Yan Shang and Meng Zaishi faced each other, but due to their respective positions, Meng Zaishi held the upper hand. His mocking gaze fixed on Yan Shang, clearly pressuring him to resign from his official post. After learning that Yan Shang was Yan Shisheng’s son, Meng Zaishi would never let him go. However, moving against a court official was nearly impossible. His only option was to force Yan Shang to resign – once Yan Shang became a commoner, he could kill him without consequences.

Surely Yan Shang, Yan Shisheng’s son, could deduce Meng Zaishi’s intentions. Now it was simply a matter of choice.

Meng Zaishi offered him a deal: give up his official position, give up Mu Wanyao, and in return, Meng Zaishi would also give up pursuing Mu Wanyao. He was curious whether Yan Shang would go to such lengths for Mu Wanyao—

That day at Nanshan, Yan Shang had stood beside Mu Wanyao. A mere civil official, ridiculously claiming he would protect a princess.

Meng Zaishi desperately wanted to know if Yan Shang would still choose Mu Wanyao when his interests were at stake, at the cost of harming himself.

After staring at Meng Zaishi for a long while, Yan Shang said, “…Your Highness’s demands are too harsh. They’ve left me conflicted. I cannot answer immediately and need a few days to consider.”

A relaxed, mocking smile spread across Meng Zaishi’s face as the tension eased slightly. He leaned back, thinking: Just as expected.

His heart simultaneously filled with anger toward Mu Wanyao: So this is all Yan Shang amounts to!

His love for you amounts to only this much!

…What right do you have to think he’s better than me when even Yan Shang considers his interests first?

Meng Zaishi replied perfunctorily, “Then go and think it over carefully. As they say in your Great Wei, my word is my bond. As long as you resign and promise not to marry the princess, I will immediately abandon the marriage alliance and leave Great Wei, without another word.”

Yan Shang remained silent, bowed formally to him, and turned to leave.

The official sent by the Eastern Palace who had been following Yan Shang hurriedly bowed to the Wuman King and rushed out after Yan Shang.

The official anxiously pursued Yan Shang: “Second Young Master, you absolutely cannot listen to that Wuman King and resign. Your prospects are limitless. As long as you stay steady in this position without making any mistakes, even if you just accumulate seniority, you can rise to the upper echelons of the Department of State Affairs… You absolutely cannot resign!”

This official was from the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince’s current attitude toward Yan Shang was still mainly supportive. Though the Crown Prince couldn’t directly interfere with the Department of State Affairs, it was extremely important. Currently, only Yan Shang was positioned there.

Yan Shang hadn’t made any mistakes so far. Thus, the Crown Prince hoped Yan Shang could continue rising through the ranks in the Department of State Affairs, increasing the Crown Prince’s influence.

Resigning at this point would be foolish.

Walking along the corridor, listening to the official’s endless persuasion, Yan Shang patiently said he needed to think it over and wasn’t giving an answer right now. Seeing his mild tone, the official didn’t think Yan Shang would mind, so he became increasingly verbose, muttering on and on.

Heavy green shade filtered onto the corridor, light pouring in from outside like flowing clouds and waterfalls, falling on his cyan bamboo-patterned robe, then onto Yan Shang’s profile.

Just his silhouette conveyed an extraordinary dignity.

The endlessly chattering official behind him couldn’t help but admire the sight, feeling genuine regret in his heart—

Second Young Master Yan was barely nineteen this year.

Neither his appearance nor his temperament had reached their prime.

For such a young and talented official to resign would be a great loss to the central government.

While Yan Shang maintained a gentle expression, internally he was agitated. Meng Zaishi’s words had indeed affected him – that man was using the princess to pressure him, yet once he resigned, he would likely face assassination by the Wuman people… Cliffs lay before and behind him, making this path extremely difficult to traverse.

Yan Shang’s mind raced, thinking about Meng Zaishi, analyzing his every expression and word, hazily recalling what happened that day at Nanshan, that subtle expression when Meng Zaishi pointed at him after being shot with an arrow before leaving…

Yan Shang suddenly stopped in his tracks, sensing something was off.

