The Chahar people slaughtered cattle and sheep, sang and danced to welcome the guests from afar.

The scene seemed very enthusiastic, but only those in power could see the dangers lurking everywhere. Especially for Yan Sikong, it was more like a grand banquet.

Yan Sikong and Feng Ye had just sat down when they heard the guards shout, "The envoy from Dasheng has arrived—"

The envoys' delegation consisted of thirteen people in total, excluding the guards. They were led by Ren Zhuo, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, and two historians, as well as some clerks and personal guards. Ren Zhuo brought two historians, two clerks, and two personal guards to the banquet this time.

Yan Sikong and Ren Zhuo knew each other and had had official dealings in the court in the past, but they were not very close. Ren Zhuo did not have outstanding political achievements and was not from a Hanlin family, but he was an excellent eloquent person and was very versatile. He was able to thrive in the court and was also proficient in Mongolian and Jurchen, making him the perfect choice for an envoy.

Seeing Ren Zhuo coming in, Yan Sikong looked at them calmly.

Ren Zhuo walked into the tent, looked around, found Yan Sikong, smiled contemptuously, and then bowed and greeted Nada Khan.

After the greeting, Ren Zhuo turned around and looked at Yan Sikong with disdain: "Hey, Prince Consort Yan, Lord Yan, long time no see, I hope you are well."

Yan Sikong stood up and bowed, saying, "Mr. Ren, it has been a long time since we last met in the capital. I am relieved to see that you and I are both doing well."

Ren Zhuo bowed his hands to the sky and said, "I have received the grace of heaven, which is like a heavy burden. I am always trembling with fear and exhausting myself, fearing that I will let down Your Majesty and the people. I really dare not say anything good. How can I compare to the Prince Consort of Yan, who is versatile and adaptable? If I can protect myself, I will be safe."

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "Master Shao Cheng, what you said makes me feel ashamed."

"Shame?" Ren Zhuo sneered, "A person who betrayed his teacher and ancestors, colluded with the enemy and betrayed his country, would also feel ashamed?"

Yan Sikong said calmly, "I obeyed Xie Zhongren in the past, and I endured humiliation and hardships. It was an expedient measure to completely overthrow the eunuch party. People don't understand me, but I have no regrets. Now I want to help the King of Chu take back the crown prince position that originally belonged to him, and it is also for the sake of the people of the world. At most, I sentenced Your Majesty, but I didn't commit treason."

"You are shameless!" Ren Zhuo shouted, "You betrayed His Majesty, which is treason."

Yan Sikong curled his lips and smiled: "The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least important. I am dedicated to the country and the people. I know that the country can be without the king, but it cannot be without the people."

“You are really…”

"That's enough, stop arguing." Nadahan shouted unhappily, "Everyone please take a seat first."

Yan Sikong calmly sat back in his seat and faced Ren Zhuo from a distance. Their eyes met, and there was a coldness flashing in their eyes mixed with murderous intent.

Nada Khan raised the wine jar and said: "No matter why you have come to Chahar, you are guests from afar. You cannot let others think that Chahar does not know how to entertain guests. Let me offer you a glass of wine first."

Everyone drank the wine together with Nada Khan.

After drinking, Nada Khan began to talk about the generations of friendship between Chahar and the Central Plains. Although every word he said was nonsense, it still received a warm response. It seems that Nada Khan may not have made any progress in other aspects after having been in contact with the Han people for a long time, but he has learned a lot of courtesy and hypocrisy.

Ren Zhuo echoed and flattered him to the utmost, showing that the court and Chahar had an alliance and were very close. Yan Sikong just smiled and said nothing.

A group of Mongolian women with bare white arms, slender waists and long legs streamed into the tent and entertained the banquet with dance and music.

It was already bitterly cold in winter, and even though there was a huge brazier in the tent, even a strong man would not be able to stand wearing such thin cloth. However, they seemed to be unaware of it, and always had a dashing smile on their faces. Their dancing was not as charming and gentle as the women in the Central Plains, but as bold and powerful as the galloping horses on the grassland, which made a group of Han people applaud and sigh in admiration.

Yan Sikong and Feng Ye looked at each other, their hearts were filled with undercurrents, and they had no time to appreciate the exotic singing and dancing, because life and death, success and failure depended on this meal.

