The Prince of Travelers

Chapter 059: An Offer from the Khagan

The delegation was invited to dinner together once they reached the Khagan Palace. The dinner was attended by the elders of Tarkan and one of the chieftains representing the ten tribes. The food was much different from what the imperial people used to eat. As a nation that lives by hunting, they provide more meat than vegetables.

“I Otugai Shad, The Second Arrow Child of the Ten Arrows. It is an honor to meet the Eighth Prince of the empire,” greet a middle-aged man with a long mustache and a thick beard. The man showed a warm formal smile to Li An and the imperial envoys seated across. At first glance, he looks like a friendly man who can get along with anyone, even though he is a very vile commander on the battlefield.

“We did too,” reply Li An formal with a thin smile on his face. The atmosphere of the dinner on the first day was still very awkward. The delegation only made small talk for a moment while observing the character of everyone present at the dinner table. Although Otugai joked several times to the point of making his people laugh, the imperial delegation could only fall silent while maintaining its dignity.

“Prince, I heard you are good at archery?” tanya Otugai confirm the information he received a moment ago, “How about we hunt after the moon shines?”

“Well, I can shoot,” Li An replied to her flat with a small nod. After the moon shines is the day on which the full moon rises at night. “I don't mind. Some of our people also like to hunt.”

“Oh~ that's great news!” exclaim Otugai spirit. He also said to the people of Tarkan in their own language, “Friends, let us show our greatness and horror to the people of the empire. Make them know that we never lose at all with them.”

Otugai's cry was met with cheers that were no less than the spirit of his people. The call made the guts of some imperial delegates who were generally scholars. After hearing what they were calling for from an interpreter, Li An simply looked at Otugai calmly.

The short party of the night passed quickly. Li An did not eat much of the dishes given to him. Other than to be careful of the worst possible, the taste of the dish did not suit Li An's taste.

The next morning, the Eighth Prince negotiated directly with the supreme leader of the Tarkan Khaganate, Ertamis Khagan. The main goal is to agree on a relationship of peace and friendship after decades of war. In addition, Li An was also tasked with securing the silk path that had been blocked by the Tarkan people. If this diplomacy fails, it is likely that the two countries will again clash.

“Prince, they are our best flowers,” Ertamis said during a diplomatic meeting. Various foods and drinks are served. The female dancers are brought in. They are beautifully weaved with beautiful and dazzling colorful scarves. “You can choose it one if you want.”

“No, Your Grace. I can't do that,” reject Li An firmly. He stared at the drink in his glass instead of watching the beautiful female dancers. Of course the Eighth Prince could not deny it, the women were beautiful and charming to the point of shaking anyone who saw it. However, the Eighth Prince had a strong determination to keep his promise to Li Huanran and the Little Princess Family.

“Oh, apparently the Eighth Prince is a loyal man,” Ertamis said with a reverent smile on her lips, “I respect your loyalty to the princess. However, there is no harm in you taking concubine.”

Li An shook his head softly without giving a word of verbal response. On several occasions, he walked with Li Xiayu who always wore a veil and covered clothes so that their closeness was misunderstood by the people of Tarkan. Well, Li An had indeed intentionally not straightened it out. He let them assume. Had Li Xiayu not whined to get out of her room, she would not have wanted to do that.

“The man should be much grateful,” reply Li An flat without turning his eyes away from his glass that occasionally ripples due to small shocks, “If they are kufur, this life will be narrow and meaningless.”

“Ho, is there such a teaching in the empire?” Ertamis frowned.

“No,” Li An shook his head slowly, “I learned it from foreigners of western origin.”

“From western countries?” Ertamis mangosteen slowly. His country is a country that many merchants pass through every year. He knows a lot about the outside world. “Which one? The rum? Pars?”

“Oh,” Ertamis paused for a moment, then confirmed the news he had received in recent years, “What do you mean is the land of the Arabs who conquered the Land of Pars and challenged the Rum hegemony?”

“Exactly,” Li An nodded.

“Prince, they are obviously a threatening existence,” Ertamis patted her thighs slowly, “I don't want to risk to clash with them. If the empire wants, you can just try it”

“We have a close trade agreement with them,” Li An looked at Ertamis sharply this time, “What should we do? It was just a stupid act done by the most stupid people.”

“...”

Ertamis fell silent, a moment later she laughed. Inwardly, he secretly cursed his fate. He deserved to lose the war. His enemies alone cooperated with each other and gathered strength.

“Well, even if in the future I have to face them,” Ertamis grinned widely in front of Li An as if deliberately provoking, “I will face him and not retreat at all.”

“Please,” reply Li An lightly, differ greatly by Ertamis estimate, “I just want to give you advice. Don't make trouble if you don't want to be invaded. They are the ones who are on the offensive defense. As long as you don't tease her, they won't tease you.”

“I appreciate the advice of the Young Prince,” Ertamis turned her grin into a gentle smile this time. He patted the Eighth Prince on the shoulder, then asked, “Prince, how about you marry my daughter?”

“Uhuk?!” Li An choked on her own drink in shock. It was not that he did not consider being offered that offer by the khagan. However, this was too fast for him. After all, he already had an appointment with the Little Princess Family. Even if she was the daughter of a khagan ….

“Call Asina here,” cried Ertamis without waiting for further reaction from the Eighth Prince. Shortly after, a girl who was the same age as Li An was present at the party with the most striking clothes. He walked with a timid face. When he arrived before his father, he greeted him with great respect.

“What do you think, Prince?” ask Ertamis again.

Li An was silent. His heart rippled as his eyes met the sight of the newly arrived girl. The princess named Asina is very beautiful and beautiful, especially with a variety of thick makeup used by her. The fragrance of the perfume was as fragrant as a castle that was poured into the earth.

“Prince, you don't need to rush,” Ertamis patted Li An's shoulder excitedly as she saw him not directly shaking his head like earlier. At least, his daughter still had a face to draw near to the prince. “Try you guys familiarize yourself. You guys are going to be a good couple. Well ... I don't care anyway even if he becomes second in your heart.”

Li An was completely at a loss for words at the banquet. He immediately shifted the topic and hoped that time would soon pass in order to get a quick rest. As soon as he reached the room, he could only take a long breath while strengthening his heart. How weak is the human heart. It is easy to turn around at any time.