The playboy county magistrate

"Your country has repeatedly created chaos. Princess Ning'an raised assassins to frame me, attempting to stir up trouble in the court and disrupt the peace of both nations. Now that you have suffered defeat and your plans have failed, do you realize your mistakes?"

The question was direct and sharp.

Tuoba Kexu's forehead was sweating profusely, and he quickly lowered his head in response:

"Our king has already admitted his mistake, and everyone in the Northern Desert Royal Court has already admitted their guilt! All of this was caused by Princess Ning'an's selfish motives. She abused her power, disregarded the peace and tranquility of both countries, and secretly plotted to cause trouble. It was by no means the intention of the Northern Desert Royal Court."

"The princess is still confined and being held accountable by your Emperor in your capital city of Da Yong. All the sources of chaos have been eradicated. My king sincerely repents and is willing to have the entire nation submit, maintain good neighborly relations forever, and never again wage war to provoke conflict!"

In order to protect themselves and stabilize the foundation of the country, Mobei abandoned Princess Ning'an without hesitation, placing all the blame on her alone.

Li Xuanzhi's eyes turned slightly cold as he slowly spoke.

"Only by acknowledging and correcting mistakes can there be room for negotiation. However, harmonious relations between nations are never just empty words, and a simple repentance is not enough to determine the outcome."

Tuoba Kexu's heart tightened, and he quickly said:

"My king sincerely seeks peace and has prepared lavish gifts! A thousand head of cattle and sheep, a hundred fine horses, and a thousand rare hides are offered to express my sincere repentance! From now on, I will pay tribute annually and submit to you every year, never to disobey!"

This level of sincerity represents the limit that Mobei can offer at present.

But Li Xuanzhi simply shook his head slightly, a cool smile playing on his lips.

"A few mundane possessions are insufficient to atone for the sins of chaos and disorder, and insufficient to bring peace to the people on the border."

He looked at Tuoba Kexu, whose expression was tense, and said, "What my Great Yong wants is not just tribute, but also lasting peace."

"First, the Northern Desert officially issued a letter of credence, stating that it would never provoke a border war, and that it would be a vassal state of Dayong for generations, demarcating the borders and eliminating any further territorial disputes. All ambiguous border areas were incorporated into the territory of Dayong."

"Second, withdraw all border troops stationed in the northern desert. No troops, grain, or armor should be stockpiled in border areas."

"Third, abolish all of Princess Ning'an's powers in foreign affairs and the imperial clan. If one day Dayong is willing to let her return to your northern desert, she can only be confined for life and never allowed to interfere in politics or step out of the northern desert."

"Fourth, the two countries can open a border market thereafter, but the northern desert must pay tribute of rare medicinal herbs and livestock supplies every year."

"That's all for now. I'll add more when I think of any other suitable requests."

Tuoba Kexu's face turned deathly pale, his body swayed slightly, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart but dared not refute it.

Withdraw border defenses, abolish the princess, demand annual tributes, and always think of adding conditions?

This is hardly a peace talk!

But he was powerless to resist.

We are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping block. Now all our territory and disadvantages in the northern desert have been exposed. Anyone who dares to refuse will likely face annihilation on the spot. We have no other choice.

Tuoba Kexu gritted his teeth and bowed, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.

"As you command, I will immediately return to the royal court to petition my king. Please wait a few days, Lord Li!"

Li Xuanzhi's gaze was deep. "Within three days, all official letters, edicts, and documents must be delivered to Zhenxi Pass and sealed to take effect. Failure to do so will be considered as a sign of no sincerity from the Northern Frontier, and there will be no further peace talks."

Tuoba Kexu dared not say another word and turned to leave with his men.

After the envoys left in a state of panic, all the civil and military officials in the main hall bowed with their hands clasped in respect.

"Your Excellency is wise! With this peace agreement secured, a century of peace and stability on the border is assured!"

The three-day deadline passed in the blink of an eye.

The Northern Kingdom did not delay in the slightest.

