The Slender Waist-Chapter 359 - 253: The Emperor’s Gamble

Qi Country’s representatives were also in the small conference hall.

This hall was situated at the other end of the negotiating complex, opposite the Jin representatives from afar.

Feng Ying sat to one side, pouring tea and water for Xiao Cheng and the Feng Family elders, the picture of attentiveness.

Feng Jingyao mentioned that the last negotiations were fourteen years ago, in Bingzhou.

The envoys sighed heavily.

Suddenly, someone brought up General Xie Xian.

"When General Xie was alive, did the Jin people dare not fear Qi?"

As soon as Xie Xian’s name was mentioned, the room seemed to grow heavy with silence.

The decline of Qi Country seemed to have begun with that very battle.

Feng Jingyao cleared his throat softly, took a sip of tea, and said, "Frequent skirmishes are the norm. We should not hold out too much hope for the Jin side. It is merely a stalling tactic."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Xiao Cheng’s expression changed little; calmly, he said:

"I have a strategy, it all depends on whether Jin Country agrees or not."

Feng Jingyao knew that the Emperor had a plan and was not a mindless ruler like the Emperor of Yanping, Xiao Jue, and indeed he even bore more of an imperial presence than the deceased Crown Prince Xiao Zhuo.

The Feng Family had been civil ministers for a century, surviving many ups and downs, founding the nation alongside the Xiao Family—all these roots they knew like the back of their hand.

"Your Majesty, what is your strategy?"

Xiao Cheng said, "Peace negotiations hinge on a single word: ’agreement.’ Our proposals are rejected by Jin, and we refuse Jin’s. In such disputes, neither side can convince the other, leading to a deadlock in negotiations. Do we have to resort to warfare once more?"

He smiled faintly, "If Jin does not wish to fight, then they must agree to peace. At that time, I will propose that both sides wager on three test questions. The victor gains Xinzhou, depending on whether Jin agrees or not..."

Feng Jingyao asked, "Who will set the questions?"

Xiao Cheng answered, "One from Jin, one from Qi, and one from Yunchuan."

It sounded eminently fair, yet Feng Jingyao felt it was trivial.

"Your Majesty, are you confident you can persuade Jin to accept?"

Xiao Cheng counter-questioned, "Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, are you confident you can make Jin yield and return Xinzhou to us?"

That question stumped Feng Jingyao.

Xinzhou was currently an area occupied by Jin, and asking someone to spit out meat already in their mouth was harder than ascending to heaven.

Thus, Xiao Cheng’s method, whether feasible or not, was actually a slim chance sought in a desperate situation. If Jin agreed, all the better; if not, there was really no further loss.

Feng Jingyao said, "The strategy is feasible. However, convincing Jin to agree is another issue."

Feng Jingteng, who had been sitting on a cold bench for a long time, felt, as the Emperor’s father-in-law, that he could make a stance, "In my humble opinion, we can start from two aspects."

Xiao Cheng asked, "Please, do tell."

Feng Jingteng said, "Firstly, I could seek my unfilial daughter and perhaps start with Pei Jue. Secondly, the Empress Dowager of Jin is arrogant and loves to win. If we find an opportunity to provoke her, I would just ask her whether Jin Court dares to wager..."

Xiao Cheng smiled.

But Feng Jingyao’s face fell.

He had little regard for his incompetent younger brother and spoke to him sternly.

"Shi’er Niang refuses to recognize you, yet you expect her to convince Pei Jue? Wishful thinking."

Feng Jingteng’s ears turned red, "Big brother, Ayun has taken a stand, and our father-daughter relationship has thawed..."

Feng Jingyao snorted, not wanting to engage further in the conversation. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Yet, when he looked at Xiao Cheng, a complex smile appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty," he bowed slightly, "I believe that approaching this from the angle of the Empress Dowager of Jin might actually be a good idea..."

-

Li Sangruo was helped out of the changing room by two palace maids.

The conference complex was shaped like the character "回," with a long wooden corridor that went straight through, allowing a clear view to the other side.

She saw Xiao Cheng standing at the other end of the corridor, his face fair as jade, and his eyes dark as lacquer; the elegance of the aristocratic scion was truly enviable.

Li Zongxun told the world that he was from the Li Family of Longxi.

In truth, starting from his great-grandfather, they were just a collateral line of the Longxi Li, unable to hold any sway within the clan. It wasn’t until Li Zongxun’s father’s generation that, due to a change of dynasties, they had made great contributions and turned their fortunes around.

But the foundation of a noble house takes generations of descendants to build. While Li Sangruo herself came from a noble family, she yearned for a more illustrious heritage, like that of the Yuan, Xie, Wang, and Xiao families of Nanqi.

With these thoughts, she regarded Xiao Cheng with great reverence.

The thought of his relationship with Feng Shi Er Niang further stirred her ambitions.

Her lips curved into a smile as she approached him.

"Qi Jun."

Dazzling with jewels, her hair arranged in a high updo with ornaments, this regent Empress Dowager looked majestic. Compared to her grand appearance, Xiao Cheng seemed even more refined and graceful.

"Empress Dowager."

The two exchanged courtesies in the corridor, neither avoiding the other.

Guards spotted them from a distance but stood well away, not daring to approach.

Li Sangruo felt it was an opportune moment. With a smile, she sidestepped towards the railing of the corridor, gazing at the garden lined with only tables and chairs.

"The conference complex was hastily prepared, lacking some flowers. If the garden were filled with blossoms, my heart would feel different today, standing here with Qi Jun."