Chapter 683

First Volume, Chapter 683: Fishing Together

After a break of one cup of tea time, both sides plunged back into fierce verbal abuse.

The imperial eunuch outside the door sighed deeply.

"What kind of thing is this?"

"No wonder the sages and even all imperial family members never participate in state peace talks."

"This scene is simply a disgrace to civilization."

"Where has Young Master Qin gone? Why hasn't he arrived yet? It's driving me mad."

Unbeknownst to them, at this moment by Mingyue Lake, Qin Feng sat on the lakeside, having kicked off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs.

His two feet soaked in the cool, icy lake water, feeling utterly comfortable.

In his hand, he held a fishing rod, leisurely fishing.

Qin Xiaofu, sitting beside him, had no interest in fishing—he was already frantic, scratching his head and pacing.

"Master, we've already wasted one Envoy."

"If we don't go now, the state peace talks will be over."

"This is the most important matter for both nations at this stage—we cannot afford to delay."

Qin Feng remained unmoved, watching the floating cork while enjoying the singing drifting from the nearby Hua Fang.

As relaxed as one could be.

"I'm not even worried—why are you so anxious?"

"The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is!"

"Didn't I tell you? These state peace talks won't end in a moment."

"If they don't finish today, they'll continue tomorrow. If they don't finish tomorrow, they'll go on the day after."

"The Northern Di envoy group suffered a heavy blow upon entering Beijing—they lost face and dignity."

"Even after such a humiliating defeat, the Northern Di envoy group hasn't left."

"Clearly, this battle has also consumed them heavily; they won't restart ji zhan bing zhong unless absolutely desperate."

"Our Shedynasty's situation is even clearer."

"Both sides shout loudly, but neither truly wants to fight again."

"What's that saying again? Oh right—the dog that barks the loudest doesn't bite."

"Since the state peace talks have begun, they must produce a result."

"Relax—I guarantee that even if we drive out the Northern Di envoy group, they won't leave."

Hearing Qin Feng's words, Qin Xiaofu realized the talks wouldn't conclude in a day or two, and finally exhaled slightly.

But his heart still hung in suspense.

He couldn't shake the feeling that Qin Feng, as a participant in the state peace talks, avoiding attendance was unreasonable.

"Even if the talks won't end immediately, you must at least attend as an observer—if something major comes up and you're not there, this…"

Qin Feng shrugged, utterly unconcerned.

"It's only day one—what serious business could possibly be discussed?"

"If I'm not mistaken, both sides are currently pointing fingers and hurling insults at each other."

"The Northern Di envoy group is seething with anger, and our Liang Kingdom ministers aren't pushovers either."

"Until they've probed each other's bottom lines, neither side will bow easily—they're all hoping to crush the other with 'high-pressure tactics.'"

"After all, whoever has the bigger fist is right—and both sides believe their fist is the biggest."

"Whether we go today or not makes no difference."

At that moment, Qin Feng noticed the fishing cork twitch—he quickly pulled the rod.

As expected, he caught nothing.

"Damn!"

Qin Feng realized he was clearly not cut out for fishing.

This activity demanded extreme patience, calmness, and slow, deliberate waiting for the right moment.

Given Qin Feng's temperament, if he sat at the negotiation table, he'd shout even louder than anyone else.

He might even grab his fists and charge straight in to beat them all senseless!

So there was no need to add chaos.

Qin Xiaofu sighed repeatedly, but had no way to change things.

"Master, since you've decided not to go, let's just go home."

At these words, Qin Feng shook his head like a rattle drum.

"I'm not going back!"

"If Yun'er and Second Sister find out I ran away and didn't attend the state peace talks, they'll twist my ears off."

"Just Second Sister is enough to torment me—now with Xie Yun'er added in, oh, how miserable my life is."

Seeing Qin Feng complain bitterly, Qin Xiaofu was both annoyed and amused.

…

At the same moment, Jingong Yushufang.

The Liang Emperor picked up an imperial memorial, stared at it for a while, then hastily set it down; after a moment, he picked it up again, read only a few lines, and had to put it down once more.

At this point, he was utterly restless.

All because, even sitting in the Imperial Study, he could hear the shouting coming from the Negotiation Hall.

"It's so noisy!"

The Liang Emperor set down the Imperial Memorial, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the Imperial Study.

"It's just negotiations—speak your piece, why slam the table? A group of officials pointing fingers and shouting at each other—what kind of decorum is this?"

Zhang Xiuye hurried to soothe him.

"Your Majesty, state peace talks have always been conducted by the Hawkish Faction's representatives from both sides."

"Other officials are too soft-spoken—they'd be intimidated the moment they sit at the Negotiation Table."

"Lü Li is the most extreme Hawkish minister of the Northern Di, with a fiery temper and no tolerance for nonsense."

"Our Minister Qin Feng was originally of the Pro-War Faction; though the National War has ended, he remains the representative of the Hawkish Faction at the Imperial Court."

"Given that both sides are led by radical Hawkish figures, it's no surprise the peace talks turn so heated."

The Liang Emperor naturally understood this logic.

Otherwise, why would he hide in this Imperial Study and refuse to meddle in the peace talks?

As ruler of a nation, he couldn't possibly descend to the Negotiation Table and shout insults at the Northern Di Envoy, could he?

Yet this was still the heart of the Imperial Palace—echoes of furious shouting were unbearable.

"By the way, did that brat Qin Feng lay hands on anyone?"

"That boy always prefers action to words."

The Liang Emperor knew that minor physical altercations at the Negotiation Table—shoving, smashing cups—were acceptable.

But if Qin Feng struck, he aimed straight for vital points; if he injured a Foreign Country's envoy on the Negotiation Table, it would be impossible to clean up.

Zhang Xiuye quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, Qin Feng… never showed up."

"According to the Military Intelligence Report, Qin Feng is currently fishing on Mingyue Lake."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor burst out laughing in anger.

"You good-for-nothing Qin Feng—the ministers of two nations are fighting to the death."

"I'm here, enduring my irritation."

"And you? You're lounging, off fishing on Mingyue Lake!"

Though the Liang Emperor spoke in fury, he was inwardly quite pleased.

On the first day of peace talks, Qin Feng's absence was the wisest choice.

After all, nothing productive would come of it—his presence would only cause chaos.

And…

The Liang Emperor actually felt a twinge of envy for Qin Feng.

That brat, even amid the monumental peace talks, still found the mental ease to slip away and enjoy himself.

Such composure and calm were beyond ordinary men.

The Liang Emperor immediately swept his sleeve.

"Hmph! I'm going back to the Hou Gong to enjoy a day of leisure!"

"He gets to dodge his duties, but I must stay here, enduring my irritation and reviewing Imperial Memorials?"

"Fishing? Now that's interesting!"

"It's a fine way to cultivate one's spirit."

"Zhang Xiuye, fetch fishing rods from the Imperial Household Department—set course for Mingyue Lake!"

Upon hearing the Liang Emperor planned to leave the palace, Zhang Xiuye grew tense.

"Your Majesty, if you wish to fish, simply go to the Western Flower Hall in the Hou Gong—it's full of fish."

The Liang Emperor kept walking: "The fish in the Hou Gong have grown stupid—they bite at any bait."

"Wild fish outside are the ones worth catching!"