Chương 29: How to Crown a Five-Year-Old

The khan's consort came hurrying over, almost at a run. But the moment she reached Aglaya, she stopped short, visibly struggling to rein in her emotions.

"Forgive me if this is too forward, but may I see your shoulder? My daughter had a crescent-shaped birthmark on her right shoulder." For all her emotion, the khan's consort had not lost her caution. Aglaya's mind went blank. She did have a birthmark like that, but beneath it was a scar from when her drunkard father back in the real world had smashed a glass into her as a child. Did this body have one too? Before Aglaya could react, the khan's consort had already reached for her.

Aglaya's heart leaped into her throat. This was it. She was about to be exposed. But the next second, the woman pulled her into a fierce embrace, her tears finally spilling over. Aglaya froze, one hand hanging awkwardly in midair for a long moment before finally resting lightly against her back.

"Aglaya, my Aglaya." The khan's consort repeated her name into her ear over and over, her words coming faster as she spoke.

"Almost twenty-five hundred days. Nearly seven years. Mama has been looking for you all this time... Every day, I wondered if your hair had grown longer, if you'd gotten taller, if you still loved talking back. No one but us knew about the scar beneath your birthmark. You fell and cut yourself while playing by the sea when you were little. You were afraid I'd scold you, so you wrapped it in your sister's headscarf and ran all the way home, bleeding everywhere. Do you remember?"

A memory from long ago suddenly surfaced in Aglaya's mind. Sunlight glittering on the sea. Stone steps warm from the sun. The salty ocean breeze carrying a faint scent of flowers. A woman with pale golden hair crouched in front of the cottage at the end of the steps, both furious and heartbroken as she tended Aglaya's wound. A younger girl leaned out of the window, clutching a bloodstained headscarf and complaining at the top of her lungs.

"Um... what about my sister?" Aglaya heard herself ask. Water murmured in the courtyard pool. Grape leaves rustled against the colonnade. The khan's consort released Aglaya's shoulders but kept a tight grip on her hand. After a moment of silence, she told Aglaya that her younger sister had fallen gravely ill while being resold. The merchants had refused to spend money treating a slave. She had not survived.

Seven years ago, their father had run up a crushing debt and sold his wife and daughters to passing merchants. Mother and daughters were torn apart. After changing hands several times, the khan's consort eventually ended up on the steppe, where the khan of Beirong purchased her. He cherished her deeply and sent men to search for both her children, but all they ever brought back was news of her younger daughter's death. Aglaya had been young then, and fierce-tempered. Every time she tried to escape, she was beaten.

And every time the beating ended, she tried again. At their wits' end, the merchants sold her on again and again until her trail became almost impossible to follow. For nearly five years, she was passed from one kingdom to another across the Western Regions before finally being sold into Great Yong. Then Aglaya the player arrived and inherited the unfinished life of this body.

"Your Highness, why don't we go inside? We can't all keep standing around in the courtyard." An elderly servant woman who had attended the khan's consort for many years hurried over when she saw everyone still gathered there.

"I've already sent word to have dinner prepared, so we can properly welcome your family after their long journey."

"Yes, yes. Prepare plenty of food. And make the honey-cheese cakes. They're Aglaya's favorite." The khan's consort took Aglaya by the hand and led her into the hall. The old servant woman showed Gu Zhiwei and the others inside, then followed after them. Everyone settled around the table. Behind a folding screen, a boy of about five poked his head out. His features were distinctly Beirong, though his skin was very fair.

He stared at Aglaya for a while, then suddenly ran over, wrapped his arms around her leg, and tipped his head back to look at her.

"Sister," he called in a sweet, childish voice. Aglaya looked down, thoroughly charmed by his huge blinking eyes.

"Well, aren't you the cutest little thing? Who are you?"

"My name is Urza." The boy gave her a very proper bow before curiosity got the better of him.

"You look a lot like Mother. Are you my sister?" The khan's consort smiled and drew the young prince to her side. She stroked his head and introduced him to Aglaya. The family chatted happily for a good while before finally remembering the other three, who were happily eating on their own off to the side. Wang Pu: "No, really. Take your time. This roast lamb is amazing." Matt clapped a hand over his mouth. Gu Zhiwei rose and bowed to the khan's consort.

"Thank you for your hospitality. But we did come here to discuss a matter of great importance." She put a little extra weight on the last few words. The khan's consort caught the hint at once. She ordered the doors shut and dismissed all the servants, leaving only the elderly woman behind. Gu Zhiwei placed the wooden box on the low table and glanced at Aglaya.

