A man was nagging at her ear, making Ling Yao almost let go.
She turned her head and smiled sweetly.
"It's really nothing!"
"Princess, throw her away quickly! Don't hurt the child." Qing He also leaned over and whispered a reminder.
Alright, they didn't quite believe she was fine.
Ling Yao mischievously dropped the person down sharply, causing Ashina Meiduo to scream madly. Only when she was two or three meters from the ground did she release her grip, deliberately throwing her to the side, making the envoy catch nothing.
The fall was quite severe. Ashina Meiduo cried out in pain and couldn't get up.
Ling Yao's hair smoothed back onto her shoulders. Xiao Shan dared to touch her, "Are you alright? Are you cold? Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"
He squeezed her hand, then touched her stomach again.
Emperor Mingde's worried eyes turned into anger, "General Xiao, what kind of behavior is this!"
All eyes were on the divine maiden displaying her power! He immediately touched her stomach, as if afraid others wouldn't know the divine maiden was carrying his child.
So vulgar and annoying!
Xiao Shan pretended not to hear and continued to touch her here and there, infuriating the Emperor so much that he wanted to punish him on the spot.
Looking at the audience below, some were happy, and some were worried.
The generals who respected and admired Xiao Shan felt honored, while some civil officials were displeased, believing Xiao Shan was blaspheming the divine maiden. The Left Prime Minister looked particularly unhappy, watching Xiao Shan with a dark expression.
Ling Yao clasped hands with Xiao Shan and scanned the audience, "Great Prince, I hope you understand that you are here to negotiate as a defeated nation, not to show off your might! If you have no sincerity for peace talks, then roll back to the Turkic!"
Her sharp demeanor made the officials shiver. Yes, they were here to negotiate as a defeated nation, yet they maintained a condescending attitude. They had been suppressed by the Turkic for so many years that they genuinely feared these Turkic people.
Truly spineless!
Xiao Shan continued to press, "If you haven't been subdued, this general can continue fighting! My Great Jing has plenty of hot-blooded men!"
"Exactly! I can support the general with the strength of the entire nation!"
What a perfect display of marital harmony. Ashina Tulu's face turned ugly, and his fierce gaze weakened slightly.
He found it strange. Wasn't the Jing Kingdom already too poor to fight wars? How come all the manpower and resources were in place as soon as Xiao Shan returned? Had the previous emperor hidden something, fearing Xiao Shan?
"It is my fault for not disciplining the princess. I will severely punish her upon our return. However, what about the Jing Kingdom's broken promise to our Turkic in the past? Princess Ling Yao was supposed to be the one for the marriage alliance, yet you sent a servant. Shouldn't you provide an explanation?"
"An explanation for your ass! Am I giving you too much face?" Xiao Shan's eyes blazed with anger. He picked up a wine cup and threw it. "Since I'm still full of rage, I'll immediately send a message to the border and flatten your nest! You son of a bitch, did you look in the mirror before you came out?"
"My Jing Kingdom's divine maiden is not someone you can covet. You can't even afford a servant! Qing He, you tell him, does he have no seed? Can't even stand up, what kind of man is he! He should just find a rope and hang himself!"
Ashina Tulu's face turned green and then white.
Who was the barbarian? Who was the barbarian!
It wasn't his fault he couldn't stand up; he had been drugged!
All the women present lowered their heads.
Emperor Mingde held his breath. Yes, what Xiao Shan said was all correct, all the things he wanted to curse, but it was too vulgar!
His imperial sister was pure and flawless, a divine maiden beyond everyone's reach. Having this man stand beside her instantly pulled her down from the altar. He was too much of an eyesore.
"Yes! The Great Prince of the Turkic Kingdom suffers from impotence!" Qing He's cold and beautiful face remained unchanged, her voice clear and loud, reaching everyone's ears steadily.
Ashina Tulu almost exploded on the spot, staring intently at Qing He with a fierce, wolf-like gaze.
"You, you this... and you're not... you..."
This woman was both beautiful and venomous, and completely shameless. Was she even from the Jing Kingdom? Weren't Jing women said to uphold etiquette, abide by rules, and be timid and fearful?
Good! So her name was Qing He!
He was wrong. He shouldn't have treated her well. He should have taken her the moment the drug wore off, tormented her severely! He shouldn't have shown her any pity!
She was a beautiful snake!
The Turkic envoy was both furious and humiliated. This was naked insult! When had the Great Prince ever suffered such humiliation? Seeing the Jing officials secretly casting glances at the Great Prince's nether regions, they wished they could gouge out those eyes!
Ling Yao hadn't expected Qing He to cooperate with Xiao Shan and step forward to say such things.
Alas, this was a state banquet. A general with great power and admired by thousands, a Turkic prince who might become king, and it turned into a quarrel like village women.
And arguing about such topics?
It's not right to reveal someone's shortcomings. Did Xiao Shan, having been drugged himself, not want his opponent to have an easy time?
At this critical moment, Emperor Mingde smoothed things over.
"Enough, Great Prince, do not be angry. It was all a joke. I know you are in good health. You even had two beauties serving you last night. Qing He has always had this personality since she was young. Besides my imperial sister, she curses anyone she dislikes. She even called me a wild monkey!"
The Emperor's tone conveyed an intimacy with Qing He, causing the noble ladies to look at Qing He with subtle expressions.
Although his words were meant to ease the atmosphere, they made Ashina Tulu feel even worse.
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything!
He had invited beauties, but he hadn't done anything! And that was sent by the Emperor. He just wanted to see if all the women of Great Jing were like her.
Also, what was the relationship between this Emperor and Qing He? It was unusual for him to be so close to a palace maid!
Ashina Tulu calmed down, "I never intended to do anything further to the divine maiden of Jing Kingdom, but since the marriage alliance has been made, it should be fulfilled. General Xiao forcibly taking back my beloved princess cannot be justified anywhere. We came with sincerity for peace talks. Princess Wang married, and General Xiao refused. Is there any reason to refuse to return my princess?"
Refusing again would mean you have no sincerity.
"This..." Emperor Mingde glanced at Ling Yao, "This is not within my jurisdiction. However, I am about to announce some matters today. Fu Lu—" he beckoned.
Fu Lu immediately brought out two scrolls.
It was clear these were not prepared on the spot but were indeed intended to be announced tonight.
Fu Lu unrolled the scrolls. One was to enfeoff the Great Prince as the King of Jiangbei, and the other was to enfeoff Qing He as Princess Yongfu.
After the pronouncements, the officials congratulated them, and the Great Prince's expression turned even uglier.
"Princess Ling Yao, it's not too much for me to want my princess back, is it?"
"Great Prince, you know about the former Emperor's affairs. The imperial decree at that time was issued by a traitor and cannot be counted. Princess Yongfu is not your princess."
"You Jing Kingdom are bullying us too much!"
"If you don't agree, then fight!" Xiao Shan said impatiently.
The Great Prince glared fiercely at Qing He, his untamed face almost contorted.
Qing He stood tall and was peerlessly beautiful, always presenting herself as a dignified noble lady. Only he knew that this woman was an untamable wolf cub, with bones harder than his and a heart more poisonous than his.
He had treated her so well, so well!