Finest Servant

Chapter 595 Within Close Range

"Great Khan?!"

At the utterance of those words, not only did Gao Qiu's eyes widen in astonishment, but Lin Wanrong was also left flabbergasted. Could it be that Yujia was the Great Khan of the Turkic people? This had to be a joke!

Lin Wanrong had considered countless possibilities concerning Yujia's identity. A princess, a queen, or even the most mysterious witch of the steppe—all of these had crossed his mind. But never had he linked her to the title of Khan. In the Alxa steppe, where martial prowess and patriarchy reigned, it was utterly ludicrous that the beautiful Yujia would be the Great Khan of the Turkic people. It seemed as though God was playing a monumental prank on him.

"Brother Hu, are you sure you heard that right?" Gao Qiu still couldn't believe it and grabbed Hu Bugui for confirmation.

Hu Bugui shook his head and bitterly smiled, pointing ahead, "How could I have misheard? Just look at how these Turkic people are worshipping her. If she were not the Great Khan, who else could command such respect?"

Before them lay a dense crowd, every Turkic individual respectfully kneeling on the ground, muttering prayers and bowing their heads towards Yujia.

"Your unintended act of kindness tonight will not go unrewarded. I swear on the name of the god of the steppe that after we conquer your Great Hua cities, we will only expel the inhabitants—no more slaughter of women and children. That is your reward," Yujia had once confidently spoken these words when they conquered the Dalanzha tribe. They now echoed faintly in his ears.

The exquisite golden blade, the mysterious wolf tattoo, the ambiguous words of Lu Dongzan—all these past events flashed through his mind like a movie reel. Once strung together, Yujia's identity became glaringly obvious. He had just never thought of it that way before. ‘Preconceptions can be deadly,’ Lin Wanrong sighed to himself.

At this point, even Hu Bugui had no explanation. Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment and suddenly smiled, "Old Gao, don't fixate solely on Yujia. Don't forget, there's also a little Khan beside her."

Gao Qiu scoffed, "So what about the little Khan? He still has to obey the Great Khan, doesn't he? What chaotic customs these Turkic people have!"

Lin Wanrong chuckled and shook his head, "I actually think the opposite. By designating both a Great Khan and a little Khan, they are likely preventing chaos."

"Preventing chaos?" Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu were both puzzled.

Lin Wanrong nodded, "If I'm not mistaken, this so-called little Khan must be the offspring of the recently deceased Bilge Khan. It's a natural and universally accepted rule for a son to inherit his father's position. Nobody can argue with that. But consider the age of this little Khan—a child of five or six commanding a powerful Khanate and waging war against Great Hua? Now that's a cosmic joke."

Indeed, there was an issue. Hu Bugui found himself involuntarily nodding, "Old ministers serving young Emperors have occurred throughout history. Most crucially, a capable regent needs to be chosen to take charge in such situations. Bilge Khan, being a militarily powerful ruler, would surely have considered this before passing on the throne."

"When it comes to the chief ministers who serve as regents for a dying Khan, we can easily count a few names with our eyes closed," Lin Wanrong calculated on his fingers, listing the names one by one. "Batur, Tursun, Lu Dongzan—each with their own sphere of influence, acting as left and right princes and the national tutor. These men wield the most power in the Turkic Khanate. Without them, no one could serve as regent."

The three men practically controlled half of the Turkic empire, if not more. There was no way that Bilge Khan could ignore them. Gao Qiu, having been in the palace for years, was most familiar with these matters. He quickly nodded, "You're absolutely right, Brother Lin. These three are undoubtedly the chief ministers, each as powerful as the other. That's the only way to maintain a balance among the various factions."

"But that's where the problem arises," Lin Wanrong spread his hands and laughed. "The left prince is powerful, the right prince is powerful, and so is the national tutor. Among them, the weakest link turns out to be the young, inexperienced Khan, who holds no real power. How could Bilge Khan, who is regarded as a gifted ruler, place his own son in the arms of these wolves?"

