Chapter 81 I think I like you

Chapter 81 I think I like you

Jiang Ru pounced on him too quickly; he didn't have time to react. Jiang Ru also walked away very fast, so he had even less time to react and could only stare blankly at her.

"Are you hurt?" Jiang Ru repeated, somewhat displeased that Pei Wu was still lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?"

Pei Wu finally understood what she meant and shook his head: "I'm not injured."

Jiang Ru had already noticed that he was in much better spirits today, which is why she hugged him so boldly.

Jiang Ru grew happier the more she looked at Pei Wu. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to come back to the tent with her. Pei Wu followed behind her. As they passed the guards at the gate, Jiang Ru made a face at one of them. The guards remained silent and lowered their heads, not daring to look at Pei Wu.

Pei Wu noticed her subtle movements and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Ru crossed her arms and raised her chin at the guard. The guard sighed inwardly in resignation. People like them naturally had to listen to their superiors, but that could easily offend people.

For example, today, Pei Wu's order was for him not to let Jiang Ru out, and he did just that. However, his actions did not go as Jiang Ru wished, so he naturally became the one to take the blame.

So as soon as Jiang Ru opened her mouth, the guard could almost guess what she was going to say. However, Jiang Ru said, "This guard is very serious. I think he is doing a good job."

As she spoke, she patted the guard on the shoulder, encouraging him, "You'll definitely get promoted someday."

Jiang Ru patted him lightly, without actually touching his shoulder, but the guard, who had initially thought Jiang Ru was going to complain, still looked up in surprise.

Pei Wu's gaze fell on the spot where Jiang Ru had just patted, and he said, "You did a great job."

As Jiang Ru had hoped, she praised her guard, who was overjoyed. Only then did Pei Wu follow Jiang Ru inside. Back in the small space, Pei Wu asked her, "Were you frightened by the assassin?"

Pei Wu knew that Jiang Ru was not injured; his men had already reported the situation to him. His only worry was that Jiang Ru might be frightened.

This was nothing to Jiang Ru. She was brave, and besides, these assassins hadn't even gotten close to her, so what was there to be afraid of?

Jiang Ru shook her head: "No, I'm fine."

The two sat on either side of the small table on the couch. Jiang Ru was now safely seated there. Like Pei Wu, she was also concerned about Pei Wu, without mentioning herself at all, and only kept asking about Pei Wu's situation.

Pei Wu only told Jiang Ru and Xue Zhong about her plan. As for Xue Zhong, it was not only because she needed him, but also because Pei Wu was certain that he was a capable person and that every step he took was quite meticulous. Therefore, she could trust Pei Wu to go to Ning Mansion on his own.

However, that place is too far from here, and Jiang Ru was always worried that something might happen. Now she can finally rest assured.

Now, the only person she still worries about is Chen Ling.

Four years ago, in the battle with Northern Yan, Chen Ling fled without a fight. After returning to Bianjing, he was extremely successful and was promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and Duke of a Great State, enjoying unparalleled prestige.

It's a pity that the Empress Dowager had no children; otherwise, the person on the throne today might not be the current emperor. Now that Chen Ling's concealment has been exposed and the Empress Dowager is ill, the Chen family is about to come to an end.

Chen Ling is the most cunning and treacherous person. Jiang Ru is afraid that he has left himself a backup plan. If he escapes on the way to Bianjing, it would be a great loss.

Jiang Ru lamented, "Why didn't they just kill him?"

It's not that easy to kill him. Pei Wu only has the emperor's secret order, but Chen Ling is still an official of the court. To kill him, the emperor has to issue the order himself.

After hearing Pei Wu's explanation, Jiang Ru could only nod: "Then let's not touch him."

Since Chen Ling is going to die sooner or later anyway, Pei Wu doesn't need to get himself into trouble.

Now that Chen Ling has resolved the issue, things are not so good with Northern Yan. After all, they were prepared to negotiate, but now not only have they sent the Northern Yan envoy back, but they've also given up on the promised peace talks.

Pei Wu had naturally considered this issue as well. He told Jiang Ru, "I have already sent a letter to the Northern Yan envoy, asking them to renegotiate. The previous agreement is invalid."

Jiang Ru frowned and asked, "Will it work? Will Northern Yan really agree?"

