Ankhtsetseg woke up to the sound of birdsong and walked out of the small bedroom prepared for her. She meets Yagaan at the door.
"Your Highness," Yagaan said. "I've prepared breakfast for you. Do you want to have breakfast first?"
Ankhtsetseg shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry." She looked around. "Where is Chinua's room?"
Yagaan said, "I do not know, but if Your Highness would like to know, I can ask."
Ankhtsetseg said, "Never mind. I have never been to the southern land before. I want to go out for a walk."
Yagaan looked at the other two maids and said, "You two bring the food in." She quickly followed Ankhtsetseg to the main training ground.
Several soldiers stared at Ankhtsetseg as she walked past them, and she smiled politely at them. When she heard the soldiers begin shouting and cheering, she turned right into the clearing.
"What happened over there," Ankhtsetseg said, looking at the gathered people.
Yagaan said, "I do not know."
Ankhtsetseg said, "Let's go and take a look."
Yagaan said, "Your Highness, we shouldn't..." She saw that Ankhtsetseg had already walked in front of her, walking towards the gathered men. She now had no choice but to follow Ankhtsetseg.
As Ankhtsetseg and Yagaan approached, they saw Chinua and Taban wrestling in the circle of people gathered.
"This..." Ankhtsetseg was speechless.
"Surrender..." Taban muttered, tightening his arms around Chinua's chest.
"Come on, Chinua! Even if I'm standing here, I can see a way out," Hye shouted from the sidelines. "Your injured had already healed."
"Oh yeah, why don't you jump in and fight Taban?" Chinua muttered, trying to break away from Taban's hug.
Hye chuckled and said, "I am not a northern soldier, you are their last hope to save them from embarrassment."
Muunokhoi said, "Hey, you are a member of our team, you should cheer for us."
Hye crossed his arms and said, "I don't cheer for losers."
The Southern soldiers who were watching burst into laughter.
Taban lifted Chinua off the ground, threw Chinua to the ground, jumped on Chinua before Chinua could get up, grabbed Chinua's left arm and pulled it back, clamping Chinua's right arm tightly between his thighs.
Naksh smiled, "It's over, kid." He turned to Khawn with a smile on his face. "For the next seven days, you will be my personal lackey."
"Ah... I... I surrender," Chinua shouted.
Taban let go of Chinua's arm and stood up. He stretched out his arms to Chinua and pulled Chinua up. "You still have a lot to learn. I advise you not to practice with Khunbish and Khenbish, they will always lose to you on purpose." He wiped the dirt from Chinua's robe.
Chinua said, "Next time, when we meet, I will definitely win."
Taban laughed and said, "I will wait for you right here."
The gathered soldiers laughed.
"Next time? There will be no next time," Ankhtsetseg said shaking her head.
Chinua turned around and saw Ankhtsetseg's angry eyes staring at her. "Oh, everyone, Princess Ankhtsetseg," Chinua said.
Taban and others fell to their knees.
Ankhtsetseg said, "Please stand up. There is no need to be formal here." She looked at Chinua. "You... you come have breakfast with me."
Chinua said, "Uh... I...um...I promise to go to the field to help. And, I have already had breakfast." She grabbed Hye's hand. "Let's go...the peanut field hasn't been watered yet." She set off with Hye, and soon Chinua's men were following Chinua and Hye toward the peanut farms.
"Chinua! Come back," Ankhtsetseg called after Chinua.
Mönkhbat walked up to the crowd and said, "Princess Ankhtsetseg, let's go have breakfast together."
Hye asked, "You don't like her?"
Chinua smiled and said, "It's not that I don't like her, I just don't like her complaining."
"Chinua waits!" Misheel shouted, chasing after Chinua and Hye.
Chinua waited for Misheel to catch up. "What's the matters, Minister Misheel?"
Misheel said, "We are going back to the capital tomorrow."
Chinua said, "Good for you."
Misheel hesitated for a bit and said, "Before we leave the royal capital, His Majesty hopes that Chinua can go back with us to deal with other matters." He looked at Chinua. "Don't ask about the other matter, because His Majesty did not mention what that matter is to me."
Chinua sighed and said, "It seems I have to go back to Ntsua-Ntu." He turned to Hye. "You are returning with me, right?"
Hye said, "I will go with you, but I will not go see your king."
On the twentieth day, the carriage stopped in front of a small house in Ntsua-Ntu. Khenbish jumped out of the carriage, and other people sitting in the carriage also began to get off.