Meng Zaishi’s glance back at him and Mu Wanyao when leaving Nanshan—

That attitude of rising high and then setting down gently!

Yan Shang’s heart raced as he realized he’d caught a flash of insight. He forced himself to stay calm and followed this train of thought. Suddenly, he recalled the test Minister Liu had given him recently about the differences between Great Wei’s army and the Wuman army.

Yan Shang had given Minister Liu an answer that anyone would naturally overlook… His teacher had been busy with household matters these past few days and likely hadn’t had time to look at Yan Shang’s recent activities or that answer.

But when Yan Shang combined that answer with Meng Zaishi’s subtle attitude, his palms grew sweaty as he reached a bold conclusion—

Meng Zaishi was bluffing!

Meng Zaishi had no real intention of opposing Great Wei, no desire to settle scores over Mu Wanyao’s attempt to kill him.

Mu Wanyao might only be a tiny factor in why Meng Zaishi came to Great Wei. Getting her would be nice, but it didn’t matter if he didn’t… The Wuman King’s purpose in coming to Great Wei was never Princess Danyang!

Reaching this conclusion, Yan Shang’s pace quickened. He urgently needed to return to the Department of State Affairs, organize his thoughts, and use them to convince the senior officials…

As Yan Shang hurried out from under the corridor and down the steps, he bumped into someone.

Yan Shang quickly apologized and bowed.

The person returned the bow, replying in perfect Great Wei pronunciation: “It’s nothing, I bumped into you, young sir.”

Shifting his shoulder, Yan Shang’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he looked up at the middle-aged man he had collided with.

The man appeared amiable, with features typical of the Great Wei people, unlike the deep-set features of the Wuman people. However, his clothing and attire were in the Wuman style… Yan Shang pondered: “A Great Wei person?”

The man’s eyes contracted as he coldly and warily stepped back, bowed again, and walked into the corridor.

The official behind Yan Shang said disdainfully: “I recognize this person. He’s also one of the Wuman envoys this time. Looking at him, he’s clearly from Great Wei, yet he betrayed us to become Wuman, making himself an enemy of Great Wei. A spineless creature, disgracing us.”

Yan Shang said softly: “Everyone has their difficulties. We shouldn’t judge easily when we don’t see the full picture.”

The official sighed: “Ah, Second Young Master, you’re just too kind. This won’t do.”

Yan Shang smiled slightly before finally withdrawing his gaze and leaving—

The person who had bumped into Yan Shang was Luo Xiu, the Southern Man envoy who had been sent to Wuman and returned to Chang’an with the Wuman people.

Having heard that the Wuman King had been shot by an arrow, Luo Xiu hurried over to stir up tensions between Wuman and Great Wei, prepared to forcefully demand that Wuman seek an explanation from Great Wei.

Luo Xiu had prepared many impassioned words to describe how Great Wei showed no regard for Wuman.

But when he was led into the study and saw the young man sitting inside with loose robes and disheveled long hair, looking quite rugged, Luo Xiu was stunned: “Why are you here? Where is the Wuman King?”

Meng Zaishi wore an ambiguous smile.

Only then did Luo Xiu suddenly realize that this was the real Wuman King.

Luo Xiu’s face alternated between pale and flushed as he realized Wuman’s distrust of him.

That day in the study, Luo Xiu gained no advantage from the Wuman King, understanding that since Wuman didn’t trust him, they would surely withhold any information he wanted. Since that was the case, Luo Xiu decided to use his status as a “Wuman envoy” in the eyes of the Great Wei people to work for his interests—

In the Hanlin Academy, Liu Wenqi was scolded by an impatient eunuch for staying too long when he tried to leave.

The discrimination between eunuchs was no less than the scholars’ discrimination against eunuchs.

Luo Xiu frequently came to the Hanlin Academy to search for information about Great Wei, and he had seen this eunuch called Liu Wenqi many times—he was often punished.

