Chapter 351: My mother also has one

Jiang Heng was overjoyed, the Queen!

She held high rank and great power, and her maternal tribe, the Baihe Tribe, was now one of the two largest tribes on the grasslands; with them, what great undertaking could not be accomplished!

He looked at Bateer, who covered his face and was at a loss, and a hint of contempt flashed across his face.

This crown prince is impulsive and quick-tempered, utterly lacking in guile— truly a fool!

But for now he cannot do without him; he still needs to give him advice and strategies.

Jiang Heng placed his hand on Bateer's shoulder and gently patted it, saying, "Your Highness..."

Outside the tent, a noisy clamor of voices suddenly arose.

Bateer lifted his head, glanced at Jiang Heng and then at the outside of the tent, and loudly asked, "What's happening out there?"

The guard outside lifted the curtain and entered: "Your Highness, the Second Prince has come out."

"What?!"

Bateer sprang to his feet, and Jiang Heng's face showed shock.

Jifeng! He actually came out?

"Yes! Those commanders of a thousand who are on good terms with the Second Prince are dragging him off to drink."

Bateer flew into a rage: "Get lost!"

"Yes, yes!" The guard hastily retreated.

Bateer plopped down on the couch: "With great difficulty we finally managed to confine him!"

"The Father Khan actually let him out so easily?"

Jiang Heng took the opportunity to advise: "Your Highness, if it weren't for those Lie Kingdom people, Jifeng couldn't have gotten out! We should still cut off his arm first, Your Highness!"

Outside, Wu Ya was pulling Jifeng's arm toward the direction of Tuan Tuan's large tent.

"Second Brother! Come with me quickly!"

Jifeng wore a helpless expression: "What's the point? I've been holding it in for days— don't bother me, I want to go drink with them!"

Wu Ya glared at him: "Second Brother! If it weren't for Tuan Tuan..."

"Tuan Tuan?" Jifeng blinked, "How do you know her?"

"She's right here! If it weren't for her speaking up for you before the Father Khan, you'd still be locked up!"

Jifeng looked bewildered: "She's on the grasslands? It's because of her Great Khan that he let me out?"

Wu Ya replied: "Exactly! She's formidable! She rides the Wolf King into battle! The Wolf King even gave her a little wolf pup! Now she's even more extraordinary— she's become a Saintess!"

"Fan Fan?"

"It's the wolf pup the Wolf King gave her! So obedient!"

Wu Ya kept saying while pulling Jifeng's arm, refusing to let go, tugging and pushing.

Mu Ren stood to the side, smiling and nodding: "Second Brother, everything Wu Ya said is true— hurry go see Tuan Tuan; she's been waiting for you to come out."

Jifeng turned back and shouted to the several eager officers waiting to drink with him: "I'll go first! Let's drink tomorrow, let's drink tomorrow!"

Those commanders of a thousand all replied in turn: "Fine! Tomorrow we'll definitely get you drunk!"

Jifeng grabbed Wu Ya's wrist with his backhand: "Where is she?"

"In her tent!" Wu Ya exclaimed, raising her chin proudly, "Second Brother, if you don't go now, later she'll play with Fan Fan until she's tired and asleep, and then you won't be able to see her!"

Jifeng released Wu Ya, hoisted her onto his shoulder in one motion, and with his other hand grabbed Mu Ren's collar: "Lead the way! Right now! Immediately!"

"Hey! Second Brother, put me down——"

Wu Ya screamed as she was hoisted up, her two little legs kicking wildly in the air.

Mu Ren was pulled so hard he staggered, quickly pointing a direction: "Over there! Those three biggest tents, the middle one!"

Without a word, Jifeng hoisted Wu Ya, dragged Mu Ren, and strode off in great strides toward the direction he indicated.

Moments later, Jifeng had already rushed to the front of Tuan Tuan's tent.

Tie He exclaimed in surprise: "Second Prince?"

Jifeng gave him a sideways glance, set Wu Ya down from his shoulder, released Mu Ren, raised a hand to wipe his face, rubbed away the listlessness and stubble of these days, then bent over and lifted the curtain.

Tie He stared, yet dared not intervene in the slightest.

Inside the tent all was tranquil.

On the thick wool blanket, Tuan Tuan sat, using a colored string to tease Fan Fan.

Fan Fan fluttered about trying to grab it; when he couldn't, he grew anxious and cried "woo-woo," while Tuan Tuan laughed "hee-hee-hee," her cheeks showing two deep dimples.

Several adults sat scattered around, conversing in low voices.

