After Yu Xiu's escape, almost everyone knew that Khan Apa has already been killed. Even the 'Shaman's' body was once again mentioned by others. Everyone could not even tell whether that was the HeiYue Shaman, or was it the body of Khan Apa that Yu Xiu burned after he killed him. It was a pity that the body was ruined by fire, then burned to ash. Unless the Khan himself came back to life, no one could really provide an answer.
Although Khan Apa has worsen with age, but all these years he has maintained a stable balance. So his death had similarly astounded many people, numbing their hearts and rendering them lost. Both ambassadors from the Sui Empire spiralled from being suspects of the Second Prince's murderer to the saviours of Western Göktürk that everybody wanted to get along with.
The Kucha beauty's initiation to please Cui Buqu proved her intelligence. A few days after she paid him a visit, many royalties and nobles from Western Göktürk came forth to pay Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao a visit as well. They practically tore their yurt apart, and the gifts they brought piled up to a small mountain. There were even poultry meat among them.
When Feng Xiao came over, he saw Qiao Xian ordered the servants sent by the First Prince to help them organize their luggages. Cui Buqu was seated by the side, leaning on his back, and a cup of milktea in his hands, looking like he was devoid of moods, looking even paler than he was yesterday.
"I see that Master Taoist Cui could not even sleep just because he missed the opportunity with the Kucha beauty yesterday?" He never treated himself like a guest. Before the host could invite him, he had already sat down next to Cui Buqu and took the teapot in front of him to pour himself a cup.
The milk mixed with it was milked from cows. The tea was tea leaves brought by merchants from the Central Plains. During that time, people from the Central Plains liked adding star anise and salt to their tea, and this sort of drinking was quite different, for inside was sugar extracted from sugarcane, complimented with the thick taste of milk and the sweet taste of tea leaves. It would make one feel full and improve their appetite.
Cui Buqu did not slept well. Under both his eyes were deep, dark circles, and between his brows were wrinkles so deep it looked permanent on his face. A dark and dense cloud was encircling him, refusing to leave.
Although he refused all the people who sent him gifts, but there were still some of them who could not resist shouting and exclaiming loudly outside his door. That, added with the fact that the poison in his body has not yet been neutralized, these few days were hard to weather through, even at this moment, he did not even have the strength to bicker with Feng Xiao. He spoke blandly instead, "Once this matter is done, let us return to the Central Plains by the next two days. What do you think of it?"
Feng Xiao had no opinions, "You are the Commander, you make the decisions. I am only here to claim a part of the contribution, I would not cross your authority."
As he brandished his hand to spread his fan so he could fan himself, he caught sight of the man wrapped tightly in fox pelt sitting next to him, his hand paused, turning instead to use the tip of his fan to raise the other's chin. "If you keep getting thinner, before we arrive back in the capital, you would have already set out on your journey to the West."
Cui Buqu slapped his fan away, "If I order them to harass you, let's see if you can sleep at all or not! You only get to sleep because I was acting as your shield in the frontlines. What rubbish are you talking about!"
Although Master Taoist Cui's attitude had always been foul, he was still able to fake a look of gentleness and peace on the outside during usual days. Right now, however, his temper exploded and it would only mean that his body has already reached a limit he could no longer control.
Feng Xiao kept his fan and took the other's wrist, pressing his fingers onto his veins to check his pulse. Even if he was prepared for this, he still could not help exclaiming, "Your pulse is in a mess again, yet you could still throw a temper and scold others, this is truly one of the wonders of the world."
"In the past two decades and more, my pulse has always been like this. It's only that sometimes it's better, sometimes its worse. That's all there is to it." Cui Buqu impatiently took back his hand and pulled the fox pelt even tighter around himself. As the weather grew hotter by day, not only did Feng Xiao changed into light clothes, but even the Göktürk people outside also took off their animal pelts. It was even hotter inside the yurt, and if Feng Xiao didn't have martial arts on him, he would have sweat non-stop by now. "Don't you be in a hurry to leave first. Today is the day the big Kedun and her son would pay a visit and formally request an alliance. You are the Vice Commander, you should also listen to this."
