Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 189.Negotiation

189. Negotiation

In the dungeon of the Governor’s Mansion, Tan Jizhi sat in a corner, gazing wordlessly at the darkness surrounding him. He had been confined to this dungeon for three days, yet he had not seen either Mo Xiuyao or Ye Li. Only Feng Zhiyao would occasionally visit to check on him, his intentions clear. All he wanted was the location of the Bilo flower and the antidote for the poison afflicting Mo Xiuyao.

Of course, I won’t tell Feng Zhiyao easily, Tan Jizhi thought. I don’t trust that Mo Xiuyao will actually free me if I tell him. But I’m also well aware that the longer I stay here, the worse it will be for me. I have to either leave this place or kill that wretch Su Zuidie before she can no longer hold back and spills everything.

Shu Manlin was confined in a cell opposite Tan Jizhi. Even though they were merely steps apart, they could only look at each other from afar. As the Saintess of Southern Border, Shu Manlin was a privileged woman who had never suffered much. When she first arrived, she had the energy to yell and denounce her captors, but after Feng Zhiyao had her starved for two meals, she quieted down. However, her tear-streaked, pitiful gaze towards Tan Jizhi only added to his existing frustration. So he simply ignored her, and they had little to say to each other in the cell. Tan Jizhi sat in a corner, lost in thought and planning his strategy, while Shu Manlin sat opposite him, sobbing and complaining from time to time.

A flurry of footsteps sounded from outside, and Tan Jizhi quickly directed his gaze towards the cell’s entrance. Amidst a throng of people, a striking couple walked in hand-in-hand. Tan Jizhi’s gaze fell first on Ye Li. No longer in her simple attire, she was dressed in lilac watered silk, embroidered with light-colored hibiscus patterns. In the blazing summer heat, her appearance exuded a unique, delicate elegance. At the same time, it made Tan Jizhi acutely aware of the hidden strength of Prince Ding’s Mansion.

Mo Jingqi had already seized Mo Xiuyao’s noble title on grounds of treason and completely blockaded economic exchange between the Northwest region and the rest of Great Chu. Yet, Prince Ding’s Mansion, in this remote corner of the Northwest, could still procure the latest Nanzhao Kingdom specialty, watered silk. This was a testament to their formidable financial resources and network. It was well known that even the imperial palace received no more than ten bolts of watered silk a year, and since the war between the two kingdoms began last year, there had been none at all.

I never considered Ye Li to be particularly beautiful, as I’ve seen many peerless beauties, Tan Jizhi mused. But now, I have to admit that Mo Xiuyao has excellent taste. The woman before me isn’t breathtakingly beautiful, yet she exudes an incredible sense of comfort and reassurance. Moreover, there’s a hint of bright charm and confidence hidden within her gentle demeanor, which suddenly makes all other beauties in the world pale in comparison.

"HMPH!" Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over Tan Jizhi, exuding a dangerous aura. Feeling a chill in his heart, Tan Jizhi promptly withdrew his gaze from Ye Li. He stood up, turned to the entrance, and smiled, "The undersigned Tan Jizhi pays his respects to the Prince and the Princess Consort."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Very well, you do have courage." At this stage, for someone to calmly offer salutations was indeed rare. Mo Xiuyao couldn’t help but regard the man before him with a measure of approval. However, this still didn’t change his impending fate.

Behind them, someone brought two chairs with padded cushions and set them down outside the cell. Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li to sit. Even in this gloomy and filthy dungeon, the two of them remained as serene and composed as if they were surrounded by a hundred blooming flowers and delightful scenery. Someone brought them tea, but obviously, a dungeon was no place to enjoy it. Mo Xiuyao frowned, taking the teacup from Ye Li’s hand and placing it on a nearby table. Ye Li gave a faint smile, turning to Tan Jizhi and Shu Manlin. "Lord Tan," she asked, "the Prince and I have had many duties to attend to these past few days and might have neglected you both somewhat. I hope you can forgive us. Are you both well?"

Tan Jizhi forced a bitter smile. "Princess Consort, you’re too kind. I was outplayed by a better hand; I’m willing to accept my defeat."

Ye Li nodded, looking at him with a smile. "So... Lord Tan, you must know what I want. What is your answer?"