Feng Ye held Yan Sikong's hand under the table and exerted force secretly.

Yan Sikong's hands were a little painful from being held, but this pain gave him a sense of stability, as if even if the sky fell and the earth collapsed, as long as Feng Ye was by his side, he would be fearless and invincible.

At the banquet, cups were clinked and music was played. Nada Khan laughed and chatted with them, and even ordered the dancers to pour wine and feed them food, as if as long as the wine was strong enough and the women were wild enough, no one would forget the sinister murderous intent lurking beneath the banquet.

The dinner lasted for two full hours, dusk had completely covered the earth, and many people were drunk.

Nada Khan suddenly waved away the dancer and turned the golden and jade wine jar in his rough hands: "This thing was given to me by the Emperor of Dasheng. I heard that one of them could buy me a hundred horses. Is it true?"

Ren Zhuo smiled and said, "The treasures that your majesty gave to the Khan are naturally carefully selected treasures, worthy of the Khan's noble status."

Nada Khan nodded and said: "Only you Han people can make such exquisite things. Thank you, Emperor Dasheng."

"Your Majesty, although you live far away in the capital, you will surely be able to feel the Khan's sincerity. When I return to the court one day, I will report to you the Khan's admiration for my Dasheng."

Nada Khan laughed.

Yan Sikong bowed and said, "The Khan speaks Chinese well, and so do his princes and ministers, which shows that the Khan recognizes the culture of the Central Plains. Chahar borders Datong Prefecture, and I have seen that many things here have a lot of roots in Datong."

Nada Khan said: "Yes, our clothing and eating habits are most influenced by the Northwest."

"From this perspective, Chahar and Datong should become good neighbors."

Nadahan smiled and said nothing.

Ren Zhuo sneered, "Prince Consort Yan, I advise you not to waste your energy."

Yan Sikong raised his eyebrows and looked at Ren Zhuo.

Ren Zhuo took out a scroll from his sleeve: "Do you know what this is?"

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes.

Yan Sikong said calmly: "I don't have a sharp eye, how can I read through paper? Please explain it to me, Master Shao Cheng."

"This." Ren Zhuo glanced at Nada Khan and said proudly, "This is the tribute document signed by my Dasheng and the Khan."

Yan Sikong felt his scalp tingling. Although he had expected this, he didn't expect that they had already signed the document and Ren Zhuo would bring it up so blatantly to provoke him.

Feng Ye asked in a deep voice: "When was it signed?"

Ren Zhuo looked at Yan Sikong coldly: "Before you arrive."

Feng Ye clenched his fists, with murderous aura emanating from his body.

Nada Khan fooled them. He had already signed a tribute agreement with the court before they came. He also tricked them into coming to Chahar, obviously just to kidnap Yan Sikong and send him to the court as a favor!

Yan Sikong took a deep breath, and his palms were immediately covered with sweat. He thought that Nada Khan was still hesitating, and he did not expect the court to react so quickly and actually signed the document of tribute. Their mission was completely a trap.

Yan Sikong stood up and looked at Nada Khan calmly, saying neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Since the Khan has already signed a tribute document with the court, he still invites us to come for peace talks. Is it to send me to the court to win credit?"

Nada Khan laughed and said, "To be honest, if you were the one who went on the first mission, maybe the result would be different now."

Yan Sikong said expressionlessly, "Then what is this banquet for?"

"Of course, it's to entertain guests." Nada Khan smiled sinisterly, "I killed your envoys, and the Han people called me a barbarian who didn't know the rules, so this time I will treat you as envoys." He leaned forward and smiled evilly, "How do you think I entertained you well?"

Ren Zhuo and others burst into laughter, and all the Mongolian generals in the room laughed wildly. Yan Sikong and Feng Ye sat alone among them, like two lambs in a wolf's den, who might be torn to pieces at any time.

However, Yan Sikong cannot be a lamb, and Feng Ye is a real wolf from head to toe.

Feng Ye stood up and walked to Yan Sikong's side. The Chahar guards around him drew out their swords in unison, and there was a startling "swish" sound.