"This is Chinua's house. Whenever she comes out of the palace, this is where she usually stays," Khenbish said, looking at the ten people. "There are ten rooms in total. Chinua's room is on the far right, far away from the other eight rooms. There is no maid in the house, so."
Drystan said, "So, we have to clean it ourselves."
Khenbish said, "That's right." He inserted the key into the lock and pushed the door open. He turned to Hye and gave him the keys to the house and the money bag. "When it comes to eating, Hye has the money. You can buy food to cook at home or eat out. I have to go back to the palace." He walked out of the house, leaving ten people standing at the door.
Siqi asked, "Father, will we be arrest again?"
Zhi said, "I don't think so."
Hye smiled at Siqi and said, "No one will drive you away from here. According to Hmagol law, no matter who breaks the law, the law can only punish that person, his family and friends are not included in his crime." He walked up to Wan and handed the bag to Wan. "Madam, as you can see, none of us can cook." He turned to looked at the men. "But they can clean."
Wan said, "I can cook. When we drove here, I believe I spotted the market."
Hye said, "Oh, I will take the elders and the children to buy food, and the rest...please clean all the rooms." He took the children's hands and started to walk out the door.
Bo said, "Son, we will be back." Bo and Wan quickly followed Hye and the two children out of the house.
Jeet scoffed, "This bastard really knows how to pick the simplest things to do."
Naksh looked at Khawn and said, Kid, I chose the last room on the right for us brothers. You can start cleaning." He pointed to the last room among the eight connected rooms.
Inside Batukhan's study room, Batukhan closed the journal after finishing reading, Batukhan said, "I know about this problem, but I have never sent anyone to confirm it."
Chinua said, "Now that father knows, will father take any measures?"
Batukhan asked, "What does Chinua think?"
Chinua said, "My good friends and I came up with a plan to provide water to arid areas." She quickly flipped through a few pages and showed King Batukhan the plan she and Hye had drawn-out. "Water channels"
Batukhan glanced at the drawing and said, "This is a great plan, so where is your friend?"
Chinua said, "He refused to serve under a king."
Batukhan looked at Chinua and asked, "But he is willing to serve under Chinua?"
"He is a strange man," Chinua said. "I had to take an oath before he agreed to serve under me. He made it clear that if I broke that oath, he would leave."
Batukhan flipped the page and saw a drawn he asked, "What is this?"
Chinua smiled and said, "Haishi City of Tanggolia." She pointed to the dam. "Father, do you still remember our game of conquering land?"
Batukhan laughed, and the huge study room echoed with his laughter.
"It must be Chinua who could make father this happy," Bastsaikhan said, as Qara pushed him towards Chinua and King Batukhan.
Qara asked, "What makes His Majesty so happy?"
Batukhan stood up from the table, grabbed Qara's and dragged her to the table. "Look," he said, pointing to the picture in the book.
Qara asked, "What am I supposed to look at?"
Batukhan said, "Chinua just found a way to destroy Haishi City."
Chinua pushed Bastsaikhan to the table and said, "It was not me. It was my stubborn friend."
Batukhan said, "I have to meet this strange friend of yours?"
Chinua said, "Father, he does not seek fame or fortune. I promised him that I will not force him, so..."
Batukhan frowned and said, "That doesn't matter. As long as he serves our great kingdom, there is no need for me to meet him."
Tong quickly rushed in and said, "Your Majesty, delegations of Tanggolia are here to discuss important matters with Your Majesty. Everyone is waiting for Your Majesty."
Batukhan said, "The Tanggolians must have left after you. Let's go and see if there is anything important to discuss here. Tong, bring Bastsaikhan with us."
Chinua's heart sank, thinking that the Tanggolians must be here, for they might have discovered that Chinua was the one to rescue their prisoners.
Qara looked at Chinua and said, "Your complex doesn't look good. Have you done anything to offend the Tanggolian?"
Chinua said, "No mother. I didn't do anything."
Qara sighed and said, "That's good." She left the study room, leaving Chinua behind.
Inside the throne hall, Batukhan, Bastsaikhan, and the other ministers watched as Geming and ten Tanggolian delegations enter the throne hall. Geming greeted Batukhan with a warm smile and brought gifts.
Batukhan said, "Thank you for your gift. I don't know what brought Prince Geming to come so soon. Have my daughters offended Emperor Xin?"
