Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 59 Gift of Pearls
Shentu Zhuo confirmed with Aisha, "Prince, you said you sent a message to the Zhenxi Army, asking them to send someone out of the pass to welcome the marriage party? Since you were intentionally hiding your whereabouts, how did you pass on this message?"

Aisha said, "I entered the Pass through a merchant station. I estimated the marriage procession would be arriving soon, so I wrote a letter with the seal of the Mohe envoy and had Badan deliver it to the envoy stationed at the border by Daxuan. The letter detailed the procession's route and estimated arrival date. The envoy should have contacted the Zhenxi Army and dispatched troops to meet them. I didn't show up myself, so they all thought I was still with the marriage procession."

"So that's how it is. The eldest prince is indeed cautious." Shentu Zhuo nodded. "I've found out that my brother suddenly received an emergency transfer order that night, leaving the border to perform an unusual and unusual mission. They were required to escort an important merchant caravan that was about to enter the border. There's no doubt that the so-called merchant caravan was Mo He's marriage party."

"Why is the marriage team described as a merchant caravan? I always feel there is something fishy about it." said Tan Huaike.

"My brother went out to meet them, but he didn't return for a long time, and no news came back. So the Zhenxi Army must have sent people to patrol and verify. They were the group of people that my sister heard the assassin mention this morning. This patrol discovered the dire state of the camp and stationed people to guard it while returning to the city to report. Later, a large army arrived, sealed off the entire valley, and cleared all traces of the battlefield."

"That should be the case," Tan Huaike said. "I didn't encounter the main force of the Zhenxi Army. I had already left the valley and was heading towards Yangguan. I fainted on the way and was picked up by a human trafficker."

"All the bodies are gone," Aisha said. "It's obvious that the bodies, carriages, camels, and goods are all in the hands of the Zhenxi Army, but they are keeping them very tightly."

"I suspect the Zhenxi Army received orders to suppress this matter when they dispatched a large force to clear the valley. The marriage was a matter of great importance to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, and military orders were as firm as a mountain. The soldiers involved in collecting the body dared not disclose it to the public. Therefore, the battle report simply stated that my brother had died in battle and his weapons had been returned, without mentioning anything else."

Aisha snorted coldly, "Although the incident didn't happen within Daxuan territory, it was forcibly suppressed by the Zhenxi Army. I don't know how the Daxuan court will deal with it, but Alan's death cannot be in vain. How will the marriage with our Mohe end? There must be an explanation!"

Tan Huaike remained silent. The bodies of her father and brother were most likely with the Zhenxi Army, and she didn't know if her mother's belongings would ever see the light of day again, so she could send them back to her mother's hometown...

Shentu Zhuo didn't care about Aisha's anger. Seeing Tan Huaike's worry, he comforted him, "There's no rush. The marriage procession has been attacked. I don't know what the high-ranking officials in the court are thinking. They may want to delay or cheat, but there's one person who won't stand idly by. We can just wait for him to make the decision."

"Who?" Aisha asked.

"When he shows up, you'll know."

On the way back to the city, Tan Huaike was also very curious about who the person he was talking about was, but Shentu Zhuo was very secretive and said that he was not sure what the person's attitude would be or what actions he would take, so he just had to wait and see.

Tan Huaike didn't ask any more questions.

The three men entered the customs again without encountering any difficulties. The officer who checked the place even tried to get close to Shentu Zhuo, saying that he was from Lude County and asked if the canal could be diverted closer to his fields.

Shentu Zhuo laughed it off and said that he hadn't finished the drawing yet and asked people not to ask him about it.

After entering the pass, Tan Huaike nudged him with his arm and said, "I didn't expect that your canal diversion plan is truly a major plan for people's livelihood. It has spread among the people... Second Master Shentu, your reputation has improved."

Shen Tu Zhuo was quietly proud: "Of course, just wait for me to recommend you and win the prize."

The two were talking in low voices in front, while Aisha followed behind, her eyes always fixed on Tan Huaike, as if she was thinking about something.

Badan heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that his young master was safe and sound.

When they parted, Aisha stopped Tan Huaike and handed her the sapphire beads, saying, "Take this." Tan Huaike quickly refused, "No, this is just a token of love from Princess Alan. It should be returned to its original owner. Your Highness can keep it as a keepsake."

"Its original owner is Alan. Since Alan gave it to you, it is yours." As he said this, he was about to put it on Tan Huaike personally.

"What are you doing? Why are you touching me?" Shentu Zhuo stepped forward to stop him.

Seeing that the two were about to clash, Tan Huaike quickly took it and put it on himself: "In that case, I'll accept it."

Back at the residence, Badan asked if he had gained anything from this trip.

Aisha pondered, "We need to reconsider. Judging from the way Daxuan handled the situation, my sister is right. A marriage alliance is inevitable."
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As the end of the year approaches, Shentu Zhuo suddenly becomes busy.

As if to repay his previous leisure time double, he has been very busy lately and is hardly seen in the mansion. The most intuitive feeling is that he doesn't even come to Tan Huaike's side courtyard to eat.

This made Pei'er a little uncomfortable. While drying peppercorns on a sieve, she said, "When the Second Young Master came to eat every day, I thought he was so shameless, greedy, and lazy. I haven't seen him these days, and I feel that the courtyard is too deserted. Madam, what is the Second Young Master busy with?"

The restaurant was almost finished being renovated, and Tan Huaike was writing the menu and cooking methods for the restaurant. He casually replied, "He's either rehearsing sacrificial songs and dances in Yuefu, or he's painting that canal diversion map."

"Oh, weren't the sacrificial songs and dances already prepared?"

"They were almost done arranging it, but the prefect told them to stop for a while. I don't know what happened, but now they have to change the music and lyrics. It's really keeping the music officer and my uncle busy."

"What a hassle! Why do we need to replace it with a new one?"

As they were chatting, the courtyard door suddenly slammed. Pei'er wiped her hands and went to open the door: "Second Young Master? I thought you were delivering firewood. Why don't you go through the main gate to return home?"

"Going through the main gate will easily get me caught by my mother, and then she'll have to lecture me again." Shen Tuzhuo hurried in and asked Tan Huaike, "Do you know how to dance Mo He's Suniluo dance?"

"Kupsu-nilo?" Tan Huaike put down his pen and said in surprise, "I can dance it, but I'm not very good. I just learned a little bit from others in the past. Uncle, you won't ask me to join the Yuefu to dance this dance, right?"

"You don't need to dance," Shentu Zhuo said anxiously, "but there aren't many dancers in Yuefu who can do this, and time is running out. I can only teach and choreograph at the same time. I also have to make the dress in Mo He's style again. I'm really too busy. If you have time, come and help me. Watch the dancers choreograph and point out any awkwardness."

"Sure." Tan Huaike immediately became interested. "Not only can I help you choreograph the dance, but we can also have the dancer's Mo He dress made by our Zhiyun Fabric Workshop. I guarantee it will be done for you quickly!"

"You really know how to attract business for yourself..."
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　Next chapter: Didn't she say she could dance? Let's see how she dances.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)