15、第 15 章 The c ...
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Chapter Fifteen — The Choice
The palace was still busy the following morning. The three-day competition had ended, and the tribes had gathered in the great hall once again. All the warriors stood along the walls while the young women who had taken part in the selection waited together near the center of the hall. Suyuan stood quietly among them. Her ankle had been wrapped, and she was still unable to walk properly. The Khan sat upon the raised wooden seat beneath the tribal banners. Beside him were several chiefs and elders from the visiting tribes.
After the formal greetings, the Khan finally announced the result. “Three princes have been chosen to form marriage alliances from Younis.” A murmur moved through the hall. Three princes, means three brides. The names of the selected women were announced one after another. Suyuan listened without much interest then the Khan turned toward the visiting princes. “Khasar of the Kharun tribe has made his choice.” The hall became quiet and Khasar stepped forward. His eyes moved across the gathered women before stopping on Suyuan. “I choose Princess Suyuan.” For a moment, Suyuan said nothing.
Ayao's eyes widened even Tarkan, standing among the Younis nobles, couldn't sit still. Suyuan looked at Khasar. “You're choosing me?” Khasar nodded, “Yes.” She had spent three days trying to lose. She had chosen the worst horse, missed targets that were almost impossible to miss, and contributed as little as she could without making her refusal obvious. Apparently, none of it had worked. The Khan gave a satisfied nod.
Suyuan lowered her eyes, there was no point arguing in front of everyone. Something felt wrong, she had expected to be overlooked instead, she had been chosen. And Khasar had chosen her deliberately. By the time Suyuan returned to Orchid Courtyard, the news had already reached Nanny Zhang.
“The Kharun prince chose you?”
“Yes.”
Nanny Zhang looked at her for several seconds. Suyuan sat down carefully.
“I tried to lose.”
“I know.”
Suyuan looked at her ,and Ayao immediately turned away to hide her smile. Before Suyuan could answer, a cough came from inside the room and both of them stopped. Suyuan's expression changed and she immediately went inside. Shuran was sitting against the headboard. A cloth rested in her hand , she had just finished coughing. Suyuan walked to the bedside, “Mother.” Shuran looked at her. “I heard.” Suyuan sat beside her.
“Khasar chose me.”
“I know.”
Shuran was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, “Do you dislike him?”
“I barely know him.”
“That is not an answer.”
Suyuan thought about it.
“No.”
Shuran nodded.
“That is enough for now.”
Suyuan noticed that her mother's breathing was different, it’s slower and more strained. She reached for her hand.
“Mother, you're worse.”
Shuran did not deny it this time.
“The winter came earlier than I expected.”
Suyuan looked toward the window.
Outside, the first frost had settled over the courtyard.
“How long?”
Shuran's eyes remained on the window.
“I don't know.”
Suyuan waited, then Shuran said quietly, “But I don't think I will see spring.”
The words were simple , there was no dramatic pause. Suyuan simply stared at her mother. She had known, she had known for months. Her mother had known too , Suyuan lowered her head and held Shuran's hand more tightly.
“Then we have winter.”
Shuran looked at her.
“Yes.”
“We'll get through it.”
Shuran smiled faintly her smile remained for a moment before fading with exhaustion.Nanny Zhang brought her medicine, and Suyuan stayed until Shuran had taken it. Later that evening, when her mother was asleep, Suyuan stepped outside. The courtyard was cold.She stood beneath the bare branches and looked toward the distant lights of the Younis palace.
The marriage had been decided and her mother would not survive the winter. Suyuan had spent years learning how to survive in a place that had never wanted her.Now she finally understood something. If she could not save her mother then she would bring everything to ruin.
She returned to her room and opened the small wooden box beneath her bed. Inside were several dried herbs, small containers, and things she had quietly collected over the years. She looked at them without touching anything, she had already made her decision. When her mother was gone, she would not leave Younis quietly, Suyuan would make sure they remembered Shuran. She closed the box but no one needed to know her plans yet. For now, she would accept the marriage. She would wait for the winter to come , she had learned long ago that the coldest seasons were the ones that required the most patience.
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第15章 第 15 章
