Only then did Yun Ya ask in a low voice: “Regarding the alliance proposal, what have you two considered?”

Feng Miaojun raised her delicate eyebrows: “After this explosion, doesn’t State Preceptor Yun already know?” Now that the ministers had left, her speech was no longer so polite. “The people of New Xia are unwilling to ally with Wei.”

Yun Ya remained unperturbed: “New Xia currently faces both internal troubles and external threats, yet still insists on clinging to past hatreds?” He leaned slightly forward. “Let’s speak plainly—if the alliance is established, you’ll have money when you need it and peace when you need it. Without the alliance, could New Xia ever hope to counterattack and reclaim territory from Wei?”

In essence, he was saying that signing the agreement meant money and peace, while not signing meant gaining nothing except continuing to harbor a heart full of hatred.

From a business perspective, signing the alliance was certainly the most advantageous. However, when national enmity, family hatred, and public sentiment became involved, the matter became particularly thorny.

For some matters, even though you know what should be done, you simply cannot do it.

Fu Lingchuan finally smiled bitterly: “If we sign this agreement, we can no longer maintain the trust of our people.” Befriending Wei Kingdom would mean losing public support, and New Xia would lose its vital energy. Anyone who had to bear such consequences would naturally proceed with extreme caution.

Feng Miaojun suddenly coughed lightly: “The beliefs of our citizens can be guided, but if we ally with Wei, the troubles we face won’t just come from within our borders.” She paused briefly. “Yan Kingdom certainly doesn’t wish to see this alliance.”

Xu Guangxiang spoke firmly: “Yan Kingdom is far away across the horizon. Could they somehow prevent Her Majesty’s hand from signing?”

“That’s not it,” Feng Miaojun said with a smile. “However, the King of Yan has already sent a message through the Nineteenth Prince, expressing willingness to help New Xia resist foreign aggression.”

“What conditions did he offer?”

Feng Miaojun glanced at Fu Lingchuan, who understood her meaning: “Yan Kingdom and New Xia originally had some… agreements. Now they can be temporarily suspended.”

Agreements? Temporarily suspended? What did that mean?

Before Xu Guangxiang could fully understand, Yun Ya was already smiling: “That’s merely a temporary suspension. How can it compare to Wei Kingdom’s sincere offer to pay reparations? Don’t forget, as soon as Your Majesty agrees, New Xia’s southwestern border troubles can also be handed over to us. No matter how powerful the Yan Kingdom is, their reach cannot extend here.”

Indeed, Yan Kingdom was on the Southern Continent—distant waters couldn’t quench immediate thirst.

Feng Miaojun continued: “If we ally with Wei, we must bear Yan Kingdom’s wrath. That’s not a problem silver can solve.”

“Your Majesty fears that Yan will first destroy Xi and then Wei, after which they could reach out to punish New Xia for acting independently?” Yun Ya laughed a few times, then couldn’t help but cough. “You’re thinking too far ahead. If Great Wei were to be annexed, whether New Xia allies with Wei or not, Yan Kingdom would likely not spare you.”

Why had the Yan Kingdom supported New Xia? It was simply to balance the relationships on the Northern Continent. Unable to reach so far themselves, they resorted to remote control methods, preferably by cultivating an obedient New Xia that would dutifully help them check the increasingly powerful Wei Kingdom.

Originally, this strategy should have been effective, but who could have known that Feng Miaojun would suddenly appear, replacing the imposter Princess Changle? Thus, all of the Yan King’s various machinations suddenly fell apart, and New Xia regained its right to choose freely.

To choose development, or to choose hatred?

If Yan Kingdom wanted to punish a disobedient New Xia, it would first have to clear away all obstacles in its path to reach it, including Xi Kingdom, Wei Kingdom, and possibly even Guo Kingdom.

Feng Miaojun knew that the King of Yan had indeed sent a message through Zhao Yun. This father and son probably had some special method of communication that could transmit messages across thousands of mountains and rivers, though the cost must be quite high.

However, the news that the “Wei Kingdom requests an alliance with New Xia” was worth it.

The Yan King’s response was straightforward—directly returning New Xia’s tribute for the next seven years, which meant large quantities of purple gold sand and spirit stones, as well as thirty percent of the tax revenue from the six western cities for the next seven years.

That was an astronomical figure.

The reason it was called a “return” was because the two parties had established a blood contract that could not be altered—New Xia couldn’t short even a single tael of silver. Therefore, the Yan King had no choice but to change the word “exemption” to “return.”

At this point, Yun Ya added another condition: “How about this—to show our sincerity, Wei Kingdom will add ten million taels of silver to our compensation.”

Ten million taels!

Feng Miaojun stared at him.

This wasn’t one thousand taels, nor was it ten thousand. The entire output of the six cities of Lubo for two years wouldn’t amount to this much! Yet he threw out the figure without even blinking.

Wei Kingdom’s strength was truly formidable.

Feng Miaojun had to admit that this way of spending lavishly, directly slapping money in people’s faces, was truly…

…truly effective.

New Xia, barely a year old as a nation, needed money more than anything else!

She glanced at Fu Lingchuan and saw the temptation in his eyes as well. Yan Kingdom’s offer was merely a reduction in tribute; any actual benefits New Xia might receive would only come a year later. How could that compare to the Wei Kingdom’s forthright and immediate transfer of a large sum of silver and immediate assistance in eliminating border troubles? It was so direct, so sincere!

As for the blood feud between the two countries… in great power politics, are there eternal enemies?

“This matter…” Fu Lingchuan said gravely, “We will deliberate carefully.”

Feng Miaojun had said these same words at the annual banquet before. But coming from Fu Lingchuan’s mouth this time, they carried real weight.

Yun Ya leaned back against his chair and said languidly: “I await New Xia’s good news.”

After leaving the Wei envoy’s residence, Fu Lingchuan summoned his trusted ministers and spent the entire afternoon in closed-door discussions with Feng Miaojun. This time, Feng Miaojun brought along Xu Linghai.

The next day dawned bright and sunny.

Feng Miaojun examined herself in the mirror, changing outfits twice and remaining unsatisfied. White Board whispered in her ear: “Try the goose-yellow dress, it’s pretty and makes my mistress look soft and tender. I can transform into a golden peony hairpin—Master Yun loves peonies the most…”

Feng Miaojun’s expression changed as she grabbed White Board and tossed it onto the dressing table: “What does his liking peonies have to do with me? Don’t transform.”

That scoundrel likes peonies? How did she not know this?

“Uh…” White Board kept its mouth tightly shut, watching as she finished dressing and had her hair arranged by palace maids. She didn’t use any precious ornaments, wearing only that crescent moon flower hairpin.

When one is beautiful, any adornment looks good. What might be simplicity to others became elegant plainness to her.

Finally, Feng Miaojun had White Board transform into golden dragon earrings, which she put on.

“Let’s go comfort that patient.”

Her emotions seemed somewhat unstable, and White Board wisely maintained silence.

So, in the end, the mistress still chose that beautiful goose-yellow dress, right?

The Wei Kingdom delegation was housed in Lanxiu Garden. The scenery here was lovely, with four elegant cottages distributed throughout the garden. Yun Ya and Xu Guangxiang each occupied one, while the remaining two were shared by other delegation members.

Feng Miaojun walked unimpeded to the front of the cottage but heard some commotion inside. Just as she crossed the threshold, she saw the Imperial Physician walking out with vigorous strides. Seeing her, he first froze in surprise, then quickly bowed.