Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 159: Yanshan Mountain Range

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Yanshan Mountain Range

"Lord Zhao, this Prince did not expect you to be so benevolent and love the people as your own children. When I return to the Capital City, I will definitely report this to His Majesty to ensure you are commended."

He glanced at the few people below and said meaningfully, "If the Daqian Kingdom had a few more good officials like you, how could our Daqian not be strong?"

After hearing Zhao Shijin’s report, Chu Yan held this Chief in higher regard.

He originally thought he would arrive to a scene of corpses strewn everywhere, amidst mournful cries.

But inside and outside the city, it was peaceful and orderly.

Zhao Shijin, being praised so much, was both flattered and terrified. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, these are just my duties as an official."

As for the rewards, he could do without them. He was just a puppet Chief; how could he dare not follow the instructions of those people? If he didn’t, what awaited him was either losing his head or his position.

Lord Fu kept his head down, silent, a cold sneer in his heart. This Zhao Shijin, always speaking so grandiosely, promising to promote him properly—look at him now, taking all the credit for himself!

This time, it had been Lord Fu and his fellow subordinates who had tirelessly arranged for the disaster victims; it was untrue that they harbored no resentment in their hearts.

However, none of them dared to express their discontent, but their hearts grew more distant from Zhao Shijin.

"Hmm, you’ve indeed done well. Everyone, you must be tired today as well. Go and rest," Chu Yan said, rubbing his aching temples. He was also tired; he hadn’t had a good rest since leaving the Capital City.

Now that the urgent matters were concluded, he was utterly exhausted.

It seemed those ten-plus years had indeed taken a fundamental toll on his health.

Zhao Shijin replied, "Yes."

Qin Shilang from the Ministry of Revenue also responded, "Yes, Your Highness."

Lord Fu and the other officials also bowed and retreated.

As Qin Shilang left the Chief’s office, he pounded his old, arthritic legs while walking. This journey had truly shown him the capabilities of the Seventh Prince.

Not to be underestimated.

The Emperor’s calculations were likely to come to nothing.

Not only did he supervise the Seventh Prince’s use of funds, but he also monitored his every move.

The Emperor had always been suspicious; how could he trust the Seventh Prince not to seize the opportunity to do something?

Throughout the journey, the Seventh Prince had shown no selfish intent. Honestly, he truly didn’t want to slander the Seventh Prince or find fault with him. But he was the Emperor’s man; how could he betray the Emperor or act against his wishes?

But the Seventh Prince was genuinely dedicated to the disaster victims. For these past twenty-odd days, he had barely slept, constantly thinking of ways to help them overcome their hardships.

A part of him couldn’t bear it. In the end, he shook his head and entered the backyard.

He’d think about it when the time came.

At the border, Xiao Yunjing finally awaited the arrival of the emissaries from Xichen Kingdom to negotiate.

The negotiation site was set up at the former Xichen Army Camp, although nothing was left of the camp since it had been cleared out completely.

Aside from a few who had frozen to death, Xiao Yunjing had not killed a single one of the 300,000-strong army.

Heavy snow fell as both sides erected two temporary tents.

A table and chairs were placed at the entrance of each tent.

At that moment, representatives from both sides had arrived and taken their seats.

The person who came from Xichen Kingdom was the Senior Grand Secretary Gu Suifeng. In his fifties, he sat on a stool, exuding a scholarly aura. He did not look like a Senior Grand Secretary wielding immense power in the nation, but more like a teacher dedicated to educating others.

Behind him stood a row of six people, all dressed in court attire.

Behind the tent was an army of about ten thousand troops.

Gu Suifeng’s sharp eyes stared at Xiao Yunjing in his military uniform. At first glance, this man looked like a common man from the neighborhood. But upon closer inspection, his sharp aura carried the scent of slaughter. This man was decisive and ruthless.

Four words came to mind: not to be underestimated.

Moreover, this kind of person wouldn’t leave any room for maneuvering.

Behind Xiao Yunjing stood four men armed with sabers and swords, their auras just as sharp.

