Hai Ling reached out and hugged Ye Lingfeng's neck. She wanted to go with him, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease.
“Okay,” Ye Lingfeng was actually worried about leaving her alone in the palace, so he thought it would be better for them to go to Shaoyi Kingdom together, as a family trip.
"Thanks."
Hai Ling laughed. Ye Lingfeng took Hai Ling's hand and reminded her, "It's time to sleep. Don't think about tomorrow. We'll talk about tomorrow tomorrow."
"Yes, my husband."
Hailin chuckled as the two of them entered the bedroom together to wash and rest.
The next morning at court, Ye Lingfeng brought up the matter for discussion. Many people supported the emperor's trip to Shaoyi Kingdom, because if Shaoyi Kingdom were to destroy Nanling Kingdom, then the future of Beilu would be worrying. Therefore, maintaining a balance among the four kingdoms was the most important thing. Other readers are currently reading: Kuafu Chasing the Sun.
Ye Lingfeng immediately gave the order to prepare carriages and horses, and to head to Shaoyi Kingdom in two days.
This trip to Shaoyi Kingdom is nominally an envoy mission, so Prime Minister Zhao of Nanling Kingdom and another general are hiding in the Beilu Kingdom's army. It wouldn't be good to let the people of Shaoyi Kingdom know Beilu Kingdom's plans as soon as they arrive, lest they end up doing something bad instead of something good.
Inside the carriage, the kitten was the most excited, constantly peering out the window whenever it had a spare moment, and constantly bothering Hailing, completely ignoring Ye Lingfeng. Ye Lingfeng's face darkened several times, thinking to himself, "Could this kid have been born to steal my woman?"
The kitten's cheerful voice rang out again: "Mother, look how beautiful that place is!"
Hailing looked in the direction he pointed and saw that there was a sunset on the horizon, shrouding the distant mountains and nearby fields in a hazy glow, making it exceptionally beautiful at first glance.
"That's the sunset."
“Oh,” the kitten nodded, unusually remembering Ye Lingfeng, whom the mother and son had left aside: “Father, Father, look, look, it’s so beautiful.”
The smoky glow of the sunset enveloped the kitten's face, making it appear even whiter and more radiant. His eyes were bright and sparkling, and his delicate little nose and rosy lips were exquisitely beautiful. Ye Lingfeng was deeply moved and had long forgotten his sullenness with the kitten. Following the direction the kitten pointed, he looked around and found the view indeed breathtakingly beautiful.
The delegation sent to Shaoyi Kingdom arrived fifteen days later. Shaoyi Kingdom was known for its simple and honest people. Having undergone reconstruction, it wasn't particularly prosperous; stone houses were everywhere, and the people were all simple and honest. Because of the arrival of the envoys from Beilu Kingdom, many people happily gathered along the streets to watch, pointing and whispering, but without any hostility on their faces.
Mu Ye of Shaoyi Kingdom had already received Ye Lingfeng's letter, so he sent two ministers from the court to welcome them.
They made their way into the palace. The palace of Shaoyi Kingdom was not as large and magnificent as the palaces of Beilu and Dazhou Dynasty, but it was full of grandeur and magnificence, much like Mu Ye's personality, the assassin princess who transmigrated.
Inside the palace, at Chongyang Hall.
Mu Ye received the people from the Northern Lu Kingdom. The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant, unlike the awkwardness of the past.
After the battle at Red Snow Lake, Ye Lingfeng and Mu Ye established a friendship, and Mu Ye treated Hai Ling like a younger sister. He was naturally happy to see them visit, but there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes. Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling wouldn't have come here for no reason.
"I wonder if Emperor Xie came to Shaoyi Kingdom simply for leisure, or if he has important business to attend to?"
"Muye, I didn't expect you to become more and more wise." I used to think this man was just a warrior and lacked wisdom. Now I see that I was shallow. Muye is very smart and saw through their intentions at a glance. Since he saw through their intentions, he didn't beat around the bush.
Ye Lingfeng composed himself and looked intently at Mu Ye.
"And what does Emperor Wu think?"
Mu Ye frowned. To be honest, he knew that from Ye Lingfeng's perspective, he had not done anything wrong. The world had always been in a balance between the four kingdoms. If one kingdom were to devour another, the balance would be disrupted, just like when Nanling Kingdom devoured Shaoyi. Their Great Zhou Dynasty had always been on tenterhooks, working in alliance with Beilu. If they were to devour Nanling Kingdom, Beilu would also be worried.
