Chapter 352: Is it really a tent?

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Tuan Tuan grabbed his hand: "Uncle Jifeng, take this, don't be sad."

Jifeng came to, smiled, and slipped the antler back into her little sachet: "This is from the Deer King, keep it safe."

"I'm not sad. I just feel that the Eternal Heaven is sometimes quite interesting."

"My mother was the last Holy Maiden of the White Deer Tribe."

"Now everyone on the grassland says you're the Holy Maiden reborn; you tell me, does that mean I should call you……"

He deliberately drew out his voice.

Tuan Tuan blinked: "What should I call you?"

Jifeng grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth: "Call me Dad?"

"Pfft——"

Xiao Ran spat out a mouthful of milk tea, splashing Qing Qing's face, making her flush red from choking.

Qing Qing was already used to it, and rolled her eyes at him.

Xiao Ningxun helplessly rubbed his forehead.

Xiao Er, Lu Qi, and Ha Ri Cha Gai tried not to laugh, their shoulders shaking.

Wu Ya and Mu Ren didn't hold back, laughing so hard they clutched their stomachs and cried 'Ayoyo'.

Tuan Tuan stared for a moment, then puffed out her cheeks, swung her tiny fist at Jifeng's arm, and shouted: "Uncle Jifeng, you're bad! Taking advantage of me! I won't call you Dad!"

Jifeng laughed heartily, let her hit him, then casually pulled her into his arms: "Just joking. But seriously, little one, thank you."

He sobered up, looked at her solemnly, and said: "Thank you for coming, thank you for saying those words, and thank you for letting me out."

Tuan Tuan stopped, looked at him, and wrapped her little arms around his neck.

"'Uncle Jifeng doesn't need to thank me,' she murmured against his shoulder, 'you've helped me a lot too! Helping you is only right!'"

Jifeng's eyes grew warm.

He looked at Tuan Tuan, smiled again, and said: "Our little Holy Maiden, shouldn't we celebrate properly?"

"'Shall Uncle Jifeng take you out for a stroll?'"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Sure!"

"'No.' Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran said in unison."

Xiao Ran pursed her lips: "The little one can't go out on the streets today; those people would stare at her with glowing eyes. If we go out, we can wait until tomorrow when there are fewer people."

Jifeng could picture what it would be like for the Holy Maiden to go out on the street.

He laughed loudly: "Haha! Then let's celebrate inside the tent!"

"'Wu Ya, Mu Ren, have someone bring out all the food and drink!'"

"'Okay!'"

Soon the tent buzzed with activity, with milk cakes, dried meat, and roasted meat spread across a table.

Jifeng poured himself a bowl of strong liquor, then personally filled the others' bowls.

"'Come,' he raised his bowl, 'to friends who came from afar, to my family's Tuan Tuan, and to this rather interesting Eternal Heaven!'"

The rims of the bowls clinked, and the liquor swayed.

Tuan Tuan held a bowl of goat milk, tapped it against theirs, and sipped it slowly.

Mu Ren and Wu Ya fed the roasted meat to Rice Rice, watching with delight as it polished off its meal.

Outside the tent the sky grew dark, while inside the candlelight glowed warm yellow.

Laughter and chatter drifted out through the curtain gaps, scattering across the grassland.

In the Wolf Head Grand Tent, Bateer drank cup after cup of bitter liquor, his face as dark as water.

Jiang Heng sat opposite him, smiling faintly: "Your Highness, there's no need to worry; if we could trap him once, we can certainly do it again."

"What's more, the Queen and the White River Tribe stand behind you."

"But he came out so quickly; this matter needs long-term planning."

Bateer raised his cup and drained it in one gulp: "Sir, what other clever plan do you have? Won't you just elevate that little brat even higher?"

Jiang Heng's expression shifted; this was the first sharp remark the Crown Prince had ever directed at him.

He twitched the corner of his mouth: "The White Deer affair was my oversight."

"But who could have imagined that those white deer would actually kneel before her?"

"However, Your Highness need not worry overmuch; the White Deer Tribe is long gone, she has no clan, and even with the title of Holy Maiden she couldn't stir up much trouble."

"Your Highness, don't forget—she is a person from the Central Plains."

"A Holy Maiden from the Central Plains—how long could her glory last?"

Bateer's eyes flickered: "Your words make sense, Your Highness; how could I have forgotten she's from the Central Plains? What do you plan to do?"

Jiang Heng was about to speak.

All that could be heard was a huge 'hualā' sound coming from the top of the tent.

