The Prince of Travelers
Chapter 063: Calm Before the Storm
“We are leaving now,” exclaims Otugai leading the troupe. His people also exclaimed in spirit. They all rode their horses to head to the hunting grounds. Although not lined up neatly, the horsemen of the khanate looked gallant and dignified.
On the other hand, Li An led his chosen entourage to go hunting. Among its members, there were some great warriors like Wang Hongli. There were also Tang nobles who did love to hunt, including Xiao Chyou.
Not only the Second Arrow Tribe and the Imperial Delegation were hunting, there was also a group of other dart tribes led by every Otugai-level chieftain. They only arrived in the capital of Tarkan a few days ago. Their arrival was welcomed by Ertamis Khagan.
“Prince, will this be okay?” xiao Chyou asked worriedly. He still did not carry out the orders of the high minister who met him at that time. Until now, he still felt hesitant to side with the Eighth Prince or the high minister. Although notoriously cold and unapproachable, the prince was actually a kind and noble-hearted person.
“What are you afraid of, Chief Chyou?” Li An asked back. Actually, he did not plan to invite the Chief of Logistics. However, because the person himself asked, he did not mind to bring it.
“Anu ...,” Xiao Chyou hesitated to express his thoughts. He thought before saying his heart to the Eighth Prince. “Are you sure to accept this hunting invitation? Had they planned something in the middle of the trip, we wouldn't have been able to do much with the few.”
“You're afraid they'll betray us?” Li An frowned. That possibility does exist. However, the Eighth Prince immediately shook his head and dismissed those bad thoughts. “Kekhaganan will get nothing by hurting us. They will even get a major disaster if we get hurt. The Empire can make us as a reason to attack again if they do anything.”
“Ah, so, yes ...,” Xiao Chyou slightly lowered his face, pondering on the thing that had been busying him for weeks. In fact, that reason was what the high minister of the Tang Empire wanted. Some in the empire intended to sacrifice the Eighth Prince to re-invade the Tarkan Khaganate. For them, it is the same as “Once a paddle, two three islands exceeded.”
Not only did they get an excuse to conquer the khanate, they were able to throw the Eighth Prince off the palace's political stage. The Fuli Trade Union might fall into their hands. Xiao Chyou did not know if anyone other than himself was aware of the plan. He was not told at all whether he had any allies or not in carrying out this sacrificial scheme. As long as he successfully carried out the task, he was promised a higher position than his current career.
Otugai led the whole company to a vast meadow. In the northern part of the meadow, there was a long hilly formation. The lush green-leaved trees are visible there.
“We will build a campground here,” exclaims Otugai gave instructions. The people carried out their orders swiftly. They govern their own territory by themselves. Li An himself chose the land where he stood as soon as the group arrived. The imperial banner he planted on the land to show ownership of his territory.
Each Tribe of the Arrow Tarkan has its own banner. In fact, they were separate tribes under one khagan leadership. However, each chieftain had his own authority to lead his own tribe.
“Please rest for a moment,” cried an assailant, “The hunt will begin tomorrow.”
The atmosphere of the camp was much different from the atmosphere in the palace. Xiao Chyou's mood was the same. He felt more and more agitated every time. The young man could not even close his eyes. He continued to weigh in to decide his partisanship. This hunt will be his last chance to carry out the mission of the high minister if he continues to accept it. If not, he would still be in his position today.
That's how he thought. If he thought more deeply, it could be that Li An gave him a better position after this negotiation considering his good performance during his time as Head of Logistics. The wise Eighth Prince would definitely not ignore such a talented person.
***
“Finally we go home~” exclamation Li Xiayu happy. After the banquet yesterday, negotiations with khanate are considered successful and complete. The Seventh Princess who from the beginning did not have a job was returned with Asina and Mimi—she had to go home to foster Asina, while Yun Jili still had to be with Li An as her advisor. Li An left a letter he wrote last night to Mimi. He entrusted that important message to his trust lady.
Thanks to the smooth running negotiations, Li Xiayu did not need to sacrifice in the slightest. He was very happy because he could immediately return to the peaceful Palace of Eternal Happiness. In addition, Li An even got a concubine who signified the bondage of kinship between the empire and khanate.
“Of course not,” replied Li Xiayu with a nosy smile on her face, “I am her brother. If I were his wife, I wouldn't let you get close to him even a little.”
“Ah ...,” Asina swallowed her saliva. Whether this was luck or not, this was clearly an opportunity for him. She could have been the Grand Prince's main wife if she could have gotten her heart.
“Because of that, I want to promise to help you, right?” Li Xiayu alluded back to her promise a few days ago, “Unfortunately, you did not become my lady because His Majesty handed you over directly to An’er. I won't be able to do much then.”
“Hm?” Asina still did not understand Li Xiayu's intentions.
“Just calm down, I will still help you to get the insensitive boy's heart,” Li Xiyu again smiled nosily. He loved to see this girl in front of him. I don't know why, it was fun enough for him. “You should know that the boy has been targeted by many girls in the empire.
Oh, yes,” Li Xiayu remembered with one of the figures closest to Li An for several years, “You can also approach another person if you want your business to be smooth. She was a chatty woman who since childhood nurtured that insensitive boy. If you attract her attention, she will help you get Eighth Sister.”
“Si–who is he?” ask Asina shyly.
“Third Princess,” replied Li Xiayu lightly, “Unfortunately, she is married and living in Guangzhou with her husband. Maybe you can meet her if you ask aunty.”
“It so happens, I will also drop off a letter to Guangzhou,” Mimi shows a coordinated attitude, “Nona Asina can come with me there.”
“Ah, I almost forgot,” Li Xiayu remembered something else, “An’er had an appointment with His Majesty Emperor Yung Wei. He should not marry a foreign maiden before marrying a noble girl from the empire. Apparently, you won't be able to be first, Asina.”
“...”
Asina fell silent. His ambition ran aground for a moment. However, he still had hope of getting the love of the Grand Prince he had been craving for. He also replied to Li Xiayu's warning in a soft voice, “I've heard it from the Grand Prince. He is a man who knows how to respect women. I wouldn't mind even being the second, third, or even the fourth. A noble person like him deserves that. Girls like me don't deserve to monopolize on their own.”
“Asina,” call Li Xiayu in a flat voice this time. The smile on his lips faded. There was a look of pity that seemed to be engraved on his face. He said to Asina coldly. “I'm surprised with you. Why are you so easy to let that insensitive boy be snatched by another woman?”
“I ...,” Asina back down. If he was at the same level as Li Xiayu, perhaps he would think that way too. She is a girl who knows her position. Since childhood, he has learned the meaning of breastplate. It is an expensive science that cannot be bought or owned by just anyone. If a person already has the spaciousness of the chest, he will never feel the tightness that hurts his heart.
“... have said before,” continued Asina, “The Grand Prince is a noble man who knows how to respect women. It's not appropriate for me to want to own it myself. After all, he already had the girl he loved in his heart.”
Li Xiayu was speechless hearing Asina's reply. He became curious again with the figure of the girl who was engaged to the Eighth Prince. Well, he said it wasn't an engagement, it was an agreement. But really, it's not much different.
The journey continued in silence until the first resting post. After going through various different terrains, they reached the empire a month later. Emperor Yung Wei was delighted to receive the glad tidings from the newly arrived party. However, it has not been even a week since they arrived, bad news tetiba came to overtake them.
