601 Bygones (2/2)

The outwardly boorish King Rizhu was actually a master of negotiation. He had made a promise that sounded like a threat to show that he would never betray the Dragon King halfway.

Although the doubt of whether the Khan was dead or alive remained unsolved, at the end of the talk, both sides had taken a big step forward on the bridge of cooperation, and not a single mention was made of the Flame Foal of which King Rizhu was deeply concerned about at heart.

”Isn't the Dragon King going to watch today's warrior contest?” King Rizhu climbed on his horse and began to speak to the Dragon King in a friendly tone.

”Since the bet has been canceled, there's nothing to expect regarding the competition.”

After King Rizhu and his entourage left, Gu Shenwei returned to camp and became lost in his thought. He was planning a complete assassination plan when the Second Consort came in.

”Thank you for letting me know the truth.”

”I can't guarantee everything King Rizhu said was true.”

”A few lies won't affect the truth.”

The Second Consort had stayed in the camp of the Land of Fragrance last night to hear King Rizhu admit to killing his own son. Now her wish had come true but she didn't know what to do with it. ”It has been twenty-three years now, longer than my age back then and the same age as Kunya when he died.”

This was the first time Gu Shenwei had heard the name of King Rizhu's son, a detail that no one seemed to care about before.

”Hmm.”

Gu Shenwei had listened to an old man's long story and didn't want to listen to a woman's reminiscences. But the Second Consort, like King Rizhu, was full of the desire to tell her story.

”Kunya wasn't as bad as his father said. He was always polite to me and never did anything outrageous to me.” The Second Consort was silent for a moment as she recalled the various behaviors of Kunya's parents and the servants and sighing before continuing. ”Maybe I was deceived.”

The sad Second Consort made Gu Shenwei feel a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, she quickly wiped the shadows of the past way from her heart and became outspoken again. ”Huh, it's just so-so. Everyone believes that the things they can't obtain are the best, when actually the things they grip in their own hands are the most valuable. He couldn't gain support from his father and would be a useless man even if he were still alive, so it's better for him to die young. The Khan is at least a real man, with power in his hand and a 'spear' in his crotch.”

Gu Shenwei found himself even more embarrassed. He had never seen such a vulgar prestigious lady in either the Central Plains or the Western Regions.

The Second Consort didn't care at all. Without even noticing the Dragon King's silence, she continued, ”My only regret is that Khan's 'seed' became moldy and didn't make me pregnant. King Rizhu is really unlucky. Although both the big and second consorts are from the Naihang Tribe, neither of us has given birth to a son or daughter. The Big Consort shouldn't be blamed for this because the Khan has refused to see her. I was greatly favored by the Khan. We tossed and turned all day and night in bed for the first few years after we got married. Alas, it was all fruitless. You know, The Khan has more than fifty sons, but it was from me onwards that he never got another woman pregnant again.”

”It's really regrettable,” replied Gu Shenwei perfunctorily.

”Hehe, you're not interested in these things. Well, I'll keep my promise. You let me know the truth, and I'll also tell you the truth. Who do you want to hear first, the Khan, King Rizhu, King Kuari? Or the little girl of the Land of Fragrance?”

A gleam of cunning flashed in the Second Consort's eyes as if she was expecting the Dragon King to ask about Shangguan Ru first.

”The Khan.” Gu Shenwei neither let her nor himself get what they wanted.

”The Khan is in closed-door cultivation.”

Gu Shenwei was stunned. He knew that the Khan had invited many 'masters', but still couldn't imagine that the so-called 'closed-door cultivation' would be associated with the Lord of the Prairie.

The Second Consort smiled dismissively before saying, ”The Khan wants to live forever. He's so afraid of death it's as if a virgin girl heard that she's going to be raped by the ugliest beast in the world. He has invited many people like Monks, Taoists, and charlatans. Do you know why he agreed to invite you here?”

”To settle the disputes in the Western Regions and to prepare for a decisive battle with the Central Plains.”

”Huh, the Khan has left all the great things in the world behind. Actually, he was not inviting you, but the female guard around you. Because he heard that Waning Moon Hall can revive the dead and rejuvenate the old.”

Gu Shenwei was really astonished, then he realized that he had made a big mistake at actually letting Lotus out of his sights.