Jifeng stood at the doorway, backlit, his tall figure blocking most of the tent entrance.

Everyone lifted their heads to look at him.

Tuan Tuan blinked, then sprang to her feet, the colored string falling from her hand onto the blanket: "Uncle Ji!"

Fan Fan lunged forward, happily gnawing with his teeth.

Tuan Tuan took her short little steps, pattering to the doorway, then threw herself into Jifeng's embrace, her two small arms clinging tightly to his legs.

"Uncle Ji! You've finally come out!"

Jifeng swayed slightly from her impact, lowered his head to look at this fuzzy little head, and his Adam's apple rolled a few times.

He slowly squatted, scooping her up entirely: "Little one," his voice a little hoarse, "how did you come to be here?"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her small face in his shoulder, and mumbled, "I came to save you."

Jifeng froze.

"Qing Qing said you were locked up, that bad people wanted to harm you," Tuan Tuan lifted her head, her eye rims red, her little mouth pursed, "so I just came."

Jifeng's heart felt as if it had been struck hard by something; he buried his face in her tiny shoulder and drew a deep breath.

When he lifted his head again, his face bore a radiant smile as he surveyed everyone inside the tent.

Qing Qing's face was full of emotion, her eyes were red around the rims: "Your Highness!"

Xiao Er smiled: "Brother Jifeng, we meet again."

"You," his throat tightened, "came with her?"

Xiao Ningxun nodded slightly: "Brother Jifeng. This is Nine Prince Xiao Ran, and these two are Lu Qi and Harichagē."

Harichagē placed a hand on his chest: "Greetings, Second Prince."

Xiao Ran laughed cheerfully: "The reputation is well deserved, no wonder Tuan Tuan has been thinking of you."

Lu Qi clasped his hands and said: "Brother Jifeng, hello!"

Jifeng held Tuan Tuan tightly, walked to the rug, sat down, and placed her on his lap.

Wu Ya and Mu Ren followed in, and sat beside him.

Wu Ya pouted: "Second brother is biased! He hugs Tuan Tuan when he sees her, but carries me!"

Everyone laughed.

Jifeng looked at Tuan Tuan: "Tell me, what have you encountered since you arrived?"

Before Tuan Tuan could speak, Wu Ya jumped in: "Second brother, let me tell you! Tuan Tuan is amazing! She rode the Wolf King into battle, saved the Azure Wolf Tribe! The Wolf King even gave her a cub!"

She even walked through a fire pit in the Er Dun tribe without hurting her feet!

Yesterday she summoned the White Deer, and the Deer King knelt before her! Now the whole steppe says she is the reincarnation of the White Deer Tribe's saintess!

She spoke at a rapid pace, like beans pouring out.

She had already gathered the information clearly.

Mu Ren nodded: "Indeed, Second brother, that's why Father Khan released you."

Tuan Tuan even said at the banquet that she truly wishes the steppe people to have good lives, and Father Khan was so moved he fell silent.

Qing Qing intervened, briefly recounting all that had happened these days.

Jifeng felt a pang of softness, reached out to rub Tuan Tuan's hair, and burst out laughing: "Hahaha! Good! Good! You truly are my friend, Jifeng!"

"From now on you mustn't be so reckless; wait for uncle to step out, and he'll shoulder any huge matter for you!"

"How dare you lay a hand on my child? You'll be courting death!"

He lifted Tuan Tuan high, then brought her back and planted a forceful kiss on her cheek.

"You're truly a treasure wherever you go!"

Tuan Tuan, tickled by his kiss, tucked her neck and giggled.

At some point, Fan Fan crawled over, clung to Jifeng's boot, looked up at him, and let out a "Whine—" from its throat.

Jifeng looked down, saw a little wolf cub with a tuft of white fur on its forehead, raised an eyebrow: "Is this the cub the Wolf King gave?"

"It's called Fan Fan!" Tuan Tuan slipped out of his arms, picked up Fan Fan and handed it to Jifeng: "Because it loves to eat so heartily!"

Fan Fan sniffed Jifeng's finger, stuck out its tongue and licked.

Jifeng was pleased, lifted the cub and weighed it: "Alright, it's got some heft, raised well."

Everyone sat together in a circle.

Tuan Tuan opened the small Sachet, took out the warm, smooth antler, and handed it to Jifeng: "Deer gave me a little antler! Pretty, right?"

Jifeng took the antler, his fingertips brushed the delicate grain, his gaze deepened.

"A token of the White Deer Tribe," he whispered, "My mother also has one."