Luo Xiu’s expression changed as he addressed the elder eunuchs who were pushing around the frail one: “What are you doing?!”

They turned around, and seeing it was a Wuman envoy, the eunuchs’ expressions became peculiar as they bowed their heads, saying they had disturbed the noble guest.

Luo Xiu then berated them in the arrogant manner of the Wuman people, taking Liu Wenqi away from them. But after leaving the Hanlin Academy and the official road, at a turn near an ancient tree, Liu Wenqi stopped.

Liu Wenqi turned to look at him, his gaze strange: “Did the noble sir deliberately save me with some purpose in mind?”

Luo Xiu: “…What makes you say that?”

Liu Wenqi smiled faintly. His gaze was cold, his words carrying a sense of cynical detachment: “I’ve seen you many times at the Hanlin Academy. Previously when I was punished multiple times, I never saw you step forward to help. I’ve seen enough indifferent onlookers in this world. You saving me must mean you want something. What do you want?”

Luo Xiu was no longer truly a person of Great Wei. He hadn’t even noticed that Liu Wenqi didn’t refer to himself as “slave” but used “I” instead.

He only felt that this eunuch didn’t give people the gloomy feeling that other eunuchs did. But this didn’t mean Liu Wenqi’s temperament was particularly good or different from other eunuchs… What Luo Xiu sensed in Liu Wenqi was a bone-deep coldness.

That kind of complete indifference to worldly affairs.

Luo Xiu tentatively exchanged a few words with Liu Wenqi, but this eunuch was truly cold, barely responding to his conversation. Left with no choice, Luo Xiu revealed his true purpose: “…Actually, this won’t trouble you much. I just want to know the real situation in Great Wei, such as their military strength, finances, and how the officials and emperor view forces outside Great Wei… I want detailed information about Great Wei. Someone like you who frequently moves between the palace and official temples must know far more secrets than others.”

Liu Wenqi lowered his eyes to look at him, lost in thought.

Luo Xiu pressed on reluctantly: “And in return, I can help you with something.”

Liu Wenqi: “Why do you want to know Great Wei’s real situation? Does Wuman want to wage war against Great Wei, or unite with surrounding small countries to fight Great Wei?”

But before Luo Xiu could explain, Liu Wenqi cut him off: “It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to tell me. Regardless of whether you’re telling the truth, knowing too much won’t do me any good.”

Luo Xiu: “Then…?”

A faint, ambiguous smile played at the corners of Liu Wenqi’s lips.

He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the brilliant sunset clouds on the horizon, watching the gathering dusk as night approached.

Liu Wenqi spoke slowly: “I can cooperate with you. And what I want you to help with is simple. The Grand Steward by His Majesty’s side has three disciples he values most, whom he’s grooming as his successors. Among the three, I have the weakest influence.

“I want you to approach those two. Then praise one of them before His Majesty and the Grand Steward. His Majesty is suspicious by nature, and the Grand Steward dare not defy him. They will suspect that the eunuch you praised has connections with Wuman. That eunuch will be secretly executed.

“Then when the Grand Steward becomes furious and investigates who did it, they’ll notice your frequent contact with the other eunuch. Easily, the Grand Steward will suspect that the surviving eunuch framed the dead one.”

Luo Xiu murmured: “With two capable disciples gone, the Grand Steward will only have you left. He’ll have to use you.”

Liu Wenqi’s lips curved upward, his eyes ice-cold, his lowered lashes hiding his expression—

There was no choice.

To climb upward, one’s hands couldn’t stay clean.

This was just the beginning of his ascent—

Luo Xiu agreed to Liu Wenqi’s terms. Liu Wenqi said once the first eunuch was dead, he would give Luo Xiu the information he wanted.

The two only had this brief meeting, and afterward maintained the appearance of being strangers when they met, avoiding suspicion within the Hanlin Academy—

But Liu Wenqi encountered Princess Danyang once in the Hanlin Academy.

That afternoon, when the officials had all gone to eat, Liu Wenqi was grinding ink when someone announced Princess Danyang’s arrival.