The tribute paid by the Great Xia over the past four years may have spoiled the Northern Yan. They won't easily agree if they don't get what they want, and it's highly likely that war will break out again.

Pei Wu couldn't give Jiang Ru a definite answer; he simply said, "We can only try."

If Northern Yan agrees, then everyone will be happy. But if Northern Yan is angered, the final outcome may be continued war. Pei Wu is now holding the emperor's secret edict and is also under the command of Nanzhao. Will he have to go into battle again? Will he be able to come back alive?

Jiang Ru wanted to know how he died in his previous life. She wanted to help Pei Wu avoid it, but she didn't know. She knew nothing at all.

Jiang Ru felt a lump in her throat and asked Pei Wu, "Will you die?"

She wasn't sure. In her previous life, she only knew that Northern Yan and Great Xia were at war, and that peace talks were held afterward. Chen Ling's humiliating peace treaty was unknown to the common people.

So, did Pei Wu in his past life also discover this? And will their rebirth trigger a butterfly effect, causing Pei Wu to die even faster?

News traveled very slowly in ancient times, and perhaps due to the court's deliberate concealment, she knew nothing about the affairs of the court in her previous life, let alone how to find out about Pei Wu's past.

So much happened this year. In her previous life, Jiang Ru was too far removed from the imperial court. She only knew who the current emperor was, and her only concerns were herself, land taxes, household taxes, and when the harvest would come. Everything else was too far removed from her.

Even during the wars of her past life, Jiang Ru's only thought was whether the enemy would reach Shuzhou. She didn't have much power and could only protect herself. After all, in an unfamiliar dynasty, there was very little she could do.

But now that she's closer, she suddenly understands Pei Wu, his pursuits, and why he wants to change.

If everyone were like Chen Ling, then no one would survive. But as Pei Wu does these things, is he confident that he can live to finish everything he wants to do?

After she asked the question, Pei Wu remained silent for a long time before telling Jiang Ru, "I don't know."

As expected, Jiang Ru struggled to breathe. She felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to catch her breath.

She stared at Pei Wu, as if she couldn't get enough of looking at him. Perhaps her gaze was too intense, because Pei Wu sensed her gaze and quietly looked up at her as well.

Pei Wu's eyes were truly beautiful, captivatingly beautiful. Jiang Ru hesitated for a moment before taking Pei Wu's hand.

The midday temperature was warm, and Pei Wu's hands were warm. Her hands, which had been worn raw from holding a pen, had developed thick calluses. She touched Pei Wu's palm, which had a rough, abrasive feel.

After taking his hand, Pei Wu didn't move. He just looked down at his hand. Jiang Ru's hand was a size smaller than his. It was still very white, but not as soft as it had been at the beginning.

When she first arrived at Pei Wu's house, although she was dressed in rags, it was clear that she had been well taken care of by the family and had not suffered any hardship.

But after following him, Jiang Ru was always running around with him and never stopped working. Pei Wu suddenly felt that he had not raised Jiang Ru well at all and had always made her suffer.

Pei Wu stared at their hands and could feel Jiang Ru's hands scratching him like a small animal, gently touching the calluses on his hands.

Pei Wu's hands are elegant and gentle when he holds a pen, and sharp and decisive when he holds a sword. No matter what he does, Jiang Ru thinks he is very, very good. In the past, she would touch Pei Wu from time to time. At that time, she really regarded him as her cousin, or perhaps she was looking at a shy and old-fashioned younger brother.

Jiang Ru always felt that she was stupid. She barely passed her school exams and could only be described as mediocre. Later, she had to support herself and could only make ends meet. She was slow to understand life, so she was also slow to understand emotions.

She thought she wanted to hug Pei Wu because she missed him, that her heart was beating fast because she was nervous, and that she cried because she saw Pei Wu was injured because she was simply heartbroken. But they were just cousins, so why did they have to hold hands?

Do siblings hold hands?

Why didn't Pei Wu refuse her?

Pei Wu used to always avoid being touched by her, so why doesn't he avoid her now? Does Pei Wu still treat her like a younger sister?

Or is it acceptable for siblings to act like this?

Jiang Ru didn't understand. She didn't understand before, and she still doesn't understand now. So she asked Pei Wu, "Do you know why I held your hand?"

