Chapter 45 The Negotiation Failed

Everyone in Bianliang City knew about the all-powerful Governor Song.

Song Mingde came ashore with a group of more than ten people, their presence particularly striking. As the crowd grew, the lanterns hanging on the shore shone brightly, and someone immediately spotted him.

Those who recognized Song Mingde were horrified, pulling their sleeves to shield their faces and hastily retreating. As he retreated, those around him instinctively turned their gazes. The Qiongyu Tower was frequented by high-ranking officials, and now even more people recognized Song Mingde. The chaos at the entrance to the Qiongyu Tower, which had been caused by Yelu Huishi's rude intrusion, erupted again.

Some people were afraid of the factory supervisor's minions, but because of their status, they couldn't help but murmur, "It's okay if the Liao people come, but why are the eunuchs coming to Qiong today - Ugh!"

Song Mingde looked straight ahead, the hem of his red python robe fluttering as he advanced with the gait of a dragon and a tiger. Behind him, the blue-robed soldier expressionlessly slashed the hilt of his knife, emitting a piercing cold light. Immediately, the man who had spoken felt a sudden pain and heat on his neck. He reached up with a trembling hand to touch it, only to find his hand was covered in warmth.

He immediately sat down on the ground, sweating profusely and gasping for breath in fear.

The messy doorway suddenly became quiet.

The situation in the room on the seventh floor was tense.

Agu knew Yelü Huishi had a bad temper and was somewhat impulsive and rash. But he had assumed that Yelü Duhan, who had managed to escape the Empress's pursuit to Bianliang alive, establish himself and expand his power, must have been a man of deep cunning and deep calculation. He hadn't expected that upon meeting him, he would reveal his sarcastic temper, rivaling Yelü Huishi's.

He couldn't help but stretch out his hand and press it tightly on Yelu Huishi's shoulder.

Yelu Huishi, twice rejected by Lou Chengyi, was filled with resentment. He suppressed his anger and sneered, "You're just showing off. Let me tell you, the Wanyan tribe no longer exists! You have no support in Shangjing. Give up your position in Bianliang and return to Shangjing. The emperor will make your name known to the world. Otherwise—you'll be joining Tianshui, and don't blame me for making sure you never return to Shangjing."

There was a warning in his tone.

Lou Chengyi rested one hand on the edge of the table, his arm ring touching the edge of the pear wood, and his fingertips tapped the teacup.

Hand over the secret agent in Bianliang... He was afraid that if he handed over the person in his hands, he would never be able to return to Shangjing.

Ever since the Battle of Tianshui between Northern Liao and Liao, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have remained undecided. It's winter now, but Northern Liao's winter will pass. With the arrival of spring, the grass and water will become lush, and the war horses and cavalry will be well-fed and strong. Then, when the troops march south, they may well engage in another battle with Tianshui.

By then, it goes without saying how important the eyes and ears of Bianliang were.

He had been away for far too long, long enough for the Wanyan clan to be annexed by the Tulu clan, long enough for him to be isolated and helpless in the imperial court of Shangjing. Since the Empress had murdered Lady Wanyan, she naturally wouldn't let Lou Chengyi off, and the Northern Liao Emperor wouldn't necessarily trust him much either. Under these circumstances, it was even less likely that he would relinquish power and submit to the guillotine.

Bei Liao longed to get the intricate information network run by Qiong Yu Lou for many years. Qiong Yu Lou was the biggest bargaining chip in Lou Chengyi's hand, and the news of Bianliang must be in his hands alone.

Yelu Huishi looked grim, Lou Chengyi held the cup in his hand without saying a word, and the atmosphere in the empty room suddenly became silent.

“Knock knock knock…”

A slightly staccato knocking sound came from the side. The person in the house was startled and turned his head to look in the direction of the sound.

On the seventh floor, someone opened a carved window from the outside and placed a hand against it. A masked face peeked out from below, its piercing eyes meeting the gaze of the person confronting them inside.

"Song Mingde is downstairs." A slightly distorted voice came through the mask, and it could be heard that it was a girl's: "Are you going to leave or hide?"

Who are you talking to?

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Agu and Yelu Huishi subconsciously looked at Lou Chengyi who was sitting opposite them.