Liu Wenqi’s heart raced, but he stayed hidden in the corner while Mu Wanyao, that noble and beautiful princess, gleamed with gold and jade ornaments, surrounded by officials. Her eyes never noticed Liu Wenqi.

Mu Wanyao only stood in the outer hall of the Hanlin Academy briefly, seemingly casually observing their activities. Learning that the Hanlin Academy was following Prince Qin’s orders to compose praises for His Majesty for the grand ceremony, Mu Wanyao’s lips curved slightly.

Mu Wanyao mocked: “You all seem to have plenty of free time.”

The one escorting Mu Wanyao was a young, refined official who, despite his youth, had already attained the position of Hanlin Scholar. He was said to be a former top scorer in the imperial examinations, though Mu Wanyao couldn’t quite remember which year. But hearing Mu Wanyao’s words, this top scholar showed a trace of displeasure.

This young Hanlin Scholar replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “We merely wield our brushes, writing texts and poems for the court. Whatever our duties, they come and go according to the central government’s wishes. Why does Your Highness inexplicably mock us so?”

Mu Wanyao always took a careful look at anyone who dared confront her directly.

Mu Wanyao said: “From your tone, are you also saying your duties are too idle, too meaningless?”

The young scholar was startled, about to say that wasn’t his meaning when Mu Wanyao’s expression turned serious as she said coldly: “You won’t be idle for long.”

With that, Mu Wanyao didn’t look around the Hanlin Academy any further and turned to leave.

After the princess left, a middle-aged official sighed and nudged the young official who had talked back to the princess: “Yanzi, you’re truly brave. Speaking to Her Highness like that, aren’t you afraid she’ll charge you with disrespect?”—

Two days later, Prince Qin was pressuring Meng Zaishi to take away the marriage alliance princess without success. Meng Zaishi kept being vague and evasive, making Prince Qin doubt whether his collaborator was even interested in this matter.

While Prince Qin was at his wit’s end, he heard that Mu Wanyao and Wei Shu had come to visit.

Prince Qin exploded in frustration: “…How did those two end up coming together?”

He said: “Tell them I’m sick and not receiving visitors… Ugh!”

Before he could finish speaking, his household manager gave him a helpless look as Mu Wanyao, dressed in magnificent clothes, was already gracefully entering the main hall. The young Wei Shu followed behind her.

Mu Wanyao glanced at Prince Qin, her beautiful eyes radiant, like stars scattered across a lake in the sunlight. Such bright eyes made Prince Qin quite uncomfortable.

Prince Qin said: “I heard that after returning from Nanshan, my sister fell ill… Why aren’t you resting properly, instead of coming out?”

Mu Wanyao smiled sweetly: “I heard the Ministry of War keeps detaining my household guards and won’t release them. I was previously too sick to get out of bed and wanted to ask Yan Suchen to help speak to the Ministry of War. But unfortunately, Yan Suchen seems to have been busy lately, he probably forgot about this matter… So I thought I’d come personally.

“Third Brother, isn’t it time to release my people?”

Prince Qin said: “You dare bring this up! If you hadn’t acted recklessly and injured the Wuman King… I’m not just detaining people, I’m also giving Wuman an explanation, aren’t I?”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes turned cold as she said: “Third Brother means that unless the Wuman King agrees to reconcile and leave Great Wei, you won’t release my people?”

Prince Qin avoided her gaze, saying guiltily: “Sixth Sister needn’t worry. It’s not just your people being detained, those troublemaking Wuman envoys are also detained. You have no one to use, and neither does the Wuman King. I’ve confined both sides’ forces to prevent any further incidents. They’ll naturally be released afterward.”

Mu Wanyao laughed coldly: “You’re not still dreaming that after I go through with the marriage alliance, you’ll release everyone and let me leave Great Wei with the Wuman King, playing the role of a caring brother?”

Prince Qin said harshly: “What nonsense are you spouting! How could I treat you that way? We’re siblings, is our blood relation fake?”

