Of course, Fu Lingchuan also understood that a woman trapped in love was often blinded by a single leaf, beyond all reason.

Feng Miaojun lowered her eyes in contemplation, and after a moment slowly said: “Minister Fu’s words…”

Fu Lingchuan waited for her to continue, prepared to offer strong or even bitter remonstration if necessary.

But it didn’t come.

Feng Miaojun suddenly furrowed her brow, her gaze flickering, then said to Fu Lingchuan: “…make sense. I shall consider this carefully. Minister Fu, you may withdraw for now.”

Fu Lingchuan was slightly startled, unsure whether she agreed or disagreed. But being observant, he sensed the Queen seemed somewhat distracted. Knowing that remaining wouldn’t yield any results, he wisely took his leave.

As soon as he turned to leave, Feng Miaojun dismissed everyone in the study with a wave of her hand: “Everyone out!”

The palace attendants filed out, closing the door behind them. Feng Miaojun then set up a barrier before taking out a shining mirror from her storage ring.

It had a brass handle with decorative patterns around the edges worn white. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but the image reflected in the mirror was not Feng Miaojun herself, but a bushy-eyebrowed, large-eyed man with a full beard who exuded tremendous pressure with just a glare.

The Yan King!

This was the Water Moon Mirror she had obtained from Nü Ba. A mirror naturally had two handles, allowing two people thousands of miles apart to see and speak to each other in real time. One was in her hands, and the other was certainly held by the Yan King.

After their previous failed conversation over a year ago, the Yan King had never contacted her again. But just now she had sensed something, and taking out the mirror, she found that indeed the Yan King had initiated contact.

Suddenly seeing his image, she had an ominous premonition, but smiled and said: “It’s been a while! The Yan King is so busy with affairs of state, how do you find time to speak with me today?”

The image in the mirror showed that the Yan King was not in a splendid palace hall. Instead, his background was a dilapidated low wall, and in one corner of the mirror appeared the edge of a roof—she saw… thatch?

It seemed he was in a commoner’s home.

The Yan forces had suffered consecutive defeats in the great war, and this world hegemon would bear the greatest pressure, inevitably becoming harried. But Feng Miaojun saw no trace of desperation in his expression. Instead, he smiled: “The Queen of New Xia radiates beauty, even more so than before.”

Each harboring ulterior motives, they exchanged pleasantries. Feng Miaojun had to admire his financial abundance—the Water Moon Mirror’s divine effect worked extremely well, but the speed at which it consumed spirit stones was also alarming. As the initiator who bore the one-way cost, the Yan King could still ramble on, truly showing he wasn’t short of money.

He planted several probing remarks in his words, which Feng Miaojun pretended not to notice. Finally, he spoke with admiration: “The Northern and Southern Continents are mired in war, each country trembling with fear of becoming involved. Only New Xia rides the raging currents, not deploying a single soldier or cannon, yet reaping bountiful profits. Such skill truly impresses me!” He paused. “In my view, Wei Kingdom’s prosperity already falls short of New Xia’s.”

Feng Miaojun smiled slightly: “Harmony generates wealth. I only do business; I don’t like fighting.”

Xiao Yan was locked in bloody combat with the Yan Kingdom, and his nation’s gold and silver flowed like water to New Xia, purchasing vast quantities of arms and war supplies. To fulfill these orders, hundreds of thousands of people in New Xia worked overtime day and night, gathering and producing supplies. Without exaggeration, this was currently New Xia’s largest and most profitable business.

The money earned was immediately invested in national infrastructure and people’s livelihoods. The relatively underdeveloped northern and northeastern regions of New Xia were now building roads and developing water conservancy projects. These areas contained important mines, fisheries, and forests.

One could say that while the two great powers were locked in combat, New Xia was busy developing by every possible means. A prosperous and powerful New Xia was a sight no contemporary ruler wished to see.

The Yan King snorted: “That makes things easier. I contacted you today because I also want to make a deal with you!”

Here it comes. Feng Miaojun remained composed: “I’m all ears.”

“Currently, the Wei people are attacking Yan, with nearly thirty percent of their military supplies purchased from New Xia. I also know that Xiao Yan has given you many promissory notes.” The Yan King said gravely, “I want you to immediately cease this trade!”

Without New Xia’s support, Wei’s fighting strength would immediately decrease. Just looking at Yan Kingdom’s difficulties when invading Wei showed that fighting on enemy territory wasn’t as easy as imagined. Now the offensive and defensive positions of Wei and Yan had reversed, but the rules of war still applied.

As long as New Xia stopped aiding Wei, Yan Kingdom would have a much greater chance of breaking through the enemy’s offensive and finding a way to turn the tables.

Feng Miaojun rested her chin on her hand, saying playfully, “Why should I do that?”

If others dared to speak to her this way, she would immediately remove their heads with one sword strike. But the person opposite was the Yan King—even if he spoke madness, she had to take him seriously. Moreover, his boldness in seeking this conversation with her, with its implicit commanding tone, meant he had something to rely on.

“Because I have something you want.” As soon as the Yan King finished speaking, Feng Miaojun heard the sound of an infant crying.

The crying was loud and strong, most likely a healthy boy. But such a sound appearing near the Yan King was deeply unsettling.

The Yan King smiled: “That little one has awakened hungry, looking for his mother’s milk.” With that, he turned the mirror to point in another direction.

In the next second, Feng Miaojun’s expression changed.

The mirror showed another man and woman, and a child around ten years old, all sitting against a wooden fence, hands bound behind their backs, mouths stuffed with hemp balls, staring wide-eyed in this direction.

She was extremely familiar with those two faces, though she hadn’t seen them for many years.

Her foster mother, Madam Xu, and Madam Xu’s husband, Peng Bai.

Despite being separated for over ten years, Madam Xu’s appearance was still like that of a thirty-year-old, her skin full and lustrous, without a single wrinkle. This was the result of the spiritual medicine Feng Miaojun had given her, combined with proper self-care. However, Madam Xu looked pale and haggard, clearly having suffered greatly in the Yan King’s hands.

Looking at Peng Bai, who possessed cultivation, he didn’t appear much different from before, but his face was ashen yellow, evidently having sustained serious injuries.

As for the boy, Feng Miaojun didn’t recognize him, but she could see Madam Xu’s features on his face—presumably the eldest son born to her and Peng Bai.

Feng Miaojun felt all the blood in her body rush to her head, instinctively wanting to stand up abruptly. But she suppressed this impulse firmly, merely raising an eyebrow: “What is the meaning of this?”

No wonder her foster mother had sent a message months ago saying she was setting out for Xia, yet never arrived. She had fallen into the Yan King’s hands!

“There’s also a nursing infant, left in a small room.” The Yan King said with a smile: “Does the Queen recognize these four people?”

Feng Miaojun’s fist clenched within her sleeve, while her face remained calm: “You show me four strangers—what does this mean?”

The Yan King casually pulled the hemp balls from Madam Xu and Peng Bai’s mouths, pointing at the mirror: “Do you recognize her?”

Madam Xu shook her head vigorously, tears falling from her eyes: “I don’t know her, I don’t know her!”