Qinghe simply tidied up Lingyao and then took a sedan chair to Xuanhe Gate.
Upon arrival, she saw the Emperor and the Imperial Guard Commander, Song Beiting, both present. They were pointing and discussing the scene in the arena, showing no intention of interfering.
Meanwhile, Xiaoshan and Turu were engaged in a fierce, bare-handed fight.
"Don't worry, little sister. The General has been suppressing the Great Prince, so he's not at a disadvantage."
Seeing Lingyao approach, Emperor Mingde quickly stepped forward to explain, fearing she would blame him for not stopping the fight.
Song Beiting watched her with concern.
Wasn't she still ill? Her face looked much thinner.
Emperor Mingde carefully examined her complexion. "Are you feeling better? Don't get caught by the wind. Fulv, draw the imperial canopy."
Fulv responded and directed the young eunuchs to quickly set up the canopy.
"You're setting up a stage too? Is the General a performer?" Lingyao asked coldly. Looking at the two in the arena, Xiaoshan was indeed not at a disadvantage and was consistently on the offensive.
She also wished for Turu to take more hits, so she didn't speak to stop them.
Turu was fighting worse and worse, and Xiaoshan didn't hold back. Seeing his movements slow, he even waited for him to strike again, infuriating him.
"If I weren't injured, would you dare to be so arrogant? Taking advantage of someone's misfortune!"
"Your injuries are also my doing, General. You've always been inferior, haven't you?"
Qinghe remained indifferent, as if she didn't know him, standing beside Lingyao to watch the spectacle.
Turu's hawk-like eyes flashed as he saw Qinghe. He clutched his shoulder and gritted his teeth, saying, "I'm not fighting anymore!"
His face was bruised, and blood seeped from his shoulder, but his demeanor remained defiant, glaring at Qinghe like a vicious wolf.
Lingyao stepped forward, blocking Qinghe, and announced loudly, "Great Prince, Yongfu County Princess has no relation to you. In the future, I hope you will show more respect. If the Turks have no sincerity for peace talks, then leave the capital as soon as possible!"
"Just because you say there's no relation, means there's no relation? She is this Prince's consort, and always will be! You are the ones who took her first. Peace talks can happen, but return the person first!"
Xiaoshan snorted coldly, "Her return was agreed upon by your royal court. This is not part of the peace talks. Great Prince, give up!"
Lingyao nodded, "Precisely."
Qinghe was not a mere servant girl. Now she was protected by a divine maiden, and even the Emperor could not make decisions for her. Emperor Mingde looked at the Great Prince, then at Lingyao.
This meant there was no room for negotiation.
Turu was unwilling. He stared in Qinghe's direction and shouted, "Qinghe! Speak up! You can't be so heartless. You clearly love me. I've even thought of names for our children!"
Qinghe: "..."
Emperor Mingde: Wasn't he impotent?
He really thought too much.
"Great Prince, stop pestering. You and I were originally a mistake. Now, it's just being corrected. Between us, there is no past, nor will there be a future."
"Do not conflate private matters with state affairs. Hurry up with the peace talks and leave Jing country!"
After Qinghe finished speaking, she saw Turu's complexion visibly pale, her heart feeling as if it had been stung by a bee.
Lingyao spoke, "Yes, Yongfu County Princess has no connection with you. My Great Jing has plenty of young talents. After the new year, I will select a husband for her. The Minister of the Grand Court of Revision is quite suitable."
Is that right? Someone Xiaoshan is wary of must be good-looking, right?
The Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, drinking wine with a beauty in a brothel, sneezed: Who is thinking of him again?
Xiaoshan frowned.
Emperor Mingde considered the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision; he was indeed handsome.
Seeing Turu's expression grow uglier, Lingyao continued, "If one is not enough, choose two. If two are not enough, choose three. Line up ten of them, and let the County Princess choose. There will surely be one she is satisfied with."
Ten!
One more than Turu's nine concubines in his backyard!
He was furious!
Xiaoshan's brow twitched.
Emperor Mingde, Song Beiting, Qinghe: Are you serious?
Since negotiations had failed, Xiaoshan saw no need to go to the Imperial Study. He cupped his hands to Emperor Mingde and said, "Imperial Brother, it's windy outside. I'll escort the Princess back first."
After speaking, he took Lingyao's hand and walked away, complaining, "You shouldn't be out when your fever just broke. Who told you to come out? If it recurs, it won't be so easy to recover..."
Emperor Mingde's face turned red with anger.
His address of "Imperial Brother" gave him goosebumps!
Song Beiting remained silent, staring at Lingyao's retreating figure with vacant eyes.
Seeing him like this, Emperor Mingde sighed inwardly.
Turu was driven mad with rage. Seeing that Qinghe ignored him and left, he shouted from behind, "What kind of divine maiden breaks up a marriage? Divine maidens bless people with marriage and childbirth. Qinghe, if you dare to find ten, I, I will start a war and attack your Jing country!"
Emperor Mingde: Can private matters and state affairs be separated?
Lingyao: "He makes me sound like the Goddess of Childbirth."
Xiaoshan: "Ignore him. He's like an idiot. No wonder he's a cuckold."
Qinghe: "General, what do you mean?"
"It means nothing. Stay away from me, lest any rumors spread."
Qinghe: Returned to Fanghua Palace.
Having come to the palace once and returning halfway before reaching the Imperial Study, Ashina Turu returned to the inn with a dark expression.
Envoy Huodu came to inquire, "Great Prince, how did your talks with the Emperor of Jing go? Have you agreed on the tribute amount? When you left, the King instructed you to prioritize the overall situation and not act on emotion."
"Scram!"
He wanted to act on emotion, but did anyone give him the chance?
Huodu reminded him again, "Great Prince, the royal court is not peaceful. We should sign the agreement quickly and return, lest someone take advantage."
Turu clenched his fists.
The sound of laughter from the room next door, and the next, and the next, made Turu even more enraged.
He rushed over and kicked open the door. The scene of debauchery that greeted his eyes made him feel sick enough to vomit.
Three men and one woman, in a state of extreme indulgence.
He knew his sister's life had always been chaotic. In the past, he had his royal residence, and she had her independent princess's mansion. Although he had heard of such situations, he had never witnessed them firsthand.
This time, the impact on him was unprecedented.
Disgusting! Filthy!
"Get out!"
The three men scrambled to put on their clothes, barely covering themselves, and fled, afraid that if they delayed a second longer, the Great Prince, radiating killing intent, would strike them down.
"What are you doing, Royal Brother? We were in the middle of something!"
Meiduo, whose activity was interrupted, did not try to conceal herself. She slowly put on her clothes, her not-so-fair body exposed.
Turu turned his head away, veins bulging on his forehead. It was utterly unsightly!
"This is Jing country! You are a princess here for a marriage alliance. Are you publicly engaging in such shameful acts, trying to provoke another war between the two countries?"
"Didn't they refuse? This Princess is free now, no one can control me!" Meiduo said dismissively. "Jing country men are no good. Their stamina is a bit lacking, but they are good-looking, with fair skin and tender flesh."
"Meiduo!" Turu truly didn't understand who had proposed her marriage alliance. Was she here to make enemies!
"Royal Brother, enough. You just take care of yourself. You can't even handle one woman, and you have the nerve to lecture me. That Yongfu County Princess might be wilder than me!"
"You, say, what?"