Gao Qiu delightedly said, "I get it now, so that’s why we have the Great Khan Yujia."

"Exactly," Lin Wanrong gravely said. "The Great Khan must be the product of a balance among the factions. This person should not only have an extraordinarily high reputation and status in the Turkic Khanate but also possess immense wisdom and courage. To ensure the young Khan’s safety, Bilge Khan would choose someone very close to him and give her considerable power. This way, she can protect the young Khan until he comes of age, at which point she must step down and return power to its rightful owner."

"So, Bilge Khan chose Yujia. Not only is she incredibly smart and wise, but she's also a woman and poses no threat to anyone, which makes everyone feel at ease. In this delicate balance, the most unlikely choice turns out to be the best one. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant," Hu Bugui excitedly clapped his hands. "This means that Yujia must have the closest relationship with both Bilge Khan and the young Khan."

"Golden blade, golden wolf tattoo, the Great Khan," Lin Wanrong approvingly glanced at Old Hu and nodded silently. "Actually, Yujia is exceptional in every aspect—intelligence, appearance, courage—she stands out in the Turkic Khanate. If she were to be the Khan, it wouldn't be surprising at all. The only regret may be that she was born a woman. I suspect that this might be Bilge Khan’s greatest regret on his deathbed."

Though he voiced his lament, Lin Wanrong felt a certain inexplicable relief. If Yujia had indeed been a man, then the conflict between Great Hua and the Turkic Khanate would have been even more brutal and intense. Alas, fate doesn't deal with what-ifs.

"Being a regent isn't so bad," Gao Qiu cheerfully said. "With Yujia's capabilities, give her a few decades, and neither the left prince, right prince, nor the national tutor of the Turkic Khanate would be her match. By then, she could easily depose the young Khan and become a ruling Khan herself. Why would that be impossible?"

When it came to Yujia's capabilities, Lin Wanrong never had a doubt. But would she really take such a path?

From a distance, in the soft light of late spring, the Great Khan Yujia's golden cheeks radiated a seductive nobility. As he pondered her unfathomable tactics, Lin Wanrong found himself increasingly intrigued.

"Damn it!" Hu Bugui suddenly exclaimed, his face filled with regret. "We had the Turkic Great Khan in our grasp, and yet we let her go. How could this happen?"

Gao Qiu shot him a glare. Realizing he'd misspoken, Hu Bugui glanced nervously at General Lin, clearing his throat twice but saying no more.

Recalling Sister An's poison needle, Lin Wanrong shook his head in silence. The Turkic Great Khan had only a few months left to live; what difference did it make to capture or release her?

Gao Qiu's eyes sparkled, and he chuckled, "Actually, I have a way to turn this situation to our advantage, a way for our Great Hua army to defeat the Turks without shedding a drop of blood."

"Really? What is it? Do tell," Hu Bugui eagerly asked.

Grinning proudly, Gao Qiu said, "Isn't Yueya’er both the Turkic Great Khan and the regent? Throughout this journey, we've all seen how she feels about Brother Lin. All it would take is a little scheming on his part to win her heart. With Yueya’er's intelligence and cunning, subduing the Left and Right Princes would be child's play. The young Khan is even less of a concern. Then, with both Brother Lin and Yueya’er’s deviousness—ah, I mean, strategy—we could make her the undisputed Turkic Great Khan, uniting all the tribes on the grasslands. And what would follow? Brother Lin could bless this beautiful Great Khan with some chubby little heirs, purely of Great Hua bloodline. There, we'd have unified the grasslands under Great Hua's rule!"

Hu Bugui's eyes widened; his mouth watered. He felt like giving Gao Qiu a bear hug right then and there. "Old Gao, you lecherous genius! This isn't a joke; it's highly doable. As long as General Lin agrees, the success rate would be at least sixty to seventy percent!"

