Love Lock

Chapter 82 Conspiring for a Great War
Just as Cao Xiong was being tortured to the point of mental collapse and was about to give up, inside the Turkic tent, the flickering candlelight illuminated Ashina Khan's resolute and profound face.

The tent curtains hung low, isolating the outside world from the spring breeze and noise, leaving only a tranquil space for the grassland overlord to plan.

Ashina sat on a throne made of tiger skin, his eyes blazing as he surveyed General Alpi and Princess Yujia below.

His voice was steady and powerful, with unquestionable majesty.

"Alpi, your unit has been harassing and probing Yong'an City for a month now. Have your men seen that legendary expert who uses peanuts as weapons again?"

Alpi was one of the most valiant warriors on the Turkic steppes. He was a robust man, and the scars on his armor bore witness to his countless battles and glories.

Upon hearing this, Alpi frowned, a look of confusion on his face.

"Great Khan, we have never seen this person. I instructed my scouts to keep a close eye on him during each raid, but we have never seen him. It seems that he is not in the Yong'an City military camp."

Upon hearing this, Ashina tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest and fell into deep thought.

A moment later, he raised his head and turned his gaze to Princess Yujia beside him.

"Yu Jia, that expert appears and disappears without a trace. What are your thoughts on this?"

Princess Yujia was dressed in magnificent Turkic attire, wearing a golden crown, and her eyes revealed extraordinary wisdom and strategy.

She chuckled softly, her voice as melodious as a silver bell.

“Father, the warriors who participated in the ambush of Zhao Zun said that the expert’s face was covered in dirt, and they couldn’t see his features clearly. His clothes were also strange, like grass and trees. Standing in the dense forest, the warriors didn’t notice him at first. So even if he defends the city wall against our attacks, the warriors might not recognize him.”

Ashina Khan frowned, as if the problem was very difficult to solve.

"Does he not have any easily identifiable features?"

Princess Yujia gently shook her head, while Alpi stroked his chin as if he was thinking about something.

After a while, Princess Yujia boldly speculated, "Father, since we've been harassing them for a month without finding that peanut-shaped weapon, it means it's not in the Yong'an City military camp. I think... perhaps... that expert only came to rescue Zhao Zun? Or maybe he was one of Zhao Zun's personal guards, and was taken away with him when Zhao Zun left?"

Upon hearing this, Ashina's eyes lit up, seemingly agreeing with Princess Yujia's analysis.

“Yujia, what you say is very likely. Although I have never met Zhao Zun, I have heard that he is strict in disciplining his troops and has many skilled soldiers around him. That expert who used peanuts as weapons is very likely one of his personal guards. As soon as Zhao Zun left Beiguan, he naturally followed Zhao Zun.”

"Great Khan, Princess. I remember now." At this moment, Alpi, who was deep in thought, suddenly slapped his forehead and said excitedly, "Princess, you just said that you came only to save Zhao Zun, and then I remembered. I heard Buga mention it later; the person's voice was delicate, like a woman's."

"woman?"

"How could it be a woman?"

Princess Yujia and her father exclaimed in surprise at the same time. Ashina even slapped the armrest and stood up, his face full of disbelief.

Alpi, as if he had discovered some unspeakable secret, continued excitedly, "That's what Buga said. Great Khan, do you think that man might be Zhao Zun's lover, who came all the way here to rescue him? Hehe..."

After saying that, Alpi gave a lewd laugh.

"No, it's impossible."

Upon hearing this, Princess Yujia almost lost her balance, her deep eyes, typical of Turks, filled with a complex expression.

Did Zhao Zun, the handsome and dashing man who haunted her dreams, actually have another woman?
The news struck her like a bolt from the blue, leaving her momentarily speechless. Princess Yujia was overwhelmed with mixed emotions: shock, anger, and deep resentment.

She specially studied the culture of the Great Jing for Zhao Zun, and painstakingly studied military strategy in order to get closer to that strategist on the frontier.

She had fantasized countless times about riding alongside Zhao Zun across the vast grasslands, and about whispering sweet nothings to him under the moonlit flowers.

Now, that illusion has burst like a bubble.

She bit her lip tightly, stubbornly refusing to let her sadness spill out, but the tears in her eyes betrayed her vulnerability.

Princess Yujia closed her eyes, trying to bury this feeling deep in her heart.

However, Zhao Zun's image lingered in her mind, and the love in her heart seemed to burn like fire, but it was also tinged with a helpless pain.

Ashina Khan turned to look at Princess Yujia, sighed softly, and spoke with a hint of determination.

"Yujia, did you hear that? It was a woman who rescued Zhao Zun."

Princess Yujia struggled to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, composed herself, and replied, "Yes, I heard you, and I know what to do."

Ashina nodded approvingly to Princess Yujia. "When Zhao Zun was in Beiguan, we failed to capture the city for many years and did not plunder any supplies. Now, Zhao Zun has left Beiguan, and that expert has also taken him away. Yujia, our people need us to bring them a better life, and we should also do our own thing."

Princess Yujia understood the unspoken meaning in her father's words. He was warning her that Zhao Zun already had someone he loved, and that she should stop thinking about such things.

Father Khan is right. As the leaders of the tribe, they have the responsibility and obligation to benefit their people.

The grasslands are bitterly cold, and in order for their people to survive, or at least live better, they had to plunder more resources from the resource-rich Great Jing Dynasty.

She admired Zhao Zun, but she and Zhao Zun were also enemies.

Even without that woman who suddenly appeared, what difference would it make? They would still be separated by thousands of miles, and she would have almost no chance at all.

Thinking this, Princess Yujia felt heartbroken, but after taking a deep breath, the pain in her eyes disappeared, replaced by extraordinary wisdom and strategy.

"Yes, Father. Your daughter understands."

Seeing that his daughter seemed to have truly let go, Ashina nodded approvingly.

"Yujia, what do you plan to do?" Ashina asked, looking into Princess Yujia's eyes.

“Father, winter has passed and spring has come, but we suffered considerable losses in the great battle last autumn. I believe now is not the time for a major offensive. We still need to recuperate.” Princess Yujia frowned, carefully analyzing the current situation.

Alpi interjected, “Although we are not yet a strong and well-equipped force, Cao Xiong of Beiguan is a coward. According to the information gathered by our scouts, the soldiers of Beiguan do not respect him at all. Moreover, Cao Xiong has been harassed by our attacks and is exhausted and dispirited. This is a great opportunity for us.”

Princess Yujia nodded repeatedly after hearing what Alpi said.

"Father Khan, your daughter has received news. After Zhao Zun was stripped of his military power, Ala and our allies are also actively preparing for war, planning to attack Beiguan in the autumn."

"Oh? Is the information accurate?"

I've been busy polishing the story and burying myself in writing, so I haven't had much time to reply to everyone's comments individually. I hope you understand. But I sincerely thank you all for your support and companionship, and I hope the wonderful story will accompany you through some wonderful times.

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(End of this chapter)