WK Chapter 86.1

East Six Palaces, Academy.

 

The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh Princes and Zhiyi sat around a small table.

 

Everyone was dressed very warmly.

 

Today the wind outside was too strong, and snow was still falling, so they didn’t return to the princes’ residence at noon. Qu Dubian also didn’t return to Shunning Palace, instead inviting Master Fang to join them for hot pot in the side hall.

 

They would wait for the wind to die down before going back.

 

Hot pot in Great Zhou was called “warm pot,” and because of the “glug-glug” sound made when food was placed in the pot, it was given a homophonic name, also called “antique soup.”

 

Each person had a tiny bronze pot, with meat slices and slightly wilted vegetables arranged in the middle-fresh vegetables were quite difficult to come by in winter.

 

Master Fang saw how cold they looked and said with a smile: “The charcoal brazier in the side hall was set up late. It should be warmer in a while.”

 

“Master, come join us too.”

 

Qu Dubian was huddled up, preparing his dipping sauce.

 

There weren’t many condiments, but the soup base was deliciously rich.

 

He took out a bottle of pepper powder and sprinkled quite a bit into his sauce bowl.

 

The Fourth Prince sniffed and immediately turned his head, covering his mouth as he sneezed, “This is pepper, isn’t it? It’s a spice, right? Xiao Qi, why are you putting this in?”

 

Zhiyi: “He took it from Father Emperor’s spices. He says it adds flavor, and it tastes quite good, a bit unique.”

 

“Let me try some,” the Sixth Prince reached out.

 

“Here you go.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Whoever wants to add some can add it. When it’s gone, I’ll go to Zichen Hall and get some more.”

 

The Fifth Prince smiled.

 

Only Xiao Qi would dare say such things.

 

Qu Dubian was missing chili peppers, but frustratingly, he couldn’t get them from the lottery draw.

 

Although the spicy flavor made from cornel and scallions and ginger was quite good, without chili peppers, he felt something was missing.

 

The hot pot began to bubble, thin slices of meat went into the pot, the rich bone broth soup base cooked the meat, which was then dipped in the sauce.

 

Qu Dubian sighed with satisfaction.

 

Snowy days and hot pot were the perfect combination.

 

Sixth Prince: “Hey, have you heard? Eldest Brother and Third Brother are at odds.”

 

Fourth Prince ladled some soup from the pot: “Haven’t they been on bad terms for a long time? Did something happen in court again?”

 

Qu Dubian: “I heard that the Nanning envoys have entered the capital, led by the Nanning Emperor’s second son.”

 

“Yes, with the envoys entering the capital, negotiations are the most important,” Master Fang said. “Their delegation is led by Duke Lu, and the Second Prince accompanying them is a hostage. Before he stays as a hostage, he must negotiate with us first, so our side should also have a prince or royal relative presiding. This is the customary etiquette between nations.”

 

“Both the First Prince and the Third Prince want to take on this task, and there has indeed been considerable conflict between them these days. Each has officials in court recommending them.”

 

Fourth Prince shook his head: “If we had been defeated and were going to Nanning to negotiate, Eldest Brother and Third Brother would probably become brotherly and respectful to each other.”

 

Zhiyi criticized: “Fourth Brother’s words are too blunt.”

 

Master Fang: “This negotiation task may seem simple, but there are many intricacies involved. One misstep could lead to falling into the other side’s trap.”

 

Qu Dubian nodded.

 

Although the defeated country was in a weaker position, now that the fighting had stopped and both sides were willing to negotiate, Nanning would certainly have to cede territory or pay silver. The questions of how much to cede, which areas to cede, and how much silver to pay would need careful discussion.

 

The Sixth Prince said proudly: “Mother said that in the great victory at Zhennan Pass, besides Marquis Pingnan Xia Hong, my maternal grandfather and cousin made great contributions.” He nudged Qu Dubian with his shoulder, “When my cousins return to the capital to receive rewards on behalf of my grandfather, I’ll be able to go out and play outside the palace like you!”

