Xiao Rongyan’s gaze then fell on Ren Shijie, who stood inconspicuously below, and he spoke: “Master Ren, I’ll trouble you to make this trip as well. After all… You could be considered an old acquaintance of the Great Zhou Emperor.”

Ren Shijie knew that if the Regent didn’t go, he would certainly be dispatched. He stepped forward and responded: “Yes…”

“One task, one person—I’ll trouble Master Ren to draft the surrender letter.” Murong Li also spoke to Ren Shijie.

“This subject obeys His Majesty’s command! However…” Ren Shijie glanced at Xiao Rongyan, then continued, “I have some words that I need to speak privately with His Majesty and the Regent.”

Murong Yan nodded.

The court officials saw that the Emperor’s mind was made up and couldn’t propose any better solutions, so they could only remain silent.

Moreover, Murong Li had said this time that they would first cede territory for peace, and if that failed, then pay tribute and submit as vassals.

Perhaps this Great Zhou Emperor was magnanimous, and since the ambush of the Great Zhou Emperor was Prince Xiping’s doing and not ordered by the Yan Emperor, maybe the Great Zhou Emperor would calm down after receiving Yan’s territory.

But… the court officials also understood in their hearts that Prince Xiping was a regional prince of Yan. Even if Prince Xiping’s actions weren’t ordered by His Majesty, it was still Yan that had ambushed the Great Zhou Emperor.

If positions were reversed and their Yan Emperor had been ambushed by the Great Zhou Emperor, they couldn’t be magnanimous about it.

When Ren Shijie said he had words to speak privately with Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan, he was going to ask them for authority. Before Wang Jiuzhou invited Ren Shijie in, Xiao Rongyan had already discussed this with Murong Li.

Therefore, when Ren Shijie asked Murong Li to what extent he could be granted authority, Murong Li wasn’t surprised.

“Why do you ask this?” Murong Li raised his hand, signaling Wang Jiuzhou to grant Ren Shijie a seat.

After Ren Shijie was seated, he bowed to Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan: “Your Majesty once lived in the capital for some time and should know the Bai family’s character. If… Duke Zhenguo, Duke Huguo, and Duke Fuguo, who are governing in the distant capital, learn that the Great Zhou Emperor was attacked in Yan. What would happen?”

Murong Li’s palms tightened. He had thought about this—not to mention others, just speaking of Qin Lang’s wife, Duke Fuguo Bai Jinxiu, if she learned that her Bai family sister nearly lost her life in Yan, she would certainly lead troops to attack Yan. Duke Zhenguo Bai Qingyu, being the Great Zhou Emperor’s blood brother, need not even be mentioned.

“Based on my understanding of the Bai family members, the Great Zhou princes will certainly personally lead armies to the border!” Ren Shijie looked at Xiao Rongyan. “Your Highness just said before the court officials that perhaps at this moment… The Great Zhou’s heavy troops have already reached the border. I deeply agree!”

Murong Li looked seriously at Ren Shijie, not understanding his meaning, but when no continuation came, he asked: “So?”

“What Ren Shijie means is that if Great Zhou has already brought great armies to the border, they probably won’t accept something as simple as Yan’s submission.” Xiao Rongyan rotated the thumb ring on his finger.

Ren Shijie nodded repeatedly: “Exactly so. Therefore… I want to know, if Great Zhou demands that Yan directly surrender, requiring Yan to follow the previous nation-wagering agreement where Yan admits defeat and all territory and people belong to Great Zhou, can Your Majesty accept this?”

Ren Shijie knew that the Great Zhou Emperor was someone with great ambitions. Since she wanted universal unification, she wouldn’t just have Yan submit and pay tribute—she would certainly demand that Yan be incorporated into Great Zhou, just as the nation-wagering agreement stipulated.

“I can accept it…” Murong Li showed no hesitation.

Murong Li answered too quickly, greatly surprising even Ren Shijie. He glanced at Xiao Rongyan, and all the persuasive words he had prepared for Murong Li were completely unused.

“Actually, from the beginning, when Yan stabbed Great Zhou in the back while the alliance between our two nations was still in effect, we were destined to lose the chance to compete for the world! It’s also because I’m incompetent and failed to manage Yan properly that such mistakes occurred!” Murong Li gripped his dragon robe tightly. “Father Emperor and Ninth Uncle… and I, and Second Brother, we all hoped to see the day of universal unification. If the Great Zhou has truly brought heavy troops to the border to militarily unify Yan, rather than struggle in death throes, letting soldiers die in vain and people suffer, it’s better to… surrender! As long as it can reduce the people’s suffering, I’m willing to be a fallen nation’s ruler!”

Murong Li thought of that Prince Wei Ruxing of Great Liang, who had surrendered to Jin as the regent… but later died in battle protecting coastal fishermen. Even a Great Liang prince wasn’t afraid of being scorned by thousands and leaving a stinking name for ten thousand years. As Emperor of Yan, what did reputation matter? Protecting the people should come first.

Moreover, initially, when Yan and the Great Zhou established the nation-wagering agreement, it was also for the people’s sake.

Hearing Murong Li’s words, Ren Shijie was quite shocked, never expecting that their young Majesty would have such magnanimity. He rose and performed a grand bow to Murong Li: “Your Majesty’s breadth of mind makes me ashamed! This trip… I will certainly not fail Your Majesty’s trust! I will also strive for the best terms for Your Majesty!”

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Ren. Please depart immediately without delay! Master Ren currently holds no official position, being only a guest minister of Yan. When Master Ren returns…” Murong Li’s voice trailed off mid-promise.

When Ren Shijie returned, who knew if Yan would still exist? What could he use to promise Ren Shijie an official position?

“When you return, His Majesty and this king will host a banquet to thank you.” Xiao Rongyan spoke at the right moment.

After seeing off Ren Shijie, Xiao Rongyan instructed Wang Jiuzhou to bring Murong Li clean clothes, then walked to Murong Li’s side and patted his head: “You’ve already done very well. Our Yan has too many hidden problems. That you could maintain the situation to this point is already quite good!”

“Ninth Uncle…” Tears streamed down Murong Li’s face, his heart filled with mixed emotions, feeling wronged and helpless. “If I had listened to Ninth Uncle’s words initially and not been soft-hearted when Mother pleaded, not promoted Uncle, then Uncle wouldn’t have schemed and sowed discord before Mother, Mother wouldn’t have started being wary of Ninth Uncle, wouldn’t have made mistakes, and perhaps… Yan wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

“If you insist on thinking this way, it would be better to say… if I hadn’t married the Great Zhou Emperor under the identity of Xiao Rongyan, your mother wouldn’t have become suspicious of me.” Murong Yan gently stroked Murong Li’s head, his voice unusually gentle. “Enough, what’s done is done. Dwelling on it serves no purpose. Pull yourself together! Yan still has many matters waiting for you!”

On the third day after Ren Shijie’s departure, news arrived at the Yan capital: Duke Zhenguo Bai Qingyu and Duke Fuguo Bai Jinxiu had led armies to break through Jinyang in two days, and Duke Huguo Bai Qingqi, Marquis Yongyi Bai Jinzhao, Marquis Zhongde Bai Jinhua, Lady Yinghui Bai Jinse, along with General Zhao Sheng, had captured Huyi.

The Yan court was in an uproar. Looking at the dates on the battle reports, the Great Zhou must have mobilized troops day and night to attack Yan immediately upon receiving news of the Great Zhou Emperor’s ambush!

They had never imagined that when the Great Zhou Emperor was attacked, several Great Zhou princes would all mobilize together.