Chapter 151

【At the banquet, the table is laden with delicacies, yet no one touches their chopsticks.】

【Everyone present harbors their own agendas; they did not come here for the sake of filling their stomachs.】

【But for the entire world!】

【Gu Ji lightly waves his sleeves, and the guards, well-trained, weave through the banquet, quietly placing an imperial edict before each guest.】

【On the xuan paper of the edicts, dense rows of small characters are inscribed.】

【Wu Ying pushes her copy toward Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi.】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi hurriedly rises, bows in a salute, and solemnly receives the folded edict with both hands.】

【This scene makes Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu's expression even gloomier.】

【Yuwen Yan also puts away the jade pendant in his hand, focusing his full attention on examining the contents.】

【Halfway through reading!】

【Yuwen Yan simply exchanges glances with Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu, communicating privately.】

【The two nations are weak and have long been deeply allied to resist the other states.】

【You, however, appear exceptionally composed, slowly unfolding the paper in your hand, your gaze wandering between the lines.】

【This is an alliance treaty between the four nations and Yanbei!】

【Under the lamplight, it seems the various nations had long reached a tacit understanding.】

【All is silent!】

【You read through it item by item; among them is the four nations' recognition of the Yan territory.】

【No military action for ten years across the five lands; this withdrawal of troops from Daqing, no conquest of Daqing's Jiangnan region for ten years—should this be violated, the other four nations shall strike together.】

【There are also many clauses regarding the exchange of commerce and academies between the four nations.】

【Until the final clause!】

【"The lands of Zhou Xuan in Hexi and the areas adjacent to Yanbei shall all be ceded to Yanbei."】

【Seeing this, you recall the letter left by Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi, which said, "A meeting in Yuezhou; I shall be satisfied with you once it is done."】

【After reading, everyone remains silent.】

【The food on the table still goes untouched.】

【At this moment!】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi is the first to praise: "I do not know who drafted this alliance edict; it is detailed and thorough in every aspect."】

【"It truly commands my admiration!"】

【Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi laughs: "This was drafted by Chancellor Gu!"】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi says: "Mr. Gu is a man of great talent!"】

【Gu Ji smiles slightly, shaking his head modestly: "I do not deserve such praise from Mr. Gongsun Pingxi."】

【"If there is anything improper in this treaty, Mr. Gongsun Pingxi may propose changes."】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi shakes his head: "I have no objections, but I must ask Your Majesty to make the final decision."】

【Wu Ying speaks for the first time: "I can conquer the world, but I cannot govern it."】

【"The gentleman's decision is the determination of my Between Qianyuan."】

【These words shock everyone present.】

【Lu Yu hears the legendary voice of the Between Qianyuan Empress for the first time; it is unexpectedly gentle and pleasant, like a delicate woman in the misty rain of Jiangnan, forming a sharp contrast with the mysterious, terrifying ghost mask she wears.】

【The fair-skinned, beardless old eunuch behind Wu Ying also shows a look of shock at this moment.】

【He knows well the Empress's trust in Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi, but he never expected this trust to run so deep.】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi, as a member of the Lady Gongsun family of Chu, would never be heavily employed in other nations, but in Between Qianyuan, he holds the seal of a Chancellor and oversees all affairs of the state.】

【The Empress did not even personally review this treaty concerning the future of Between Qianyuan, trusting Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi's judgment entirely.】

【"Doubt not those you employ; employ not those you doubt."】

【Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi cannot help but exclaim: "The magnanimity of the King of Li Qian is truly beyond what any man could achieve."】

【Although Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi had long anticipated that Between Qianyuan would not object, he did not expect Wu Ying to be so decisive; these words are spoken in genuine admiration.】

【Although the Hexi region nominally belongs to Zhou Xuan, it is actually in the hands of the Between Qianyuan Empress.】

【Ever since Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi began employing Gu Ji, he has given unconditional support to every one of his decisions.】