 

Only the Sixth Prince’s two cousins would be returning to the capital to receive rewards.

 

Xia Hong, who led the surprise attack, was enfeoffed as Marquis Changping, and after the war was settled, he immediately returned to the Northern Frontier.

 

With this, leveraging the military achievements at Zhennan Pass, Xia Hong gained more prestige in the army, and Emperor Chongzhao’s desired stability in the Northern Frontier was thoroughly established.

 

Qu Dubian said with disdain: “You made me drop the meat I was picking up.”

 

The Fifth Prince glanced at the happy Sixth Prince and smiled: “I really envy Sixth Brother.”

 

As they continued eating, Qu Dubian’s chopsticks suddenly paused. A sour, swollen, stabbing pain transmitted through his meridians. He frowned and immediately activated his cultivation method to suppress the feeling.

 

Zhiyi was very familiar with his small expressions and immediately tugged at his sleeve, asking softly: “Brother, are you not feeling well?”

 

Qu Dubian smiled, “Just the spiciness.”

 

Lately, his meridians had been feeling swollen. He had asked Xia Fuyang, Concubine Xuan, and Liu Liu what it felt like before breaking through the dantian point, but their experiences were all different from his.

 

He figured it probably wasn’t an aftereffect of his forceful attempts to break through the dantian point earlier, but rather that he was approaching some kind of limit. He just didn’t know when it would happen or what symptoms would appear when it did.

 

 

Hopefully, there won’t be too much commotion.

 

–

 

The next day.

 

After careful consideration, Emperor Chongzhao still gave the task of negotiating with Nanning to the Third Prince.

 

Before long.

 

The embassy where the Nanning envoys were staying had compiled information on the Third Prince’s character and preferences, presenting it to Duke Lu, who was leading this delegation.

 

Duke Lu casually flipped through it, stroked his mustache, and snorted: “Nothing special.”

 

“Great Zhou actually sent their Third Prince to negotiate with us. Aren’t they looking down on us?”

 

A slender hand pressed on Duke Lu’s wrist, snatching away the paper analyzing the Third Prince. A calm voice said: “Is there any need to be respected? We Nanning are the defeated party.”

 

The speaker had a calm face, scanning the analysis line by line.

 

He was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with rare light gray eyes. He was the hostage sent by Nanning this time, the Second Prince Yu Ruo.

 

Duke Lu said angrily: “Both sides have stopped fighting. If war breaks out again, their Great Zhou can’t afford the consumption either!”

 

Yu Ruo ignored him: “From the information we’ve gathered so far, the First Prince is rash, the Second Prince is moderate, and the Third Prince is meticulous. Since the Great Zhou Emperor sent the Third Prince, he won’t be easily provoked, nor will he simply fall into verbal traps.”

 

“If we want to gain a slight advantage in negotiations, we need to think of a way. And now the only thing we can do is launch a public opinion offensive, making Great Zhou appear to be in the wrong-”

 

Duke Lu interrupted: “This isn’t the Nanning imperial city or court. Do you still think you’re a prince who can comment on state affairs?”

 

Yu Ruo said coldly: “Could it be that the Imperial Uncle wants Nanning to cede more territory to Great Zhou? Does the Imperial Uncle think that since Nanning was defeated and Great Zhou is strong, he might as well use this as a gesture to directly defect to Great Zhou?”

 

Duke Lu’s face turned ugly: “If you have ideas, then go negotiate yourself! Try to sell yourself cheaply! I’ve given you face, you little bastard.”

 

He flicked his sleeve and left.

 

Yu Ruo suddenly gripped the paper tightly, closed his eyes, supported himself on the table with both hands, and took a deep breath.

 

Two guards appeared beside him like ghosts, “Master…”

 

Yu Ruo: “This fool.” The three words seemed to be squeezed out between his teeth.