Mu Wanyao replied indifferently: “Blood relation? If it were Fourth Sister’s people being detained, even if you wouldn’t release them, you’d at least come to explain in person. But with me, even when I come personally, you won’t relent. So much for blood relations.”

Prince Qin paused, then actually said: “Your Fourth Sister is currently pregnant and resting in her residence. If you have any matters, discuss them directly with me, don’t disturb her and risk affecting her pregnancy.”

Mu Wanyao didn’t speak.

Wei Shu, who had been silent while seated below Mu Wanyao, now spoke up: “Your Highness speaking for one sister in front of another seems rather cold-blooded.”

Prince Qin looked over angrily: “Wei Jushen, I was just about to address you! I’m having a private conversation with my sister, what reason do you, an outsider, have to keep listening?”

Wei Shu tilted his head to look at him.

Clear light fell on the youth, highlighting his refined, striking features.

Wei Shu said: “I came today to deliver memorials to Your Highness. There have been too many instances of misconduct among officials in the Ministry of Personnel lately. I spend all day monitoring but can’t keep up. I specifically brought these memorials for Your Highness to review.”

He presented the memorials. When Prince Qin saw Wei Shu’s page boy carrying out a thick stack of memorials, his eyelid twitched as he secretly cursed, wondering what was wrong with Wei Shu. He didn’t believe the other ministries had any problems at all – why did Wei Shu keep targeting the Ministry of Personnel?

Prince Qin irritably flipped through the memorials from start to finish, his expression growing even worse. He had to admit that although Wei Shu was young, he had excellent judgment and outstanding talent… Prince Qin truly couldn’t find any ground to refute these memorials.

He took a breath: “What do you mean by specially bringing these memorials for me to see? What do I need to do if I want to withdraw these memorials?”

Wei Shu tilted his head to look at Mu Wanyao.

Mu Wanyao languidly lowered her eyes and said casually: “Nothing much, just want to borrow the Hanlin Academy that Third Brother is currently managing.”

Hearing it was just the Hanlin Academy, Prince Qin first breathed a sigh of relief. The Hanlin Academy was far less important than the Ministry of Personnel. Losing the Hanlin Academy to protect the Ministry of Personnel was acceptable to Prince Qin.

He was only curious: “Those people in the Hanlin Academy just write poems and compose rhapsodies, what do you want them for?”

Mu Wanyao’s downcast eyes lifted with a golden gleam, enchantingly beautiful: “Naturally to have them write poems and compose rhapsodies.”

Seated beside Prince Qin, watching the maids pour tea, Mu Wanyao’s voice was like an oriole’s: “Specifically to have the Hanlin Academy lead the scholars of the realm in writing poems and composing rhapsodies. But broad, empty poems and rhapsodies are boring, I want to give the scholars a topic.”

She turned her head to look at Prince Qin, tilting her face up playfully and innocently, her black eyes gleaming like obsidian: “Why not set the topic as ‘marriage alliance’?”

Prince Qin’s eyes suddenly contracted.

In that instant, he said slowly: “You want to borrow these scholars’ and literati’s brushes to plead your case. You want these scholars and literati to use the common people’s voice to pressure those officials who oppose you in court. Because you know that scholars and literati, especially those uninvolved in state affairs and those whose talents go unrecognized, are most sympathetic to marriage alliance princesses.

“Since ancient times, marriage alliance princesses have always been sympathized with, used as metaphors in others’ writing.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ll also select the best-written piece, reward its author with official positions, and let the poems spread throughout the realm. When the common people’s sympathetic voices grow numerous, coupled with the support of the great clans of the south led by the Li family… you’ll win this battle.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes curved into crescents.

Prince Qin turned to Wei Shu and shouted harshly: “Wei Jushen, you’re still a court official, are you willing to be used like this by others? Aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you?”

Wei Shu looked at Prince Qin and said quietly: “What crime would Your Highness charge me with?”

After a long moment, Prince Qin couldn’t say anything, only blustering with false bravado: “Then I can also block your official position, prevent your promotion. Or find some mistake and demote you!”