Had it not been for his words, Feng Xiao would have already forget their goal to come here in the first place. They were not supposed to fight a battle of wits with Yu Xiu, nor did they came to expose the true identity of the fake Khan, They had came here to form an alliance with Western Göktürk to face the same formidable enemy Khan Ishbara who was ruling the other half of Göktürk.
Just as he was mentioned, a messenger really did arrive and said that the First Prince and his mother came to pay the Sui Empire's ambassadors a visit.
This is the land of the Göktürks, so they could have just came in without any prior inform, but they have learned the mannerisms of people from the Central Plains, thus they have waited outside until they were called inside. The other was even the new Khan, and in such a situation, it was difficult for Qian Xiao not not give him his way.
After obtaining Cui Buqu's approval, only did the First Prince, the big Kedun, and Jin Lian entered the yurt.
The First Prince even balled his fist and placed it against his heart, before bowing towards Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao.
"Had it not been for both of you, I fear that now we are still being treated like fools by that culprit, and we dare not think what a mess Göktürk would gravitate towards. I represent the whole of Western Göktürk to thank you for your help. This vast and generous deed, there is no way to repay. Therefore, if both of you need not fear to ask for anything you want, if it is within my abilities, I will definitely make sure it is done."
Cui Buqu, "Your Highness, there is no need to be so formal."
Feng Xiao snorted, "When we just arrived and make the intitiation to offer an alliance, everyone either tried to come out with excuses, hid themselves and refuse to see us, or glared at us with cold gazes. If we didn't manage to expose Yu Xiu in time, I fear that we would have already been executed."
Jin Lian translated Feng Xiao's words, and the First Prince grew awkward as he listened to it. Although he did not approve of his 'father' seeking to please both Khan Ishbara and the Sui Empire before, but when Feng Xiao and his company were in trouble, it was not a lie that he had not stood out to help them, so now that Feng Xiao exposed them, it was unavoidable for him to feel that his face was a little pricky, as if it was falling off his bones.
The big Kedun said gently, "I heard from Jin Lian that the people of the Central Plains have a saying: that although the fence is broken, if one were to mend it in time, it can prevent more sheeps from escaping in the future. It was true that we were not in the right before, so today we came forth to apologize to both ambassadors. Please forgive us with your generousity, for we are willing to offer our utmost sincerity to form a blissful relationship with the Sui Empire, never to betray you."
There was nothing in this world that would never change. Even if the First Prince's heart was completely loyal to the Sui Empire at this moment, in the future, change would still be possible. However, these things had nothing to do with Cui Buqu. All he needed was to guarantee that the First Prince was sincere towards the alliance this time, and that they would assist the Sui Empire in the impending war, and that would be enough.
Fo Er is dead, and Yu Xiu was carrying a severe wound as he fled. If the First Prince wished to stabilize his position as the new Khan, he would only have one pillar of power to back him up. At a glance, other than the Sui Empire, there was no more choices left for him.
Without waiting for Cui Buqu's response, the First Prince allowed someone to bring an edict, and before them, he read out the edict that he had written himself word by word, then proceeded to drip the wax onto the edict, before untying the gemstone he wore at all times and pressed a seal onto the wax.
Jin Lian spoke from the side, "This is an item of the Khan. It can only be used during events of importance. This time, the First Prince is indeed sincere, doing everything by his own hands. Master Cui, it would not be too late for you to read this edict before making your decision."
Cui Buqu received it, he really did only read it only for a while, before passing it to Feng Xiao.
The First Prince thought that Cui Buqu was still mad at them, so he did not care to read it carefully and was a little upset by it, so he couldn't help but said, "From me, to every new Khan after me, shall all gladly receive titles from the Sui Empire. Does Lord Cui feels this was not enough?"
Cui Buqu thought, this First Prince was definitely a lot smarter than his father. These two days, he had been learning a lot from Jin Lian, and that he knew about the offering of titles was simply just granting a name. It was impossible for the Sui Empire to actually send soldiers to them, so all the authority and power would still belong to himself. However, if he willingly received the title, it was enough to convey his sincerity, and enough to keep conducting business with the Sui Empire's merchants. At the present, it was not a secret that Göktürk royalty can no longer live without ceramic and silk from the Central Plains, so the better their relationship is with the Sui Empire, the more tributes they would get from the Sui Empire and the First Prince could use them to pull people to his side.
