Therefore, Wang Hanbing, like Xiao Rongyan, immediately guessed that Fan Yugan’s actions… were probably aimed at forcing the Minister of Revenue out of the negotiating delegation to compel him, Wang Hanbing, to speak.

Xiao Rongyan’s fingers tapped on the sandalwood table, his deep azure eyes behind the mask dark and profound, his voice deep and cold: “It seems our Yan has Great Zhou spies, and these spies have already delivered Wang Hanbing’s background and experiences in full to the Great Zhou Emperor’s desk!”

Wang Hanbing was slightly startled, but thinking it over, he also found Xiao Rongyan’s words extremely reasonable.

After the incident occurred, Xiao Rongyan thought back and forth, discovering that seemingly from the very first day of negotiations, Fan Yugan had been needling Wang Hanbing with remarks for no apparent reason.

Xiao Rongyan understood Fan Yugan. If he found Wang Hanbing displeasing and needled him once only to discover this person was like cotton with no temper, he mostly wouldn’t continue bothering that person. But Fan Yugan had persistently kept needling Wang Hanbing – this was probing…

If initially Xiao Rongyan only found it strange, then this time… when Fan Yugan staged being beaten by the Minister of Revenue and paraded his injuries through the streets, Xiao Rongyan could be certain Fan Yugan was trying to squeeze Yan’s Minister of Revenue out of Yan’s negotiating delegation.

After all, every person’s every action has a purpose.

Then Fan Yugan’s purpose was one of two things…

First, because Yan’s Minister of Revenue was sharp-tongued, excluding him would allow the Great Zhou to gain more benefits.

Second, he knew Wang Hanbing was the most important figure in this Yan peace negotiation delegation. He was targeting Wang Hanbing, who had repeatedly spoken to create difficulties, wanting to test Wang Hanbing’s depth, especially since Great Zhou still had Liu Rushi who hadn’t appeared.

Xiao Rongyan was more inclined to believe Fan Yugan’s purpose was the second, or perhaps… both purposes.

“Master…” Yue Shi stood at the doorway, bowing to Xiao Rongyan. “The Great Zhou Emperor sent someone to request Your Highness enter the palace, saying… saying…”

Yue Shi’s gaze turned toward Yan’s Minister of Revenue, who immediately knew what this was about, his anger making his hair nearly stand on end.

“What did they say?” Xiao Rongyan asked unhurriedly.

“They said our Yan first assassinated Great Zhou’s court officials, then beat Great Zhou courtiers, demanding our Yan give an explanation, or else go to war.” After Yue Shi finished speaking, he quickly lowered his head as if afraid of being implicated.

Yan’s Minister of Revenue’s face paled as he stood up: “Your Highness, this official will accompany you into the palace to personally explain to the Great Zhou Emperor.”

“It’s useless.” Xiao Rongyan slowly stood, brushing non-existent dust from his robe. “They’ve set up this scheme to gain benefits from these national gambling negotiations. It won’t be resolved with a sentence or two of explanation from you.”

“This is a letter His Majesty sent. You should look at it!” Xiao Rongyan tapped his finger on the letter placed on the table, saying to Wang Hanbing, “Immediately send a letter to His Majesty telling him to guard against spies in the Yan capital. Don’t alert them prematurely – wait until this king returns to the Yan capital before making any decisions.”

“Yes!” Wang Hanbing responded.

Xiao Rongyan nodded and walked toward the outside. Xiao Rongyan didn’t plan to ask Bai Qingyan about Great Zhou placing spies in Yan – even if he asked, Bai Qingyan wouldn’t tell him.

Moreover, this was state affairs, not private matters between the two of them. Xiao Rongyan could still distinguish clearly.

“Your Highness!” Yan’s Minister of Revenue chased after him two steps, remembering how Xiao Rongyan had come out of the Great Zhou palace injured that time. His heart was extremely anxious, fearing this incident would bring Xiao Rongyan some trouble.

