Qin Huaiyuan stepped forward, shielding Qin Yining behind him, then looked puzzledly at the elderly man staring at him.
He didn’t recognize this person and couldn’t understand why the other party would look at him with such anger and hatred.
Zheng Pei took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and smiled with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes, “This lord must be the renowned ‘Wise Pan’an’ Grand Secretary Qin?”
Qin Huaiyuan cupped his hands, “That’s merely excessive praise from some common people. May I ask who this gentleman is?”
“This humble one is a strategist under Prince Zhongshun, surname Zheng.”
Upon hearing Prince Zhongshun’s title, both Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining instantly understood why this person harbored such hostility.
After all, Qin Huaiyuan was the one who had devised the alienation scheme back then. This Mr. Zheng’s age suggested he might have once followed Pang Zhongzheng.
“So it’s Mr. Zheng. My apologies for not recognizing you.” Qin Huaiyuan looked around and smiled, “This distinguished gentleman must be Minister Liang? I wonder if Young Prince Pang is also present?”
Liang Shengjie had already craned his neck, his lascivious gaze circling Qin Yining’s figure several times. Hearing Qin Huaiyuan mention himself, he felt pleased, but then hearing him ask about Pang Xiao made him displeased. His face immediately darkened as he said:
“This commander now oversees the Pingnan Army and presides over peace negotiations by our Emperor’s decree. Young Prince Pang is merely a Huben General now—what difference does his presence or absence make?”
Qin Huaiyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, “You speak correctly.”
Zheng Pei had already thoroughly examined Qin Yining, secretly cursing another vixen who would bring disaster to the nation, while smiling on the surface and asking, “May I inquire which official position this young lady holds in your esteemed country?”
With one sentence, he made the Great Yan people’s faces flush with heat.
Great Yan had never had female officials—this was common knowledge.
Liang Shengjie’s lustful nature was no secret either.
The Great Yan peace negotiation team bringing along a stunningly beautiful woman made their purpose quite obvious.
Zheng Pei’s question was trampling Great Yan’s dignity underfoot.
Qin Yining already had no favorable impression of this Mr. Zheng.
Yet Qin Huaiyuan continued smiling, saying, “This is my legitimate daughter. I have no legitimate son, only this precious pearl. I intend to entrust her with important responsibilities in the future, so I like to take her wherever I go, letting her gain experience and broaden her horizons.”
The Great Yan people breathed a sigh of relief, feeling they had regained the dignity that had been trampled underfoot, inwardly praising Qin Huaiyuan’s cleverness.
The Great Zhou people, however, secretly despised this—offering a beauty while finding such grandiose excuses was truly shameless!
“So this is Grand Secretary Qin’s daughter. My apologies.” Zheng Pei continued smiling, though his eyes were full of mockery.
If she were truly an ordinary young lady, under Liang Shengjie’s lascivious gaze and Zheng Pei’s mocking smile, she would probably be so ashamed she’d want to find a crack in the ground to hide in. But Qin Yining simply stood calmly behind Qin Huaiyuan, truly like a legitimate son following his father to gain experience.
“In that case, let us speak inside the tent.” Great Yan’s Minister of Rites Cui Wenqing smiled, “I’ve already had food and wine prepared. We can eat and talk, eat and talk.”
“Please.”
“Please!”
The main peace negotiation personnel entered the main tent, and Qin Yining naturally followed beside Qin Huaiyuan.
The tent was made of pure white military canvas. A bonfire burned in the center with an iron pot boiling water above it. Bright red carpets covered the ground, and further in, three low tables were placed on each side.
Liang Shengjie sat on the left with a deputy general and Zheng Pei.
Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing sat on the right.
Qin Yining took a folding stool and sat behind her father.
With Liang Shengjie and Qin Huaiyuan sitting face to face, he could see Qin Yining’s pretty face with a glance upward. His heart was already surging with lustful thoughts.
Although he was the official presiding over the peace negotiations, his mind was entirely on the beauty. He didn’t pay attention to what was being discussed.
Fortunately, Great Zhou still had the steady and sharp Zheng Pei, who engaged in verbal sparring with Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing—praising openly while mocking subtly, haggling over terms—thus preventing them from falling into a disadvantage or letting Great Yan gain verbal advantage.
The negotiations lasted four hours.
Yet many matters, such as tribute payments and territorial cessions, reached no consensus.
The Great Zhou people made excessive demands, seeking maximum benefits.
Qin Huaiyuan stubbornly refused to budge, trying to minimize losses.
By the time lanterns were lit, soldiers in the tent had lit lamps. Everyone was parched from talking, and even the food and wine had gone cold and been reheated several times.
Liang Shengjie had been gazing at the beauty all afternoon, his mind churning with countless schemes.
Hearing Qin Huaiyuan refuse the fifty million taels of silver compensation, he frowned and pretended to consider, “This fifty million taels as compensation for our Great Zhou soldiers’ losses is truly not much. However, it’s not entirely non-negotiable.”
Seeing this, Zheng Pei was about to speak when Liang Shengjie said with a stern face, “Mr. Zheng has been busy all afternoon. Shouldn’t this official say a few words now?”
Zheng Pei was Pang Xiao’s advisor, called “Military Strategist” in the Huben Army, but held no actual official rank or military title. He could sit here today entirely due to Pang Xiao’s promotion. With Pang Xiao absent from the military camp, the Huben Army needed a representative, so Liang Shengjie dared not openly confront him.
But when Liang Shengjie displayed his official authority, Zheng Pei was helpless.
Seeing Zheng Pei fall silent, Liang Shengjie stood up, pretending to stretch and exercise his muscles, pacing twice in the center before walking to Qin Huaiyuan’s side.