Lai bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the two princesses have not offended anyone. First, it was a misunderstanding that caused the two princesses to leave Haishi City early, and we came to apologize. Second, the Crown Prince of Tanggolia had taken a liking with one of His Highness princesses. Our main purpose today is to propose to the princess to enhance the friendship between the two kingdoms."
Tarkhan said, "What good news is this?"
"Indeed, is a very good news."
"I wonder which princess is the lucky one."
The ministers in the throne hall murmured one after another.
Batukhan asked, "May this old king ask, which princess won the heart of the prince?"
Lai took out the letter, and Tong went down the steps. He took the letter from Lai's hands. He took the letter to Batukhan. After Batukhan read the letter, he handed the letter back to Tong.
Batukhan said, "I agree to this marriage. I agree to let my daughter Ankhtsetseg marry Prince Geming according to the request of Emperor Xin and sign a one-hundred-year non-aggression treaty."
Geming stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding."
Batukhan said, "Misunderstanding? It's clearly wrote in the letter."
Geming said, "The Princess I want to marry is Princess Chinua, not Princess Ankhtsetseg."
Batukhan looked at Geming said, "Tong, bring the letter to Prince Geming."
When Tong approached Geming, Geming took the letter from Tong's hand. When he saw that the name written on the letter was not Chinua, his heart almost stopped beating. "This... this...this is wrong," Geming muttered with trembled lips. "There must be a mistake somewhere."
Batukhan said angrily, "This is the proposal by your kingdom, or are you here to laugh at us?"
Geming raised his head and looked at Batukhan. His voice quivered and he said, "Is not that...but... it..."
Batukhan said, "Since you look down on us and see us as a fool, please go back to your kingdom and never come back. As for the peace treaty, forget it."
Lai grabbed Geming's arm and whispered, "Your Highness, now is not the time. No matter which princess is, she will still be the princess of Hmagol. If you refuse, we will not only become the laughingstock of Hmagol, but also the laughingstock of neighboring kingdoms."
Geming said sadly, "But I don't want to marry Ankhtsetseg."
Lai said, "We came with this condition. If we backed down, we might not leave here alive."
Batukhan looked at Geming and saw the disappointed expression on his face and his eyes moist with tears. "I am not such an evil person. I will personally go and ask for Chinua to be brought here. If Chinua agrees to marry you, I have nothing to say, but if Chinua doesn't agree, you have to make a choice. You fulfill the good words in this letter, and we sign a peace treaty, or you leave and never come back." Batukhan stood up and left with Tong, leaving Bastsaikhan in charge.
Batukhan walked into Chinua's bedroom. He found Khunbish and Khenbish also in Chinua's room. "You two, leave us alone," Batukhan said.
Khunbish and Khenbish quickly left the room.
After realizing that Batukhan wants to talk to Chinua alone, Chinua worries that the reasons behind the Tanggolian coming to Hmagol are bad. Worried that her rescue of the Suo family would be exposed, Chinua walked to Batukhan and asked, "Father, why did the Tanggolia come?"
Batukhan said, "They came here to propose marriage and sign a peace treaty for the next one hundred year."
Chinua smiled and said, "A marriage proposal? The second prince must have fallen in love with the eldest princess."
Batukhan said, "The person waiting in the throne hall now is the crown prince of Tanggolia."
Chinua said with a smile, "He actually came?"
Batukhan looked at Chinua and asked, "Did you know he would come?"
Chinua said, "He told me that he would see me soon, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."
Batukhan smiled and asked, "Does Chinua like this crown prince?"
Chinua nodded.
Batukhan said, "What if I say Chinua can't marry him?"
Chinua said with a confused look on her face, "Why should I marry him? If I had to choose a husband, I would rather choose Khunbish or Khenbish. I would not choose a man who aspires to occupy our southern border."
Batukhan said, "What if Chinua can never have a husband."
Chinua looked at Batukhan and asked, "And the reason?"
Batukhan said, "You are smart person, and you should know the reason. I know you will be a great warrior in our kingdom in the future. Now everyone in the court has chosen a side and this is not good for Bastsaikhan. I made a plan for him, I placed Mönkhbat in the south and Chimgee in the west and gave them the title of lord so that they could never return to the palace without a royal decree. Now that Chinua is grown, I want Chinua to stay in the East. Do you understand my reason?"
Chinua nodded and said, "Father want the two elder brothers and me to act as walls to protect the eldest brother if there is any act of treason."
