it in front of the woman: "If the Empress Dowager can drink this wine, I will tell you everything I know."
In an instant, Chu Yueyuan could smell a strong odor of alcohol.
The northern winters are bitterly cold, and the Canglang tribe on the grasslands usually drink strong liquor to warm themselves. They even brew a special liquor called Shaodaozi, which is even stronger than Tusu wine from the Central Plains.
This time, however, no one will stand up for her and drink the wine.
Without hesitation, Chu Yueyuan picked up the wine glass in front of her, pressed her red lips against the rim of the glass, frowned and took a big gulp. The spicy wine slid down her throat, like a quenched dagger slowly cutting through her throat.
As she put down her wine glass, a blush crept onto her cheeks, and her misty eyes became even more alluring.
Erkh stared at the woman's fair and rosy face, his dark green eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
Chu Yueyuan accepted the tea offered by Eunuch Wang and took a small sip. The cool tea soothed the burning pain in her throat, but her voice was still a little hoarse.
"Khan, you are a man of great experience and knowledge. Do you know why the brown bears, which were preparing to lie low, would suddenly emerge in packs and attack people?"
Erkh poured himself a glass of wine, and under the woman's expectant gaze, he slowly drank it down until the glass was empty before speaking:
"Brown bears typically retreat into the deep mountains to hibernate after autumn, foraging only near their caves even when hungry. However, Your Highness has overlooked one point: brown bears mate in spring and give birth in autumn, producing only one or two cubs per litter. Precisely because their offspring are scarce, brown bears are extremely protective of their cubs, much like humans, especially the mother bear while she is nursing her cubs; even tigers give her a wide berth..."
"If a mother bear returns from hunting and finds her cubs missing from the cave, she will repeatedly search the area where her cubs went missing using her sense of smell, and she will also be quite aggressive..."
At this point, Erkh paused slightly, his casual expression gradually disappearing. He stared intently at the woman's flushed face, a cruel smile playing on his lips:
“Newborn bear cubs usually have light yellow fur. The animal skin vest worn by the Emperor of Daqi on the day of the hunt was golden yellow and unevenly distributed, making it look like it was made of multiple pieces of animal skin pieced together.”
In an instant, Chu Yueyuan felt the strong liquor in her stomach turn into ice, and a bone-chilling coldness spread from her internal organs, causing her face to gradually lose its color.
Although Erkh did not say it explicitly, the meaning behind his words was quite clear.
Prince Anxian sent men into the hunting grounds ahead of time. While the mother bear was out foraging, they kidnapped the newborn cubs and used their fur to make vests. They deliberately preserved the scent on the vests and then had them delivered to Xiao Yun through the Imperial Wardrobe.
In this way, once Xiao Yun enters the hunting grounds, the scent emanating from his vest will attract a group of vengeful female bears.
Chu Yueyuan's knuckles turned white as she gripped the teacup, as if she were about to smash it against Erhe's hateful face. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her impulse, but couldn't hide the underlying anger in her voice:
"So the Khan had already discovered Anxian's scheme. Why didn't you expose him to me that day?"
Erhe let out a sneer, his dark eyes coldly glancing at the little empress dowager, his tone disdainful: "Why should I, the Khan, interfere in your internal strife among the Qi people? Wasn't the Canglang tribe's internal strife caused by you? I have already been merciful enough by not taking the opportunity to flatten your borders."
"Whether the Khan is benevolent or fearful of the 200,000 cavalrymen in the north, only he himself knows the answer."
Now that Chu Yueyuan had learned from the other party why Xiao Yun was attacked by brown bears, she was eager to leave the place so that she could immediately send a guard to inform Shen Zizhan that if he encountered the emperor and his entourage, he should immediately remove the animal skin vest he was wearing.
She had just stood up when she felt a tightness around her wrist.
"Your Highness is truly heartless..."
Erkh narrowed his long eyes, his deep gaze falling on the woman's charming and beautiful face, as if he knew what she was about to do, his voice tinged with mockery:
"Unfortunately, it's too late. The pain of losing a cub is enough to drive even the most mindless beasts to tear at each other without regard for their own lives. Does Your Highness know what a maddened beast looks like? Unlike soldiers on the battlefield, they are fearless and tireless, relentlessly pursuing their prey by the scent of blood until they bite through its throat and tear it in two with their claws..."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes narrowed, and with her other hand, she removed the phoenix hairpin from her hair and thrust it sharply towards the back of her hand on her wrist.
Erkh was not on guard against the delicate lamb in front of him, and a bloody hole was immediately cut into the back of his hand, with blood flowing down his fingers.
Tsk, she really is a little she-wolf in sheep's clothing.
Upon seeing this, the generals of the Azure Wolf tribe inside the tent were instantly enraged. They shouted and cursed in a fierce manner in their foreign language, while simultaneously drawing their gleaming curved swords from their waists.
The eunuch Wang was so frightened by this turn of events that his face turned pale, his whisk trembling wildly in his hand. He bent over and shrank back, shouting in a shrill voice:
"How dare you...how dare you draw your weapons in front of the Empress Dowager!"
Chu Yueyuan took the opportunity to break free from the other party's grasp. She stared at Erhe warily, too nervous to even blink.
Erkh stretched out his bloodied hand, and seeing that no vital organs were injured, ordered his men to put away their scimitars. He looked up at the stubborn-looking Empress Dowager, raising a thick eyebrow slightly: "Your Highness can't even bear to hear my description; what if you see their corpses in a few days..."
"They'll be fine!"
The woman's eyes were as black as lacquer, and a resolute light shone in them. She said decisively, "Since the Khan can detect the problem with the Emperor's disguise, the Regent will also find out the oddities. Both of them will return safely."
"Oh...is that so? I think Your Highness is too optimistic..."
No sooner had Erhe finished speaking than a commotion arose outside the tent. A moment later, Lin Sizhou's urgent voice rang out through the curtain:
"Your Majesty, Lord Shen has located the Emperor and the Regent and has placed them in the Imperial Tent. Your Highness is kindly requested to return immediately."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes lit up instantly. She ignored Erhe and immediately lifted her skirt and walked out.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Erhe picked up the phoenix hairpin that had fallen onto the carpet, wiped away the bloodstains with his fingers, and handed it to the young Empress Dowager, his eyes smiling: "Next time Your Majesty uses this hairpin to stab someone, remember to apply poison to the tip. If it doesn't kill instantly, it's destined to cause endless trouble..."
Chu Yueyuan gestured for Eunuch Wang to put away the gold hairpin, and said in a light tone, "Thank you for the reminder, Khan. I will remember it."
Erhe watched the young empress dowager's hurried departure, and as soon as that beautiful figure completely disappeared, the smile in his eyes vanished.
He lowered his eyes to look at the winding bloodstains on the back of his hand, slowly raised his hand, and licked the salty blood with the tip of his tongue. Like a wild beast that has smelled blood, he felt no pain, but instead a desire to conquer his prey rose from the depths of his bones.
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