Chapter 571: The Demon Lord Princess's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 664: Setting Out for Negotiations

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Some commoners were baffled by this decision; they did not understand why, when the Dachang Kingdom had not attacked, their own country would instead take the initiative to surrender. However, some clever people saw the clues and began to consider the benefits surrender might bring.

Just then, Shangguan Xingyan cleverly employed the power of public opinion.

He arranged for some people to spread word among the populace, voicing the benefits of surrender through others' mouths and publicizing them vigorously. These benefits included avoiding the destruction and casualties brought by war, safeguarding the common people's lives, and possibly obtaining some preferential policies from the Dachang Kingdom.

As time passed, more and more commoners came to believe surrender was a wise choice. They were moved by the benefits Shangguan Xingyan publicized, feeling this could avoid unnecessary suffering and loss.

As for those ministers who originally held a skeptical attitude toward this matter, although they understood in their hearts that problems might exist, in this chaotic age they cared more about how to preserve their own lives.

Better to do less than more; they chose silence, not daring to lightly voice opinions.

After ten days of tense voting, the moment to tally the votes finally arrived. Shangguan Xingyan personally supervised the entire process, ensuring every single ballot was recorded accurately and without error.

In the end, the voting results came out; Shangguan Xingyan carefully examined the statistics, and indeed they were exactly as he had previously thought.

The commoners all knew clearly in their hearts that once war broke out, the ones who would ultimately suffer hardship would be themselves.

Moreover, this vote was anonymous, so they need not worry about anyone discovering their true thoughts; therefore everyone chose surrender with great peace of mind and boldness.

Shangguan Xingyan listed the voting results of every city in detail and compiled them onto a single sheet of paper. At the morning court the next day, he presented this paper to Emperor Shangguan Peilin and, before all the ministers, read out the tallied results one by one.

When Shangguan Xingyan finished reading all the results, the court fell utterly silent; not a single minister raised any further objection. Because since surrender was the people's will, if one continued to oppose, one would instead become a sinner in everyone's eyes.

Thus the matter was settled. Next, everyone began discussing the negotiation terms and confirming the personnel to go negotiate.

At this time, Shangguan Peilin spoke: "We believe this plan was proposed by Younger Brother; then let Younger Brother lead one person each from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, plus two from the Honglu Temple, to go negotiate together. After the morning court, those of you confirmed to go, come to the Imperial Study to discuss the specific agreement details."

After Shangguan Peilin finished speaking, the ministers all bowed in salute, acclaiming "Long live the Emperor, wise and brilliant." Seeing this, Shangguan Peilin said nothing more and directly announced the court dismissed.

After the morning court, officials of every department swiftly moved, finalized the list of negotiation personnel, and gathered at the Imperial Study within a short time.

Everyone stood around the table and began a lively discussion on the matters concerning this negotiation.

Time flew; in a blink, Shangguan Xingyan's party had already arrived at the Dachang Kingdom's capital. At this moment, the sun was already slanting westward, precisely the afternoon Shen Hour.

The Dachang Crown Prince had long received the Emperor's order and came early to the city gate tower, preparing to welcome Shangguan Xingyan and the others.

The Crown Prince stood on the city gate tower and saw from afar two carriages slowly approaching.

Atop the carriages, a small flag fluttered in the wind; on the flag, in vigorous and forceful calligraphy, were written the two characters "Dongying".

This small flag was only inserted when Shangguan Xingyan's party was about to reach the Dachang capital, its purpose being to let the Dachang people coming to receive them recognize their identity at a glance.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince immediately led a retinue of guards in quick steps to the city gate entrance, forming ranks to wait.

Simultaneously, the gate guards had also long received the Crown Prince's order, learning that today Dongying's envoys would arrive.

Therefore, when they saw the carriages bearing the Dongying flag, they inspected the vehicles according to convention; after confirming no issues, they allowed Shangguan Xingyan's party to enter.

Shangguan Xingyan slowly lifted the carriage curtain and at a glance saw the Crown Prince waiting to one side. Had it been someone else coming to receive them, Shangguan Xingyan might have needed to expend effort to identify them, but for this Crown Prince, he had met once before, so naturally he recognized him.

Seeing this, Shangguan Xingyan unhesitatingly instructed the driver to pull the carriage to the side. Once the carriage stopped steadily, he alighted with graceful movements and walked toward the Crown Prince with a smile.

After the two met, they first exchanged salutes, then began a round of polite small talk. Shangguan Xingyan's words were proper and his attitude modest, while the Crown Prince also showed great warmth, making one feel bathed in a spring breeze.

After the pleasantries, the Crown Prince led everyone to the relay station. Arriving at the relay station, everyone dismounted from the carriages.

The Crown Prince stood still and said: "Brother Xingyan, you have traveled hard all the way today; you must be quite weary. Why not rest a day at this relay station to recuperate? This Palace will first return to the palace to report to Father Emperor; after tomorrow's morning court, I will come again to the relay station to fetch you all to discuss this matter."

Hearing this, Shangguan Xingyan could not help but rejoice inwardly. He had traveled in wind and dust the whole way and indeed felt utterly exhausted.

Now having a chance to rest and reorganize was naturally nothing better. Moreover, the Crown Prince personally coming to welcome them made him feel Dachang's emphasis on the Dongying Kingdom even more.

Thus Shangguan Xingyan hurriedly replied: "Good, everything follows Your Highness the Crown Prince's arrangement. Today we are grateful beyond measure for Your Highness personally welcoming us. Then we shall rest here and meet again tomorrow."

As soon as the words were spoken, Shangguan Xingyan led everyone to turn and walk into the relay station. The Crown Prince then boarded his own carriage and galloped toward the Imperial Palace, preparing to return and report to the Emperor.

After Shangguan Xingyan returned to his room, he quickly organized his personal belongings, then instructed his personal little eunuch to go to An Wang Fu to deliver a calling card. However, just as the little eunuch had not yet set off, Yan Si had already arrived.

It turned out Shangguan Xingyu had received a letter from Shangguan Xingyan two days prior, in which the purpose of this Dongying visit to Dachang and the general schedule were explained in detail.

Therefore, these past days she had been paying attention to when Dongying's envoys would arrive. So when the Crown Prince met Shangguan Xingyan, Yan Si received the news at the first moment, immediately put down his work, and rushed to the relay station without stopping.

After Yan Si arrived at the relay station, he first asked the station guards for Shangguan Xingyan's room location. Then he went straight to the room door and lightly knocked.

Not long after, the door slowly opened.

Since the day Yan Si and Shangguan Xingyu married and they parted, Yan Si and Shangguan Xingyan had not seen each other for a very long time.