The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 565: Chapter 565: Peace Talks

Princess Qingyang, of course, had no idea what Ye Chutang was thinking. If she did, she would have been secretly delighted.

She glanced at Ugle and lowered her voice. ”But still, of all the people to target, why you?”

Besides treating Emperor Muwu, there didn’t seem to be anything else special about Ye Chutang—

’Wait, no!’

Princess Qingyang suddenly thought of something. ”Wait a minute. Could he be doing this because he has a grudge against my brother—”

Before she could finish, Princess Qingyang realized her blunder. She quickly clamped her mouth shut and shot a guilty glance across the hall.

”Ahem, uh, I... I was just rambling. Don’t take it to heart, okay?”

Ye Chutang was speechless.

’You’ve already made it so obvious. Isn’t it a bit much to ask me to ignore it now?’

After a moment of thought, Ye Chutang asked, ”Do the Princely Heir and Ugle have a history?”

Princess Qingyang hadn’t wanted to say more, but since it was Ye Chutang asking, she hesitated for a moment before deciding it was better to be honest. ”They say the Crown Prince of Wazhen is a valiant warrior, the greatest after Mu Mu Zhen’er. In all his campaigns, he has only been defeated three times.”

Princess Qingyang shrugged helplessly and jutted her chin in his direction.

”My brother was the one who handed him all three of them.”

Ye Chutang was speechless.

’No wonder.’

When she’d seen the two men enter together earlier, she had sensed a subtle rivalry between them. Ugle appeared gruff, but he was surprisingly polite to Shen Yanchuan, even showing a faint wariness.

’So that’s why. He’d been beaten.’

Ye Chutang rarely asked Shen Yanchuan about his time on the Northern Border, so she had no idea the two men shared such a history.

For them to be sitting together now, ”drinking and making merry,” truly showed how times had changed.

”It seems Wazhen is in serious trouble,” Ye Chutang mused.

’Otherwise, why would Ugle humble himself and make this trip?’

”Probably,” Princess Qingyang said, not at all surprised. ”I heard many Wazhen people have starved to death outside Beijiang City.”

If they didn’t find a solution soon, their lives would become unbearable.

Ye Chutang lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes sweeping over the numerous gifts presented by Wazhen.

These were only a fraction of the total. She had overheard earlier that Wazhen had also prepared many precious furs and horses.

Due to their breed and environment, Wazhen horses were exceptional at running and combat, making them a top-tier and extremely valuable prize.

In the past, they couldn’t have bought them even if they wanted to, yet now their rivals were offering them up as gifts. It showed their desperation.

Wazhen would never have been willing to make such a costly offering unless they were truly desperate.

But...

Ye Chutang was lost in thought when a plum blossom pastry suddenly appeared before her.

Its fragrance was tantalizing—flaky, soft, and sweet.

She looked over and saw Xiao Wu gazing at her, eyes sparkling.

’Big Sister! This plum blossom pastry is delicious! You have to try it!’

The little one’s mind was completely occupied by food.

Ye Chutang patted her head and took a bite of the pastry.

”If you like it, I’ll bring some back for your third brother later.”

Xiao Wu nodded eagerly.

As time went on, the banquet reached its focal point.

”I have come to the capital bearing the hopes of my father, the king.” Ugle dispensed with the pleasantries and got straight to the point. ”First, we hope for a ceasefire and peaceful coexistence. Second, we wish to request the opening of a mutual market on the Northern Border.”

The hall fell silent.

Many of the officials wore ”I knew it” expressions.

Ever since the Wazhen Mission had sent its letter requesting peace, they had predicted that these two conditions were the most likely to be proposed.

No one wanted war, but the specific terms had to be negotiated in detail.

Xiao Chengqi smiled. ”What the Crown Prince says is what we also desire. If we can reach an agreement and bring peace to the Northern Border, it would be a blessing for both Wazhen and ourselves.”

Both the soldiers and the common people were in need of rest and recovery.

Resolving the conflict through peaceful means was, of course, the best possible outcome.

Ugle turned his head, and an attendant at his side immediately presented a scroll.

Ugle said, ”The terms for the mutual market are written here. Please, take a look.”

Eunuch Li hurried over, taking the scroll to Emperor Muwu for his inspection first.

The eyes of the many court officials followed it.

As Emperor Muwu read, the smile on his face slowly vanished.

He looked at Ugle. ”Are these your father’s terms?”

Ugle nodded. ”They are.”

Emperor Muwu’s expression was grim, his thoughts unreadable.

Many sensed that something was amiss and fell silent, their curiosity piqued.

’What on earth could be written on that scroll to provoke such a reaction from Emperor Muwu?’

Emperor Muwu passed the scroll over. ”Cheng Qi, you take a look.”

Xiao Chengqi accepted it, and his expression shifted as he read the contents.

He paused, then looked at Ugle. ”Is this what Wazhen calls sincerity?”

Everyone realized something was wrong.

’Clearly, the proposed terms must be outrageous!’

Ugle, however, nodded as if it were perfectly natural. ”Yes! We have traveled a great distance to be here. Is that not proof enough of our sincerity?”

Xiao Chengqi scoffed.

”One hundred thousand bolts of cotton cloth, ten thousand bolts of silk, three hundred thousand shi of millet, and a reduction in tariffs... Aren’t you asking for a bit much?!”

His words sent the hall into an uproar.

Everyone was stunned.

”That much!? That’s outrageous!”

”Exactly! They’re asking for the moon! How is this any different from robbery!?”

”We can never agree to these terms! If Wazhen is truly sincere about peace talks, they must change these conditions. Otherwise, this is a non-starter!”

The court officials erupted in a flurry of discussion.

The ministers of the Cabinet, however, remained silent.

Seeing this, the men behind Ugle also grew tense and wary.

Ugle raised a hand and shot them a warning look. ”We are here to negotiate peace. What do you think you’re doing?”

The men settled down, but the atmosphere remained taut.

Ugle looked at Xiao Chengqi. ”Since these are peace talks, there must be room for negotiation. If you are not satisfied with these terms, we are not unwilling to adjust them. However, my authority is limited, and I can only make minor changes.”

This statement was more infuriating than saying nothing at all.

It was a blatant insult!

’Limited authority? It was obvious they had no intention of changing a thing!’

Amid the chaos, Emperor Muwu suddenly spoke. ”Marquis Zhongyong, what is your view on this matter?”

No one had expected him to call on Xie Pei at this moment.

Xie Pei, who had remained quietly in his seat since entering the hall, finally straightened up slowly.

Xiao Chengxuan had someone deliver the scroll to him.

Emperor Muwu said, ”You are more familiar with Wazhen and you understand their language. Take a look and tell me, how much room for negotiation is there in their terms?”

Xie Pei’s body stiffened slightly before he lowered his head and said respectfully, ”As Your Majesty commands.”

With that, he slowly unrolled the scroll.

Ye Chutang watched this unfold, her eyes narrowing slightly.

’Was it just her imagination, or was there a hidden meaning in what Emperor Muwu had just said?’