Chapter 212 Intersex People
He felt guilty.
He had been acting like a lecherous devil just moments before, but after Meng Lingge exposed him, he immediately wanted to get down to business and even tried to send Meng Lingge away.
If it were just a woman dressed as a man, he shouldn't be so sensitive.
Meng Lingge didn't move.
Wen Zhiming said, "This is my strategist, so naturally he should listen to General Lan's deal with me."
He spoke with utmost seriousness, and immediately bestowed upon her the title of strategist.
Meng Lingge's lips twitched slightly. She knew nothing about tactics, and she couldn't possibly be a strategist.
But now that I can't embarrass Wen Zhiming, it seems I can only keep quiet and act aloof.
Seeing that she couldn't get rid of Meng Lingge, Lan Ying had no choice but to give up.
The two people in front of him were exchanging glances, which made him very unhappy. He lowered his head and fiddled with the cup on the table with a sullen face.
"This deal is actually very simple. The peace terms that our country offered to the Golden Moon Kingdom have always been disagreed with. If the King of the Northern Frontier can agree, I can persuade our emperor to fully support the King of the Northern Frontier's ascension to the throne. To show our sincerity, we can wait until the King of the Northern Frontier ascends the throne before fulfilling the contract."
Meng Lingge was slightly surprised.
Does this mean that the Blue Feather Kingdom will first help Wen Zhiming ascend to the throne of the Golden Moon Kingdom, and then execute the contract?
That's really sincere.
Isn't he afraid that if Wen Zhiming becomes emperor and empress, he won't approve of this matter and will deny the contract?
Wen Zhiming remained calm and composed. "Tell me, what conditions did you propose?"
Lan Ying said, "It's just a matter of peaceful coexistence between the two countries, with the Golden Moon Kingdom ceding five cities near our borders. But that General Leng is stubbornly refusing to agree. The King of Northern Frontier is a smart man; he shouldn't be as obstinate as they are, right?"
This contract is utterly shameless.
Previously, when King Anshun defeated them, the peace treaty they negotiated stipulated that they would cede cities to the Jin Yue Kingdom and pay tribute of precious gems, jade, horses, and weapons every year. Now, they are not giving up what they promised, and are even demanding that the Jin Yue Kingdom cede cities to them.
Who would agree to that?
General Leng would never agree to this unless he'd lost his mind.
Wen Zhiming's face remained expressionless. "Before you help me, what do I need to do?"
Lan Ying raised an eyebrow and said, "It's so refreshing to talk to smart people. We've shown our sincerity enough, so the King of Northern Frontier only needs to offer a small token of appreciation. The King of Northern Frontier can provide two hostages, two of your closest female relatives. I'll take you, the strategist, and the King of Northern Frontier's sister."
Wen Weizhu is foolish and good at getting information out of people; the strategist is clearly the person Wen Zhiming cares about most.
But Lan Ying was confident that Wen Zhiming would be moved, after all, no man would love a beautiful woman more than he loves his country.
He knew that with these two hostages, Wen Zhiming wouldn't agree to that unfair contract just to ransom the two women after the deed was done.
But that's okay, his goal isn't the contract anyway.
The Blue Feather Kingdom helped Wen Zhimo ascend to the throne; they were merely supporting forces. The real main force was still the King of the Northern Frontier.
Regardless of whether they succeed or not, the military strength of the Golden Moon Kingdom and the Northern Frontier King will be greatly reduced, and that will be the time for the Blue Feather Kingdom to show its strength.
Taking two hostages was merely to deepen Wen Zhiming's trust in him, to make him believe that he genuinely wanted to help him ascend the throne.
This hostage is destined to be a sacrifice for both sides.
After listening, Wen Zhiming simply smiled faintly and then pulled Meng Lingge to leave.
"Since General Lan is not interested in making a deal with me, I won't waste my time with you."
"King of the Northern Frontier, don't refuse too soon!" Lan Ying's lips curled into a sinister smile as he raised his voice, "Using just two women as hostages to exchange for the throne is clearly the most cost-effective deal in the world! King of the Northern Frontier, you can discuss this with your men. I await your good news!"
Lan Ying launched a surprise attack last night, intending to catch the enemy off guard. If it had succeeded and the first battle had been won, it would have been easier to negotiate terms.
Unfortunately, the Northern Frontier King was more difficult to deal with than he had imagined, causing his attempt to intimidate him to fail and lose the initiative.
But he felt it wasn't a big problem.
Unlike General Leng, the King of the Northern Frontier has no backing. To succeed, he must rely on the power of others. The people of the Golden Moon Kingdom are unlikely to help the rebel king, so the King of the Northern Frontier has no choice but to join forces with him.
He believed that Wen Zhiming was just putting on an act in front of his sweetheart, and that he would soon show weakness or force the two women to agree.
Men and women in this world are all like this; they may be deeply in love in ordinary times, but as long as there is enough benefit to tempt them, they will immediately reveal their true colors.
It's absolutely disgusting.
Wen Zhiming, who had already stepped outside, readjusted Meng Lingge's loosened face mask and held her hand, whispering something to her.
"You're scared, aren't you? Don't worry, I will never let you be a hostage. I will not agree to cede the city, nor will I put you in any danger."
Meng Lingge looked up and smiled faintly, "I believe you."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhiming's thin lips curved slightly. He took Meng Lingge's hands in his palms and gently kissed her.
Meng Lingge was afraid of being seen, so she quickly withdrew her hand.
"There are many of your soldiers outside; be careful they don't laugh at us."
Wen Zhiming wasn't afraid of being laughed at by his subordinates, but he knew Meng Lingge was shy, so he straightened his expression and kept a step distance from her.
Looking at his wife beside him, he suddenly remembered what Meng Lingge had said earlier about trying to cover up the truth.
Wen Zhiming smiled and took Meng Lingge's hand.
"You previously said that Lan Ying was trying to cover up his actions, but did you also notice something amiss with him?"
“That’s definitely not right.” Meng Lingge nodded and said, “He was eager to show his lustful nature, but his performance was exaggerated and excessive. After I pointed it out, he immediately changed the subject. Moreover, from my observation of him just now, he seems to have an instinctive aversion to intimacy between men and women.”
Liking someone can be faked, but instinctive reactions don't lie.
When Wen Zhiming moved a stool for her and shielded her behind him, a flash of disgust quickly crossed Lan Ying's eyes.
When Lan Ying held Wen Weizhu in her arms, she had a smile on her face, but there was also a chilling coldness in her eyes.
He must have abhorred all forms of intimacy between men and women.
Wen Zhiming nodded. "So, what do you think? Is Lan Ying a man or a woman?"
“His clothes aren’t thick, and his build is definitely that of a man, but like you mentioned before, his beard and Adam’s apple are more feminine, making it hard to tell if he’s male or female. Coupled with his excessive sensitivity to relationships between men and women, I suspect he might be…”
Meng Lingge didn't say the word out loud, but Wen Zhiming already understood what she meant.
It is difficult to distinguish between male and female, and it is highly likely that the person is an intersex person born with both male and female characteristics.
Because it was unacceptable to society, he could only choose one of the identities. However, he could not change his physical condition, so he pretended to be a normal man on the surface, but in reality, he could not let anyone know his secret. Naturally, he could not enjoy the love and intimacy that normal people could have.
Because he cannot have it, he instinctively feels disgust and aversion to any close physical contact between men and women he sees.
Meng Lingge lowered her voice and looked up at Wen Zhiming.
"I just have a suspicion. Green Water is a doctor, so I'll consult her later and hear her opinion. If my suspicion is true, will you tell anyone about this?"
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