Lou Chengyi was staring out the window, no longer looking at them. His expression changed slightly, the sinister look between his brows dissipating, a hint of surprise appearing. His hand loosened its grip on the teacup, involuntarily resting on the table.

Several footsteps hidden among the chaotic floors were getting closer and closer, heading straight for the seventh floor.

Wen Yao was very patient. He climbed steadily on the high-rise window and asked again: "He brought a lot of people with him, and they are almost here now. Do you want to leave or stay and find a place to hide?"

"……snort."

Lou Chengyi's expression suddenly darkened, and he said in an inexplicable tone, "You still remember to come here."

Oh.

Wen Yao almost couldn't catch his breath and rolled his eyes behind the mask.

Oh yes, oh yes, I’m here, I shouldn’t have come.

She thought about it for a long time, and finally put on the mask, climbed over the wall and went straight to Qiong Yu Tower under Zhao Xuanxu's gaze of "Didn't you say to ignore him?", then ran into Song Mingde at the door of Qiong Yu Tower.

Wen Yao knew that things were going to get bad. As expected, Song Mingde went to Qiongyu Tower after leaving the palace, just as Zhao Xuanxu had predicted.

The waterway was crowded, with small boats with red lanterns hanging everywhere. Wen Yao's boat was inconspicuous among the large group.

She asked the boatman to pull up behind Song Mingde's boat and followed Governor Song closely. As she watched Song Mingde walk into the Qiongyu Building, she immediately climbed up to the seventh floor by hooking onto the eaves outside.

I reminded them with good intentions, but they didn't appreciate it.

There was a commotion outside, and Ning'er heard the noise. She hesitated, then hesitated, before finally shutting her mouth.

When the master is talking to Miss Wen, it is better for others not to speak.

Wen Yao waited, but Lou Chengyi was still sitting on the chair. She lost all patience and said, "Come here quickly."

"Hmph." Lou Chengyi stood up and walked towards the window. "Why are you afraid of that eunuch? Is there a law in Bianliang that prohibits the prince of Northern Liao from visiting brothels?"

Wen Yao raised his hand, and just before the person outside was about to push the door in, he hooked Lou Chengyi's neck and jumped down with him.

Her movements were quick and decisive without hesitation. The guards hiding in the dark were terrified when they saw her jumping off the building with their master, and they could hardly help but lean over to catch him.

Wen Yao placed one hand on Lou Chengyi's lower back and, with the other, pulled out a palm-sized iron box. He aimed at a pillar and flipped a switch. A pinky-thick rope, held by a sharp hook, shot out and sank into the pillar with a muffled sound. Wen Yao grabbed the iron box with one hand, and with a flick of his wrist, he brought Lou Chengyi to a steady position on the next eaves.

The night wind howled, and the boats on the river gathered into the palm-sized leaves. The lights, like flowing water, shone brightly. Amidst the high-rise buildings draped in flowing red silk, a hand with slender fingers and a white jade ring on its thumb rested firmly on the seventh-floor window frame.

Song Mingde walked to the window, the corners of his red robe fluttering in the wind, and he lowered his eyes to look at the empty space outside.

No one, no one.

"What do you mean, sir?" Ning'er, without her soft sword, stood aside, holding her pipa. Her expression changed so quickly from panic to forced composure that the three Liao people across from her were shocked. "Why did you suddenly barge in? I—"

"Where is your master?" Song Mingde was in a bad mood and didn't bother to say anything more: "Let him come out."

Ning'er paused and said, "My master has other business to attend to, so he's not in Qiongyu Tower these days."

Song Mingde turned around, took off the token from his waist and threw it into the hands of someone beside him: "Search."

The guards who followed in immediately began to search the house. They pressed the surrounding walls with great experience to check if there were any partitions or secret rooms inside. They ignored Yelu Huishi and others who were standing in the house.

The anger that had been lingering in Yelu Huishi's heart for a long time exploded. He threw the things on the table to the ground, slammed the table and stood up: "You are so brave!"

"Oh." Song Mingde finally looked at Yelu Hui, his eyes squinting slightly, his face still expressionless. Except for smiling in front of the emperor, he always had a sinister look in front of others. "Your Highness, what are your instructions?"

Yelu Huishi stood up and looked at him for a long time without saying anything. He really didn't want to cover up for Lou Chengyi. If possible, he really hoped that Lou Chengyi's identity would be exposed and he would die in Bianliang.

