The negotiations were relatively smooth, and the people from the steppe seemed sincere, but it turned out just as Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin had anticipated.

In the midst of it, there were several assassination attempts on Song Chongjin.

The attacks usually occurred just after Song Chongjin left the negotiation site, yet before he returned to the borders of Great Chu. They appeared accidental, but upon closer inspection, bore traces of human intervention.

Incidents like the horse suddenly stumbling, scorpions hidden in the saddle, and poisoned water pouches proved difficult to guard against.

It was unavoidable—Song Chongjin had many guards around him, and once he left the negotiation site, he moved to the military camp, which was the safest place. These were the only places they could act.

They couldn’t just brazenly draw a sword to kill in public view as soon as he left the negotiation site, could they?

But the guards around Song Chongjin were competent, and with them present, the people from the steppe could only use such petty tricks.

Even so, Song Chongjin would not swallow this injustice.

If he suffered onefold, he would return tenfold.

If his horse was tampered with today, by the next day, all the horses on the steppe could stumble once.

If there were scorpions in his saddle, by the next day, the saddles on the steppe would be filled with scorpions and poisoned needles.

After a few rounds, Song Chongjin’s side remained unscathed, while the people from the steppe were in agony. Quite a few unfortunates either fell from their horses or were poisoned.

It’s said that Qi Le was furious and took severe measures against a group of steppe nobles. Reportedly, the square in the Wang Capital was stained with blood that took several days to dry, and for half a month, the scent of blood lingered as soon as one entered.

This suppressed those people, and from then on, no one on the steppe dared to use such insidious tactics again.

Upon hearing the news, Wang Yongzhu still couldn’t feel at ease.

A new batch of antidote pills and poison-repelling pills was supplied, along with the provisions she sent.

Nowadays, the weather was getting colder by the day, so cold that even water could freeze instantly.

Wang Yongzhu prepared several large carts of charcoal and had fur-lined gloves, fur-lined boots, and knee pads crafted quickly by Lady Shen. She included old ginger, brown sugar, strong liquor, beef, and mutton. A grand procession of supplies was sent to Song Chongjin’s side.

Though Song Chongjin and his companions were in the military camp with sufficient supplies, they could always use more charcoal.

The weather was unbearably cold, so much so that the officials from the Capital City found the climate harsh to endure.

They clutched hand-warmers, swathed in thick furry clothing, and dared not step out of their tents.

With limited charcoal supplies, each person’s share only sufficed to keep a brazier burning for an hour or two at night.

This scarcity pushed the officials to set aside their aloofness and huddle together for warmth, pooling their charcoal to prevent waking up cold in the middle of the night.

Especially since they were all civil officials, wielding pens, yet in such weather, exposing one’s hands felt akin to being sliced by knives. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Wearing hand warmers made writing impossible.

Their tasks required them to jot down records daily, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and endure.

Within less than half a month, most people had their hands either cracked from the cold or suffering from frostbite.

Seeing the convoy of supplies Wang Yongzhu sent through the snowstorm, everyone couldn’t contain their joy.

Especially upon receiving gloves and fur-lined boots—though these items weren’t particularly exquisite, they warmed their perpetually cold feet once worn.

As the saying goes, "cold starts from the feet," and with warm feet, the whole body felt much warmer.

The gloves, surprisingly fingered, were not lavish but provided warmth and did not hinder writing, earning admiration from the civil officials.

The loads of charcoal, knee pads, old ginger, brown sugar, and strong liquor were all necessities for them.

Who could refrain from expressing gratitude towards Wang Yongzhu, envying Song Chongjin for marrying such a capable wife?

Even the soldiers in the camp responsible for protecting Song Chongjin were delighted. They also got a share of the beef and mutton Wang Yongzhu sent, and indulged once, enjoying piping hot beef and mutton soup amid the snowy weather—it couldn’t get any better.

As for Song Chongjin, personal items specifically sent by Wang Yongzhu awaited him, including hand-made gloves and socks and a shirt made from woolen yarn, unlike anything he’d seen before, along with assorted pills.

There was also a letter detailing the recent conditions in Chicheng County and updates from home. It explained the usage of the various pills and described that wool shirt, calling it a sweater, to be worn over his undershirt for warmth.

Song Chongjin’s heart was warmed. He put on the sweater, which made him feel noticeably warmer as if by magic.

All he could think of was the wish to end these negotiations swiftly and return home to reunite with Yongzhu. Estimating the time, he assumed Qin Bohan had already set off some days ago.

The real action would commence once Qin Bohan arrived.

Although the steppe people seemed well-behaved currently, he couldn’t afford to be careless. In the following days, it was necessary to intensify pressure on the steppe’s side.

Such were Song Chongjin’s calculations.

Hundreds of miles away, someone shared identical thoughts.

Yun County.

In the best room at the very center of the postal station, Qin Bohan was reviewing updates on the progress of the negotiations involving Song Chongjin’s side.

The entire station was tightly surrounded by guards and soldiers, making it impossible for even a fly to buzz in.

The station’s personnel were pushed to the periphery, leaving only the elite Imperial Forbidden Army, dispatched by the Emperor, inside to protect Qin Bohan and other officials.

The County Magistrate of Yun County was on edge. He couldn’t cope with the sudden arrival of so many dignitaries in his jurisdiction.

In a state of trepidation, he came to pay his respects, only to be turned away at the door.

He intended to say a few words, but upon seeing the fierce soldiers, he silently backed off to the side, staying close by yet not daring to retreat far, waiting outside the station.

In the bitter cold, within two hours, the Yun County Magistrate nearly froze solid.

Nonetheless, he eventually received a message saying there were royal orders and it was inappropriate to meet, thus allowing him to go back.

The message provided no reassurance to the County Magistrate of Yun County, who fell ill that night and by the next day struggled to request another meeting, only to find the station deserted.

Upon inquiring, he learned that those esteemed figures from the Capital City had set off at dawn.

Qin Bohan had no choice. Based on updates from Song Chongjin’s side, he agreed to delay negotiations until after the New Year.

The Emperor also concurred with this schedule.

Unexpectedly, through some secret channel, the steppe sent a covert letter to the Emperor, prompting him to urge them to produce results before the New Year.

With hectic affairs in Chicheng County, as the general overseer, he couldn’t wait idly behind; even when the documents were to be signed, he had to be present.

It was the year’s end, and the Ministry of Personnel was already busy, yet this added burden left Qin Bohan wishing he could split into eight parts to get things done.

Having finally dealt with almost everything in the Ministry of Personnel, he was hastily booted from the Capital City by the Emperor.

While others were preparing for the New Year, he, at his age, had to rush to a distant place thousands of miles away.