Each crisp sound was like a heavy hammer blow to her heart, making her increasingly fearful and uneasy.

It felt as if the next second, this terrifying sound would drag them into an endless abyss of darkness, from which they would never be able to escape.

Xinghua dared not even imagine whether she could walk out of the study room unharmed.

After all, she already knew about Chengxiao's ambition, which was as hidden as a treasure buried underground for thousands of years.

She learned things that she shouldn't have known, things that, if revealed, could lead to her death.

Who can guarantee that what awaits her won't be a sudden, nightmarish catastrophe?

Every thought was like a sharp blade, cutting through her heart and leaving behind painful and fearful wounds.

Qin Qianluo was deeply immersed in thinking about the situation, and the air around her seemed to freeze because of her concentration.

Just then, the clear and melodious sound of silver bells rang out, though it seemed particularly abrupt in the context.

Like a sharp little knife, it pierced the silence and quietly slipped into her ear.

Her eyes, which had been languid and slightly lowered, seemed to be gently touched by this sudden voice, and she slowly raised them like a sleeping beast being awakened.

As his gaze shifted, it seemed to twinkle like stars in a cold night, landing precisely on the person opposite him.

Xinghua was no longer the composed, calm, and aloof woman she had been when she first entered the study room.

At this moment, she was flustered like a frightened bird, and fear and unease surged from the bottom of her heart like a raging tide, completely engulfing her.

Her eyes were filled with helplessness and panic, like a frightened fawn that had stumbled into a hunter's trap, her body trembling slightly, as if a gentle breeze could knock her over.

Qin Qianlu was incredibly intelligent and perceptive. In the blink of an eye, she could see through the clouds and instantly understand what the other person was thinking.

The corners of her delicate lips curved slightly, revealing a subtle, meaningful smile.

Like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, it slowly ripples across her face.

This smile contained both a clear understanding of the situation and a hint of playful mockery of the present circumstances, as if silently conveying that everything was under control.

In fact, in the grand scheme meticulously planned by Qin Qianluo, whether the other party knew about this matter or not did not have a significant impact on the overall situation.

If the Miao king hears of this century-old alliance and is blinded by the burning rage in his heart, he might recklessly declare war on the Chengxiao Kingdom.

For Qin Qianluo, this was an unexpected surprise, as it saved her from the long, meticulously planned wait of a century.

After all, the difference in strength between Miao Jiang and Cheng Xiao is like the difference between heaven and earth, and Miao Jiang has absolutely no chance of winning in this contest.

Even though they rely on the mysterious and terrifying Gu worm technique, the power of Gu worms, though wondrous and bizarre, is still remarkable.

However, they ultimately could not control all the people in a vast and populous country.

If Miao Jiang rashly provokes war, then Cheng Xiao will have another righteous and irrefutable reason to send troops, just like wielding the sword of justice.

At that time, Chengxiao's army marched out with overwhelming force, its banners obscuring the sun and its golden spears gleaming, surging towards Miao territory like a raging torrent to quell the Miao rebellion and recover lost land.

This can be described as having a legitimate cause, conforming to the principles of heaven and the will of the people, and will surely leave a strong mark in the long river of history.

As for the Miao people's attempt to reverse the situation and achieve their goals by controlling the emperor, in Qin Qianluo's view, this was undoubtedly wishful thinking and utterly absurd.

Not to mention that the retired emperor is still alive and well, sitting firmly behind the scenes in the court, controlling the delicate balance of the situation like a pillar of stability.

The various factions within the court were deeply intertwined and mutually restraining, making it impossible for one person to easily shake the imperial power.

Even without the powerful check and balance of the retired emperor, Feng Qingyun, who was by Qin Qianluo's side, was like an unbreakable steel barrier protecting her.

Feng Qingyun's existence is like a sharp sword hanging high in the sky, deterring all those with ill intentions.

If the Miao King assesses the situation, weighs the pros and cons, and chooses to agree to the century-long alliance proposed by Qin Qianluo.

That was naturally a win-win situation, exactly what Qin Qianluo wanted.

In this way, not a single soldier is lost, no bloodshed is required, and there is no need to see people displaced or suffer immense loss of life.

This would allow the mysterious and vast land of Miao territory to be quietly incorporated into Chengxiao's territory.

This bloodless and profitable strategy is undoubtedly the best outcome that Qin Qianluo hoped to see.

Like a meticulously crafted jade piece, it perfectly matched the blueprint in her heart.

If the Miao king pretends not to know and acts as if this matter never happened, ignoring this century-old agreement, it will not cause any major problems.

After all, the Emperor will bring this up at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner, it's just not now.

Furthermore, the Miao King was already quite old, and the marks of time had already quietly crept onto his body, like the leaves of late autumn gradually turning yellow.

The ideas and actions of the next Miao king are fraught with uncertainty and variables.

Like a ship sailing on a vast ocean, without a clear course, who can accurately predict where it will go?

Seeing the Miao saintess opposite him grow increasingly nervous, her body trembling slightly, like a fallen leaf shivering in the autumn wind, every subtle movement revealing her inner fear.

Qin Qianluo let out a soft breath, breaking the slightly oppressive and dull quiet atmosphere.

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