Chapter 70: She

At the banquet, guests and hosts alike enjoyed themselves fully.

“Father-in-law, from now on, the Boluohan tribe is officially loyal to the Grand Commander; these ten thousand shi of grain and thirty thousand cattle and sheep are my tribute to you!”

Boluohan Kongque burst into loud laughter, waved his hand, and a group of women hurried over to Li Shuang.

“If the General acts thus, I am at ease. The Boluohan tribe’s submission to the court means Wuyuan and Huaihuo are now the court’s lands! We are all one family—let us jointly resist the Six Garrisons rebels.”

“Well said! I toast my father-in-law.”

After drinking merrily, Boluohan Kongque had just set down his cup when he spoke again:

“But there is one more matter requiring the General’s assistance.”

“What is it?”

“Could the General return my daughter to me?”

Li Shuang glanced at the surrounding women and bowed respectfully:

“Forgive me, but which one among them is your daughter?”

“You misunderstand—my daughter’s name is Dugu Ru.”

“Dugu Ru?”

The atmosphere in the tent froze instantly; the women who had clustered around Li Shuang now wisely stepped back, falling silent.

“I do know her, but I didn’t realize she was your daughter?”

“I have two adopted daughters, alas, both grown and gone. I intended to betroth Dugu Ru to you—could the General first bring her back?”

“No problem, I’ll take another!”

Even with Boluohan Kongque’s cunning, he stared in stunned silence for a long moment.

Finally recovering, he let out a booming laugh:

“Enter!”

Outside the tent, a servant woman led in a little girl, three or four years old.

“This is my daughter yet to be married—does the General find her agreeable?”

“No matter. In a few years she’ll be grown—I can wait.”

Boluohan Kongque snorted coldly, losing patience, and hurled his bowl to the ground.

Five or six armored soldiers surged in, drawing swords and pointing them at Li Shuang.

“But I cannot wait!”

Li Shuang rose to his feet, furious:

“Hey, you old bastard—you took the money and didn’t deliver?”

“That grain and those cattle and sheep were meant for the Rouran. The Rouran have already moved south—do you expect me to fight them to the death over these supplies? Besides, someone else offered a higher bride-price.”

“Who?”

“Prince Guangyang!”

Boluohan Kongque beamed, clapped his hands, and his men brought forward two chests.

Inside the chests lay piles of gold.

“Prince Guangyang offered me two thousand gold pieces as bride-price to wed Dugu Ru, and promised to ally with the Rouran and, after crushing the Six Garrisons rebels, hand over Yunzhong and Shengle to me.”

“But Dugu Ru isn’t even here!”

“Good question—with you here, wouldn’t she come?” Boluohan Kongque waved his hand. “Take him away and lock him up with Gao Huan and Hou Jing.”

In the prison, Gao Huan and Hou Jing sat facing each other, glaring silently, until another guest arrived.

“Lord, how could you come to such a filthy place?”

Hou Jing leapt up at once, offering his seat to Li Shuang.

Li Shuang plopped down without a hint of restraint.

Hou Jing beamed, flattering Li Shuang.

“Lord, have you finally recognized my loyalty and come to free me?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why are you here?”

At that moment, a shout came from outside the cell.

“Daye Shuang, behave yourself—don’t try any tricks.”

Then came the slow, grinding sound of the prison door closing.

Hou Jing’s heart shattered with the closing door.

“Lord, how did you end up locked up too?”

“That old bastard Boluohan Kongque took the money and didn’t deliver…”

Hearing this, Hou Jing couldn’t help complaining:

“Lord, when we saved you, why didn’t you just come with us? Now you’ve pulled this stunt—who’s left to rescue us?”

“Hou Jing, you’re good at everything—just too honest.”

“What do you mean?”

At that moment, Gao Huan, who had been silent, let out a bitter laugh.

“In Boluohan Kongque’s plan, he positions himself as the bridge between the Rouran and Prince Guangyang—you and all the Huaihuo men are already expendable.”

Hou Jing seemed to understand.

“You knew Boluohan Kongque’s plan all along—you betrayed us to drag us into this, so we’d turn against him?”

Gao Huan glanced at Li Shuang, his tone sly:

“Time waits for no one—we had to take desperate measures. I never expected you, Brother Daye, would refuse to join us.”

“It’s not that I wouldn’t join you—it’s that Boluohan’s main forces are camped outside the city. Without a sure kill on Boluohan Kongque, we can’t escape.”

“But isn’t the result the same? We’re all trapped here.”

Li Shuang spoke calmly:

“It’s different.”

Gao Huan and Hou Jing turned to Li Shuang, hoping he would reveal a plan.

“To avoid delays, Boluohan Kongque has decided to execute you two tomorrow.”

“What about you?”

“Until the future Princess Guangyang arrives, I’m not in immediate danger. I’ll probably have to eat your last meals first!”

Hearing this, Gao Huan and Hou Jing stared at Li Shuang’s calm demeanor, deeply frustrated.

Nightfall.

Dugu Ru, clad in black robes, face like frost, appeared at the Garrison Commander’s residence.

“Sister Ru!”

Boluohan Chang, standing beside Boluohan Kongque, lit up at the sight of Dugu Ru—but his enthusiasm was instantly doused by his father’s cold snort.

“You came after all.”

“Wasn’t that exactly what you wanted?”

Watching Dugu Ru’s icy demeanor, Boluohan Kongque sighed deeply:

“Must we be so cold between father and daughter?”

“Enough talk—where’s Li Shuang?”

“He’s fine—he’s probably eating his last meal right now!”

Seeing Dugu Ru’s clenched teeth, Boluohan Kongque smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry—it’s not his own last meal.”

Dugu Ru trembled, facing Boluohan Kongque, powerless.

“It’s laughable—I threatened you with your sister and clan, and you ignored me, even killed my envoys. Yet for a man, you came? Is that Daye Shuang really so special?”

Seeing Dugu Ru remain silent, Boluohan Kongque chuckled:

“How could I forget? Beauty loves heroes—it’s always been so.”

Dugu Ru refused to dwell on the topic and asked:

“Where is my sister?”

“She fled.”

Dugu Ru clearly doubted it—until Boluohan Chang spoke up:

“When Father lost to Li Shenzhui, Sister Si took the clan and escaped.”

Dugu Ru believed Boluohan Chang. Her sister had escaped danger—she felt relieved.

“What do you want?”

“If you become Princess Guangyang willingly, Daye Shuang will be spared.”

“Fine, I agree.”

“Bring in the attendants! My daughter is to be married—prepare everything properly!”

Boluohan Kongque watched Dugu Ru’s retreating figure in the dark night and smiled:

“Gao Huan, Daye Shuang—even with all your schemes, you’ve only made me a wedding gift!”