On Lantern Festival, the Emperor hosted a banquet for envoys from two countries.
Yao Ran shed her male attire and donned the official robes of a Lan Yue minister. Her appearance exuded both feminine grace and masculine resilience, making her look remarkably heroic.
The assembled ministers exchanged uneasy glances as they observed the contingent of female officials accompanying Yao Ran.
"The times are indeed changing, allowing women to hold positions of power... Ah!" Before the official could finish his sentence, he was flung away by a whip, landing ignominiously in a flower bed.
"How dare you lay hands on someone!"
"I thought Yu Sheng, such a prominent nation, would be a land of etiquette. Today, it seems you are all merely a group of shameless meddlers."
"You speak too much!"
"To berate the Prime Minister of a nation like this, in Lan Yue, would warrant the penalty of castration," Yao Ran stated calmly. "This light punishment is already a concession out of respect for Emperor Yu."
"You... a hen crowing at dawn, Lan Yue will surely fall..."
"What, does Yu Sheng wish to wage war with Lan Yue?" Yao Ran's expression turned cold.
At her words, everyone fell silent. Yu Sheng had just ceased hostilities with Yun Qi. To engage in another war with Lan Yue would undoubtedly invite Yun Qi to re-ignite conflict, making the instigator of Lan Yue's displeasure an eternal sinner!
"Why is everyone quiet now? I heard your Protector General was murdered, and now there isn't a single spirited person left?" Yao Ran provocatively remarked.
Qu Yang shook his head. This Yao Ran was truly audacious, provoking ministers of another nation while on their soil. However, her words held truth. With Xiao Zhen's death, the civil and military officials of Yu Sheng had become as mute as statues, daring not to retort.
"Yu Sheng is not short of spirited individuals, does Prime Minister Yao wish to test them?"
Upon hearing this voice, everyone turned their heads, their faces lighting up with joy: "Princess Yongning."
Xiao Man felt a shiver crawl up her spine under their gazes. Normally, these ministers would practically spit on her, yet today they looked at her with elation. Had she driven them mad with her training of their children at the Shen Du Barracks?
Yao Ran turned to face Xiao Man. The moment she saw Dugu Mingyu beside Xiao Man, Yao Ran felt a sharp pang of pain.
Xiao Man, clad in military attire today, exuded an aura of ferocity, appearing like a completely different person from her usual self.
"Princess Yongning." Su Dan Novel Net
"Prime Minister Yao is a guest, but Yu Sheng does not welcome guests who overstep their bounds." Xiao Man walked forward, stopping three paces in front of Prime Minister Yao. "Prime Minister Yao, do you not agree?"
"I have heard that Princess Yongning is arrogant and fearless, and today's encounter proves the rumors are true."
"I have heard that Prime Minister Yao is treacherous and cunning, having betrayed his former master, a truly despicable and shameless scoundrel. Today's encounter confirms this; I was not deceived."
A snicker rippled through the crowd. Yao Ran's face turned ashen. "Slandering me is one thing, but to insult your father? Is that how he taught you to behave? A brute will always be a brute, never producing a phoenix!"
Xiao Man moved in an instant, appearing before Yao Ran and delivering a powerful kick. Yao Ran, unable to dodge, was sent staggering back several steps before regaining her balance.
"Well kicked, Your Highness!"
"Be silent!" Xiao Man retorted, turning her head with a cold glare. "To provoke others without the ability to fight back, and then to be beaten – are you pleased?"
The crowd fell silent, not daring to answer. After all, Xiao Man spoke the truth. They had merely sought a verbal advantage, not expecting the Lan Yue Prime Minister to be so unreasonable and resort to violence at the slightest disagreement. They deserved what Xiao Man did.
"Man'er," Wen Mohan said, walking over and taking her hand. "On a festive occasion like the Lantern Festival, do not let irrelevant people spoil your mood. Let's go, we should go inside."
Qu Yang's lips curved. In a way, these two were kindred spirits, except Xiao Man was more ruthless and cunning. She had wreaked havoc in the Yu Sheng Imperial Capital for over a decade and still thrived, a testament to her capabilities. Similarly, Yao Ran, having served two monarchs, remained Prime Minister, proving her immense astuteness.
"Prime Minister Yao, shall we go in together?" Qu Yang invited.
Yao Ran sneered, "I hear Envoy Qu is here to seek the hand of Princess Yongning as the Empress for your Emperor. Envoy Qu must be having a difficult time, wouldn't you agree?"
Qu Yang forced an awkward laugh. This was not a matter of difficulty, but a matter of life and death. Yet, he could not show it. He was a million times unwilling for Xiao Man to become the Empress of Yun Qi, having a premonition that if she did, she would become another Dugu Man!
"I believe Prime Minister Yao has more to worry about than I do," Qu Yang said meaningfully. "After all, all of Lan Yue's spies planted in the Imperial Capital have been eradicated. Years of effort ruined. Prime Minister Yao must be heartbroken, no?"
"Compared to your Yun Qi, it is nothing. Not only were your Yun Qi spies in Yu Sheng eliminated, but I also heard that Emperor Ji Er Lian San, the Emperor's companion, died in Yu Sheng. These companions are groomed from a young age to be trusted aides, so Emperor Yun must be grieving deeply."
Qu Yang felt a surge of blood lodge in his throat, unable to spit it out, forced to swallow it. After all, these were facts, and the culprit behind all this was Xiao Man!
"It appears that Prime Minister Yao and I have a common enemy," Qu Yang lowered his voice. "Shall we cooperate?"
Yao Ran smiled strangely. A common enemy, perhaps not. Cooperation, however, was possible.
"How does Lord Qu propose we cooperate?" Yao Ran inquired softly.
"Please assist Prime Minister Yao in thwarting this marriage alliance. Upon its success, I will deliver ten thousand dan of grain."
Yao Ran's smile widened. "Deal!"
Qu Yang had prepared a multitude of arguments to persuade Yao Ran, but his basket of persuasive words went unused, like throwing a punch with all his might only to hit cotton, finding no purchase!
"Does Prime Minister Yao not find it strange that I agreed so readily?" Qu Yang, ever suspicious, felt something was amiss.
Yao Ran looked at Qu Yang, scoffing, "If I refused, you wouldn't be satisfied. If I agreed too quickly, you're still unhappy. What, do I need to kneel and beg you before you'll be content? Who has spoiled you to be so lawless?"
Qu Yang gritted his teeth. "No, it's just that I believe Prime Minister Yao should have considered it carefully."
"It seems, Lord Qu, that you are not sincere in this cooperation. If that is the case, then it is void."
Qu Yang's head began to ache from Yao Ran's actions. "Prime Minister Yao, I merely wish for us both to consider this carefully before responding, not to be perfunctory."
"My sincerity is absolute. You perceive others as you yourself are," Yao Ran stated meaningfully, casting a glance at Qu Yang. "Ten thousand dan of grain, do not forget. Deliver it to me within three days."