He bent down to look at Qin Yining’s fair face, his eyes full of covetous desire, yet his words were directed at Qin Huaiyuan:
“Of course, peace talks, peace talks—we must discuss together! This official loves drinking most. I’ve heard Grand Secretary Qin raises his legitimate daughter like a legitimate son. Surely the young lady’s drinking capacity is not poor either. If the young lady could accompany this official for two cups, those conditions could still be negotiated!”
Finally, it had come!
Qin Yining closed her eyes.
Qin Huaiyuan’s hands gradually clenched into fists. Though smiling on the surface, his heart struggled between rage and helplessness.
Not wanting to make things difficult for Qin Huaiyuan, Qin Yining stood up and curtsied.
“Minister Liang is a peerless hero with a forthright nature. This young woman deeply admires you. Thus, this young woman will take this opportunity to toast you, Minister.”
She then picked up the wine jar, filling a large ceramic bowl to the brim for Liang Shengjie, while taking up a small white porcelain wine cup for herself.
Liang Shengjie accepted the white ceramic wine bowl handed by the beauty, his eyes full of her snow-white skin, his mind entirely occupied with lustful thoughts. How could he react to what he was drinking?
Watching Qin Yining drain her cup in one gulp, feeling burning heat in his stomach, he finally realized he had been made to drink a large bowl of strong liquor!
With alcohol going to his head, Liang Shengjie wasn’t angry but laughed instead.
“Ah! A beauty’s favor is hardest to bear, even wine poured by a beauty tastes exceptionally good.”
“Is that so? Then Minister, please have another bowl. As the saying goes, ‘three bowls won’t get you past the ridge’—with your bravery, Minister, you should drink three bowls.” She promptly poured another bowl, looking at Liang Shengjie with sparkling eyes.
The alcohol was now taking effect on Liang Shengjie. Though not dizzy, his liquid courage was at its peak, his excitement maximum. Regardless of others present, his large hand grabbed Qin Yining’s boneless soft hand, pulling her toward his embrace.
“Beauty, are you trying to get me drunk? Let me tell you, we Old Liang fear nothing more than a beauty’s tenderness. If you serve me well, how can our peace talks not be negotiable? If I loosen my tongue slightly here, our Emperor is so far away that he must rely on my reports, right? Beauty, you’re a perceptive one—I can see that. Let’s have a brief affair, and we won’t disappoint this heaven-sent fate. Don’t you think so?”
Qin Yining’s entire body stiffened, her face already purple with shame. Her wide almond eyes held humiliation and anger, but more than that, helplessness.
Wasn’t this exactly what she had come here to do today?
A brief affair? Should she be grateful that Heaven at least hadn’t arranged for Minister Liang to take her away?
Veins bulged on Qin Huaiyuan’s forehead. Unable to endure any longer, he stood up and pulled Qin Yining behind him.
“Minister Liang, I brought my daughter merely to travel and see more, to gain experience. Let’s focus on serious business.”
Qin Yining looked tearfully at Qin Huaiyuan’s tall figure shielding her.
Her father was protecting her after all.
Though unable to defy imperial commands and forced to bring her, at the crucial moment, her father still protected her!
But could she feel so justified in being protected by her father? What if the peace talks failed and the Emperor blamed them?
Liang Shengjie’s face immediately darkened. With alcohol affecting him, his voice was extremely loud.
“What? You know we Old Liang like this sort of thing, so you brought a great beauty for me to enjoy, didn’t you? Now I’m giving you face—that’s showing you respect! You regret it now? Where were you earlier! Fifty million taels of silver, plus fifteen cities—not one less!”
Earlier it was only five cities, now the price had increased on the spot!
Qin Yining bit her lip, not wanting Qin Huaiyuan to ruin important business for her sake. As long as her father protected her in his heart, she was already content.
Qin Huaiyuan was also in internal conflict, his face alternating between pale and flushed.
Liang Shengjie smiled triumphantly, pushed Qin Huaiyuan aside, grabbed Qin Yining’s hand again, and tried to lead her outside.
He was certain Qin Huaiyuan wouldn’t dare obstruct him again!
Who would have expected that at this moment, the tent flap was suddenly swept aside with a whoosh, and a tall figure carrying a gleaming large blade strode in aggressively.
This person had broad shoulders and a narrow back, ape-like arms and a wasp waist. His black battle robe made his face appear jade-like, but his long, temple-reaching sword eyebrows and upturned phoenix eyes were currently brewing a storm!
Qin Huaiyuan turned around and was startled upon seeing this person.
Qin Yining was even more surprised, “Yao Zhixi…”
Her mind raced, thinking this person had come to rescue her. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, tears nearly falling as she frantically warned him, “You should leave quickly! This isn’t a place for you!”
But Pang Xiao paid no heed, swung his arm in a full circle, and without a word, slashed down with his blade!
This strike aimed directly at Liang Shengjie’s face—if it truly hit, Liang Shengjie’s head would split open.
Zheng Pei nearby screamed in terror, “Young Prince, no!”
Qin Yining was stunned, then stared in shock, suddenly looking at Pang Xiao.
Liang Shengjie was so frightened he sobered up halfway, crying “Mama!” as he staggered back two steps, falling on his rear and barely dodging the blade. Panicked and breaking into cold sweat, he pointed a trembling finger at Pang Xiao and shouted:
“Pang Zhixi, what are you doing!”
“Fck your grandmother! Dare to touch my woman—I’ll fcking cleave you in half!” With that, another blade strike whooshed through the air with tremendous force!