Pei Wu's hand didn't move, and he didn't struggle when Jiang Ru held it, but he didn't squeeze back. Jiang Ru's words gave him hope, but he couldn't say the answer he wanted to give, so he just shook his head: "I don't know."

Jiang Ru had never encountered this situation before, especially since the person in question was her cousin. She really wanted to tell Pei Wu directly that she thought she had fallen for him, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Pei Wu couldn't answer any of the questions Jiang Ru asked. He didn't know what his future would be like, whether he would die, or why Jiang Ru had held his hand.

At this moment, his only wish is that Jiang Ru is well and safe, and that even if something happens to him, Jiang Ru can live a good life.

Each lost in their own thoughts, their clasped hands quickly grew cold and stiff. After a long while, Jiang Ru slowly tried to pull her hand away.

The touch on her fingertips seemed fleeting, but soon Jiang Ru grasped Pei Wu's hand again and said, "Pei Wu, I don't want you to die."

This was not the time for her to discuss her budding feelings with Pei Wu. Pei Wu had important matters to attend to and should not be held back by her emotions.

If she had another chance, she would have a serious talk with Pei Wu. All she wanted now was for Pei Wu to live a good life.

So Jiang Ru swallowed back everything she wanted to say. She simply told Pei Wu, "Pei Wu, I hope you survive."

This was her only wish.

Pei Wu should have said he couldn't guarantee it, but in the end, he gave Jiang Ru a definite answer: "I will."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline to Jiang Ru. She held Pei Wu's hand, lowered her head, and gently rubbed the back of Pei Wu's hand.

Her head was fluffy, and her hair tickled the back of Pei Wu's hand. Like a small animal seeking comfort, she leaned against Pei Wu's hand. Pei Wu's heart had already softened to the point of being soft-hearted. Now, Jiang Ru's actions were tantamount to another offensive. Pei Wu felt as if his heart was melting, wanting to give everything to Jiang Ru and give her all of himself.

Jiang Ru's warm breath sprayed onto Pei Wu's palm. After about a quarter of an hour, she looked up at Pei Wu and smiled: "Pei Wu, once everything has settled down, I have something I want to tell you."

Pei Wu looked at her quietly, his clear eyes softening like water, and said softly, "Okay."

Then, she slowly released his hand. Because they had been holding each other for so long, their hands were a little stiff. When they separated, their palms were cold, as if they had been sweating from being held. When the wind blew, the coldness made Pei Wu immediately clench his fist.

Jiang Ru clenched her hands, blinking as if in a daze. Now that they had finished talking, and it seemed Pei Wu had other important matters to attend to, she asked, "Do you have something else to do?"

Yes, it's uncertain when Northern Yan might attack, and Pei Wu still needs to discuss countermeasures with Xue Zhong, but Jiang Ru seems to really need his company.

He hesitated, and Jiang Ru understood. She pursed her lips and said, "Go ahead, I have my own things to do."

Jiang Ru lied, saying she actually had nothing to do.

Pei Wu was still hesitating when she reached out and pushed him, saying, "Go ahead."

Pei Wu finally nodded and prepared to leave the tent. Before lifting the tent flap, he seemed to hesitate for a moment, wanting to turn back and look at Jiang Ru, but he still did not turn back.

Jiang Ru inexplicably felt as if she were the wife watching her husband leave home, and even though the unspoken understanding between them hadn't been revealed, she felt that this was how it should be.

Jiang Ru was having a good time, and she smiled as she leaned on the low table. However, the curtain was gently tapped twice, and Jiang Ru quickly wiped the smile off her face, sat up straight, and said, "Come in."

The guard outside was the same one from before. Unlike his previous cold and unapproachable demeanor, he now had a beaming smile on his face, almost fawning.

Jiang Ru was speechless for a moment: "What are you doing?"

The guard patted his sleeves twice, then knelt on one knee: "This humble servant swears to follow Lady Jiang to the death!"

Jiang Ru was so frightened that she jumped up and hurriedly hid to the side. This was unacceptable. In her hometown, kneeling on one knee meant proposing marriage. She wanted to live a few more years.

The guard, caught off guard by Jiang Ru's evasive behavior, asked innocently and hurtly, "Young Lady Jiang, you won't accept me?"

