"Mister Yang Xiu, please enter the palace." The young mistress, Kong Tong, welcomed him with a polite smile.
Inside the palace, almost all the family members were present. After all, it was a marriage between two city-states, so it was as grand as a festival. Even the entrance to Ancestral Dragon City was decorated with colorful lights.
"Your Highness, we haven't seen you for a long time. The soldiers of Lingxiao City miss you very much." Yang Xiu strode into the palace.
Yang Xiu only brought two guards. The others waited outside the palace. Even in the enemy city, this Mister Yang Xiu didn't look nervous at all. He was so calm as if he was visiting a neighbor.
"The servants should be helping Your Highness dress up," said the young mistress, Kong Tong.
"That's good, that's good. Speaking of which, I'm surprised that Your Highness is so obedient. But Your Highness is still Your Highness. She's willing to give up everything for the future of the two city-states, even if she has to kneel and become a concubine. Hahahaha!" Yang Xiu laughed. His voice spread in the palace.
The Li family members didn't look so good.
No matter what, the party that took the initiative to propose peace was equivalent to compromising.
They thought Yang Xiu was a courteous envoy. They didn't expect him to be so sarcastic as soon as he entered the palace.
"This is the peace agreement. Mister Yang, please take a look. If there are no other problems, please sign it," said Li Ying.
Yang Xiu bowed perfunctorily as a sign of respect to the Li family master.
He took the peace treaty and quickly skimmed through its contents.
While he was reading the peace agreement, a soldier with a red boutonniere quickly walked over and whispered something in Yang Xiu's ear.
Yang Xiu held the brush but didn't touch the ink. It seemed he didn't plan to sign or stamp it.
The soldier left. Yang Xiu made an unhappy expression and made an unpleasant sound. He put down the brush in his hand and said, "Master Li, our Lingxiao City sent so many betrothal gifts. We're very sincere. Why didn't you say you'll cede the four western cities? Even now, you're not willing to let us see Your Highness?"
As soon as these words were said, everyone in the Li family could not hold back anymore.
Cede four cities to the west?
The four western cities were rich and prosperous. They were the most important territories and cities apart from Ancestral Dragon City. Even if the two city-states continued to fight, the Li Family would never cede these four cities to Firmament City!
"What do you mean by ceding four cities to the west? The only condition we agreed upon was for Li Yunzi to marry into the Ling Family of Firmament City as a concubine!" Madam Kong Tong said somewhat angrily.
It was one thing for this Yang Xiu to be condescending, but to actually spout such crazy words.
"Oh, you didn't mention it before, but that was then and this is now. It's not too late to add this condition now. I can wait." As Yang Xiu said this, he moved a chair from his seat.
After placing the chair in the center of the hall, Yang Xiu sat on it and took a plate of fruits from a young lady of the Li Family. She began to eat as if there was no one else present.
"How dare you!! You're just a lowly envoy. Do you think our Li Family's Imperial Court is your own backyard?! "a Dragon Shepard general of the Li Family said angrily.
"I, Yang Xiu, am representing the Ling Clan of Firmament City to negotiate with your Clan Head. As for war, it's nothing more than a decision made by some people sitting in the main hall. It's just a matter of a few words to make peace, and it's also just a matter of a few words to make war. However, some small fry not only can't decide anything, but they might even say something stupid and get their entire family wiped out. Don't you know that this young general is the former? If not, then shut your mouth! "Yang Xiu laughed. His mouth was still full of unchewed fruit.
Earlier, Yang Xiu was wearing a feathered crown and was polite, but now, he was no different from a wild ruffian. He was rude and unreasonable!
"Sir, why are you suddenly coveting the four cities to the west? If you want peace at such a price, what's wrong with starting a war?" Commander Cheng asked.
"Commander Cheng, Patriarch Li, according to this one's knowledge, your Eastern Dawn Fort has already been breached by the rebel army. They're probably marching straight into the eastern part of the Lichuan Plains … your granaries and cities are about to be plundered. Bah, such disgusting dates. "Yang Xiu spat out the seeds and phlegm on the ground as he spoke.
Li Ying's expression was grave.
Madam Kong Tong was even more surprised.
They had just heard the news. As an envoy who had just arrived at Ancestral Dragon City from the west, Yang Xiu couldn't have known about it!
Did someone leak the news??
Did that soldier just tell Yang Xiu about it, and then Yang Xiu changed his attitude?
The question was, how did he know? Even the army of Ancestral Dragon City had just learned about it.
"Mr. Yang, as you said, war is just a matter of a few words from us in front of the hall. You want us to cede our cities for no reason just because you heard about the rebellion in the east? Let's not talk about whether the source of the news is true or not. The rebellion is just a bunch of greedy people who want to be the masters of the cities. Quelling the rebellion isn't difficult. I want to know if you think you're smart enough to start a war in the west, or if your master has no intention of negotiating peace in the first place. If it's the former, I'll treat it as if you're playing a monkey for everyone's amusement. If it's the latter, then tell your master that we don't mind fighting Firmament City to the end! "Li Ying remained calm and used his words to intimidate the arrogant envoy.
However, Yang Xiu didn't listen to him.
He picked up the fruit platter again and ate the grapes one by one. He even spat the skins on the ground casually.
His disregard of the Patriarch angered everyone. The young general Dragon Husbandry even stood up and looked like he was going to kill this envoy!
Li Ying looked calm on the surface, but he was already worried sick.
If Firmament City were to send troops to attack the four rich cities from the west, Ancestral Dragon City would be attacked from both sides. It was very likely that their defensive line would be breached and they would lose a lot of land.
The problem was, if they lost the city, how could the military situation be delayed?
The hall fell silent for some reason. Everyone in the Li Family couldn't help but look at Li Ying.
Had the Eastern Dawn Fortress really been breached?
Lichuan Plain was a huge plain. Once the rebels entered it, it was like a pack of wolves entering the grassland. It would take a long time to kill them all, and many troops would have to be dispatched.
Furthermore, the eastern part of Lichuan Plain was trampled by the rebels. Even if it was recovered, it would be a mess. There would be no taxes, no grain, and Ancestral Dragon City would suffer a serious decline.
"The Patriarch didn't answer and even allowed this envoy to act like this. I'm afraid what happened at Eastern Dawn Fortress is true!" someone said in a low voice.
"Then isn't our Ancestral Dragon City really going to be trampled on?" Some people in the clan understood the current situation.
The atmosphere immediately turned heavy. Everyone was discussing among themselves, but they could only wait for the Patriarch to make a decision.
"Patriarch, let me kill this son of a bitch. I don't think Firmament City has any intention of making peace with us. They even sent this man to humiliate us!" the young general said angrily. He finally couldn't stand the arrogant man anymore.
"Everyone says the Li Family is getting worse with each generation, with countless idiots. It's true. You can come up and kill me now. If no one stops you, I will pierce my own throat with my sword. If someone stops you, you will kneel down and chew on the core and skin that I spit out! "Yang Xiu laughed loudly, his tone extremely arrogant.
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