A few days later, General Wu Huai of the Northern Di received a letter from the Divine Maiden of Da Jing.
After reading it, his heart pounded, and he immediately entered the royal court.
"His Majesty insists on advancing into Da Jing because he has become a puppet, afflicted by the Soul Devouring Gu!"
He had said His Majesty was acting strangely. Previously, he treated him like a brother, even sharing women, but now he was like a changed person. If he got too close, he would be reprimanded. Angered, he hadn't been to the royal court for many days.
"I, Wu Huai, believe the words of the Divine Maiden of Da Jing. You all decide. His Majesty had clearly stated before that he wanted to make peace with Da Jing and planned to discuss opening the border and facilitating trade. There's no reason for a sudden war."
"Moreover, Da Jing has already dispatched 600,000 troops heading this way. Given the current state of our Northern Di, how many people will be left on the grasslands after the war?"
The First Prince said, "Since the Soul Devouring Gu has been administered, there must be someone who administered it. Let's find that person first."
Later, an inconspicuous stable hand was indeed found in the royal court's stables. The man's body was covered in countless Gu worms.
The King of Northern Di was confined, the First Prince ascended the throne, and Northern Di withdrew its troops.
Sahara Desert
Qing He dragged the severely injured Ashina Tulu towards the scorching sun.
He had originally intended to seize the throne and make her his queen. Who knew that the third prince had some mysterious helpers from somewhere, and he had inadvertently fallen into his trap.
Now, in his most desperate moment, he was seen by the woman he loved, who was dragging him along like a dead dog.
He wished he could die.
The bright sun made it impossible to open his eyes. He tilted his head, squinting at the shadows in the desert.
He had lived for over twenty years, been arrogant for over twenty years, yet why did he always lose all face in front of this woman?
"Like a pig."
Qing He was exhausted. She threw down the rope, her shoulders burning with pain.
"You walk yourself, don't mind me anymore." He placed his arm over his eyes, blocking the intense sunlight.
Why did he have to come to the Turkic lands and get involved in this mess when he could live so freely in Da Jing and even establish a sect?
In his prime, she wouldn't come to him.
Now, like a stray dog, he could offer her nothing, yet she came forward.
Why was she always different from other women?
"Dream on. Hurry up and get out, seize the throne, and stop the war with Da Jing."
He wished he could, as long as he could get out of this desert.
But dragging him, a burden, would cost her her life here.
"Qing He!"
Tulu suddenly shouted, rolling over and hugging Qing He's head, pressing her beneath him.
Immediately after, there was a roar.
After the dust settled, Qing He coughed and pushed the person off her. His nostrils and ears were stuffed with sand.
"Tulu, Tulu, wake up!"
Qing He frantically tried to clean him, but his eyes were tightly shut, as if he had stopped breathing.
"Tulu, wake up! You still have to stop the war! You can't bully my Jing Kingdom anymore! Wake up quickly!"
Qing He patted him, pricked his acupoints with a silver needle, squeezed juice from a cactus for him to drink, trying every method, but Tulu just wouldn't wake up.
She sat down on the ground.
Was he going to die like this?
Wasn't he the fierce wolf of the grasslands?
He had a tough life, how could he die?
"Tulu, don't you want to know who I gave my body to? Wake up, and I'll tell you."
What did it matter who it was? In his heart, she was still that purest girl.
"Don't you really want to know?" Qing He's voice choked with sobs. "It was you, you bastard! The night before you went to war, you drank so much. When you woke up, you forgot everything! You scoundrel!"
"You kept calling out 'Adana, Adana' all night. I thought she was your old woman, but who knew... who knew..."
Who knew that when they arrived, they met a loving couple on the grasslands, and only then did she learn that Adana wasn't a name, but meant 'the girl held in the palm of one's hand.'
Qing He finally covered her face and burst into tears.
Tulu opened his eyes and reached out a trembling hand.
He had never seen her so fragile before.
His Adana.
Qing He stared blankly at the hand resting on her leg.
In the distance, more dust rose, and a group of people approached.
The riders drew closer; they were Turks and Han people.
"First Prince!"
"Sect Master!"
It was Meng Jiu and the brothers and sisters of the Tang Sect. They had found her!
Her wrist was grasped, and Qing He looked at Tulu.
"Wait for me, Qing He, wait for me."
Qing He was annoyed. Had she said too much just now?
Following the withdrawal of Northern Di, the Turks also retreated. Only the Huihe remained, unable to resist the nearly a million troops of Da Jing. After several defeats, they also retreated hastily, suffering more losses than gains and signing a tribute treaty.
Thus, for a hundred years, Da Jing had no external threats.
A million troops returned victoriously. The common people flocked to the city gates. Emperor Mingde stood on the high city wall to welcome the triumphant soldiers.
However, the main commander at the forefront, General Shenwu, narrowed his eyes.
Emperor Mingde, standing on the city wall and looking down, also narrowed his eyes.
They were both looking for someone.
He thought she would be waiting for him here.
He thought he would return with Xiao Shan.
No one knew that in the crowded throng, there was Ling Yao, who couldn't bear to leave without seeing Xiao Shan one last time.
He sat tall on his horse, head held high, majestic. Although not as handsome as in his previous life, he still made her heart flutter.
The long procession finally disappeared from view.
The crowd followed, leaving her standing alone at the city gate.
Upon entering the Golden Imperial Hall for awards and commendations, Xiao Shan didn't even go. He searched the Fengque Tower but found no trace of her.
He had many questions, many things to say, but she was gone.
Thinking of that seemingly real yet illusory experience, panic gradually spread through his heart.
"Where is my imperial sister?"
Emperor Mingde arrived at Fengque Tower, and his first words were a question.
"You ask me? I'm asking you, where did she go?"
Xiao Shan's killing intent was palpable. Having just dismounted from the battlefield, the god of war carried an aura of terror from hell.
Don't think he didn't know that in that memory, he hadn't sent any reinforcements!
And this time, not only did the two countries inexplicably retreat, but Duorui also brought troops and easily defeated Huihe with overwhelming numbers.
Those were troops dispatched by Ling Yao, not by him, the Emperor!
So, what exactly happened?
"Didn't she take troops to find you?"
"Nonsense! Feng Shijin, did you drive her away!"
Xiao Shan grabbed his collar, his ferocity uncontrollable.
Had she been injured again? In both this life and the last, she liked to hide when she was hurt.
"General!"
Yu Xi appeared from somewhere.
"The princess instructed when she left that after you returned, you should go to the Great Shaman's residence."
The Great Shaman's residence?
Xiao Shan dropped Emperor Mingde and left like a gust of wind.
Emperor Mingde was filled with suspicion, various guesses flashing through his mind, and he also left the palace.