Adding this sentence made it even stranger, especially since the guard's face was covered in injuries, as if he had been abandoned by Jiang Ru. Jiang Ru was speechless for once: "Get up first, stand up and talk."

The guard hesitated for a moment, but then stood up.

Jiang Ru finally breathed a sigh of relief. She said with a forced smile, "Explain yourself. Why are you kneeling before me all of a sudden?"

The guard blushed slightly and said, "Young lady, Commander Pei just took me in as your personal bodyguard."

He understood Pei Wu's meaning. He thought the guard was very reliable. Although he was originally Yang Zhaoyi's man, now that he was following Pei Wu, he was Pei Wu's man. They all knew that Jiang Ru was very important to Pei Wu. Being assigned to protect Jiang Ru personally showed that Pei Wu valued him, which was a great honor for them.

Jiang Ru finally understood why he had acted so exaggeratedly just now; it turned out to be a polite greeting.

After all, the two of them were practically enemies, so having him protect Jiang Ru in the future would definitely suit Pei Wu's needs. Jiang Ru cleared her throat: "What's your name?"

The guard replied with a strong voice, "My name is Feiyan!"

Jiang Ru nodded: "Okay, Fei Yan, I'll remember you."

Just as Fei Yan was about to express his loyalty, Jiang Ru pointed to the door and smiled, "You can go out and keep watch now."

Fei Yan continued in a firm and resounding voice, "Your subordinate obeys!"

Jiang Ru: "..."

I haven't seen such an innocent person in a long time; even more innocent than her.

People come and go quickly, completely disrupting Jiang Ru's thoughts. Her budding romantic fantasies had to be abruptly ended. After thinking about it, Jiang Ru realized she shouldn't let her emotions control her, nor could she lie around all day. So she decided to go out for a while.

Fei Yan stood guard outside the door, keeping a watchful eye on everyone who tried to approach Jiang Ru. As soon as Jiang Ru lifted the curtain, he immediately asked, "What does the young lady intend to do?"

Now that Pei Wu has returned, there shouldn't be any rules, and he should be able to leave the tent. Jiang Ru tentatively asked, "May I go out?"

Fei Yan immediately replied, "Of course, where does young lady wish to go?"

Jiang Ru: "Just wander around and see if there's anything I can help with."

Fei Yan quickly extended his hand: "Please, young lady, I will escort you."

He spoke too enthusiastically, which Jiang Ru found hard to accept: "Could you please stop referring to yourself as 'your humble servant'? It's so strange."

Fei Yan: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Jiang Ru: "..."

She waved her hand: "Whatever you want."

Jiang Ru understood this person who was so enthusiastic about his work and decided not to stop him, allowing him to fully dedicate his passion to his job.

Jiang Ru spent the whole afternoon wandering around, helping to move things here and there, starting a fire and cooking a meal there, having a very fulfilling time.

After dinner, Jiang Ru returned to her tent and waited for Pei Wu to come back.

Perhaps he was too busy, Pei Wu had not returned by 9 PM, so Jiang Ru could not wait any longer and could only go to bed.

After several days of this, Jiang Ru found it difficult to even see Pei Wu, but her passionate heart remained undiminished. As long as she could see Pei Wu from a distance, she felt at ease.

As they expected, Northern Yan expressed its dissatisfaction with Pei Wu's breach of contract and completely ignored his request to resume negotiations. The meaning was clear: Northern Yan still wanted to fight and would not stop until it got what it wanted.

A few days later, Northern Yan launched an attack on Nanzhao. Nanzhao's defenses had been specially improved by Pei Wu and Xue Zhong. Without Chen Ling's chaotic command, even a conventional strategy would have been difficult to break through.

The Nanzhao Kingdom is mountainous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Thanks to their familiarity with the terrain, the Nanzhao army has temporarily gained the upper hand in this battle against the Northern Yan.

Both sides suffered casualties this time. The Northern Yan retreated and would not come again for a while. The Nanzhao army also took care of the wounded soldiers. Jiang Ru was responsible for applying medicine and brewing medicine for the wounded soldiers every day. Sometimes she would also go with the carriage to buy medicinal materials.

Given the current situation, Jiang Ru no longer hopes for a ceasefire. She can only do what she can to help, and she would be happy if she could lend a hand in any way she can.

