Li Xiong’s gaze fell on the left corner of his desk, where Zhang Gui’s letter was pressed.

In the letter, Zhang Gui said that previously he felt the Jin ruler was unworthy of great responsibility, so he rose up. But now Jin had Zhao Hanzhang managing affairs with strong ministers assisting. The realm could be at peace—what was there left to hesitate about?

Don’t forget the original intention. Their initial purpose was for the people to live in peace and contentment, wasn’t it?

Li Xiong clenched his fist, closed his eyes, then opened them again and said in a heavy voice, “I wish to see the General’s envoy.”

Immediately a guard went out to relay the message: “Summon the Jin Kingdom envoy Zhao Xin for an audience—”

Li Xiang silently folded the military report and presented it, then turned his head to look at Fan Changsheng.

Fan Changsheng stood with lowered eyes, not speaking. Li Xiang knew then that this matter was completely settled. His heart instantly felt hollow. He was very afraid, not knowing whether this decision was good or bad for Chengguo, for the Shu people.

Two days ago, Zhao Xin had received the telegraph and had been waiting for Chengguo’s court to react.

When Chengguo’s Imperial Guards came to fetch him, he immediately changed into official robes, straightened his cap and clothing, and went to Chengguo’s palace with dignified bearing.

Li Xiong and Fan Changsheng saw a Zhao Xin who was more composed and more forceful than before. Meeting his gaze, both men felt a chill in their hearts, certain he knew everything.

Was this because Zhao Hanzhang had planned everything so meticulously, so confident that she had calculated it all before the envoy even departed?

Or did they have special communication channels, able to transmit information faster than he could, both inside and outside the Shu region?

Li Xiong and Fan Changsheng exchanged a glance imperceptibly, then began the final round of negotiations with Zhao Xin without changing expression.

When Zhao Xin left the palace, the sun had already moved westward. In his hands he held Chengguo’s state documents.

Li Xiang, with a sour expression, accompanied him out of the palace.

Walking to the end of the palace road, Zhao Xin turned to face Li Xiang, smiling as he cupped his hands. “I entrust the Princess and Prince Consort to Envoy Li’s care hereafter.”

Both sides had already agreed that Chengguo would acknowledge vassalage to Jin. Li Xiong would become King Cheng, relinquishing his imperial title. Jin would persuade the Jin officials currently resisting in Fuling, Ba Commandery and other places, allowing all Shu territory south of Guanghan to come under Chengguo’s rule.

Hanzhong Commandery and other areas would still belong to Liang Province, under direct court administration. Chengguo must not violate the borders again.

Chengguo would return Princess Hongnong and the Prince Consort.

Of course, to confirm the alliance, Chengguo would send envoys to Luoyang to formally sign the treaty with the Jin court.

Li Xiang had been ordered to serve as envoy. Oh, he was the deputy envoy—the chief envoy was Crown Prince Li Ban.

Li Ban had just been established as Crown Prince. Many ministers in the court did not accept him. He needed to accomplish meritorious deeds to consolidate his position.

Li Xiong appointed him as chief envoy firstly to let him gain merit, and secondly to have him become familiar to Zhao Hanzhang. In the future, if the Shu region faced changes, he could seek Zhao Hanzhang’s help.

This showed that Li Xiong deeply understood his several sons’ character flaws. He also feared that after his death, Chengguo would fall into chaos due to succession struggles. However, apart from transferring his several sons to external posts and limiting their misdeeds, he could use no other methods.

Those children had been well-behaved for a period after Li Ban was established as Crown Prince, but after discovering their father would not change his mind, they showed their true colors again, acting even more wildly than before.

Li Xiong had been repeatedly angered, even having the impulse to kill them, but as soon as the thought arose his heart ached, and in the end nothing came of it.

He felt he needed to have more sons and teach them well from childhood, never allowing them to become like his older sons.

Returning to the topic, he appointed Li Xiang as deputy envoy because Li Xiang was upright and loyal. Even though he opposed Li Ban becoming Crown Prince, he would still assist him wholeheartedly and protect him, not allowing him to be harmed.

