My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 271 If you want to cooperate, then let Zhu Cilang come to see me in person!
Therefore, Zhu Cilang had already planned for this, which was to arrange all the necessary food supplies himself.

And what we call "getting it done" naturally means purchasing it from the system space!
After all, since God gave him a cheat code, he couldn't let it go to waste, could he?
Afterwards, the group exchanged a few more words, with the topic revolving around the current situation and the upcoming battle.

Everyone expressed their opinions, creating a very lively atmosphere.

About half an hour later, after everything was settled, everyone left.

After everyone had left, Zhu Cilang stretched and moved his tired body, then followed the little eunuch's guidance to the room prepared for him.

The room was furnished quite comfortably, and by this moment, Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige had already finished tidying up.

They had both changed back into their original attire.

They had disguised themselves as men to make their journey easier and to conceal their identities, but now that they had arrived in Xuanfu, there was no longer any need for them to do so.

At this moment, Zheng Xiaomei was wearing a light blue long dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her body, like a blooming blue flower.

Her hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her eyes revealed a gentleness.

Qiqige wore a red Mongolian robe, its vibrant color like a burning flame, and an exquisite hat adorned with several gemstones.

Upon seeing Zhu Cilang enter, Zheng Xiaomei hurriedly went to greet him, a sweet smile blooming on her lips.

"Your Highness, you're back."

The sound was like the clear chirping of birds in spring, carrying a touch of joy and intimacy.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, a gentle smile playing on his lips, and then turned his gaze to Qiqige.

At that moment, Qiqige was hanging a bag of silver coins on her waist.

A sense of curiosity arose in Zhu Cilang's heart, and he asked with a smile:

"What, are you guys planning to go out and have fun?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei quickly replied:

“That’s right. This is my first time in Xuanfu, and I’m very curious about everything here. So Qiqige said she would take me around Xuanfu.”

"Since I had nothing else to do, I agreed."

Zhu Cilang nodded, not surprised by this.

After all, Zheng Xiaomei grew up in a southern city, and this was probably her first time in Beijing, let alone in this northern grassland.

Moreover, although Xuanfu is not as bustling and prosperous as the capital, it has its own unique charm, and she should indeed go out and see the world.

Thinking back to when I first came to Xuanfu a few months ago, I couldn't suppress my curiosity and couldn't help but go out and wander around.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang immediately said:

"In that case, please wait for me. I will change my clothes and we will go out together."

With the main armies from various places yet to arrive, and Abunai's cavalry not yet here either, Zhu Cilang had nothing to do for the time being, so he decided to go out for a stroll.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei's eyes flashed with surprise, and her smile grew even brighter.

Not long after, Zhu Cilang changed into casual clothes.

Afterwards, he left the governor's office with Qiqige and Zheng Xiaomei, accompanied by Fang Zhenghua, Cao Bianjiao, Li Hu, and hundreds of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) who had changed into civilian clothes.

However, these Imperial Guards were very clever; they dispersed among the surrounding crowd and did not deliberately follow closely behind Zhu Cilang and his group.

After all, if one were to travel with hundreds of Imperial Guards around, the spectacle would be too grand, and the vendors on the street would probably be unable to conduct their business normally.

As the group strolled leisurely down the main street of Xuanfu, they were immediately struck by the bustling scene that the city was so vibrant.

On both sides of the street, all sorts of merchants were enthusiastically hawking their wares and selling all kinds of goods.

There are exquisite silks from Jiangnan, exotic spices from the Western Regions, and fur products from the grasslands.

The variety of items was dazzling.

In addition, there are various kinds of food from different places.

The aroma of grilled lamb skewers is irresistible, and the sizzling fat drips onto the charcoal fire, creating tiny sparks.

There were also steaming hot buns, their plump, white appearance making you want to take a bite.

In addition, there are also various snacks such as roast duck, roast goose, braised meat, and tofu pudding.

The enticing aroma filled the air, making one's mouth water.

Qiqige was fine, after all, she had lived in the border region since childhood, and she often came to Xuanfu, so she was already used to everything here.

But Zheng Xiaomei was extremely interested in the scene before her.

She strolled among the stalls with great interest, sometimes picking up an item to examine it closely, and sometimes chatting with the merchants, asking about the origin and price of the goods.

