As soon as these words were spoken, the people on the grassland fell into dead silence.
Those who had dared to challenge Chi Na moments ago now didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
Chi Na: "..."
Yan Lingshuang: "..."
Yan Lingshuang unconsciously moved closer to her and said, "The people over there have already decided to support Chi Na as the new Khan."
Jiu Yue turned her head and glanced at the trembling tribal leaders standing beside the dancers, nodding in understanding.
"So, these are the ones unwilling to submit?" She held her saber horizontally, calmly eyeing the men before her.
Chi Na also sensed that the Crown Princess seemed to have lost her patience. He quickly interjected, "Your Highness, please grant me a little more time. Among them are leaders with high prestige in the grasslands, so..."
So, persuasion would be the best approach.
"High prestige, huh..." Jiu Yue suddenly let out a laugh. "What does high prestige matter? Have you heard of Prince Ping of Tianqi?"
Chi Na paused, then nodded.
"Prince Ping also enjoyed immense popularity among the people," Jiu Yue asked him. "If you were the emperor of Tianqi, would you rely on Prince Ping to govern the country?"
Chi Na’s breath hitched, his thoughts subtly shifting.
"Yearning for peace doesn’t mean you can’t use force," Jiu Yue handed the saber to him. "On the contrary, force is the guarantee of peace. Do you understand what I mean?"
Chi Na took the saber, staring firmly into her eyes. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Jiu Yue folded her arms and took a step back, watching as Chi Na turned a heavy gaze toward the men before him.
"Wait—Third Prince, you can’t do this... If you kill me, the people of the grasslands won’t—" The arrogant leader had already begun to regret his stance. "I—I’m willing to support you as the new Kha—"
But the blade had already pierced his heart.
Chi Na calmly looked at the others. "Forgot to mention—that was the last chance."
...
The night breeze rustled gently as Yan Lingshuang escorted Jiu Yue to the edge of the camp.
"Since you have urgent matters, I won’t keep you," she said, gratitude swelling in her heart. There were many things she wanted to say, but in the end, only one sentence came out: "Be careful on the road."
Jiu Yue smiled reassuringly, then glanced at Chi Na beside her. "I hope you’ll keep your word. Also, I won’t interfere in matters of the heart, but you mustn’t bully her. To bully her is to bully Great Yan. Even if we don’t go to war, I can still make trouble for you."
"Your Highness need not worry," Chi Na responded solemnly.
"Then I’ll take my leave. Take care, both of you." Jiu Yue swung onto her horse, gripping the reins with one hand as she waved at them. "Come visit me when you have time!"
The two nodded, watching as she spurred her horse and rode away.
The bright moon hung high, illuminating the path ahead.
Yan Lingshuang stood frozen for a long time, unable to tear her gaze away until the sound of hoofbeats had completely vanished.
Beside her, Chi Na wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Who would’ve thought that after over a decade in Great Yan, the one who treated you best would be this Eldest Sister, who only returned to Great Yan not long ago?"
Yan Lingshuang leaned against his chest, lost in thought.
Chi Na held her and turned. "The wind is strong. Let’s go."
They still had their own affairs to attend to.
As they walked back, they hadn’t gone far before the Second Prince came stumbling toward them in a panic.
The Second Prince had been the first to defect to Chi Na, so he hadn’t suffered much. But now, he was staggering, even tripping and falling, looking even more disheveled than he had in the tent earlier.
"Chi Na! Chi Na... Oof!" The Second Prince scrambled up and urgently asked, "Where’s Yan Zhaoning? Has she left already?"
Chi Na, well aware of his elder brother’s idle nature, paid it little mind. "She’s not some dancer or palace maid—she’s the Crown Princess of Great Yan. Brother, you’d best give up on that idea."
The Second Prince: "..."
He stared despondently in the direction of Great Yan.
Wu Liang carried the head of the Old Khan, while Jiu Yue kept the official document close.
The two rode hard toward Great Yan.
From the grasslands to the capital of Yan, a nonstop gallop would take a day and a night.
But halfway through the night, dark clouds gathered, blotting out the moon. Not only did it obscure their vision, but rain also seemed imminent.
They stopped at a roadside shelter they passed by.
A short while later, the sound of pattering rain filled the air.
Fortunately, Wu Liang had managed to gather some dry branches and now had a small fire going.
Jiu Yue walked to the edge, catching the raindrops dripping from the roof.
Her system sighed regretfully. "The heavens aren’t cooperating. At this rate, we won’t reach the capital until the day after tomorrow at the earliest."
After the frantic ride, Jiu Yue had calmed down.
"Never mind. The mission’s already begun. Even if we rush back, it’s just to see that person sooner—it won’t change anything," she reassured it.
The system fell silent. Behind her, the fire crackled. Gazing at the curtain of rain, Jiu Yue pondered her next steps.
Now that the mission had started, she naturally wanted to focus on completing it and returning to reality as soon as possible.
But with her status as Crown Princess, Consort Ning wouldn’t let things slide.
From now on, she’d have to juggle both the mission and Consort Ning.
Life was only getting busier, Jiu Yue mused inwardly.
"Your Highness!" Wu Liang’s alarmed voice suddenly rang out behind her. "Look out!"
Jiu Yue turned, snatching the arrow aimed at her neck midair. Her expression darkened as she pivoted and hurled it back with force, swiftly moving to Wu Liang’s side.
The firelight flickered, revealing several figures now inside the shelter.
"Yan Zhaoning, die!"
With that shout, the black-clad assassins charged.
Jiu Yue smirked coldly, shoving Wu Liang toward a haystack behind them as the two split in opposite directions.
"Watch yourself," she tossed over her shoulder before lunging at the assassins, radiating killing intent!
Wu Liang: "..."
Wu Liang fell into silence.