"My son as the Turkic Khan?" Lin Wanrong was taken aback by Gao Qiu's suggestion. As lewd as it sounded, the idea was undeniably logical, albeit a bit vulgar.

"Let's get real," he said, giving Gao Qiu a playful kick on his backside. "Have you forgotten? Yueya’er and we are strangers now. And do you really think it would be easy to manipulate the Regent? Look, we're about to have a confrontation—"

"Tursun, who are you speaking to?" Yueya’er's voice was calm and measured, echoing in everyone's ears across the grassland. Her golden cheeks suddenly turned icy, and her majestic presence revealed itself. The Turkic tribesmen all knelt on the ground, daring not to look up.

Yueya’er was renowned as the most noble Kapok flower on the grasslands—beautiful, dignified, courageous, and wise. Even among the martially oriented Turks, she was held in high regard. Her golden blade was an ultimate symbol of royal authority, and even the proud Tursun did not dare to challenge her.

He hurriedly bowed deeply, "Please calm your anger, Great Khan. Tursun means no disrespect. I only asked out of concern for the prosperity of the Khanate."

His words still carried a sharp edge, but their force was involuntarily weakened. He was a good ten years older than Yueya’er and had grown up with her, an accomplished Right Prince. However, the leap from being a Right Prince to the Great Khan Yujia was as difficult as scaling the heavens.

"Right Prince, you have worked hard," Yujia said, nodding slightly without committing to an opinion. She raised her golden blade in one hand and took the young Khan's hand with the other, descending slowly from the tent platform. As they moved across the grassland, she waved at all the Turkic tribesmen.

Cheers and adoration reverberated through the heavens, as the Turkic people surged forward in euphoria. In that moment, Yujia was not just any woman; she was the Great Khan of the Turks, wielding the golden blade, a symbol of the deity of the plains.

Yueya’er and the young Khan journeyed together, pausing occasionally to converse with their subjects, affectionately patting their war horses, and offering courteous smiles. Shouts resounded across the fields, chanting the names of the Great and young Khans. The fervent atmosphere of the plains peaked in an instant.

"What a clever woman," Lin Wanrong sighed deeply. You could criticize her for putting on a show, but the few steps she took down from her elevated platform wielded an indescribable and tremendous inspirational power over the Turkic people. She knew her weaknesses well, but even more so, she understood her strengths and employed them to their fullest.

However, it was a pity; her life was down to its last hundred days or so. Lin Wanrong shook his head, a mixture of feelings welling within him.

"Look, Yujia is coming this way!" Gao Qiu whispered urgently, lowering his head.

Over there, Yueya’er and the young Khan pushed aside the Turkic cavalry protecting them and gracefully walked forward, waving and nodding toward a group of nomads in the corner. Tursun followed closely behind, his vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings, clearly on guard for any sneak attacks on the Khans.

"Here they come!" Old Hu issued a low command, signaling everyone to keep quiet. Among the ten or so people present, only a few were proficient in the Turkic language. If Yujia or the young Khan spoke to anyone, they were to pretend to be mute and let Old Hu answer.

Ten yards, eight yards, five yards... Yujia's figure became increasingly clear. At this moment, Yueya’er was no longer that innocent and beautiful Turkic girl; her makeup was regal, her face a mixture of icy intelligence despite her smile.

As deafening cheers resounded around him, Lin Wanrong lowered his head, pulling his mask down tightly and stepping back. In such tense moments, nobody could afford to be careless. Yet his senses were unusually sharp—he could clearly hear Yujia's soft laughter, discern her delicate steps, and even hear the calm beating of her heart.

A familiar, subtle fragrance wafted through the air—the unique perfume of the Xiao family. A youthful voice chirped beside him, as the young Khan pointed at a flag held by Hu Bugui and blinked, "Sister, what flag is this?"

Even without Hu Bugui's translation, Lin Wanrong knew what the young Khan was asking from his actions alone.