After this battle, Pei Wu tried to send envoys to negotiate again, but still received no reply. Northern Yan had no intention of making peace. Pei Wu and Xue Zhong discussed the matter and decided to try to take the initiative to attack, following the strategy used in Juzhou at that time.

That's when things took a turn for the better.

The Northern Yan finally sent an envoy to indicate that peace talks were possible.

That night, Pei Wu looked at the letter from Bei Yan and became suspicious. Given the nature of the Bei Yan people, unless there was something to gain, they would never agree to it no matter how eloquently Pei Wu spoke.

In recent days, they tried to send spies to infiltrate Northern Yan. Some returned empty-handed without finding any information, while others never returned. It was at the same time that Northern Yan sent a letter that the spies finally managed to find out the news.

Pei Wu learned an important piece of news: the Northern Yan emperor's younger brother, the former seventh prince, had now defected to the Qi Kingdom and was eager to seize back the throne.

No wonder Northern Yan refused to back down before, but is now willing to compromise. Perhaps they are afraid of being locked in a stalemate with Great Xia and being attacked from both sides, so they are in a hurry to come and shake hands and make peace.

This was good news for Pei Wu, who immediately agreed to the peace talks with Northern Yan. This time, the location for their peace talks was changed to Jinglong, which was more than a hundred miles away from Ningfu.

Five days later, they met at the Yue Lai Restaurant in Jinglong. Jinglong belonged to the territory of Nanzhao and was only incorporated into the territory of Daxia during the previous dynasty. Like Ningfu, it was adjacent to the Southern Kingdom.

Nanzhao was a strategically important location, which is why the Northern Yan chose to attack it. By taking Nanzhao, they could penetrate deep into the Great Xia and gradually disintegrate it.

The army rushed to Jinglong. Pei Wu had learned about the situation in Jinglong beforehand and was afraid that the Northern Yan envoy would use underhanded tactics. So they had to send troops there as well, and the defense of the camp had to be arranged well to prevent the Northern Yan from using a feint attack to break out of the encirclement.

This time, Jiang Ru also went to Jinglong.

Jinglong has a hot and humid climate, and the stuffy weather easily breeds feelings of boredom. The elite troops who followed were all listless and dispirited because of the climate.

This was not a good omen. Pei Wu ordered the army to halt its advance. His voice, like a clear spring, calmed the people's anxiety somewhat. He said, "I have heard that Jinglong holds a rain-seeking ceremony for the New Year. If we can successfully conclude the ceremony before it begins, I invite you all to join the people in the celebration."

On such a hot day, a rain shower could indeed temporarily calm the restless mood, at least giving one something to look forward to.

Everyone rallied their spirits, kept up with the main group, and arrived at the Jinglong border.

Jinglong is filled with tall trees that stretch to the sky, making it feel like stepping into a rainforest. The environment is secluded and dark, with numerous rivers. People live off the land and water, fishing in the rivers to make a living. They are self-sufficient, living in a secluded community.

Their buildings are mostly constructed of bamboo, stilted houses, with no one living on the first floor; they are used specifically for raising livestock. Because they were incorporated into the Great Xia during the reign of Emperor Wen, their lifestyle is very different from that of the people of the Great Xia.

When Jiang Ru arrived here, her mood improved considerably. Perhaps it was because the environment was so pleasant that she had the idea of ​​settling down in Jinglong. Although the weather was annoying, this place was like a paradise. She loved this environment. There were no annoying people, no power struggles, only the purest joy.

Lifting the curtain, one sees green mountains and clear waters, endless trees, and blue sky with white clouds. Jiang Ru murmured softly, "Pei Wu, if everything goes smoothly, I'd like to stay in Jinglong for a few more days."

Pei Wu looked at her and said okay.

They arrived in Jinglong two days in advance, arranged for all the people they brought, and everything was ready. On the agreed day, they met at the restaurant.

The restaurant had private rooms, which were only open to envoys. Each guard was limited to two people. Jiang Ru took over the job of serving the dishes and stayed in the private room to eavesdrop.

Both envoys have arrived. The envoy from Northern Yan is Erdun, the prime minister of Northern Yan, who was politely invited back to Northern Yan by Pei Wu a month ago. He has dark skin, which is somewhat loose, perhaps due to his age. He has a thick beard, deep-set eyes, and a hooked nose, which is very typical of Northern Yan.

