FBC – Chapter 203 The Princess Blushed

The city guards and the Black Armored Guards cleaned up the residence, dealing with the corpses.

The commoners also joined in to help tidy up, and the whole scene bustled with a sense of unity between soldiers and civilians.

Chi Yu and his men took the captives away for secret interrogation.

Deputy General Qi and the others brought King Duan to the study. Jiang Duo, his expression complicated, followed behind. Suddenly, he leaned over to whisper to an official by his side, who lowered his head and quietly left.

Deputy General Qi lifted off his armor, straddled a chair with his saber across his lap, and said:  “Lord Jiang, since you carry His Majesty’s decree to preside over peace talks, then let’s begin.”

Jiang Duo quickly glanced at King Duan, cleared his throat twice, and cautiously said: “King Duan, our two countries have been at war for a long time. His Majesty, out of compassion for the suffering of the people, hopes for peace between the two nations. He has specially ordered me to come and negotiate with you.”

King Duan, though disheveled, still sat proudly on his chair.

He gave a cold snort: “Victory and defeat are common to soldiers. I merely lost for the moment. I am not afraid to keep fighting!”

Deputy General Qi’s brows furrowed sharply. “Then fight! We are not afraid either! But before fighting, we’ll kill you first!”

King Duan stiffened his neck. “Kill me, and I still have sons! My Dali Kingdom may be small, but we fear you not! The Mu family army fought me for decades, all their sons are dead, yet we still fought on!”

The Mu family generals roared in anger, shooting to their feet.

Jiang Duo hastily pressed Deputy General Qi back down. “General, patience, patience. This is a peace negotiation—we must put the bigger picture first.”

Several ministers also rushed to mediate.

Zhao Luoxuan spoke coldly: “If King Duan’s sons could fight, would you have been captured? Even your royal court has fallen, what are you so arrogant about?”

King Duan gave her a contemptuous sideways glance. “So what? Didn’t your emperor still send you to warm my bed?”

“You! Shameless!”

Zhao Luoxuan trembled all over with rage.

Deputy General Qi could not bear it. He drew his sword and pressed it against King Duan’s neck. “How dare you insult the Princess!”

Jiang Duo was so frightened he jumped up, hurriedly pushing the sword away. “Ah! Deputy General Qi, you mustn’t! If His Majesty blames us, none of us can bear it!”

Deputy General Qi’s face was dark as iron. He flung Jiang Duo aside with his arm and twirled his sword with a flourish.

King Duan screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding face, his eyes finally revealing fear.

Deputy General Qi wiped the bloody tip against King Duan’s filthy robes, then sheathed his sword.

He sneered coldly: “I may not kill you, but I can cut off your ears and nose, sever your tendons and break your feet, pull out your teeth and tongue, gouge out your left eye then your right. Once you’re a cripple, tell me—who in your court would still respect you?”

King Duan’s neck shrank back.

Jiang Duo’s face was ashen. He dared not say more, only ordered people to hurry and apply medicine to King Duan’s wounds.

When the wound was cleaned, it was revealed Deputy General Qi had carved a cross on his face.

Zhao Luoxuan looked at Deputy General Qi with shining eyes, full of admiration.

Fearing more accidents that would make talks impossible, Jiang Duo quickly said: “King Duan, His Majesty’s intent is that from now on, each year, Great Liang will grant Dali five thousand dan of grain—”

“Lord Jiang!” Zhao Luoxuan shot to her feet in shock.

Deputy General Qi also stood up at the same time.

The prefect sitting to the side was so startled his face changed, eyeing Jiang Duo suspiciously.

Deputy General Qi glared: “Lord Jiang, clearly they are the defeated country. It is they who must beg Great Liang for peace. How has it turned into you begging them?”

The prefect also looked stunned. “Could it be that Lord Jiang has private dealings with King Duan?”

Jiang Duo leapt up anxiously. “Do not slander me!”

King Duan, emboldened by Jiang Duo’s words, stood and waved his arm forcefully. “I will never beg you! Fight if you want, enough nonsense!”

Smack!

Zhao Luoxuan slammed her palm hard on the table. The sting made her bare her teeth, and she shook her aching hand. But when she noticed over a dozen pairs of eyes turning toward her, her face flushed red. Just as she was about to shrink back into her seat, she suddenly spotted a little face peeking in from the window.

Gu Hua had come.

