“You…” Li Tianfu glared at Bai Qingyan, so angry that tears almost couldn’t be held back.

Only to hear Bai Qingyan say coldly: “All the sons of my Bai family died and were buried in Nan Jiang, the Bai family gained twenty-three more coffins! Today, if Xiliang cannot compensate my Jin Kingdom with twenty-three cities! Cannot hand over twenty-three male descendants from the three clans of Xiliang’s Grand General Yun Poxing for me to behead and disembowel! I, Bai Qingyan, would rather violate His Highness the Crown Prince’s orders! I will also lead the Bai family army to kill our way into Yun Jing, making the Xiliang royal family and the nine clans of the Yun family serve as burial companions! To comfort the heroic spirits of all the sons of my Bai family! When that time comes, please wash your necks clean, all you people in Yun Jing, don’t soil the precious sabers of my Bai family army soldiers!”

Bai Qingyan’s words were extremely arrogant; her armor gleamed with a cold, forest-like light, the murderous aura from slaughtering in the Asura blood pool forced people’s spines to turn cold, not daring to look directly at her.

“What about your Bai family’s twenty-three coffins? My father, the Emperor… the Emperor of Xiliang, didn’t he die at the hands of your Jin Kingdom’s assassins?! What will you, Jin Kingdom people, use to compensate our Xiliang’s Emperor?” Li Tianfu shouted hoarsely, full of grief and indignation, full of humiliation and grievance, “What will you use to compensate for my father, the Emperor!”

Bai Qingyan’s heart relaxed – the Xiliang princess still couldn’t help but speak out!

Earlier, when she had pressed step by step, Li Zhijie had bitten down hard and refused to take the opportunity to mention Xiao Jiu’s assassination to turn the tables for Xiliang, leaving her heart constantly uneasy.

Now, since Li Tianfu had opened the topic, it remained to see how Li Zhijie would handle this matter of the assassin.

If he said the assassin was already dead, then Shen Qingzhu and the others would need to immediately rescue Xiao Jiu, with utmost urgency.

If he said the assassin was captured, then… how to exchange the person back would be a matter between the Crown Prince and the peace negotiation envoys.

Li Zhijie closed his eyes, not having expected that Princess Li Tianfu would ultimately fail to keep her composure.

“Your Highness, the Princess’s words are laughable. Since the Princess says it was our Jin Kingdom people who assassinated the Xiliang Emperor, where is the assassin?” Bai Qingyan’s eyes, deep as ancient wells, gazed deeply at Li Tianfu.

“The assassin was killed on the spot…” Li Zhijie slowed his tone, “It’s just that at the time, that assassin was wearing Jin Kingdom clothing, so Her Highness the Princess mistakenly thought it was a Jin Kingdom assassin. Our Xiliang is still investigating this matter in detail! Just as General Bai said… our Xiliang has come to kneel and sue for peace. If we create a laughingstock by falsely accusing the Jin Kingdom of this matter, I’m afraid there will be no shortage of compensation again. The reason this matter wasn’t mentioned initially was because this prince was also waiting for the investigation results.”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan’s eyes darkened slightly – this Li Zhijie indeed wanted to keep Xiao Jiu in his palm for scheming!

She turned and made a “take Tiger Eagle Battalion to rescue Nine” hand gesture toward Shen Qingzhu, who was dressed as a Xiliang palace maid. Shen Qingzhu nodded slightly and quietly withdrew from the great tent.

Since it was already known that Li Zhijie was detaining Xiao Jiu with ulterior motives, they couldn’t let Li Zhijie continue to hold Xiao Jiu in his grasp!

Li Zhijie didn’t plan to use Xiao Jiu as an open bargaining chip in the peace negotiations, so naturally, he wouldn’t bring Xiao Jiu along, meaning he could only be left at Qiu Mountain Pass.

Since the envoys of both countries chose to negotiate peace at a location midway between the two armies’ camps, for absolute safety… His Highness the Crown Prince had brought five thousand elite troops, along with the Tiger Eagle Battalion. Xiliang must have also brought out their finest soldiers.

If at this time Shen Qingzhu led the Tiger Eagle Battalion to rescue Xiao Jiu from the unprepared Qiu Mountain Pass, by the time news reached here, Li Zhijie would also be powerless to change anything.