At noon, the three copies of the gilded imperial edict, stamped with the seal of the Northern Desert King, were officially finalized.

At the same time, an imperial edict was issued along with the official letter—

Princess Ning'an is stripped of her royal title and all her authority. Upon her return to the northern desert, she is to be confined to the far north, the Twilight Snow Mountain, for life, never to leave this forbidden area. She is forbidden from interfering in any affairs of the royal family, military, political, or border markets.

Half a month later, the imperial palace in the capital received the news, and the emperor immediately sent Princess Ning'an and a group of envoys from the northern deserts back to the north.

Of course, unexpected situations such as assassination attempts are inevitable on the road, and he took the opportunity to kill a few clever and resourceful envoys from the northern desert.

Muxue Mountain, the northernmost and most bitterly cold place in the desert.

This place is covered in snow all year round, and the winds are fierce. No grass or trees grow here, no smoke rises from the fires, and no people live here. It is the desolate place where the royal family of the northern desert exiled their disgraced officials, and it is also the most desolate and lonely place in the entire snowfield.

Princess Ning'an, once high and mighty, now wore a plain, old robe. Stripped of all her brocade gowns and gold and jade ornaments, she stood alone in the swirling snow.

There were no longer any loyal followers, strategists, or obedient officers behind him.

Only two royal guards remained standing silently, like escorts and guards, cold and distant.

The wind and snow raged, causing her robes to flutter wildly.

His hair clung to his pale, cold cheeks, and the arrogance, fierceness, and ruthlessness he once possessed were gone from his eyes, replaced only by weariness and desolation.

Just a few months ago, she was the most powerful princess in the northern deserts. She held military power and had spies throughout the court and the country. She dared to challenge the high-ranking officials of the Great Yong Dynasty and dared to stir up trouble between the two nations single-handedly.

Now, in order to preserve her country, she has been abandoned without hesitation by her own father and the royal family she trusted. She has been pushed forward and forced to bear all the blame, becoming a victim of the power struggle between the two nations.

"Princess, the decree has been issued; this place will be your residence for the rest of your life."

The lead guard's voice was cold, showing no compassion or pity whatsoever.

"By royal decree, you shall not leave this world without an imperial edict. For the rest of your life, you shall live amidst wind and snow, reflecting quietly on your past transgressions."

Princess Ning'an slowly raised her eyes and looked into the distance.

That's the direction of Zhenxiguan, the place where her only lifelong rival now stands.

She chuckled softly, her voice hoarse.

"Reflecting on my own faults... what faults have I committed?"

"I only want to fight for a chance of survival in the northern desert and for a lifetime of power for myself."

"I proceeded cautiously, step by step, without the slightest cowardice or retreat. I lost not in terms of morality or my own conscience, but in terms of strategy, vision, and making a wrong move, encountering my natural enemy."

She never admitted to bringing disaster to the country; she only admitted that she lost to Li Xuanzhi.

They lost to that steady young minister.

Throughout her life, she favored speed, ruthlessness, and risky, decisive moves. She was always striving to be first, her moves were always fierce, and she believed that brute force was the way to victory.

But Li Xuanzhi taught her that true victory is not about seizing the initiative or using ruthless tactics. It's about using stillness to control movement, and composure to overcome impulsiveness. It's about catching all your attacks, exhausting all your trump cards, and then calmly and steadily reaping the rewards.

Ultimately, it was because she was too obsessed and too eager to succeed that she fell into the trap set by the other party step by step, and she has no one to blame but herself.

In the end, it was all for someone else's benefit.

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous."

The guards remained silent upon hearing the sound, but quietly took half a step back, blocking the way down the mountain.

The wind and snow grew increasingly fierce, burying the mountain road layer upon layer and completely isolating this isolated mountain from the outside world.

From then on, the world no longer had Princess Ning'an of the Northern Desert, nor that fierce woman who dared to stir up trouble between the two nations.

Only in the snow-covered mountains remains a sinner, utterly banished and isolated from the world. Year after year, he faces the wind and snow alone.