Wei Shu said: “Then I’ll return to my hometown in Luoyang to live in seclusion.”

Prince Qin was choked speechless: “…”

He wanted to curse.

This was the confidence of the great clans!

If they couldn’t be officials, they’d just go home to rest. And after resting for a few years, they could come out again… Even though Prince Qin himself had the backing of several great clans, at this moment he felt these scions of great clans were too unfair, truly hateful!—

After leaving Prince Qin’s residence, the negotiation was successful, Mu Wanyao let out a long breath.

She looked at Wei Shu, who gave her a slight smile. Mu Wanyao felt touched, knowing he didn’t like to talk much, and this assistance was already his way of showing his stance.

Mu Wanyao didn’t say much either, just patted Wei Shu’s shoulder twice and invited him to come to her residence another day for tea.

Wei Shu said: “It’s nothing, I’m not the only one who will help Your Highness. I believe if Second Brother Yan were in my position, he would help Your Highness too.”

At the mention of Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao felt gloomy.

After returning from Nanshan, he had comforted her that first night, soothing her again and again. After that, he seemed to have disappeared, going out early and returning late every day, who knew what he was busy with?

Mu Wanyao had even been weak with illness for two days, but only saw people Yan Shang sent to inquire about her, he never came himself.

She was so angry!

Within her anger was also a trace of unease—

Had he only been comforting her that night, but looked down on her?

Now that Wei Shu mentioned Yan Shang, Mu Wanyao showed her displeasure, saying irritably: “Don’t mention him to me. He never comes to see me, what’s his excuse?”

Wei Shu looked at her and said softly: “Second Brother is in the Department of State Affairs, which is the center of the court, naturally the busiest. If Second Brother Yan is too busy to attend to Your Highness, Your Highness should be understanding.”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him, about to question why Wei Shu was so supportive of Yan Shang when she saw the youth’s face redden as he avoided her gaze.

Knowing he was shy, Mu Wanyao could only say helplessly: “Alright, I understand. Go back to the Censorate and attend to your duties. I’ll go see for myself what Yan Shang is busy with.”—

When Mu Wanyao escorted Wei Shu back to the Censorate, she went to the Department of State Affairs on the way. There, papers were flying about, various documents scattered everywhere, and all kinds of officials coming and going to report, truly very busy.

They sent someone to receive the princess, and the official who came to guide her was covered in sweat. Hearing Mu Wanyao’s question, his expression became strange: “Yan Suchen? Didn’t he go to negotiate with the Wuman King today on behalf of the Department of State Affairs?”

When Mu Wanyao heard “Wuman King,” her heart skipped a beat before she said calmly: “What is he negotiating with the Wuman King about?”

The official’s expression grew stranger: “…Isn’t it about Your Highness’s matter? Isn’t Suchen Your Highness’s neighbor? He didn’t tell Your Highness at all?”

Another official passing by added unnecessarily: “Originally Your Highness should have gone to talk with the Wuman King personally. But Yan Suchen said Your Highness was ill and inconvenienced. Looking at Your Highness now, have you recovered?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned. After making some perfunctory replies to them, she left the Department of State Affairs. After getting into her carriage, she ordered the driver: “…Go to the embassy to see the Wuman King.”

Princess Danyang’s imposing presence made the embassy staff unable to stop her.

The Court of State Ceremonial official following Princess Danyang said they needed to inform the Wuman King before letting Her Highness enter the courtyard. Mu Wanyao gave a cold snort, and her guards blocked the Court of State Ceremonial officials trying to stop her, while Mu Wanyao lifted her skirts and naturally stepped over the threshold, entering the courtyard where the Wuman King resided.

She strode straight in.

Anyone who tried to shout or warn was blocked by the princess’s people.

The Court of State Ceremonial official couldn’t help but smile bitterly, thinking this princess had dared to shoot the Wuman King, so what was this small matter—

At the Wuman King’s residence, it was the same study as last time, and again Yan Shang saw Meng Zaishi sitting in loose robes, waiting for him.

