Chapter 1868: 1856: Princess Consort’s Visit
Chapter 1868: Chapter 1856: Princess Consort’s Visit
“You’re nothing but Second Brother’s dog, and you actually dare lay hands on your young master! Very good, the dog follows its master. So it’s Second Brother who can’t stand the sight of me, wants to kill me and clear the way for himself, is that it?”
“These few months I wasn’t in Wang City and you lot got complacent, huh? Now you see I’m back and you’re cornered dogs jumping the wall, ready to attack! Fine! Fine! Fine! I’ll leave my words here today—your granddaddy I will just stand right here! I want to see who’s got the guts to come take my life!”
“You roll back right now and tell Second Brother, if he’s really a man, he can stand face to face in front of me and do it himself! I might even look at him with a bit of respect then. Just ordering a few mad dogs around and thinking he can actually pull something off? Pah! Daydreaming!” Bayar sprayed fragrant curses, spitting all over the face of the sneaky bastard in front of him.
That sneaky bastard of a man had not a shred of his former bluster left. With a huge palm print on his cheek, he dropped to one knee and hurried to explain: “Young Prince, you’ve misunderstood! I’m currently in charge of security outside Wang City. I heard someone was making trouble and rushed over. I didn’t recognize Your Highness, I truly had no intention of offending you!”
“Bullshit! Your young master is this handsome and elegant, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens—wherever I go I’m the brightest one in the crowd. And you’re telling me you didn’t recognize me? Are you blind? Since those eyeballs are so useless, you might as well not have them—” Who is Bayar? The little demon king of the Grasslands Royal City. He can stir up trouble out of nothing, let alone right now.
He said it with such murderous intent that no one doubted he could immediately dig out the man’s eyes.
Batu hurried over. Hearing those words, he glanced at the sneaky man, said nothing to him, and first saluted Bayar: “Little Prince, it’s such a relief you’re all right! When did you come back? Queen Ah Lan and His Highness and the Princess Consort have been worried sick about you.”
“The Princess Consort’s been so worried about you she’s been ill for days. If she knows you’re back, I’m sure she’ll recover without medicine.”
When Bayar heard his mother-consort was sick, worry immediately showed on his face. He might be a little bastard, but he knew full well that the ones who loved him most in this world were his mother-consort and his father king.
Hearing that his mother-consort was ill, how could he not worry?
He hurriedly asked a few questions. Once he learned it was just pent-up emotions and melancholy, and that her health wasn’t in serious trouble, he finally relaxed.
Seeing this, Batu seized the opening and said, “In that case, why don’t I send men to escort the Little Prince back to the mansion so mother and son can reunite?”
Seeing Bayar look hesitant, he thought it was because of that sneaky fellow, so he shot the man a glance and said, “Please rest assured, Little Prince. Why not hand this mad dog who dared offend you over to me? I will surely give you a satisfactory answer!”
The sneaky man’s face went pale and sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his cheeks.
Bayar, however, ignored Batu. Instead he eagerly sidled up to Wang Yongzhu, flattering shamelessly: “Grandaunt, how did I handle that?”
Wang Yongzhu said nothing, only swept her gaze around the whole scene.
Bayar instantly understood and turned around, once more arrogantly acting like he owned the place: “All of you listen up! This Great Chu merchant caravan is under my protection. As long as your young master is around, you lot had better behave. If you dare cause them trouble, it’s because you think you’re living too long!”
At the same time he eagerly consulted Wang Yongzhu, “Grandaunt, how about this: once I’m back at the Prince Mansion, I’ll send my men to maintain order here. Then no one will dare touch even a single hair on their heads. What do you think?”
Batu was dumbfounded by that sight.
This demon-king Bayar didn’t even act this fawning in front of the King of the Grasslands and Queen Ah Lan, did he? Did something possess him?
If Bayar knew what Batu was thinking, he’d definitely kick him and say, You’re the one possessed! He was showing allegiance here so this grandaunt would let him go home, okay?
Of course Wang Yongzhu knew that once Bayar returned to Wang City, there would be no hiding it.
She hadn’t planned to hide it anyway, thinking to release Bayar in a few days. She just hadn’t expected Bayar to be this useful right before leaving.
It really exceeded her expectations.
Above and beyond, and Bayar was so perceptive about it that Wang Yongzhu was very satisfied. She nodded. “All right, then I’ll trouble the Little Prince.”
Bayar waved his hands again and again. “Don’t dare, don’t dare! It’s what I should do, what I should do!”
Seeing this scene, Batu had a thousand questions, but it wasn’t the time to ask. Getting Bayar safely home was the top priority.
Besides, after this whole ruckus, the Great Chu caravan hadn’t suffered any loss—in fact, they’d gained a protective talisman. He shot Wang Yongzhu a look, only feeling even more wary of her in his heart.
So when he took his leave, his attitude grew even more respectful, which in turn made everyone else even more afraid of Wang Yongzhu.
When Batu left, he posted some men to maintain order. The rest—including Prince Buhe and his subordinates, and the sneaky man’s men—he took away with him, saving everyone here quite a bit of trouble.
Seeing the matter settled, Wang Yongzhu walked a circuit around the area the caravan had cordoned off. Business was good all around.
And those grassland herdsmen now had a very different attitude, which reassured her. After giving a few instructions, she finally strolled back “home.”
When she returned to the courtyard where they were temporarily staying, Song Chongjin was waiting for her at the gate.
Earlier, when things at the caravan had started looking bad, their men had sent word back. Song Chongjin had intended to go himself, but Wang Yongzhu had stopped him.
At a time like this, it was obviously better for Wang Yongzhu to show her face than Song Chongjin. She could advance or retreat as needed.
So Wang Yongzhu had grabbed Bayar and gone out. After they left, Song Chongjin, though he trusted her abilities and knew nothing would happen to her, still couldn’t help worrying—after all, this wasn’t Great Chu.
So he waited in the courtyard the whole time. Only when he saw Wang Yongzhu return safe and sound did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Once the couple entered the inner courtyard, Wang Yongzhu recounted what had happened, then concluded, “Looks like things at Bayar’s home aren’t peaceful either. I’ve heard that here on the grasslands, family fortunes often go to the most beloved youngest son. I doubt his older brothers are willing to accept that.”
“With Bayar going back this time, I’m afraid things won’t be peaceful in Prince Muhal’s household either.”
Song Chongjin snorted coldly. “Let them make a fuss.”
“My guess is, after Bayar returns, his family will send someone to sound us out—tomorrow at the earliest, in two or three days at the latest. I heard Prince Bayar’s mother-consort used to be Qi Le’s trusted Maid. Do you think she’ll come under Qi Le’s orders to meet us first?” Wang Yongzhu stroked her chin.
Song Chongjin pondered for a moment. “Given what Qi Le is like, that’s very likely.”
And indeed, they guessed right. Early the next morning, someone came to say that Prince Bayar’s mother-consort wished to personally call on them to thank them for bringing her son back.
Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu exchanged a look. Thank them? What did Bayar say when he got back, to make his mother-consort come here to thank them?
What mother, upon learning her son had his bones broken and was locked up and tormented for several months, could still manage to say thank you?
Who knew whether this Princess Consort was truly coming to express gratitude, or coming to demand justice?
But whatever the reason, neither of them was afraid. They simply sent word back that they understood, then did a bit of tidying up and sat down to wait for the Princess Consort’s arrival.