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Chapter 94: Retrieval
November 21, 2021mich
From the moment Li Yaoying was saved by Tumoroga, Haidu Aling knew that woman would not leave the matter at that. Seeing that Bisha had come to the door, he knew that the matter could not be concealed, so he did not deny it and asked flippantly, “Isn’t the Princess of Wei Empire with Buddha’s son now? What, is Buddha’s son going to fight with the Northern Rong over a woman?”
Wakhan Khan looked as usual and said gently, “Lang Nu, I have already entered a covenant with the monarch of the Royal Court, and also made a vow that I would not make things difficult for the other party’s family. The princess of the Wei Empire admires the monarch of the Royal Court and came a long way to chase after him. Her dowry was seized by you, and now the Royal Court’s monarch has sent someone to claim that dowry. What do you think should be done?”
He looked kind, and even had a pleasant look in his eyes, but everyone present understood what the Great Khan’s smile represented.
The people in the tent were sweating.
Haidu Aling was irritated at heart, but he had nothing but respect on his face, and without a moment’s hesitation, obediently said, “I will return the dowry as it is.”
Wakhan Khan nodded. His face was full of smiles, but a hardened look passed under his eyes.
Haidu Aling looked at Bisha and his words suddenly took a turn, “May I ask in what capacity the monarch of the Royal Court is asking for the dowry of the Wei Empire’s princess?”
Bisha calmly said, “The Wei Empire Princess wishes to marry our king.”
The corner of Haidu Aling’s mouth raised: “Oh? So your king is planning to break his practice?”
Bisha stood with his arms clasped: “The king is a monk; he cannot marry the princess. The princess asked for nothing but to follow the example of the Mordenga Maiden and practice for the king, and the king agreed. This is the Buddha’s test for him.”
Haidu Aling pupils shrank: Tumoroga actually agreed to Li Yaoying’s proposal that day?
Letting Li Yaoying into the temple to practice, was that not hiding the beauty beside him?!
Was he not afraid that the news would spread through the Royal Court and people’s hearts would be unsettled?
Haidu Aling thought fast: when Yelu Khan took a single look at Li Yaoying and captured Liangzhou as a bride price, all he said to persuade him was to no avail. After seeing Li Yaoying, several princes of the Yelu tribe were so greedy that their eyes were about to pop out looking at her.
He himself, too, was extra patient with Li Yaoying because of her beauty.
Could it be that Tumoroga was also bewitched by Li Yaoying’s beauty?
He really underestimated that woman, thinking that bringing her to the Western Regions 8,000 miles away would make her completely desperate and submit honestly, not expecting that she knew Buddha’s son and now even Buddha’s son had fallen for her.
Haidu Aling laughed coldly in his heart.
The more this happened, the more he had to get that woman.
Bisha got the promise from Wakhan Khan and did not want to bother too much, saying farewell then leaving.
When his back disappeared behind the tent door, Haidu Aling immediately bowed down towards Wakhan Khan, his face full of shame: “When this nephew was in the Central Plains, I saw that the princess of Wei Empire was the most beautiful woman on earth. I took her to my tent and intended to offer her to the Great Khan, but I never thought that she would be involved with Buddha’s son and escape halfway. This nephew was bold and presumptuous for one thing, but I was incompetent for another. I ask for Great Khan’s punishment!”
The people in the tent rolled their eyes.
Wakhan Khan was silent.
Haidu Aling knelt on the ground, not moving a muscle.
There was a silence like sinking water.
After a long time, Wakhan Khan got up, helped Haidu Aling up, and said in a sincere tone: “Forget it. You are also filial.”
Haidu Aling looked scared, “Thanks to Great Khan for your understanding!”
Wakhan Khan patted his shoulder and smiled, “These years, all the Western Regions’ countries have offered countless beauty and treasures, but the Buddha’s son has never been moved. Now, he is making a fuss over a woman’s dowry. It seems you have a good eye; that Wei Empire princess is indeed a stunning beauty.”
Haidu Aling’s brow jerked and he smiled coldly: “She is an otherworldly beauty.”
Wakhan Khan nodded: “Lang Nu, no matter where that beauty came from, or whether you are unwilling to give her away, that beauty has now become Buddha’s son’s woman. She will certainly be a hindrance to Buddha’s son’s reputation, which can only be good for us.”
Haidu Aling lowered his head, a layer of gloominess hanging over his handsome face, “This nephew understands. Not only will this nephew not stop the Royal Court from helping that woman, but I will also publicize this big event. It is better for everyone to know that the holy and pure Buddha’s son is willing to sink for a Han woman.”
