32、第 32 章 News ...
-
Chapter 33 — The News from Kharun
Morning came quietly to the Xian border. The soldiers had barely finished changing shifts when Nanny Zhang and Ayao were brought to the infirmary. They had spent the night there, exhausted from the journey, but neither had slept properly. The moment they heard that Suyuan had been found, they rushed inside.
Nanny Zhang stopped at the doorway looking at Suyuan who was lying beneath several blankets, completely unconscious. Her pale face looked almost colourless against the pillow, her once-dark hair was now streaked heavily with silver, and the change was even more noticeable in the morning light. Ayao covered her mouth." Miss Suyuan..."
Nanny Zhang slowly walked to the bedside, for several seconds, she simply stood there.
Then she reached out and touched Suyuan's hair.
"My poor child..."
Her voice broke.
Ayao sat beside the bed and carefully took Suyuan's hand. "You said you'd wait for us to come back," she whispered. "You liar."
There was no response. Nanny Zhang wiped her eyes and straightened herself. "She came back alive. That's enough for now." Ayao nodded, though tears continued to fall. Neither of them knew how long Suyuan would remain unconscious but at least she was no longer alone.
---
Across the camp, Xie Zheng had barely slept. The copy of map Princess Shuran had left behind was spread across a large wooden table. Several military officers stood around it. Red markings showed old supply routes between Xian and Younis. Some routes had been altered years ago. Others corresponded strangely with the movements of the army during the battle in which Xie Zheng's uncle had died.
"This isn't simply a map of Younis territory," one officer said.
"No," Xie Zheng replied.
He placed another document beside it.
"It's a record of troop movements."
The room became silent.
If the markings were genuine, someone had known the movements of Xian's forces before the battle and that meant General Su's death might have been connected to something much larger than a battlefield mistake. Xie Zheng looked toward the window. "We need to prepare for the possibility of war."
An officer frowned. Xie Zheng folded the map carefully. "They have lost their Khan, their palace, and much of their leadership but that doesn't mean they've become weaker."
"Then who leads them now?" Xie Zheng's expression became serious.
"We'll find out soon enough."
---
They did not have to wait long by noon, a messenger arrived from the northern road.
"The Younis have chosen a new Khan."
Xie Zheng looked up.
"Who?"
"The late Khan's eldest surviving son."
The room fell quiet again. "The clan has gathered behind him. He is calling the surviving warriors back to Younis territory and has ordered the borders watched."
Xie Zheng's eyes narrowed.
So the Younis had not fallen into chaos.
They had simply changed rulers.
"Increase the border patrols," he said. "No one crosses without inspection."
---
Far to the north, another piece of the story was unfolding. The Kharun wedding caravan had finally reached the tribe's main settlement.
Yula stepped out of the carriage wearing the bridal clothes prepared for Suyuan. She had been silent throughout the journey. Then, Khasar approached her, expecting to see the woman he had chosen but instead, he stopped.
Something was wrong.
The bride lowered her veil.
Khasar stared at her.
"You're not Suyuan."
Yula swallowed.
The truth could not remain hidden any longer before Khasar could ask another question, Tarkan arrived with several Younis attendants.
He saw Yula.
His expression changed immediately.
"What happened?"
Yula looked at him.
"Suyuan stayed behind."
Silence.
Khasar's face hardened.
"Why?"
Yula hesitated.
"She asked me to take her place."
Tarkan took a step forward.
"I asked her what she was planning."
"And?"
"She wouldn't tell me."
Khasar's hands tightened at his sides, he remembered the girl beside the river. The quiet princess who had always seemed much more fragile than she actually was. Something cold settled in his chest. "Where is she now?"
Yula did not answer because she didn't know and neither did anyone else.
Not yet.
Back at the Xian border, Suyuan remained unconscious while Xie Zheng prepared for the possibility of another war.
Three lands now held pieces of the same secret. Younis had a new Khan. Kharun had discovered the bride had been exchanged.
Xian had found Shuran's map and in the infirmary, the one person who knew how all of it connected still had not opened her eyes.
作者有话说
第32章 第 32 章