Batukhan sighed and said sadly, "Chinua, you may think that I am too ruthless to send my sons to guard our borders and prevent them from coming home. They are my sons, how can I not love them, how can I not see their hard work. No matter how ferocious the tiger is, it will not eat its own cubs. Your two brothers did this voluntarily, because they understand the reason." He stepped back, knelt down, bowed to Chinua, and tears moistened his eyes. "I, Batukhan Mongke, king of Hmagol, on behalf of all the citizens of Hmagol, ask Chinua to become our eastern pillar and continue to protect the borders of Hmagol."
Chinua's lips trembled and tears streamed down her face. Chinua never really understood what the reason was for Mönkhbat and Chimgee never being able to return to the capital without a royal decree, she had been accusing Batukhan of not having the same love for his children ever since the day Mönkhbat and Chimgee left the capital, but the moment Batukhan fell to his knees, Chinua finally understood that she had been wrongly accused Batukhan. Batukhan not only made plans for Bastsaikhan, but also made contingency plans. He secretly wrote a letter to Mönkhbat, asking him to succeed Bastsaikhan, and ordered him to execute Bastsaikhan if Bastsaikhan did not live up to the expectations of the people.
Chinua stood before Batukhan and said, "I accept to be the pillar of the east, and I will never return without a royal decree call upon me."
Batukhan bowed three more times and then stood up. He looked at Chinua sadly and said, "Chinua, the loneliest man in the world is the one who sits above all. He has only his own shadow to keep him company. He will stand taller than anyone else, but in the end, all he has is himself and a cold lonely chair. That is why the one sitting in this lonely chair must be Bastsaikhan." He looked at Chinua. "Because he understands that with his conditions, he will never be able to step onto the battlefield and gain his glory like his brothers. He knew that sitting in this lonely chair, he would have to endure the stares and rumors of others, but he is willing to sit here for the sake of the people of Hmagol."
Chinua looked at Batukhan and said, "Chinua, understand."
Batukhan gently patted Chinua's right shoulder. "Do you know why I did not choose Mönkhbat as the crown prince based on his ability, but chose Bastsaikhan as the crown prince?"
Chinua shook her head.
Batukhan said with a smile as tears moisten his eyes, "Because I don't want my favorite son to end up sitting on that lonely golden chair far away from freedom. Therefore, I have to sacrifice Bastsaikhan to sit in his place." He sighed.
Tong walked into the room holding a tray and an army seal. "Your Majesty. Your Highness," Tong said.
Chinua grabbed the golden army seal, pulled out the flute from her waist, and placed the flute on the tray. "Please help me return this to Prince Geming," she said. "Father, I would like Captain Haitao and his crew to become my subordinates."
Batukhan said, "I will send a message to Dawa."
Chinua said, "I am going to the military camp and bring the message to Captain Haitao." She walked to the door.
Batukhan said, "Chinua... do you hate me?"
Chinua turned around and said with a smile, "No father. I will make you proud."
Chinua walked out of the door and found Khunbish and Khenbish standing at the door. "Let's head to the military camp," Chinua said.
Holding the flute in his hand, Geming rushed out of the main entrance of the palace. When he was some distance away from the palace gate, he saw Chinua and her two subordinates riding out of the palace gate.
"Chinua!" Geming shouted. "Chinua!"
Chinua turned around and saw Geming chasing her on horseback. She turned to the guards and said, "Close the gate." Knowingly, once the gate is closed, it cannot be opened until the next morning.
Geming's horse stopped in front of the gate. "Chinua!" he shouted. "Chinua!"
Outside of the palace gate, Chinua, Khunbish and Khenbish slowly rode their horses towards the military camp outside the city.
Khunbish said, "Does Chinua really not want to marry the crown prince?"
Chinua said, "I already have you two, I don't need a prince in my life."
Khenbish said, "But it's not the same."
Chinua said, "I like him as a partner because we talk and understand each other, but I don't like him romantically. If I marry him, I will become a flaming phoenix locked in a golden cage. I know I will not be happy. Father was right about one thing... The king and queen who sit on the golden chair are the loneliest people on this earth."
Khenbish asked, "Where are we going next?"
Chinua said, "We are going to the eastern border."
Khunbish asked, "Training again?"
Chinua said, "No Khunbish, we are going to guard our eastern border."
Khunbish asked, " There has never been a captain or general in the east."
Chinua smiled at Khunbish and said with a smile, "You are looking at her. Cha..." She whipped the horse and rode towards the capital military training camp, followed by Khunbish and Khenbish.