After the summer thunderstorms passed, the sun grew more vicious with each passing day. The group from Southern Chen, who had been left waiting for many days, were already waiting at the government office entrance before the hour of chen the next day. Officials passing by on their way to work couldn’t help but glance at them with sidelong looks.

Fang Mingda’s back grew hot from the sun’s rays. After wiping the sweat beads from his plump face with a handkerchief countless times, a summons finally came from inside. He brought Jiang Yu, who was disguised as an attendant following him, through courtyards and halls, entering the government hall. Through the fine bamboo curtain hanging to the floor, he bowed with a smile plastered on his plump face toward the inside: “This minor official Fang Mingda pays respects to the esteemed Liang’s Hanyang Wengzhu.”

The bamboo curtain let light through, vaguely revealing shadowy figures standing on both sides inside. Fang Mingda bowed with lowered head, unable to see what the person seated in the main position looked like. He only heard a voice as cold as cracking ice and shattering jade ring out: “My Great Liang now only has one prefecture and one commandery remaining—we cannot bear the weight of this envoy’s word ‘esteemed.'”

Jiang Yu, disguised as an attendant, heard this voice and imperceptibly lifted his eyes to glance inside, but through the bamboo curtain, he could only see a blurry figure seated in the main position. His eyes flickered slightly before he lowered his gaze again.

Sweat immediately fell from Fang Mingda’s forehead. The other party was clearly using the disrespectful words from Jiang Yu’s subordinate general to throw it back at them. He forced a smile and said: “The foolish general from Southern Chen was disrespectful before. This minor official apologizes to Wengzhu on his behalf. Since Great Liang’s founding, it established seventeen prefectures and thirty-six provinces, opened extensive trade routes with various nations—it is undoubtedly a celestial empire. How could it not bear the weight of the word ‘esteemed’?”

As he spoke, his squinting, smiling eyes lifted slightly, trying to gauge the expression of the person inside. Unfortunately blocked by the bamboo curtain, he could only bow and continue: “Our King and Empress Dowager, hearing that foolish general dared to be so disrespectful, were extremely shocked and furious. They have stripped him of his military position and ordered this minor official to inform Wengzhu that they are willing to hand this person over to Great Liang for Wengzhu to deal with as you see fit. The Minister of State who accompanied him failed to control his subordinates and has also been temporarily dismissed from office pending investigation. Southern Chen’s desire for friendly relations with Great Liang has never changed. For this journey, our King specially ordered this minor official to bring an additional one hundred twenty pieces of pearl and jade jewelry, two hundred sixty pieces of gold, silver, and porcelain, and three hundred twenty bolts of brocade silk for Wengzhu, only hoping Wengzhu will calm her anger and select an auspicious date to wed into Southern Chen.”

As his words fell, the large bamboo curtain hanging before the entrance hall was rolled up by maidservants. Both Fang Mingda and Jiang Yu felt sudden brightness before their eyes. The two hesitantly raised their heads and saw inside the hall about a hundred Great Liang officials standing, all with hands tucked in the wide sleeves of their official robes, looking down at them with sharp eyes—truly like tigers watching and eagles staring intently.

Behind the sandalwood desk directly ahead sat a woman in a tea-white deep robe with phoenix eyes slightly closed, displaying the aura of royalty. Her countenance was unparalleled in beauty—truly an absolute beauty. Just one glance, and the respectfulness on Fang Mingda’s face became even more pronounced than before. His face full of smiles, he carefully watched the woman seated in the main position, waiting for her to speak.

Jiang Yu’s gaze fell on Wen Yu and he was clearly stunned for a moment. When he sensed a deep, icy gaze fall on him, he hastily withdrew his eyes and bowed his head while holding a tray containing the gift list. After that gaze moved away, Jiang Yu imperceptibly looked back and discovered it was that young Pingzhou general who had unhorsed his fierce subordinate general with just two strikes. This time, before he could withdraw his gaze, he met that young general’s eyes directly.

Just as fierce and oppressive as that day outside Pingzhou city—like a lone wolf traveling the wilderness—but seemingly with an added measure of composure. Jiang Yu feigned alarm and lowered his eyes.

In the main seat, Wen Yu’s eyes swept over Fang Mingda and the other without a ripple, saying in a flat voice: “What Southern Chen promises, Northern Wei can also agree to without anything less. Why does the envoy think Pingzhou must choose to ally with Southern Chen?”

