Chapter 561

First Volume, Chapter 561: The Bond Between Ruler and Minister

Before entering Beijing, Chen Si had already prepared for both the worst and the best outcomes.

After a series of probes and heated verbal exchanges, Chen Si had come to understand.

Liang, long prioritizing civil over military affairs, had become balanced in both due to Qin Feng, this unyielding bone.

It was no longer realistic to seek advantage from Liang.

After careful deliberation and weighing pros and cons, Chen Si ultimately chose compromise.

Facing the Liang Emperor, he slowly raised one arm to his chest, then knelt on both knees and bowed his head in obeisance.

"Your humble subject Chen Si has committed the offense of disrespecting the Liang Emperor; I humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy."

"Upon my return to Da Di Wang Du, I shall surely report to His Majesty with the most sincere heart to advance these State Peace Talks."

"Moreover…"

"I humbly beg Your Majesty to abandon plans of attacking our nation."

Chen Si, who had just been arrogant and overbearing, now knelt in submission.

The hundred officials present wore faces full of delight, tinged with pride.

Everyone knew clearly: without Qin Feng's thunderous suppression, how could Chen Si have bowed here?

Weak nations have no diplomacy.

The stronger the nation you negotiate with, the more firm you must be—any weakness invites further encroachment.

Qin Tianhu stood tall and proud, his eyes brighter than ever, his pride impossible to conceal.

No wonder I am a descendant of the Ye family.

Even the hardest bone of Northern Di has knelt in submission.

After this incident, let us see who in the Imperial Court still dares question the Qin Family's authority in the State Peace Talks.

The Liang Emperor looked down upon Chen Si with disdain, yet secretly rejoiced.

He had not expected Chen Si, who had prepared to die for righteousness, to be broken by Qin Feng.

Watching Chen Si kneel on the ground, Liang's national prestige had reached its zenith at this moment.

The Liang Emperor's lips could not help but curl slightly: "A mere foreign envoy dares to defy his sovereign—death may be spared, but punishment cannot be avoided!"

"Yet considering the imminent Two Nations' Peace Talks, I am unwilling to reignite the Ji Zhan Bing Zhong—take heed of your actions."

"Within two months, if your Northern Di Envoy Group arrives in Beijing on schedule, it shall prove your sincerity; if not, war shall resume!"

At this moment, the Liang Emperor felt utterly confident.

In contrast, Chen Si was utterly respectful, daring not the slightest transgression.

"Liang Emperor, Your grace is boundless; I, your humble subject, shall not disgrace my mission and shall strive wholeheartedly to advance these State Peace Talks."

This fiery first negotiation had finally come to an end.

Now, all that remained was to await the arrival of the Northern Di Envoy Group.

After the court session, Qin Feng intended to leave immediately, but Zhang Xiuye called out to him.

"Marquis Qin, please wait—a moment. The Emperor summons you to the Imperial Study."

Zhang Xiuye, that old schemer, had never ceased giving Qin Feng trouble—yet now he seemed transformed, his face beaming with smiles.

Especially when Qin Feng felt Zhang Xiuye's fawning gaze, he couldn't help but feel revulsion deep inside.

Still, one does not strike a smiling face—Qin Feng endured and replied patiently.

"Chief Zhang, you're joking. What marquis am I? Just a petty little marquis, no more."

"In this Jingdu, everyone is rich or noble—Noble Rank of Prince is everywhere; Marquis isn't even worth a fart."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiuye's smile widened further.

"Hehe, Marquis Qin truly has a gift for wit—I, your humble servant, cannot compare."

"In the past, there may have been friction between us. As the saying goes: better to resolve enmity than deepen it. We must get along well from now on."

Get along? With you, a scheming bastard with a rotten ass, what's there to get along with?

Qin Feng's eyes brimmed with contempt—Zhang Xiuye was merely reacting to Qin Feng's dominant role in the State Peace Talks.

Knowing the Emperor could not easily remove him, and fearing retaliation, he now came to curry favor.

Qin Feng had always held grudges—he remembered every person who had ever harmed him, clearly and precisely.

A few kind words, and you think we can bury the past? Does the world have such easy blessings?

Qin Feng bowed slightly in return, then ignored Zhang Xiuye entirely and walked straight toward the Imperial Study.

By rights, as a subject, Qin Feng should not walk alone through Gong Zhong—he should be escorted.

This act of his was an unmistakable silent slap to Zhang Xiuye's face.

Watching Qin Feng's retreating back, Zhang Xiuye spat: "What a piece of trash! Let's see how many more days you can still dance!"

As Qin Feng reached the door of the Imperial Study, the Palace Guards blocked his path.

"Marquis Qin, why are you alone? Where is Chief Zhang?"

Qin Feng chuckled: "Probably got diarrhea. Forget him—I'll go in myself."

At these words, the Palace Guards immediately frowned.

Their eyes turned hostile.

"Without the Chief's escort, you wander freely through the palace—do you even recognize the law?"

"Or does Marquis Qin, owing to your great merits, no longer respect the Emperor, deliberately provoking?"

Provoking?

He had been a lapdog before—but the more loyal he was, the more the Liang Emperor wanted to destroy him.

If so, why should he continue to tiptoe?

Whether he had surpassed his lord in merit or was arrogant because of his talent, Qin Feng had no choice but to act this way—only by making the Liang Emperor clearly understand his bottom line could he achieve his goal.

Only then would the Liang Emperor hesitate to act!

Facing the Palace Guards' questioning, Qin Feng still wore a smile.

Then he slowly raised his right hand and pointed at his own palm.

"Look, what is this?"

Before the Palace Guards could react, Qin Feng had already slapped him.

Slap!

The sound was crisp and sharp.

At this blow, the surrounding Imperial Guard turned pale and dared not even breathe.

The Palace Guards were the Liang Emperor's personal bodyguards, their status higher than that of the Imperial Guard and the Black Guards.

Since the founding of Shedynasty, not even ordinary Officials, let alone royal nobles, dared to treat the Palace Guards with anything less than deference.

Qin Feng dared to strike a Palace Guard in public?!

This was no longer provocation—it was an open declaration of war!

The Palace Guard also froze for a moment.

His startled gaze slowly turned to rage, yet he held back, fixing Qin Feng with a deadly stare, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Lord Qin is exceedingly tyrannical."

"You are the first to ever lay hands on a Palace Guard."

Shhh…

The Palace Guard drew his Zhan Dao from his waist, eyes cold and fixed.

"Anyone who disrespects a Palace Guard shall be executed without mercy—this is the Imperial Ancestral Precedent, for the Palace Guard represents the imperial authority!"

Just as everyone believed Qin Feng was surely dead.

Qin Feng laughed.

"Sheath your blade. Stop pretending—you're only exhausting yourself."

"If I die, who will negotiate peace with Di?"

"Chen Si hasn't left yet—if he hears of my death, he'll be the happiest man."

"The grudge between the Palace Guards and the Tianji Camp Guards has lasted too long; we all know each other's history—no need for this pretense."

Qin Feng paid no mind to the Palace Guard, reaching out to tap the Zhan Dao.

Whirring.

The clear ring of the blade merged with Qin Feng's laughter.