I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

Zhou Qing watched from the side, laughing inwardly. This South Vietnamese envoy's acting was so poor that it was obvious he was lying.

"Okay, no need to explain." Xu Feihong waved her hand. "I already know your South Vietnamese intentions very well."

"Your Majesty, we really have no ill intentions." The South Vietnamese envoy hurriedly explained.

"No ill intentions?" Xu Feihong stood up, her voice filled with anger. "First, you tore up the trade agreement for no reason, and then you assembled troops on the border. Is this what you call no ill intentions?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. We do have our reasons."

"Hardships?" Xu Feihong sneered, "Then I'd like to hear what your difficulties are."

The South Vietnamese envoy's forehead was sweating, and he was obviously making up an excuse.

"Your Majesty, to be honest, South Vietnam has indeed encountered some difficulties recently. Northern Yan... Northern Yan has stationed troops on our border, threatening the security of South Vietnam. We are assembling our troops to guard against Northern Yan."

Hearing the word "Beiyan", Xu Feihong and Zhou Qing looked at each other.

"Beiyan?" Xu Feihong's voice turned serious. "What conflict do you have with Beiyan?"

"This...this is not convenient to explain in detail." The South Vietnamese envoy said hesitantly.

Zhou Qing thought to himself that this Nanyue envoy was lying. When he mentioned Beiyan just now, his eyes were a little flustered, and he was obviously guilty.

"Since you are not in a position to explain in detail, then what are you doing in Daqian?" Xu Feihong asked.

"We...we hope to get the support of Daqian." The envoy of Nanyue said courageously.

"Support?" Xu Feihong sneered, "First you tore up the contract, then gathered troops on the border, and now you're asking for our support?"

"Your Majesty, we are willing to resume cotton trade and even increase the purchase volume," the South Vietnamese envoy said hurriedly.

"Oh?" Xu Feihong raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you stop importing before?"

"That's...that's because our inventory is indeed insufficient." The South Vietnamese envoy said with a stiff face.

Zhou Qing listened from the side and had already formed his mind: this South Vietnamese envoy was clearly lying, and lying poorly.

"Okay, I understand your intentions." Xu Feihong waved her hand. "Go down and rest first. I'll think about it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The South Vietnamese envoy felt relieved and quickly took his leave.

After the South Vietnamese envoys left, Xu Feihong turned to Zhou Qing.

"Lord Zhou, do you think what this envoy said is credible?"

"I think he is lying." Zhou Qing said without hesitation.

"Oh? How did you know that?"

"First, he looked calm when he mentioned the cold disaster. But when he mentioned Northern Yan, he looked a little flustered," Zhou Qing analyzed. "Second, he said Northern Yan had stationed troops on the border with South Vietnam, but according to our intelligence, Northern Yan hasn't made any large-scale military deployments recently."

"Very good." Xu Feihong nodded approvingly. "Your observation is very careful."

"So how do we respond?"

"Since they want to put on a show, then we'll play along." Xu Feihong's eyes flashed with cunning. "I'll summon them tomorrow and promise to resume trade, but there are conditions."

"What conditions?"

"Let them withdraw their troops from the border and allow our caravan to pass freely," Xu Feihong said. "If they truly have no ill intentions, they should agree."

Zhou Qing secretly admired the empress in his heart. She was indeed smart. In this way, he could test the true intentions of Nanyue.

"The Holy One is wise."

"By the way, have someone closely monitor these South Vietnamese envoys and see what they say in private," Xu Feihong instructed.

"I understand."

The next day, Xu Feihong summoned the envoy from South Vietnam.

"After a night of consideration, I decided to resume cotton trade with South Vietnam," Xu Feihong said straight to the point.

The South Vietnamese envoy was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

"But I have a few conditions." Xu Feihong changed the subject.

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"First, you must withdraw your troops from the border. Since this is an exercise, the troops must return to camp after the exercise is over."

The South Vietnamese envoy's expression changed slightly, but he nodded: "Of course."

"Second, allow our Daqian caravans to freely pass through the territory of Nanyue without any hindrance."

"This...this..." The South Vietnamese envoy was a little hesitant.

"What's wrong? Are you having any difficulties?" Xu Feihong asked.

"It's not difficult, it's just... it's just that we need time to prepare."

"what to prepare?"

"Prepare to receive the caravan." The South Vietnamese envoy explained reluctantly.

Zhou Qing watched from the side, laughing inwardly. This South Vietnamese envoy's acting was truly poor; every time he lied, he would reveal his true colors.

"Okay, I'll give you a month," Xu Feihong said. "After a month, I'll send a caravan to South Vietnam."

"One month?" The South Vietnamese envoy was somewhat surprised. "Your Majesty, isn't this too short?"

"What? One month is not enough for you to prepare?" Xu Feihong asked back.

"No, no." The South Vietnamese envoy waved his hands hastily. "One month is enough."

"Then it's settled." Xu Feihong waved her hand. "When you return, immediately convey my intentions."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the South Vietnamese envoys left, Xu Feihong turned to Zhou Qing.

"How's it going? Did you see anything?"

"They're clearly unwilling to withdraw their troops, and they're also concerned about the free passage of caravans," Zhou Qing analyzed. "This suggests they do have some plans on the border."

"That's right." Xu Feihong nodded. "It seems our guess is correct. There is indeed someone behind the scenes in South Vietnam."

"Then what should we do next?"

"Keep a close eye on their movements," Xu Feihong said. "I have a feeling they'll be exposed soon."

Sure enough, that night, the guards responsible for monitoring the South Vietnamese envoys came to report.

"Your Majesty, the envoy from South Vietnam secretly met with someone in the inn." The guard reported.

"Who is it?" Xu Feihong asked.

"Judging from their attire, they look like people from Northern Yan."

Xu Feihong and Zhou Qing looked at each other and both had the answer in their hearts.

"Did you hear what they said?"

"I heard something," the guard said. "That Northern Yan man said that the Nanyue envoy should complete his mission as quickly as possible and avoid unnecessary complications."

"anything else?"

"The South Vietnamese envoy said that the Daqian Emperor was more difficult to deal with than expected and proposed conditions for withdrawing troops."

"and then?"

"The people of Northern Yan said they could temporarily withdraw their troops, but they had to act when the caravan passed by."

Hearing this, Xu Feihong and Zhou Qing both gasped.

"They want to hijack our caravan?" Zhou Qing asked.

"It seems so." Xu Feihong said coldly, "What a South Vietnam, what a North Yan!"

"Your Majesty, how should we respond?"

"Since they want to put on a show, we'll play along with them to the end." A cold glint flashed in Xu Feihong's eyes. "We'll also send a caravan, but it will be filled with our elite soldiers."