They would run to this stall to look at this, and then to that stall to touch that, their faces beaming with excitement and curiosity.

Zhu Cilang smiled knowingly upon seeing this.

After wandering around the city for half a day, the group felt they hadn't had enough, so they rode their horses to the grasslands.

The moment they stepped onto the grassland, Qiqige finally relaxed completely, as if she had become one with the grassland, exuding an unparalleled sense of freedom.

She took a deep breath, then tilted her head back, fully enjoying the fresh air and warm sunshine on the grassland.

Sure enough, she still preferred living on the grasslands. Every blade of grass, every tree, every breeze, and every scene here made her feel incredibly familiar and at ease.

However, at this moment, the beauty of the grassland is no longer as lush as it was in the height of summer.

The once lush and verdant meadow has quietly lost its vibrant green, replaced by a slightly withered and yellowish expanse.

From a distance, it looks like a golden carpet has been laid out on the earth. Although it lacks some of the vitality and energy, it adds a sense of desolation to the grassland, as if telling the story of the years.

The group galloped across the grassland, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust, and their laughter echoed throughout the grassland.

At this moment, everyone was enjoying this carefree time, as if all their troubles and worries had been thrown to the winds.

After playing for a while, until night gradually fell and the sky was tinged with a faint red, Fang Zhenghua and Cao Bianjiao couldn't help but urge them on:

"Your Highness, it's getting dark soon, let's hurry back!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang returned to Xuanfu with lingering interest.

As for Qiqige, she naturally returned to Xuanfu as well.

She wasn't in a hurry to go to the grasslands to find Abunai, because she had already learned from Zhu Cilang that Abunai would arrive in Xuanfu the next day or the day after.

If that's the case, why should she make a wasted trip?

It would be better to rest well in Xuanfu for one night, recharge, and see my brother again tomorrow.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was already the evening of the second day.

Just after dinner, a scout rushed over to report to Zhu Cilang that a large cavalry force had been spotted twenty miles outside Xuanfu and had already encamped there.

After being informed by the other party, it was confirmed that the visitor was indeed Abunai.

Zhu Cilang did not show too much surprise when he heard this, after all, according to the previous intelligence, Abunai would arrive around today or tomorrow.

Then Zhu Cilang calmly gave the following instructions:
"Continue to monitor their every move, and report any developments immediately."

Upon receiving the order, the scout saluted Zhu Cilang and then quickly withdrew.

After the scouts left, Zhu Cilang sat in his chair, his brows furrowed slightly, and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

After a moment, he finally stood up and found Qiqige.

Qiqige was idly playing with a dagger in her room, turning it gently in her hand and making a soft sound.

Seeing Zhu Cilang arrive, she looked up curiously and asked:
"Why are you looking for me in the middle of the night instead of going to see your mistress?"

Zhu Cilang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point:

"According to the scouts, your brother Abunai has now arrived near Xuanfu, which is no more than twenty miles away."

what?
Upon hearing this, Qiqige instantly became excited.

She suddenly stood up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Although she already knew that Abuna was coming, she still couldn't help but feel excited and joyful when she finally received the definite news.

Zhu Cilang continued:
"If you're free tonight, go see Abunai."

Upon hearing this, Qiqige immediately frowned, then looked at Zhu Cilang with a suspicious gaze and said:

"Are you up to something again with this scheme?"

Her eyes were filled with vigilance and suspicion, as if Zhu Cilang in front of her was a person with ill intentions.

Zhu Cilang smiled, a smile tinged with helplessness, before saying:
"At this point, what else can I do? I simply want you two siblings to reunite sooner rather than later."

"But when you meet Abunai, tell him that I came with the utmost sincerity this time, so he can rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Qiqige looked at Zhu Cilang with suspicion again, her gaze sweeping back and forth across his face, as if trying to discern some clues from his expression.

But Zhu Cilang's expression was so calm that she couldn't see any flaws in his demeanor.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, I will pass these words on to him!"

After saying this, Qiqige quickly tidied herself up and prepared to leave the city. However, after only a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked at Zhu Cilang with a serious expression, asking:
"You really won't lie to us this time, right?"

Her eyes held a hint of worry and expectation, as if she were waiting for a positive answer from Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang found it amusing; he had already explained himself so clearly, so why did Qiqige still not believe him?

