Princess Mingyue pouted, looking aggrieved, and said:
"Father, how can you call Lu Yan a pig? If he's a pig, then wouldn't your daughter be a pig too?"
The King of Beixiang was speechless for a moment after hearing his daughter's words.
His expression softened somewhat, and he said:
"I was just using an analogy. How could that brat Lu Yan be worthy of my precious daughter?"
Princess Mingyue rolled her eyes and said:
"Father, I've heard that Lu Yan is still unmarried. If I were to marry him, wouldn't that be a perfect way to win him over?"
"At that time, won't Shannan Prefecture be in the pocket of our Beixiang Kingdom?"
The King of Beixiang pondered for a moment and said:
"That being said, I am still somewhat uneasy."
"Lu Yan is a cunning fellow. What if he's just pretending to agree and actually has other plans?"
"Moreover, Lu Yan actually killed all the envoys I sent, he simply doesn't respect me at all,"
Princess Mingyue opened her mouth to say something but was rejected.
"Alright, my mind is made up. If you dare to speak up for Lu Yan again, I will confine you to your quarters!"
"Father, please calm down," Princess Mingyue gently advised.
"I am only thinking of the country. Since Father does not agree, I will think of another way."
As she spoke, she secretly wiped away non-existent tears, turned around, and left the main hall.
Princess Mingyue felt extremely aggrieved.
She, a princess of a nation, was actually belittled by her father, the king.
I was even humiliated by that guy Lu Yan, it's infuriating!
No, she had to find a way to stop this war!
Although Lu Yan is despicable, he is a rare talent.
If a real war breaks out, the Northern Xiang Kingdom may not necessarily come out on top.
After much deliberation, Princess Mingyue decided to consult with Prime Minister Liu Bowen for a solution.
Liu Bowen was a senior minister of the Northern Xiang Kingdom, known for his wisdom and resourcefulness.
He enjoys the king's deep trust and might be able to persuade his father to change his mind.
Princess Mingyue arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.
He told Liu Bowen everything he had experienced in Shannan Prefecture.
Of course, she selectively concealed the fact that Lu Yan had humiliated her.
"Prime Minister, Lu Yan is no ordinary man. Under his rule, Shannan Prefecture is simply a paradise on earth!"
"The people live in peace and contentment, commerce is thriving, and even the soldiers are well-trained and well-equipped!"
"If we attack rashly, we will likely suffer heavy losses!"
Princess Mingyue spoke with great emotion.
She even secretly wiped away non-existent tears, her acting skills were comparable to those of a drama queen.
Liu Bowen stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and asked:
"Is what the princess said true? Does Lu Yan really possess such abilities?"
Princess Mingyue nodded vigorously.
"Absolutely true! My daughter saw it with her own eyes, why would she lie to you?"
"The musketeers of Shannan Prefecture are simply divine, hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces away, their power is unparalleled!"
"And then there are the special forces, who come and go without a trace, killing without a sound!"
"Our soldiers from Beixiang Kingdom are no match for them at all!"
Princess Mingyue embellished the description of Shannan Prefecture's military strength.
Hopefully, Liu Bowen will realize the seriousness of the problem.
After listening to Princess Mingyue's description, Liu Bowen frowned and pondered to himself.
He knew that although Princess Mingyue was willful and capricious, she was not someone who spoke carelessly.
If what she said is true, then Lu Yan is indeed a person not to be underestimated.
“Your Highness, this matter is of great importance, and this old minister needs to consider it carefully.”
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, this old minister will do his utmost to persuade Your Majesty to abandon the plan to attack Shannan Prefecture."
Liu Bowen said solemnly.
Princess Mingyue was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you, Prime Minister! I would be eternally grateful if this war could be stopped!"
After seeing Princess Mingyue off, Liu Bowen rubbed his aching temples.
This princess, though young, has a more dramatic flair than even the leading actresses in the Peking Opera world.
She was crying her eyes out; anyone who didn't know better would think Lu Yan had done something to her.
However, her words aroused Liu Bowen's suspicion.
Is Shannan Prefecture really as impregnable as she said?
Could a mere prefect really possess such extraordinary abilities?
Liu Bowen stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming.
He decided to send someone to Shannan Prefecture to investigate the situation.
He summoned his trusted aides and gave them instructions:
"Disguise yourself and infiltrate Shannan Prefecture. Make sure you find out the situation there thoroughly, especially regarding military matters. There must be no mistakes!"
The scout accepted the order and left, returning with news within a few days.
The situation in Shannan Prefecture was exactly the same as what Princess Mingyue had said!
The musketeers were crack shots from a hundred paces, and the special forces were elusive and unpredictable.
People live in peace and contentment, and businesses are thriving; it's practically paradise on earth!
The scout also brought back several rare items produced in Shannan Prefecture.
Exquisite craftsmanship, unheard of before.
Liu Bowen held a strangely shaped lighter and marveled at it.
This thing is probably something even the most skilled craftsmen in the palace couldn't make!
He made up his mind and immediately went to the palace to meet the King of Beixiang.
"Your Majesty, I believe that attacking Shannan Prefecture is not a wise move."
Liu Bowen got straight to the point.
Upon hearing this, the King of Beixiang was immediately enraged:
"Liu Bowen, what do you mean by this? What about my dignity?"
"Am I supposed to swallow this insult and let that brat Lu Yan bully my Northern Xiang Kingdom?"
Liu Bowen remained calm and presented the news brought back by his scouts, along with several goods from Shannan Prefecture.
"Your Majesty, please look, these are the goods produced in Shannan Prefecture. Their craftsmanship far surpasses that of my Beixiang Kingdom."
"Moreover, according to reports from our spies, the military strength of Shannan Prefecture is far beyond our imagination."
"Those musketeer squads and special forces are all elite troops. If we attack rashly, we will likely suffer heavy losses!"
The King of Beixiang looked at those exquisite gadgets, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
Although he was ambitious and eager for quick success, he was not a fool.
He knew that what Liu Bowen said was true.
"Then, in the Prime Minister's opinion, what should be done?"
The King of Beixiang softened his tone somewhat.
Liu Bowen cupped his hands and said:
"I believe that it is better to turn hostility into friendship than to fight each other."
"Wouldn't it be a win-win situation to establish friendly relations with Shannan Prefecture and engage in trade?"
The King of Beixiang pondered for a moment, though he felt unwilling.
But in the end, they adopted Liu Bowen's suggestion.
"Very well, let's do as the Prime Minister says. You go to Shannan Prefecture yourself and discuss this matter with Lu Yan."
Liu Bowen accepted the order and prepared to set off for Shannan Prefecture.
Meanwhile, Lu Yan was leisurely sipping tea and playing with a parrot in the back garden of the Shannan government office.
"My little darling, do you think the Northern Xiang Kingdom might attack us?"
Lu Yan asked with a smile.
The parrot tilted its head and mimicked Lu Yan's tone, saying:
"Attack? Let them attack! What's there to be afraid of!"
Lu Yan laughed heartily.
"Well said! What's there to be afraid of! Do you think I'm afraid of them?"
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