Chapter 353

Meanwhile, various marching routes crisscrossed and intertwined with one another.

Gao Yang's expression grew increasingly grim. Finally, he took a deep breath and strode straight out of the Duke of Ding's Prefecture.

Shangguan Wan'er couldn't help but ask, "Gao Yang, where are you going?"

"Into the palace!"

Shangguan Wan'er's face was filled with shock.

What on earth had happened in Da Qian to make Gao Yang, a man known as a poisonous strategist, look so grim?

She turned her gaze toward Gao Tianlong.

"Old Duke, what is going on?"

But she saw that Gao Tianlong's expression was even grimmer, his entire body radiating a chilling intent to kill.

This killing intent was like a mountain or a sea, so thick that Shangguan Wan'er found it hard to breathe.

Gao Tianlong's mind was filled with the routes Gao Yang had traced across the map.

A chill suddenly shot from his tailbone straight to his crown!

"Fetch my armor; I, too, must enter the court!"

At these words, Shangguan Wan'er and Gao Feng were even more horrified; they knew in their hearts that something major had happened!

"……"

The Imperial Study!

Wu Zhao sat high upon the dragon throne, while the envoys of the Chu Kingdom knelt in a sea before her!

The lead envoy of Chu was a middle-aged man named Pan Bo.

He had a kind expression and a lean frame, his head pressed tightly against the floor.

"I have been specially sent by the Second Princess to pay respects to Your Majesty of Da Qian, hoping that our two nations, Great Chu and Da Qian, may regain peace and live in friendship."

Compared to the arrogance of Chu Hong before, the attitude of this group of Great Chu envoys was extremely humble.

This actually caught Wu Zhao by surprise.

Wu Zhao leaned back against the dragon throne, her phoenix eyes sweeping over the group of Chu envoys, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the throne.

"Compared to the Chu army envoys from ten days ago, I am quite surprised and quite moved."

Pan Bo raised his head, revealing a fawning smile. "Da Qian has an enlightened Emperor such as Your Majesty, and the Living Yama guarding the realm. Since the two nations have formed an alliance, one must naturally be a hero who understands the times; one should bow when it is time to bow."

As these words fell, the officials of Da Qian all revealed looks of disdain.

Especially some of the civil officials, who felt a wave of irritation.

Ma Pi!

Sycophancy!

As envoys of Great Chu, they had no integrity at all!

A disgrace to Great Chu!

They had stolen all their lines for flattery!

The great battle was over, and it was their turn to flatter wildly, but now that a Chu official had said it all, what were they supposed to do?

Thus, the scornful gazes of the crowd gathered collectively upon the Great Chu envoys.

Seeing this, Xu Xuanji cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, since the two nations have formed an alliance, Great Chu is willing to withdraw its troops early. The blockade on Changancheng should also be lifted to return peace to the people!"

"I second this!"

"I second this!"

For a moment, the ministers spoke up one after another.

They had been stifled for quite some time now.

Wu Zhao fell into a moment of thought before finally saying, "Wait until the Chu army has formally withdrawn before lifting the blockade on Changancheng!"

"It won't hurt to wait a day or two."

Wu Zhao remained cautious, but Pan Bo did not seem to mind; he simply lowered his head, concealing every expression on his face.

"The hour is late, and you have traveled far, honored envoy. Go and rest first. As for the silver and grain, Da Qian will naturally gather them, and you may take them with you when the time comes!"

When she said this, Wu Zhao tried her best to remain calm.

After all, according to what Gao Yang had said, this silver was certainly not going to be given.

Especially since the army was withdrawing anyway, there was even less reason to give it to them.

The officials of Da Qian, especially Lu Zhen, Qin Zhenguo, and others, had faces full of smiles.

They naturally thought exactly as Wu Zhao did.

If we owe it based on our own ability, why should we pay it?

But in a place they could not see, a cold, imperceptible sneer flashed across the depths of Pan Bo's eyes.

Laugh!

Laugh to your heart's content!

Very soon, you won't even be able to cry.

But on the surface, Pan Bo still spoke with a sense of righteousness. "I have long heard that Da Qian is benevolent and a great nation. I am naturally at ease, and Great Chu is naturally at ease!"

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Saying this, Pan Bo turned, intending to leave.

But it was at this very moment that Gao Yang stepped into the Imperial Study.

Pan Bo froze instantly.

He suddenly associated this with Gao Yang's identity: the Living Yama of Da Qian.

He hurriedly said, "I, Pan Bo, have long admired the great name of Lord Gao!"

"With the success of these peace talks and the restoration of peace and alliance between our two nations, I dare to represent the tens of millions of people of both nations to thank Lord Gao!"

"Lord Gao will surely go down in history and be worshipped by ten thousand people!"

Pan Bo looked righteous, his words ringing with strength.

Hearing this, the censors all cast envious glances his way; to be praised so highly by an enemy envoy and to go down in history—truly, one would have no regrets in life!

But the next second.

Gao Yang flew forward and kicked Pan Bo squarely in the body.

Instantly, Pan Bo flew backward, feeling a wave of intense pain.

One does not strike a smiling face, yet he had just kicked him?

Was this Living Yama insane?

This scene left not only Pan Bo, but even Wu Zhao and the ministers in the Imperial Study, completely stunned.

But immediately after, the reprimands of the censors rang out.

"Lord Gao!"

"How rude!"

"Great Chu has come with the utmost sincerity; if this gets out, how will the world view Da Qian?"

The censors spoke up one after another in reprimand, especially Censor Huang, who was particularly impassioned, his spit flying everywhere.

A cold sneer appeared on Gao Yang's face, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Great Chu clearly harbors the ambitions of a wolf and has no regard for martial virtue!"

"They are harboring evil intentions!"

As these words were spoken, the civil and military officials were instantly stunned, while Pan Bo's face changed wildly.

"Lord Gao, you slander Great Chu in this way; today, you must give us an explanation!"

"Otherwise, we will not let this rest!"

The Chu delegation spoke up one after another, reprimanding him.

But Gao Yang continued to sneer. "Pretend!"

"Keep pretending!"

"I truly have to admire you; your Second Princess really has some skill, she almost fooled me!"

Gao Yang's eyes seemed capable of piercing through the human heart, filled with a cold sneer.

Pan Bo's face also became somewhat unsettled.

Wu Zhao sensed that something was wrong. She said in a deep voice, "Gao Yang, what is going on here?"

Gao Yang took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Wu Zhao, his voice resounding throughout the entire Imperial Study.

"Great Chu's withdrawal is a lie, and the peace talks are merely a deceptive tactic by the Chu Princess to make us lower our guard!" ===== CHAPTER 355 =====