Chapter 289 – Princess of the Prairie Rules the World – Going Home (14)
After a night’s rest, the group set off for the main camp at daybreak.
The tribe’s winter camp was located on the far side of the mountain. When the royal guards came out to search for them, they had traveled light and moved quickly. But now that they had cattle and sheep with them, their return was naturally slower than the journey out.
They traveled at a leisurely pace, and finally, on the fifth day, they returned to the tribe.
Aqi and Rong Ningjing were feeding the cattle and sheep when they spotted a group of people approaching from afar.
When the group got closer, Rong Ningjing, completely unprepared, saw the boy in front being held close in Tuoba Jingyao’s arms — and burst into tears on the spot.
Bai Tang. They weren’t dead.
Aqi ran over in excitement. After Tuoba Jingyao dismounted with Bai Tang in his arms, Aqi couldn’t help but hug Bai Tang tightly.
“Tang Tang, you’re alright—that’s such a relief! My father and I were so worried about you…”
“I’m sorry for making you worry~” Bai Tang hugged Aqi back.
Rong Ningjing came up behind Aqi, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Bai Tang.
“Ningjing, I’m back~” Bai Tang let go of Aqi and embraced Rong Ningjing.
“It’s enough that you’re back, it’s enough.” Holding the living, breathing Bai Tang in her arms, Rong Ningjing finally felt sure that he had truly returned—that he wasn’t just a figment of her imagination.
The reunion had gone on long enough. Tuoba Jingyao gently pulled the two apart and adjusted Bai Tang’s cloak.
“We’re home.”
“Mm-hmm, we’re home~” Bai Tang held his hand. “Are we going to pitch our tent now?”
The burly man leading the royal guards said respectfully, “Don’t worry, Consort. The Chief’s tent has already been set up—we were just waiting for your return.”
“Thank you for your hard work. I really appreciate it~” Bai Tang smiled at them sweetly, the dimples on both cheeks deepening like sugar. The burly guard was utterly dazzled.
He’s so beautiful, so adorable~
Tuoba Jingyao’s face, which had been smiling just moments ago, suddenly darkened.
“Fifth Brother, you’ve worked hard. Go get some rest.”
The anger simmering in his voice snapped the Fifth Brother out of his daze. Meeting Tuoba Jingyao’s deep, unreadable gaze, he felt a jolt of panic.
It’s over. I’m done for. Why did I let myself get carried away staring at the Consort?
Everyone in the tribe knew how possessive and doting the Chief was when it came to the Consort.
Bai Tang tugged lightly on Tuoba Jingyao’s sleeve. He bent down, and the boy whispered something into his ear. Whatever it was, a smile returned to Tuoba Jingyao’s face.
“Alright. We’ll do whatever Tang Tang says.”
Aqi said to them, “I’m going to let everyone know the Chief is back. And my father—he’ll be so happy to hear Tang Tang has returned too!”
With that, Aqi dashed off like an arrow loosed from a bow. Rong Ningjing, having wiped away her tears, looked behind them and noticed the cattle and sheep. She stared in surprise.
“These are…”
“These are the ones that fell down with us. Not a single one is missing,” Bai Tang replied.
Rong Ningjing was overjoyed. Just the fact that Tuoba Jingyao and Bai Tang were alive was already a miracle. Now even the lost livestock had been recovered—it was an unexpected blessing on top of a joyous reunion.
She led a few of the cattle and sheep off to the side and began feeding them grass.
Tuoba Jingyao led Bai Tang back to their tent to rest. Along the way, tribespeople who saw them safe and sound greeted them warmly.
Aqi had already spread the word before the two arrived. At first, the tribespeople hadn’t dared believe it, but once they saw them in person, they were finally convinced: Their Chief and his Consort had truly returned.
Cheered all the way back to the tent, Bai Tang finally let out a breath of relief once inside. The little squirrel preferred peace and quiet, and the villagers’ enthusiasm had been a bit overwhelming. If Tuoba Jingyao hadn’t been with him, he wasn’t sure he could’ve handled it.
The royal guards had set up the tent, but hadn’t touched Tuoba Jingyao’s luggage, so the interior was still mostly empty.
Tuoba Jingyao opened his pack, set up the table and chairs, and let Bai Tang sit down to rest. Only then did he start laying out bedding and blankets.
Seeing Tuoba Jingyao working alone, Bai Tang couldn’t just sit there. He stood up to help.
“Tang Tang, sit and rest. I’ll handle it.” Tuoba Jingyao gently pushed the boy back into the chair.
By the end of the afternoon, everything was more or less in place.
Now that Tuoba Jingyao had returned, the tribe’s leadership was once again in his hands.
Late at night, Bai Tang was already asleep. Tuoba Jingyao sat at the table, reading a military manual. Outside the tent, a shadow moved.
Tuoba Jingyao stood up and walked over to the bed to tuck Bai Tang in.
Outside, Rong Ningjing was struggling with how to bring up the matter to Tuoba Jingyao. Never mind that Long Qian was a fairly well-known physician in the tribe—without any solid evidence, would Tuoba Jingyao really believe her?
Lately, since she had started to step forward and make herself seen, Long Qian’s hostility toward her had become blatant. If she still couldn’t tell that he disliked her, then she would have to be a fool.
She had even discovered that while tending to her cattle and sheep, Long Qian had drugged them. If she hadn’t picked up some herbal knowledge over the past while, she might not have known how they died, or even that they were poisoned.
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. This was no longer about why Long Qian wanted to harm her—it had escalated to a point where only one of them could live.
No one wants to die. And right now, the only person who might be able to help her was Tuoba Jingyao.
As Rong Ningjing hesitated outside the tent, a hand suddenly clamped around her neck. A low, magnetic male voice murmured in her ear, “Who’s there?”
