Chapter 68: Poison
The Yang Changsheng that Yaoying knew was quiet but righteous. At that time, the heavy rain poured unceasingly for a month at Chibi, causing flooding and devastation. Despite his serious injuries, he went into the water to save others and was almost swept away by the flood.
Therefore, when they returned together to Wei County by boat and saw Li Zhongqian and the Tang family waiting on the shore, then realized each other’s identity, Yaoying did not immediately avoid Li Xuanzhen.
She only felt that since a person could save a stranger regardless of his own safety, he should also be able to sort out his hatred.
Li Xuanzhen’s reaction was much more passionate than Yaoying’s. He stood at the bow of the boat, glanced at Li Zhongqian on the shore, then at her. The smile on his face gradually became cold and stiff, his eyes shrouded with gloom. He suddenly grabbed her, strangling her neck.
Yaoying almost died in his hands.
To this day, she still remembered the feeling of Li Xuanzhen’s rough and cold fingers strangling her neck.
Xie Qing commented with an expressionless face, “The Crown Prince is too stubborn.”
Yaoying rubbed her wrist and smiled, “Alright, let’s not talk about these things.”
She put her mind back on her situation, “Ah Qing, what exactly did the Eldest Prince do that night?”
Xie Qing returned to his senses and said, “I have inquired. The Eldest Prince looted several large carts of goods that night.”
Yaoying frowned.
After they rendezvoused that day, the Eldest Prince said he had robbed a few herders. She paid close attention and found that the Eldest Prince and his entourage had all changed into new saddles and harnesses, but how could ordinary herdsmen afford to use such expensive saddles?
“I suspect the Eldest Prince robbed and killed that Royal Court caravan.”
Xie Qing’s eyes showed surprise: “People from the Yelu tribe said that no one dares to plunder caravans carrying the banner of Buddha’s son.”
The corner of Yaoying’s mouth tugged: “Others do not dare, that is because they know the situation and have a sense of proportion. The Eldest Prince is not that kind of person.”
She had been puzzled before. Why would the rich and powerful Yelu tribe collapse silently?
The reason was probably here. The Eldest Prince was greedy and brutal, angering too many tribes, and now he had probably plundered Tumoroga’s subjects. Even if the Royal Court did not retaliate, the surrounding tribes would use this as an excuse to come and attack.
Yaoying pondered for half a day and instructed Xie Qing: “Find a chance to see what those big carts of goods are.”
Xie Qing answered.
The next morning, when the sun had not yet risen, there were sounds of people outside the tent.
Tali helped Yaoying freshen up, telling her the tribesmen were currently preparing for the wedding in the evening. At night, a bonfire would be lit in front of the tent, and all the men and women of the tribe would come to congratulate them.
Yaoying changed into her wedding clothes, and Tali pulled up her long hair and braided it for her.
She looked at her slightly pale face in the bronze mirror. Ignoring the dread and uneasiness in her heart, she cheered herself up over and over again.
Xie Qing entered the tent. His eyes signaled Tali and Ayi to go out, and he walked behind Yaoying: “Princess, I found this.”
Yaoying turned around and saw him pull out a banner stained red with blood from his chest.
The delicate golden patterns could still be vaguely seen on the dirty fabric.
The Eldest Prince was indeed not resigned and had plundered that merchant caravan.
Yaoying’s mind spun rapidly: “Have to tell this matter to Yelu Khan… I cannot bring it up, Yelu Khan may not believe me, only believing I am sowing discord. Moreover, if the news leaks out, the Eldest Prince will certainly retaliate… Ah Qing, you find some more evidence and reveal this to the Second Prince.”
Tali said that the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince have never gotten along.
Xie Qing answered and turned to go out.
The Second Prince did not disappoint Yaoying’s expectations. After hearing the rumors, he immediately reported to Yelu Khan.
Yelu Khan was furious and sent someone to call the Eldest Prince: “You actually robbed and killed Buddha’s son’s caravan! You are bringing trouble to our Yelu tribe!”
The Eldest Prince did not panic when he saw his actions had been exposed: “All the people have been killed, and even the livestock have been slaughtered. Who will know I did it?”
Seeing his eldest son was so ignorant, Yelu Khan became more and more furious: “Sun God above1, if the Buddha’s son’s fury descends to our Yelu tribe, you will be the sinner of the whole Yelu tribe!”
The Eldest Prince said unconcernedly, “Buddha’s son is far away in the Western Regions. He cannot suddenly drop from the sky to deal with us! What’s more, so what if he comes here? If he is so capable, fight with me for 300 rounds!”
Yelu Khan was so angry that his face was purple. He was about to draw his sword when footsteps came from outside the tent.
“Khan, Bemutai is back!”
Yelu Khan immediately said, “Come in, Bemutai.”
Bemutai stepped into the tent and frowned slightly: “Khan, why did the Crown Prince of Great Wei suddenly leave? Did we not agree to have a drink together?”
