"Enough!" Tiheye shouted, "All of you, shut up."
As soon as he spoke, no one dared to utter another word. However, Hayuezhu and her good-for-nothing fifth brother clearly disliked each other.
"You all go out. Manmuhahe stays."
Upon hearing this, Hayuezhu was instantly satisfied and rose to leave the tent. The others also got up silently, their faces a kaleidoscope of expressions – some looked on with amusement, others with indignation.
Only Manmuhahe remained calm, as if he had foreseen everything.
Soon, only Tiheye and Manmuhahe were left in the tent.
"Speak your mind," Tiheye said.
Manmuhahe stepped forward two paces and stopped before the table. He suddenly pointed to his face and asked, "Leader, do you think this face of mine is that of a barbarian?"
Tiheye's eyes widened, and he stared intently at Manmuhahe's face.
Manmuhahe was fair-skinned, even fairer than his daughter Hayuezhu. Although he was a hero of the steppes, constantly riding across the grasslands, he was still fairer than others.
Manmuhahe was somewhat thin and weak. Compared to the robust and strong build of their barbarian people, he appeared rather frail. Looking at his slight frame, he truly seemed different from them.
"You are not a barbarian?"
Manmuhahe replied, "I am not the real Manmuhahe. Manmuhahe died in the jaws of a wolf long ago. I merely impersonated him and lived on with his identity. We were of similar age, and our builds were about seventy to eighty percent alike. Manmuhahe had been ill since childhood and rarely went out. After I was rescued by the people of Yarusan'do, I lived on as Manmuhahe."
"Who exactly are you?"
Manmuhahe smiled faintly, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Qi Li, from the Zun Kingdom."
Tiheye's eyes gleamed as he stared intently at Manmuhahe's face. "Truly? This surname, Qi, is a royal surname."
"Indeed it is," Manmuhahe, or rather, Qi Li, said, "Leader must know that my surname is quite extraordinary."
Tiheye casually remarked, "I've heard that the current Empress of the Zun Kingdom has two sons. The elder son is the current Crown Prince, and there was a second son who died young. Was his name Qi Li?"
"That is I."
"Nonsense!" Tiheye slammed the table and roared, "You scoundrel who knows no fear! Do you know that the second prince died long ago? How dare you impersonate him?"
"It's not impersonation, it's seeking justice!"
"Justice?"
Qi Li said, "I was once a pawn in their power struggle. Although I had noble status, in that rigid palace, imperial power was like a demon that could drive anyone mad. Family ties and compassion were worthless there. I fell gravely ill, on the verge of death, and thought I would die. However, the eunuch attending me risked his life to help me escape the palace. Only then did I realize I was a sacrifice, and that I hadn't been ill but had been poisoned."
Tiheye remained silent, seemingly weighing the truthfulness of his words.
"I was able to leave the palace thanks to someone who sacrificed their life for mine. To avoid identification, he drank a potion that caused swelling and disfigurement before he died. He died bloated and stinking, in immense pain." Qi Li's eyes were calm, as if recounting someone else's story. "After leaving the palace, I hid in a temple to detoxify and recover my health. A few days later, I heard the news of the second prince's funeral. My mother then fell ill again."
Tiheye pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "How did you end up in the heart of the grasslands?"
"Although the second prince is dead, those who wished to harm me were not at ease. Perhaps the horrific death of the scapegoat aroused their suspicion. They pursued me to the temple, and I almost died again. Everyone who had accompanied me out of the palace was dead. I was only nine years old, and I had just recovered from a serious illness. In my panic, I crawled into a merchant's cart and, in a daze, followed it to the northern desert, ending up on the grasslands."
At this point, Qi Li's expression finally showed some emotion. " I had no idea where I was, and I couldn't communicate with the locals. I wandered further and further alone, and eventually fainted from hunger on the grasslands. When I woke up, I was Manmuhahe. They said I had returned and that I was a warrior."
Tiheye asked softly, "What do you want to do?"
"I want to reclaim my identity as the Second Prince and return with dignity to take back what belongs to me."
"Heh heh, a pipe dream. You can't even get past the gates of a city in the northern desert."
By now, Tiheye had completely believed Qi Li's words. He vaguely guessed the other's intentions, and his heart began to beat faster.
"I naturally have my ways! Leader, now is the time for you to make a decision."
"Decision?"
Qi Li said, "The fourteen barbarian tribes are scattered since the death of Duohanha. Don't you wish to restore the former glory of the Qiyuege tribe? If you are willing to help me return to the Zun Kingdom and reclaim all that is mine, then I will marry Hayuezhu as my principal wife. Should I ascend to the throne in the future, Hayuezhu will be the Empress, the first barbarian Empress in the history of the Zun Kingdom. Do you know what that means?"
"Do you dare swear by the Moon Goddess?"
Qi Li immediately lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, reached into his boot, and took out a dagger. Without blinking, he cut his own left palm.
Blood gushed out. Qi Li pressed his injured left hand to his forehead and devoutly swore, "I, Qi Li, swear by the Moon Goddess to take Hayuezhu as my wife, and if I become Emperor, Hayuezhu shall be Empress. I shall support the Qiyuege tribe in unifying the fourteen barbarian tribes, and I shall crown Tiheye as the Great Khan. This heart is as clear as the sun and moon. If I break this oath, may I be cursed by gods and men, and die a terrible death."
Tiheye burst into laughter and personally walked over to help Qi Li up. "I knew it. Hayuezhu's judgment has always been the best. You are indeed worthy of her affection. Since that is the case, we are family. Gáhurigan (son-in-law), you must tell me your plan so that I can help you."
"Leader..."
"Still calling me Leader?"
Qi Li hurriedly said, "The grand ceremony has not yet been completed, so I cannot yet call you Father King."
"Hahaha, what's so difficult about that? Let's hasten the wedding and the consummation of your marriage with Hayuezhu. In these special times, let's keep things simple. Hayuezhu will return to the capital of the Zun Kingdom with you in the future, and we'll have a grand ceremony then. Everything will be complete."
Qi Li immediately replied, "I will obey Father King's arrangements."
"Hahaha, good, my worthy Gáhurigan..."
The matter of attacking the city was completely forgotten by the two. How much could they plunder, how much territory could they seize by attacking the city?
Li Man'er almost bit her tongue when she heard A'si's words. "What? What did you say? Say it again."
A'si was also confused. "They said the barbarian camp... is having a wedding celebration."