Fang Mingda’s expression stiffened, barely maintaining his smile: “This… Wengzhu and our King—this is a marriage engagement personally arranged years ago by our Southern Chen’s late King and Great Liang’s Prince Changlian. Our King has long admired Wengzhu. When the traitorous Pei clan threw the Central Plains into chaos, Southern Chen never disturbed Pingzhou. For Wengzhu to instead choose to ally with Northern Wei seems rather… treacherous and unfaithful…”

Before he finished speaking, he heard a cold laugh. Jiang Yu and Fang Mingda looked toward the sound and saw that while all the officials in the hall were standing, only the elderly man who had made the sound was granted a grand teacher’s chair to sit in, to Wen Yu’s lower left. Clearly his status was extraordinary, and Fang Mingda unconsciously fell silent.

Li Yao heavily thumped his walking stick and his aged yet still sharp eyes cut toward him: “Treacherous and unfaithful? Your Southern Chen truly has great audacity! That day outside Pingzhou’s city gates, who publicly insulted my Great Liang? Who spoke disrespectfully to Wengzhu? Did your Southern Chen not receive my Great Liang’s letter breaking off the engagement? My Wengzhu now selects another good husband—what does this have to do with your Southern Chen? You even dare bring up that when the traitor Pei threw the Central Plains into chaos, your Southern Chen didn’t send troops to Pingzhou? Back then your Southern Chen faced internal troubles and external threats, enemies on all sides, relying entirely on my Great Liang’s aid. Now your Southern Chen never sent troops to help my Great Liang—that we can overlook—but watching from the sidelines, you still want my Great Liang to remember you a debt of gratitude?”

Li Yao laughed mockingly: “Your Southern Chen truly calculates a fine account!”

In matters of eloquence, few people in this room could match Li Yao. The assembled Liang officials, hearing his rebuke, felt thoroughly satisfied. For a moment, they couldn’t help straightening their backs even more, looking toward Fang Mingda with unfriendly gazes.

Jiang Yu’s expression was unpleasant. His hand gripping the edge of the tray had knuckles tensed white from exertion. Only because he carefully remembered his current identity did he not make any excessive moves.

Fang Mingda had never encountered such a scene and hastily explained: “This minor official… this minor official doesn’t mean that. That foolish general didn’t act intentionally either—he only wanted to spar in martial arts with the esteemed Liang generals. Our Southern Chen has sincerely apologized. Our King and Empress Dowager have also punished that foolish general…”

Li Yao sharply interrupted him: “Stop making evasive words! Throughout history when marriages formed alliances, who ever spoke such disrespectful words during a wedding reception? Do you realize that our Great Liang’s Wengzhu, upon marrying into your Southern Chen, would be your Southern Chen’s Queen? What—has your Southern Chen’s ritual and music collapsed to the point where officials and generals can publicly insult the royal family? When military generals spar with each other in court, do they first mock your Chen King or Queen Dowager thoroughly?”

Jiang Yu’s expression was grim.

Fang Mingda was scolded until his face flushed red. Even someone as silver-tongued as he couldn’t find clever words to respond at this moment. He could only secretly resent that Sikong Wei and Jiang Yu had left him such a mess to deal with, raising his plump hand to constantly wipe away sweat.

Li Yao’s anger intensified as he spoke. He struck the ground with his cane and demanded: “Your Southern Chen dares act this way because you’re bullying Great Liang for having no one left, or because the Wen clan has no one left? Now you want to push all the blame onto that young general and move past it—this is going too far!”

As his words fell, the assembled officials in the room righteously shouted: “Go back to your Southern Chen!” “Crude barbarians from savage lands—how could they be worthy of our Great Liang’s heavenly princess?” “The common saying goes that adversity reveals true character. Southern Chen’s such mercenary behavior is truly showing its ugly face!”

Fang Mingda’s heart suddenly panicked. He instinctively looked toward Jiang Yu, but seeing Jiang Yu bow his head without making a sound, he remembered that he was currently disguised as his attendant. He hastily bowed repeatedly toward Wen Yu: “Our Southern Chen truly has no intention of slighting Wengzhu! Please let Wengzhu see clearly—aside from what was originally promised, whatever other requirements Wengzhu has, just state them! As long as it’s within our Southern Chen’s capabilities, absolutely no objections!”

Seated above, Wen Yu’s expression was bland, saying with a seemingly mocking smile: “What if I want Xinzhou and Yizhou?”

Fang Mingda was momentarily speechless, but fortunately his rationality remained. He said with difficulty: “Wengzhu, please don’t toy with this minor official. These two provinces of Xin and Yi are both in Northern Wei’s hands. Southern Chen’s great army is blocked outside Bairen Pass—how could we take these two prefectures?”

Wen Yu said: “This Wengzhu speaks of after you all have conquered Xin and Yi provinces.”

Fang Mingda froze, only feeling that Wen Yu’s eyes seemed capable of bewitching the mind. He didn’t respond for a long while. After Jiang Yu coughed lightly, he suddenly regained his senses and cautiously asked: “This… is Wengzhu certain that Northern Wei can promise Wengzhu these two provinces?”