But then he nodded and said earnestly:

"Rest assured, there are no conspiracies or schemes this time, only cooperation and mutual benefit. Since I have said it, I will definitely do it."

Qiqige stopped talking and then turned and left the Xuanfu government office.

Her steps were firm and quick, as if she couldn't wait to see her brother.

Since it was already night and the city gates of Xuanfu had long been closed, Zhu Cilang sent dozens of his personal guards to escort Qiqige to see Abunai.

Carrying Zhu Cilang's token, they left Xuanfu like a black lightning bolt in the night, quickly disappearing into the darkness, leaving only the sound of horses' hooves echoing in the silent air.

Meanwhile, in Abuna...

As dusk settled, 30,000 cavalrymen stretched across the vast grassland like an iron torrent, their occasional neighing of warhorses and the clanging of weapons weaving together into a deep war song.

At first glance, the endless camps resemble stars fallen to earth, glowing faintly in the twilight, dividing the grassland into countless squares of light and shadow.

The soldiers on night duty, wrapped in thick cloaks and holding long spears, paced slowly along the edge of the camp. The armor clashed with the moonlight, reflecting a cold, sharp edge.

Beside the campfire, soldiers rested haphazardly, their helmets and scimitars lying around, their tired snores mixed with occasional sleep talking, breaking the silence of the grassland from time to time.

Not far away, several soldiers on night duty sat around a campfire. In front of them, a plump sheep sizzled on an iron rack, its aroma, mixed with the scent of cumin and spices, wafting in the wind and creating a unique battlefield atmosphere.

At this moment, it is only twenty miles away from Xuanfu!

Twenty li is not a long distance, but it is not short either. For cavalry, it takes only half an hour.

Moreover, faintly, standing here, one can even see the lights coming from the direction of Xuanfu, flickering in the night, as if a distant call.

If Abunai had wanted to, he could have been much closer to Xuanfu, or even stationed his army directly outside the city.

But once he got there, Abunai dared not take another step forward, because this was what he considered a safe distance.

He had even decided that even if he were to meet Zhu Cilang tomorrow, he would make sure Zhu Cilang came to see him in person.

Of course, he did this not to insult Zhu Cilang or the Ming Dynasty, but simply for his own safety.

It's just a matter of whether Zhu Cilang would be willing to come in person. In any case, if asked to go to Xuanfu to see Zhu Cilang, he would definitely not go.

After all, there is an old saying among the Han people, "catching a turtle in a jar." In Abunai's view, Xuanfu is like a huge jar, and he is the turtle that may be caught at any time.

If he were to go to Xuanfu, he might lose his life; he wouldn't dare take that risk lightly.

Thinking of this, Abunai sighed again, his sigh filled with helplessness and worry.

Then, he stepped out of the tent and looked up at the moon outside.

It must be said that the moonlight tonight is exceptionally beautiful, and the sky is dotted with stars, like dazzling gems set against the black backdrop.

Abuna had no interest in appreciating the beautiful scenery; his attention was entirely focused on the temperature.

Although it is early autumn, the exposed skin can already feel the chill.

It's clear that this autumn is colder than usual, which foreshadows an even colder winter.

How to get through this winter has become the biggest challenge he will face next.

Now he only hopes that the Ming Dynasty can genuinely cooperate with them this time, so that both sides can achieve a win-win situation. In this way, fewer people from his tribe will die this year.

Those innocent ordinary herders can also suffer less.

A while later, just as Abuna was getting a little bored and preparing to go back to rest, a cavalryman suddenly charged over on horseback.

Without even stopping, a soldier dismounted, knelt on one knee, and reported:

"Great Khan, the Princess has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Abunai was overjoyed, and a bright smile instantly bloomed on his previously tired and worried face.

He said quickly:
"Quickly bring her to see me, Khan!"

The voice was filled with urgency and anticipation.

Before long, a horse quickly approached, and a familiar figure gradually came into Abuna's sight.

Who else could it be but Qiqige?

At that moment, her face was filled with the joy of seeing her loved ones, and her eyes were glistening with tears of excitement.

As for the cavalrymen who escorted Qiqige, they returned directly to Xuanfu after completing their mission, leaving Qiqige and Abunai in front of the tent to enjoy this rare moment of reunion between siblings.

