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“Mr. Yang Xiu, please come into the hall,” Lady Kong Tong welcomed him with a smile that was courteous, if not sincere.

Inside the hall, the family members had mostly arrived. After all, it was an alliance between city-states, as grand as any festival. Even the main thoroughfare of Ancestral Dragon City had been adorned with colorful lanterns.

“Where is the Female Monarch? It has been some days since we last saw her. Our soldiers from Lingxiao City-State have missed her dearly,” Yang Xiu strode into the hall.

Yang Xiu brought only two guards with him; the rest waited outside the hall. Even in hostile territory, Mr. Yang Xiu didn’t seem the least bit nervous, as relaxed as if he was visiting a neighbor.

“The servants should be helping the Female Monarch dress and prepare,” said Lady Kong Tong.

“Well, that’s good, that’s good. Speaking of which, it is somewhat surprising to see such a compliant Female Monarch. But she is still the Female Monarch, after all, willing to sacrifice everything for the future of both great city-states, even if it means kneeling to become a concubine, haha!” Mr. Yang Xiu laughed, his voice echoing through the hall.

The faces of the Li Family members darkened at his words.

No matter how one looked at it, the party initiating peace talks was ultimately seen as the one making a compromise.

They had thought Yang Xiu was a dignified envoy, but to their surprise, he carried a hint of sarcasm as soon as he entered the hall.

“Here is the peace treaty. Mr. Yang, please review it, and if there are no issues, sign here,” Li Ying spoke up at that moment.

Yang Xiu performed a token gesture of respect, a minimal show of deference to the Lord of the Li Family.

He took the treaty and quickly scanned through its contents.

While he was inspecting the treaty, a soldier with a vermilion chest flower hastened over and whispered something into Yang Xiu’s ear.

Yang Xiu held the pen but it never touched ink, seemingly without any intention to sign from the very beginning, nor to place his seal.

After the soldier left, Yang Xiu made a displeased expression, clicking his tongue distastefully, then set down the pen and said, “Master Li, our Lingxiao City-State has sent so many bridal gifts, showing utmost sincerity. So why does this treaty not include a clause for ceding the four western cities? Even now, you are reluctant to let us see the Female Monarch?”

At these words, the members of the Li Family could hardly contain their outrage.

Cede the four western cities??

The four western cities were rich and prosperous, the most important territories and fortresses outside of the main city of Ancestral Dragon City. Even if the city-states continued in war, the Li Family would never concede these four cities to Lingxiao City-State!!

“What ceding the four western cities? The conditions we initially agreed upon only stated that Li Yunzi would marry into your Ling Family of Lingxiao City as a concubine!” Lady Kong Tong said, annoyed.

This Yang Xiu, arrogant as he was, was now spewing nonsense.

“Oh, that wasn’t mentioned before, was it? But times change. It’s not too late to add this condition now. I can wait,” Yang Xiu said as he himself moved a chair from its place to the center of the hall.

He placed the chair right in the middle of the great hall, sat down, and even had the audacity to take a fruit plate from in front of a young lady of the Li Family, starting to eat the fruit as if no one else was there.

“Impudence! You are just a mere envoy; do you take our Imperial Court of the Li Family for your own backyard?” roared a Dragon Trainer commander from the Li Family.

“I, Yang Xiu, am representing the Ling Family of Lingxiao City-State to negotiate peace with your Family Head. War, after all, is decided by a few people sitting in this hall. Peace talks are a matter of a few words, and clashing swords is equally so. But some minor characters can’t decide anything and might invite disaster upon their city and family for uttering foolish words. I wonder if this Junior is the former? If not, then shut your mouth!” Yang Xiu laughed, his mouth still full of unchewed fruit.

Just a moment ago, Yang Xiu had been wearing a Feather Crown, all politeness and decorum. But now he was indistinguishable from a ruffian, crude and overbearing!

“Excuse me, sir, why suddenly covet our four cities to the west? If seeking peace comes at such a cost, why not just go to war?” At that moment, Commander Cheng spoke.

“Commander Cheng, Master Li, as far as I am aware, your Dongxu Fortress City has already been breached by the rebel army. I fear the rebels are pressing forward, killing their way into the eastern part of Li Chuan Plain… Your granaries and cities are about to be looted. Ah, spit, these dates are really terrible,” Yang Xiu said, spitting out both the pit and his phlegm onto the ground.

Li Ying’s expression grew solemn.

Lady Kong Tong showed a look of surprise.

They had just learned of this news, and Yang Xiu, an envoy who had just arrived from the west at Ancestral Dragon City-State, couldn’t possibly know about this!

Had someone leaked the information??

Was it the soldier from earlier who informed Yang Xiu about this, and then Yang Xiu took the opportunity to turn hostile?

The question is, how did he know about it, when even the armies of Ancestral Dragon City-State had only just found out.

“Mr. Yang, as you just said, war is but a matter of a few words for those of us here in this hall. You want us to cede cities to you without any reason, just because you heard about the uprising in the east? Setting aside whether the source of the news is true or false, an uprising is nothing but a bunch of greedy commoners aspiring to be the masters of their cities, and quelling an uprising is not a difficult task. I want to know if you alone are trying to be clever by inciting war in the west or if your master never intended to negotiate peace from the start. If it’s the former, I will treat you as if you’re playing the fool for our amusement. If it’s the latter, then tell your master that we don’t mind fighting the Lingxiao City-State to the death!” Li Ying maintained his composure as he spoke these words, intimidating the entire arrogant delegation.

However, Yang Xiu did not take these words to heart.

He picked up the fruit plate again, eating crystal grapes one by one, casually spitting the skins onto the ground.

His disregard for the Family Head instantly angered everyone present, and the Junior Dragon Shepherd who had stood up earlier now had the air of wanting to chop down the envoy on the spot!

Li Ying remained outwardly calm, but inside he was filled with anxiety.

If the Lingxiao City-State sent troops from the west to attack the rich four cities at this time, Ancestral Dragon City-State would be attacked from both front and back, greatly increasing the possibility of having their defenses breached and losing much territory.

The question remained, how could there be a delay in military intelligence if it had been breached!

Suddenly, the hall fell eerily silent, and the gazes of the Li family members involuntarily settled on Li Ying.

Had Dongxu Fortress City truly fallen??

Li Chuan Plain is a vast plain. Once the rebels enter, it’s like a pack of wolves on a plain; killing them completely could take an unknown amount of time and require dispatching an untold number of troops.

And the eastern part of Li Chuan Plain, trampled by the rebels, would be in chaos even if it was recaptured. With no taxes and no grain, Ancestral Dragon City-State would be in severe decline.

“The Family Head does not respond, and allows such behavior from the envoy; it seems the situation at Dongxu Fortress City must be true!” someone whispered.

“Then isn’t our Ancestral Dragon City-State truly going to be at the mercy of others??” Some within the clan began to grasp the gravity of the current situation.

The atmosphere became heavy in an instant, with everyone discussing amongst themselves, yet still only able to wait for the Family Head’s decision.

“Family Head, let me kill this dog, I see that Lingxiao City-State never intended to negotiate peace with us, sending this man to insult us!” The Junior who had stood up earlier finally could not tolerate such brazenness anymore and spoke angrily.

“They say the Li family gets worse with each generation, full of idiots, and it’s true. Now you can come up here and kill me; if no one stops you, I will hold a sword to my own throat. But if someone stops you, you kneel down and chew the pits and skins I have spat out!” Yang Xiu said, laughing out loud with unabashed arrogance..