"A marriage alliance?"
Tang Qing paused in his chewing of grapes, as if he had just remembered that there was such a thing.
"We're here now, you can make the arrangements as you see fit."
He waved his hand, clearly not taking the matter to heart.
It's just a mere Star Luo Empire and a woman.
Xue Qinghe's expression showed even more helplessness.
"Brother Tang, that's the problem."
"Father has decreed that all matters concerning the Star Luo Empire are to be handled by you. Without your orders, no one in the court dares to act on their own."
"If I were to receive them, wouldn't I be disobeying your orders?"
As she spoke, she picked up the jade pot on the low table and gracefully poured Tang Qing a glass of chilled honey water, then pushed it to his side.
"Therefore, I would like to ask Brother Tang for guidance on how to handle this matter?"
Tang Qing glanced at her.
This crown prince is getting better and better at dealing with people.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"Here's what we'll do: send someone to inform them to come directly to my residence."
Upon hearing this, a complex expression flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes.
The delegation from one country was instructed not to enter the palace or the post station, but to come directly to the Blue Silver Royal Palace to pay their respects.
This is no longer just a show of force.
This is clearly telling everyone who is in charge of the Heavenly Dou Empire now.
"...Okay, I'll go arrange it right away."
She whispered a few instructions to the eunuch attending her behind her, and the eunuch obeyed and quickly left the courtyard.
Qian Renxue did not leave.
She sat down again, her face regaining its gentle and warm smile.
"It seems that Qinghe will be staying here today and will be bothering Brother Tang for a while."
...
at the same time.
Tian Dou City, Honglu Temple Inn.
The Star Luo Empire's delegation has been left here for three whole days.
The atmosphere inside the inn was terribly oppressive.
The head of the mission was pacing back and forth anxiously.
"That's outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
"We are here representing the Star Luo Empire, yet they dare to treat us with such disrespect!"
"This is clearly an attempt to intimidate us!"
Another official echoed this sentiment.
"That's right! The Heavenly Dou Empire is utterly rude!"
"Smack!"
A crisp sound.
Dai Mubai slammed the teacup in his hand onto the ground, shattering it into pieces.
His face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently.
"Enough!"
He growled, his eyes filled with anger and humiliation.
Although he came as a hostage, the blood of the Star Luo royal family still flowed in his veins.
I've never been treated so coldly before!
This is not only an insult to him personally, but also a trampling on the dignity of the entire Star Luo Empire!
Just then, an official from the post station strode in and bowed to the crowd.
"Emissaries, His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that you proceed to the Blue Silver Palace immediately to pay your respects to the Blue Silver King."
"The Blue Silver Royal Palace?"
"Blue Silver King?"
The commotion inside the inn instantly fell silent.
A look of fear appeared on everyone's face.
The anger on Dai Mubai's face was instantly extinguished as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, leaving only a pale expression.
Tang Qing.
That name is like a nightmare.
That young man who single-handedly conquered seventy-two cities in Xingluo and struck fear into the hearts of the imperial army.
Now, he is a king of a different surname personally appointed by the Heavenly Dou Empire.
Blue Silver King.
Throughout the entire Star Luo Empire, from the royal family to the common people, no one is unafraid of this name.
Now, they are going to see him.
The envoys, who had just been filled with righteous indignation, were now all silent and trembling, unable to utter a single word of complaint.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
He knew that the real humiliation was only just beginning.
...
Blue Silver Palace, reception room.
Tang Qing looked at Xue Qinghe, who was stubbornly refusing to leave, and felt somewhat helpless.
"The people from Xingluo have arrived; I need to go see them."
The implication was that it was time to see the guests off.
Xue Qinghe seemed not to understand, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.
"Brother Tang, please go ahead and don't worry about me."
"I'll wait for you here."
Tang Qing raised an eyebrow.
Xue Qinghe has been visiting my residence far too frequently lately.
One is the Blue Silver King, who holds immense power and influence over the court.
One is the crown prince.
The fact that the two met so frequently in private made one wonder if they were plotting some major change of dynasty.
Although Tang Qing himself didn't care about these empty titles.
But he always felt that this Crown Prince was probably hiding some ulterior motive.
Thousand-foot snow... Tang Qing naturally knew about it.
So be it.
Tang Qing didn't want to think too much, so she stood up and walked straight towards the front hall.
...
The atmosphere in the front hall was somber.
The head of the Star Luo delegation was holding a gilded letter of state high above his head in an almost obsequious manner.
Behind him, all the officials of the delegation knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.
Only Dai Mubai remained standing.
This was the last bit of dignity he could retain as a prince.
"Your Highness, the Blue Silver King."
The instigator's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Our Star Luo Empire is willing to submit to the Heaven Dou Empire. This is a letter of state from His Majesty, who is willing to pay compensation of thirty million taels of silver, one hundred chests of various treasures, and send the Third Prince Dai Mubai to Heaven Dou as a hostage, to show our sincerity."
He finished speaking in one breath, then carefully added to the rest.
"I only ask... I only ask that Your Highness return some of the occupied cities, so that our two countries can restore our old friendship and never fight again..."
Tang Qing sat in the main seat, listening calmly.
He didn't speak until the other person finished, his voice low but clear enough to reach everyone's ears.
"Not a single city will be returned."
"If you're so capable, fight back yourself."
After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.
The mastermind suddenly raised his head, his face full of anger.
"Your Highness! What do you mean by this?"
"How can we even negotiate like this?"
Tang Qing's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Then let's not talk about it."
"Go back and tell your emperor that my Xuanjia Army can crush your seventy-two cities at any time."
"..."
The mastermind opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
A chill ran through him.
madman!
This person doesn't play by the rules at all!
Behind his calm gaze lay absolute confidence and domineering power built upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
Dai Mubai took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Blue Silver King, this time we come to seek peace with the utmost sincerity."
Tang Qing's gaze finally fell on him.
Dai Mubai felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart.
"oh?"
Tang Qing picked up the teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves.
"Speaking while standing is your way of showing sincerity?"
Dai Mubai was startled.
Tang Qing put down his teacup, his voice remaining calm.
"Kneel down."
These two words, like two heavy hammers, slammed into Dai Mubai's heart.
His personality and his dignity were shattered at that moment.
(End of chapter)