Wakhan Khan nodded his head in satisfaction.
Father and son, uncle and nephew gathered in the tent to discuss things for a while. Haidu Aling then excused himself and left.
The young prince immediately jumped up: “Father Khan! Haidu Aling is full of nonsense! He hid the identity of the princess of the Wei Empire because he did not want to hand over the beauty! Father Khan is the most valiant man in the world, the most beautiful woman in the world should be sent to Father Khan’s bed; by hiding the beauty away, Haidu Aling is disrespecting you!”
Wakhan Khan raised his eyes and angrily rebuked, “You are the son of the divine wolf, and you have the blood of the divine wolf in you! How can you act like an ignorant shrew and sow discord in front of your father?”
The young prince grunted lightly and shut his mouth in embarrassment.
Wakhan Khan looked around and glanced at his trusted soldier who was guarding the tent door.
The trusted soldier whispered, “Prince Haidu Aling went straight back to his tent without stopping.”
Wakhan Khan nodded slightly.
The young prince came back to his senses and broke out in a cold sweat.
Wakhan Khan glanced at his youngest son and shook his head: “You are too young, not a match for Lang Nu. Lang Nu is a child raised by wolves. Wolves taught him to hunt, I taught him to lead troops into battle. Now, he is still young, reckless, arrogant. When he really grows up, he will definitely replace me.”
The young prince jutted his chin: “I am also a child taught by Father Khan!”
Wakhan Khan gave a big roll of his eyes.
He was a fierce head wolf who had grown his pack, raised a group of sons, and led his people to unify the grassland. He felt that he was still strong enough to continue his conquests.
However, the young wolves could not wait any longer, and they all wanted to challenge him, the head wolf, to become the new head wolf.
The strongest would be king.
His sons were also wolves, but unfortunately, they were too stupid, doomed to die at the hands of Haidu Aling who wanted to become the head wolf.
Wakhan Khan did not resent Haidu Aling’s challenge, but he could not tolerate Haidu Aling’s secret dealings.
The letter from the princess of the Wei Empire gave him a wake-up call. Haidu Aling secretly annexed Helong and the Northern Desert, hid weapons and horses, and kept private slaves. How big was his ambition?
Wakhan Khan pondered for a long time.
He had to beware of this wolf-raised cub.
Today, he forced Haidu Aling to return the dowry of the Wei Empire princess, and a deadly feud was formed between Haidu Aling and Buddha’s son of the Royal Court. If Haidu Aling really started a rebellion in the future, his cowardly and useless sons could flee to the Royal Court to escape disaster.
Wakhan Khan sighed in his heart. The person he was most jealous of in his life was Tumoroga, the person he most wanted to defeat was him, the person he trusted most… was actually also him.
Buddha’s son was a true gentleman. Never would he stoop as low as to slaughter his subjects.
…
Bisha came out of the commanding tent and immediately called someone to go to Sand City to report the news.
Yaoying’s personal soldiers had already rushed to Sand City and, receiving the news, rushed to the camp with Yaoying’s handwritten register to count the dowry. The deputy general of the Central Army sent two hundred people to escort them.
When Haidu Aling saw the register taken out by the personal soldiers, his narrow golden eyes gazed coldly at the personal soldiers. With a quirk of his lips, he brushed his sleeves and walked off.
Bisha led the men to transport the dowry.
When they left the camp, the personal soldiers immediately found the boxes of herbs and presented them to Bisha.
Bisha took the medicine, rode the fastest horse, and rushed back to the Holy City.
…
Yaoying and the rest of the personal soldiers were still being held but in a brighter and more spacious room.
Mondatipa prescribed medicine for Xie Qing and being properly taken care of, her wounds were finally slowly recovering. She looked better and better by the day.
Yaoying counted the days, thinking that Banruo should have gotten the water anise herb, and wondered if Tumoroga’s health was improving.
On this day, she was studying Sanskrit with the young samanera1 who was guarding her, when the Venerable Master’s disciple suddenly entered the courtyard in a hurry, asking her to quickly pack up her things to go to Mondatipa’s courtyard to hide for a few days.
“Why?”
The disciple’s voice trembled: “Just follow me, Princess. This is the Venerable Master’s order.”
1 As a reminder, samenera are novice monks and are below bhikkhu, experienced monks. I was debating whether to include these terms or not, but I think that as humans, we should be educating ourselves and learning every day. So, here is your educational opportunity of the day :)