Chapter 502

"Ten million, that’s my final price. Take it or leave it!"

Li Er and Fang Fang Xuanling were completely at the mercy of Qin Mu.

In reality, the Great Tang had not obtained ten million taels of silver from raiding the Wang family’s estate. Most of the assets were land and other industries.

However, the total value did indeed exceed ten million.

Even if they were being fleeced by the Great Qin, they had no choice but to agree.

It was a bitter irony: the wealth they had seized was now being handed straight over to the Great Qin’s national treasury.

"Very well, the Great Tang will provide the ten million taels of silver.

Please have the Great Qin dispatch troops as soon as possible; this matter should not be delayed!"

The purpose of annihilating the Wang clan was to intimidate the other three families.

If they waited too long, and the three families officially rebelled, it would be too late to use intimidation.

Qin Mu agreed to the request from Fang Fang Xuanling and Li Er.

To him, this matter held additional significance.

It was not as simple as just wiping out a clan and collecting some money.

He immediately had a secret decree written and sent by fast horse to Huating.

Li Er, having just been fleeced, was still feeling indignant and intentionally asked a question.

"Your Majesty of Great Qin, I heard that the Director of the Imperial Observatory of our Great Tang, Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang, was captured by the Great Qin while returning to his hometown to visit relatives?

Where is he now?"

Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang’s capture had been calculated by Li Yuan Li Yuan Shoucheng.

Therefore, Li Er was absolutely certain that Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang was in Qin Mu’s hands.

However, he did not know that Li Yuan Li Yuan Shoucheng had only been able to calculate this because of Liu Liu Bowen’s arrangements, which were intended to let them know.

If Li Er hadn't brought it up, Qin Mu would have almost forgotten about Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang.

"Oh, Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang went to Longcheng; he is currently setting up a grand Feng Shui formation for the Great Qin.

The purpose of this Feng Shui formation is to draw the wealth of the Wang clan to the Great Qin.

Looking at it now, his Feng Shui formation must have already been successfully set up!"

Thinking about it now, he didn't know if it was a coincidence or if the Feng Shui formation had truly taken effect.

The Great Tang had indeed come running, delivering the newly seized Wang family assets right into the hands of the Great Qin.

How strange the ways of the world are!

Li Er was shocked upon hearing this.

"Why would Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang set up a Feng Shui formation for the Great Qin?

Has he also defected from the Great Tang?"

Li Er truly found it hard to believe, or rather, he was unwilling to believe it.

Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang had originally decided to take the risk and enter the Great Qin for the sake of his family's descendants.

Shouldn't he have disregarded his own life and death?

How could he have surrendered to the Great Qin?

Qin Mu spread his hands.

"Perhaps Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang had already calculated that his family would be fine?"

Li Er was stunned.

He realized that was indeed the case.

The news of Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang’s capture came from his uncle, Li Yuan Li Yuan Shoucheng, himself.

Although Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang had defected, his uncle remained loyal to the Great Tang.

Even for the sake of Li Yuan Li Yuan Shoucheng, the Great Tang would not make things difficult for Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang’s family.

That old fox had calculated it perfectly!

Li Er was furious!

It was all because of this Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang that the Wang family assets, which the Great Tang had worked so hard to seize, had all become property of the Great Qin’s treasury.

He felt as if he had snatched a bride only to have someone else enjoy the wedding night!

He was so angry he could vomit blood!

Fang Fang Xuanling hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Your Majesty, Li Er might be suffering from mental confusion due to the exhaustion of the journey.

We shall take our leave now and return to rest."

Qin Mu waved his hand, dismissing them.

Fang Fang Xuanling took Li Er and returned to the guesthouse.

The most urgent matter for today had already been accomplished.

Fang Fang Xuanling did not want to create further complications.

As long as the most necessary task was completed, what did it matter if they suffered a little loss elsewhere?

At the very least, the affairs of the state remained on the right track.

"Li Er, I advise you to stop getting so angry.

It’s not worth it to make yourself sick!

Li Yuan Li Yuan Tiangang is just a charlatan; he’s not worth regretting."

But Li Er didn't see it that way.

"Fang Xuanling! He just helped the Great Qin earn ten million taels of silver. That was money from the Great Tang’s treasury!"

Li Er was truly furious.

Being fleeced of ten million taels of silver was one thing.

The key was that he had just learned this silver had actually been siphoned away by someone using a feng shui formation.

And the person who set up this feng shui formation had previously been one of his own men.

Li Er always felt as though he had fallen into a grand scheme, and everything he encountered seemed to have been arranged by someone else.

This feeling was extremely unpleasant!

"Fang Xuanling, why are we passive at every turn?

Why does the Great Qin seize every opportunity?

Why on earth is this?"

Fang Fang Xuanling could not answer; he also did not know why.

If he had to explain it as their fortune having run out, he feared it would only make Li Er even angrier!

It was better not to say anything.

Having come to the Great Qin as a diplomatic envoy, no matter how angry he was, there were some things that had to be done.

"Li Er, I heard the Great Qin Emperor just had a princess.

This princess was born to Princess Wencheng."

Princess Wencheng!

At the beginning, the Great Tang had intended to marry her off to Songtsen of the Tibetan Empire.

At the time, unaware of the truth, she was taken away by Qin Mu, who was impersonating a Tibetan special envoy, and as a result, she became Qin Mu's consort.

The rice was already cooked, the wood was already carved into a boat; Li Er could only swallow this bitter pill.

Now, Princess Wencheng had given birth to a daughter for Qin Mu.

What did Fang Fang Xuanling mean by saying this?

Li Er stared at Fang Fang Xuanling in confusion.

"Are you suggesting I go and send a congratulatory gift?

To congratulate my Tang Dynasty princess for giving birth to a princess for the Great Qin Emperor?"

Cold sweat streamed down Fang Fang Xuanling's head.

That was exactly what he meant!

"Li Er, we cannot ruin the diplomatic etiquette between the two countries; sending a gift is our duty as Great Tang envoys!" Li Er felt depressed.

Although Princess Wencheng was not his biological daughter, she had only been granted the title of Princess Wencheng after he had adopted her as a goddaughter.

His daughter had been tricked away, had a child, and he still had to send a congratulatory gift.