Chapter 643

No, he is not a true son.

But he would be content just to catch a glimpse of Kuert's appearance.

Actually, as soon as he learned that Anar had kidnapped his four disciples, Nan Gongdi rushed to the Western Regions, hoping deep down to catch a glimpse of Anar.

Back then he left without a word; though it seemed carefree, he always felt somewhat guilty in his heart.

He even felt some regret.

Later he heard she had married into Wusun, and less than two years later the Wusun king died.

Yet she, alone in Wusun, carved out a bloody path for herself and, carrying her young son, ascended the Wusun throne.

She became the true power holder of Wusun—the Wusun Empress Dowager.

Back then Nan Gongdi had no idea that the son she bore was actually their bloodline!

If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have, when captured by Anar, ordered Xuan Cang to risk his life to go to Great Chu to find Luoluo and obtain that painting.

He intended to use the painting to deceive Anar, so as to seize the chance to bring his disciples out alive.

But after learning what kind of karma he had created back then, Nan Gongdi no longer wanted to escape.

This life of his is owed to the mother and son.

So, as long as there is even a sliver of hope to save Kuert, he is willing to do anything.

Watching Nan Gongdi's back, Anar's expression turned cold.

"What is there to see?"

"Let's go!"

She brought Li Qingluo and the others and pursued in the direction Kuert had left.

"This Kuert, no! He's a fake Kuert—how could he come out of the Grand Consort Yan's hall? What is their relationship now?"

"Moreover, Marquis Gudu said he had summoned Kuert; even if Kuert had already entered the palace, shouldn't he first come see me, his 'Mother'?"

"He isn't even bothering with saving face anymore!"

"Truly absurd to the extreme!"

Li Qingluo: "Could this Kuert be a person of Consort Yan? Didn't that woman in the cold palace say that? The legitimate third prince born to Consort Yan has been frail since childhood and just died five months ago."

Anar shook her head: "Impossible five months ago."

"Because five months ago, Kuert had already changed!"

That means the timing doesn't match.

Li Qingluo: "No rush, we'll eliminate them one by one."

Soon, it was time for the night banquet.

Anar led Li Qingluo and the group back from outside; just as they were about to step into the hall, their path was blocked.

"Princess Anar, tonight only two servants are allowed to enter the hall; please observe the rule."

Anar couldn't help but flare up: "Get lost!"

"They are all attendants serving by my side; I insist on bringing them all into the hall—what can you do about it?"

Anar referred to herself by her status as Wusun Empress Dowager, which made her far more noble in this court than the once‑honored but now ignored Princess Anar.

Instantly, that servant lowered his head.

Li Qingluo leaned forward and whispered a few words to Anar in a low voice.

Only then did Anar reluctantly look toward the two behind her, Sha Yi and Sha Si, and say: "You two, stay outside the hall."

Although the order came from Anar, Sha Yi and Sha Si first glanced at Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo barely nodded, and the two immediately took their places outside the hall and did not move forward.

Anar brought only Nan Gongdi and Li Qingluo; the three removed their shoes and entered the hall, where palace maids led them to their seats for the evening.

Anar was seated in a corner.

She suppressed her anger and did not flare up on the spot.

But Li Qingluo noticed—this seemed intentional, right?

As the banquet opened, Marquis Gudu did not appear; the Empress Dowager and Consort Yan arrived one after another, and everyone rose to pay respects.

After they were seated, the Empress Dowager seemed to notice Anar in the corner for the first time.

"Isn't that Anar?"

"After not seeing you for years, how come you look so worn out, and aged so much?"

Anar stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I am nearly fifty. My face has wrinkles, my hair has white strands—these are merely the marks of time. I cannot help but show my age."

"What surprises me, though, is that Your Majesty's eyes have improved considerably."

"Just a few years ago, Your Majesty couldn't see clearly, did you? I even thought tonight you wouldn't see me, given how secluded my seat is—I sat in the hall for most of the day, yet hardly anyone could see me."

"I never expected that Your Majesty's eyes are still sharp—you called me as soon as you came in."

"Your Majesty shows such care for me, yet today I feared disturbing you and didn't even go to pay my respects—I am both moved and ashamed."

Upon hearing these words, the Empress Dowager's face instantly turned a shade of green then white, looking very unpleasant.

Who doesn't know the Empress Dowager's eyesight is poor?

But as soon as she sat down, she accurately looked toward Anar; it was obvious her seat had been pre‑designated for her.

At the table, everyone immediately began to chatter.

The Empress Dowager is nearly eighty years old.

She is the longest‑lived Empress Dowager in the court in nearly a hundred years.

Everyone was saying she might be senile, acting so shamelessly—after all, she is still the Empress Dowager of Wusun.

Although they are both empress dowagers, her status is not as high as this court's, but she still ought to give some face.

The Empress Dowager glared at Anar hatefully and whispered: "You really are still as vicious as ever."

Anar: "You're worse than me; the older you get, the more poisonous you become."

The Empress Dowager slapped the low table: "What did you say?"

She didn't hear it clearly at all, but she instinctively felt that Anar hadn't said anything nice.

"Enough, Empress Mother!"

