Chapter 372: Daddy, Be Careful

Gongsun Heng, having been pardoned, rose and quickly walked toward the outside of the hall.

Shortly after, he returned to the main hall, with two Guards following behind, escorting a man who was disheveled and with messy hair.

His legs were weak, and he was practically dragged in by the Guards.

He "Plop—" fell to his knees, his whole body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Gongsun Heng knelt and reported: "Your Majesty, this person is the eldest son of the recently deceased Great Khan of West Lu, Menggen, Bateer."

Gongsun Chi said: "Raise your head."

Bateer tremblingly raised his head, gazing at the man on the dragon throne.

Gongsun Chi looked at him indifferently, as if looking at a chess piece on the board.

He slowly spoke: "Prince of West Lu, I heard that your grasslands no longer want you?"

Bateer trembled all over.

This once-arrogant prince crawled forward a few steps like a dog, his forehead heavily striking the gold bricks.

"Please, Emperor of Xia, do justice for me!"

His voice hoarse, with a sobbing tone: "It's all Jifeng's fault that I'm like this!"

"It's him! He colluded with that demoness of the Fierce Kingdom, poisoning my Father Khan! Please, Your Majesty, help me retake the Khanate!"

"If I can become Great Khan, West Lu wishes to serve as the most loyal hound of the Da Xia for generations!"

He kept kowtowing, and his forehead soon began to bleed.

Only then did Gongsun Chi lightly raise his hand: "Enough."

Bateer abruptly stopped, raised his head to look at him, his eyes full of humble pleading.

Gongsun Chi's gaze turned to Gongsun Heng:

"Speak."

Gongsun Heng replied respectfully: "Jifeng is on close terms with the grassland holy maiden, which causes the Fierce Kingdom to again add West Lu as an ally, which is highly disadvantageous to the Da Xia."

"Bateer, of pure lineage, is the legitimate eldest son born to the West Lu emperor and empress."

"If our Da Xia helps him retake the Khanate, West Lu will no longer be an ally of the Fierce Kingdom but will become a subject of Your Majesty."

Gongsun Chi calmly looked at Bateer, after a moment spoke lightly: "Prince, you have come far and endured hardship; you may first reside in your mansion."

Gongsun Heng replied: "I will obey the decree."

Bateer looked bewildered: "Your Majesty, are you agreeing or not?"

Wu Luo's lips curled slightly, Gongsun Chi's expression remained blank.

Gongsun Heng pulled him slightly: "Hurry up and give thanks first!"

Bateer still wanted to ask, but Gongsun Heng hastily grabbed him, whispering: "I'll explain later when we go back."

Only then did Bateer kowtow again: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The two bowed and retreated.

Wu Luo couldn't help but shake his head: "This Prince is truly stupid to the point of being possible."

"It's fine." Gongsun Chi then picked up a black stone and placed it on the board: "Even a stupid piece, if used in the right place, can checkmate."

"The chessboard of this world has never had just one battlefield."

Several days later.

"Uncle Seven, run faster!" Tuan Tuan sat in front of Lu Qi, and the two rode together on Red Cloud's back, galloping.

Xiao Ran poked his head out of the carriage window: "Little one! Slow down! Be careful not to fall!"

Lu Qi loudly replied: "Don't worry! I'm here! Even if I fall, I won't fall on her!"

Xiao Ran turned to look at Xiao Ningxun: "You don't manage her either! But the little one's love for horseback riding is really similar to Jifeng's."

Xiao Ningxun sighed: "Leaving the Royal City makes her sad; let her run around, be happy."

Xiao Ran gazed at the expanse of green outside the window: "Yeah, in a few days we won't be able to see such vast grasslands anymore."

He stretched lazily: "This journey has been thrilling, far more fun than Jingcheng."

"Just thinking about having to study and write essays when I go back makes me not want to return."

From outside the carriage came Tuan Tuan's shout: "Meiwei! Jiayao! You're back!"