Li Xiang had no choice but to accept the royal command.

Actually, Zhao Xin very much wanted to return to Luoyang with him, but he still had to go south to persuade various forces, summoning all those Jin officials back to Luoyang to implement the treaty, so he could not return yet.

Before leaving, he specially went to see Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan, telling them, “Sanniang and Tinghan’s wedding date approaches. The two of them have always hoped to bow to their elders. Xin has accomplished his mission this time. What follows will trouble the Princess and Prince Consort to hasten the journey.”

Fu Xuan immediately agreed, expressing they would definitely speed up and return to Luoyang before the wedding.

Princess Hongnong asked, “You’ve negotiated successfully? What did the court trade for us?”

Zhao Xin reassured her, “Princess, rest easy. King Cheng deeply understands righteousness and does not wish to start war again, bringing suffering to the people. Therefore, he is willing to submit to Jin as a vassal,降为 降为 降为 becoming a tributary state.”

Princess Hongnong had been confined to a room with delayed information. Hearing this, her eyes widened as she asked, “How did you persuade King Cheng?”

Zhao Xin smiled. “Xin exerted no particular effort. It is because the General is virtuous that King Cheng was moved and willing to work together with the General to govern a prosperous age.”

Princess Hongnong asked no more questions, only felt deeply shaken inside.

Previously she had heard much about Zhao Hanzhang’s achievements, but because communication between Shu and the Central Plains was blocked, much information became distorted after reaching Shu. She had always maintained a skeptical attitude.

But now, she directly felt Zhao Hanzhang’s authority and virtue. She was filled with interest toward this daughter-in-law she had never met.

Zhao Xin left twenty guards for them to escort the Princess and Prince Consort back to Luoyang all the way.

There was no help for it. When Princess Hongnong and her party fled here, they had only three guards and a driver. Although Chengguo would provide an envoy escort, he still worried about their safety, so he left twenty men for them.

The rest he took south.

Zhao Xin wrote a letter for them to take back to Zhao Hanzhang. Alas, telegrams were good, but sending messages required being concise. For many requests, writing letters was more satisfying. He truly had much to say to Zhao Hanzhang!

The two envoy groups departed on the same day, one heading south, one heading north.

Li Xiang sat on his horse, watching Zhao Xin depart into the distance. Not knowing if he was being contrary toward Zhao Xin or toward himself, anyway he just watched his retreating figure and snorted, then turned his horse to choose another road. With a wave of his hand, the procession slowly set off.

Crown Prince Li Ban lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, his heart full of trepidation.

He was still Crown Prince now. Upon reaching Luoyang, he would accept the court’s investiture on his father’s behalf. Li Xiong would formally become King Cheng, and he would change from Crown Prince to Heir Apparent.

He had grown this big but had actually never left the Shu region. He had no idea what Luoyang was like.

From Bicheng through Hanzhong Commandery to Luoyang was not far. Moreover, the procession deliberately hastened their pace. On the evening of the fifth day, they approached Luoyang.

Because the sky was dark, they could not enter the city that night, so they would rest at a postal station outside the city.

Soldiers ran ahead to the city to report, letting people know the envoy group had arrived.

At this time, Luoyang city was filled with joy and celebration.

Red lanterns hung throughout the main streets and alleys. Some households even pasted the double-happiness character on their windows, doors, and walls.

Zhao Erlang hurriedly led a group of bailiffs toward the county office. A half-grown boy being chased by a stick ran out from a house. He successfully jumped over the threshold but unfortunately tripped on a small stone in front of the door. His whole body lurched forward…

Zhao Erlang instinctively reached out and grabbed the boy’s back collar. Just as his face was about to hit the ground, he managed to catch him.

He lifted the boy up and set him straight. Seeing who it was, he looked disgusted. “Fang Dalang? You’ve angered your mother again? Your tooth only just got knocked out last time. If you fall again, will you have any teeth left to eat meat with?”

—