Finest Servant

On the distant horizon, a vast cavalry procession advanced slowly. Leading them were five thousand elite Turkic wolf cavalry, formidable in strength and spirit. Following closely were over a hundred Turkic maidens with bright eyes and white teeth, armed with bows and curved swords, their figures valiant and striking.

In the center of the procession, sixteen magnificent blood-red horses pulled a massive carriage forward. Encircling the carriage were numerous golden wolf heads, some in anger, others howling, exuding an awe-inspiring presence. A large golden canopy, moving up and down with the motion of the procession, was adorned with light yellow gauze that danced gracefully in the prairie breeze, exuding beauty and grace.

It was the royal carriage of the Golden Blade Khan!

Lin Wanrong stood silently, his eyes suddenly moistening as he gazed breathlessly at the distant cavalry. "I said we would catch up, didn't I?" whispered Sister An, who had awoken unbeknownst to him, embracing him silently from behind, her cheek pressed tightly against his broad back, her laughter soundless.

The carriage creaked softly, like a melodious prairie love song. The curtains were slowly drawn back, revealing a beautiful young girl who announced in a delicate voice, "The Great Khan orders a halt, the army shall rest."

The procession stopped silently, and the Turkic maidens quickly set up golden felt tents on either side. The carriage door opened slowly, and the girl who had just called out was the first to alight, gently lifting the curtain.

The tassels swayed slightly as a woman of unparalleled beauty emerged from the golden carriage. Her golden dress flowed elegantly, brushing the grass like dazzling sunlight. Her hair, dark and glossy as ink, was casually yet nobly pinned up with a gold hairpin. Her skin was translucent and flawless, her cheeks emitting a faint glow, adorned with two snow-white patches at her temples, pure and noble like cotton flowers.

A young maid assisted her, saying respectfully, "Great Khan, this is the former Dalanzha tribe."

"Nalan, order the encampment here today," the Great Khan instructed softly, her voice sweet and melodious like the sound of heaven.

"Yes!" Nalan promptly left to execute the order. In moments, tents dotted the prairie, with cavalry setting up layers of protection around the perimeter. The maids bustled about, preparing the temporary royal quarters.

Xiangxue, the young maid, followed closely behind the Great Khan, walking lightly on the green grass. Observing the beautiful radiance in the Great Khan's eyes, seemingly searching silently for something, Xiangxue asked curiously, "Great Khan, you did not stop at the previous large tribes. Why have you decided to encamp here?"

The Great Khan's cheeks flushed, and she chuckled lightly, "Because this place is different from the others! There's a cunning rascal here. He played a vile trick here, deceiving everyone."

"Did he deceive you as well, Great Khan?" asked Xiangxue, puzzled.

"Yes," the Great Khan replied, her face lighting up with a soft smile, her eyes filled with fond remembrance. "He's actually a good person, yet he always likes to pretend to be a villain! I was so bitterly fooled by him!"

"I understand now," Xiangxue clapped her hands and laughed, "You're talking about the Khan Consort, right?!"

Yujia's face flushed, "How did you know it was him?"

"It's quite simple," the young maid said, blinking, "You, Great Khan, are the smartest person in the world. If someone could deceive you, it must be our Turkic Khan Consort! Who else could have such ability?"

Yujia's cheeks burned as she chuckled shyly, "You are a clever girl! In my life, I've only been fooled by him!"

The beautiful Golden Blade Khan, in her bashful reminiscence, displayed a melancholic and soul-stirring demeanor, leaving Xiangxue, who had grown up by her side, dazed. "Great Khan, did you start liking the Khan Consort from here?"

A blush rose on Yujia's pretty moon-like face, "I don't know. That man was too bad. His words and actions always kept me guessing. Over time, guessing became a habit! Like here in Dalanzha. He deceitfully released our Turkic women and children. I truly thought him foolish and weak-willed, a born softy. Great Hua sending him to lead troops surely meant they had no one else."

"And what happened later?" the young maid asked eagerly.

The Great Khan shook her head with a smile, "You already know what happened later, don't you?"

Xiangxue thought for a moment, then giggled, "A born weakling, and yet he stole our Great Khan's heart! The Khan Consort is truly clever!"

As Yujia reminisced about the past, her joy and embarrassment knew no bounds, those experiences felt as if they had happened only yesterday.

Another young maid, Nalan, hurried over, "Great Khan, Left Prince has sent a document, requesting your attention."

Yujia nodded, taking a lingering look around before turning and walking into the golden felt tent.

The tent, lined with sheepskins, was simple yet cozy, with a golden camel bell hanging in the center. The National Tutor, Lu Dongzan, had been waiting inside. Seeing her enter, he quickly placed a hand on his chest in a respectful salute.

"No need for formalities, Lu Dongzan," Yujia said with a smile, taking a seat, "I only left Bayanhot a few days ago, how come Left Prince has already sent a document?"

"Your Highness," the National Tutor cautiously began, "I have reviewed the document. Left Prince is pleading for his men."

Lu Dongzan handed over the document, and as Yujia glanced over it, her brow furrowed slightly, "Hasn't this matter already been decided? Batur's men, repeatedly causing trouble in the trade area, not only injured Great Hua people but also attacked our own kin. It's outrageous! I brought them back to the royal court for punishment, which is what the people wanted. What is Batur pleading for now?"

"These men are Batur's brave warriors. The Great Khan punishing them naturally upsets Left Prince, so his plea is understandable," Lu Dongzan nodded, somewhat helplessly adding, "Actually, the main issue is Batur's grudge against the free trade area, making it extremely difficult to persuade him."