Lu Qi reined in his horse to stop; Meiwei and Jiayao saw Tuan Tuan fly down, landing on her shoulder, affectionately rubbing their little heads against her cheek.

Tuan Tuan giggled from being rubbed; a paper edge peeked out from the message tube on Meiwei's leg; Lu Qi reached out, grasped it, and removed the tube.

As he loosened his grip, Meiwei took flight, and Jiayao also flew up and followed.

Lu Qi pulled out the slip from the tube, unfolded it; at first he still wore a smile, but soon his expression stiffened.

Lu Qi quickly turned and ran back to the carriage, handing the slip to Xiao Ran, who was still leaning against the window looking outside.

Tuan Tuan looked up at him: "Uncle Seven, what's happening?"

Lu Qi smiled: "It's good news; after Jingcheng received the news that Meiwei and Jiayao had been sent back, the Lord Master's concerned official Feng Zhou has been reinstated to his former post."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Feng Zhou is out? Great!"

Lu Qi said: "Let's go! Let's run a bit more! Giddy-up!"

Xiao Ran took it, unfolded and read: "Feng Zhou released from prison, reinstated to his former post."

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "Now Tuan Tuan can rest easy."

Immediately after, Xiao Ran's expression changed drastically: "There's war at the border? Prince Ning has led the army out on campaign."

"What?" Xiao Ningxun snatched it away, and after looking, his brows furrowed at once: "Father is on the battlefield? And Second Brother—did he go too?"

Xiao Ningxun told this news to Xiao Er.

Xiao Er also exclaimed in surprise: "The Prince has gone out to war? Who is the opponent?"

"Da Xia."

Xiao Er hesitated a moment, then still asked: "Third Young Master, should we tell the young lady?"

Xiao Ningxun pondered for a moment, shook his head: "Let's not tell her for now; we'd better hurry back to Jingcheng."

"Good!" Xiao Er whipped the horsewhip: "Go!"

After several days, at dusk the carriage finally returned to the borders of the Fierce Kingdom.

Everyone found an inn to rest.

Everything around felt incredibly familiar.

Tuan Tuan bounced up and down, pulling her two older brothers: "We're almost home!"

"Dad and Mom must surely miss me! I don't know how Big Brother and Second Brother are doing, and what is Xiao Yueyue doing in the Prince's Mansion?"

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "We'll be in Jingcheng soon! After eating all that beef and mutton, it's time for a change. Come on, brother will take you to eat something good!"

"All right!"

After the group had a hearty meal outside, they returned to the inn to sleep.

Tuan Tuan fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She, who hadn't dreamed in a long time, once again entered the dream realm.

Huh, where is this?

She stood on an unfamiliar highland, surrounded by vast open plains; the wind was strong, billowing her little cloak.

In the distance came clear shouts of battle, the sound of hooves, and the clashing of metal.

She ran toward the sound—and found herself on a battlefield!

"Dad?"

Countless people were tangled in melee, and Xiao Yuanhang's armor was already stained with much blood.

Is Dad fighting in a war? Is he wounded?

"Dad!" Tuan Tuan rushed toward Xiao Yuanhang without regard for anything.

Xiao Yuanhang's spear in hand danced like a swimming dragon; wherever it passed, enemy soldiers fell one after another.

But the enemy was too numerous.

At the moment he lifted his spear to fling an enemy commander into the air,

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Nine streaks of bluish-purple light suddenly shot from the shadows of the battlefield, heading straight for Xiao Yuanhang's back!

It was a Nine-Star Repeating Crossbow!

Tuan Tuan shouted loudly: "Dad, be careful!"

Xiao Yuanhang suddenly turned back, sweeping his spear sideways, and knocked away seven of them!

But two still, at an unimaginable angle, pierced his armor.

"Pfft! Pfft!" two sounds, as they shot into his back.

Xiao Yuanhang shuddered violently, and the spear in his hand came to a halt.

He lowered his gaze and saw two Arrow clusters piercing through his chest, blood flowing down the Arrow shafts.

"Dad——Dad——!!!"