Instantly, Zhao Luoxuan straightened her back, face stern. “This Princess is here for the peace of the people of both nations. For decades, you have been greedy and endlessly harassing our borders. This year’s winter is harsh—you know very well why you fight against Great Liang. You want war? Fine! Great Liang will accompany you to the end! This Princess will see just who cannot endure it!”

The generals were stunned, their expressions incredulous.

Who would have thought the delicate little princess could say something so domineering.

Deputy General Qi couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up.

Zhao Luoxuan blushed even more, her heart thrilled. Her little eyes darted to Gu Hua, and seeing her raise her own thumb, she grinned widely.

These words were ones Gu Hua had taught her. She hadn’t expected to actually say them all out loud.

Jiang Duo was stuck, at a loss for how to proceed.

If he still insisted on speaking according to the secret agreement with King Duan, he might not even make it back to Bianjing alive.

He bowed his head deeply, not daring to look at King Duan.

King Duan’s confidence came from the private deal with Jiang Duo—grain, cattle, and sheep from Great Liang every year, a legitimate princess sent as his concubine, and trade routes opened between the two nations.

But now Jiang Duo was like a turtle hiding in its shell.

“Madam.”

Gu Hua turned her head. It was Chi Yu, and she followed him aside.

“Interrogation finished?”

“Yes. Guess who they are?” Chi Yu’s face was grim.

Gu Hua thought for a moment. “Could they be from Dali?”

“Exactly.”

Gu Hua’s face darkened. “Jiang Duo is far too bold! This is clear proof of colluding with the enemy.”

“Chi Yan said the captives will be secretly escorted to the capital.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Let’s see what Jiang Duo and the Princess plan next. I think…it’s time for us to return to the capital as well.”

What level the peace talks reached no longer mattered. Deputy General Qi and the others would never allow Jiang Duo to betray the country after so many soldiers’ lives had been sacrificed.

As for whether King Duan would be released—that was not her concern.

She only wondered what Mu Junyan planned to do.

“Where is Chi Yan? I want to see him.”

She guessed Deputy General Qi and Chi Yan must know that Mu Junyan wasn’t dead.

“I’ll summon him at once.”

Gu Hua was just about to return to the main courtyard when the study door opened. Zhao Luoxuan came running out, lifting her skirts, excitedly grabbing Gu Hua’s hand.

“Elder Sister Hua, did you hear? I said it all!”

Gu Hua smiled. “Princess, you spoke wonderfully. That was a king of a country across from you, and you still cowed him.”

“Really?” Zhao Luoxuan’s pretty face flushed red, excitement written all over her.

Right then, Deputy General Qi also came out.

Zhao Luoxuan quickly straightened her posture, her phoenix eyes locking onto the tall, upright figure of Deputy General Qi, gaze burning.

Deputy General Qi cupped his hands to Gu Hua. “Madam, is your health well?”

There was some apology in his eyes, but he could not mention that matter again. His greeting carried genuine sincerity.

Gu Hua returned the salute. “Quite well.”

She looked behind him. King Duan was being led away in shackles, while Jiang Duo’s face was dark and sour.

Lowering her voice, Gu Hua asked: “Have you decided? What will be done?”

“Simple. Two choices: escort him to the capital for His Majesty to decide, or confine him in Ju Prefecture and wait for Dali to show sincerity before discussing release.”

Gu Hua smiled. “Now that sounds right.”

Deputy General Qi looked at her. “Madam must take care of her health. Will you return to the capital soon?”

Zhao Luoxuan, shy-faced, said: “I will return to the capital together with Elder Sister Hua. Deputy General Qi, why not escort us back? I will surely ask for merit on your behalf.”

Deputy General Qi bowed to her. “Reporting to the Princess, this humble general must still guard the southern border. The Black Armored Guards will escort the Princess and Madam back.”

“Oh.” Zhao Luoxuan’s tone carried some disappointment.

Gu Hua turned her head to look at her. The princess’s delicate face was red all the way to the ears.

Then she glanced at Deputy General Qi.

Last time, after hearing his words, she had been somewhat displeased with him. But now, taking a closer look, he wasn’t bad at all.

Unlike other burly generals, his facial lines were softer without losing heroic spirit. His brows were like swords slanting toward his temples, thick and well-shaped, setting off his bright, spirited eyes.

From what he said last time, he was likely to return to the capital with Mu Junyan, so he must often stay by Mu Junyan’s side.

“Princess, let’s head back.”

Gu Hua linked arms with Zhao Luoxuan and whispered: “General Qi will return to the capital.”

“Really?” Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes lit up.

“Really.”

If Mu Junyan returned to the capital, wouldn’t he also return?