I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 303 Peach
"Ha," the Turkic Queen Dowager sneered. She had long suspected that this wretched woman was restless, and now she had finally shown her true colors.

“Since you have private dealings with the Emperor of Dayu, you should be even more aware that the Emperor of Dayu cannot make decisions for Prince Xuan.”

Song Qinglan gritted her teeth inwardly.

"Now, with your worthless life, you've given the Turks a chance to breathe. You should feel fortunate!"

Knowing she couldn't persuade the Turkic Queen Mother, Song Qinglan could only shout loudly, "Your Majesty, I want to see the Khan! Your Majesty!"

The eunuch swiftly covered Song Qinglan's mouth, lifted her up, and stuffed her into the carriage.

The carriage had just left Huguo Temple when it was stopped by Ashinamu, who had rushed over.

"How dare you!" Ashinamu stepped forward and whipped the coachman away. "You've got some nerve! How dare you kidnap the Imperial Concubine without permission? Don't you want the heads of your entire family?"

The coachman knelt at the horse's hooves, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

"This is my decree," the Turkic Queen Dowager said, stepping down from her carriage. "Why must the Khan make things difficult for a mere servant?"

Ashina Mu looked at the Turkic Empress Dowager with no tenderness whatsoever. "If I remember correctly, the Empress Dowager should be recuperating in the palace right now."

"With the Turks defeated and the threat of national annihilation looming, how can I possibly recuperate in peace?"

The Turkic Queen Dowager sneered, "The Khan, as the ruler of the Turks, does not think about how to save the country, but instead devotes himself to women. No wonder the Turks have fallen to such a state!"

Ashina Mu's face turned ashen. "I have already submitted the letter of peace. Whether Prince Xuan agrees or not is none of my business."

"Why not? It's all up to us!" The Turkic Queen Dowager's cold gaze fell on Ashina Mu's face. "I have already reached a deal with Tang Zhao. As long as Song Qinglan is handed over, Tang Zhao will facilitate peace talks between the two countries!"

Ashinamu's pupils contracted.

Song Qinglan struggled to break open the carriage door and cried out in Ashinamu's direction.

Ashina Mu was heartbroken. He stepped forward, lifted the person off the carriage, and removed the handkerchief from her mouth. "Lan'er, how are you?"

With tears in her eyes, Song Qinglan nestled weakly in Ashinamu's arms and cried out, "Khan, save me!"

Ashina Mu held the woman in his arms tightly. "The Empress Dowager has probably been deceived by Tang Zhao. The peace talks between the two countries are such an important matter. How could a mere woman make such a decision?"

"A mere woman?" The Turkic Queen Dowager looked away in disgust. "Khan, don't forget, it was this very woman who caused the loss of tens of thousands of Turkic cavalry, resulting in a significant blow to the Turkic nation's strength!"

"Tang Zhao is definitely not the kind of woman the Khan is in. I believe that whether Tang Zhao agrees or not will directly determine the outcome of the peace negotiations between the two countries!"

Ashina Mu knew this all too well. However, he was too aware of the grudges and entanglements between Tang Zhao and Song Qinglan. If Lan'er were handed over to Tang Zhao, how could Lan'er possibly survive?

Ashinamu was torn between his inner thoughts and his own conscience.

The Turkic Queen Dowager said coldly, "Fine, I have acted like a petty person in vain. If the Khan is unwilling to abandon this wretched woman, I will not force him. The Khan can decide for himself."

A flicker of joy flashed across Song Qinglan's eyes as she looked at Ashinamu with deep affection through her tearful gaze.

Ashina Mu slightly turned his head to avoid Song Qinglan's gaze.

Song Qinglan's heart sank to the bottom. She forced a smile and said in a show of retreat, "Khan bears the responsibility of the Turkic people. If sacrificing Lan'er alone can bring peace to the Turks, Lan'er is willing!"