The person beside him must have been his subordinate, whose face was half covered by a golden cloth, revealing only his eyes. Those eyes were exceptionally deep-set, and his brow bones were very high. Even with only half his face visible, one could see that his facial features were very three-dimensional and had a strong exotic feel.

He stood discreetly behind Erdun, half a step behind, head down and silent. Jiang Ru secretly glanced at him, a strange feeling rising in her heart.

His attire was out of place, but Erdun didn't care. Even though Erdun didn't speak to him, he could tell something was wrong from the small details of their actions and expressions, as if he was the one in charge.

Before they could take a closer look, both sides were seated. Jiang Ru poured tea for both of them and then stood quietly to the side, pretending to be an inconspicuous maid.

The deputy envoy beside Pei Wu handed over the peace treaty prepared in advance. This version of the peace treaty was basically the same as the one Chen Ling had given him at the beginning, except for an additional condition: Great Xia could shake hands and make peace with Northern Yan, guaranteeing not to invade Northern Yan for a certain period of time. At the same time, Northern Yan could not invade Great Xia during this period of time.

In this way, Northern Yan will have enough time to deal with its own affairs, at least to clean up its own mess, and also to buy some time for Great Xia.

Regardless, Pei Wu had to admit that the current military strength of the Great Xia was really insufficient to defeat the Northern Yan, and even if they did win, it would be a very difficult victory.

Originally, it was a peace agreement that both sides had agreed to, but at this point, Erdun suddenly changed his mind. He said, "Your prime minister promised us four years ago that he would pay tribute to Yan with 100,000 taels of silver and 100,000 bolts of silk every year. Are you going to go back on your word?"

Compared to what Chen Ming had embezzled, this amount of silver was not much, but as long as it was given away, it would prove that Great Xia was showing weakness and that Great Xia was submitting to Northern Yan, which was absolutely unacceptable.

Pei Wu said without changing his expression, "The contract from four years ago should be revised now."

He did not deny the humiliating agreement; it had been signed, that was a fact. Now, no amount of excuses would help. He couldn't very well drag Chen Ling into it and say that he was the one who signed it and that it had nothing to do with Da Xia.

Chen Ling originally used the name of the Great Xia, and no matter how unwilling he is to admit it now, it was indeed the Great Xia and the Northern Yan that signed the agreement.

Now, in several battles, although Great Xia lost once, it temporarily turned the tide. Although Great Xia is still temporarily weak, judging from the current situation of Northern Yan, Northern Yan may not be able to defeat Great Xia. On the contrary, Great Xia has the upper hand.

When both Qi and Xia launch attacks against Northern Yan, Northern Yan will be in real danger. Everyone understands this, which is why Northern Yan hastily came to negotiate and cut its losses in time.

Pei Wu's words silenced Erdun. He was speechless for a moment, but still said, "If you want us to withdraw our troops, your Great Xia should at least give us some compensation."

Pei Wu raised his eyes, his dark and deep gaze making Erdun's heart pound. He knew that the envoy of Great Xia was just a young upstart. He had only thought that the boy had gotten lucky when he had been thwarted before, but after actually getting to know him, he realized that he had underestimated him.

Pei Wu hadn't done anything, but just one glance from him sent chills down his spine. Moreover, the few words they'd exchanged earlier were enough for him to understand that Pei Wu's position was definitely not due to luck.

Pei Wu stated matter-of-factly, "It's not that I want you to withdraw your troops, but that you have no choice but to withdraw." His tone was calm, yet Erdun still sensed a hint of threat.

"The strength of Qi is comparable to that of Yan. If our Great Xia joins forces with Qi, it will only be a matter of time before we destroy Northern Yan."

Pei Wu smiled faintly: "If our Great Xia were to ally with Yan, perhaps your position as ruler would be more secure. Don't you think so?"

Erdun retorted, "How can you be so sure that the State of Qi is willing to form an alliance with your Great Xia?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Qi cannot stand on the side of Xia forever, but as long as there are benefits, what is wrong with a temporary alliance?"

Erdun was completely speechless this time. Of the three kingdoms of Yan, Qi, and Xia, although Xia was temporarily weak, it still had a foundation and could barely maintain a balance. However, Qi was now on the opposite side of Northern Yan, and whoever Xia helped would win.