Yan Sikong and Feng Ye's eyes met, and only determination and perseverance remained in their eyes. Yan Sikong bowed and said, "In this case, as long as the banquet is not over, we are still the Khan's guests, right?"

Nadahan chuckled, "Yes, yes, how long do you want the banquet to last? How about tomorrow morning?"

Yan Sikong did not answer. He looked at Ren Zhuo and said, "Master Shao Cheng, since you are a guest and I am a guest, there is no distinction between the host and the guest. I will speak freely."

Ren Zhuo raised his eyebrows: "Yan Sikong, you really won't give up until you reach the Yellow River. What else can you come up with?"

"Could you please show me this tribute letter?"

"Are you frightened out of your wits? How could I show a secret document of the imperial court to a traitor like you?" Ren Zhuo shook the document in his hand. "Besides, the Khan is right here, how could it be fake?"

"The content of the document is of course true, but the document is not valid." Yan Sikong said seriously.

"What did you say?" Ren Zhuo stood up and mocked, "You said the document is invalid? Who do you think you are?"

"I, Yan, am insignificant, but I have been a minister for ten years and know that the ancestral system cannot be violated and the law must be respected. Does the Minister of Justice agree?"

Ren Zhuo stared and remained silent for a moment. No matter how notorious Yan Sikong was, his talent was obvious to all. It sounded like a trap, so he dared not answer easily.

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "China is a country of etiquette and has laws and regulations. Any documents with foreign countries must be in duplicate, one in Chinese and one in a foreign language, to show respect for foreign countries." He pointed at the document in Ren Zhuo's hand, "Why is there only one copy of this document?"

"You..." Ren Zhuo was speechless for a moment.

There was indeed such an agreement in the etiquette of diplomatic relations with foreign countries, but because the Central Plains was powerful, the surrounding barbarians all learned Chinese. Over time, documents were written only in Chinese, and foreign documents became redundant. This etiquette had long since become a mere name.

Yan Sikong said aggressively: "Sir Ren, as the Secretary of the Honglu Temple, you are in charge of foreign diplomatic affairs, but you even ignore such basic rules. Are you dereliction of duty or are you deliberately disrespecting the Khan?"

"You are slandering me!" Ren Zhuo was so angry that he almost jumped up and down. "This is just a momentary negligence, it's harmless, I can just make up for it."

"You can make up a copy and send it back to the capital by express horse. His Majesty will stamp it and then return to Chahar. It will take a month to go back and forth." Yan Sikong laughed awkwardly. "Lord Ren actually made such a stupid mistake. It's really laughable."

Ren Zhuo pointed at Yan Sikong with trembling hands, and suddenly turned to Nada Khan: "Great Khan, I have no intention of disrespect. It was just a momentary negligence. This is not a big deal. Great Khan, please don't be deceived by Yan Sikong's sharp mouth."

Nada Khan was a little stunned when he heard this. Seeing Ren Zhuo's terrified look, he thought to himself that the Han people were really hypocritical. He waved his hand and said, "It was just a momentary oversight. I will make up for it."

Ren Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief and said in a sharp voice: "Yan Ze, the Khan's words are spoken clearly, did you hear them clearly?"

Yan Sikong bowed and said, "Great Khan, since Chahar has formed an alliance with Dasheng, they should respect each other. The envoys sent by Dasheng do not even take Chahar seriously. Do you still expect the court to keep its promise in the future?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Yan Sikong approached Nada Khan and said loudly: "Since the Khan attaches so much importance to the alliance with Dasheng, I don't want to be the villain who stirs up discord. I just want to advise the Khan that the dignity of Chahar must not be neglected. The Khan should at least punish Ren Zhuo, after all, he made such a mistake."

Ren Zhuo's chest rose and fell violently, and his white and plump face was covered with sweat. He gritted his teeth and said, "You shameless Yan thief, you are confusing right and wrong in front of the Khan. When I take you back to the capital one day, you will be tortured to death!"

Nada Khan's beard twitched, and he squinted his eyes at the two of them: "Then tell me, how should I punish him?"

Yan Sikong glanced at Ren Zhuo, and every word that came out of his thin lips was filled with a chilling chill: "You deserve to be killed."

Just as Nadahan was about to open his mouth, Feng Ye suddenly floated towards the nearest guard like a ghost, snatched the knife from his hand, and quickly attacked Ren Zhuo.

