readytorunbook Chapter 181 Negotiation Failed
Chapter 181 Negotiation Failed
Jiang Lingyun spoke at the opportune moment, his tone calm yet authoritative: "Both envoys, please calm down. In my opinion, if the Kingdom of Qu is truly sincere in resolving the conflict between our two nations, it might consider ceding another city as compensation. This would demonstrate sincerity and quell the anger of our people."
Murong Xuewei sensed a hidden meaning in Jiang Lingyun's words and couldn't help but think to herself: there's probably more to this negotiation than meets the eye. Her gaze swept across the people in the hall, finally settling on Xiao Wanning.
Just then, she noticed Nangong Yifeng subtly winking at her. Murong Xuewei understood and made an excuse to leave.
The two met in a secluded corridor. Nangong Yifeng asked anxiously in a low voice, "Xuewei, what happened? Why did the negotiations suddenly change? Can I still go back?"
Murong Xuewei reassured him, "Yifeng, calm down. Things are probably not that simple. Go back first, I'll think of something."
Back at the banquet, Murong Xuewei saw Prime Minister Su negotiating with Zhao Lie. She approached and overheard Prime Minister Su saying, "You two envoys, there's no need to rush. This negotiation is of great importance. Why not allow both sides to discuss it amongst themselves and continue the discussion tomorrow?"
Zhao Lie's expression was uncertain, but he finally nodded in agreement. The banquet ended in an awkward atmosphere.
Back at the General's Mansion, Murong Xuewei finally couldn't contain herself any longer and pulled Gu Ye aside to ask, "General, what exactly happened today? Why did you suddenly demand even more compensation?"
Gu Ye's expression was grave. He said in a low voice, "Just as you guessed, Xiao Wan Ning is definitely behind this. But we still need to investigate what she's trying to do."
Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat. Recalling the warning from the Empress's maid, she couldn't help but ask, "What good would it do her to fail in negotiations with the Qu Kingdom?"
Gu Ye frowned deeply: "I'm afraid her intentions are not so simple. But what worries me even more is that it seems someone in the court is using this negotiation to sow discord between Taichu and Qu Kingdom."
Murong Xuewei was startled and suddenly remembered something: "Could it be that she wanted to take the opportunity to start a war and then seize the throne?... " She told Gu Ye everything the Empress's maid had said.
Upon hearing this, Gu Ye's expression changed drastically: "That's possible. It seems our situation is more dangerous than we imagined."
Murong Xuewei gripped Gu Ye's hand tightly and whispered, "General, what should we do?"
Gu Ye pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "First, we need to appease Nangong Yifeng and the envoy from Qu Kingdom. If something goes wrong on their end, I'm afraid this negotiation will completely fail. Next, we need to find the person manipulating things in the shadows. Finally..." He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Murong Xuewei, "We must plan ahead and be prepared."
Murong Xuewei's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "I understand. I will instruct the shopkeepers to be more alert these next few days."
In the stillness of the night, Murong Xuewei stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky.
All that happened today is like a tangled mess, tangling in her mind.
Her grand revenge plan, Nangong Yifeng's safety, the undercurrents of conspiracy in the court, and the emperor's covetous gaze... each of these was enough to keep her up at night.
Murong Xuewei took a deep breath, her gaze resolute. No matter how treacherous the road ahead, she had to keep going. For her departed loved ones, for the unwavering belief in her heart, and even more so for Gu Ye, her only remaining companion.
Murong Xuewei murmured softly, "I already lost once in my past life; I cannot afford to lose again in this one."
The next morning, Murong Xuewei got up early to prepare for the upcoming negotiations.
Murong Xuewei knew that today's negotiations would be a thrilling game, and she had to be careful with every step.
Gu Ye pushed open the door and entered, a look of exhaustion on his face. Clearly, he too hadn't slept all night. "Xue Wei, you don't need to worry so much?"
Murong Xuewei nodded, a resolute glint in her eyes: "If a war really breaks out, we might be able to protect ourselves, but what about those poor people and their families?"
Gu Ye gently stroked her cheek and said softly, "No matter what happens, I will protect you."
The two exchanged a smile, their unspoken understanding evident in their smile.
Upon arriving at the palace, Murong Xuewei keenly sensed that the atmosphere was even more somber than the day before.
What made Murong Xuewei even more uneasy was that the Emperor had specifically sent Gu Ye to negotiate with her today, so she feared that there would be no peace today.
Zhao Lie's face was gloomy, clearly still dissatisfied with yesterday's events.
The courtiers chatted in hushed tones in twos and threes, their eyes gleaming with different kinds of light.
The Emperor sat high on his dragon throne, his gaze sweeping across the hall. When his eyes fell on Murong Xuewei, a strange light flashed in his eyes.
Murong Xuewei felt a chill run down her spine, but she bowed without changing her expression.
Negotiations resumed. Zhao Lie spoke first: "Our country has carefully considered your proposal. However, we believe that exchanging only three border cities for the Sixth Prince of Nangong is already the greatest show of sincerity. Adding further compensation would be difficult for our country to bear."
These words immediately sparked a murmur of discussion among the court officials. The Vice Minister of War stepped forward again, declaring righteously, "The envoy is mistaken! Our Taichu Kingdom has suffered heavy losses. If we do not compensate, how can we explain ourselves to the soldiers on the border?"
Seeing that the two sides were about to argue again, Murong Xuewei suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."
All eyes were on Murong Xuewei. The Emperor smiled slightly and said, "Minister Murong, please speak freely."
Murong Xuewei took a deep breath and slowly said, "In my opinion, losses are inevitable in war between two countries. Rather than dwelling on the issue of reparations, we should focus on peaceful coexistence in the future. Wouldn't a lasting peace agreement be far more valuable than temporary compensation?"
The hall fell silent immediately after these words were spoken. Everyone was pondering the deeper meaning behind Murong Xuewei's words.
Gu Ye promptly chimed in, "I second that. If the two countries can reach a long-term peace agreement, it will not only avoid future war losses but also promote bilateral trade, truly a win-win situation."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Lie's eyes, followed by a thoughtful expression.
The Emperor also showed interest: "That makes sense. Do either of you have any specific suggestions?"
Murong Xuewei and Gu Ye exchanged a glance and began to explain their ideas in detail.
They proposed specific measures such as border trade and cultural exchanges, which could not only promote relations between the two countries, but also subtly strengthen the influence of the Primordial Kingdom.
As the discussion deepened, the atmosphere inside the hall gradually eased.
Even the Vice Minister of War, who had consistently opposed the plan, had to admit its feasibility.
However, just as the negotiations were about to reach an agreement, a commotion suddenly broke out.
A guard rushed into the main hall and whispered a few words in the emperor's ear.
The Emperor's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly, "Guards, immediately seal the palace gates! No one is allowed to leave!"
A commotion immediately erupted inside the hall. Murong Xuewei's alarm bells rang loudly; she looked at Gu Ye and noticed his expression had also become serious.
The Emperor surveyed the crowd and said in a deep voice, "We have just received news that Nangong Yifeng has disappeared!"
This news was like a bombshell, exploding within the hall.
Zhao Lie's expression changed drastically, and he angrily questioned, "What does this mean? Does the Taichu Kingdom intend to go back on its word?"
The court officials were also discussing the matter, with some suspecting it was a conspiracy by the Qu Kingdom, while others believed that someone was deliberately sabotaging the negotiations.
Murong Xuewei's heart sank. She recalled Nangong Yifeng's anxious expression last night. Could it be that he had run away without permission? But given Nangong Yifeng's character, he shouldn't have done such a thing!