Xie Xun and Dugu Jing’s duel was scheduled for November 28th, a date drawing closer with each passing day after the imperial wedding. Fengyu would be lying if she claid she wasn’t worried at all. Furthermore, once the end of the month passed, the year-end festivities were imminent—a major affair in Beining. No one wished to see the emperor in peril, and every morning court session was filled with attempts to persuade Xie Xun to reconsider. Xie Xun’s response was unwavering: "I have given my word to Dugu Jing. Once spoken, it cannot be withdrawn unless Dugu Jing himself relinquishes the duel; otherwise, it must proceed."
The cabinet was well aware they couldn’t convince Xie Xun to change his mind. As the Monarch, Xie Xun would not go back on his promise, especially not to Dugu Jing. anwhile, Beiman’s envoy group had arrived in Capital City and were residing in the inn reserved for foreign delegations. This ti, all the faces in the envoy group were new, as Beiman had appointed a new priest. Xie Xun, still haunted by the mory of venomous worms, specifically ordered a thorough check to ensure that the Beiman Sixth Princess was not among them. The Sixth Princess, who had long since married a Great General within their tribe, was not part of the delegation. While her absence was reassuring, Beiman’s Priest was another source of unease for Xie Xun, prompting him to insist Fengyu keep her distance from the Beiman representatives.
Nonetheless, the Beiman envoy was here for a goodwill visit. Xie Xun and Fengyu hosted banquets in their honor, receiving gifts of gemstones brought by the Beiman representatives to congratulate them on their marriage. This friendliness stood in stark contrast to the hostility from three years prior. Though the Sixth Princess wasn’t included this ti, Beiman had sent the Third and Fourth Princesses, a pair of identical twin sisters. They were tall, athletic, and exceptionally skilled in archery and horseback riding. During the banquet, they competed against Cui Lansong and several other generals, showing no sign of being overshadowed—the Beiman won indeed rivaled the n in valor.
In Beiman and Sannan, the priests wield imnse authority. Lord Lin Helin and other cabinet officials couldn’t dissuade Xie Xun directly, so they set their sights on the priests, hoping for an alternative approach.
This strategy was a form of maneuvering. If the priests could persuade Dugu Jing to abandon the duel, it could be canceled, leaving the Beiman-Beining negotiations open to further discussion.
The duel was originally an agreent between Fang Chuning and Dugu Jing.
Beiman’s High Priest was a striking young man of thirty, with thick brows, sharp eyes like a hawk, and a ruggedly handso appearance. He wore a square headdress, and his hair was arranged into six or seven braids, each adorned at the ends with red gemstones that glead brilliantly. Such ornants on Beiman n exuded a rare, unearthly charm rather than gaudiness.
"Since the Prince, now Beining Country Lord, has already set the duel, persuading him otherwise isn’t appropriate. It’s a match we’re confident of winning, so there’s no point complicating matters. We’ll simply wait for the outco."
"The arena is full of uncertainties. Honorable Priest, I would caution against overconfidence. Our Majesty is invincible in battle and may yet erge victorious. We are here to negotiate terms because Beining’s customs differ from yours. His Majesty is no ordinary man; even a re scratch on the Dragon Body would be the responsibility and failure of us, his ministers," Lin Helin said thodically. He, along with the entire cabinet, was reluctant to see Xie Xun jeopardize himself.
The High Priest’s stance was clear—why interfere in a contest they were almost certain to win?
Lin Helin exchanged a glance with Zhang Boju, sharing the understanding that the High Priest’s willingness to et them indicated there was room for negotiation.
"What does Beiman seek in return? We’re willing to hear your terms," Lin Helin said. "As per the agreent between Dugu Jing and His Majesty, should His Majesty lose, we may consider lenient terms for a negotiated settlent between Beiman and Beining without forcing Beiman into submission. However, if Dugu Jing loses, Beiman must surrender unconditionally. Since the priests have raised no objections to these conditions, we take that as an implicit agreent. Even if His Majesty were to lose, Beining will not soften its negotiating stance—at most, the prior terms agreed upon three years ago may serve as a reference. Beining’s New Dynasty is freshly established; if Beiman is betting on the chaos that would ensue from Dugu Jing killing His Majesty, then you misunderstand. Beining’s Royal Family includes Prince Yan and Prince Xie Wen—either of them is capable of upholding Beining. This is why His Majesty dared face Dugu Jing in combat. Nonetheless, we ministers do not wish for him to take unnecessary risks, so our resistance is not out of fear that he might lose or die in the arena. Honorable Priest, what conditions must be t for you to convince Dugu Jing to withdraw? Let us speak candidly. If feasible, we will do our utmost to facilitate it; if not, we will relinquish all hope."
Xie Xun had indeed not promised Dugu Jing that Beining would yield if defeated. As the victor in prior conflicts, Beining had no justification for staking everything.
The High Priest pondered, his hawk-like eyes fixed sharply on Lin Helin. "Can Lord Lin make decisions on this?"
"No, we must consult His Majesty or Prince Yan before informing you," Lin Helin replied calmly. Realizing that the High Priest’s attitude was softening, he felt reassured.
At the very least, there was room for negotiation!
"The Ninth Prince is considered our Beiman war hero, and we naturally cherish him dearly. Before our departure, my King stated that Beiman’s people have long endured harsh conditions in the snowy wilderness. In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in population, livestock loss, and a pressing struggle for survival. If Beining is willing to allow Beiman to migrate through Ningzhou, we are prepared to surrender to Beining and seek stability. However, there are a few conditions that we hope Beining will agree to."
"Please, state your terms!" Lin Helin said with delight. Once negotiations began, success was already halfway in sight.
"Beining must treat our tribespeople equally and refrain from harsh treatnt. Those unwilling to relocate may remain in their native land, and Beining must not deploy military forces for eviction. We require housing, livestock, and farmland for our survival and prosperity. Additionally, Beining must allocate a piece of territory to the Beiman Royal Family, granting them autonomy within this land." The High Priest slowly conveyed the conditions proposed by the Beiman King.
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