With a stern shout, a tall, sturdy figure strode in swiftly and decisively.

He strode straight up to Anar, stared at her with disgust, and said: "You shouldn't treat the Grand Empress Dowager like this; it's disrespectful!"

"Empress Mother, do you realize your mistake?"

The comer was none other than Kute.

With his fierce, menacing appearance, how could he have even a shred of respect for his own birth mother?

Li Qingluo didn't speak; instead, she turned her head to look at Nan Gongdi.

Nan Gongdi's eyebrows were tightly knit, and his eyes burned with murderous rage.

Li Qingluo reached out and quietly pressed her hand onto Nan Gongdi's arm.

This Kute radiates heavy killing intent; if these two slaves dared to speak up rashly for Anar, they'd likely become his first venting sacrifice.

He is the King of Wusun.

Killing a slave is nothing more than a trivial matter like drinking water and eating rice.

So Li Qingluo and Nan Gongdi did not intervene; instead, they let Anar rise on her own and slap Kute hard across the face.

"Damn bastard!"

"How am I being disrespectful to your Grand Empress Dowager?"

"It's you who's become outrageously arrogant. You've left Wusun for half a year, neglecting state affairs—not to mention you don't even acknowledge me as your Empress Mother."

"I think the one who doesn't know his mistake is you!"

"Back then I single-handedly brought you, a one-year-old, to the throne, overcoming all difficulties to manage Wusun for you—these years I may have no merit, but I've surely endured hardship."

"And what about you?"

"Just because you're a little unhappy, you run to the imperial court and spout nonsense before the Chanyu, claiming I'm clinging to power and refusing to truly relinquish authority."

"Kute, do you have any conscience?"

"If you don't want to sit on the throne, abdicate early in favor of your own son!"

Kute seemed to be desperately suppressing his anger, which kept him from striking back.

But his sinister face was already filled with killing intent.

Even facing his own mother, he showed no restraint, instead saying: "You've finally revealed your ambition, Empress Mother?"

"That way you can bring your own grandson to the throne and continue to hold Wusun's great power."

"Everyone has seen what kind of life I've led these years, right?"

"How could a Wusun ruled by a woman ever be any good?"

"Whether I remain king or not has long been irrelevant to me!"

"If that's the case, then perhaps—"

Kute turned completely against Anar in front of everyone, and seemed about to utter words of total rupture with his mother—when suddenly the Great Chanyu Gudu Hou arrived.

"Kute! Shut your mouth for me!"

The Chanyu strode over, face full of anger, and raised his hand to slap Kute.

"Is this how you treat your mother?"

"I think she's spoiled you rotten all these years!"

"Hurry up and apologize to your mother!"

Gudu Hou seemed to finally understand what grievance Anar had suffered.

He looked at Anar with a hint of guilt in his eyes, while Kute's former bluster instantly died out upon meeting Chanyu Gudu Hou.

He hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Chanyu-uncle, I..."

Gudu Hou: "You're not kneeling for me; you're kneeling for your mother!"

"She raised you for over twenty years, yet she's raised you into this!"

"You clearly weren't like this before; now you're full of viciousness."

"Kute, what on earth are you doing?"

Facing the Chanyu's suspicion, Kute seemed terrified; he immediately turned and told Anar: "Empress Mother, your subject knows his mistake."

"Please forgive your subject."

Eshi also hurriedly rose and came over to persuade: "This is all a misunderstanding."

"It's just that the Empress Mother asked Anar a couple extra questions, and you, Chanyu, have always known Anar's straightforward, blunt temperament."

"Kute is especially filial toward his Grand Empress Dowager, which is why he talked back to her mother, letting the misunderstanding deepen."

"Kute, you must not do this again next time!"

"Do you understand?"

Kute: "Yes, Aunt Eshi."

Watching this scene, Anar's heart broke.

Her Kute was truly no longer her real Kute anymore.

Her son was filial and thoughtful; he would never treat her like this!

The ghost possessing Kute's body will surely be caught!

Anar drank dull wine all night.

Even when Chanyu Gudu Hou moved her seat to a lower side and asked her caringly, her mood did not improve.

The Marquis of Gudu could only sigh silently and ordered Ku Erte to move into her mother's residence starting today.

The Marquis of Gudu's original intention was to repair their mother‑son relationship.

Ku Erte, though showing some resistance, ultimately agreed.

In the end, Anaer naturally became completely drunk.

Still drunk and helped out, she clung to Ku Erte with lingering reluctance, tears in her voice, and said, "Ku Erte, the Empress does not know where she went wrong."

"You and the Empress, go home."

"Any faults you think the Empress has, the Empress will change them from now on."

"Your child is still young, and your Ke Dun is also waiting for you…"

"Ku Erte, do you know how difficult and heartbreaking this runaway has been for the Empress and your Ke Dun?"

"You are the true king of Wusun!"

Ku Erte's complexion was extremely grim.

Li Qingluo and Nan Gongdi, holding Anaer, finally pulled her away completely.

Yet as soon as they got onto the carriage, Anaer wiped her face with her hand.

She woke from the feigned drunkenness she had just pretended.

"My own son, you wouldn't be clueless about exactly how much liquor I can handle."