Chapter 361: I Have Something to Say to Him

Jifeng leapt onto the sacrificial altar in a few steps, supporting Menggen: "Father Khan!"

Menggen's heart jolted.

This child, how long has it been since he last called out Father Khan?

He looked at Jifeng's face, a faint smile appeared, and then his vision went dark.

He collapsed into Jifeng's arms.

Jifeng shouted: "Senior Healer! Quick! Call the Senior Healer to the Golden Tent!"

Aersi Leng immediately ordered: "Quickly go fetch the Senior Healer!"

"Yes!" a guard sprinted off.

Jifeng lifted Menggen, jumped down from the altar, and rushed toward the Golden Tent.

Bateer looked at his brother's back, at a loss, his mind filled with confusion.

"Your Highness!" Su He shouted to wake him, lifting his chin toward the direction Jifeng had gone.

Bateer snapped out of his daze and chased after him.

The herdsmen exchanged glances, wondering what had happened to the Great Khan.

Xiao Ran asked: "Who is the Senior Healer?"

Ha Ri Chagai replied: "Senior Healer is an honorific for the most experienced doctor on the grassland."

Xiao Ningxun recalled that Tuan Tuan had once said the purple aura on Menggen's body was faint, and his heart sank.

Could it be that the road of this Great Khan of Xilu has come to an end?

Tuan Tuan slipped from his embrace onto the ground, walked to the five tribal leaders who had stepped forward to speak for him, and took each of their hands.

"Thank you! Come play in my tent, okay?"

She turned and shouted: "Granny Cangling! Come too, okay?"

Several people nodded happily.

Everyone returned to the tent, and Tuan Tuan had Tie He fetch food and drink to entertain them.

The Great Khan's words today were that seeing Tuan Tuan was like seeing the Great Khan, so Tie He dared not delay and hurried to comply.

Tuan Tuan handed out the food and drink one by one, while Fei Fei excitedly darted under everyone's feet, and the large tent filled with laughter and cheer.

After hearing Xiao Er and Lu Qi recount what had happened today, Qing Qing quietly left the large tent.

Inside the Golden Tent.

Bateer and Jifeng both stood beside Menggen's bed.

The two anxiously asked the Senior Healer: "What happened to Father Khan? Why did he suddenly faint?"

The Senior Healer furrowed his brow: "Father Khan's heart... is weary."

He pointed to Menggen's slightly swollen ankles and fingers: "Look, the water has risen to this point."

"Father Khan's heart-fire is weak, unable to retain the water in his body, so it sinks to the lowest places."

The Senior Healer paused: "This root of the illness comes from Father Khan's years of campaigning in his youth, which exhausted his spirit and accumulated over time."

"Today Father Khan's sudden rage attacked his heart, great joy and sorrow—like pouring a basin of cold water onto a dying fire—his heart meridians have suffered severe damage."

"I will use the finest rhodiola and warming yang herbs, combined with golden needles, to do my best to stabilize Father Khan's heart meridians and dispel some of the water. But..."

He shook his head; the expression on his face already said everything.

Jifeng's whole body stiffened, his fists clenched tightly.

Bateer staggered back a step, all color draining from his face.

"Father Khan, is he... not going to make it?"

Jifeng glanced at Aersi Leng: "Take good care of Father Khan, I'll be right back."

"Yes!"

Jifeng felt a tightness in his chest, head down, walking forward unconsciously.

He snatched a wine flask from a herdsman by the roadside and tipped his head back to gulp it down.

A pair of hands reached out, handing the herdsman a piece of broken silver.

Then they firmly supported him.

Jifeng turned his head and saw it was Qing Qing.

Qing Qing took the wine flask from his hand, supported him as they walked forward, and sighed: "Your Highness, you must not drink alcohol for these ten days. If the Great Khan finds out..."

Jifeng startled; he had long forgotten about that.

Qing Qing continued: "The White Deer Tribe's disgrace has been wiped clean—this is a great blessing; just a few sips will do."

"Just now I wandered the grasslands listening; the herdsmen are all guessing why the Great Khan fainted today."

"Some say it's because the Great Shaman and Wurenna angered him; others say Eternal Heaven is wrathful—all sorts of rumors."

"But they're all pleased that Your Highness and Father Khan have finally untied the knot in their hearts, hoping you can inherit the Khan's position."

Jifeng laughed, his voice rising from low to high, more unpleasant than crying.

He muttered: "Khan's position? Who would want that? I've hated him for so many years, and now he's about to die..."

Qing Qing clapped a hand over his mouth: "What?! Father Khan is dying?"

Jifeng looked at him, eyes red: "I've hated him for so long, yet now I feel here," he pointed to his chest, "as if a hole has been gouged out."

"Qing Qing, if only my Mother were still here."

Having said that, he slowly sat in a roadside corner, hugging his head, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Qing Qing felt a pang in her heart, walked to his side, and gently patted his back.

At the same time, a Royal Court guard arrived at Tuan Tuan's tent, delivering to Sa Ren something tightly wrapped.

Sa Ren took it and saw it was the dagger and a note that Aersi Leng had taken away years ago.

She gripped the dagger and slowly pressed it against her chest.

After a moment, she unfolded the note and, upon seeing it, sprang to her feet.

Tuan Tuan jumped in fright: "Aunt Sarin, what's wrong?"

Sarin handed the note to Xiao Ningxun.

After reading it, Xiao Ningxun's face also changed drastically: "Everyone, Emuqi examined the Great Khan and said the Great Khan is likely… short on time."

Apart from Granny Azure Feather, everyone else looked shocked.

"The Great Khan's health has always been fine—how could this happen?"

Xiao Ningxun glanced at the crowd: "Since ancient times, transfers of royal power, without a clear edict from the former emperor, inevitably become a bloody storm."

"Please bring your people and hurry back to your tribes; then wait and see what happens."

"If the Royal City faces danger, I will surely inform you in time."

"Ha Ri Cha Gai, go back with your people."

Ha Ri Cha Gai glanced at Tuan Tuan, then at the old chief, realizing his tribe might very well undergo a crisis; although reluctant, he still nodded.

Granny Azure Feather gazed deeply at Xiao Ningxun: "The eagle on the grassland still circles in the sky, seeking the branch where it should land."

Xiao Ningxun heard this and fell into thought.

Several old chiefs, recalling Menggen's accession, nodded in agreement and took their leave.

Only Sarin, as she walked out of the big tent, wanted to speak but held back.

Xiao Ningxun asked softly: "Chief Sarin, what did you want to say? If there's anything I can do, I will certainly do my best."

Sarin pondered for a moment: "If Aersi Leng encounters trouble, I hope you can help him and preserve his life."

Xiao Ningxun nodded heavily: "All right, rest assured, no matter what, I will protect him."

"Thank you." Sarin turned and left.

Tuan Tuan had just reunited with them, and so quickly she watched them leave, helplessly, even Ha Ri Cha Gai.

She pursed her little lips, unhappy.

Xiao Ran hurriedly picked up the rice ball and placed it in her arms: "Little one, don't be unhappy, isn't there still a wolf cub keeping you company?"

Xiao Ningxun also hurried to coax her: "You want to see them; you can go anytime. On this grassland, people see you as they would see the Great Khan—are you still afraid you won't see them again?"

Tuan Tuan thought it over and indeed it was so; only then did she brighten up again.

Xiao Er saw Xiao Ningxun's brow never relaxed: "Third Young Master, what are you worried about?"

Xiao Ningxun took a deep breath, shook his head, and said nothing more: "I hope I'm not overthinking."

"And Jifeng? I have something to say to him."