Chapter 89: Truly a Bone of Contention

On the battlefield, not a single casualty?

How is that possible?

General Yang’s expression darkened, feeling that she was deliberately making things difficult: “Once soldiers are on the battlefield, there will inevitably be casualties. How can we guarantee no losses at all?”

“Then how should you compensate for the losses of our troops?” Princess Pingyao asked again, “It can’t be that they died for no reason, right?”

“We will provide compensation according to the standard casualty benefits…”

“General Yang, if you were to die on the battlefield, and Nan Dynasty were to give your family a compensation of ten thousand taels of silver, would you choose the ten thousand taels of silver or choose to stay alive?”

“Of course, I would choose to stay alive—”

Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow: “Then that’s settled. Our soldiers didn’t have to die. Why should they die for you, who are neither kin nor close to us?”

“Does the Princess mean she is unwilling to lend troops?”

“Indeed, I am not very willing.” Princess Pingyao sneered, “Especially to a country without backbone, where the ruler is both cowardly and foolish. Nan Dynasty’s fate is already exhausted, it should just perish. There’s no point in struggling.”

“Princess, please be cautious with your words!” General Yang angrily stood up, “The Regent’s Consort promised that as long as we agreed to hand over the Loyal and Brave Marquis to her, she would lend us troops—”

“My promise comes with conditions.” Shen Ning interrupted him, “Either the Regent’s Consort or the Regent must lead the troops personally. Of course, if you are willing, Princess Pingyao leading the troops is also acceptable.”

Princess Pingyao quickly waved her hand: “I can’t do it, I’m afraid of death. I don’t want to waste my energy for a country that should have disappeared.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall stiffened.

“Regent, Regent’s Consort.” Minister Ji spoke in a low and submissive tone, “This time we have come not only with two princesses to express our sincerity but also with an imperial decree to offer two million taels of silver, two hundred thousand taels of gold, a hundred chests of jewelry and jade, a thousand bolts of Shu brocade, and twelve beauties—”

“What you’ve mentioned, don’t we have those in the Yong Kingdom?” Princess Pingyao sneered, “But you don’t have to take my words to heart. Consider it as if I’m talking nonsense. The decision to lend troops or not still lies with the Regent.”

The Nan Dynasty envoy looked towards the Regent.

Ji Yucang’s expression was indifferent: “The current situation in Nan Dynasty is quite grim. It would be unfair to our own soldiers if the Yong Kingdom were to rashly lend troops. As the Princess just mentioned, although defending one’s country is a soldier’s duty, they don’t need to die for an unrelated country.”

Minister Ji’s face changed: “But you clearly promised—”

“This matter requires me to convene the military generals for a detailed discussion,” Ji Yucang said coldly. “There’s no need for everyone to be too anxious. As long as more than half of the military generals agree, I will promise to send troops to assist.”

He said “send troops, ” not “lend troops”.

A playful smile flashed across Princess Pingyao’s lips. Nan Dynasty, a group of fools, fearing their own illustrious war god, killed her, and now they were coming to another country to beg for help, ready to be slaughtered.

Truly a bone of contention, offering themselves up to die.

“How old are these two princesses from Nan Dynasty?” Princess Pingyao slightly raised her gaze, looking at the two young women who had remained silent all this time. “They should be around seventeen or eighteen, right? It wouldn’t be appropriate for them to enter the Emperor’s harem, and they are not qualified to be concubines for the Regent. In my opinion, wouldn’t it be better for them to be foot-washing maids for the Empress Dowager?”

This statement was like trampling the face of the Nan Dynasty royal family underfoot.

The faces of the envoys opposite turned from green to white, then from white to red, a mix of colors that was quite a spectacle.

Shen Ning had just slightly vented her hatred, and now her gaze also fell upon the faces of the two princesses who were to be married off, saying indifferently: “Come here.”

The two princesses raised their eyes slightly. Their features were indistinct under their veils, but their eyes were as beautiful as black obsidian.

After a brief hesitation, the two rose from the second row and walked out with light steps to the center of the hall. They looked up at Ji Yucang, who was seated in the main position, and then bowed respectfully: “We greet the Regent and the Princess Consort.”

“Are you two princesses?”

“Yes.”

“Sisters or daughters of the Emperor?”

Minister Ji looked uneasily at Shen Ning, thinking that today’s events were truly strange.

Matters of state that should have been presided over by the Regent, why were they all being inquired about by the Regent Consort?

The Nan Dynasty envoys thought this way, and so did the ministers of the Yong Kingdom.

