Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 497 Choosing a New Master

The night in Chishui City was illuminated as if it were daytime by the raging fire that suddenly ignited on the altar of the Wolf God.

Amun-Rah, holding the wolf god's staff and wearing a robe adorned with bone ornaments, stood on a high platform.

Tribal leaders and people who rushed to the scene filled the altar in front of the palace.

Amun-Rach's voice was hoarse yet incredibly penetrating, echoing in the silent night sky as if from ancient times.

"Descendants of the Wolf God—open your eyes and see."

"Turgutai, his greedy hands are stained with the blood of his own people, and his hypocritical oaths have betrayed the teachings of the Wolf God. For his own selfish desires, he locked Princess Aynur in the palace and framed Princess Mayila as a spy. He wants to incite war to burn our grasslands and defile our sacred mountain..."

A commotion broke out in the crowd below the stage.

Whisper.

"The guardian beast of the sacrificial pool is dead, and the winds of the sacred mountain have grown fierce—the wolf god has issued a divine decree, no longer favoring this treacherous jackal—"

"Turgutai is unworthy!" someone shouted first.

Immediately afterwards, more people joined in the shouting.

Amonlah raised his staff high, and only continued after the shouts subsided:
"Angge, the son of Prince Morile and descended from the eldest son of the late King Uliji, is the eagle chosen by the Wolf God. He is young, brave, and devoted to the people of the Wolf God. His father, Prince Morile's wolf riders, have returned to the capital on divine orders and are about to reach Chishui to eliminate the traitors who have betrayed the Wolf God..."

The divine oracle boomed like thunder.

The crowd was astonished, doubtful, excited, and fearful.

Every change of monarchy means bloodshed and death, and no one can remain uninvolved.

Various speculations spread like wildfire.
-
Inside the royal tent, Turgutai was so furious that he kicked over a low table.

"That old bastard, how dare he! How dare he openly defy me..."

Turgutai had drunk a lot of strong liquor tonight; his eyes were bloodshot, and his volatile emotions were like a volcano about to erupt.

"Harbala, didn't you say you had already imprisoned that old man in your manor and assigned heavy guards to watch over him..."

Harbala's voice trembled, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I...I never expected Princess Mayila to have such abilities. Not only did she break into the mansion, but she also managed to persuade my father..."

"Useless!" Turgutai roared in anger.

Inside and outside the royal tent, the guards remained silent, as if trembling with fear.

"Report!"

A scout came to report.

"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Ang has raised the banner of rebellion in the east of the city and gathered the support of many of his former followers. The wolf riders have already reached the outskirts of the palace..."

"Report!" Another scout stumbled in.

"Morel's wolf rider vanguard has appeared thirty miles away..."

"Damn it!" Turgutai whirled around, his chest heaving violently, his eyes bloodshot. "That father and son, Morile, are wolves in sheep's clothing... Hmph! They came so quickly; they've clearly been lurking nearby, harboring malicious intentions..."

"Your Majesty, the situation is urgent! We must make a decision quickly!"

One of his trusted advisors stepped forward, steeling himself.

“Amun-Rakh is using the banner of the Wolf God to incite unrest and stir up trouble… Many tribes are already wavering. If this drags on any longer… I’m afraid even our own tribes will turn against us.”

Turgutai gulped down a mouthful of wine.

The spicy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fierce look on his face.

"I never expected that Xue Sui... would have such ability to stir up trouble for both that old fox Amonlah and Morile..."

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly swept towards Yukihime, who was bound to the side.

"Take them out. I want to see whether Amenlah's oracle or my sword will prevail! Let's go..."
-
The atmosphere was tense beneath the high platform of the royal palace.

Ang led his elite wolf riders, pressing in like a dark cloud, exuding murderous intent.

Swords are drawn, bowstrings are taut, and war is about to break out.

Protected by his people, Amonlah stood on the altar of the wolf god and shouted loudly.

"Turgutai! By the decree of the Wolf God, you are no longer the King of Xiz... Immediately release Princess Aynur, relinquish your royal power, and pledge allegiance to the new King Ang. Otherwise, the Wolf God's wrath will be unleashed by his wolf riders, and your royal tent will be razed to the ground..."

"Father! Are you getting senile?"

Harbala stepped to the front of the stage and loudly refuted him.

"Your Majesty has reigned for many years, protecting the grasslands and maintaining peace for the tribes. You have done nothing wrong. Why would you submit to a mere youth?"

“Shut up! Don’t call me father anymore—” Amonrah looked at his son with heartache, slamming his staff heavily on the altar, the copper bells jingling.

"You can't tell right from wrong, you're an accomplice to evil, I don't have a son like you!"

Harbala's face turned ashen.

He wanted to argue further, but was interrupted by Turgutai.