Tan Jizhi smiled and said, "I understand, Princess Consort. You want the Bilo flower... I suppose you must have spent a great deal of time and effort on it this past year. However, I advise the Princess Consort not to waste any more effort on the one surnamed Liang. He can’t find the Bilo flower."

"Oh?" Ye Li’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She massaged her temples and asked, "Why should I believe you, Lord Tan? Or to phrase it differently... even if what you say is true, so what?"

Tan Jizhi responded, "The Bilo flower is a sacred treasure of the Southern Border. Do you really believe that the Nanzhao royal family would entrust such a precious item to a merchant from Great Chu? It is said that merchants are driven by profit; wouldn’t the Nanzhao royal family consider the possibility that he might embezzle the treasure for himself?"

Ye Li sighed, looking at Tan Jizhi with a hint of helplessness. "Lord Tan, since you dare to use the Bilo flower to bargain for your life, I have no doubt that you know its whereabouts. So, you really don’t need to say so much. However... you should understand that until we find the item, anything you say is meaningless."

Tan Jizhi’s eyes flashed as he stared at Ye Li. "And after the item is found, then what? Is the Princess Consort trying to convince me to trust the credibility of Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Feng Zhiyao, standing behind the couple, glanced askance at him and said with a smile, "Lord Tan, what does it matter if you don’t believe us?"

Tan Jizhi remained silent. Indeed, now that I’ve fallen into the hands of Prince Ding’s Mansion, what good would my disbelief do? If I trust them, there might still be a chance to live. If I don’t, it’s a dead end. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t mind taking this gamble, but right now, I can’t afford to, because I don’t have the time. Once certain things erupt, forget about telling Mo Xiuyao the Bilo flower’s location; even if I personally hand it to him, I won’t escape death.

Considering this, Tan Jizhi shook his head and said, "I’m sorry, Princess Consort. You must know that even if I know the whereabouts of the Bilo flower, retrieving it won’t be an overnight task. But I still have matters to attend to and cannot afford to remain here any longer. I suppose... His Majesty’s envoy has reached Ruyang by now?" Tan Jizhi still had confidence in the arrangements he had made. As long as Mo Xiuyao had not publicly declared his rebellion against Great Chu, he would still have to show some deference to the imperial court’s envoy. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Tan Jizhi... Lin Yuan, are you trying to remind me of your other identity?" Mo Xiuyao asked, narrowing his eyes. Even though he disliked Mo Jingqi, it didn’t mean he would let go of a remnant of the previous dynasty. After all, the extermination of the previous dynasty was not solely the work of the Great Ancestor Emperor; the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Mansion had also played a significant part, making them natural enemies.

Tan Jizhi gave a helpless, bitter smile. Now I have to wonder what my chances are of walking out of Ruyang City alive. After pondering for a moment, he finally said, "Prince, regardless of whether I am Tan Jizhi or Lin Yuan, at least for now, there is no conflict of interest between us, is there? Killing Tan Jizhi will not benefit the current situation in the Northwest or Prince Ding’s Mansion. And... you know His Majesty well; he will surely use this matter to tarnish the reputation of Prince Ding’s Mansion."

Mo Xiuyao scoffed disdainfully. "You think I care about that?"

Tan Jizhi looked impassive. He indeed doesn’t seem to care about the reputation of Prince Ding’s Mansion. This is what I can’t figure out. Anyone who isn’t a fool or a born incompetent ruler knows the importance of popular support. Even someone like Mo Jingqi, who clearly doesn’t give a damn about the lives of the common people, still places great importance on public opinion. But for the past six months, no matter what Mo Jingqi said, the Northwest has remained completely silent, as if tacitly acknowledging all his claims. This situation makes me vaguely uneasy. Such a reaction means either Mo Xiuyao has already given up and is ready to let things go to ruin, or he’s preparing to throw the world into chaos. Since a fight is inevitable sooner or later, trying to explain things now would only make them seem hypocritical later; it’s better to say nothing from the start.

Tan Jizhi took a deep breath, striving to calm himself. After musing with his head down for a moment, he finally said, "This time, I admit defeat to you, Prince. The treasures inside that Imperial Mausoleum, which the Princess Consort has also visited, can be considered my compensation for offending the Princess Consort. In addition, I will provide the whereabouts of the Bilo flower in exchange for my life. What do you think, Prince?"

