Chapter 113: To Battle! To Battle!
She knew that she and Zhao Zun were now adversaries, but in her heart, there was always that obsession.
As long as she could sneak into Da Jing Canzhou and find Zhao Zun, she believed she had enough ability to persuade the frustrated Zhao Zun to join the Turkic force.
Zhao Zun had the talent of a leader, and he was also brave and fierce in battle. If he were to serve the Turkic, not only would the Turkic gain a formidable strategist and warrior, but she would also have the opportunity to see Zhao Zun every day.
Of course, if Zhao Zun could become her man in the future, that would be even better; the Turkic had brave armies for him to command.
Princess Yujia led her horse quietly through the camp, avoiding the patrolling soldiers.
She secretly rejoiced in her heart that fortunately, her father was worried about the war, had retired early tonight, and wouldn’t notice her movements.
However, just as she walked a short distance, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Stop!"
A commanding voice rang out in the darkness.
Princess Yujia was startled; this voice was unmistakably her father’s.
She halted her steps and turned to see Ashina Khan striding towards her, thinking to herself—it’s over.
"Father, why... why are you here?"
Princess Yujia reached out to stroke the horse’s head, trying to conceal her panic.
Ashine looked at his daughter, a complex emotion flashing in his sharp gaze. Although he was busy planning war matters in the tent, he also noticed his daughter’s absent-mindedness.
No one knows a daughter like her father; how could he not understand what his daughter was thinking? He had also predicted that she would take action tonight.
Indeed!
He was both angry and heartbroken. Angry that his daughter disregarded the bigger picture and left the camp without permission; heartbroken that she was willing to take risks for that elusive love.
"Yujia, where are you going?"
Ashine’s tone carried a hint of helplessness and reproach. Without needing to say, he also knew what his daughter intended to do.
Princess Yujia lowered her head, remained silent for a while, then gathered up the courage to say, "Father, I... I want to find Zhao Zun."
Ashine’s face darkened, "Nonsense! A great war is imminent, and you, as a princess, do not think of easing the nation’s worries but leave the camp privately to find the enemy. How is this appropriate!"
Princess Yujia raised her head; tears were already shimmering in her bright eyes.
"Father, I know the war is imminent, and I know about Zhao Zun’s status, but I really love him."
"Love him?" Ashine’s voice heightened a few pitches, and his expression became even colder. "You haven’t even met him; you’ve only heard of him. How can you talk of love?"
Ashine already didn’t know how to address his daughter.
Women of the grasslands, unlike those of the Da Jing, have fewer constraints. Since childhood, they dance with the wind, sing with the horses, living freely and unconstrained.
They are the eagles of the grasslands, possessing the freedom to soar in the sky, but not all can mount horses gallantly and fight bloodily with the enemy.
Princess Yujia’s temperament was gentle as a lamb, adept at strategy. She could ride across the grasslands on horses tending livestock, but to speak of entering the battlefield was still far off.
Every war, she strategized from far within the grand tent, never actually having met Zhao Zun. What they truly had were merely some strategic encounters.
Her daughter’s admiration for Zhao Zun was merely due to his fame, no more than a hero fantasy, a sense of worship.
But now, his daughter still disregarded the relationship between enemies and was willing to risk finding that man. Wasn’t this absurd?
Ashine grew increasingly angry, unable to restrain himself from scolding.
"Return!"
"Father. Believe me, I can persuade Zhao Zun." Princess Yujia pleaded pitifully.
Ashine still had a stern face, not yielding a step.
"Yujia. You are too naive. Who do you think you are? You are a princess of the enemy nation, how could Zhao Zun be persuaded by your mere words?"
Princess Yujia trembled. She raised her head, tears swirling in her eyes.
"Father, I simply want to see him once, I beg you to fulfill this."
Ashine looked at his daughter’s tearful appearance, and a wave of tenderness welled up in his heart.
He knew that the possibility of Princess Yujia persuading Zhao Zun was almost zero, her true intent was just to see her dream lover once.
But with the great battle looming, he could not allow his daughter to take risks.
Moreover, the future of the Turkic could not be governed by romance and affection.
If he allowed Princess Yujia to infiltrate Da Jing at this moment, then in this great war, the Turkic would be inhibited from acting. The favorable opportunity of the Da Jing Dynasty changing commanders and generals would be meaningless to them.