Li Zhijie had long heard that in Great Jin’s Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, the Bai family, whether sons or daughters, all had to go to the battlefield for training once they reached ten years old.
Although Liu Rushi’s words might contain some exaggeration, they were mostly true.
He had heard that the Bai family’s Second Miss had already married, so she didn’t join this expedition. What if he killed Bai Qingyan and instead angered the Jin Kingdom and the Bai family? What if the Bai family produced several more figures like Bai Qingyan to fight Xiliang to the death? Right now, Xiliang really couldn’t afford another war!
His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan, whose eyes held frost and snow: “General Yun Jiang is our Xiliang’s Grand General. Selecting twenty-three male descendants from his three clans to hand over to General Bai – our Xiliang absolutely cannot agree to this. Please show understanding, General Bai! However, General Bai’s words about General Yun Jiang’s improper handling of the Bai family’s Seventeenth Young Master are valid. Our Xiliang is willing to compensate with silver to build a mausoleum for the Young General. What does General Bai think?”
Liu Rushi looked toward Bai Qingyan, seeming to inquire about her opinion. Since all the Bai family men had died and Bai Qingyan was the Bai family’s legitimate eldest daughter, matters concerning the Bai family naturally required her consent.
Bai Qingyan nodded.
Only then did Liu Rushi say, “Good, I will have someone calculate all the expenses for building the mausoleum. Please have Xiliang compensate the Bai family in one lump sum!”
“Naturally!” Li Zhijie nodded.
Li Tianfu listened with suppressed anger in her heart, yet she rarely maintained her composure without making a scene. She only glanced faintly in Liu Rushi’s direction, then lowered her eyes to stare at the azure bamboo leaves embroidered on her handkerchief.
Li Zhijie was right – Xiliang couldn’t fight another war. She had already ruined Li Zhijie’s intention to send her into the Jin Crown Prince’s mansion. Having achieved her own goal, she should know when to quit while ahead. Otherwise, if the peace talks between the two countries collapsed because of her, even if she didn’t have to marry for alliance and returned to Xiliang, Mother Empress probably wouldn’t tolerate her either.
What Li Tianfu wanted in this life was very simple. She didn’t want to be involved in the inner courtyard struggles of nobles or palace intrigue. She only wanted to be a leisurely wealthy person, with Lu Tianzhuo by her side for life – that would be enough.
What duty as a princess, what bearing children with Xiliang blood for foreign emperors – what did any of that have to do with her, Li Tianfu!
While they were speaking, suddenly a Xiliang soldier trotted in from outside the tent, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered in Li Zhijie’s ear. Li Zhijie’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he waved his hand to signal the soldier to stand aside. Opening his iron bone fan, he chuckled softly: “Your Highness Crown Prince, while we negotiate peace here… Your Highness arranged for a maid to infiltrate the peace negotiation tent, and even killed one of our Xiliang soldiers before running toward the Jin army’s encampment. Why is this?”
That Xiliang soldier was sent by Lu Tianzhuo. The reason Lu Tianzhuo hadn’t appeared in the tent today was because he had been standing at a high vantage point monitoring every move of the Jin army, thinking about how to set an ambush to kill Bai Qingyan.
But an incense stick ago, he saw Shen Qingzhu exit the great tent, shed her Xiliang servant’s clothing to reveal black attire underneath, moving with agile skill. He sent someone to question Shen Qingzhu, never expecting her to kill the person and head straight for the Jin army’s encampment.
Lu Tianzhuo, hidden in the shadows, was immediately shocked – he had no idea when Jin Kingdom’s people had infiltrated their Xiliang peace negotiation team.
Although she was an inconspicuous maid, her martial skills were exceptional, and she killed without hesitation at the crucial moment – she had to be guarded against.
Only then did Lu Tianzhuo send someone to inform Prince Yan, asking him to respond flexibly, while he single-handedly followed… wanting to see what Great Jin was really up to.
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes without showing emotion. A maid? Toward the Jin army? It seemed Shen Qingzhu’s movements had been discovered.
Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and spoke slowly: “Prince Yan’s words are laughable. When our Crown Prince brought us here, aside from me, there were no other women. When your Xiliang loses a maid, you frame it on our Crown Prince’s arrangements. If I said your Xiliang maid ran toward our Jin Kingdom’s encampment intending to spy on our side, what would Prince Yan say? Could it be you’re intentionally delaying the peace negotiations?”
The Crown Prince was baffled by Li Zhijie’s question. Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, he thought Li Zhijie was intentionally delaying, so he said: “What does Prince Yan mean by this? Accusing without evidence… speaking so recklessly, do you not want peace talks anymore?”
“If it were a maid, Prince Yan sent to spy on your side! Why would Prince Yan speak of it?” Li Tianfu couldn’t help but interject.
“That’s hard to say. Xiliang violated our Great Jin and killed our Great Jin people, yet Princess Xiliang repeatedly claims General Bai killed your Xiliang surrendered prisoners. This business of a thief crying ‘stop thief’ – even your Xiliang princess does it, let alone others!” Liu Rushi said with a faint, cold laugh.
“Lord Liu, peace negotiations are men’s business. Lord Liu shouldn’t involve our Xiliang princess!” Li Zhijie’s expression darkened slightly.
“Then please have Prince Yan pacify your Kingdom’s princess well, and don’t let her create trouble and speak nonsense during peace negotiations!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was cold.
Liu Rushi was a man, so Li Zhijie could still argue with him using the distinction between men and women. But Bai Qingyan was a woman – when she said these words, Li Zhijie could only nod.
“Your Highness Crown Prince…” Li Zhijie cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince. “Since our Xiliang believes Great Jin sent a maid to infiltrate our peace negotiation team, and Great Jin believes our Xiliang sent a maid to spy on Great Jin, why don’t we… end today’s peace negotiations here and have both countries talk again tomorrow?”
“So this was Prince Yan’s intention all along! Randomly fabricating some nonexistent maid, just wanting to delay time and make preparations. What… how does Prince Yan want to negotiate tomorrow? With armies pressing at the borders?” Bai Qingyan had to keep Li Zhijie detained here.
Li Zhijie’s expression changed slightly. He indeed couldn’t produce evidence, and seeing Great Jin’s posture, they wanted to pressure him into finalizing the peace treaty today before they would leave.
“It’s already late. Talking tomorrow would be the same!” Li Zhijie looked at the Crown Prince and smiled. “Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
The Crown Prince picked up his teacup and slowly blew on it: “The time for today’s banquet was set by Prince Yan. Now you say it’s already late. Prince Yan… do you think I have too much free time?”
Li Zhijie: “…”
Fine, Lu Tianzhuo was keeping watch anyway. If something happened, he would come to report.
Moreover, the Jin Kingdom was now the victorious nation. Could they disregard the watchful eyes of all nations and kill a mere Prince Yan and a legitimate Xiliang princess here?
Jin Kingdom wouldn’t do something so foolish, especially since this group of Jin Kingdom people who came to the peace negotiations didn’t look like fools.
Inside the great tent, peace negotiations continued.
The peace negotiation envoys from Xiliang and the Jin Kingdom argued back and forth, haggling and debating endlessly.
And less than half a li away at the Jin army’s encampment, campfires flickered.
Lu Tianzhuo was cautious. He followed Shen Qingzhu for a while, but when he saw Jin army sentries, he didn’t dare go further, feeling very puzzled.
Shen Qingzhu smoothly contacted Xiao Ruojiang and also saw Bai Jinzhi. When Bai Jinzhi learned that Bai Qingyun was still alive, she cried out excitedly: “Really?! My Ninth Brother is still alive!”
Shen Qingzhu nodded.