The Prodigal Son

Qi Dachui was naturally worried about Qin Yu going to see Rong Jiu alone, so he immediately followed closely behind.

Soon, Qin encountered Empress Murong, who was leisurely sitting inside the house drinking tea.

"sit!"

Empress Murong simply pointed to the seat opposite her and made no attempt to pour tea for Qin Yu.

Qin Yu sat down on his own, picked up a teacup, and poured himself some tea from the teapot.

"You're quite impolite!"

Empress Murong glanced at him indifferently. "Aren't you afraid I'll poison your tea?"

Upon hearing Empress Murong's words, Qi Dachui's expression changed, and he immediately tried to snatch the teacup from Qin Yu.

"fine!"

Qin Yu pressed down on Qi Dachui's hand and said dismissively, "He's just trying to scare me! If I die, not a single member of the Northern Qi delegation will survive!"

Empress Murong smiled, her gaze sweeping over Qi Dachui. "Your guard is rather... simple and honest!"

"Being honest and simple is good; it's much more genuine than your pretentious act."

Qin Yu picked up his teacup and took a sip. "I said, just say what you want to talk about. Don't pretend to be so profound! Trying to act all mature at such a young age, do you want to be a show-off?"

I can't stand these pretentious show-offs!

Even though I'm a time traveler, I haven't shown off, so what are you trying to prove?

"Forced...King?"

Empress Murong was puzzled. "What does this mean?"

Qin Yu rolled his eyes and explained, "Simply put, they're the best at putting on airs!"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's explanation, a sharp glint flashed in Empress Murong's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Then I'll make it short!"

Empress Murong, too lazy to waste any more words with Qin Yu, declared, "I have a way to cure congenital meridian disorders!"

Qin Yu's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless. "So, this is what you wanted to talk to me about?"

He originally intended to ask the Yan delegation about this matter.

Unexpectedly, they brought it up on their own initiative.

If I'm not mistaken, they're probably trying to use this to negotiate with me, right?

No, to be precise, it's about negotiating with the old man!

They must also know that the old man has taken control of the military in the seven northern states!

The more power the old guys wield, the more conditions they can negotiate!

"right!"

Empress Murong nodded slightly.

"You're out of your mind! You're wasting my time!"

Qin Yu muttered something to himself, then got up and walked out, with Qi Dachui following immediately.

Empress Murong was somewhat bewildered as Qin Yu left without even saying goodbye.

What's going on?

I don't think I offended him with what I said, did I?

Could it be that he thinks he's being laughed at, and is therefore angry and embarrassed?

Or perhaps he felt he was being lied to?

This……

This is completely different from what she imagined!

Under normal circumstances, shouldn't Qin Yu be eager to negotiate terms with her?

Doesn't he want to cure his congenital intestinal paralysis?

Empress Murong's mind was in complete chaos, and she was unable to come to her senses for a long time.

No sooner had Qin Yu and his group left than Lu Ji entered. "Young Master, you didn't reach an agreement with Qin Yu?"

Empress Murong snapped out of her daze, a bitter smile appearing on her face. "He... didn't even talk to me!"

"Um?"

Lu Ji frowned. "Qin Yu has no interest in curing congenital meridian disorders?"

"Perhaps... it's a case of playing hard to get!"

Empress Murong said somewhat uncertainly.

But Qin Yu didn't seem interested at all!

Lu Ji was surprised, then said, "We shouldn't tolerate this kind of person. Once Zhao Luan agrees to return the Nine Dragon Pendant to us, he won't even have a chance to negotiate with us!"

"Disaster!"

Empress Murong shook her head slightly, "To obtain the Nine Dragon Pendant, we'll probably have to start with Qin Fumeng!"

That's it!

It doesn't matter whether Qin Yu is playing hard to get or not, as long as Qin Fumeng is interested!

Seeing that no one from Bei Qi was chasing after him, Qin Yu simply left.

"Thirteenth Young Master, are we just leaving like this? Why don't you ask how to cure yourself?"