After all, he had personally said the assassin was killed on the spot – he couldn’t very well reverse himself in front of the Crown Prince and say the assassin was Xiao Jiu!

Even if Li Zhijie really said so, with both countries currently in peace negotiations, all engaging in verbal sparring for their respective national interests, the Crown Prince was Jin Kingdom’s Crown Prince… how could he truly believe the words of Xiliang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie.

With confidence in her heart, she sneered and knelt at her seat, looking at Li Zhijie. What she needed to do… was to detain the Xiliang peace negotiation team here.

She spoke: “So, the Xiliang Princess was just speaking recklessly! Could it be… this is also a Xiliang tradition? Does Xiliang plan to randomly make accusations, using reckless words to haggle with our Jin Kingdom about peace negotiations?”

Li Zhijie turned back to look at Li Tianfu, who was already shedding tears, knowing that today’s original plan to have the Crown Prince notice Princess Li Tianfu’s beauty was probably hopeless. Princess Li Tianfu was impulsive by nature and had been spoiled rotten – leaving her here would only add to the chaos.

He sighed and squeezed Li Tianfu’s slender wrist, instructing: “First, escort the Princess back to Qiu Mountain Pass. The Princess is tired!”

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened, and she spoke methodically: “Wait!”

“What else do you want to do?!” Li Tianfu’s angry, shrill voice carried a heavy sobbing tone.

“Now, in the peace negotiation tent, both countries are at sword’s point. Bai Qingyan is petty-minded. With our Jin Kingdom’s Crown Prince present, I inevitably worry that Prince Yan is sending the Princess back to Qiu Mountain Pass to deploy troops and mobilize forces to trap our Jin Kingdom’s Crown Prince, using this as a bargaining chip for peace negotiations!”

“You…”

Li Tianfu was about to flare up, but was again stopped by Li Zhijie: “A defeated nation, how would we dare! If General Bai is truly so worried, then the Princess can remain seated here!”

Li Zhijie bowed to Li Tianfu and lowered his voice: “Princess, please bear with it! Peace negotiations between two countries have always involved back-and-forth verbal sparring. Please don’t get angry and give the Jin people grounds to seize upon, causing war to break out again.”

“Let war break out! Are we afraid of the Jin people? My Xiliang has a rich Kingdom and strong army – we only lost this once. My Xiliang has plenty of brave men with a fighting spirit. Deploying the entire nation’s strength to battle Jin Kingdom – either he dies or we live!” Li Tianfu’s eyes were full of bloodshot veins, her chest heaving violently, her whole body trembling.

“The Princess’s words are laughable – either he dies or we live? You mean… anyway, it’s Jin Kingdom that dies, and you just won’t die?!” Liu Rushi crossed his arms and sneered, “Your Xiliang deploys the entire nation’s strength, while our Great Jin only relies on the army led by General Bai! Since the Xiliang Princess is so confident, please trouble General Bai and all the officers and soldiers to fight again. After we reach Xiliang’s Yun Jing… we can discuss negotiations then!”

“You!” Li Tianfu grabbed the wine cup from the table and was about to throw it at Liu Rushi.

“Your Highness, the Princess!” Li Zhijie caught the wine cup in Li Tianfu’s hand and lowered his voice: “Soon… this minister will return this humiliation to Bai Qingyan several-fold. Please prioritize the greater situation, Princess. In a moment, just pretend you heard nothing and saw nothing! Your Highness must trust this minister! Current Xiliang cannot afford to fight! If we fight… the Empress’s throne cannot be preserved!”

The surging emotions in Li Tianfu’s heart… were still gradually suppressed because of Li Zhijie’s words.

She remained silent for a long time, and although her heart was filled with unbearable humiliation, she still sat down as Li Zhijie had said.

“Princess, rest assured. Regarding Xiliang matters, this minister knows what he’s doing!” Li Zhijie indicated that Li Tianfu to be at ease.

“Whether to fight or not, please let Prince Yan and the Xiliang peace negotiation envoys give a clear answer. Don’t use those reckless words to toy with our Jin Kingdom! Otherwise, after Xiliang becomes a river of blood, we can discuss peace negotiations in detail.” Liu Rushi said slowly.

Li Zhijie looked at Liu Rushi’s handsome and refined appearance, only feeling that this Lord Liu wasn’t as good-looking as when he first arrived.