Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 471

"Why not agree? I heard that the Western Qi delegation brought a lot of tribute to Northern Yi, and also brought two princesses, wanting to send them to the palace for a marriage alliance. Most importantly, even the Crown Prince of Western Qi came, and I heard that he also wants to marry a noblewoman from the Northern Yi royal family to Western Qi! A marriage alliance between the two countries would be a lasting friendship! With such sincerity, why not agree?"

These common people seem to have better access to information than the imperial court. Needless to say, it must have been spread by the Western Qi's spies planted among the people.

Shen Lingjun finally understood the emperor's concerns.

With public opinion so high, if the imperial court refuses to negotiate peace, directly eliminates the Western Qi delegation, launches a massive conscription and grain levy, and marches to attack Western Qi this winter, it will surely cause widespread public resentment.

They felt that the imperial court was only concerned with waging war and did not care about the lives of the people.

If the emperor were truly a ruthless tyrant who forcefully suppressed public anger and insisted on waging war, although he would have to bear the infamy for several years and risk the people rising up in rebellion, he might have completely eliminated the great threat of Western Qi, leaving his name in history and being remembered for generations.

Unfortunately, this emperor was not that type.

He did have a deep love for the people, but he lacked strategic vision, decisiveness, and ruthlessness. Therefore, he was ultimately manipulated by the Western Qi's propaganda tactics.

Five days later, the Western Qi delegation arrived in the capital amidst the eager anticipation of the people.

The mission was very large, consisting of over a hundred carriages and a long, impressive procession.

The Northern Yi court was extremely unwelcoming to the delegation and thus treated it with utmost indifference.

When the Western Qi delegation arrived at the city gates of the capital, they were given a rude awakening and were not allowed to enter.

The Western Qi delegation was extremely humble. They didn't make a fuss when they weren't allowed to enter; they simply camped outside the city gate, as if they were willing to wait as long as the Northern Yi wouldn't let them in, and that they would wait there until the end of time.

The stalemate lasted for several days, but the people of the capital couldn't stand it anymore. They wondered if the court's treatment of the Western Qi delegation meant that it was unwilling to negotiate peace.

The people began to riot, and the Northern Yi court was also at a stalemate.

The emperor felt that either he should be firm and execute the delegation, sending their heads back to Western Qi, or he should openly let them in and discuss things as they saw fit.

Locking people out and making things difficult for them seems petty and lacks the grandeur expected of the Northern Yi Kingdom.

So I just let it in, waving my hand.

Even after entering the city, the Western Qi delegation remained humble, but at the same time, they seemed less discreet, as they revealed the contents of their hundreds of carriages.

As expected, the convoy was laden with tribute, rare and valuable items from the Western Qi, both in quantity and quality. Even the uninformed commoners could tell that this caravan was priceless.

Two princesses from Western Qi sat in the carriage, as beautiful as celestial beings, dressed in gorgeous silks and brocades, adorned with dazzling jewels, like the two most precious and beautiful tributes among them.

The princesses of Western Qi were not at all pretentious. Sitting in their carriages, they greeted the ordinary people watching outside with gentle, polite, and even cautious smiles.

In short, the attitude was humble, yet it clearly demonstrated Xiqi's sincerity in seeking peace.