That sound was dull yet sharp, followed immediately by the 'kakā' of a wooden pole breaking and the piercing whine of snapping ropes!

"'What's going on?!' Bateer startled, knocking over his cup and spilling liquor all over himself."

He hadn't even finished speaking.

"Whoosh—crack!"

Another fierce roar rang out—the ferocious wolf-head grand flag that symbolized his status, together with its thick flagpole, snapped off at the base and crashed straight to the ground!

"'Enemy attack! Protect Your Highness!' The shouts and clashing blades of the guards outside erupted in chaos."

Bateer was shocked and angry, still reacting, when the third and fourth arrow whistles tore through the air almost simultaneously!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

That was the sound of the ox‑sinew cord, twisted tight, being shot and snapped.

The huge wolf‑head tent instantly lost all its support points.

The splendid canopy of precious black yak wool came crashing down onto Bateer and Jiang Heng's heads!

"Your Highness, watch out!" Jiang Heng reacted instantly, lunging to grab the still‑dazed Bateer and rolling them to safety.

"Boom——!!!"

Dust, broken wood, felt scraps, and shattered ornaments mixed together and rained down; the spacious, splendid tent instantly turned into a heap of ruins.

"Cough cough cough…!" Bateer and Jiang Heng luckily weren't pinned under the debris.

But both were covered in dust, Bateer's fine robe torn in several places, looking utterly disheveled.

He struggled to his feet, his eyes reddened by the dust.

Through the haze, he stared in shock at his own wolf‑head grand tent, symbol of the Crown Prince's authority, now reduced to a wreck.

Jiang Heng tore a piece of his robe to cover his face and helped him crawl out.

Bateer blazed with fury: "Who? Which cur dares attack the King's Tent? Get out here, now!"

On a gentle slope several dozen paces opposite the wolf‑head tent.

Jifeng stood swaying, still gripping a huge hard bow in his hand.

His face flushed, his steps unsteady, his gaze hazy over the wreckage, he let out a loud belch, tongue thick, and shouted:

"Huh? Uh! Just now there was clearly a huge vulture perched on that tent! Belch… dare steal my meat? Watch me not shoot—I'll shoot you down!"

Having said that, his arm went limp, his body swayed, and he nearly toppled over.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran grabbed him, one on each side.

Xiao Ningxun looked anxious: "Brother Jifeng! You're drunk! That's the Crown Prince's tent—how could you shoot at the King's Tent!"

Xiao Ran struggled not to laugh, shouting in unison: "Exactly! Quickly put the bow down! Is that a vulture? No, that's the top of the King's Tent!"

Tuan Tuan watched them, laughing loudly: "Uncle Jifeng! How did you drink so much? You're drunk!"

Their voices carried unusually far in the night.

The guards before the tent and the startled nearby herdsmen watched the scene unfold, eyes wide.

The Second Prince, Jifeng, drunk as a lord, mistakenly shot the Crown Prince's wolf‑head tent.

The Crown Prince, Bateer, stood before the wreckage as if just dug out of a dirt pile, jumping with rage.

Yet the gazes of Xiao Ningxun and the others were fixed on the figure beside Bateer—the man in Central Plains attire, his face masked, Jiang Heng.

They exchanged glances—how could a Central Plains person be inside the Crown Prince's tent?

Jifeng seemed only now to see clearly; he narrowed his eyes, pointed at the wreckage, and shouted: "Ah! Is that really the tent?"

"Oh no, oh no! Sorry, Bateer—I drank too much, my vision's bad!"

"But don't take it to heart—I'll compensate you! Tomorrow I'll get you a new one!"

Having said that, he lolled his head and collapsed totally drunk onto Xiao Ningxun's shoulder, mouth twitching in a grin, utterly pleased.

Snoring immediately followed.

Bateer trembled with rage, pointing at the passed‑out Jifeng, lips quivering, yet unable to utter a word.

What could he say? Accuse Jifeng of intent? Where's the proof? Everyone saw he was drunk!

Damn it! Even Jiang Heng, hidden in his own tent, has been exposed!

Seeing the guards closing in, Jiang Heng's heart sank; he whispered, "Your Highness, I'm leaving first."

He turned and left, understanding that lingering another moment would only increase the danger.

His long‑held concealment had finally produced a fatal crack.

Xiao Ningxun gave Xiao Er a look; Xiao Er understood and followed.

The Royal Court's guards rushed over, and the Great Khan Menggen was alarmed.