Seeing that Yan Shang had come alone this time, without bringing other officials, Meng Zaishi clicked his tongue, thinking idly that it seemed Yan Shang had come to submit to him.

Meng Zaishi’s martial arts were extremely high; sitting there, his ears twitched, and he heard the chaotic sounds from the courtyard outside.

Meng Zaishi tilted his face, thoughtfully noting a slender figure standing beneath the window. The light was weak, and the person stood in an extremely oblique position, but couldn’t escape the notice of a martial artist like Meng Zaishi.

Looking up, glancing at Yan Shang standing in the courtyard, seeing Yan Shang’s oblivious appearance, Meng Zaishi sneered: Yan Shang naturally didn’t know that Mu Wanyao was outside the window eavesdropping on their conversation.

Good.

Let Mu Wanyao see Yan Shang’s true face.

Let Mu Wanyao know… among the men of the world, Yan Shang was no better than him!

Meng Zaishi said languidly: “About what we discussed last time, having you give up your official position and give up marrying the princess, and I’ll agree to give up Princess Danyang. Looking at your bearing, young sir, have you come to refuse?”

Yan Shang looked at him, his tone gentle: “Indeed, I’ve come to refuse.”

Meng Zaishi saw the slender shadow outside the window waver, and his smile deepened. He was about to say “Good” when he heard Yan Shang’s next words: “Since Your Majesty and Great Wei already have a rift, let’s not talk about matters of princesses and marriage alliances anymore. A princess counts for nothing between two countries.”

Meng Zaishi: “What do you suggest?”

Yan Shang smiled slightly: “I suggest Your Majesty directly go to war with Great Wei.”

Meng Zaishi: “…?”

Mu Wanyao, who had been heartbroken and about to leave outside the window: “…?”

What nonsense?

After a while, Meng Zaishi said coldly: “Have you gone mad? Do your Great Wei officials know about these words of yours? Can you take responsibility for instigating a war between two countries?”

Yan Shang said: “I came specifically to take responsibility for this matter. Your Majesty need not worry, our conversation today has been approved by the Department of State Affairs… that is, the most important department of our Great Wei court. Our Great Wei believes that matters between two countries cannot be trifled with. Although the princess has offended your country, she is still our country’s princess and cannot be insulted by the likes of you.”

Meng Zaishi said coldly: “War between two countries is no trifling matter. Do you think your Great Wei can afford it? You’ve never been able to defeat us.”

Yan Shang didn’t yield a step, saying calmly: “We must fight even if we can’t win. As long as Your Majesty agrees, the central government will immediately issue an order to prepare for war, and Your Majesty should leave Great Wei at once to avoid any unpleasant incidents. Since we’ll be enemies, if anything happens to Your Majesty in our Great Wei, I won’t be responsible.”

Meng Zaishi: “Your princess just nearly killed me!”

Yan Shang’s expression turned cold as he said word by word: “If that’s the case, all the more reason for war! Our country’s princess threatened Your Majesty’s life, while your country insulted our princess’s dignity… The conflict cannot be reconciled, only war can settle the matter.”

The two went back and forth, trading pointed remarks. But after a moment, Meng Zaishi fell silent, coldly watching Yan Shang.

His previous casual attitude was completely gone. His breathing became heavy, and all his muscles tensed. A chilling aura enveloped Meng Zaishi’s body, his gaze at Yan Shang full of ferocity.

Yan Shang had said many words, appearing righteous and principled about national honor.

Then he lowered his eyes, looking at Meng Zaishi’s expressionless face as he sat behind the desk. Yan Shang paused, his attitude softening.

Yan Shang smiled slightly and said: “What’s wrong, is Wuman unwilling?”

Yan Shang’s smile was faint.

He said politely and courteously: “No need to look at me like that, you can’t play this game with me.

“Better to be frank about what you want early on. You can’t outmaneuver me with these tactics… Wuman King.”—

While outside the door, Mu Wanyao who had been eavesdropping was already overwhelmed with emotion—

Her lord was wise and quick-witted.

Making her heart race in confusion.