novelraw Chapter 66
Chapter 66
66~ Simple and Honest~
"The Eighteen Alliance Nations have recently set their sights on Glaze Nation and are getting restless. I presume you, as His Majesty the King of Glaze Nation, are very aware of this, right?"
Gong didn't speak, indicating for the envoy lady to continue.
"I have come precisely for this matter. When the Eighteen Alliance Nations launch an attack on your nation, Her Majesty the Empress will dispatch troops to enter your nation's territory to garrison and resist the Eighteen Nations' allied army's attack, until the Eighteen Nations' allied army is repelled. After repelling them, troops will withdraw from your nation's territory. May I ask what you think?"
Garrison troops within the territory?
Gong's brows furrowed. He felt this request was a bit excessive. What if they refused to withdraw after repelling the Eighteen Nations' allied army?
Although he really wanted to believe in Scarlet Phoenix Nation Empress's character, her reputation was there. He didn't want to be dealt with by Scarlet Phoenix Nation after the Eighteen Nations' allied army was repelled.
The two nations had indeed formed an alliance, that was true, but this was also forced. Glaze Nation was forced to form an alliance with Scarlet Phoenix Nation. Who could guarantee this alliance relationship with no solidity wouldn't collapse the next second?
"I need to consider this carefully. Could I ask you to stay as a guest in Glaze Nation for a few days and wait for me to think it through?"
"...This is what Her Majesty the Empress wrote for you."
The envoy lady pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table, pushing it in front of Gong.
Her Majesty the Empress said that as long as she showed this letter to Glaze Nation's king, he would naturally agree.
Gong took the envelope and opened it. The handwriting on it was very familiar to him... it was written by his precious daughter!
Inside the letter paper was only a short line: "Agree to the conditions. After finishing the battle, the promise to withdraw troops will be kept."
Is that so?
With his precious daughter's guarantee, he felt much more at ease.
"Alright, I agree."
Without thinking for long, Gong said to the envoy lady.
Huh? He really just directly agreed?
The envoy lady blinked, her small head filled with big questions.
Was this letter really this useful? Really just one look and he agreed? Without any hesitation at all?
The envoy lady blinked, finding it hard to believe her mission was completed just like that.
Then next she should also head back to Scarlet Phoenix Nation? She rode a carriage for two days to get here, and the result was completing the mission in just this short time. It was so easy she felt it wasn't very realistic.
"Then please grant passage when Scarlet Phoenix Nation's army enters the border."
"Of course."
The two people's discussion ended in less than a quarter hour. When the envoy lady walked out, the Maid Xiao Xi was slightly surprised.
"Then I'll take my leave first."
"Xiao Xi, see the guest out."
"Yes."
The envoy lady sighed. She really hadn't expected this mission to be so simple, to be able to return to Scarlet Phoenix Nation so quickly. Not like before when a trip would take at least several days before beginning the return journey.
That was good too. This way she could rest earlier and take leave earlier. Although coming on business trips was already like traveling, too much of it would make her feel tired and weary. So she wanted to return to Scarlet Phoenix Nation for vacation, about a week off each time.
"Mm~"
The envoy lady stretched lazily.
"...Wait a moment, please follow me."
The Maid Xiao Xi suddenly grabbed the envoy lady's arm and slipped into a small alley, hiding inside and covering her mouth.
"What are you doing?"
The envoy lady frowned, somewhat unhappy.
"Shh—someone is following us."
The Maid Xiao Xi made a shushing gesture, then indicated for the envoy lady to look outside.
Before long, several people dressed casually as ordinary folks immediately appeared where they had just been and didn't leave, looking around searching for something.
"...Is your Glaze Nation always this chaotic?"
The envoy lady couldn't help but complain.
"No, it's just that the Princess suddenly disappeared for a period without appearing in the public eye, and His Majesty doesn't have time to handle these things, so it became like this."
In fact, even though the little Princess had no thoughts about Glaze Nation's throne, the other princes still thought about how to eliminate her. Just because she had no thoughts now didn't mean she wouldn't have thoughts in the future!
It was just a pity their strength was insufficient. With the little Princess's own influence and the King's favoritism toward her, no one dared to openly conflict, and behind the scenes they didn't dare make dirty moves because of the Third Prince's fate three years ago.
This was probably the current state of Glaze Nation's royal family. On the surface it was calm and harmonious, but in reality, turbulent undercurrents surged fiercely beneath, with conflicts everywhere.
"So they've targeted me?"
"I'm afraid so. They're probably thinking of making a move on you to change the current unfavorable situation for them?"
Planning to force the King to immediately select an heir to the throne. They really were worthy of being those beasts in human skin. They could even do something that might accidentally anger Scarlet Phoenix Nation into flattening Glaze Nation!
"They seem to be walking this way?"
"...Then there's no choice."
The Maid Xiao Xi sighed.
Although she didn't know which prince was so insane, now wasn't the time to worry about such things. She needed to quickly fight her way out and safely escort the envoy sent by Scarlet Phoenix Nation out!
The Maid Xiao Xi pulled out a short blade from between her legs and gripped it in her hand.
"May I ask if you can..."
Before she finished speaking, the envoy lady pulled out a staff from her Magic Space Ring.
Actually... aside from being Scarlet Phoenix Nation's envoy, she was also a Great Mage.
Since this envoy lady could fight, she felt relieved. She was worried there would be dead weight dragging her down. Now it seemed there was no problem.
...
...
About three quarters of an hour later, the Maid Xiao Xi and the envoy lady appeared at the city gate.
"I'm never coming to Glaze Nation on business trips again. Your folk customs here are way too simple and honest."
Wave after wave, simply endless. This was the first time she discovered that although Glaze Nation practiced peaceful diplomacy externally, their own royal family internally was chaotic beyond belief...
"Then please take care?"
The Maid Xiao Xi waved goodbye to her, and after seeing the carriage outside the city gate depart, she put away her short blade and shouted to a patrol team that happened to pass by:
"Someone come, follow me to arrest people!"
These years following by the Princess's side, she had also learned some of the Princess's usual special techniques!
Daring to target a Scarlet Phoenix Nation envoy? Don't want to live, huh? Last time they attacked the Princess. This time they planned to directly take out the envoy sent by Scarlet Phoenix Nation within the city...
No need to even think. Even if she didn't go arrest people now, before long after this matter reached His Majesty's ears, he would send people anyway. Forcing her to work two extra quarters of an hour, this grudge must be repaid!
Anqing Noble Manor, right? Having money, power, and status but not properly keeping a low profile, instead being used as a weapon by others, right? Although she didn't know which prince did it, just following the trail to investigate like this, it wouldn't take long to find out.
...
(PS/Author's Note: Holy crap, even I'm a bit confused writing this. I'll try to avoid it in the future. This has me all tangled up. The quality isn't quite up to par.
However, this is foreshadowing for a major event later, so just bear with it and read on...)
...
Time flew by. Several days later, within Scarlet Phoenix Nation...
The little Princess woke up. For the first time, she woke up before the Empress got up! She had never woken up this early before!
The little Princess stretched lazily and discovered she was locked up tight. Unable to slip out from the Empress's embrace, she gave up. She hugged the Empress's arm and began resting with her eyes closed.
No choice. She couldn't get out, and if she accidentally woke the Empress, she might get bullied. So she could only do this.
She just didn't know that behind her, the Empress had silently curved up the corners of her mouth.