Ashina Zhuxie listened and looked at them again, then silently withdrew his gaze.

Everyone around also stopped talking, only looking at him. At this moment, the torch in the hand of the nearby soldier flickered, its bright light revealing the exhaustion on his face.

It also illuminated a long, blood-red whip mark beneath his right ear.

Everyone was suddenly shocked: "Prince!?"

"..."

Ashina Zhuxie silently raised his hand, stopping them from speaking.

Just now in the King’s Tent, Ashina Shali had questioned him about the fall of Taiyuan, even furiously wanting to punish him. Ashina Zhuxie strongly argued, saying the situation in Taiyuan was complex and couldn’t be discussed briefly, but his troops hadn’t arrived, and the enemy was already lying in ambush at Shouyang to trap him. Clearly, someone had leaked his movement, and it was likely someone from his own side!

Upon hearing this, Ashina Shali flew into a rage, exacerbated by Lady Jiayuan and a few ministers fanning the flames. In his anger, Ashina Shali picked up the whip beside him and fiercely lashed at him.

The whip hit right next to his cheek, extending from the ear root to the neck.

He did not dodge, but endured the whip painfully, then reported the news he gathered on this expedition — Yu Wenquan had established a nation and proclaimed himself emperor in the Central Pass, because when he was in Qi County, he clearly heard people calling Shang Ruyi "Princess Qin." In this way, the matter was clear.

Watching him suffer, his eyes bloodshot but his face unchanged, calmly stating the facts, Ashina Shali also seemed to realize something.

Finally, he suppressed his anger, saying only to remember it in the future, and let him leave the King’s Tent.

Facing the pitch-black night, the vast grassland stretching as far as the night sky, and countless tents with flickering campfires, Ashina Zhuxie took a deep breath and said, "It’s okay now, go down and rest first."

Everyone silently nodded.

Only Zhenzhen turned to take another look at Lei Yu and Shang Ruyi standing not far away, both with complex emotions on their faces, and whispered, "Prince, what should be done with the prisoner?"

"..."

Ashina Zhuxie didn’t speak but slowly walked over.

There was no soldier guarding this platform, so the light was dimmer. As he approached, the two felt an overwhelming sense of oppression like Mount Tai pressing down. Lei Yu instinctively reached out to block Shang Ruyi behind her.

Then, she looked at Ashina Zhuxie with wary eyes, "What do you want to do to her?"

Ashina Zhuxie calmly looked at her for a moment, then glanced at Shang Ruyi, who seemed to be examining him in the darkness.

Then he said, "She will remain by your side."

"..."

"The Khan will not deal with her for now, so she can move freely these days; but you both must know this is Western Turks, if she commits any offense, the Khan will not forgive her lightly."

Lei Yu took a deep breath and said, "I understand."

"Good."

Ashina Zhuxie nodded, glanced at her again, then turned and left.

Lei Yu didn’t speak, but with furrowed brows and a gaze full of not only vigilance but also hostility, watched him until Ashina Zhuxie’s figure disappeared into the dark night. She finally let out a deep sigh and turned to Shang Ruyi, "Let’s go." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Alright."

Shang Ruyi followed her down the platform, and after a few steps, they reached the entrance of Lei Yu’s tent. Only then did Shang Ruyi realize that this tent was very close to the King’s Tent, even closer than Ashina Zhuxie’s tent.

Moreover, Ashina Zhuxie had instructed someone to leave earlier, seemingly heading here.

Lei Yu herself lifted the tent flap and ushered her in.

Upon entering the tent, a warm breeze carrying a faint sweet fragrance rushed in. Upon closer inspection, the tent was spacious and tall, comparable to the rooms they had stayed in previously in the Central Plains. Inside, it was furnished according to Central Plains customs, with a large wooden screen dividing the tent into inner and outer chambers. Though the inner chamber was not immediately visible, it likely contained a bed and bedding, washing and grooming tools; the floor of the outer chamber was covered with thick felt, on which a low table was placed. On both sides of the tent adjacent to the table, there were cabinets, and several fire pots were placed around the tent, no wonder they felt a gust of warm air upon entering.