Chapter 127
Zhangsun Meimei’s walk showed Lu Hanzhi what it meant to move with grace and allure.
She wore a flowing red gauze outfit that exposed her navel, with a sparkling belly-button ring catching the light.
Every step made the jewel sway, and the eyes of several envoys followed it, unable to look away.
Lu Hanzhi clicked his tongue. Now he understood why they had chosen this inn for the negotiation.
Anyone without strong self-control could easily be distracted by Miss Meimei’s figure.
She placed the roasted lamb in the center of the table and made a delicate bow to the group. Every movement seemed to have been rehearsed countless times, perfectly timed and captivating.
Alluring, graceful, enticing.
Zhangsun Meimei picked up a golden, gem-studded wine jug and poured wine for Yuwen Min. After pouring, she said politely, “Wang Ye, please enjoy. The wine is humble, I hope you will not mind.”
Lu Hanzhi: “Pfft…”
cough cough cough cough cough
Everyone looked at him, including Zhangsun Meimei herself.
Wearing a red veil and accentuating her large eyes with Kajal, Zhangsun Meimei smiled politely at Lu Hanzhi. “Why is this handsome officer laughing?” she asked, genuinely curious.
Lu Hanzhi waved his hand and sipped his tea, forcing down the cough.
Although he knew it was rude, he simply couldn’t help it.
Who could have imagined that someone with such a seductive and beautiful figure was actually a cross-dressing man?
The moment she spoke, Lu Hanzhi realized she had the demeanor of a young eunuch.
Yet none of the other men seemed to notice; they merely stroked their beards, appreciating her graceful movements.
Lu Hanzhi realized that perhaps in the Western Regions, there was a cultural appreciation for cross-dressing men.
Fortunately, Zhangsun Meimei did not stay long. After pouring the wine, she left with her attendants.
Lu Hanzhi whispered to Yuwen Min, “This woman is really something else!”
Yuwen Min said, “It’s the custom of the Western Regions; one should respect it.”
Lu Hanzhi suppressed his laughter. He was used to everything under the sun, but he still had trouble understanding this particular custom.
At that moment, the envoy of Qiuci spoke again, standing and raising his cup. “I am Uludan, special envoy of Qiuci Kingdom.”
He drank, then sat down.
Next, an older man of sixty or seventy with a healthy complexion rose. “I am Ahanda, envoy of Ruoqiang.”
Then another, younger and capable: “I am E’ye, envoy of the Yuezhi.”
Lu Hanzhi: …this name… Oh Ye!
Next came the envoys of Dayuan and Cheshi.
The original novel did not go into detail about the Six Kingdom Alliance, but Lu Hanzhi had some knowledge of the historical Western kingdoms.
In fact, the Western Regions had more than these few small countries. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent to the West, and records mentioned as many as thirty-six kingdoms.
But if he tried to cover all thirty-six, it would be impossible to keep track. Even just these six Western kingdoms were enough to give him a headache, and he still couldn’t recall exactly which ones they were.
Not that it mattered; eventually, they would all be collectively called Xinjiang.
Yuwen Min clasped his fists in respect, saying concisely, “Commander of Great Zhao, Yuwen Min.”
Lu Xuzhi also clasped his fists: “Great General of the Western Campaign, Lu Xuzhi.”
The name “Yuwen” was a living emblem, as only the royal line bore that surname.
Everyone bowed to Yuwen Min. The leading envoy of Qiuci said, “As we previously discussed with the Great Zhao, we will cede the Western Fan Kingdom to Great Zhao. Our campaign should now be complete. From now on, Great Zhao and the Western kingdoms will coexist peacefully, neither interfering in the affairs of the other.”
Yuwen Min glanced at the king of the Western Fan Kingdom, whose eyes nearly bulged in anger. He nodded slowly. “If there are no objections, we can sign the treaty.”
The envoy from Qiuci gave a glance to the other envoys of the smaller kingdoms. They showed no objection, so everyone unfolded a treaty from their kingdom and began checking it line by line.
Apart from ceding the Western Fan Kingdom to Great Zhao, there were also some corresponding compensation clauses.
Lu Hanzhi thought to himself that Yuwen Mingji’s setup was convincing, though he hadn’t expected that the Western Fan Kingdom might resist being treated like fish to be eaten.
In fact, only the five Western kingdoms were collaborating with Yuwen Mingji.
Those five kingdoms had long intended to swallow up the Western Fan Kingdom, but they lacked the firepower and a legitimate pretext.
Now, with this arrangement, Yuwen Mingji promised to grant the five kingdoms three regions bordering the Western lands, one of which was the Western Fan Kingdom.
Because the Western Fan Kingdom was “given” to Great Zhao, it counted as one of the three regions ceded to the Western kingdoms.
No wonder the king of the Western Fan Kingdom looked furious—who wouldn’t feel upset after being so thoroughly outmaneuvered?
They had agreed to cooperate, but in the end, he was being sacrificed.
Originally, sacrificing him to Great Zhao might have seemed acceptable; at least Great Zhao was wealthy and wouldn’t mistreat its people.
But if the Western Fan Kingdom were divided among the other five kingdoms, what would happen to its people?
Given the hardy nature of the Western peoples, they would only end up as slaves.
The lowest of the low, surviving as a slave would already be a luxury; there would be no hope beyond that.
Thinking of this, the king of the Western Fan Kingdom felt an overwhelming sadness, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Lu Hanzhi looked at the poor figure sprawled on the ground and couldn’t help clicking his tongue.
