"You..."
Dai Mubai's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Tang Qing.
"I am a prince of the Star Luo Empire!"
"I order you to kneel."
Tang Qing repeated it, his tone unchanged.
The Xingluo officials kneeling on the ground were terrified and quickly tugged at Dai Mubai's sleeve.
"Your Highness! Kneel!"
"Your Highness, the greater good must be considered!"
"As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn, Your Highness!"
Hearing the words of advice coming from beside him, Dai Mubai felt utterly ironic.
He looked around and saw faces filled with fear and pleading.
His last shred of pride was completely shattered.
"Thump."
His knees slammed heavily onto the cold, hard floor tiles.
That sound was like the sound of his dignity shattering.
humiliation.
Endless humiliation, like a tidal wave, completely overwhelmed him.
Seeing this, the mastermind quietly nudged Dai Mubai, who was kneeling on the ground, and gave him a wink.
It's time to offer the final trump card.
Dai Mubai's body stiffened.
He knew what that meant.
He wanted to personally offer his fiancée to the enemy who had destroyed everything he had.
He felt the top of his head glowing green.
Dai Mubai slowly raised his head, his face ashen, and with all his might, he squeezed out a sound through his teeth.
"The Star Luo Empire...is willing to submit."
"To show our sincerity, we are offering Zhu Zhuqing, the daughter of the Zhu family, to the prince for a marriage alliance."
"May...the two nations enjoy lasting peace, and may there be no more war..."
...
Zhu Zhuqing?
Tang Qing's gaze fell on the entrance to the front hall.
A young girl dressed in a black, tight-fitting leather outfit was seen walking gracefully from the side hall.
The girl's figure swayed gently with each step, each step carrying a feline elegance and wildness.
She walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and curtsied slightly, her voice clear and pleasant.
"Zhu Zhuqing, daughter of the Zhu family, pays her respects to the Blue Silver King."
Tang Qing's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
The girl looked to be no more than twelve years old, with a hint of immaturity in her eyes and brows.
But her figure was already curvaceous and incredibly developed.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her small, delicate face appear even more exquisite.
A pair of captivating eyes, like stars in the night, shimmering with a lively light.
She is a natural beauty.
...
Zhu Zhuqing kept her head down, and out of the corner of her eye, her gaze first fell on Dai Mubai, who was kneeling on the ground.
Looking at his dejected and pathetic appearance, she felt no sympathy, only intense mockery.
waste.
As a prince, he couldn't even protect his own country.
He even offered his own fiancée to the enemy.
A man like that doesn't deserve her at all.
Immediately, a sense of unease rose in her heart.
I don't know what fate awaits me.
She mustered her courage, slowly raised her head, and looked at the man sitting in the main seat.
With just one glance, her heart was completely captivated.
The man just sat there casually.
Yet it seemed to be the center of the entire world.
His appearance was so handsome that he seemed otherworldly, and his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as if they could suck in one's soul.
With every gesture, one can control everything.
In comparison, Dai Mubai, kneeling on the ground, was practically a lump of mud.
But the man before them was a god from heaven.
One is heaven, the other is earth.
perhaps...
Marrying him wouldn't be a bad thing.
Such a thought quietly arose in Zhu Zhuqing's mind.
Just then, she heard the man's calm voice.
There is only one word.
"allow."
This word shattered the last glimmer of hope in the hearts of Dai Mubai and the members of the Star Luo delegation.
They completely gave up resistance.
Next, they accepted one unequal treaty after another, which were extremely harsh.
Ceding territory, paying indemnities, opening treaty ports...
Tang Qing listened quietly, only occasionally uttering a word or two.
"Can."
"As you wish."
After a moment, he seemed to get a little bored.
He stood up, interrupting the envoy who was still giving a long and detailed report on the terms of the agreement.
I'm tired.
"You can discuss the details with the Crown Prince."
After saying that, he didn't even look at the people kneeling on the ground, nor did he glance at the stunningly beautiful girl Zhu Zhuqing standing there. He turned around and left the front hall.
Only the Star Luo envoys and the girl whose fate had just been decided remained standing there, stunned.
Tang Qing's figure disappeared at the entrance of the front hall.
The room was deathly silent.
The leader of the Star Luo Envoy seemed to have all his strength drained away, collapsing to the ground.
"Your Highness... Your Highness, rest assured, we will certainly comply."
He addressed the empty seat with a trembling voice, fearing that the god of death might return.
The remaining officials remained kneeling on the ground, their backs soaked with cold sweat.
Dai Mubai's legs were numb from kneeling.
But he felt no pain, only a deep-seated coldness and humiliation.
He kept his head down, and no one could see the resentment in his eyes.
The humiliation I suffer today, I will repay a hundredfold in the future!
Tang Qing! You just wait!
He was roaring wildly inside.
...
Zhu Zhuqing stood in the center of the hall, watching the man leave without looking back, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He just left like that?
What about yourself?
Where should I go? What should I do?
Just as she was looking around blankly, a voice filled with suppressed anger rang out behind her.
"What are you still standing there for!"
Dai Mubai struggled to his feet, but because he had been kneeling for so long, he staggered and almost fell again.
He steadied himself and glared at Zhu Zhuqing with a ferocious expression.
"Hurry up and follow him to serve the prince!"
"If you displease the Blue Silver King and delay the important peace negotiations, you'll be in big trouble!"
He channeled all his humiliation and incompetence into rage, which he unleashed on the woman who was still nominally his fiancée.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing slowly turned around.
She looked at Dai Mubai's face, twisted with rage, her eyes showing no fear, only cold contempt.
"You're such a useless piece of trash."
The cold voice, like a sharp knife, precisely pierced the most vulnerable spot in Dai Mubai's heart.
"you!"
Dai Mubai was so angry that he trembled all over and raised his hand to hit him.
But Zhu Zhuqing didn't give him a chance at all.
She snorted coldly and turned to leave.
The black, tight-fitting leather outfit accentuated her stunning curves. Her long, straight legs strode forward with the agility and elegance of a cat, quickly following in the direction Tang Qing had left.
Dai Mubai was left alone, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
...
Blue Silver Palace, Tingchao Pavilion.
A gentle lake breeze dispelled the summer heat.
Tang Qing and Xue Qinghe each leaned back in a large recliner, looking relaxed.
A short while later, the sound of light footsteps could be heard.
(End of chapter)