Volume One, Chapter 28: Envoy? Hostage?

At this moment, Emperor Zhou felt his head was spinning, as if it were being pricked by needles. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Consort Xiao’s anxious and worried face. The emperor was still somewhat dazed, not fully awake.

“Your Majesty, you’re awake! You frightened me half to death!” she exclaimed.

After the old man had left, Yihan could not shake the feeling that something was amiss; she had guarded Lu’an City for years and had dealt with the Jiang family many times. Lord Jiang was always cunning and devious—who knew what kind of trick he was playing this time?

“You must have an idea. Speak up, and we’ll all follow your lead,” Wang Da said, listening closely and trusting Wang Bo’s abilities. He knew Wang Bo was a man of plans.

Gazing out across the water, a few planks floated on the surface. As they drifted closer to the cargo ship, Xu Chen realized that these were the remnants of a certain vessel.

A marriage alliance was the best way to build mutual trust for now. Lord Ma decided to send envoys once again to Lord Feng, seeking his daughter’s hand for Ma Ning, so that Ma Ning and Feng Yongyu could be united.

“Hmph, my mount is a rare steed, one of the finest in the world—not something that can be compared to the nag you’re riding!” Fu Qianjie retorted sharply, turning away and raising his head, as if waiting for someone’s arrival.

Their conversation shifted to other topics. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, and yet it also felt as if they were probing for weaknesses. Lord Ximen did not invite Ouyang Yiyi and his adopted son to stay for dinner. After seeing them off in haste, he set about organizing all the gifts that Ouyang Yiyi had sent. He had an appointment with the Crown Prince that evening, where he intended to mention his meeting with Ouyang Yiyi and show the Crown Prince the gifts.

That night, after dinner, everyone gathered in the council chamber. Lord Yuchi lined up his sons to keep strict watch at the door.

Feng Duan and his two deputy generals sat nearby, attentively serving Liang Luoren dishes and pouring him wine, their faces full of ingratiating smiles and concern.

“How could I not be anxious? You’re with the Wagang Army, aren’t you? Your reputation precedes you—you must act as my witness,” the old innkeeper said, grabbing Shen Hou’s hand. “Don’t bring shame to your Wagang Army.”

Upon hearing this, the Ji Hu officers put down their cups one by one. Some sighed with bowed heads, some secretly wiped away tears, some fumed with indignation, and some clenched their fists, ready for action. The once lively room fell instantly silent.

For Bumubutai, victory in the steppe wars would be best, but even if they lost, it wouldn’t matter too much. However, there could be no chaos within Great Qing—for this was the empire her son would inherit.

But as for Xu Lang, who had transmigrated into the body of a pauper, his story was a tragic one. At the very start, upon opening his eyes, he found himself reborn as a penniless soul who had already starved to death.

Perhaps it was the long loneliness, perhaps it was desire for a man. Zhan Jiusi simply refused to admit she had been moved.

Randy turned to look at Lu Cheng’s departing figure. Had he forgotten to tell Lu Cheng that the boss and the others had landed safely in City B and were about to transfer flights back to Yucheng?

“Only a fool would trust you.” That’s what Lu Cheng said, though inside he was conflicted. Would she really settle down if he just gave in to her request?

Missouri’s voice was so loud that the other ship girls in the house all heard her. At first, they were puzzled by her outburst, but when Akagi recounted what had happened, they understood. Fine, now they’d self-destructed just like Hood.

The black hole continued to grow, drawing Xiao Yi ever closer, and yet, in that very moment, Xiao Yi felt an extraordinary calm.

Later, she was transferred to another merciless prison, where, for the next three years, the only thing her eyes could see was the patch of blue sky above the prison, and the only thing her ears could hear was the endless roar of the ocean beyond the walls.

On this battlefield of life and death, a soldier’s mistake meant death; for a general, a mistake could doom the entire army. Was Lei Bo not a living example of this?