The atmosphere was so tense it felt as if the very air would crack and explode from dryness.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but furrow her brow into a deep frown.

It seemed Zhou Meng was serious this time.

Now, as long as she opposed him, both sides would immediately go to war. Setting aside the question of how much chance Lu Heng had of leading their people in stubborn resistance, what if the Xiyue civilians became greedy and joined in robbing the grain supplies?

Then the people of the Minuo tribe would face not just a thousand soldiers, but all the greedy Xiyue people. The consequences would be unthinkable.

And here, Uncle Ar Han could never protect her and the two tribespeople to safely leave.

That is to say, if she immediately opposed, regardless of the outcome of Lu Heng’s battle, the four of them here would certainly die, and at the same time, the Minuo tribe’s people would suffer massacre and looting.

If she agreed, regardless of her own choice, at least the innocent people of the Minuo tribe would not suffer casualties.

With her thinking reaching this point, Qin Yining had almost made her decision. Now it seemed that what Zhou Meng wanted most was not the grain supplies, but her. Could she sacrifice her tribespeople’s lives for her own selfish reasons?

Qin Yining closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her expression was extremely determined.

“I understand the Prince’s meaning. However, marriage is a major matter. Having me make an immediate decision is truly making things difficult for me. You should at least give me time to consider.”

“What’s there to consider? I am the best candidate.” Zhou Meng was in excellent spirits now, because Qin Yining saying this was equivalent to already compromising.

Seeing the beauty’s slightly furrowed brow, Zhou Meng finally felt some tenderness toward her.

“Alright, alright, I won’t force you to agree immediately. But don’t think you can consider for three to five years – I don’t want to wait. This way, I promise you I’ll dismiss the women in my harem, and in the future you’ll be my only princess consort. You also promise me you’ll give me an answer by tomorrow morning. If you still haven’t thought it through by dawn, then I’ll order an attack on your people. You wouldn’t want others to lose their lives because of your affairs, would you?”

Qin Yining smiled slightly at Zhou Meng, her eyes full of mockery and coldness. “The Prince can rest assured.” This Prince deserved to die!

The banquet was removed at some unknown time.

Zhou Meng left confidently with his ministers, leaving the vast hall to Qin Yining and the four others including Ar Han.

Qin Yining just sat rigidly in her original position, analyzing the current situation over and over in her mind. She wanted to use this time to think of a feasible solution. However, even after racking her brains until dawn, she still couldn’t think of any better strategy than agreeing to Zhou Meng.

So now, she could only agree.

But how could she serve another man?

Qin Yining stood up to stretch her stiff bones after sitting rigidly all night. Uncle Ar Han immediately said behind her, “Let’s escape! I can protect you and get you out!”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head. “I can’t escape. I can’t implicate innocent tribespeople. Actually, marrying this Prince isn’t so bad.”

“No! This man is cruel and sinister, not a good man!” After spending time together day and night, Uncle Ar Han treated Qin Yining as both his tribal leader and a younger family member. How could he bear to watch such a beautiful young woman marry a villain like Zhou Meng?

“Uncle Ar Han, we have no choice now. Once war breaks out, the Minuo tribe will certainly suffer catastrophic disaster. We finally made it here with such great effort to preserve the tribe’s strength. We can’t let all our previous efforts go to waste.”

“But you…”

“I’ll be fine.” Qin Yining smiled faintly. “He wants to marry me, so let him marry me.”

Anyway, she was absolutely determined not to submit to another man. At worst, she would perish together with Zhou Meng! Even if she died, the Minuo tribe’s people could still multiply and thrive on Xiyue’s land, and she wouldn’t have failed them.

At this point, Qin Yining had resolved to die.

Anyway, she had long ago risked her life. From the moment she followed the Minuo tribe’s people into the no-man’s land desert, she had already given up struggling. Every day she lived from then on was a bonus.

Although she could never see her parents and family again in this life, never see Pang Xiao again, she believed that even if she was gone, Pang Xiao would help take care of her parents. And Pang Xiao was still young. She believed that given time, he would gradually forget her. Perhaps in the future he would meet another good woman, and they could live together and have children…

Thinking of this, Qin Yining suddenly felt her eyes grow hot, her nose sting, and tears welled up.

She bit her teeth hard, closed her eyes, and forcibly held back the tears.

Things had reached this point. No one forced her – she had walked to this step herself. She blamed no one and would not regret it. Being able to have a period as husband and wife with Pang Xiao was already enough. At least her life had never been ordinary. Coming to this world for this journey hadn’t been in vain – she had been true to her conscience from beginning to end.

Uncle Ar Han looked at Qin Yining’s stubborn back, his fists clenched so tightly he almost crushed his fingers.

Actually, no one was a fool. In the current situation, Qin Yining marrying Zhou Meng was indeed the best choice. But how could he watch this righteous young woman sacrifice herself for the Minuo tribe without being moved in his heart?

“If I had known it would come to this, I should have forced your aunt to take you away.” Uncle Ar Han thought of that woman who was as beautiful as Qin Yining but possessed extraordinary skills, and sighed. “How could we have listened to you back then!”

Since Qin Yining had made up her mind, no matter how much suffering she felt in her heart, she wouldn’t waver, much less regret it.

Seeing Uncle Ar Han blame himself so much, she comforted him: “Uncle, don’t overthink it. Everything I do is after careful consideration. These are all my choices and have nothing to do with others.”

Uncle Ar Han’s lips were tightly pressed together. The more composed Qin Yining was, the more his heart ached for her.

Just then, the wooden main door of the hall was pushed open from outside with a creaking sound.

Zhou Meng walked in with his people, arrogantly lifting his chin. “Well, have you thought it through?”

Qin Yining nodded and smiled. “I can agree, but the Prince must guarantee a proper wedding with matchmakers, and must guarantee that my people will receive equal treatment with the Xiyue people in the future – no discrimination. Moreover, my people have their own tribal leader, and all affairs must still follow the tribal leader’s commands, not complete submission to Xiyue. We are merely friendly neighboring tribes.”

Hearing Qin Yining still fighting for the maximum benefit for the Minuo tribe’s people at this time, Uncle Ar Han’s eyes reddened and he nearly shed tears.

Zhou Meng frowned and pondered for a moment, as if understanding something, then smiled. “Good, I’ll comply with everything. Then let’s hold our wedding this afternoon. At the wedding, I’ll announce all these conditions you’ve proposed. After we consummate our marriage, your people can live as you’ve requested.”

Qin Yining nodded with a light smile, but her eyes were ice-cold. This Zhou Meng could not be allowed to live. She believed that with Lu Heng’s abilities, as long as this person died, Lu Heng could lead the Minuo tribe to seize the dominant position in this place!