"elder brother!"

When Qiqige spotted Abunai's figure in the distance by the firelight, she was thrilled and quickly dismounted, rushing towards him.

Abuna's eyes were also filled with joy, and he quickly ran over.

Immediately afterwards, the brother and sister embraced each other.

Abuna lowered his head slightly, carefully examining his younger sister before him, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

He felt that time flew by. In just a few months, his sister seemed to have grown taller and her eyes showed more maturity and determination.

Qiqige was also observing her brother. She keenly noticed that in the past few months, her brother's face seemed much more haggard. His once resolute face now showed signs of fatigue and vicissitude, which must have been caused by the affairs of the tribe.

“Come on, let’s go back to the tent with your brother and have a good talk.”

Just then, Abunai's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of warmth and concern.

Immediately afterwards, the brother and sister walked toward the tent.

When Abuna's servants saw Kikige arrive, they hurried over and bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with awe.

Qiqige simply waved her hand, signaling them to leave, because she only wanted to have a proper talk with her brother and didn't want to be disturbed by others.

Soon, the brother and sister sat down around the warm fire, where a roasted lamb was sizzling and steaming.

There was also a pot of warm butter tea next to it, emitting a unique aroma.

The brother and sister have been together ever since their father, Lindan Khan, died, but they have been separated twice this year, so they naturally miss each other very much.

After chatting about everyday things for a while, Qiqige's demeanor suddenly changed. She looked directly into Abunai's eyes and asked earnestly:

"Brother, are you really here to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Abuna paused slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said:
“That’s right, as you should know, I can’t refuse the conditions Zhu Cilang proposed.”

"After all, the situation in our tribe this winter is not optimistic. Only by cooperating with Daming can we ensure that not too many people in the tribe will starve or freeze to death this winter. So I am willing to cooperate with Daming."

Upon hearing this, Qiqige secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been worried that her brother would refuse the cooperation with the Ming Dynasty due to momentary impulse, but now that she heard her brother say this, her heart finally settled down.

But before she could fully relax, Abuna suddenly said again:

"But then again, I'm really worried that all of this is another of Zhu Cilang's schemes. If that's the case, what should we do?"

"What if he insists I go to Xuanfu to see him tomorrow, and as soon as I arrive, he seizes me and kills me? What should I do then?"

Qiqige was speechless for a moment.

She thought Abunai was overthinking things, because she could clearly sense that Zhu Cilang genuinely wanted to cooperate with them this time.

So she quickly said:
"Brother, don't worry. I can tell that Da Ming really wants to cooperate with us this time, so this kind of thing shouldn't happen."

"Zhu Cilang is a visionary man; he should understand that cooperating with us would benefit both sides."

"Moreover, before I came, he repeatedly told me that there were no conspiracies or tricks involved this time, only cooperation and mutual benefit!"

Upon hearing this, Abuna didn't speak immediately, but instead glanced at Qiqige with a strange look.

Although Abunat has always trusted his sister, he has to admit one thing.

That is, his younger sister was always a woman, while the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang of the Ming Dynasty was a man.

If her younger sister really falls in love with the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, does that mean that from then on she will only consider the Ming Dynasty or Zhu Cilang in everything she does?
Will her words also become unreliable due to the influence of this relationship?
Abner wasn't sure, but now he didn't even dare to completely trust what Kikige said.

After all, this involves his own life and death and the future of Mongolia, so he cannot be careless in the slightest.

But he certainly couldn't say such things aloud; he didn't want to hurt the relationship between his siblings because of his suspicions.

So next, Abna pretended to be nonchalant and said:
“I understand what you’re saying, but I still can’t treat my life and the fate of Mongolia as a game, so I won’t go to Xuanfu to see him tomorrow.”

"If Zhu Cilang is truly sincere, then let him come to the grasslands to see me."

Upon hearing this, Qiqige hesitated for a moment.

Because she knew that Zhu Cilang was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty and of noble status, it was somewhat unreasonable for her to ask him to come to the grasslands to see Abunai.

She worried that Zhu Cilang would not agree to the request, which could complicate matters further and potentially jeopardize the agreed-upon cooperation.

But seeing that her brother's mind was made up, she ultimately said nothing and simply nodded faintly.

(End of this chapter)