Left Prince's opposition to the establishment of the free trade area was not new, known throughout the Turkic Khanate. Yujia sighed softly, "Batur doesn't oppose the trade area, he opposes our peace with Great Hua. He even wishes that Salmu never returns!"

The Golden Blade Khan spoke so candidly that it caught Lu Dongzan somewhat off guard, "Great Khan—"

Yujia gently waved her hand, "Although National Tutor, you belong to the same tribe as Batur, your wisdom and intelligence are renowned across the steppes. You are my teacher, revered even by my father, the Khan. In your presence, it's only natural for Yujia to speak her mind. You understand Left Prince's intentions, even without my explaining."

Lu Dongzan nodded silently, acknowledging her words.

"My father once harbored grand ambitions to conquer the entire Great Hua nation with iron and blood! Although a woman, I too was inspired by this magnificent vision, even venturing personally into the heart of Great Hua to gather intelligence on the enemy state, as you well know."

Yujia walked silently, her steps light yet resolute. The National Tutor listened attentively, bowing slightly.

"But what have we gained from years of war, the countless deaths? Have we conquered Great Hua?"

Lu Dongzan shook his head slowly. The century-long war between the two nations, with its countless casualties and shifting control of cities, saw Turkic victories but never a conquest of the adversary.

"These past months, I've been pondering a question: What exactly do the Turkic people need?" Yujia sighed softly, "Teacher, as a true sage, can you tell me the answer?"

Lu Dongzan remained silent for a moment before speaking earnestly, "The Khanate needs prosperity and strength. Our citizens need a life of happiness and comfort, free from oppression."

"I wholeheartedly agree with your words," Yujia replied gently, "Just as my father aimed to conquer the Great Hua people, not for the sake of war itself! His ultimate goal was to ensure a happy life for our people."

"But even if we had conquered Great Hua, even if we had taken the Helan Mountains and invaded Great Hua's heartland, what then? The population of Great Hua is more than ten times ours; we could never eradicate them. Even if we could rule them, we would inevitably be influenced by them. Think about it, National Tutor, throughout these thousands of years of history. Great Hua has been conquered before, but those nomadic tribes that breached its borders, weren't they all eventually assimilated by Great Hua's vast populace? Where are those tribes now?!"

The Golden Blade Khan's barrage of questions left Lu Dongzan sweating profusely. As a sage renowned across the steppes, he pondered the history of nomadic tribes that had invaded Great Hua. Though they had their moments of glory, they eventually disappeared into the annals of Great Hua's history. This was the nature of ethnic integration, an inescapable truth.

"Physically, we might be able to rule Great Hua, but spiritually, they will rule us," Yujia said, shaking her head, "As a Turkic, National Tutor, what do you think I should do?"

Such a question required profound wisdom to comprehend. The depth in Yujia's gaze deeply impressed Lu Dongzan, her teacher. "I understand," he sighed deeply, "You're right, Great Khan. Even if we conquer Great Hua and breach its borders, the victors will not be us."

"Establishing the free trade zone in Bayanhot was essentially just formalizing and legitimizing the private exchanges that had previously taken place among the common folk. On one hand, it allowed our people to enjoy the benefits of trade, while also improving their farming and herding skills, thus bettering their lives. On the other hand, it created a platform for interaction with Great Hua, allowing our people to gradually adapt to Great Hua culture and avoid being caught off guard by greater shocks in the future. Moreover, this exchange was within our control, serving as a test stone for the cultural integration of the two nations. We could adjust our strategies accordingly, preserving our national traditions."

Yujia spoke softly and steadily, and Lu Dongzan listened with heartfelt agreement. Such a Golden Blade Khan was the hope of the steppes.

"These words, I cannot say to Batur! In their eyes, I am just a woman beguiled by Lin San!" the Golden Blade Khan said with a bitter smile, "True, I love my Wo Lao Gong, I think of him day and night, I want to marry him, bear his children! But, I am also a Turk, and no matter what happens in the future, I will never harm my people, I swear it with my life!"

Tears welled up in Yujia's eyes, her clenched teeth betraying deep sorrow and pain.

Moved to his core, Lu Dongzan stood tall and said, "Rest assured, Great Khan, I will personally persuade Batur. If he remains obstinate, I, Lu Dongzan, will be the first to not spare him."

"Thank you, National Tutor," the Great Khan smiled faintly, adding softly, "Also, the forces under Right Prince Tursun have been fully integrated, and hundreds of thousands of warriors are loyal and obedient. The sky of our steppes will always remain this clear!"

The Golden Blade Khan's blend of firmness and flexibility, her masterful handling of situations, left the National Tutor incredibly impressed. The steppes needed such a heroic figure!

Long after Lu Dongzan had left, Yujia's eyes remained red, standing in silent contemplation.

Xiangxue asked cautiously, "Great Khan, are you missing the Khan Consort?"

"I'm not thinking of him at all!" Yujia blushed, feigning annoyance with a huff, "It's all because of that rascal bandit, leaving me in such a state!"

"Really?" Xiangxue's eyes twinkled as she giggled, "I just heard from Sister Nalan that there seems to be a message from the Lin family in Great Hua's capital city!"

"What?" The Great Khan sprang up, her chest heaving, her hands trembling with excitement, "Really? Where is it?"

Xiangxue covered her mouth, giggling, mimicking her words, "It's all because of that rascal bandit, leaving me in such a state!"

The Great Khan paused, her cheeks flushing red, and she scolded playfully, "You little girl, how dare you trick me! I shall punish you for this!"

As the two were playfully arguing, the young maid Nalan rushed in, her face flushed and voice trembling, "Your Highness, there is an envoy from Great Hua outside seeking an audience!"

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