But no one spoke up to say anything more.

Because the ruthless methods Shen Ning had just displayed had already instilled fear, and all of this was tacitly approved by the Regent, no one dared to protest.

One of the princesses lowered her head and replied: “Daughters.”

“The Nan Dynasty Emperor is barely over thirty, yet he has daughters as old as you?” Shen Ning looked coldly at the Nan Dynasty envoys. “Trying to deceive us with two fake princesses, is this your so-called sincerity?”

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the hall.

The ministers of the Yong Kingdom were furious: “Your country dares to deceive us like this, and still dares to ask for troops?”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“Although we don’t covet your princesses, but—”

“Please calm your anger, gentlemen.” Minister Ji’s face turned pale, and he quickly stood up and bowed in apology. “Our Emperor is over thirty, and the oldest prince is twelve years old, while the oldest princess is only ten. There are no suitable candidates. Although the Emperor has several sisters, unfortunately, they are already married, and we dare not arrange a marriage for them. These two were selected from among the imperial clan and have been conferred the title of princess by the Emperor to be married off. They are no different from the Emperor’s own daughters, and they are exceptionally beautiful and gentle in nature. They will not disappoint your esteemed country.”

Ji Yucang held a wine cup, his expression indifferent and noble: “I am not interested in your princesses. Offer a different condition.”

Minister Ji’s heart tightened: “Please speak, Regent.”

“Relinquish the cities of Fengtong, Pan Yun, and Beiwang Gu. From now on, Nan Dynasty will become a vassal state of the Yong Kingdom. If this is done, I will naturally be willing to send troops to assist.”

There was great astonishment in the hall. General Yang of Nan Dynasty suddenly stood up: “Regent, this is taking advantage of our vulnerability!”

Princess Pingyao took a sip of wine and spoke nonchalantly: “Compared to the destruction of your country and the loss of your homes, the condition proposed by the Regent is already very reasonable. Your Nan Dynasty is weak in both troops and generals, each one of you is a coward. Being able to cling to the Yong Kingdom’s powerful support is your good fortune.”

General Yang clenched his fists. The people of the Yong Kingdom were simply scoundrels!

Shen Ning sat before a small table, leisurely sipping tea, her face betraying no emotion of joy or anger.

The Nan Dynasty envoys now understood that this was a banquet of treachery.

From the moment they agreed to the marriage alliance, the outcome of being taken advantage of was already waiting for them. Their country’s strength was insufficient, and the situation was dire, leaving no room for further delay.

But if they truly dared to agree to their conditions today, upon their return, the Emperor would surely be enraged. At the very least, they would lose their official positions and their lives, and at worst, the lives of their entire clans might not be guaranteed.

Among the envoys who came to form an alliance, the Loyal and Brave Marquis had the highest status and could make decisions on behalf of the country, but now he was in no position to help himself…

The hall was filled with a deathly silence.

“In my opinion, there’s no need to relinquish any cities. It would be better for the Regent to send two capable and battle-hardened generals with two hundred thousand troops to attack Nan Dynasty. Taking advantage of their inability to resist, we could join forces with the Western Zhou Dynasty and simply divide up Nan Dynasty.” Princess Pingyao snorted coldly. “In this way, even the Nan Dynasty capital wouldn’t be safe. The loss would be far more than just three cities.”

General Yang was provoked by these words and couldn’t help but speak recklessly: “Has the Yong Kingdom already become so yin-dominant and yang-declining that military and state affairs are decided by two women? Regent, we came here for help, not to be humiliated!”

Minister Ji quickly spoke up: “General Yang, watch your attitude.”

Since they knew they were here for help, how dare they be so rude to their hosts?

The Left Prime Minister, Yan Qingchen, spoke leisurely: “A defeated country has no dignity to speak of. Isn’t being humiliated normal?”

Xie Tinglan nodded: “When you’re about to become a slave of a fallen nation, dignity is just a joke.”

General Yang was so angry that his face turned ashen.

The ministers of the Yong Kingdom sat at their seats without speaking.

In the past, they would still be conflicted about whether to be loyal to the rightful Emperor or to the more intimidating Regent. However, at this moment, they were deeply moved.

A country needs strong military power and a prosperous and wealthy economy to maintain the most basic dignity of the state and its rulers.

If the Emperor is incompetent and the country is weak, the surrounding powerful nations will only harbor ambitions. In such times, even if there is no destruction of the country or loss of homes, one must constantly bow and scrape, and what dignity is there to speak of?