Chapter 28
After the punishment was finished, Khan Astrahan looked exhausted. Yi Sun quickly had a palanquin brought over to escort the Khan.
“Ayur, and Wihui.”
When the two approached the palanquin, the Khan spoke.
“Console Empress Sorkate well in my stead. And Ayur, tell your mother to further strengthen the discipline of the Inner Court.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Wihui.”
“Yes, Father. Please speak.”
“Assist the First Empress and devote more effort to maintaining order in the Inner Court. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father. Please don’t worry.”
The Khan left, as if saying that was enough.
After seeing off the palanquin, Ayur led Argana to a quiet place and gave her shoulder a firm nudge.
“Ow, what was that for, brother?”
“So this was your scheme. You told me to fetch Father for this very outcome, didn’t you?”
Argana stuck out her tongue and smiled playfully.
Seeing her expression, Ayur couldn’t even stay angry. He could only let out a hollow laugh and shake his head.
“I really can’t win against you.”
“Well, Tureggen Bi brought this on herself. If she hadn’t treated Empress Sorkate like that, none of this would have happened, right?”
“She’s becoming more insolent by the day… I think it’s time we told Mother.”
“And don’t forget that maid, Homuja.”
“Ah, right. That maid… She’s supposedly Tureggen Bi’s close servant, but to carry such an expensive item around all the time—was she out of her mind?”
Argana shrugged and gave a dismissive snort.
“Who knows? But do you really think a mere maid would dare act so boldly on her own?”
“You mean…”
“It means she has someone backing her. If it wasn’t a gift from Tureggen Bi, then how else would she have obtained such things? She’s probably doing something shady to earn money.”
Blinking meaningfully, Argana leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“When I asked about the jade bracelet earlier, do you know what she said? That it was a gift from Brother Yoshmut.”
“What? Yoshmut?”
“Strange, isn’t it?”
“You call that a joke? A servant, receiving gifts?”
“And not just any gift. She said he gave it to her, telling her to serve Tureggen Bi well. What do you think of that, brother?”
“Even a passing dog would laugh.”
Ayur replied coldly and let out a sigh.
“Understood. I’ll tell Mother about this as well.”
“Thank you, brother.”
“But next time, I expect you to consult with me directly before stirring up trouble.”
“Yes, I understand.”
After seeing Ayur off, Argana returned to Kartak.
He informed her that Empress Sorkate had just gone back to the palace, then asked what she had discussed with Ayur.
“Nothing much. Just told him to report today’s events properly to Mother.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you told the First Empress yourself?”
“You don’t understand. The only person who can truly move Mother Shiran is Brother Ayur. No one else. Well, except Father.”
Kartak tilted his head, absentmindedly fingering the thin petals of a turmeric blossom.
“Empress Ayulshiran is your mother’s younger sister, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Why?”
“No reason. Just that since you’re close kin, I find it odd that you distance yourself so much.”
Argana pursed her lips, as if unsure how to explain, then let out a short sigh.
“Of course, Mother Shiran cares for me. But as you said, she’s my mother’s sister. Compared to other empresses and consorts, things with her are… more difficult. More complicated.”
Argana’s birth mother, the First Empress of the Empire, Ayulwiran, had been a formidable and extraordinary woman whose fame reached beyond the borders.
She stood closest beside Astrahan, helping him establish the empire, and often rode at the vanguard with the commanders when battles broke out.
She also possessed brilliance, refined talents, and a virtuous heart, which made Astrahan love her deeply.
Even after Wiran’s death, Astrahan never appointed another First Empress, leaving the seat vacant—a testament to how dearly he cherished her.
Over countless wars that secured the empire, the Khan had witnessed the deaths of loyal ministers, generals, and even his own children.
Yet never had he grieved so deeply as when Wiran died.
Not even when her eldest son—Tardaga, the Crown Prince and Argana’s own brother—passed away did Astrahan show the same sorrow.
For Argana, her father’s deep love for Ayulwiran was something to be proud of.
What child wouldn’t rejoice in their parents’ devotion?
And yet, facing Ayulshiran—the First Empress who inevitably received less attention compared to her late elder sister—always made Argana feel uneasy.
“Originally, Mother Shiran should have become the Second First Empress. But Father declared there would be no ‘second’ First Empress at all…”
Kartak nodded knowingly.
Whatever Ayulshiran thought inwardly, having to keep competing against her dead sister must have been an unbearable torment.
The fact that Astrahan called only Argana by her childhood name and treasured her like a precious jewel was not just because of Argana’s own brilliance…
But also because, through her, he still saw the shadow of Ayulwiran.
“Well, enough of that. We’ve succeeded in cornering Tureggen Bi. Now it’s time for the second step.”
“The second step—Yoshmut?”
“Of course.”
“How do you think he’ll respond?”
“If it were me, I’d double down on gambling. His mother’s been placed under house arrest—he’ll be angry, yes, but do you think he’s the type to air his grievances properly? To seek justice? Hardly.”
“He’ll need capital if he wants to gamble, though.”
Argana nodded.
“Thirty lashes won’t kill him. He’ll definitely reach out to Homuja again and dip into the Inner Court’s treasury.”
“But with Tureggen Bi under house arrest, can that maid still come and go freely?”
“If not, he’ll find another way. Homuja isn’t his only asset. She’s both Yoshmut’s footsoldier and his bridge. The bridge that brings in the rats who’ll scurry about on Yoshmut’s behalf.”
After parting with Argana, Kartak didn’t return directly to his quarters. Instead, he went deeper into the Imperial Garden.
Unlike the main section of the garden, with its flowers, plants, artificial pond, and small waterfall, the rear area, screened by dense bamboo, was gloomy and shadowed.
There, Kartak whistled a peculiar tune.
“You called for me.”
No sound had been heard save the rustle of bamboo leaves, yet a man in black suddenly stood at his side.
Kartak tilted his chin slightly toward him and asked:
“Still no information about the poison?”
“My apologies.”
“And the eunuch?”
“He is under surveillance.”
“When I give the order, act at once. He must be captured alive. Do not let him slip away.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go.”
The man disappeared swiftly.
Staring into the stagnant darkness of the bamboo grove, Kartak brushed a cold wind off his shoulders and left.
