Chapter 84: Truly Laughable

“I remember that the Nan Dynasty envoys came to Yong Kingdom seeking help. Why does it seem now as if we are the ones asking for favors?” Princess Pingyao turned to look at the Right Prime Minister, “Minister Xie, are you sure it wasn’t us who lost the battle?”

Xie Tinglan calmly bowed, “Please rest assured, Princess. I would never dare to deceive the Regent and the Princess about the safety of our country. Besides, if we were seeking help, it should be our envoys going to Nan Dynasty.”

“Oh,” Princess Pingyao sneered, “I thought Nan Dynasty’s eight hundred thousand troops were at our borders, planning to give us a show of force.”

“That’s not the case.”

They played off each other perfectly, only to hear the Nan Dynasty envoys’ faces turn awkward, each looking sheepishly at Marquis Han Rong.

Han Rong’s expression grew even uglier.

He used to be very good at disguising and hiding, but after Princess Yan Jiuli married him, she became seriously ill and had to retire to recuperate, never able to lead troops into battle again.

He no longer needed to live under her halo, nor did he need to continue enduring and pretending.

Over the past two years, he had just begun to raise his head and breathe freely, but unexpectedly…

“The Marquis is a man of simple manners and not very articulate. Please forgive him, Princess.” Lord Ji, who had been reprimanded earlier, spoke up to apologize, “We came here with sincere intentions to establish good relations with Yong Kingdom and would not dare to show disrespect to the Princess.”

Han Rong took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his face: “Yes, I was rude earlier. Please forgive me, Princess.”

“I didn’t take it to heart,” Princess Pingyao smiled faintly, her smile carrying a hint of condescending disdain, “Since you’re a man of simple manners, let’s settle this in a manner befitting such a person. You can choose the location and the weapons. How about a duel of three hundred rounds?”

Han Rong gripped his wine cup tightly: “I would be honored to—”

“The Regent has arrived! The Regent’s wife has arrived!” A loud announcement suddenly echoed through the hall.

The officials all put down their wine cups and stood up to welcome them, and the Nan Dynasty envoys followed suit.

When hosting an official banquet for envoys, the main hosts arriving late and expecting the envoys to line up and welcome them was not a common sight in any country.

Han Rong’s dissatisfaction deepened, although he was aware that Nan Dynasty’s current national strength was not as strong as Yong Kingdom’s, and they were seeking help, so it was reasonable for them to lower their stance.

Yet the Regent of Yong Kingdom was indeed arrogant.

The Duke of the State, ranked among the high officials, stood with the Left and Right Prime Ministers, lowering his gaze to welcome the arrival of the Regent and his wife. His eyes fell on Shen Ning’s face, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Ji Yucang and Shen Ning walked side by side, passing through the center of the hall.

Ji Yucang’s face was cold and noble, his aura intimidating. His dragon robe accentuated his imposing presence, making him appear both majestic and formidable.

Shen Ning was breathtakingly beautiful, her demeanor cold and imposing. Although her figure was much more delicate and petite as a woman, her presence was not at all overshadowed by Ji Yucang’s.

How could an ordinary woman of her age possibly have such a presence?

A thoughtful look crossed the Duke of the State’s eyes. He felt that Shen Ning had changed too much during this period, and she was no longer the daughter he once knew.

Han Rong’s gaze fell on Shen Ning, his pupils contracting slightly. He also felt that Shen Ning’s presence was too strong, even giving off a strange and inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Ji Yucang and Shen Ning silently walked to the front and took their seats.

The moment Shen Ning saw Han Rong, her hands hidden in her sleeves clenched tightly, and a wave of hatred swept over her heart, almost impossible to control the urge to tear him to pieces.

“Please be seated,” Ji Yucang’s gaze swept slightly, his eyes passing over Han Rong’s face, “This is the renowned loyal and brave Marquis from Nan Dynasty, the prince consort of the War Goddess Princess?”

The atmosphere in the hall solidified.

Han Rong’s face stiffened, an indecipherable look of discomfort appearing on his face.

Although no one knew what he was uncomfortable about… Well, Princess Pingyao knew.

“Uncle,” she spoke lazily, “This brave and loyal Marquis from Nan Dynasty is indeed famous, but he said, ‘My wife has passed away, and I do not wish to mention her.’ Uncle’s question has touched on his pain.”

“What?” Shen Ning’s gaze lifted slightly, her eyes like sharp blades shooting towards Han Rong, “Does mentioning your wife make you feel ashamed? Doesn’t the Marquis want to admit that his title was obtained through his wife?”

The sarcasm and malice in these words were no longer concealed.

The Nan Dynasty envoys were all taken aback as they looked at Shen Ning, not understanding why, upon their first meeting, the Regent’s wife of Yong Kingdom would harbor such hostility towards them.

Were they not willing to help Nan Dynasty?

The Duke of the State was also shocked, looking at Shen Ning in disbelief, his eyes revealing a hint of displeasure.

Did she know what kind of occasion this was? With high-ranking officials from both countries present, was it her place, a woman, to speak nonsense here?

“The Regent’s wife has misunderstood,” Han Rong’s face was a mix of green and pale, his smile stiff, “I do not wish to deny my wife’s abilities. It’s just that she is no longer with us, and I want to give her peace.”

“Is that so?” Shen Ning sneered coldly, “The War Goddess Princess’s reputation is well-known, and generals from all countries have heard of her. Even if you do not wish to mention her, you cannot stop others from praising her.”

A flash of anger appeared in the Marquis’s eyes as he lowered his gaze and said coldly, “The Princess Consort is right. It is my narrow-mindedness.”

“As a woman like her, I want to ask, did you obtain your title through your own abilities or through the achievements of the War Goddess Princess?” Shen Ning stared at him unwaveringly, her eyes sharp as if she could pierce through his defenses with a knife, exposing his fragile and easily shattered pride, “If you truly loved your wife, I hope you will answer this question truthfully.”

Han Rong was furious in his heart, completely baffled as to why they were so fixated on the issue of Princess Yan Jiuli.

That despicable woman was already dead!

She was dead!

What was there to say about a dead person?

His grip on the wine cup tightened, not daring to openly fall out with the Regent of Yong Kingdom, only managing to squeeze out a smile through gritted teeth, “My wife’s achievements were outstanding. Seven years of warfare brought great contributions to Nan Dynasty. It’s just that years of battle took their toll, adding injury upon injury, so…”

“Truly laughable,” Princess Ping Yao suddenly sneered, “It seems the brave and loyal Marquis of Nan Dynasty can’t even understand human speech, not even comprehending what the Regent’s wife is asking. If people like this are sent to arrange a marriage alliance with us, you envoys might as well pack up and return home. If someone like this can be titled ‘Marquis’, then after the War Goddess Princess’s death, Nan Dynasty must be left with only a group of old and weak soldiers, making a marriage alliance completely unnecessary.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Han Rong’s face froze completely.

The other Nan Dynasty envoys looked at each other, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

However, they were seeking help, so they naturally would not get angry just because they were being ridiculed.

Another middle-aged man dressed in black armor put down his teacup and spoke to ease the tension, “The Regent’s wife may not be aware, but the War Goddess Princess’s military exploits were extraordinary, making her one of the rare exceptional women in Nan Dynasty. However, the Marquis is not incapable either, otherwise, the War Goddess Princess would not have chosen him, right? It can only be said that compared to the War Goddess Princess, the Marquis might be somewhat inferior.”

He paused, “But looking at the entire Nan Dynasty, there are few who can match the War Goddess Princess’s abilities. Besides, the Marquis and the Princess were husband and wife, so there’s no need to compare them.”