The Northern Xiang Kingdom is currently weak; if war were to break out rashly, I fear...
Then another minister stepped forward to offer his advice:
"Your Majesty, the forces in Shannan are formidable; we must proceed with caution!"
"shut up!"
The king shouted angrily, interrupting the minister.
"Do you expect me to bow down to a mere brat?! When has my Northern Xiang Kingdom ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?!"
The hall was silent. The ministers looked at each other, not daring to say another word.
The king's wrath terrified them and made them realize the gravity of the situation.
A moment later, the ministers began to whisper among themselves, discussing the matter.
The pro-war faction advocated for an immediate military campaign to subdue Shannan in order to uphold national dignity.
The peace faction, on the other hand, believed that peace should be the priority, strength should be preserved, and mutual destruction should be avoided.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Shannan's actions are clearly a provocation against our Northern Xiang Kingdom, and we must not swallow this insult!"
A minister who advocated for war spoke passionately.
"Only by sending troops to teach them a lesson can we show them the might of my Northern Xiang Kingdom!"
"I second that proposal!"
Another minister who advocated for war also came forward to express his support.
"Shannan is going too far! We have to teach them a lesson!"
“Absolutely not!” a minister who advocated for peace stepped forward to object.
"Shannan is very powerful, and we should not start a war with them now, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we should prioritize peace, preserve our strength, and wait for the right opportunity!"
Another minister who advocated for peace echoed this sentiment.
In the imperial court, the pro-war and pro-peace factions argued endlessly, each holding their own views.
The king sat on his dragon throne, listening to the opinions of his ministers, and fell into deep thought.
The current state of Beixiang cannot withstand a major war; preserving its strength is the best strategy.
But if we bow down to Shannan, what face will the Northern Xiang Kingdom have left?
The king knew that this was a difficult choice.
He must choose between national dignity and national interests.
Ultimately, the king overruled all objections and ordered Chu Wen to negotiate peace with Shannan at all costs.
Even at some cost, we must avoid the outbreak of war.
Only by preserving our strength can we remain invincible in future competition.
Upon receiving the king's instructions, Chu Wen felt a surge of humiliation and rage that nearly overwhelmed his reason.
Peace talks! They actually want him to negotiate peace!
When had he, a dignified envoy from the Northern Xiang Kingdom, ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?!
He could almost picture Lu Yan's smug face, and his heart was filled with resentment.
Damn it! He clenched his teeth so tightly they almost broke.
He suddenly stopped and slammed his fist into the palace wall, leaving a deep dent in the hard brick.
The excruciating pain emanated from his finger bones, but it paled in comparison to even a fraction of the agony in his heart.
Although he was unwilling to accept the king's decision, he understood that it was the best option at the moment.
The Northern Xiang Kingdom cannot withstand a major war; he must endure humiliation and hardship to fight for a glimmer of hope for the country.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the surging emotions in his heart and put the thin edict back into his sleeve.
When he arrived at the Shannan Prefectural Government Office again, his steps were as heavy as if they were made of lead.
Every step felt like a trampling on his dignity, making it hard for him to breathe.
This time, he did not adopt the arrogant attitude he had before.
Because this time he represents not only himself, but also the fate of the entire Northern Xiang Kingdom.
"Lord Lu,"
Chu Wen took a deep breath, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.
He had to endure it; for the sake of the future of Beixiang Kingdom, he had to force himself to swallow this bitter pill.
"I was confused before and misunderstood your meaning, sir."
He uttered the words with difficulty, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Now I have figured it out,"
Chu Wen paused, then forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Your request is reasonable and justified, and I am willing to grant it all."
Each word felt like a heavy burden, making it hard for him to breathe.
Lu Yan's gaze was sharp as a knife, able to pierce through Chu Wen's feigned calm and reach the turbulent waves churning deep within his heart.
He looked at Chu Wen with a half-smile, thinking to himself:
That old fox has finally given in.
"It's good that Lord Chu has figured it out."
Lu Yan spoke calmly.
"In that case, please have Lord Chu prepare the compensation money and the written apology."
"I will send someone to take over in three days."
Chu Wen clenched his teeth so tightly they almost broke.
But he nodded anyway, reluctantly agreeing.
In this battle, the Northern Xiang Kingdom suffered a complete defeat.
Three days later, Chu Wen delivered one million taels of silver and a letter of apology to Shannan Prefecture as Lu Yan had requested.
The heavy silver and the still-wet ink on the documents weighed him down like a mountain, making it almost impossible for him to lift his head.
Seeing that Chu Wen's attitude was sincere, Lu Yan decided to stop while he was ahead.
They agreed to release Princess Mingyue and resume trade between the two countries.
Thus, the conflict between Shannan and Beixiang Kingdom came to a temporary end.
After Princess Mingyue returned to Beixiang Kingdom, her longing for Lu Yan grew even stronger.
She recalled her days in Shannan Prefecture, and Lu Yan's every smile, every gesture.
Although he appeared indifferent to her, he would always inadvertently reveal his care and concern for her.
Princess Mingyue lost her appetite and became absent-minded all day long.
I often sit alone by the window, gazing into the distance in a daze.
Lu Yan's image filled my mind.
Her maidservant watched with growing anxiety.
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