This was the consequence of being weak: the stronger hold the knives, the weaker are merely fish to be carved.
After going through all the clauses, Yuwen Min signed.
The formal document would be taken back to Great Zhao for the emperor himself to sign.
Once signed, the two copies of the treaty were taken away, and two soldiers came in to escort the king of the Western Fan Kingdom out.
The king’s eyes were bloodshot, but he did not look at Great Zhao’s representatives; his gaze was fixed on the envoys of the Western Fan Kingdom.
Lu Hanzhi whispered in Yuwen Min’s ear, “See that? This is the fate of a fallen king.”
Yuwen Min nodded. “Wang Fei, rest assured, I will learn from this.”
Lu Hanzhi lowered his voice further. “And that Zhangsun Meimei just now… I think there’s something off about her.”
Yuwen Min whispered, “Oh? Are you jealous, Wang Fei?”
Lu Hanzhi said, “I’m not joking. That Zhangsun Meimei, there’s something hidden in her eyes.”
Yuwen Min hadn’t noticed. “Hidden? What could she be hiding?”
Lu Hanzhi replied, “She looked at the Western Fan king at least five times. So concerned about a fallen king? That’s not something an ordinary innkeeper should care about.”
Hearing this, Yuwen Min finally paid attention.
Indeed, Zhangsun Meimei’s gaze kept flicking their way. She tried to be subtle, but as a martial artist, Yuwen Min could clearly detect her line of sight.
In terms of observation, Yuwen Min had to admit, he was still a step behind Hanzhi.
He nodded slightly. By this time, the innkeeper had begun having the women perform songs and dances, and the dancers started pouring wine.
The envoy from Qiuci was quite enthusiastic, wrapping an arm around a dancer and groping her.
He even called out to Lu Xuzhi in a rough voice: “Brother Lu, don’t be shy! Taste what our Western beauties have to offer! I hear Brother Lu is the Emperor’s Son-in-law of Great Zhao, so surely your wife at home keeps you under strict control. Out here, far from her, whatever you like, we can provide!”
Lu Xuzhi: …
Saying that in front of my little brother-in-law, aren’t you afraid he’ll stab you with his sword?
Yuwen Min paid little attention to Lu Xuzhi’s side, instead whispering to Lu Hanzhi: “There’s danger everywhere. You must not leave my side.”
Lu Hanzhi asked, “You mean those dancers?”
Yuwen Min said, “Not just the dancers. Haven’t you noticed second brother hasn’t touched his wine?”
Lu Hanzhi frowned. “Is there something wrong with the wine?”
Yuwen Min sneered. “Your second brother trains under the lineage of the Martial Sage. With his body, it would be impossible to casually win the martial championship without special methods. His master emphasizes physical cultivation, including medicinal baths. Second brother probably smelled something off about this wine, so he hasn’t touched it.”
Lu Hanzhi immediately understood. “Ah Min, I get it!”
Yuwen Min asked, “Get it? What do you mean?”
Lu Hanzhi still didn’t fully grasp it, only had a vague idea.
He thought for a moment and raised a question: “If the wine was poisoned, wouldn’t the envoys know? They were drinking from the same jars.”
Yuwen Min said, “Exactly. They’re also part of the plot.”
Lu Hanzhi asked again, “Then was the innkeeper trying to trick us? Or was she trying to save the king of the Western Fan Kingdom?”
He looked toward Zhangsun Meimei.
Indeed, her eyes were captivating, and she glanced their way.
Seeing them watching, she immediately got up, personally poured a cup of wine, and placed it in front of Yuwen Min. “Wang Ye, is the wine in my humble inn not fragrant enough, or am I not serving you well?”
Then, she leaned toward Yuwen Min.
The envoys on the other side looked on enviously. The envoy from Qiuci, already slightly drunk, stood and said, “Wang Ye is truly favored by the charming Miss Meimei!”
Lu Hanzhi tried to hold back laughter. Every time he heard her speak, he felt like laughing.
He didn’t know why—in his era, such a cross-dressing man’s voice would be a joke—but here it was considered beautiful. Every world had its own rules.
Lu Hanzhi wanted to watch a little longer and see his husband’s reactions, but then Yuwen Min raised his heavy sword, keeping Zhangsun Meimei at a respectful distance of a foot.
Lu Hanzhi couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh. After all, she was a “fake girl.” Wasn’t this a little harsh on her pride?
Yuwen Min glanced at Zhangsun Meimei and said, “Speak your mind, but keep your hands to yourself.”
Zhangsun Meimei smiled and, using the voice modulator that Lu Hanzhi had seen fail earlier, let out a coquettish, cross-dressing tone: “Ah, men of Great Zhao are all so loyal! Lord Lu and Wang Ye, not even a beautiful lady like me can catch your eye. Clearly, your wives at home must be stunning beyond words.”
Lu Hanzhi’s perfectly beautiful wife twitched her mouth slightly: …Overpraised, overpraised.
Zhangsun Meimei kept smiling. “In my Western Regions, one must enjoy life while one can, for none of us know when we will meet the Buddha in the West. The West is the closest place to him.”
Then Zhangsun Meimei stopped smiling, her face turning cold and deadly.
Looking again, the envoys from the Western kingdoms were already lying on the ground.
Zhangsun Meimei removed her red veil and finally spoke in a normal male voice, no longer that voice that had given Lu Hanzhi goosebumps: “Today, I will personally escort these nobles… to the Western Paradise.”
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