Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 216 - 214 Never a Killjoy_1
Chapter 216: Chapter 214: Never a Killjoy_1
Chapter 216: Chapter 214: Never a Killjoy_1
“Even if General Ruobai didn’t mind, I, the Crown Prince, have to mind.” The Crown Prince’s face darkened as he looked at the dazzling and beautiful Li Tianfu, not buying her charms at all.
Li Tianfu was stunned, her eyes wide as she stared at the Crown Prince of the Jin Kingdom. She never expected him to stand up for Bai Qingyan!
She bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she defiantly stared at Bai Qingyan. “Could it be that the Crown Prince of Jin is also under this God of Slaughter’s…”
“Princess!” Li Zhijie hurriedly interrupted, preventing her from finishing the phrase. “The princess had some wine in the carriage earlier. Could she be drunk?!”
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The Crown Prince of Jin stepping in changed the entire nature of the situation. If Li Tianfu continued speaking, it could ruin the negotiations between the two countries.
With the Empress just having ascended the throne and the Xiliang court still unstable, any reckless words from Li Tianfu could reignite the war. There were those in Xiliang waiting to exploit any chaos.
“Xiliang gathered Nanyan and boasted of a million-strong army to invade my Jin Kingdom. Having lost, you now accuse us of killing your surrendering soldiers. Xiliang truly has… no shame!” Bai Qingyan spoke lightly, with a hint of a calm smile in her eyes. “We, the Jin Army, were fifty thousand strong, while you, Xiliang, sent over ten times that number to Wengshan. If we didn’t kill your soldiers, should we have just waited for them to kill us instead? Or does the Xiliang Princess mean that any country Xiliang wishes to destroy should extend their necks for slaughter, or they lose all honor and integrity? Xiliang must still be dreaming… thinking themselves rulers of the world. Who gave Xiliang such face? Was it you, Princess?”
“You!” Li Tianfu stood up abruptly, her chest heaving with anger. “How dare you be so rude!”
“The one who was rude first was the Xiliang Princess herself!” Bai Qingyan’s deep eyes were steady as a calm lake. “A defeated nation’s princess coming for a marriage alliance, we give you courtesy… you are a princess. Without it… you are nothing! If you come to sue for peace, show the humility of a supplicant. Do not put on airs before the victor. The weak… do not have that privilege! Does the Princess still need someone else to teach her such simple reasoning?”
Li Tianfu was burning with rage and looked aside as if wanting to draw her sword to cut down Bai Qingyan, but Li Zhijie held her wrist firmly.
Even though Li Zhijie admired Bai Qingyan’s beauty, in these peace talks, Bai Qingyan was insulting Xiliang. How could he stand by and watch his homeland be humiliated?! The Princess’s personal dignity might be trivial, but the dignity of the nation could not be insulted!
Li Zhijie’s face turned a mixture of blue and white, his usual smile vanished. He gazed deeply at Bai Qingyan but addressed the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, although our Princess was initially at fault, General Bai’s words excessively humiliate Xiliang. It seems General Bai enjoys slaughter and does not wish for peace!”
The Crown Prince tightened his grip, about to say something to ease the tension. However, before he could speak, Bai Qingyan continued: “Humiliation? Discussing facts is humiliation? King Yan, tell me, which part of my words was false? Your statement aligns exactly with what your Auxiliary General, Yun Poxing, has said. Is it Xiliang’s tradition that stating facts is an insult?”
Li Zhijie turned to the Crown Prince, smiling slightly. “Your Highness, it seems General Bai does not wish to discuss peace. What about you?”
Bai Qingyan looked at Li Zhijie, sneering coldly, not giving the Crown Prince a chance to speak, her words measured: “King Yan spoke rightly. I do not wish to negotiate for peace! Because this war… was instigated by Xiliang! You, Xiliang, with your cowardly nature and wolfish intentions, allied with Nanyan to divide my Jin Kingdom. After losing, you still pose arrogantly while seeking peace. How can there be such shameless nations or such easy resolutions?!”
“At that time, the alliance of Xiliang and Nanyan was strong. My Jin was weak! You, Xiliang, seized our cities and massacred our people! Each city you took, you slaughtered everyone in it… not sparing even the dogs and chickens! May I ask why Xiliang didn’t find it humiliating to us then?! Why didn’t you sue for peace then?!” Bai Qingyan’s sharp gaze swept over the pale-looking Xiliang peace envoy. “Because Xiliang understands well that in the chaotic times, the strong are revered! Now that we, the Jin Kingdom, have defeated you soundly with fewer troops, you pretend not to understand these truths? How dare you speak of face and humiliation with us now?!”
Although Liu Rushi despised Bai Qingyan’s actions of burning surrendered soldiers, as the peace envoy of the Jin Kingdom, he had to defend Jin’s dignity. He echoed Bai Qingyan’s mockery: “Xiliang is feigning ignorance. You merely want to save face! But Xiliang seems to forget… face is something granted by others. If you insist on overstepping bounds, it’s your fault if you fall and get hurt!”
Diplomacy had always been like this. Each side used words to seek benefits for their nation. Not reaching an agreement was not uncommon.
Originally, Li Zhijie intended to handle these peace talks amicably, saving face for both nations. But now, with Li Tianfu losing her temper and breaking decorum, the only ones left embarrassed were Xiliang. After all, they were the ones suing for peace.
Seeing the Crown Prince remain silent in his seat of honor, Li Zhijie had no choice but to grit his teeth and say: “In wartime, it is inevitable to kill and seize cities…”
“Our King of Zhen has fought many battles with various countries. Has he ever massacred any city’s inhabitants?” Zhang Duanrui clasped his hands in salute and raised his eyebrows in challenge. “Does King Yan not find his excuse too far-fetched?”
“But General Bai of Jin also burned all the surrendered soldiers of Xiliang! Our Auxiliary General was severely injured, his son beheaded by General Bai’s men, and his grandson shot through the heart by General Bai himself. You could say…” Xiliang’s envoy had wanted to say it amounted to even matters but changed his tone, considering the Bai family’s losses, “they have been taught a lesson as well.”
“Taught a lesson?!” Li Tianfu’s fury surged, her temples throbbing with anger as she glared at the envoy. “Are you mad or did a horse kick your head? Are you a subject of Xiliang?! If you like speaking on behalf of Jin so much, go collect your salary there! Bai Qingyan killed more than ten thousand Xiliang surrendering soldiers and set Wengshan Canyon ablaze for half a month. If Jin does not give Xiliang an explanation for this! These peace talks are over! Whoever wants to marry into Jin can go. I will not!”
“Princess!” Li Zhijie, seeing he was losing control of the headstrong Li Tianfu, grabbed her wrist tightly. “Do not forget the Empress Dowager and the Emperor’s earnest reminders before your departure!”
With the Empress’s throne unstable, Xiliang currently could not afford another war.
Liu Rushi, observing the situation, set down his cup and sat up straight, speaking solemnly: “Fine! If Xiliang has the courage to fight again, our Jin Kingdom will gladly oblige!”