On the way back, Qi Dachui asked Qin Yu with a lot of doubt.

"That's called playing hard to get!"

Qin Yu patiently explained to Qi Dachui, "He brought this up himself because he definitely wants to use it to negotiate with us..."

Bei Qi must have had other purposes in mind for sending this envoy.

If nothing unexpected happens, Bei Qi intends to use this as a condition to get the old man to help Bei Qi achieve his goal.

If Bei Qi achieves his goal, he probably won't bring it up again.

If Bei Qi doesn't achieve his goal, he'll definitely come looking for him again!

He should act as if he has no interest at all, so as not to make unreasonable demands when Bei Qi contacts him again.

Qi Dachui suddenly realized, and said with admiration, "Thirteenth Young Master is really smart!"

Meeting Qi Dachui's admiring gaze, Qin Yu couldn't help but blush.

Of all the people he knew, only Qi Dachui thought he was smart.

In other people's eyes, he's a complete idiot!

Just like Luo Qingyi said, it's great to have someone like Qi Dachui by your side!

……

The Imperial Palace.

After the court assembly, Zhao Luan, accompanied by Song Zhuo, met with Xiao Baoju and others.

Xiao Baoju also stated the purpose of their mission directly.

Fragments of the Nine Dragons Pendant?

Zhao Luan frowned slightly. "What Nine Dragon Pendant? How come I don't know about it?"

She had been trying to guess Xiao Baoju's purpose in coming to Daming these past few days.

She had considered many possibilities, but this was the one she hadn't expected.

"Your Majesty, please stop pretending to be confused."

Xiao Baoju directly exposed Zhao Luan, "Half a year ago, His Majesty's elder brother, Zhao Yi, sent someone to our Eastern Capital. It was his people who told us about that fragment of the Nine Dragons Pendant!"

Zhao Yi!

A cold glint flashed in both Zhao Luan's and Song Zhuo's eyes.

It's obvious that Zhao Yi sent someone to contact Bei Qi, intending to gain Bei Qi's support and overthrow the Da Ning regime!

As a member of the imperial family, he actually colluded with the Northern Qi, inviting a wolf into the house!

That's absolutely damnable!

Zhao Luan suppressed her murderous intent and looked at Xiao Baoju with a playful expression. "You went to all this trouble for a mere fragment of a jade pendant? What kind of extraordinary treasure is this Nine Dragons Pendant?"

That half of the Nine Dragons Pendant was indeed in her hands.

Moreover, the late emperor told her before his death that the Nine Dragon Pendant was not just a simple jade pendant!

The Nine Dragons Pendant is connected to a huge secret.

Unfortunately, even the late emperor didn't know what that secret was.

"The Nine Dragons Pendant is to my Northern Qi what your country's Imperial Seal is to it!"

Xiao Baoju replied, "Years ago, when your Emperor Xiaowu conquered Beizhou, the Nine Dragons Pendant was damaged, and half of it was lost! For many years, we have been searching for that half. Your country has no use for the half of the Nine Dragons Pendant. We hope to retrieve the fragment and restore our national treasure!"

"Then Minister Xiao will probably be disappointed."

Zhao Luan shook his head and said, "I did see half of the Nine Dragons Pendant before, but a few years ago, during the internal strife in our dynasty, there was also some unrest in the capital! That fragment disappeared at that time."

Xiao Baoju naturally did not believe Zhao Luan's words.

"Our dynasty sincerely wishes to reclaim the remaining half of the Nine Dragons Jade Pendant! Our dynasty is also willing to pay a price; we humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"

As he spoke, Xiao Baoju bowed to Zhao Luan again.

Zhao Luan didn't speak, but gave Song Zhuo a wink.

Song Zhuo understood and immediately asked, "What are you willing to offer in exchange for half of the Nine Dragons Pendant?"

Xiao Baoju: "A thousand warhorses!"

"..."

Zhao Luan instantly lost interest in continuing the conversation.

Do you really think you know nothing?

A thousand warhorses?

This is like trying to fob off a beggar!