Yelu Khan was under pressure at this moment and said carelessly: “He and Princess Wenzhao are not born from the same mother and there is little affection. He said a few words with Princess Wenzhao and left…”
Bemutai’s light golden eyes flickered twice, a trace of ruthlessness flitted across his eyes.
Yelu Khan mentioned to him about the Eldest Prince plundering the caravan: “Bemutai, what do you think should be done? You are from the Western Regions; is the saying that heaven’s wrath will befall us true?”
Bemutai looked at the Eldest Prince and smiled, “Though the Eldest Prince is reckless, his words are not wrong. Buddha’s son is far away in the Western Regions and has never left the Holy City these past years. The Eldest Prince only killed a few Hu merchant guards; Buddha’s son will not make a big fuss about this.”
Yelu Khan glared fiercely at the Eldest Prince and sneered, “I hope so.”
The wedding continued as planned.
From noon onwards, the men and women of the tribe began to sing and dance to the drums and music, enjoying themselves immensely. By the time night fell, most of them were half-drunk. The camp was lit up by a blazing fire, and Yaoying was helped out of the tent.
Numerous eyes fell on her. Several of the young princes’ eyes were more undisguised than the last.
Yaoying once again noticed a line of sight that had sent shivers down her spine.
In her peripheral vision, her eyes swept over, a tall, robust young man standing at Yelu Khan’s side. He had an eagle nose and deep eyes, his gaze like a torch, the pupils light golden in the firelight.
As he glanced over with a smile, his eyes made the uneasiness in Yaoying’s heart grow even stronger.
She settled her mind and completed her obeisance under Tali’s guidance. She was just about to get up when Yelu Khan opposite her made a few faint sounds in his throat and fell backward.
Everyone was alarmed. In one step, Bemutai rushed forward to hold Yelu Khan and smilingly said, “Khan is drunk!”
Several princes looked at each other and rushed forward to help Yelu Khan back to his tent.
Before the Eldest Prince turned around, he sent a meaningful glance at Yaoying. The corners of his mouth curled up: “Beauty, do not be anxious. If my father Khan cannot recover from this illness, I will take his place to cherish you. Tonight, you need only rest well in the tent.”
As he spoke, his face suddenly sank. An ominous glint appeared in his eyes, “Princess’s guards are no match for Yelu’s warriors. Do not act rashly later.”
He wiped the corner of his lips and walked into the tent with hearty laughter.
Yaoying stood amidst the throng of people. Her body ice-cold, she looked around.
Yelu Khan’s personal soldiers happened to be absent, while several princes’ personal soldiers had separately scattered around. The bonfire was still raging, but the cheerful atmosphere had long since dissipated, replaced by a tense and oppressive atmosphere of an approaching storm.
Yaoying went back to the tent and immediately took off her wedding dress. She had Xie Qing count their men and horses.
“Yelu Khan did not look like he was drunk. There will surely be a change in the Yelu tribe tonight.”
She thought that alerting Chief Yelu would allow him to prepare early, but she did not expect something to happen the same night. It seemed that the Eldest Prince had been prepared for a long time.
No wonder the Eldest Prince dared to verbally harass her so openly on the journey.
In the Eldest Prince’s eyes, she has long since become his possession.
Xie Qing quickly gathered the personal soldiers. Dozens of people in a tight formation firmly guarded Yaoying’s tent.
The others did not come over to ask questions. Several tribal elders, surrounded by the Second Prince, Third Prince, and other adopted sons, went to Yelu Khan’s tent.
Not long after, shouting and killing sounds came from the tent.
The warriors hidden in the shadows drew their swords and rushed in to fight. Several princes’ personal soldiers yelled and fought. Cold light flashed, blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Tali and Ayi huddled in the corner of the tent, shivering.
A shichen later, the Eldest Prince, covered in blood, strode out of the tent carrying the heads of several of his younger brothers: “They tried to assassinate father Khan when he was sick, and have been killed by my father’s personal soldiers!”
The Yelu tribe respected the strong. When they saw that the Eldest Prince had killed the other princes, with the exception of a few of the princes’ personal soldiers, everyone else knelt down and prostrated themselves at the feet of the Eldest Prince.
Bemutai came out of the tent and stood beside the Eldest Prince, respectfully inviting him in.
The Eldest Prince threw down the heads and turned to enter the tent.
The others stood up one after another and began to clean up the mess in an orderly manner. The heads of several princes and clan elders were thrown into the fire and burned with a crackling sound.
Xie Qing’s face was tense as he stood guard in front of the tent: “Princess, what should we do?”
Yelu Khan was not dead yet, but he was not awake either. The Eldest Prince had killed the other princes, and now everyone in the tribe listened to the Eldest Prince’s orders. Sooner or later, Yaoying would fall into the Eldest Prince’s hands.
Yaoying had no time to carefully figure out exactly when the Eldest Prince put poison in Yelu Khan’s wine bowl. She was guarding against the Eldest Prince but did not expect the Eldest Prince to strike so viciously.
“There are too few of us…” Yaoying closed her eyes, “Let us wait and see what happens.”