Beside the tent stood a group of people, all securely bound; they were from Xichen Kingdom.

The ones at the head were the King of Ping’an and General Yan Liang. Each of them was downcast, but their clothes were clean, and their complexions were normal, evidently not having been mistreated.

Further behind them, an estimated ten thousand soldiers stared menacingly at Gu Suifeng’s party.

Gu Suifeng sighed deeply. To fight such an army... His Majesty, why bother with this?

Wouldn’t it be fine to just defend our own country?

Wanting to help his son achieve military merit isn’t done this way.

Gu Suifeng clasped his hands and said, "I, Gu Suifeng of Xichen Kingdom, am here on behalf of His Majesty to negotiate with General Xiao."

Xiao Yunjing returned the salute. "Xiao Yunjing," he stated, his reply just three simple words.

Then, he gestured with his hand, and Yun No. 2, holding a silk scroll, stepped forward and walked between the two parties.

On the other side, Gu Suifeng also waved his hand, and a military general from behind him stepped out, approached Yun No. 2 to take the silk scroll, and then presented it to Gu Suifeng.

Gu Suifeng smoothly accepted the silk scroll and unfolded it.

After reading it, Gu Suifeng did not get angry but laughed instead. He looked meaningfully at Xiao Yunjing, nodded, then took out his grand seal and stamped it on the silk scroll before having the military general return the scroll.

Xiao Yunjing wasn’t surprised; this was all within his expectations. He took the silk scroll, checked the grand seal, and confirmed it was indeed a valid one.

He waved his hand to his men behind him, and they escorted the hundred-plus captives back to Gu Suifeng.

As the hundred-plus men returned to Gu Suifeng’s side, Gu Suifeng immediately ordered their bindings removed. They all then knelt in unison to pay respects to the King of Ping’an.

"We pay our respects to the King of Ping’an!"

"Stand up." The King of Ping’an dusted off his clothes, his gloomy eyes fixed on Xiao Yunjing, and then called out to the people of Xichen.

Gu Suifeng and the others stood up. An attendant dressed as a eunuch immediately draped a large cloak over the King of Ping’an. Supporting him, the group departed.

Watching them leave, Xiao Yunjing tossed the silk scroll to Yun No. 2. "Go take over."

"Yes, Master." Yun No. 2 immediately mustered ten thousand soldiers and, taking twenty members of the Secret Sect, headed towards the Xichen Kingdom—no, towards what was now Xiao Yunjing’s personal city, Baiyue City.

Baiyue City and Yanshan City, separated by the Yanshan Mountain Range, were both cities guarding the nation’s borders.

However, Xiao Yunjing had demanded the land within a hundred-li radius of Baiyue City, and Xichen Kingdom had given it without hesitation.

It wasn’t that Xichen Kingdom was arrogant; they simply had no other choice.

The Xichen Emperor had seven sons. As the Emperor grew older, his sons fought bitterly for the throne, with only the Crown Prince and the King of Ping’an left in contention.

The other five were either injured or disabled; some had even been demoted and enfeoffed to remote territories, forbidden to ever leave their fiefdoms.

The King of Ping’an was the youngest but the legitimate son, born of the primary wife. Xichen Kingdom followed the tradition of choosing the legitimate son over the eldest as heir. Thus, the Crown Prince, despite being the oldest, was born of a concubine.

Therefore, the Xichen Emperor had to grit his teeth and pay the ransom for the King of Ping’an.

This was also why Xiao Yunjing dared to demand Baiyue City.

Furthermore, Baiyue City was easy to defend and difficult to attack; it would be very hard for Xichen Kingdom to reclaim it.

By taking Baiyue City, Xiao Yunjing aimed to extinguish any thoughts Xichen Kingdom might have of invading the Daqian Kingdom. He didn’t want Xichen Kingdom playing the oriole while he was at war with Chu Xiong.

After resting for a night, Xiao Yunjing, traveling light with a small retinue that included the four Secret Sect members, departed from Yanshan City on swift horses, heading towards the Yanshan Mountain Range.