What Northern Yan needs to do now is to make temporary peace with Great Xia and form an alliance. Once Northern Yan destroys Qi, wouldn't it be easier to destroy Great Xia?

Otherwise, if they were to fight against the Great Xia, their national strength would be damaged, and since the Qi state has always been ruthless, their Northern Yan would become Qi's prey.

With just this thought, Erdun temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​asking for more benefits; his remaining concerns lay in this newly added clause.

Erdun asked, "My state of Yan is at war with the state of Qi. As an ally of my state of Yan, will you, Great Xia, simply stand by and watch?"

Pei Wu said, "Since our Great Xia is allied with Yan, Great Xia will naturally send troops to help us."

The three kingdoms were originally in a state of balance, but now that Qi and Northern Yan have both sent troops, the balance has been broken. If the two kingdoms really fight each other, in the end there will be only one winner.

Pei Wu did not want to fight, but given the current situation, the best course of action was to form an alliance with Yan, not to help Yan, but to stabilize the situation in Da Xia.

Great Xia cannot sit idly by and wait for its demise; otherwise, if the two nations fight to the death, Great Xia will not be spared either.

Erdun was finally satisfied with the answer. Just then, the person behind him who had been silent finally spoke up. It was a smile, but not a kind one. He simply said, "I said long ago that Chen Ling was trapped like a turtle in a jar. Now that Great Xia has also sent a talent, it is indeed true."

He finally removed the cloth covering his face, revealing a complete face.

With a high nose bridge and deep-set eyes, his face looked far younger than Erdun's, exuding a wild and untamed spirit, like a wild beast in the jungle, with an undisguised aggressiveness.

Erdun bowed and addressed him as "Your Majesty".

This person was Temuyan, the ruler of the Northern Yan Kingdom.

Jiang Ru lowered her head. In a corner where no one was paying attention, she slowly widened her eyes. She never expected that the King of Northern Yan would come in person. And he even dared to reveal his identity. Wasn't he afraid that Pei Wu would kill him in a desperate attempt to leave Northern Yan leaderless?

Pei Wu's face also showed a hint of surprise. He bowed slightly and performed a courtier's salute.

Tie Muyan raised one eyebrow slightly: "Xia Kingdom is already corrupt and rotten. Are you interested in becoming an advisor to my Great Yan? If you are willing, the benefits that my Great Yan will give you will be several times better than if you stayed in Xia."

Jiang Ru: "!"

Pei Wu was not surprised, but politely declined: "I'm sorry, I am in the Great Xia, and I am only willing to serve the Great Xia."

Timuyan wasn't surprised; he simply smiled and said, "What a pity."

It's a pity that such a person ended up staying in Daxia, where he would eventually become his enemy, and one day, he would be killed by his own hand.

From the moment Timuyan appeared, Pei Wu's deputy envoy could no longer contain himself. He was also Song Pingzhang's man and now obeyed Pei Wu. Pei Wu did not make any reaction, but he was impatient and couldn't help but be restless.

He didn't know Pei Wu's thoughts, but he thought that if the ruler of Northern Yan were killed, Great Xia might be able to turn the tide.

But Pei Wu made no indication or spoke, so he could only suppress his restless heart.

The negotiations came to a close, the peace agreement was signed and stamped, and the alliance between the two countries was temporarily established.

Each side held a copy, and Temuyan jokingly said, "Great Xia sent you here today, so don't change anyone else in the future. If you break the agreement again, Great Yan will never tolerate it again."

He was being sarcastic about Pei Wu's previous last-minute breach of contract, to which Pei Wu calmly replied, "That's natural."

Thus, the peace talks came to an end.

However, at that moment, Temuyan casually pointed at Jiang Ru and said, "This maid doesn't seem to be one of yours. It wouldn't be good if she spread the word about our alliance. We might as well kill her."

Jiang Ru, who was pointed at, couldn't help but grit her teeth. She didn't understand. No matter where she went or who it was, it seemed like they always wanted to kill her. Was she someone who was easy to bully?

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Author's Note: I'm a little late because yesterday's update was a bit short, so I added a few more words today.

Updates will be scheduled for 11 PM or 11:30 PM, and at the latest, no later than midnight. This will be the fixed time from now on; updates will not be made at other times.