She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Just as Cao Xiong was tormented to the brink of a mental breakdown and was ready to quit, inside the Turkic tent, the flickering candlelight illuminated Ashina Khan’s resolute and profound face.

The tent’s curtain hung low, shielding the outside spring breeze and clamor, leaving only a tranquility and strategic planning befitting the overlord of the grasslands.

Ashina sat upright on a throne made of tiger skin, his eyes sharp as he glanced at General Alpi and Princess Yujia below.

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Alpi, your unit has been harassing and probing Yong’an City for a month now. Has any of your subordinates seen again that legendary expert who uses peanuts as a weapon?"

Alpi was a renowned brave warrior on the Turkic grassland. His robust figure and the scars on his armor recorded his numerous battles and glory.

Upon hearing this, Alpi frowned slightly, showing a hint of confusion.

"Khan, we have never seen this person. I instructed my scouts to pay special attention to this person during each raid, but still, he hasn’t been spotted. It seems this person is not within the Yong’an City Military Camp."

Hearing this, Ashina’s fingers gently drummed on the armrest as he fell into thought.

After a moment, he raised his head and turned his gaze to Princess Yujia beside him.

"Yujia, what do you think about this expert who appears and disappears without a trace?"

Princess Yujia, dressed in exquisite Turkic attire, wore a golden crown. Her eyes revealed extraordinary wisdom and strategy.

She smiled gently, her voice melodious like silver bells.

"Father, the warriors who participated in ambushing Zhao Zun said that at the time, the expert’s face was dirty, and they couldn’t see the person’s appearance clearly. The clothes he wore were as strange as grass and trees. Standing in the thicket, the warriors didn’t notice him at first. As it goes, even if he were on the city wall defending against our raids, the warriors might not recognize him."

Ashina Khan’s brows furrowed, seemingly troubled by this issue.

"Doesn’t he have any distinguishing features that could make him recognizable?"

Princess Yujia gently shook her head, while Alpi stroked his chin as if contemplating something.

After a while, Princess Yujia boldly speculated: "Father, considering we’ve been probing for a month without encountering the peanut weapon, it suggests that the peanut weapon is not within Yong’an City Military Camp. I think... perhaps the expert came just to save Zhao Zun? Or perhaps he was a trusted aide of Zhao Zun, and so he left with Zhao Zun?"

Upon hearing this, Ashina’s eyes brightened, seemingly agreeing with Princess Yujia’s analysis.

"Yujia, what you said is very likely. Although I have never met Zhao Zun, I’ve heard he is rigorous in managing his troops and surrounded by numerous experts. The expert who uses peanuts as a weapon is likely one of his trusted aides. Once Zhao Zun left Beiguan, he naturally would have left with Zhao Zun as well."

"Khan, Princess. I remember now." At this moment, Alpi, who had been deep in thought, suddenly slapped his forehead and spoke excitedly: "Princess, you just mentioned coming just to save Zhao Zun, and I remembered. Later, I heard from Bujia that the voice of that person was delicate, sounding like a woman."

"A woman?"

"How could it be a woman?"

Princess Yujia and her father both exclaimed in surprise, and Ashina even slapped the armrest, standing up with a face full of disbelief.

Alpi, as if having discovered some unspeakable secret, continued excitedly: "That’s what Bujia said. Khan, do you think that person could be Zhao Zun’s lover, who came specially to save him? Haha..."

After saying this, Alpi laughed lecherously.

"No, it’s impossible."

Upon hearing this, Princess Yujia almost lost her balance, her deep Turkic eyes showing a complex expression.

That valiant figure of Zhao Zun, which haunted her dreams, had another woman?

This news was like a bolt from the blue, making it hard for her to accept for a time.

Princess Yujia’s heart was filled with mixed emotions: shock, anger, and a deep-seated unwillingness.

She had specially studied Da Jing’s culture for Zhao Zun, and diligently learned military strategies and tactics to get closer to that strategic hero of the frontier.

She had fantasized countless times about sharing a ride with Zhao Zun across the vast grasslands, and being together under the moon and flowers.

Now, this fantasy had burst like a bubble.

She bit her lip hard, stubbornly holding back her sadness, but the tears in her eyes betrayed her vulnerability.

Princess Yujia closed her eyes, trying to bury this emotion deep inside.

However, Zhao Zun’s figure remained, the love in her heart burning hot, now tinged with an added sense of helpless pain.

Ashina Khan glanced at Princess Yujia, sighed softly in his heart, his tone carrying a hint of finality.

"Yujia, did you hear that? The one who rescued Zhao Zun was a woman."

Princess Yujia struggled to suppress the tears in her eyes, adjusted her emotions, and replied, "Yes, Father, I heard it, and I know what to do."

Ashina nodded approvingly at Princess Yujia, "While Zhao Zun was in Beiguan, we failed to capture the city for years and didn’t loot any resources. Now, Zhao Zun has left Beiguan, and the expert went with him. Yujia, our people need us to bring them a better life, and we should do what we need to do."

Princess Yujia understood the implication of her father’s words. Her father was reminding her that Zhao Zun had someone in his heart, and she should not have unrealistic thoughts.

Her father was right, as leaders of their people, they had the responsibility and duty to bring prosperity to their people.

The grassland was harsh, and to ensure their people’s survival or better life, they had to plunder more resources from the resource-rich Da Jing Dynasty.

She admired Zhao Zun, but there was an inherent hostility between them.

Even without this newly found woman, what difference would it make? There were mountains and rivers separating them, giving her almost no chance.

Thinking this way, Princess Yujia absorbed the heartache deeply and, after taking a deep breath, the pain in her eyes disappeared, replaced by that extraordinary wisdom and strategy.

"Yes, Father. I understand."

Seeing his daughter seemingly letting go, Ashina nodded approvingly once more.

"Yujia, what do you plan to do then?" Ashina looked into Princess Yujia’s eyes and asked.

"Father, though spring follows winter, the great battle last autumn caused us considerable losses. I believe now is not the time for a full assault. We need to recuperate first." Princess Yujia furrowed her brow, carefully analyzing the current situation.

Alpi interjected: "Though we are not yet strong, Cao Xiong in Beiguan is a useless man, according to scout reports. The soldiers there do not respect him, and Cao Xiong has been worn out by our harassment, his spirit broken. This is a great opportunity for us."

After hearing Alpi’s words, Princess Yujia also nodded frequently.

"Father, I’ve received news. Since Zhao Zun’s military power was revoked, Ala and the allied nations are actively preparing for war, planning to attack Beiguan after autumn."

"Oh? How reliable is this information?"