Wen Yu deflected with minimal effort, asking back: “Why not?”

Fang Mingda instinctively felt Northern Wei couldn’t possibly agree to such conditions, but thinking that aside from the two prefectures of Xinzhou and Yizhou, Northern Wei was isolated and without support there, and still had to face them as a formidable enemy, his conviction wavered. If Northern Wei sacrificed the two provinces of Xin and Yi, letting Great Liang’s remaining forces fight them to mutual destruction, they could come back afterward to reap the benefits—it wasn’t impossible.

He immediately changed strategies, no longer humbly seeking peace, but threatening by laying out pros and cons: “This minor official doesn’t think cooperating with Northern Wei is a good choice for Wengzhu.”

He met Wen Yu’s gaze under the angry stares of the full court of Liang officials, bowing as before, but no longer carrying any submissive or yielding attitude: “Southern Chen has tens of thousands of mighty troops stationed outside the pass. Once they march north, how long does Wengzhu think Pingzhou could hold out, relying on Northern Wei whose main forces have been cut off by the Pei clan?”

Seeing the Liang officials in the room somewhat deflate, he paused before continuing: “This minor official won’t hide the truth—before this, Pei Song already approached Southern Chen seeking cooperation. It was only because our King and Empress Dowager remembered Great Liang’s Prince Changlian’s aid in sending troops years ago and the marriage engagement with Wengzhu that they refused Pei Song’s request. If Wengzhu allies with Northern Wei, this is tantamount to forcing Southern Chen toward an alliance with Pei Song. At that time, the four prefectures led by Pingzhou would face powerful enemies on both front and back, while Northern Wei’s main forces remain free outside. For Wengzhu to sacrifice all of Pingzhou and Tao Commandery to make wedding clothes for others—what’s the point? This minor official earnestly requests that Wengzhu not choose the wrong ally in a moment of anger and disrupt the overall situation. If Wengzhu is angry about that foolish general’s offensive words before, our Southern Chen can apologize again.”

It must be said that Fang Mingda’s mouth could truly bring the dead back to life. The Liang officials who had been quite hostile toward him, after hearing him lay out these pros and cons, already showed clear worry on their faces. Even the elderly man who had scolded him most fiercely before now stood leaning on his cane with lowered eyes, silent.

Fang Mingda’s back was soaked with cold sweat. Only now did he dare breathe a light sigh of relief, feeling he had come back to life. The one whose expression hadn’t changed in the slightest throughout was naturally Wen Yu. She said indifferently: “Why is the envoy so certain that at that time, the one facing enemies on both sides would be Pingzhou and not Pei Song?”

Hearing this, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but lift his eyes to glance at Wen Yu. Fang Mingda was also stunned, then with some humiliated indignation at being underestimated, said: “Does Wengzhu think that Pingzhou united with the two provinces of Xin and Yi and Tao Commandery could block our Southern Chen’s mighty army marching north? And still have surplus strength to help Northern Wei fight Pei Song?”

Wen Yu said lightly: “To block your Southern Chen, why would we need the strength of four prefectures? Relying on the danger of Bairen Pass, my Pingzhou alone can keep you blocked outside the pass.”

The humiliated anger in Fang Mingda’s heart suddenly intensified. Forcefully suppressing his temper, he said: “This minor official came here sincerely to negotiate. Why does the esteemed Liang Wengzhu fool this minor official with such words? Though Bairen Pass is dangerous, it’s not impregnable!”

Wen Yu lightly raised an eyebrow: “Fool you?” She looked directly at Fang Mingda: “My Pingzhou will leave only ten thousand people to guard the pass. The envoy is welcome to use a sand table for deduction and let Southern Chen’s troops try to attack the city.”

Seeing Wen Yu’s confident attitude, Fang Mingda was momentarily worried that her words might not be false. But even in Great Liang’s heyday, they wouldn’t dare say that Pingzhou alone could keep them outside the pass. Moreover, Southern Chen now had tens of thousands of mighty troops, while Pingzhou’s military strength was stretched thin—what confidence did Wen Yu have to make such claims?

Thinking this through, his earlier worry completely dissipated. He simply assumed Wen Yu didn’t understand military strategy and was trying to force them to agree to conditions, which was why she dared make such wild claims. Contempt arose in his heart, though it didn’t show much on his face. He bowed to Wen Yu: “This minor official repeats—our Southern Chen’s desire for friendly relations with Great Liang has never changed. Since Wengzhu insists on this, then this minor official will respectfully comply with your command!”

Xiao Li immediately looked toward Wen Yu seated above, and saw Wen Yu’s gaze remain straight ahead as she calmly ordered those around her: “Set up the sand table.”

Subordinates quickly brought things in and set up a sand table in the government hall measuring over one zhang long and about half a zhang wide!