But if they don't send troops, how can they swallow the humiliation of the Southern Ling Kingdom, which destroyed the Shao Yi Kingdom and killed many of their relatives?
Mu Ye's expression was uncertain, and Ye Lingfeng, knowing his predicament, spoke calmly.
"Mu Ye, the Southern Ling Kingdom is willing to compensate you for part of your losses and also publicly apologize."
Hai Ling looked at Mu Ye and said calmly, "Mu Ye, think it over carefully. Does your Shao Yi Kingdom really have to attack Nan Ling Kingdom right now? When will this cycle of revenge end? What you need to do now is rebuild your homes, not keep fighting. You're using all your resources on military affairs. Although the people don't complain, they're suffering. Even if you conquer Nan Ling, both countries will be destroyed. In a sense, you won't be the ones who benefit."
After Hailing finished speaking, Muye remained silent, but he was thinking seriously. In fact, there was no real point in them attacking Nanling Kingdom. Shaoyi Kingdom was still very poor at the moment. Although it had military strength, it was very poor in terms of financial resources. It had just recovered its territory and it would take many years for the people to recuperate and live a good life. If they attacked Nanling Kingdom now, it would only lead to the destruction of both countries.
In the end, he did Ye Lingfeng a favor, and Ye Lingfeng repaid him with a favor.
Otherwise, the Northern Lu Kingdom could simply ignore it. When the Shao Yi and the Southern Ling Kingdom were exhausted from their battle, the Great Zhou and the Northern Lu Kingdom could join forces to devour both of them, and then the two kingdoms would share the world equally.
However, Ye Lingfeng had no ambition and did not want the people to suffer, so he was willing to turn hostility into friendship.
He couldn't refuse this favor, and thinking of this, Mu Ye finally relaxed his brows.
"Let me discuss this matter with my court officials."
"good."
Since Mu Ye said so, Ye Lingfeng knew that the matter was most likely to be resolved.
In the days that followed, Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling stayed in the palace of Shaoyi Kingdom. Since Shaoyi had not built a post station and there was no other good place to entertain Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling, they left the people of Beilu Kingdom to stay in the palace.
Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling settled down. Mu Ye summoned his court officials to decide on the matter. Unexpectedly, everyone unanimously agreed to a truce. Finally, the envoy from Nanling Kingdom, Prime Minister Zhao, and a general stepped forward to represent Nanling Kingdom and sign a peace treaty with Shaoyi Kingdom, and paid 500,000 taels of silver in reparations.
The two sides resolved the matter peacefully, and everyone was happy. Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling genuinely wanted to help Mu Ye, so they donated 300,000 taels of silver to Shao Yi Kingdom on the spot. Although it was not enough to solve their current economic problems, it was a great help to them. Therefore, the people of Shao Yi Kingdom were grateful to Bei Lu Kingdom. (The latest chapter of "Spoiled Concubine: Your Highness, Please Love Me")
The flames of war have finally been averted, and the people of Shaoyi Kingdom rejoice, both inside and outside the capital. In truth, what these people dreaded most was war; now that there was no more fighting, the whole country celebrates.
In the market, Mu Ye, Ye Lingfeng, and the others strolled around and finally understood that the people of Shaoyi Kingdom did not yearn for revenge or war, but for survival and rebuilding their homes.
"It seems I owe you another favor," Mu Ye finally smiled and reached out to shake hands with Ye Lingfeng.
Under the moonlight, flames soared into the sky. Beneath the golden and silver trees, two outstanding men clasped hands and turned to look up at the sky. The fireworks were brilliant and dazzling, yet so short-lived. May their friendship last forever.
...
Five years later.
Inside the luxurious palace of Beilu, a large and a small child were chatting together. The child was fair-skinned and had bright, pearly eyes. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into crescent shapes: "Mother, don't you feel a little restricted? Staying with Father all day long, aren't you getting tired of seeing so many handsome men outside? Don't you want to go out and have a look?"
A certain rosy-cheeked boy, with an alluring look, wanted to abduct his beautiful mother from the palace so he could have her all to himself. However, seeing that his mother was lazy and unresponsive, he provoked her further: "Mother, I'll tell you a secret, Father was staring at beautiful women yesterday and he was mesmerized. He might be tired of you. Why don't you leave the palace? Distance can make the heart grow fonder."
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, his mother's face changed. The little boy was so smug, and he was about to say something when a gust of wind swept in, followed by a cold shout: "Xu Rui, you little rascal, you've done this again."