Only after Aglaya pulled little Urza into her arms and covered his eyes did Gu Zhiwei lift the lid, revealing Alezhen's severed head, his face still savage even in death.

"This is our show of good faith. And I have a plan that can solve Your Highness's most urgent problem." After making sure the head really belonged to Alezhen, the khan's consort closed the box.

"I am deeply grateful that you saved my daughter and brought her back to me. Whatever reward you ask for, I can provide. But if you are asking me to stake Urza's future on this, gratitude alone is not enough." Her meaning was clear. She was grateful to Gu Zhiwei, but if Gu Zhiwei wanted her to show her hand, she would first have to prove that she was worth the risk. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

That was already much better than Gu Zhiwei had expected. She had prepared several other ways to persuade the khan's consort. Aglaya's presence had saved her most of the trouble.

"We've already turned Alezhen's former followers against Togel. As far as they're concerned, Togel is the one who did this." Gu Zhiwei pointed to the box containing Alezhen's head.

"Within three days, Your Highness will see the remnants of Alezhen's faction confront Togel. That will be your opening. I have plans for what comes after as well. You won't have to fight for the throne or seize anything yourself. They'll place it in Urza's hands for you." The khan's consort lowered her gaze and considered this for a long moment.

"I have no grand ambitions. I only wish to help my husband care for his people. I'm grateful for your help, but what do you want from me? I want to hear the price first." She was shrewd and levelheaded. She would not pass up an opportunity, but she wanted to know exactly what it would cost. Gu Zhiwei thought back to everything she had seen since entering the city. The marketplace already taking shape. Houses built of earth and stone. Scattered plots of cultivated land beyond the walls.

Tools and textiles bearing an unmistakable Western Regions influence. Ji Heng's experience let her quickly piece together what those details meant and arrive at the best solution.

"The changes you have brought to Beirong are obvious. I doubt you want Urza to grow up as nothing more than the leader of a band of raiders, living entirely off plunder." The khan's consort said nothing, which was answer enough. Gu Zhiwei continued, "Beirong has warhorses, cattle, sheep, hides, and furs. Great Yong has better crop seed, tea, grain, cloth, medicinal herbs, and countless other goods to trade." The khan's consort looked a little surprised.

Aglaya had already told her something about their present situation.

"You only want trade? I thought you were going to ask for troops to help with your rebellion."

"Open border markets and establish trade routes. You can use access to those markets to tighten your control over the smaller tribal chiefs. Those who obey you will make money and gain access to more goods. Once they have a stake in your rule, they'll naturally defend it. In return, I want half the tax revenue from the border markets and fifty years of peace along the frontier." Interest sharpened in the khan's consort's eyes. She studied Gu Zhiwei for a moment.

"I can only promise peace for as long as Urza and I hold power. I cannot bind his descendants." Gu Zhiwei glanced at Urza, who was still hanging all over Aglaya, and laughed softly.

"Fifty years from now, Great Yong won't still be this weak. Of course, as long as you remain willing to pursue peace, neither will we resort to war without cause." The negotiations went smoothly. That very night, the khan's consort summoned the tribal elders who had already pledged themselves to her and Urza in secret, and together they settled every detail of the plan.

On the afternoon of the third day, yellow dust billowed into the sky beyond the city. Alezhen's former followers rode into the royal court in full armor, carrying his headless body straight toward the royal camp. All along the way, they shouted that Togel had murdered his own brother to seize the throne. Togel's men barred their path outside the royal camp. The two sides faced each other from a few dozen paces away, bows drawn and blades bared, while their agitated warhorses screamed and stamped.

At that moment, the khan's consort emerged from the royal camp and stopped the confrontation before it could erupt. Acting in the name of the ailing khan, she ordered Togel confined to his quarters while Alezhen's death was investigated. It would, at the very least, give Alezhen's former followers an answer. Togel was remarkably cooperative. He even surrendered his saber without protest.

As far as he was concerned, no matter how much the old khan doted on his consort, building her a palace and even working the fields beside her, she was still nothing more than a former slave from the Western Regions. This was simply her attempt to gain more leverage for herself and her young son before the old khan died. He lounged comfortably inside his great tent, waiting for the khan's consort to come negotiate. Instead, Gu Zhiwei walked in, her face hidden beneath a hood.