Ashina Mu was deeply moved, and the scales in his heart tipped completely in favor of Song Qinglan. He was about to refuse, but when he glanced at the vast landscape beside him, he hardened his heart and said, "I'm sorry to have wronged you."

Song Qinglan's arms, which were wrapped around Ashinamu, stiffened, and tears streamed down her delicate face. "Lan'er is not wronged. For the Khan, Lan'er would be willing to die."

The tears dripping onto Ashinamu's hands were like scalding hot water, burning him so much that he instinctively pulled his arms back. "I will write a letter for you to take to Tang Zhao. Once Tang Zhao reads the letter, he will certainly not dare to make things difficult for you." Song Qinglan felt a chill in her heart, but her face showed endless gratitude. "Thank you, Khan."

Song Qinglan withdrew from Ashina Mu's embrace, knelt on the ground and bowed deeply, "I don't know if I will have the chance to see the Khan again after this journey. I hope the Khan will have all his wishes fulfilled and will not worry about me."

Ashina Mu was heartbroken. "Lan'er, please don't do this. We will definitely meet again."

Song Qinglan sneered inwardly, stood up, and boarded the carriage without a second thought.

The eunuchs following the carriage glanced at the Empress Dowager, picked up the rope from the ground and retied Song Qinglan, but after thinking for a moment, they decided not to gag Song Qinglan with a handkerchief.

Song Qinglan leaned against the car wall expressionlessly, showing no inclination to speak or put on an act.

The coachman climbed onto the carriage and slowly drove away, bypassing Ashinamu who was standing in place.

The Turkic queen glanced at Ashina Mu's retreating figure, who lingered for a long time, then sneered and boarded the carriage.

She thought Ashina Mu could be very affectionate, but it turns out he was no different from other men; he loved his country more than his love for women.

Only that vile woman, Song Qinglan, is unable to see reality and still thinks that Ashina Mu can abandon his kingdom for her.

How stupid!

Only when the carriage was out of sight did Ashina Mu reluctantly return to the palace, where he summoned his ministers to continue discussing peace talks.

Zhangye Prefecture, Gaotai Salt Lake.

The gates of the East and West Twelve Salt Warehouses were wide open, and workers carried sacks full of fine salt onto mule carts.

Once a mule cart is full, it is immediately pulled away and replaced with the next one.

Zhang Xing, the prefect of Zhangye, personally counted the amount of fine salt to ensure there was no mistake.

Zhao Tian personally drove the first mule cart loaded with fine salt out of Zhangye Prefecture and headed to Ningzhou as quickly as possible.

Ningzhou, the prefectural government office of Yinchuan Prefecture.

The heads of various families, who had been summoned to the yamen by the newly appointed prefect of Ningzhou, whispered among themselves.

You haven't done anything wrong, have you?
No, what about you?
I certainly haven't! In my family for three generations, not a single person has committed any crimes!

Why did the prefect summon us here?
I wonder, is it going to be another donation of grain or supplies?
The head of the family looked distressed. But wait, in order to respond to the prefect's call and save the people of Ningzhou, he had already donated half of his family fortune. If he donated any more, he would need others to donate money to him!

"Gentlemen, I apologize for keeping you waiting," Zhang Anzhi said as he emerged from the back hall. "I was just receiving distinguished guests from Zhangye Prefecture, which caused a slight delay. Please forgive me."

"No, no, we wouldn't dare," everyone stood up and bowed.

"Please be seated," Zhang Anzhi said with a smile after everyone was seated, sitting at the head of the table. "I have invited you all here today because I have an important matter to discuss with you."

"When Ningzhou suffered a man-made disaster, it was thanks to the generous donations of you gentlemen that the government and the people were able to get through the crisis safely. On behalf of the people of Ningzhou, I thank you for your kindness."

Everyone said, "You flatter us, sir."

"You have all done me such a great favor in Ningzhou, so I must naturally return the favor."

Zhang Anzhi clapped his hands, and two yamen runners carried out a sack from the back hall. "Please look, gentlemen," he said, "these are the peaches that I have brought to you."

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