With so many imperial guards from the Xia Kingdom surrounding her, even if she killed this woman today, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

Jun Chenxi took a deep breath, set aside her emotions, and slowly withdrew her whip.

Lin Yuxin saw her retract the whip, patted the back of the tiger she was sitting on, and then looked at Jun Chenxi with a bright smile.

“Princess Chenfu, in this tiger-taming competition, I won!”

It was only then that Jun Chenxi realized she had lost—lost ten cities and agreed to a twenty-year truce, forbidding attacks on the Xia Kingdom.

Her face turned deathly pale.

In Qi, she held a high status, but only as long as she contributed to the kingdom.

Otherwise, how could the Qi Emperor allow a woman to act so boldly under his rule?

She knew that the Qi Emperor had been planning for over a decade, waiting for the right moment to invade the Xia Kingdom. And now, her arrogance had ruined everything.

The Qi Emperor would never forgive her. What should she do?

Jun Chenxi looked up at Lin Yuxin, biting down hard on her silver teeth, but said nothing.

Lin Yuxin didn’t care whether she admitted defeat or not.

She simply rode her tiger toward the grand hall’s entrance.

She looked just like a triumphant general returning from battle.

The tiger also remained obedient, showing no signs of resistance.

As she reached the doorway, she did not enter—it was completely blocked by imperial guards.

Lin Yuxin didn’t mind.

She simply called out loudly from outside:

“Your Majesty, Third Prince of Qi, in this competition, did I win?”

The Emperor had known she would win the moment she managed to stay on the tiger without falling off. He glanced at the Third Prince of Qi, whose face had darkened considerably, and felt delighted.

With a symbolic gesture, he asked the Third Prince of Qi, “Lin Yuxin has already ridden the tiger all around. What does the Third Prince think of this competition’s outcome?”

The Third Prince looked at Lin Yuxin and smiled warmly.

“Your Majesty jests. Lin Yuxin is indeed a tiger-taming expert. This competition, without a doubt, goes to Miss Lin.”

This loss was theirs to swallow.

They had been too arrogant, thinking no one in Xia could tame a tiger, and in the end, they had been given a brutal slap in the face.

The Third Prince scrutinized Lin Yuxin, curiosity and intrigue flashing in his gaze.

This woman was extraordinary. If only he could bring her to Qi…

A gleam of calculation flickered in his eyes.

Seeing the Third Prince admit defeat, Lin Yuxin happily dismounted from the tiger, led it back into the iron cage, and waited for the Emperor’s men to transport it away before strolling back into the hall.

Inside, everyone was waiting for her. As she entered, all eyes were on her—some curious, some analyzing, and some filled with jealousy.

Lin Yuxin didn’t care. Let them look; it wasn’t like she would lose a piece of flesh.

“Your Majesty, your humble subject has not failed your grace.”

Lin Yuxin walked to the front of the hall and respectfully saluted.

“Hahaha! Good! Lin Yuxin is the winner of this competition!”

The Emperor was truly overjoyed—this girl had brought him immense honor.

“Your Majesty, what about the wager?”

Lin Yuxin reminded him.

【The Emperor shouldn’t be too happy just yet; there’s still business to take care of. The bet hasn’t been settled! But knowing the Qi Emperor—stingy and vengeful—losing ten cities will make him hold a deep grudge against Xia. He’ll certainly cause trouble in the future.】

【And that twenty-year non-aggression pact? That alone is enough to make the Qi Emperor cough up blood. He spent over a decade planning to attack Xia, and now I’ve thrown a wrench in his plans. The Third Prince will definitely get scolded when he returns. I just hope the Qi Emperor doesn’t act recklessly out of desperation.】

【But if we give up the ten cities and only demand the twenty-year truce, he might be able to swallow his anger for now. Besides, I don’t even need twenty years. Five years is enough—I’ll make sure the Zhao family produces a few generals ready to lead troops into battle.】

【Right now, the Zhao family is full of the old, the weak, and the infirm. They have no one fit for the battlefield, so we need to lay low for a few years.】

The Emperor’s expression grew serious.

This girl was right—if they pushed too hard, the Qi Emperor might act recklessly.

The Xia Kingdom had enough soldiers, but they lacked capable generals.

Ever since the Zhao family declined a decade ago, Li Xiaocheng had been managing half of the military. But that young man seemed cursed—every time he got injured, even if he didn’t die, he would be left half crippled.

He was not cut out for the battlefield.

Sigh! It wasn’t easy being an emperor. He worried constantly.

But just now, this girl had said she could train a few generals for him.

Was she serious?

As the Emperor considered, he decided to take her advice and lie low for now.

“Third Prince, the wager was Lin Yuxin’s victory. However, I am not one to take advantage of another’s misfortune. I will not take the ten cities, but can Qi uphold the twenty-year non-aggression pact?”

The Third Prince was stunned.

They wouldn’t take the ten cities?

Impossible!

But he quickly regained his composure and cupped his hands in salute.

“Your Majesty, are you certain about not taking the ten cities?”

“What? Does the Third Prince doubt my words?”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

“Not at all. Since Your Majesty is showing such mercy, and will not claim the ten cities, then I, as the Third Prince, can indeed promise a peaceful twenty years between our nations.”

The Third Prince agreed immediately.

As long as they didn’t lose territory, twenty years would pass in the blink of an eye.

Besides, they wouldn’t even need twenty years. Once the Qi Emperor was fully prepared, the Xia Kingdom would be theirs.

The Third Prince smirked inwardly.

“Good, the Third Prince is decisive. Bring paper and ink to draft the agreement!”

The Emperor immediately ordered a contract to be written.

After both the Emperor and the Third Prince signed the pact, the banquet continued with performances.

Lin Yuxin, now uninvolved, returned to Zhao Hanya’s side.

Zhao Hanya grabbed her hand, trembling—clearly, this had scared her.

“Mother, I worried you,” Lin Yuxin said, feeling guilty. But some things had to be done, even if not by her, then by someone else.

She was just lucky that crazy woman targeted her.

Jun Chenxi remained silent, quietly sitting beside the Third Prince.

The grand hall was filled with music and laughter, and the ministers were all enjoying the performances, as if the competition had never happened.

Lin Yuxin pouted.

【These old foxes! Before the competition, they scolded me for causing trouble. Now that it’s over, they’re acting like I don’t exist. Well done! Even the Emperor—shouldn’t I get a reward for winning? Is he really this stingy? Whatever, I don’t care.】

【Hehehe! The banquet is only halfway through. There must be more drama to come!】

Lin Yuxin glanced around, observing her surroundings.

【Oh? Isn’t that Minister Wang from the Ministry of Works? Look at him—his eyes are glued to the dancing girls, practically popping out of his skull. He’s quite the pervert. I’ve heard he’s into all sorts of things—men, women… even his own sister-in-law. But he hides it well, so no one has caught him yet.】

Hearing this, the surrounding officials twitched uncomfortably—this wasn’t gossip they wanted to hear.

Even the Emperor’s mouth twitched. How am I stingy?!