A gentle voice answered with a smile, "This is a rhino, a fierce beast found in the southern deserts, near the Yuezhi tribe. Are you folks from the Yuezhi tribe?"

The last sentence was directed at Hu Bugui. Old Hu hastily placed one hand on his chest, "The Yuezhi pay their respects to the Great Khan and the young Khan. The god of the plains is with us."

Only when they were closer did they fully appreciate the beauty of Yueya’er's face. Her petite frame was enveloped tightly in a large, golden robe. Her blue eyes were calm and crystal clear, and her red lips resembled dew-kissed cherries. Her expression was slightly weary, yet her face wore a kind smile.

"How many people are left in your Yuezhi tribe? Do you have enough cattle and sheep? I heard you've already won the sheep snatching game, quite impressive," Yujia nodded, inquiring warmly.

Old Hu was drenched in cold sweat. Thank goodness General Lin had the foresight to prepare him in advance; otherwise, things would have gone awry. Swelling with pride yet respectful, he said, "By the grace of the god of the plains, the Yuezhi tribe now has 980 members, and over a thousand head of cattle and sheep."

The young Khan listened and then asked with surprise, "Sister, why are there so few members of the Yuezhi tribe?"

Yujia hummed softly in response. "The Yuezhi were originally a part of the nine tribes of Tiele. The numbers dwindled due to wars and chaos. Salmu, our Turkic empire is composed of many tribes. Many are from the nine tribes of Tiele. Although their eye colors may differ slightly from ours, they are still our people. You must protect them well, ensuring their wealth and well-being."

Salmu, the young Khan, nodded and then asked, "What about the people of Great Hua? There are so many of them, and we're currently at war. Once we conquer the Helan Mountains, how should I treat them?"

Yueya'er smiled and said, "In battle, be ruthless. Show no mercy to instill fear in the enemy. However, once they become your subjects, treat them well. Let them have food to eat and clothes to wear, just like our own people. This way, they won't rebel—"

Tursun interrupted, shaking his head vehemently, "Great Khan, I disagree with your viewpoint. We Turks conquered our territory on horseback. Once we cross the border, we should oppress the Great Hua people so they can never rise again. You saw Zhao Kangning; the people of Great Hua are naturally submissive. Only blades and blood will effectively govern them."

Damn it all! Hu Bugui clenched his teeth in fury.

"It's because of attitudes like yours that the people of Great Hua are desperately resisting us," Yujia responded lazily. "Even to this day, we haven't conquered Helan Mountains." She no longer bothered to argue, instead patting Salmu's head and saying, "Salmu, I'm pleased you're thinking about these issues. You'll surely be the wisest Khan on the plains in the future."

She nodded at the Young Khan and, smiling, gestured toward the flag of the Yuezhi tribe. Quick-witted, Salmu immediately proclaimed, "The Yuezhi tribe, with fewer than a thousand members, managed to win a round in the sheep snatching contest. Truly remarkable! Award them an extra fifty fat sheep! If they win again, more rewards to follow! Other tribes will be treated the same."

"Thank you, Great Khan. Thank you, Young Khan," Hu Bugui said, tearfully grateful, as the surrounding tribespeople erupted in excitement.

Lin Wanrong observed it all with a cold eye. Although he didn't understand the Turkic language, he could gauge the situation from the excited faces and fervent eyes of the tribespeople around him. At this moment, neither the Left Prince, Right Prince, nor Lu Dongzan could hold a candle to Yueya'er. Truly, a leader is not like other men.

After saying a few words, Yujia turned her head and started walking, nodding and smiling at the surrounding tribespeople.

As Lin Wanrong stood in the crowd, Yujia slowly moved, stopping right in front of him. He was taken aback and tried to squeeze through the crowd but found it impossible.

Separated by only three or four people, they locked eyes through the narrow gaps in the crowd. He could even see the rosy hue of Yueya'er's lips and her long eyelashes. They were close, so tantalizingly close!

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