All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me

Chapter 389 - 242: A Kiss is a Promise._3

He responded casually before turning to leave.

"Miss, it’s clear that he doesn’t take you seriously at all..."

Li Zijun shook her head, straightened her dress, touched the top of her head, and smiled,

"The royal court deliberation is tomorrow."

"Don’t think about these things."

「The next day, it rained heavily.」

The glazed tiles of the roofs in the inner court of Luodu were washed shiny by the rain, as Lin Jinyu gazed expressionlessly at the curtain of rain outside.

The information from her lady-in-waiting had already been laid out on her desk, clearly showing the comings and goings of the envoy from the South Wind Ancient Country since his arrival in Luodu.

Lin Jinyu deeply suppressed the anger in her heart as she dealt with this almost blatantly bold envoy, her right eyelid twitching uncontrollably.

His audacity upon arrival... could it confirm that suspicion I have?

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to believe it, her hand gripping tightly.

It was precisely because of this fear that an unstoppable thought emerged in her heart.

The Eastern Emperor hasn’t touched me in so many years. I must bear an heir for him. At the very least, Dongfeng Ancient Country needs a recognized successor.

A country cannot be without an heir.

Firstly, it would fulfill the longing I’ve held for so many years.

Secondly, it would extinguish the ambitions of all those vassal kings.

Soon after, a maid dressed in blue arrived behind Lin Jinyu and softly said,

"Empress Dowager, it is almost time for the royal court deliberation."

The royal court deliberation was unlike a general court assembly. Besides Queen Lin, traditionally only a few dozen people were qualified to attend. These included the three vassal kings, the Luodu-based heads of the four major families, and the governors of various provinces.

Of course, this time the envoy delegation from the South Wind Ancient Country visiting Dongfeng Ancient Country was also included.

「An hour later, in Luodu’s Luoxue Palace, people were lined up in two rows.」

Li Zijun strode forward, with the delegation from the South Wind Ancient Country following her. Liu Zizhan walked close behind Li Zijun, his gaze fixed on Lin Jinyu, who sat high upon the dragon throne.

As a eunuch struck the first gong, the head of the Mo Family was the first to speak,

"Everyone is present. Let’s begin the deliberation."

Li Zijun stepped forward, bowed to Queen Lin, and said,

"The envoy from the South Wind Ancient Country, Li Zijun, has come to visit Dongfeng Ancient Country and greets Queen Lin."

Lin Jinyu narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, looking at the woman before her.

She had seen her before, during her time at the Sword Sect, but her gaze didn’t linger on her for long, instead turning directly to the man behind her.

This man was the South Emperor’s designated person-in-charge for this mission.

"Liu Zizhan, greets Queen Lin."

Liu Zizhan, neither overly humble nor arrogant, spoke clearly and firmly.

Lin Jinyu’s brow furrowed slightly as she nodded indifferently.

The second gong sounded.

Mo Zhan took a deep breath and slowly said,

"This session is regarding the return of Hua Province, located upstream of the Cang River, to the South Wind Ancient Country."

"A thousand years ago, Dongfeng Ancient Country halted the Wilderness Cultivation beyond the Cang River. Consequently, the South Wind Ancient Country agreed to donate the land of Hua Province to support Dongfeng Ancient Country’s efforts against it. A thousand years have passed since that day."

"Now the South Wind Ancient Country wishes for Dongfeng Ancient Country to return Hua Province."

Just as his words fell, an explosive thunderclap resounded outside the hall, and the heavy rain became even more torrential.

After a moment of silence in the hall, Liu Zizhan stepped forward, bypassing Li Zijun, and said,

"Hua Province has been lent to Dongfeng Ancient Country for a thousand years. Now that the opening ceremony of the Sacred Land has concluded, we wish to discuss this matter."

"Why, when discussing such a significant issue, is the Eastern Emperor not present? Are we to understand that the Eastern Emperor disregards the visit of the envoy delegation from the South Wind Ancient Country—or, as he perhaps views it, the ’South Wind Ancient *Dog* Country’—and is even deliberately insulting us?"

As his voice fell, everyone in the entire hall looked at each other in mute consternation.

The King of An Nan, standing on the right, lowered his eyelids, his hands tucked into his sleeves, silently waiting for something.

It was clear to everyone that the South Wind Ancient Country’s swift actions were timed to seize the opportunity presented by the Eastern Emperor’s disappearance.

Lin Jinyu maintained a stoic expression, lifted her eyes slightly, and looking down at Liu Zizhan, spoke softly,

"Are you questioning Dongfeng Ancient Country?"

Liu Zizhan bowed his head, firm yet respectful, and replied,

"I wouldn’t dare! I also hope that Queen Lin will not lightly disrupt the friendly relations between our two nations."

His words immediately pushed the atmosphere in the hall to a strange impasse.

King Fuzhong, who had been observing in silence, stepped out and said calmly,

"The agreement from a thousand years ago clearly stated it was a gift, not a ’loan’ as you claim, sir."

In truth, everyone had more or less the same speculation about this royal assembly.

It was a test by the South Wind Ancient Country to determine if the Eastern Emperor had indeed disappeared, and to use the opportunity to proclaim it to the world.

If the Eastern Emperor truly failed to appear, then everything would become rather intriguing.

Liu Zizhan glanced at King Fuzhong and said,

"There was an agreement a thousand years ago."

"The premise of this gift was that Dongfeng Ancient Country could ensure the people of Hua Province under its rule could live in peace and prosperity. However, during the thousand years under Dongfeng Ancient Country’s direct administration, Hua Province experienced seven dam breaches."

"Never mind the commoners who drowned directly. Even those fortunate enough to escape with their lives lost their fields and homes. Families were torn apart, households shattered, and lives ruined, ultimately leaving them displaced."

"Now, refugees are everywhere. If this situation is ignored, even if no one seizes the opportunity to incite rebellion, trouble will inevitably arise. If they don’t rebel today or tomorrow, they will undoubtedly rebel the day after."

"Therefore, the South Wind Ancient Country has the right to reclaim Hua Province."