Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 56 Angry
"What?" Aisha raised his head and drank a cup of wine, his voice a little hoarse.

"The princess asked me to tell you that no matter what means are used, this marriage cannot be annulled."

When these words came out, the other two were stunned.

The princess is gone, but the marriage should continue?

How to proceed?

Tan Huaike said stiffly, "I'm not sure what the princess means by that. Perhaps, Your Highness, you have considered similar accidents during the marriage and made preparations to deal with them?"

Aisha held her forehead with her hand. "The princess was killed... How can we deal with such an unexpected event? The marriage will have to be canceled, and the alliance between Mo He and Da Xuan must be renegotiated. Ti Nu has coveted Mo He for a long time, and I don't know if it's too late."

Shen Tu Zhuo said, "If the alliance is abolished or renegotiated, the losses to both countries will be immeasurable. I believe your princess also understands the pros and cons, which is why she asked you to do everything in your power to promote this marriage, even if she is no longer around."

Recalling the princess's resoluteness before leaving, Aisha said helplessly, "This matter also involves the struggle within the Mohe royal family. Alan once said that she had painstakingly secured this marriage for herself. No matter what the future held, she had no regrets as long as this marriage could bring a change in her fate and mine, as well as stability for Mohe. But now she's gone, and Mohe's most dazzling jewel has been covered in dust. How can I still have the dignity to serve as an envoy! How can I even return to Mohe to report!"

"Your Highness, please don't be too sad. Please cheer up." Tan Huaike said soothingly, "It is indeed a mess that is difficult to clean up right now, but it is not a desperate situation yet. Since the princess asked me to convey this, she is placing Mo He's last hope on you, my brother. I believe you can definitely find a way out of this situation."

"A way out?" Aisha smiled bitterly. "Haha, what's the solution to a marriage without a princess? Unless Alan can be resurrected, or God bestows another princess upon us, Mohe..."

Having said this, Aisha suddenly stopped and looked at Tan Huaike in a daze.

Tan Huaike, still unaware, returned the carefully cleaned sapphire beads to him and said to himself, "I was wondering if we could first go and retrieve Princess Alan's body. It was in the river valley... Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Aisha was looking at Tan Huaike, while Shentu Zhuo looked at Aisha warily.

Meeting Tan Huaike's bewildered eyes, Aisha withdrew her gaze, filled her wine cup, and drank. "Indeed, I'm going to the river valley. I want to find her alive or dead. My sister can't die in such an unclear way. Perhaps I can find some clues that the assassin accidentally left behind."

Tan Huaike nodded: "I remember the place and can lead the way for Your Highness."

Shentu Zhuo advised her, "Sister-in-law, you've already brought what the princess asked you to bring. There's no need to risk it again." He stared at Aisha meaningfully and said, "Although the marriage is important, those matters have nothing to do with you."

"If the princess hadn't stepped forward at that time, I wouldn't have escaped the slaughter of those assassins. I will feel better if I can do more for her." Tan Huaike said.

"Thank you, Madam Shentu, for your help. Wait, I shouldn't call you that..." Aisha ignored Shentu Zhuo's hostile gaze, put down the wine cup, and asked, "You are a Mohe merchant woman, so what is your real name?"

"My name is Caizhuer." Tan Huaike said in Mohe language.

"What's her name to you?" Shen Tu Zhuo couldn't stand it any longer. He pulled Tan Huaike and was about to leave. "Prince Mo He, this is Da Xuan territory. We must abide by Da Xuan's laws and regulations. No matter what her name is, she is now my legitimate sister-in-law... No, she is my brother's legitimate bride. I advise you to think carefully."

Tan Huaike was confused: "???"

As they were about to leave, Aisha did not stop them. She simply said, "Caizhu'er, I'll wait for you to take me to the valley to find our Mohe princess."
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The door of the compartment suddenly opened, scaring Pei'er and Badan.

They were chatting happily inside, but why did they suddenly start arguing and then stop abruptly?
Shen Tu Zhuo's face looked unhappy, and he kept walking, as if he was afraid that someone would catch up with him. He walked out of the restaurant with Tan Huaike, and Pei'er hurriedly followed.

Badan stepped into the compartment and asked, "Young Master, do you want to bring her back?" Aisha shook her head, "No need. Alan was killed by an assassin, and all her guards were slaughtered. This marriage was forced to be cancelled."

Badan was shocked: "Her Royal Highness... is she gone just like that?"

"My sister, the prince, has been intelligent and wise since childhood. Even when she knew she was doomed, she still planned for us in the face of life and death, laying out a desperate counterattack," Aisha sighed. "She sent a Mohe merchant woman to me with a token, warning me that the marriage between our two countries must not be annulled under any circumstances. I'm afraid she had already thought of what to do with me at that time."

"Young Master, what do you mean?"

"Alan is dead, but as long as there's a Princess Mohe to marry, there's still room for maneuver. As for who this princess is, it's not that important." Aisha said, looking at the crystal sapphire. "Daxuan has also forcibly suppressed the assassination of Princess Mohe. Not a single word has leaked. This shows that there are people in their court who don't want to give up. So we still have a chance..."

At the same time, Tan Huaike asked his uncle: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so angry?"

Shen Tu Zhuo held back his anger and didn't say his guess out loud. Instead, he said, "You didn't even tell me your real name! This is your first time meeting the eldest prince, right? Why did you tell him? You treat me as an outsider and him as your own, right?"

Tan Huaike felt puzzled: "What do you mean by outsiders and family members? Are you angry about this? You wouldn't understand me saying my real name in Mohe language. Besides, I couldn't trust you completely at that time..."

"So you believe him completely? Just because he's a Mohe like you?"

"That's not the case. Perhaps he and Alan have a deep brotherly bond, but we have no relationship at all. There's even a huge gap between nobles and commoners, so I can't trust him completely. But he's Alan's brother, so I still want to help him."

"I know you want to fulfill Princess Alan's last wish as a reward, but I also want to remind you not to put yourself in danger for this." Shen Tu Zhuo calmed down a little and repeatedly reminded, "In short, you must be careful of the eldest prince."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for reminding me, uncle." Seeing that his anger had faded, Tan Huaike pleaded, "There is one more thing. I wonder if you can help me with it, uncle?"

"You want me to help you and him get a pass to get out of the prison?"

"My uncle is really good at predicting things." Tan Huaike praised him enthusiastically.

She and Aisha discussed going to the valley to look for the body of Princess Mohe and clues about the assassins, but one's post was destroyed by human traffickers, and the other could not reveal her identity openly for the time being, so naturally they had to think of a way.

This was not difficult for Shentu Zhuo, because the two of them did not need to forge a passport. They only needed to apply for approval in the identities of his sister-in-law and his attendant. They would be back soon anyway, and no one would investigate in detail.

Shen Tu Zhuo said reservedly, "I can get you a pass, and I can also take you out of the prison, but you have to promise to listen to me and not get too close to that eldest prince."

Tan Huaike nodded: "I promise you."

Pei'er followed behind, roughly understanding some of what was said. She was deeply moved, yet also filled with admiration. It turned out the eldest lady carried such a heavy burden; no wonder she was so cautious.

She heard the two people in front of her arguing again.

The second young master sighed, "So you really aren't a princess. Tsk tsk, you're almost a match for our Shentu family."

Tan Huaike sneered: "I told you I'm not a princess. If I were really a princess, the right match would be that prince from Daxuan. How could your family have a chance..."
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　Next chapter: Return to the valley.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)