"Kongming, I won't beat around the bush. Yesterday, my lord and I discussed that, in addition to handing over Lü Meng, we are willing to form a marriage alliance with Lord Liu. I wonder if this is acceptable?"

Lu Su got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

Zhuge Liang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh? A marriage alliance?"

Lu Su nodded and replied, "My lord's younger sister, Sun Shangxiang, is of marriageable age. My lord hopes that she can marry Lord Liu. If this is successful, the three counties of Jingzhou can be offered as a dowry. Our Sun-Liu alliance will remain intact, and we will jointly resist Cao Cao!"

Zhuge Liang thought to himself, "Sun Quan is really willing to spend so much!"

Would you trade your own sister for the three counties of Jingzhou?

However, Zhuge Liang did not show any joy; instead, he frowned.

"Lu Zijing, you're asking too much of a question. You think you can exchange a mere woman for three counties of Jingzhou?"

"That's not how you do business!"

"So what do you want?"

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and said, "We must return the three counties of Jingzhou, and hand over Lü Meng. As for this marriage alliance, let's forget about it!"

Lu Su fell silent. This Zhuge Liang was truly impervious to reason. It seemed he had no choice but to resort to his trump card.

"Kongming, let's speak frankly."

"The marriage alliance that my lord proposed is the best outcome. Forcing my lord to join forces with Cao Cao... that would probably not be a good thing!"

Lu Su's threat was palpable!

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's expression changed slightly. He stared coldly at Lu Su, and the tension between the two was palpable.

"Brother Zijing, are you threatening me?" Zhuge Liang asked coldly.

Lu Su laughed heartily: "Kongming, my lord was forced into this situation. We still hope that the Sun-Liu alliance can continue!"