"Amun-Rakh, stop playing tricks!" Turgutai laughed loudly, forcefully pulling the weakened Yuki in front of him to act as a shield, and shouted down.

"Look closely—Aynur's daughter, Mayila, colluded with foreign spies to break into the forbidden area, kill the guardian beast of the sacrificial pool, and desecrate the wolf god… I am only temporarily imprisoning Princess Aynur to investigate the truth. Amenlah, you falsely proclaimed divine decrees and incited rebellion; you are the one who deserves to die!" This sudden shock and accusation caused Xue Ji's already frail body to tremble violently.

Her eyes widened as she tried to comprehend everything before her...

Suddenly, her gaze fell on a richly dressed old man behind Turgutai—

That was Turgutai's father-in-law, Uenchi, who came from a prominent family.

"Yes, it's you!" Xue Ji suddenly shouted, her sharp voice instantly piercing through the noise.

"Back then, it was you... feigning concern, coaxing me away from the guards, and secretly boarding the delegation's carriage to Daliang..."

Wu Enqi's expression changed, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"Princess, what nonsense are you spouting? Has your madness flared up again?"

"I'm not crazy! I remember your face... You used to love currying favor with Ashina the most..." Xue Ji was emotional, and the long-buried memories erupted like a volcano, tears streaming down her face.

"It was all your doing, it was all you... who tricked me into leaving Chishui City, leaving my father and mother..."

She broke free from the restraints, pointed at Wu Enqi's face, and tearfully accused him.

“Executioners…you executioners, you’ve caused my family to be separated, and I’ve been wandering in foreign lands for over thirty years…you’ll die a horrible death…”

These accusations came as a bolt from the blue.

This caused many of the older tribesmen present, who knew about the old stories, to change color.

Princess Ainuer was the apple of old King Xiz's eye, and her disappearance marked the beginning of a dramatic upheaval in the royal court.

If what she said is true, then Wu Enqi betrayed the princess and colluded with traitors, which is an unforgivable crime.

The scene became extremely chaotic.

Someone loudly rebuked Wu Enqi, demanding an explanation from him.

Amonlah raised his staff high and denounced Turgutai for protecting Uenchi.

Turgutai was caught off guard by this turn of events and was both shocked and furious.

“Ayinur has been insane for a long time… Can the ramblings of a madwoman be taken as evidence? Are you going to listen to a madwoman and oppose me?”

Some people nodded in agreement.

Many people also looked hesitant.

Indeed, one cannot easily convict a nobleman based on only one side of the story.

Whether you're crazy or not is not up to you to decide.

A clear and steady female voice came from the periphery of the crowd.

Immediately afterwards, the rapid and orderly sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, breaking the stalemate.

"It's the Holy Maiden! The Holy Maiden has returned!" someone exclaimed.

The crowd parted spontaneously, like a tide, to create a path.

The group arrived quickly. The woman at the head of the group was dressed in a pure white holy robe, her face veiled. Although she was travel-worn, she could not hide her aloof and noble demeanor.

It was Princess Tuya, the Holy Maiden of Xiz who was married off to Daliang.

She reined in her horse, her gaze sweeping across the entire area, finally looking up at the high platform, and declared in a clear voice:
"I was in Daliang, a thousand miles away, when I sensed the guidance of the Wolf God. I traveled day and night, enduring a long journey to return home... I prayed at the altar on the sacred mountain and received a revelation from the Wolf God, thus obtaining this sacred object—"

Princess Tuya held aloft a crystal-clear jade pendant.

Under the torchlight, Shuiyu seemed to be condensed with flowing ice flakes and nebulae, emitting a hazy and cold glow. As the angle of her wrist changed, the light flowed, as if it were a living thing...

"This is a token bestowed by the Wolf God... The oracle indicates that the throne of Siz belongs to the pure and courageous heart of Ang, the new king chosen by the Wolf God, whom the Wolf God favors!"

The crowd erupted in uproar again.

This time, the voices were filled with more awe.

Many people, upon seeing the strange water jade in the saintess's hand, were already mostly convinced and knelt down, chanting words of thanks to the wolf god.

Upon seeing this, Xue Sui was filled with mixed emotions.

The jade pendant in Tuya's hand was a gift she gave to Tuya to create an auspicious omen for Empress Xie's pregnancy.

It was no coincidence that Tuya would appear with it at this moment.

Rather, it was part of the agreement made in a letter she sent to Tuya before leaving for the capital.

Of course, her initial main goal was to help Tuya return to her hometown legitimately, without being questioned...

All of this was inseparable from Li Zhao's tacit approval.

He not only granted Tuya permission to return home, but must have also provided her with many conveniences.

A bittersweet feeling welled up in my heart.

Li Zhao never restricted her and always thought of her needs.

(End of this chapter)