Rong Ningjing struggled, and when Tuoba Jingyao saw who it was, he released her.
“What do you want?” Tuoba Jingyao asked calmly.
This was the real Tuoba Jingyao—except when he was with Bai Tang, he rarely showed much expression.
Rong Ningjing coughed several times, rubbing her neck. Once she caught her breath, she said, “Chief, I need to speak with you.”
Rong Ningjing had, after all, once taught Tuoba Jingyao how to court his beloved, so he didn’t reject her. Glancing behind him, he said, “Tang Tang is asleep. Don’t wake him.”
Rong Ningjing nodded and followed Tuoba Jingyao off to the side.
The night wind was bitterly cold, slicing against the skin like knives. Standing in the open wind, Rong Ningjing shivered as she spoke, “Chief, Bai Tang’s fall from the cliff wasn’t an accident—it was intentional…”
Before she could finish, a surge of murderous intent exploded from Tuoba Jingyao.
“Who?” he demanded.
Bai Tang was his most precious treasure. Anyone who tried to harm his Tang Tang… deserved to die.
Rong Ningjing flinched, startled by Tuoba Jingyao’s overwhelming and terrifying aura. She couldn’t tell if she was trembling from the cold or from fear of the man before her. Her teeth chattered as she answered, “I-It was Long Qian…”
Tuoba Jingyao’s gaze was sharp as an eagle’s. The pressure he exuded made Rong Ningjing feel genuine fear. She forced herself to speak despite the terror.
“I don’t have a witness, but during the tribe’s migration, I discovered Long Qian had been drugging the cattle and sheep. The kind of drug he used causes disorientation in animals. Originally, I was the target… but Bai Tang ended up taking the fall for me…”
She laid everything out for Tuoba Jingyao—her discoveries, suspicions, and how Long Qian had already tried to harm her—without exaggeration or embellishment.
Tuoba Jingyao was the chief of the tribe. If he wanted to investigate, he could find out just as much as she had, if not more.
After a moment of silence, Tuoba Jingyao said, “I understand. You can go back now. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
The oppressive aura around him slowly dissipated. Though he now appeared calm on the surface, his clenched fists betrayed the turmoil inside.
He returned to the tent. The warm air rising from the stove met him at the entrance, quickly dispelling the cold that clung to his body.
Tuoba Jingyao took off his heavy coat. Only after all the chill had left him did he lie down, pull the boy into his arms, and kiss him over and over again.
He had nearly lost Tang Tang.
Thankfully, he was safe.
Thankfully, Tang Tang had a special gift.
Bai Tang was stirred awake by Tuoba Jingyao’s movements. He blinked drowsily and murmured, “Ah Yao, you’re still not asleep?”
Tuoba Jingyao kissed the boy’s lips gently.
“Did I wake you? I’m going to sleep now. You go back to sleep, Tang Tang.”
“Mmm~” Bai Tang found a comfortable position in the man’s arms, closed his eyes, and quickly drifted back to sleep.
The weather was growing colder by the day, and Bai Tang’s hands and feet were icy all the time. Tuoba Jingyao had strictly forbidden him from leaving the tent.
Bai Tang was bored out of his mind staying inside all day, especially when Tuoba Jingyao had meetings in the tent next door.
He was half-heartedly chatting with the two systems when suddenly a voice called his name from outside the tent.
“Tang Tang, are you there…?”
“Aqi!” Bai Tang said with delight. He lifted the curtain and pulled Aqi inside.
“Quick, come warm up by the fire—it’s freezing out there.”
A light snow had started falling again outside. The snowflakes on Aqi’s coat quickly melted from the heat of the stove, soaking into his clothes and making him quite uncomfortable.
“Tang Tang, why haven’t I seen you outside playing lately?” Aqi asked.
Bai Tang poured him a cup of goat milk.
“Ah Yao won’t let me go out.”
After finishing the cup, Aqi felt warm all over.
“The Chief’s goat milk tastes way better than the kind at home.”
Bai Tang chuckled.
“Ah Yao adds sugar and coconut jelly to it. You should try it when you get home…”
He generously shared the recipe with Aqi. When it came to food, Bai Tang could talk for hours.
A mischievous glint flashed in Aqi’s eyes.
“Tang Tang, let’s go build a snowman. It’s so boring being stuck in the tent all day. Come out and play!”
The idea of building snowmen and having snowball fights had come from Rong Ningjing. She often led the tribe’s children in the games, and her team won every time. Aqi wasn’t convinced, blaming the losses on his team having fewer players. With the teams unevenly divided, they were always short one person. Since Bai Tang was available, Aqi had come to recruit him into the battlefield.
Bai Tang had been cooped up in the tent for so long he felt like he was about to grow mold. The moment he heard Aqi’s invitation, his eyes lit up.
“Sure! Let’s go right now!”
Ah Yao had been in meetings late every day lately. As long as he made it back before the meeting ended, it should be fine… right?
Excited, Bai Tang ran out with Aqi—without even bothering to put on his cloak.
Qiu’er, seeing this, quickly activated a transparent shield around Bai Tang to keep the cold out and protect him from the chill.
Bai Tang was not only popular with the elders but also a favorite among the children—a real child king. Snowball fights? He’d played them before. He had experience.
With Bai Tang joining in, Rong Ningjing also became more careful, keeping his condition in mind and avoiding hitting him with snowballs. But the others quickly noticed this weakness and began launching a wild counterattack. The snowy field echoed with laughter and cheers, and even the adults working nearby were infected by the joy, their faces lit with smiles.
After all, what could be more fulfilling than having enough food and warm clothes, surrounded by happy children?
Author’s Note:
Uh-oh. Tang Tang’s gonna get his butt smacked by the male lead for sneaking out and disobeying…