"There are only four of us here." He narrowed his eyes and finally spoke slowly, "Are you blind? Can't you see?"

"My eyes are very good, Your Highness, don't worry." Song Mingde remained unmoved, his handsome features showing undisguised annoyance. He said, "Your Highness is of noble status, so don't wander around casually. If something happens in Tianshui, it will be detrimental to the diplomatic relations between the two countries. You, escort Your Highness back to Duting Inn."

Several soldiers responded, stepped forward and drew their long swords.

Agu didn't expect Song Mingde to be so arrogant. He drew his knife and blocked Yelu Huishi. At the same time, he couldn't help thinking that Tianshui valued etiquette, but why were these people who had stayed in Bianliang for a long time so arrogant and didn't show any mercy in their words and deeds.

Agu hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and whispered something in Yelu Huishi's ear. Yelu Huishi's expression remained grim, but he said nothing more. He gave Song Mingde a fierce look and strode away.

After the others left, Ning'er stood aside and whispered, "If you want to investigate, then do so. If you wish to see the master, I can also make an introduction for you."

Song Mingde didn't look at her and exhaled lightly through his nose.

Although the room was large, the walls were solid, and there was no secret passage. The guards searched the room but found nothing.

Song Mingde raised his hand, and several people immediately stopped what they were doing and fell silent, watching the governor walk back to the window and look down with an uncertain expression.

Meanwhile, Wen Yao and Lou Chengyi were sitting at a wonton stand in an alley, eating wontons. The wonton soup, made from winter melon, pork bones, and other ingredients, was steaming hot, its aroma filling the air.

Lou Chengyi sat on the rough wooden bench and stared at Wen Yao.

Two large bowls of wontons were served. Wen Yao pushed one of them in front of Lou Chengyi and picked up the jar beside him and shook it: "Do you want vinegar?"

"Add, why not?" Lou Chengyi couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Why did you come out to see me? King Yan won't give you wontons?"

Wen Yao poured a large spoonful of vinegar into his bowl and said, "When are you planning to leave? It's best not to go with the delegation. It will easily attract Song Mingde's attention. He's already got his eyes on you."

"...After the banquet, I will not leave with Yelu Huishi." Lou Chengyi scooped up the wontons, and after taking a sip of the soup, he frowned at the sour smell that filled the air.

It was obviously he who wanted to add vinegar, and now he is also the one who is disliked.

"Why did you add so much vinegar?"

Wen Yao ignored him and continued, "You had an unhappy time with Yelu Hui just now, and you didn't reach an agreement. If you return to Northern Liao, you will be unhappy with even more people, and your life will probably not be easy in the next few years."

Lou Chengyi stared at her for a while, then chuckled and said, "The day will come sooner or later for me to become the Emperor of Northern Liao. I've been preparing for this for many years."

"You have ambition." Wen Yao blew the wonton and swallowed it in one gulp. "I'll see you off on the day you leave, even to the city gate."

Lou Chengyi's eyes moved slightly, but he didn't say anything. He sat opposite and watched Wen Yao pick out the green onions from the wontons and eat them one by one.

The wonton soup was hot, so she took off her mask and put it aside. A layer of sweat appeared on her forehead and nose. She looked very healthy and full of energy.

Lou Chengyi's throat trembled, and he reached into his sleeve to pull out a token, handing it to Wen Yao: "When I become emperor, come find me and I'll take you around Northern Liao."

"Ouch." Wen Yao wiped his lips and took the token to look at it. The token was heavy, with a dark center and an extremely majestic and fierce Saker Falcon with its wings spread out. "What a handsome eagle!"

"This is the totem of the Wanyan tribe." Lou Chengyi looked at her, and his usually arrogant expression softened a little, and all the anger from the unpleasant parting a few days ago dissipated.

When he fled from the Northern Liao King's tent in a panic, the thing he was determined to protect at all costs was this token that his mother had given him before her death, so that he could recognize his uncle in Bianliang.

"Keep it." Lou Chengyi leaned forward, stared into Wen Yao's eyes and reminded him again: "When I become emperor, remember to come and see me."

"Okay." Wen Yao treated this thing as a pass, immediately hung it on his waist and patted it, then raised his head and smiled at Lou Chengyi: "When I can't make it anymore, I'll come to your place and eat and drink for free."