Haemish's subordinates hurriedly advised her, "Princess Consort, please reconsider. If you go out now, all our efforts may come to nothing."
Haemish giggled. "Look how frightened you are. I only said it casually. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent someone to notify Ariq Böke. I just hope he won't disappoint me."
Meanwhile, at Möngke Khan's Prince's Mansion, the subordinates of Ariq Böke and Kublai Khan had descended into a brawl. Many of the Hall of Welcoming the Worthy's people had been sent out to hunt down the Imperial Criminal, while Ariq Böke's side had far more men available. Kublai Khan's faction was soon unable to hold its ground.
Just then, Princess Consort Yalun emerged, fully dressed. "If you want to fight, take it outside! Why are you causing trouble in my home?"
"Princess Consort!" Seeing their mistress, the mansion's warriors seemed to find their backbone. They hurried to her side and formed a protective circle around her.
Ariq Böke froze, then carefully examined Princess Consort Yalun. "Sister-in-law, are you all right?"
"Of course I'm all right. What could possibly have happened to me?" Yalun's expression darkened. This man had arrived rather "promptly"—could he have been behind everything? Their relationship had been quite good, and they had even secretly formed an alliance before. But if he had truly orchestrated all this, she would turn against him on the spot.
Ariq Böke wondered why this was different from the intelligence he had received. "I heard that Kublai Khan came here to bully you, Sister-in-law, so I hurried over to rescue you."
"Where did you get that information?" Princess Consort Yalun pressed.
"Someone said Kublai Khan had entered your room several hours ago and hadn't come out, so I came to take a look," Ariq Böke said uncertainly. "Sister-in-law, are you really all right?"