After everyone entered the King’s Tent, the enormous entrance slowly closed.

Immediately, the howling cold wind was blocked outside, yet within the tall and spacious King’s Tent, the sound of the wind outside, like thousands of horses thundering across the land, could still be heard clearly. This sound made the tranquility within the tent even more pronounced.

Ashina Shali, as usual, sat upon the throne.

He still possessed a burly stature. Although everyone knew that since that arrow in Yanmen County, his health had declined year by year, even day by day, but even a sick tiger retains a third of its power. Sitting there, even without moving, he exuded an overwhelming aura.

And the ministers of the Western Turks sat beneath him, though their thoughts varied, at this moment no one dared to speak, only waiting silently.

Ashina Shali scanned the group with his remaining eye, and standing before him, Ashina Yiasu’s expression was heavy and complicated, with a few conflicting emotions clashing in his eyes. Several times he wished to speak, but was silenced by Lady Jiayuan behind Shali Khan, who stared at him with a frown, so he remained mute. Standing beside him was Lei Yu, who also understood the importance of this meeting, and had been silent since entering the tent, keeping herself tense.

Finally, Ashina Shali’s gaze fell on Prince Zhu Xie.

The Western Turkic Crown Prince was robust and sturdy, standing in the center of the tent. Even without armor, he exuded a mighty aura. Compared to Yiasu, this son indeed resembled Shali more.

Unfortunately, he was an orphan of the Zhuxie Tribe.

Even though he was his biological son, Shali Khan could feel that this child’s thoughts were cautious and deeply held, hard to control, and if more time passed, it would be even more impossible to restrain him.

The only way to restrain him was to cut off the claws that symbolized his power.

Thinking of this, Ashina Shali took a deep breath and said, "Zhu Xie."

Prince Zhu Xie immediately stepped forward and lowered his head, saying, "Father Khan."

"Did you think clearly about what I told you yesterday?"

"...Yes, I thought clearly."

"Oh."

Beside them, Yiasu also turned to look at his elder brother, seeing his expression calm and unruffled, as if they weren’t discussing taking away his Heavy Cavalry, an issue of great importance. However, Yiasu could see traces of sorrow in his calm eyes.

Ashina Shali’s gaze flickered slightly, leaning forward a bit: "What is the result of your consideration?"

Prince Zhu Xie raised his head, meeting the eyes that were bloodshot from chronic sleep deprivation due to illness, and calmly said, "Father Khan asked me for the Heavy Cavalry, I can’t refuse. But this cavalry unit has followed me for years, fighting north and south without slack."

"..."

"During the conquest of the Gongyue Tribe, it was thanks to them that I returned alive."

"..."

"One could say, this unit is indeed my saviors."

"..."

Upon hearing him say this, Ashina Shali slightly frowned, his gaze turning complex and heavy.

If Ashina Zhu Xie said this unit was the only memento from his maternal tribe, Ashina Shali, reminiscing about old friends and amidst his pain, would surely harbor some suspicion, since Prince Zhu Xie’s maternal tribe was once the greatest obstacle to Western Turk unification. All the ministers, including the nobles, would harbor displeasure.

However, he stated that this unit played a crucial role in the subsequent unification of the Western Turks, fighting north and south.

This was an indisputable fact.

Indeed, in the battles and campaigns, the most blood was shed not only by Shali Khan but also by Prince Zhu Xie leading this Heavy Cavalry. As he said, during the Gongyue Tribe campaign, he was ambushed and almost killed, and it was this strong and battle-proven unit that saved his life.

Such a unit, besides its utility, also carried great emotional weight.

Forcibly taking such a unit out of his hands was akin to tearing flesh from his heart, not only blood-soaked but excruciating.

Thus, Ashina Shali’s demeanor softened slightly.

Yet, behind him, Lady Jiayuan immediately sensed this change. Her alluring eyes flashed a trace of coldness, and she smiled: "Does Prince Zhu Xie have conditions?"

"...!"

Upon hearing this, Ashina Shali became alert.

He slightly squinted his eyes: "Why, do you have conditions?"

Prince Zhu Xie replied, "Yes."

Ashina Shali’s brow furrowed, his vigilant expression deepening: "What do you want?"

Prince Zhu Xie raised his head to look at him, clearly stating word by word: "I want Father Khan’s signaling arrow!"

|

The biting wind seemed like an invisible giant hand, repeatedly striking against the people in this Yatai. Shang Ruyi listened to the tents being whipped by the wind, as if the entire grassland were being lifted towards the sky. Yet, she stood by the tent entrance, watching the enormous King’s Tent on the high platform, unmoving.

The wind had already chilled her entire body.

No knowing how things were in the King’s Tent now, whether Ashina Zhu Xie had agreed to Shali Khan’s request.

If successful, could Prince Yiasu smoothly inherit the position of Western Turkic Khan someday?

But those were matters for later.

The most pressing matter still was Shali Khan’s declared intention to wage war against Chang An. Although this battle seemed like a means to coerce Ashina Zhu Xie into handing over the Heavy Cavalry, considering Shali Khan’s disposition, since he brought it up, he certainly intended to fight.

Chang An...

Uncles and aunts... so many of the common people...

And —

While her thoughts were in disarray, amidst the howling wind came a peculiar sound, and the surrounding Turkic people, more familiar with this sound than she, several patrolling soldiers immediately stopped, and someone stopped to stand on tiptoe, gazing towards where the wind was coming from.

In the vast sky, a black dot slowly appeared.

In just a few blinks, that black dot drew closer, clearer in outline; it was a Turkic rider, rushing to cross the Cangtou River, riding rapidly again, causing the guards at Yatai to have long noticed his approach, and immediately a team headed towards him.

Shang Ruyi saw clearly the arrival was a soldier delivering news!

Although this grassland belonged to the Western Turks, it was vast, so the Yatai was not only patrolled by soldiers inside, but hidden posts were placed in the surrounding area of more than ten miles to monitor movements on the grassland, isolating potential lurking dangers.

This soldier was one of such sentinels!

He spoke a few words to the soldiers welcoming him from in front, and immediately, they parted to let him pass. He rode swiftly towards Yatai, as if bearing urgent news to report to the King’s Tent!

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but furrow her brows.

What had happened?