Dadu was brightly lit at night. The Tatar city seemed to have no curfew, with the streets still bustling. Men and women dressed in Tatar clothing walked the streets, while teahouses and wine shops kept their doors wide open for business. Through the open doors and windows, one could see people inside drinking and celebrating.

When the Khan’s entourage arrived, the city gate guards immediately saluted.

The people on the streets also retreated to both sides, bowing in respect and calling out greetings in Tatar with cheerful chatter.

Qin Yining and Lu Heng sat in the wagon, watching the lively crowd, and couldn’t help but exchange glances.

In Great Zhou, Li Qitian would never dare appear so brazenly before the people. Such a lively scene would be perfect for an assassination.

It seemed A’na Ri was usually quite close to the people, often making populist gestures. The simple, genuine enthusiasm of the people made even these outsiders feel warmth.

Lu Heng whispered in Qin Yining’s ear: “Do you also feel that…?”

He didn’t need to finish his sentence. Qin Yining knew what he meant to say and nodded: “Those with great skill are bold, I suppose.”

A’na Ri had some ability herself, plus she had the Tatar war god Si Qin protecting her closely, and her guards were dedicated and responsible. With her flamboyant, attention-seeking personality, it would be strange if she hid carefully.

The convoy headed toward the magnificent, ancient Tatar palace.

But just as they turned a street corner, two raggedly dressed youths suddenly ran out from the cheering crowd and dropped to their knees with a thud in the middle of the road.

A’na Ri raised her hand, stopping the procession.

The onlooking people also looked over curiously.

A’na Ri laughed mockingly: “What are you doing now? I spared your lives last time, and now you’re here seeking death again?”

“Khan, please release my father and mother! Please release my father and mother!”

“I spared your lives, yet you still dare come looking? Your father and mother committed grave crimes and should serve as slaves to atone! Your clansmen too!”

“No, our Minuo tribe already submitted when the Khan was regent, yet the Khan refuses to spare our people. We were originally a large tribe of over twenty thousand, but now the Khan has slaughtered us down to less than four thousand, leaving only the old, weak, women, and children. My father and mother have already submitted – why must the Khan still pursue complete extermination!”

“You deserved it!”

A’na Ri immediately began recounting all the obstructive actions the Minuo tribe had taken on her path to power.

The scene fell silent, with only the increasingly heated argument between A’na Ri and the two youths audible.

They were speaking in Tatar, which Qin Yining couldn’t understand, but she noticed that Lu Heng beside her seemed to comprehend.

“You understand Tatar?” Qin Yining asked quietly.

Lu Heng met her bright gaze, smiled and nodded, then whispered a summary of their argument in her ear.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but fall into thought.

The Tatars were different from Great Zhou. Most of their people lived harsh nomadic lives. On the surface, they were unified under the Khan, but in reality the country was split into many tribes.

This Minuo tribe originally had twenty thousand people, which in Tatar terms would already be considered a particularly large tribe. But due to power struggles, A’na Ri had actually reduced them to four thousand elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.

Qin Yining understood that political struggles were naturally life-and-death affairs. Whoever showed mercy would pay with their life.

But her heart still had soft spots.

Watching A’na Ri argue more fiercely, already holding her whip and charging toward those two half-grown children, she couldn’t help but say: “Khan, you wouldn’t be putting on a special performance here to show me, an outside guest, how you uphold such fine traditions of hospitality, would you?”

As soon as Qin Yining spoke, everyone’s attention fell on her. She was speaking in Zhou language, which most onlookers couldn’t understand.

But A’na Ri understood.

She turned around angrily, meeting Qin Yining’s calm yet somewhat mocking gaze, and snapped: “What do you mean!”

“I mean exactly what I said. The Khan speaks Zhou language very well and should understand.”

A’na Ri no longer wanted to whip those two youths. She turned and walked aggressively toward Qin Yining.

Lu Heng worriedly shielded Qin Yining behind him, saying in Tatar: “The Princess Consort is only thinking of the Khan’s interests. Killing should not go beyond what’s necessary. The Khan has already killed so many of their clansmen and captured their parents – why must you publicly beat two children?”

Though Qin Yining appreciated Lu Heng’s protection, since she had started this herself, she would never rely on others to help resolve it. She continued in Zhou language: “The Khan is a heroic leader, ruler of a nation. You have many soldiers and generals under your command, plus so many experts surrounding you. Yet you refuse to spare a tribe that has already submitted to you, and still want to harm two innocent, filial children. Aren’t you afraid that seeing you act this way will chill people’s hearts?”

A’na Ri flew into a rage, viciously cracking her whip: “What kind of thing are you to dare point fingers at this Khan! The Minuo tribe resisted and was defeated in battle, so they are all this Khan’s slaves. Whether this Khan kills or tortures them is permissible – do I need to explain to you!”

“Permissible, permissible, whatever you do is permissible.” Qin Yining waved her hand with the manner of someone dealing with an unreasonable child, sighing: “But isn’t the Khan afraid of the lips dying and the teeth growing cold, of the rabbit dying and the fox grieving? Look at your subjects – are you certain that the only way to demonstrate your majesty as ruler is through harming the weak?

“Khan, I’ve always regarded you as a capable, scheming female hero. Now it seems you’re nothing more than a nouveau riche who’s gotten carried away with a bit of power.”

“What did you say! Who are you calling nouveau riche!”

“Isn’t the Khan exactly that? Truly powerful rulers with real depth don’t show off the moment they have a bit of power, using that power against innocent people to display their methods. You’re already the Khan – what do you still need to urgently prove? The way you’re acting is as ugly as a nouveau riche with little family wealth still wearing a three-pound gold hairpin to flaunt through the streets. This only lowers your image and completely fails to show the courage you’re trying to display.”

These words stabbed into A’na Ri’s heart like knives, shaming her until her face turned completely red. Just as she was about to raise her whip to strike, she saw the surrounding people all quietly watching her.

Qin Yining’s words circled again in her mind, as if striking down now would confirm that Qin Yining’s assessment was correct.

Just then, those two pleading youths slipped away like nimble loaches, turning to dart into the crowd and run far away.

The guards couldn’t react in time, crying out as they gave chase.

A’na Ri looked back to see the people had run far away, with the onlooking civilians scattered in chaos by the charging guards, making her even more furious.

Qin Yining shook her head and said: “In consideration of the Khan’s free hospitality, I’ll give you a saying: ‘The ruler is the boat; the common people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but water can also overturn the boat. If a ruler thinks of danger in this way, then how can danger not be avoided?’ When the Khan has leisure time, you might read Xunzi. I’m sure the Prince Consort understands any parts you don’t comprehend and would be willing to explain them to you.”

Qin Yining said this with a smile – it was actually a warning. If A’na Ri could just control her temper a little, she would be able to grasp the meaning expressed within.