The emissary Liu Yuan sent for negotiations only met with Ji Yuan and didn’t see Zhao Hanzhang or even Liu Yi.

The two sides haggled for three days. The emissary and Ji Yuan barely reached some consensus, but the emissary needed to see Liu Yi before taking the peace treaty back to Pingyang City. Ji Yuan sent word to Yonghe County, having Zhao Hanzhang bring Liu Yi back.

In the emissary’s mind, Prince Beihai, who had lost his freedom and suffered greatly, came riding from the west like a gust of wind. The emissary, who had prepared his tears, stood dumbfounded and forcibly held them back.

Liu Yi brought his twenty-some guards and rode alongside Zhao Hanzhang, galloping from afar. Seeing the emissary, he showed a smile. “Grand Tutor, have you come to deliver the treaty?”

Liu Huanle looked up at the person on horseback, his face showing not a trace of a smile. His gaze slid from Liu Yi’s face to Zhao Hanzhang’s beside him. “Provincial Governor Zhao?”

Zhao Hanzhang sat upright on her horse, her riding crop hanging downward. She cupped her fists and smiled: “That’s correct. I’ve long admired the reputation of Prince Chenliu. Please give my regards to Grand Commander Liu.”

Liu Huanle narrowed his eyes. She didn’t acknowledge Liu Yuan as emperor, only calling him Grand Commander, yet she used his and Liu Yi’s titles. Note that Prince Chenliu and Prince Beihai were both conferred by Liu Yuan, not Emperor Jin.

So this Provincial Governor Zhao wasn’t as resistant to the emperor as she appeared—perhaps it was to avoid criticism from Jin officials?

Liu Huanle acknowledged this. Seeing Liu Yi still sitting on his horse, he pursed his lips and said: “Provincial Governor Zhao, our emperor hasn’t seen Prince Beihai for many days and misses him. So I must take Prince Beihai back to see the emperor. I’ve heard that Provincial Governor Zhao is most filial. I don’t think you would prevent Prince Beihai from fulfilling his filial duty, would you?”

Liu Huanle had already prepared to be refused. He had seen Liu Yi, seen he was safe and uninjured. This trip’s mission was mostly complete. What remained was mutual haggling.

He probably wouldn’t be able to take him back until the peace talks ended.

Although so, he still had to bring it up. He decided that after Zhao Hanzhang refused, he would raise other conditions.

First propose a condition the other party would absolutely never agree to, then propose other difficult-to-accept conditions—the latter would be much easier to negotiate.

This was a negotiation technique.

Liu Huanle looked up at Zhao Hanzhang. He saw Zhao Hanzhang smile and nod in agreement: “Alright.”

Liu Huanle’s pupils contracted. “What?”

Zhao Hanzhang had already turned to Liu Yi: “I originally wanted to keep you a few more days, but since the Grand Commander misses you, I can’t prevent you from fulfilling your filial duty. Please don’t forget our friendship and promises after you return to Pingyang City, Prince Beihai.”

Liu Yi, who had been greatly shaken yesterday and was at the height of his admiration for Zhao Hanzhang, immediately said seriously: “Provincial Governor Zhao, rest assured. Our friendship will last forever!”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, looking at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan immediately had someone return to the camp to fetch something from Lady Wang. Shortly after, they brought back a sword.

Zhao Hanzhang dismounted, took the sword, and drew it partway to show Liu Yi. She said solemnly: “This sword is made of refined steel, incredibly hard. I give it to you, hoping our friendship can be as resilient and unbreakable as this sword.”

The sword gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Liu Yi’s gaze stuck to it and wouldn’t move. This was clearly a treasured sword.

He had long heard from his father that Zhao’s army had special smelting technology. The spearheads of Zhao Hanzhang and her siblings were made using that smelting technology. Those spearheads were incredibly sharp and could be called divine weapons. Zhao Hanzhang’s constant victories—that long spear contributed greatly.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t find out who forged the spears. His father had always wanted to capture the craftsmen. If he couldn’t capture them, obtaining a weapon made of refined steel would also work.

He never expected that what his father couldn’t obtain, he would receive.

Liu Yi’s eyes brightened as he looked at the sword in Zhao Hanzhang’s hand. Zhao Hanzhang sheathed the sword and handed it to him.

Liu Yi received it with both hands. Suppressing his excitement, he said solemnly again: “Our friendship will certainly be resilient and lasting!”