In a flash, a human head flew into the air.

This sudden change came unexpectedly, and everyone was stunned. Ren Zhuo, whose head and body were separated, had no idea what had happened until his death. He opened his eyes and mouth wide, ready to refute Yan Sikong, but he didn't know that he would never have the chance to say another word.

Wulu was the first to come to his senses. He shouted loudly, "How brave!" Generals and envoys were not allowed to wear swords at the banquet, so he rolled up his sleeves and rushed towards Feng Ye.

The historian and clerk brought by Ren Zhuo screamed in fear, and a group of guards also rushed up.

Ren Zhuo's head fell down and was picked up by Feng Ye. His body fell forward, and Yan Sikong quickly snatched the tribute document from his hand.

Feng Ye protected Yan Sikong behind him, knocked down a guard with one sword, and fought with Wu Luguo who was coming towards him.

Wulu is a brave and fearless general of Nada Khan, but he is no match for Feng Ye. Yan Sikong has never seen anyone who can beat Feng Ye in his life.

After just three moves, Feng Ye kicked Wu Lu in the mouth. The tip of his foot knocked out half of Wu Lu's teeth, and Wu Lu's gray beard was immediately covered with blood.

Wu Lu fell to the ground, and other generals and a dozen guards rushed up together. In addition, armored soldiers continued to pour in. The tent was immediately crowded with people. Facing countless sharp blades, Feng Ye blocked the swords in front of himself with his own strength and protected Yan Sikong firmly behind him.

"Stop it--" Yan Sikong roared.

Nadahan's eyes widened: "Stop, stop."

Yan Sikong was seen holding the tribute document above the brazier and glaring at Nada Khan fiercely.

Everyone stopped moving. One could hear a pin drop in the tent. No one dared to breathe.

Nadahan pointed at Yan Sikong and Feng Ye, trembling with anger, and almost vomited blood: "You, you are crazy, all crazy, I will cook you, cook you!"

Yan Sikong sneered: "Khan, if you cook us, the Chahar tribe will be exterminated soon."

"You fart!" Nada Khan roared.

Feng Ye dropped the knife in his hand with a bang, held up Ren Zhuo's bleeding head with his other hand, and walked towards Nada Khan step by step. He was tall and strong, with an imposing aura. The head in his hand, the blood on his body, and the mysterious mask made him look like a Rakshasa from hell, and every step he took in the world was covered with blood.

The soldiers faced each other with swords and knives, but retreated step by step with him in fear, all the way to Nada Khan.

"I am a humble official, but I have punished the person who was disrespectful to the Khan. This is the head of the envoy from Dasheng. I hope the Khan will accept it." Feng Ye waved his hand and threw the head directly at the feet of the Khan.

Nada Khan, who was used to the bloody battlefield, was also shocked and trembled violently. He trembled and said, "You actually dared to kill the imperial envoy..."

"Great Khan, you are wrong." Feng Ye said coldly, "It is clear that you killed the envoy."

"Nonsense, it was obviously you who killed him!"

Feng Ye laughed: "The envoy died on the Khan's territory. It was you who killed him, if not him."

Yan Sikong sneered, "Great Khan, all the people in this tent are yours. If you say that we killed them, will anyone believe it? Besides, this is not the first time you have killed an envoy. How are you going to explain to the court that the Dasheng envoy died in your hands?"

Nadahan stared at Yan Sikong, his eyes almost bleeding: "You...you..."

Yan Sikong suddenly let go of the tribute document, which fell into the brazier and was instantly engulfed by the fire.

Nada Khan stretched out his hands in vain, but was powerless to save the situation.

Yan Sikong said loudly: "Great Khan, the tribute has been destroyed with this fire and Ren Zhuo's death. If you kidnap me now and take me to the court to apologize, it is still unclear whether the court will believe you. The Wolf King can prepare his troops and the army can arrive in three days. The Khan is a smart man, so why not form an alliance with Datong? I made it very clear to the Khan that day that the Wolf King can give you what the court can give you. The Wolf King is willing to share the Hetao and the Northwest with the Khan!"

Nadahan sat paralyzed on the animal leather chair.