“Ministers need not be too anxious. His Highness will surely have a strategy to deal with this!” Wang Hanbing picked up Murong Li’s reply letter, gathering with the other officials to read it. Seeing the Minister of Revenue’s grave expression, he spoke to console him, “Before His Highness returns, we just need to wait quietly. Since the matter has occurred, excessive worry is useless. You need not be too concerned, sir.”

From Murong Li’s letter, one could see he was also quite hesitant. He had already spoken with Murong Ping, who knew Yan’s current difficult circumstances and understood that presently Yan was begging Great Zhou to agree to the national gambling strategy. Therefore, whatever demands the Great Zhou made, Yan should try their utmost to satisfy them.

Murong Ping also felt that when Yan stabbed Great Zhou in the back during their mutual alliance, they had indeed given Great Zhou grounds for complaint. The Great Zhou’s making such demands was reasonable. If the situation were reversed and Great Zhou had betrayed Yan and now desperately proposed national gambling, Yan would probably also demand that Great Zhou send capable generals as hostages to prevent Great Zhou from going back on their word.

Second Prince Murong Ping asked His Majesty whether he truly wanted to gamble the nation with Great Zhou, or planned to stabilize Great Zhou first, then plot again later.

Murong Li sincerely answered that he was willing to gamble the nation with the Great Zhou for the people’s peace and the soldiers’ lives. Murong Ping was also willing to be held hostage in Great Zhou for Yan and the people, as well as the soldiers, to give Great Zhou’s court peace of mind.

However, Murong Li wrote in his letter to try to use cities and territories to satisfy the Great Zhou. Unless hostages were necessary as a last resort, Yan could agree to Great Zhou holding Murong Ping and Xie Xun hostage to reassure Great Zhou. This matter would be decided by the Regent Prince, but the Regent Prince absolutely could not be held hostage in Great Zhou – this was Yan’s bottom line.

As for other territories and cities, whatever amount the Regent Prince said to give would be given, and he had no objections.

“His Majesty and Second Prince both feel that Great Zhou has seized our Yan’s weakness, so as a last resort… we can only let Second Prince and General Xie be held hostage in Great Zhou.” The Minister of Revenue’s face was ugly. “Our Majesty is sincere about gambling the nation, but we fear… The Great Zhou deliberately wants to fight with our Yan and will insist on the Regent Prince. That would be difficult to handle.”

Wang Hanbing pressed his lips together without making a sound. After a long while, he raised his eyes. Since His Majesty was sincere about gambling the nation, he understood. At this moment, Wang Hanbing already had calculations in his heart, only planning to wait for the Regent Prince’s return to briefly discuss before making a decision.

·

As soon as Xiao Rongyan entered the palace, Wei Zhong led him to Qiuhua Pavilion.

Qiuhua Pavilion had three stories surrounding and connecting, built around a thousand-year-old wisteria tree and enveloped within it. The flourishing branches formed a canopy, with numerous vines climbing and clinging to the layered eaves and tiles, hanging down between the red-lacquered corridors. Fragmented golden light filtered through the gaps, interweaving with the tree shadows. When the wind passed, it was a magnificent display of crimson, purple, azure, and green, brilliant and dazzling.

Walking through the corridors with carved beams and embroidered pillars, his ears filled with chirping birds, his eyes seeing auspicious purple clouds, those who didn’t know might think they had arrived at a celestial palace.

On the third floor, Bai Qingyan knelt behind a rosewood desk inlaid with ivory, reviewing memorials. Xiao Ba and Wang Ge’er had removed their shoes and were playing cat’s cradle nearby. Kangle and Xile were held in the arms of Dong Shi and Second Madam Liu Shi, the two sisters-in-law chatting and laughing merrily.

Sunlight filtered through the wisteria curtain, making the interior seem veiled in purple gauze, extremely beautiful.