【Because he knows that knowing and employing people is the art of an emperor.】

【This Between Qianyuan Empress truly has the heart to swallow the four seas and does not care about the loss of a single city or territory!】

【At this time!】

【Gu Ji turns to ask Yuwen Yan: "Does the King of Han have any objections?"】

【Yuwen Yan smiles slightly and replies: "Han has no objections."】

【A smile appears on Gu Ji's face!】

【This simple answer not only represents the stance of Han but also indicates that Chu will follow suit, as Han and Chu are closely allied, and Yuwen Yan's decision largely represents the position of Chu.】

【Sure enough!】

【Before Gu Ji can even start.】

【Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu says in a deep voice: "Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu has no objections to this."】

【However, no sooner have his words fallen than Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi coldly interjects from the side, his tone carrying obvious dissatisfaction: "Since when can you, Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu, represent the entire nation of Chu?"】

【Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu seems unbothered by Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi's questioning; he does not respond directly but lets Lady Gongsun Gongsun Dunran, who is behind him, explain on his behalf.】

【After bowing respectfully, Lady Gongsun Gongsun Dunran says to Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi: "For this trip north, the King of Chu has officially granted my father the power to act on behalf of Chu."】

【Hearing this, Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi's gaze sweeps back and forth between the two, finally turning into a cold sneer.】

【He understands in his heart that this so-called "power to act on behalf of Chu" is nothing more than the Lady Gongsun family using their own influence in Chu to treat the Emperor as a child.】

【"Holding the Emperor hostage to command Chu!"】

【Gu Ji's gaze finally falls on the last person at the banquet—Lu Chen, who has just been enfeoffed as the King of Yan.】

【It is this person's journey north that is the key to everyone gathering here.】

【Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi also puts away his playful expression, looking seriously at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with both anticipation and scrutiny.】

【Regarding Lu Chen, Lady Gongsun Gongsun Pingxi had long predicted after the Between Qianyuan Empress ascended the throne that the northern lands of Daqing would eventually fall into this man's hands.】

【Lu Chen cultivated the Dao at Mount Zhongnan and did not hold the northern lands before this; by eyeing the Northern Wind, he could also restrain Daqing, allowing Between Qianyuan to seize the opportunity to conquer either Chu or Han, thus achieving the hegemony of unifying the world within these ten years.】

【Unexpectedly!】

【Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu and Yuwen Yan actually united to resist, causing Between Qianyuan's offensive to suffer repeated setbacks.】

【Until the emergence of Lu Chen, this Junior Guardian, the northern lands shook, and Between Qianyuan began to withdraw its troops!】

【Between Qianyuan has already lost the opportunity to seize the world!】

【Now, the situation of the five nations standing like a tripod has formed: Han, Chu, Yanbei, Northern Wind, and Between Qianyuan, each governing itself and checking one another.】

【Gu Ji is also somewhat nervous at this moment; all the arrangements are just as he envisioned—the nations no longer want to fight!】

【Now, only the final step remains!】

【With Northern Wind taking the lead, Between Qianyuan agreeing, Han agreeing, and Chu agreeing, the three nations have no objections!】

【But if this King of Yan does not agree.】

【I fear everything will be for naught!】

【Yuwen Yan, after consulting with his civil and military officials, concluded that a truce is the best policy for Han.】

【Yuwen Yan still maintains a calm and composed appearance, though the hand touching his jade pendant exerts a slight, unconscious pressure.】

【Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu also furrows his brows, looking at you.】

【Tuoba Tuoba Shuyi's expression shows no change, except that his left thumb is rubbing the second joint of his index finger.】

【Tuoba Yuan is familiar with his elder brother and knows that every time his brother pinches his fingers, it is a truly critical matter; it was the same when the Lu Army paid respects to the Huang Long Prefecture back then.】

【Everyone is looking at you!】

【You slowly raise your head!】

A fan fiction of *Lord of the Mysteries*, recommended by a young lady.

【After this alliance treaty, the simulation will fast-forward ten years!】



(End of this chapter)