Thinking the khan's consort had sent her, Togel barely spared her a glance.

"Your mistress couldn't be bothered to come herself? Doesn't seem very sincere." Gu Zhiwei didn't answer. She kept walking. By the time Togel realized she wasn't stopping, she was already in front of him. Gu Zhiwei drew the saber she had taken from one of Alezhen's personal guards and, as she slipped past Togel, drove the blade straight into his heart. Togel lowered his eyes to the familiar insignia on the hilt jutting from his chest. Blood bubbled at his lips.

"Alezhen's... men?"

"You're not nearly as careful as your brother was." 【Virtue Value Final Tally: Evil ringleader Togel executed. Virtue Value gained: 9. 】 They really were brothers. Even their evil tallies matched. The next morning, the khan breathed his last. Wails of mourning rang throughout the royal court. Not long afterward, Togel's attendants found him dead. The saber bearing the mark of Alezhen's personal guard was still lodged in his chest.

A careful enough investigation might still have uncovered a few holes, and Gu Zhiwei had quietly prepared several backup plans. She ended up needing none of them. One of Alezhen's former followers eagerly stepped forward to claim responsibility. Some of the others even started cheering. Well, that took care of that. The new death only inflamed old grudges. Both factions stormed toward the royal camp to demand an explanation, and the hotter-tempered among them had already started brawling.

The khan's consort watched the commotion outside, then turned to Gu Zhiwei.

"You really did see all of this coming. What next? How do we make them put Urza on the throne themselves?" Gu Zhiwei smiled.

"Have one of your elders propose that Togel's eldest son inherit the throne." At the council, the moment the elder made the proposal, Alezhen's former followers hurled their wine bowls to the floor.

"Togel murdered Prince Alezhen, and now you want his spawn on the throne? In your dreams!" Across from them, Togel's former followers sneered.

"And Alezhen's hands were clean? We haven't even settled what happened last night!" Another chieftain loyal to Alezhen hastily cut in.

"Prince Alezhen has a son too. Why shouldn't he inherit? He's already fifteen. He can ride and draw a bow. In a few years, he'll be old enough to lead men."

"Lead whose men?" One of Togel's former followers slammed the table and surged to his feet.

"Alezhen's men, so he can slaughter us?" The argument grew louder by the moment. At last, a white-bearded elder frowned. As though the thought had only just occurred to him, he slowly turned toward Urza, who stood beside the khan's consort. Five years old. No army of his own. Barely any backing from his mother's side. Perfectly harmless. Almost too tempting.

"Everyone, please calm yourselves. The khan still has a young son," the old man ventured.

"He carries the khan's blood as well. Why pass over him to put a grandson on the throne?" The tent fell silent for a beat. The generals of both factions, who moments ago had looked ready to draw their swords and butcher one another, did not immediately object. At heart, both sides feared the same thing. If the other faction seized power, they would be purged. Now a neutral third choice had suddenly appeared, one who looked exceptionally weak. Every man in the tent had the same thought.

Right on cue, the khan's consort pulled Urza into her arms and began to put on a show.

"No! We are only a widowed mother and an orphaned child. All we want is to live out our days in peace. Urza is only five. How could he possibly shoulder such a burden?" Suddenly everyone was arguing in favor of the white-bearded elder's proposal, each urging the khan's consort to accept. She refused. They pressed her again. On the third round, Alezhen's and Togel's former followers began kneeling one after another. One swore to protect the young lord. Another vowed absolute loyalty.

All the while, they glared daggers at each other, hands still pressed to their sword hilts. At last, the khan's consort tearfully gave in. Then, while she had the momentum, she added a long list of conditions. Everyone assumed they were simply safeguards for Urza, so no one objected. That afternoon, before the old khan's coffin, Urza was raised to the throne. Aglaya watched the entire performance and clicked her tongue in admiration.

"Damn, that was badass. That's exactly the kind of woman my mom should be." Gu Zhiwei smiled softly in agreement. This time, all she had really done was provide the strategy. The khan's consort and her supporters had taken it from there, putting on a flawless performance and claiming the throne for Urza. Gu Zhiwei had no doubt that even without her involvement, the khan's consort would have found a way to place Urza on the throne eventually. It simply would have taken a few more twists and turns.

In a world like this, it was hard not to admire a woman who could shine so brightly in politics. Outside the royal tent, the new khan's standard flew high. The trouble in Beirong was settled. Next came Great Yong.