Mo Xiuyao’s face was cold, clearly uninterested. The Imperial Mausoleum was already within Northwest territory; if Mo Xiuyao wished, he could send people to excavate it at any time. There was no need for Tan Jizhi’s "donation." Tan Jizhi hadn’t expected to get through this so easily. After some thought, he continued, "I will also offer one hundred thousand taels of gold, and all my hidden agents in the Northwest and the Capital City. So... can this be considered sincere enough?"

Ye Li watched him with great interest and smiled. "Lord Tan, you really are willing to make sacrifices."

Tan Jizhi laughed helplessly. "Nothing is more important than life. What’s the use of keeping these things if I lose my life? Princess Consort, I dare say I haven’t mistreated you these past few days, and my previous impolite actions were understandable under the circumstances. Isn’t the price I’m paying enough?"

Ye Li nodded in agreement with his words. If it was only about his attempt to capture her to threaten the Mo Family Army, the price and compensation he offered were indeed not small. After all, he hadn’t actually succeeded in taking her away to threaten Mo Xiuyao; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had bitten off more than he could chew. However, for some reason, I feel he has an even more significant secret than his identity, Ye Li thought. She pondered for a moment before asking, "Lord Tan, how did you know about the poison in the Prince and its antidote?"

Tan Jizhi met her gaze calmly and laughed. "The Prince’s medical records from the Imperial Medical Bureau back then were something I also studied. Besides, the Princess Consort should know that my father’s medical skills... are not inferior to those so-called divine doctors. Having been exposed to this from a young age, I naturally have some understanding."

Ye Li stared at him calmly for a long while. So long that Tan Jizhi was almost worried he had revealed a flaw, when she suddenly changed the subject and asked, "How did you get to know Su Zuidie?"

It really was that bitch! Tan Jizhi raged internally. Even though I already knew the reason my identity was exposed, hearing Ye Li mention it still made me want to skin Su Zuidie alive. I had calculated everything, hiding beside Mo Jingqi for ten years without any slip-ups. I secretly prided myself on my flawless plans, yet I never expected to fall because of this bitch. I can’t help but regret it deeply. I really shouldn’t have underestimated Mo Xiuyao and Han Mingyue; I could have found a way to kill that bitch and avoid them. But I was too cautious, and that’s what led to this huge mess today.

"Well..." Even though he had mentally torn Su Zuidie to shreds, no trace of this showed on Tan Jizhi’s face. He glanced at Mo Xiuyao with a half-smile and said, "Miss Su was the foremost beauty of Great Chu back then; I wasn’t the only one who had dealings with her. Even Young Master Mingyue, renowned throughout the land, wasn’t he also smitten by Miss Su? Youthful folly... I hope the Princess Consort isn’t too amused."

In the dungeon, everyone present looked rather awkward. They were all close confidants of Prince Ding’s Mansion and naturally understood Su Zuidie’s identity. Tan Jizhi’s words were a blatant reminder to Mo Xiuyao that his former fiancée had cuckolded him more than once.

Mo Xiuyao, however, looked as calm as ever. His handsome jaw lifted slightly as he looked at Tan Jizhi and asked, "You hope that I’ll kill Su Zuidie immediately, is that it?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I silently reminded myself not to overdo it, Tan Jizhi thought. With a smile on his face, he said, "If it weren’t for her, the Prince probably wouldn’t know my identity even now, right? Who knew that a moment of carelessness in my youth would land me in such a predicament. Naturally, I wish Su Zuidie were no longer alive."

"Oh?" Mo Xiuyao responded indifferently, then paid no more attention to Tan Jizhi.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Tan Jizhi thought, understanding that my life now rested in Ye Li’s hands, and what Ye Li valued most was Mo Xiuyao’s life.

"Young Master Tan, how can you assure me that the information you provide about the Bilo flower’s location is genuine?" Ye Li asked softly.

Tan Jizhi gave an arrogant smile. "Because no one in this world knows the true whereabouts of the Bilo flower apart from me."

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled. "If that’s the case, I’m even less inclined to believe you. After all, you’re unwilling to stay until I’ve retrieved the Bilo flower. Isn’t this making things difficult? In that case... Lord Tan, you may leave, but Miss Shu must stay."

