Chapter 556: Bumbutai Has Arrived

Everyone who came here had to hold their breath, and the reason was simple: the Great Ming was no longer the Great Ming it used to be. Even this time, no one believed Hong Taiji could turn things around.

Under such circumstances, everyone's attitude was remarkably consistent.

Even if Hong Taiji could turn things around, that would only be discussed after he actually did so. At this moment, no one would possibly defect to him, so their attitudes had to appear even more exceptionally respectful.

Wukeshan brought his younger sister Bumbutai and waited quietly outside the temporary palace, preparing to go see the Emperor.

In fact, he had come with a proud heart this time. Quite a few Mongols had come here with him this trip, but not many could receive the treatment he did — one could even say none at all. He was the only one.

This made Wukeshan feel very pleased with himself. If the Great Ming could destroy Hong Taiji, then they would once again become the masters of this land. And with his own status and strength, he would become the one commanding this land.

The Ming people wouldn't care about the grasslands — only he would. Thinking of the Khorchin's long-held ambitions, Wukeshan could barely contain the excitement in his heart.

If he had the Great Ming's support, he could go fight a war against Ligdan Khan. Perhaps one day he would become the Great Khan who unified the grasslands.

Ligdan Khan's poor relationship with the Great Ming was nothing new — in the northwest, Ligdan Khan had caused no shortage of trouble. So Wukeshan harbored such thoughts in his heart.

But he also knew that if he wanted to realize these thoughts, he would need the support of that Emperor of the Great Ming. From the few contacts they'd had, that Emperor of the Great Ming was not someone easy to deal with.

If he could gain the support of the Great Ming Emperor, he might have to rely on his younger sister.

Thinking of this, Wukeshan couldn't help but glance at Bumbutai beside him, dressed in a bright, vivid red outfit.

After these few years of growing up, his sister had become more and more beautiful, and her name had already spread widely across the grasslands.

In addition, because she had been betrothed these past few years, the clan had given her excellent cultivation. Now his sister not only spoke Chinese very well, she also wrote Chinese characters very well, and could even claim a preliminary grasp of poetry and song.

Under such circumstances, his sister would surely win the affection of the Great Ming Emperor. When the time came, with his sister's support, he would certainly be able to obtain even more power.

While Wukeshan was lost in his fantasies here, Bumbutai standing beside him was not so pleased.

Compared to her brother, she understood that Emperor of the Great Ming more clearly, understood him better, and deeply grasped what sort of intentions that Emperor had.

Although she had never spoken of it with her family, she had always been concerned about it in her heart.

Bumbutai knew something of her brother's and father's thoughts, but she wasn't entirely certain whether their plans could ultimately succeed. She hoped they wouldn't do anything too unwise, or else the situation would be very hard to salvage.

Just at this moment, Wei Chao walked out of the temporary palace with a smile.

Upon seeing Wukeshan and Bumbutai, Wei Chao quickly bowed and said gently: "Please follow me, you two. His Majesty is already inside waiting for you."

Having said this, Wei Chao smiled, turned around, and led the way ahead.

His Majesty was very fond of this young girl before him — Wei Chao knew this, so he behaved with great respect.

Though he didn't know how far this would go in the future, she would ultimately be a mistress of the palace. Since there was nothing to lose now, it was better to be respectful and avoid trouble later.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch." Wukeshan said with a smile, while imperceptibly slipping a folded banknote into Wei Chao's hand.

Having dealt with Ming officials for so long, he hadn't learned much else, but these matters of social grace and all sorts of worldly tricks — Wukeshan had learned them to the fullest.

In addition, his appearance seemed very easy to get along with, and when he smiled, he gave people a feeling of sincerity. But under such circumstances, no one truly dared to believe anyone.

Bumbutai naturally noticed this little gesture. She glanced at her brother, a helpless expression on her face.

She had always been on the grasslands and hadn't seen her brother for many years. Even when they did meet, there was no chance to spend time together — just a hasty parting. As for how her brother had changed over these years, Bumbutai had no idea.

At first she hadn't thought much of it, but at this moment, she finally noticed something out of the ordinary — her brother was no longer the man of the grasslands who rode horses and shot arrows. He had begun to become like a Ming merchant.

Bumbutai finally understood why seeing her brother gave her a feeling that he was out of place.

Men of the grasslands were used to solving problems with knives, with bows and arrows, with valor — but the brother before her had grown accustomed to the ways of Ming merchants. They solved problems with negotiation, with money, with bribery, and with all sorts of other methods.

Over these years he had learned well from the Ming people. Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing for her brother, she couldn't say.