Liu Huanle on the side felt a stabbing pain in his heart, feeling his heart pound heavily.

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile broadened. She waved her hand cheerfully: “I won’t keep you any longer. Go back quickly so your father won’t worry.”

Liu Huanle hadn’t expected Zhao Hanzhang would release Liu Yi. Wasn’t she negotiating because she held Liu Yi?

Now releasing Liu Yi, wasn’t she afraid they would tear up the unsigned treaty and fight her again?

Or was Zhao Hanzhang no longer afraid of their attacks?

Liu Huanle thought of many things in an instant, but his actions weren’t slow at all. As soon as Zhao Hanzhang finished speaking, he immediately pulled Liu Yi along to bow and take their leave, leaving immediately.

Once mounted, Liu Huanle urged the group to ride swiftly. The group galloped nonstop, occasionally looking back, afraid Zhao Hanzhang would change her mind and send troops to attack them.

But each time he looked back, Liu Huanle saw Zhao Hanzhang’s smiling, increasingly blurry face. His unease grew, and he dared not stop even more. He rode in one breath for eighty li until the horses were snorting irritably through their noses. Only when they saw Pingyang City’s gates did their speed slow.

Liu Huanle was still pondering what scheme Zhao Hanzhang had hidden. As soon as he returned to the palace, he took the peace treaty to see the emperor, saying solemnly: “Your Majesty, why not send troops to test them?”

The emperor hadn’t yet had time to speak when Liu Yi, who had followed to see the emperor, immediately objected: “No! Grand Tutor, we clearly agreed with Provincial Governor Zhao to sign a treaty. How can we go back on our word and send troops?”

Liu Huanle felt his heart pains return. “Seventh Prince, this is a matter of state. It cannot be judged by personal feelings.”

Liu Yi said righteously: “Precisely because it’s a matter of state, we cannot be so frivolous. How can we break our word on something already agreed to? If word spreads, won’t our Xiongnu be seen as untrustworthy?”

Liu Yuan narrowed his eyes and asked: “What private relationship do you have with Zhao Hanzhang?”

Liu Yi’s face reddened. Afraid his father would misunderstand their pure friendship, he quickly said: “Father, we have a friendship.”

Liu Yuan’s breathing grew heavier as he asked: “Our two states are enemies, adversaries to each other. You were even detained and threatened by her. How did friendship arise?”

Liu Yi was stunned and asked: “When was I detained and threatened by her?”

Liu Huanle on the side also narrowed his eyes and asked: “I haven’t asked Seventh Prince yet—how did you reach Zhao’s army camp, and how did you spend these days?”

Liu Yi didn’t hide anything at all. He explained in detail how he had stopped Zhao Hanzhang’s night raid and resolved the warfare between both sides, saying his small contribution was nothing. The key point was that since they had already negotiated peace with Zhao Hanzhang, they should cease hostilities, sign the treaty, and from then on coexist harmoniously.

Liu Huanle couldn’t help saying angrily: “Seventh Prince, do you know His Majesty’s ambitions? Our Han State aims to unify the realm. Zhao Hanzhang stands in our path southward. How can we possibly coexist harmoniously with her?”

“Even if we must fight, it’s not now!” Liu Yi might be naive, but he wasn’t stupid. He of course knew they would eventually have a decisive battle with Zhao Hanzhang. But war could take many forms. He said seriously: “Father, the Grand Tutor’s negotiated treaty is not to send troops against Jinyang or attack Zhao Hanzhang for two years. Two years isn’t long. We should take this opportunity to let the people rest and recuperate, develop the economy vigorously, accumulate money and grain, and train soldiers.”

Liu Yuan stared at him with dark eyes and asked: “Will you have no friendship with Zhao Hanzhang when the time comes?”

“There will still be friendship, but family and state come first,” Liu Yi said seriously. “When the time comes, I’ll try to persuade her to serve Your Majesty and abandon darkness for light.”

Liu Yuan asked expressionlessly: “What if she’s unwilling?”

Liu Yi said: “Then we can only meet on the battlefield, where life and death will be decided by ability.”

Only then did Liu Yuan show a smile. He said to Liu Huanle: “I have gained another qilin.”

Liu Huanle also exhaled and relaxed, though his expression still wasn’t good. He insisted: “Your Majesty, the peace talks aren’t finalized. We can send troops.”

Even if the peace talks were finalized, if they tore it up, they tore it up. What could Zhao Hanzhang do to them?