 

“One of you go follow him. Don’t let him cause trouble in the Great Zhou capital.”

 

After calming himself, Yu Ruo took out a packet of powder from his bosom and poured it directly into his mouth.

 

Gu Xin: “Master, this is…?”

 

Yu Ruo: “Poison, mild poison. It will make my pulse appear much weaker. We’ve seen what happens in negotiations between two countries before-pushing and shoving is the least of it. When I collapse on the ground, even if Great Zhou is the victorious country, as long as they don’t want history books to record them too shamefully, they’ll have to give up something.”

 

Gu Xin made a sound of understanding, and after realizing what was happening, he exclaimed in shock: “Master, you’re extort-”

 

Yu Ruo expressionlessly stuffed paper into his mouth.

 

–

 

Zichen Hall.

 

“What?”

 

Emperor Chongzhao was surprised: “Nanning’s Duke Lu didn’t go to the embassy for negotiations but went to Chunfeng House instead?”

 

Commander Zuo: “Indeed.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Sending such a person as the leader, I think the Nanning Emperor might have been cursed by the previous emperor.”

 

Commander Zuo: “This is the first time I’ve seen a delegation leader visiting a brothel while the hostage goes to negotiate.”

 

Whether recorded in Great Zhou’s or Nanning’s history books, it would be explosive. Of course, this was good for Great Zhou, but for Nanning, it was like a joke.

 

Emperor Chongzhao said happily: “The more absurd, the better. No need to interfere. Heaven blesses Great Zhou.”

 

Commander Zuo hesitated for a moment, “While monitoring, I also discovered two people near Chunfeng House…”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Who?”

 

Commander Zuo lowered his head: “It’s… it’s the Seventh Prince. He… he even brought Princess Zhiyi with him.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao’s smile froze on his face.

 

A second later, a roar erupted from Zichen Hall.

 

“That unruly brat! How old is he? What is he doing there? And bringing his sister along?!”

 

–

 

Xu Mansion.

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Great Zhou has won, so the southern border will surely advance. This is a good opportunity to extend business into Nanning.”

 

Xue Letian said with a bitter face: “I’m not going to have to go there again, am I?”

 

“No need. Advancing the border will take at least a year to manage, and it will be chaotic. Just open a few grain shops there and establish merchant routes first.”

 

“Oh, that’s fine then,” he glanced sideways at Xu Tingfeng, with a sarcastic tone, “That’s certainly possible, anything is possible.”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “…”

 

“After the Nanning envoys arrived in the capital, you told me to keep an eye on your little nephew,” Xue Letian said: “Guess where your little nephew is now?”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “He’s probably just playing with the young masters from the Xia and Xi families.”

 

Xue Letian bent down, hooked his arm around his shoulder, “He’s now near Chunfeng House. Do you think we should consider buying one?”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Mm.”

 

Buy anything…

 

Half a second later, his hands, which were kneading dough, paused, “Mm?”

 

Buy what?

 

–

 

At a small tea stall in front of Chunfeng House.

 

Qu Dubian wore a shabby bamboo hat. Inside, he wore warm, quality fabric, but his outer clothes were coarse cloth, making him look no different from the children of commoners around.

 

Xia Fuyang and Zhiyi beside him were dressed similarly.

 

Yesterday afternoon, Concubine Xuan’s niece, Miss Yuan, who was Xie Jie’s daughter, told Zhiyi while learning etiquette with her at Zhang Chansi’s place that she was getting engaged.

 

Miss Yuan was two years older than Zhiyi, now fourteen, and had reached the age for matchmaking.

 

Her mother had her eye on the second son of the Tong family, who had moved to the capital two years ago, while her father, Xie Jingshan, preferred the eldest son of the Xiang family.

 

They had been arguing about this for days, making Miss Yuan troubled. With a heart full of maiden concerns, apart from talking to her sisters at home, she could only confide in Zhiyi.

 

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