From a positive perspective, he would live better among the Ming and understand them well enough. If anything happened, he would also be able to make the best judgments.

But he could no longer be as he once was — he would no longer rely on the warhorses and bows in his hands. Of course, this couldn't exactly be counted as a bad thing either, since in the end, the outcome would depend on how far the Great Ming could take this war.

If the Great Ming didn't win, the situation would reverse; if the Great Ming fought brilliantly, then naturally it would awe people's hearts; if it fell into a protracted war of attrition, then people's hearts would grow restless as well.

A smile on his face, Wukeshan followed Wei Chao as they walked inside.

He didn't think as much as his sister did. Right now he just wanted to see the Great Ming Emperor, ask clearly about the current situation, and find out the Great Ming's attitude toward the Mongols.

But judging from the current situation, the Great Ming Emperor still hadn't changed his policy — pacification and conciliation remained the priority.

In fact, the reason Wukeshan could be so brazen was also simple: the Ming people could not establish a foothold on the grasslands.

The Ming people didn't want to stay there long, so the grasslands would always remain the grasslands. No matter what they wanted to do, the grasslands would always belong to people like them.

And his sister beside him was another one of his bargaining chips, one that could make the Great Ming Emperor support his command over the grasslands.

After the group walked into the great hall, they soon saw Zhu Youxiao.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao was sitting in a chair, looking utterly bored.

Glancing at the approaching Wukeshan and Bumbutai, Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up.

Of course, it wasn't Wukeshan he was looking at, but Bumbutai.

After several years of growing up, now that she had come of age, she had truly become very beautiful — with a well-proportioned figure and long, slender legs that clearly showed she had been trained by horseback riding.

Though her skin wasn't fair, bearing the unique complexion of the Mongols, she nevertheless looked all the healthier for it.

Her gaze was lively and spirited, and she carried a hint of refined elegance about her — she truly was a rare beauty.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Wukeshan said from the side, bowing to Zhu Youxiao as he did so.

"Rise, no need for ceremony." Zhu Youxiao withdrew his gaze from Bumbutai's face and looked directly at Wukeshan, saying: "My dear minister has come from afar and must be quite weary. Why not have a place arranged for you to rest first?"

Hearing these words, everyone was utterly bewildered.

First of all, from Daning City to Shanhai Pass really couldn't be considered coming from afar. Moreover, the man had ridden here on horseback, traveling very quickly — for Mongols like them, weariness didn't really count for anything.

Besides, even if he were physically frail and found even this short journey tiring, the man had already rested for two days. Why would he need to rest again?

But when everyone saw Zhu Youxiao's utterly undisguised gaze fixed on Bumbutai, they understood: the Emperor simply couldn't be bothered with Wukeshan. He wanted to look at your sister, so tired or not, you'd better be tired — go rest quickly.

Wukeshan understood in an instant, and his expression immediately turned somewhat awkward.

But this was also a good thing.

Wukeshan said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your subject has indeed been weary from the long journey and would like to find a place to rest properly. That Your Majesty would show such consideration for your subject fills my heart with gratitude. Since Your Majesty shows me such consideration, I can only offer Your Majesty my incomparable loyalty."

This speech came out without the slightest hesitation — one could say it was entirely from the heart, his face full of sincerity.

Of course, no one knew whether Wukeshan was truly sincere or simply talking nonsense.

Bumbutai glanced at her brother without showing any expression.

Had her brother already become like this?

Last time at Zhangjiakou, her brother had still been wild and unruly, and she had been the one struggling to maintain relations with the Great Ming. Now, her brother was far more practiced at this than she was.

Bumbutai looked up at the Great Ming Emperor and saw that his eyes were slightly narrowed, looking quite pleased.

Clearly, her brother's words had worked.

But Bumbutai did not believe it, because the Emperor of the Great Ming was absolutely not that kind of person. He must be planning something again — what had just happened might well be part of it.

She was going to be used again.

Bumbutai felt somewhat helpless, but this was her fate. She could only hope everything would go smoothly; otherwise, a cruel war would break out again.

"Good. Wei Chao, personally escort Minister Wu down and find a good place for him to rest." Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction and instructed Wei Chao.

"Yes, Your Majesty." After Wei Chao acknowledged the order, he turned and walked to Wukeshan's side, extended his hand in a gesture of invitation, then said with a smile: "Minister Wu, let us be on our way."

Wukeshan nodded and said: "Good."

Having said that, he turned and walked out.

His sister could stay here — he could not take her back anyway.

But since the Great Ming Emperor had kept his sister here, the words spoken earlier must still hold. He could set his mind at ease.

He just wondered what the Great Ming Emperor would do to his sister.