Sit?

This was her Dong Qin — she was the Empress, he merely a crown prince. Even if this wasn’t a throne hall, the seat of honor should still belong to her — she should be the one inviting him to sit!

If this had been some ordinary Xiongnu official who didn’t understand proper etiquette, perhaps it would be forgivable — but the man before her, Minhan Mude’er, was clearly quite familiar with Central Plains customs. He was doing this deliberately!

If she conceded this point to him, it would mean the entire nation of Dong Qin was conceding — submitting to the Xiongnu before cooperation had even begun, before the war had even started!

The Empress of Dong Qin wasn’t one to act rashly. She smiled and said, “Prince Minhan, discussing matters of state at a relay station hardly does justice to such an honored guest of Dong Qin. Please, allow me to escort Your Highness to my main encampment, where I shall personally arrange a grand banquet to welcome you on behalf of all Dong Qin!”

Her words were courteous and polite.

Yet Minhan Mude’er, despite his outwardly arrogant, uncouth, hedonistic demeanor, had sharp, discerning eyes that betrayed real cunning underneath. He casually pulled one of the women over, toying with her with obvious interest, still not bothering to answer the Empress’s invitation at all!

This was, without question, yet another test of the Empress’s patience!

Everyone in the room, Xiongnu and Dong Qin alike, understood perfectly well — whoever lost this contest today would become the other’s subordinate from this day forward!

The Empress’s gaze grew colder and colder, and her icy stare suddenly swung toward Jun Beiyao — she seemed to suddenly understand something!

Jun Beiyao’s lips curled into a cold smile, and he silently moved to stand beside Minhan Mude’er — this single gesture said everything that needed to be said!

In the silence, only two sounds could be heard — Minhan Mude’er’s flirtatious laughter, and the creaking of the Empress’s clenched fists!

That Jun Beiyao — she should have seen this coming!

She had sent him to seek an opportunity to meet the Xiongnu emperor, to negotiate friendly relations between their two nations — and instead, he had gone and brought this wolf, this tiger, Minhan Mude’er, straight to her!

And that Minhan Mude’er — how confident he must be, bringing only a handful of guards and slaves, to openly humiliate her on her own Dong Qin territory like this!

Faced with the Empress’s increasingly dark expression, and the Dong Qin guards steadily gathering behind her, Minhan Mude’er paid them absolutely no mind whatsoever.

He laughed wickedly, provocatively, and then, in the middle of his laughter, casually drew a blade and ended the beautiful woman’s life instantly, showing not the slightest pity or tenderness. Wiping the blood from his blade, he said flatly, his actions brutal yet his tone remarkably patient, “You Central Plains people have a saying — a wise bird chooses its tree. Your Majesty, you should see reason. Sit.”

The moment he spoke, every single one of his guards who had been drinking and feasting behind him instantly snapped to attention, standing up in unison, hands clasped behind their backs, feet planted firmly apart — clearly well-disciplined and thoroughly trained.

This master of theirs might indulge in debauchery and chaos while at play, but when it came time for business, he tolerated absolutely no joking around whatsoever!

Seeing this, the Empress of Dong Qin couldn’t help but force a bitter smile. She understood perfectly well now — there was no way out.

From the very moment she had agreed to this alliance, redirecting all her northern forces southward to deal with Jun Beiyue, she had known a day like this would eventually come.

She simply hadn’t expected that before the battlefield had even opened, before negotiations had even truly begun, the Xiongnu would already adopt such a posture.

Minhan Mude’er was doing this precisely to make one thing clear to her — she had no choice left at all!

Dong Qin was destined to submit — whether to the Xiongnu, or to Da Zhou!

Despite a thousand, ten thousand reservations in her heart, the Empress of Dong Qin had no choice but to slowly sit down. In this moment, she suddenly thought of someone again — her son!

If not for his departure, she wouldn’t have fallen to such depths today!

Seeing the Empress finally sit, Minhan Mude’er’s lips curved into a wicked, unrestrained smile, making no effort at all to hide it. Compared to Central Plains men, Minhan Mude’er was in no way inferior in handsomeness — his deep-set features and bright, piercing eyes were even more striking. He lacked the refined elegance characteristic of Central Plains men, but possessed instead a wild, untamed abandon rarely found among them!

His smile carried the same nature bred into his very bones — utterly unrestrained.

Win, and revel in it shamelessly. Lose, and accept defeat willingly.

In this man’s very bones, there had never been room for resentment or grudges — everything was simple, clean, straightforward.

Now, with Dong Qin facing the danger of annihilation by Da Zhou, the Xiongnu stood as Dong Qin’s most powerful backing. And he wanted to swallow Dong Qin whole, then march on Da Zhou — it was as simple as that.

This simple, ceremonial contest of wills mattered more than any amount of diplomatic wrangling. So-called negotiations could even be dispensed with entirely — all he needed was for the Empress of Dong Qin to understand one single point: now that he had arrived, everything would proceed according to his will.

“Your Majesty, you mentioned some new intelligence just now?” Minhan Mude’er asked.

The Empress of Dong Qin was deeply unwilling, but had no choice but to read the room. “Han Ziqing has left the northern frontier for Da Zhou’s western border, and word has spread from Da Zhou’s western frontier pass that Yelu Qianqian is being held captive there — there must be some upheaval brewing at Da Zhou’s western border!”

“Han Ziqing… the consort of Da Zhou’s Prince Yao?” Minhan Mude’er asked.

“Exactly. Her departure is certainly no simple matter,” the Empress emphasized.

“And then?” Minhan Mude’er pressed further, in no hurry to offer his own opinion.

“Xijing and Xiliang have already been at war for over a month now. Xijing has suffered defeat after defeat, and faces internal unrest as well. Da Zhou’s western border should be the one front Jun Beiyue feels most secure about,” the Empress continued.

Minhan Mude’er looked at her and gave a cold laugh. “Your Majesty, this prince doesn’t like beating around the bush. Say what you mean, directly.”

“If we wait until Da Zhou’s western border erupts into chaos before deploying our troops, Jun Beiyue will inevitably find himself unable to cope with both fronts at once!” the Empress finally revealed her true intention!

But Minhan Mude’er burst out laughing. “Wait? This prince isn’t accustomed to waiting!”

At these words, the Empress’s heart sank instantly!

Even two nations facing off across a border, locked in stalemate for half a year before each withdrawing their troops, would be perfectly normal under ordinary circumstances!

Though it seemed unlikely for now, at least there would still be room for change — as long as something shifted, whatever it might be, Dong Qin could still hold onto hope.

But if war broke out immediately, Minhan Mude’er would surely demand that Dong Qin’s forces take the vanguard!

Once Dong Qin’s limited troops were sacrificed, even if circumstances changed later, it would be far too late for regret.

The Empress narrowed her eyes at Minhan Mude’er, suddenly realizing she had severely underestimated this savage crown prince.

Did the Xiongnu not fear complications either? Though the Xiongnu were powerful, in a true one-on-one confrontation, they might not necessarily defeat Jun Beiyue!

The Xiongnu, too, feared Dong Qin might go back on its word, feared that some unexpected turn might favor Da Zhou. Minhan Mude’er was seizing this very opportunity to exhaust Dong Qin’s strength first, before anything else.

Watching Minhan Mude’er’s resolute, unyielding expression, the Empress of Dong Qin felt regret — but in this world, there had never been any medicine for regret.

Without waiting for her response, Minhan Mude’er rose casually, stretching his limbs, and declared with a laugh, “Come, we’ve been summoned here long enough — time to answer the call to battle! This prince wants to see exactly what Da Zhou’s Prince Yao is really capable of!”