Everyone’s attention immediately fell on Shu Manlin in the adjacent cell. Shu Manlin had been silent, realizing she couldn’t be of much help. Yet, to her surprise, she was now implicated. She rushed to the bars of her cell, glaring angrily at Ye Li. "Ye Li, how dare you! I am the Saintess of Southern Border! You dare to imprison me!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow but said nothing, while Feng Zhiyao, behind her, laughed in surprise. "The Saintess of Southern Border? I haven’t had the chance to see the Saintess of Southern Border before. I must thank the Princess Consort for this opportunity. However... it seems the Saintess of Southern Border is not supposed to be seen by outsiders, let alone leave the Nanzhao Capital. Princess Consort, this isn’t a fake, is she?"

Ye Li smiled gently. "She’s as genuine as they come."

Shu Manlin’s face turned pale. Although she was deeply favored by the King of Nanzhao, as the Saintess of the Southern Border, secretly running off to Great Chu and having her face seen by outsiders was considered an unforgivable sin by the Nanzhao people. If word of this truly got out, forget about retiring to the Sacred Land of the Southern Border; she would count herself fortunate if she weren’t burnt alive by the Nanzhao people. These were rules Nanzhao had upheld for centuries; not even the King of Nanzhao could save her. Furthermore, she had a formidable political rival in Princess Anxi. If Princess Anxi got wind of this, Shu Manlin definitely wouldn’t escape unscathed.

Upon hearing Ye Li’s terms, Tan Jizhi frowned. After a long pause, he said, "Princess Consort is indeed extraordinarily intelligent. I have no choice but to concede to your wisdom." His identity was exposed, meaning his ten years of careful planning in the Capital of Great Chu were almost completely ruined. At the very least, returning to Mo Jingqi’s side was out of the question. Consequently, Nanzhao became his last bargaining chip, and he could only control Nanzhao by relying on Shu Manlin. Ye Li had clearly seen through this and thus proposed detaining Shu Manlin. If anything happened to Shu Manlin, even if he escaped the Northwest, Prince Ding’s Mansion could easily arrange for him to be hunted down by both Great Chu and Nanzhao. Then he would truly have nowhere to hide in the vast world.

Ye Li pursed her lips into a smile. "Lord Tan, you flatter me."

Mo Xiuyao stood up and helped Ye Li to her feet, preparing to leave. Ye Li smiled at Tan Jizhi. "Lord Tan, you have tonight to consider. Tell me your answer tomorrow morning. Leave Shu Manlin behind, and as long as I find the Bilo flower, this matter will be written off."

Tan Jizhi gave a helpless smile. Do I really have a choice? If I could do it all over again, I swear I wouldn’t care if Ye Li was Princess Consort Ding or anyone else. I’d leave this damned Northwest territory immediately after getting out of that cursed Imperial Mausoleum. Prince Ding’s Mansion’s domain is no place for someone surnamed Lin to linger safely.

After Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao left, everyone in the dungeon immediately withdrew, leaving it empty save for Tan Jizhi and Shu Manlin, who faced each other in silence. After a long while, Shu Manlin asked tremulously, "Jizhi... are you really going to leave me here?"

Tan Jizhi sighed, his gaze on Shu Manlin filled with tenderness and pity. "Lin’er, as you can see, we really don’t have a choice. If I don’t agree to their terms, we’ll both die here. Don’t worry, as long as Ye Li gets the Bilo flower, she will release you."

Shu Manlin looked at him hesitantly. "Are you really going to give them the Bilo flower?"

Tan Jizhi said gently, "As valuable as the Bilo flower is, it’s still just an inanimate object. How can it be more important than you? As long as we’re still alive, there’s still a chance. Don’t you agree?"

How could I not know we have no other choice right now? Shu Manlin thought. Even if I disagreed with staying in the Northwest, who would listen to my opinion? Although Tan Jizhi’s words were just sweet nothings, Shu Manlin understood that he would not abandon her. Since I truly have no choice, I must make him feel even more indebted to me. So she nodded, tears in her eyes. "I understand, Jizhi. I will stay in the Northwest. You must be careful too."

Tan Jizhi’s gaze on her grew even gentler as he said softly, "Lin’er, thank you. I will not let you down."

Shu Manlin nodded. "We’ve known each other for so many years; of course, I trust you. Jizhi, I’ll wait for you."

Despite being in this gloomy dungeon, the way they looked at each other was filled with deep emotion and tenderness, adding a touch of warmth to the grim surroundings. But what thoughts and calculations lay beneath this touching and tender moment, only they themselves knew.