However, since long, many countries have practiced this kind of thing. The First Prince was not considered greedy among them, according to Cui Buqu's understanding of the Imperial Court, the Emperor would allow it ten out of ten.
Cui Buqu said, "I have read it. You said you wanted to accompany me back to the Sui Empire to see the Emperor yourself, to prove your sincerity. If the Emperor knew of this, he would be very glad. Allow me to write another letter of my own to have it sent back to the Emperor's abode and announce this to him, so that they may make preparations in advance to welcome the new Khan."
As he finished speaking, he recited the edict from the beginning to the end, with not a word missing.
Only then did the First Prince knew that it wasn't that the other did not read it properly, but that he had a photographic memory.
He was suspicious at first, but now that all his suspicions were answered, he bowed towards them again.
"Then, everything will be entrusted to Lord Cui."
Even if his martial arts are not comparable to others, yet in the whole of Göktürk, they would not be able to find someone as intelligent as Cui Buqu, so what more can they say to this?
They can only admire in silence.
With the help of the big Kedun and Jin Lian, the First Prince very quickly succeeded in silencing all the voices of protests in court and received his cornonation as the new Khan.
Cui Buqu and his company were incredibly welcomed as if they were one of their own. Since they were already guests of honour of the new Khan, everyone treated them like gods and dared not disrespect them. Compared to when they first arrived, it was like heaven and earth.
After the coronation, the knew Khan brought Jin Lian and proceeded towards the Central Plains along with Cui Buqu and his company.
The new Khan's mother remained to take care of matters.
This trip back home was different from when Cui Buqu and his company came. Not only did they had a Göktürk Khan with them, but they have also brought along a group of men and horses, including Göktürk guards and all kinds of gifts. As they often said: The louder and stronger the aura, the smoother the journey. So it was impossible for them to encounter any dangers on the way.
To prove his sincerity towards the alliance, under Cui Buqu's request, the new Khan even released most of the Han people that were kidnapped to Göktürk. These people were also among the group that travelled back. However, they refused to go to the capital, so Cui Buqu was prepared to let them settle down in the City of Six Crafts.
The magistrate of the City of Six Crafts received the news in advance, so he came himself to welcome them, bringing the Emperor's edict with him.
Last time when Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao took down Qiemo, this news has already spread to the capital, and according to words, the Emperor was very satisfied. This time, the fact that they brought back good news from Western Göktürk, as well as brought the new Khan back to the capital, naturally, was another conquest to be included. However, since the news was still on its way back, the rewards from the Emperor was not yet determined. The edict in the magistrate's hand were rewards from their previous conquest, offering them gold and the title of Marquis.
"Both Lords must have weathered through a tedious journey, and this time you have achieved yet another conquest. After the news make its way back to the capital, surely the Emperor would deliver another round of rewards. It's a pity that I have duties that bound me, so I cannot escort both of you to the capital. I can only prepare some wine and food and help all of you wash yourselves. So please, make yourself at home in the city!"
The smile on Magistrate Zhao's face was even more brilliant than the fullest bloomed carnations one had ever seen. He would give anything to throw all the beautiful praises and words he'd learned in the last ten years on Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, so much that he had forgotten the time when he watched them travel alone to Qiemo and said, 'these two sillies would definitely not return'.
Although this city was not even comparable to the beauty in the capital, but once they entered the City of Six Crafts, it was stepping into real territory that belonged to the Sui Empire.
Although Qiemo is one of cities belonging to the Sui Empire, but it has been a long time since anyone took care of that place, so it was still like a run down city, dull and lacking of colour.
Feng Xiao could feel that once they entered the City of Six Crafts, Cui Buqu seemed to have appeared a lot more relaxed, as if a huge burden has been lifted off of him.
On the journey here, to prevent Yu Xiu from ambushing them, Cui Buqu has always been on alert. After they entered the City of Six Crafts, before proceeding further, they would be escorted by armies from the Sui Empire, so there was no longer the need for him to worry, therefore, in the days that followed, he fell ill again that he did not even show up for the banquet organized by Magistrate Zhao that night.
Journey to the West: 'Journeying to the West' usually means dying.
Translator's Note:
Cui Buqu: Someone shut that peacock up already...."
Feng Xiao: "..."