Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

Lingyan noticed him sitting down beside her, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Without the slightest hesitation, she moved her body to the side, every movement revealing her extreme reluctance.

Her skirt slid gently across the tiles, making a soft rubbing sound.

The Northern King's gaze followed her movements closely, and upon seeing this, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

A hint of loss flashed deep in his eyes, like a lone beast lost in the darkness.

He didn't understand why she was so resistant and distant towards him, and why he felt so bad.

Then his hand unconsciously rose slightly, as if he wanted to pull Lingyan back, but in the end it fell limply to the ground.

His pride prevented him from showing too much concern.

However, he also longed to get closer to her and understand her feelings at that moment.

Immediately, the Northern King's gaze fell on the wine cup in Ling Yan's hand.

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "Why are you drinking alone here tonight, New Year's Eve?"

His words drifted through the night air, carrying a hint of cautious probing.

Lingyan did not notice that he was different tonight.

Moreover, she was in a bad mood tonight and didn't want to deal with this person she disliked and who had caused her current difficult situation.

So she didn't respond to him, but simply turned her head slightly and looked into the distance.

The night breeze ruffled her hair, a few strands fluttering gently beside her cheeks, further emphasizing her aloofness.

The Northern King looked at her profile; her delicate features seemed veiled in moonlight, dreamlike and ethereal.

She was like a fairy from the moon palace, as if she would ride the wind and fly away at any moment.

His feelings became increasingly complicated, a mixture of frustration at being ignored and heartache for her.

distressed?

He actually felt sorry for her?

How can this be?

At this moment, realizing that his feelings for her were different, he became somewhat flustered.

The atmosphere on the rooftop was quiet and somewhat oppressive, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional soft murmur of Lingyan drinking.

The Northern King was pondering deeply, unsure of the origin of his unusual feelings for Lingyan.

Why does seeing her lonely look so heartbreaking? Why does every move she makes tug at my heartstrings?

But he knew he couldn't continue like this, letting these feelings continue to spread.

So he slowly stood up, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

He took one last deep look at Ling Yan, then used his lightness skill to leap and land steadily on the ground.

The moment his feet touched the ground, a strong sense of loss welled up inside him.

He couldn't help but look back at the rooftop, only to see Ling Yan still sitting there quietly, as if his departure had no effect on her whatsoever.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips, then he turned and strode away.

Lingyan, who was on the roof, was puzzled and greatly confused when she saw the Northern King coming and going in such a hurry.

But she didn't investigate the reason for his behavior, or how he had anything to do with her.

There's no need to care at all, because they're just insignificant people.

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Meanwhile, the envoy from Beili, whom Lingyan was concerned about, finally arrived in Dazhao on the second day after New Year's Eve.

They should have arrived much earlier according to the original plan.

But it was cold and bitterly cold, and snow was falling everywhere.

Therefore, traveling became even more difficult due to the bad weather.

In addition, several officials fell ill en route.

Waiting until fully recovered before continuing the journey would have delayed things further.

That's why they only arrived in Dazhao now.

After a quick rest, he rushed to the palace gate, handed over a plaque, and requested an audience with Emperor Jingzhao.

It was only the end of the court session, and all the civil and military officials had not yet left the palace.

Upon receiving news that the envoy from the Northern Li had come to request an audience, Emperor Jingzhao ordered all officials to be summoned back.

Xiao Muyao breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.

finally come!

Yan'er can finally come back.

At this moment, inside the magnificent hall, sunlight streamed through the carved windows and onto the smooth stone floor, creating patches of light and shadow.

The envoys from the Northern Li strode into the main hall, then stood in the center and respectfully bowed to Emperor Jingzhao.

They bowed slightly, clasped their hands in front of them, and performed a grand salute from the Northern Li.

Then, straightening up, the leading envoy cleared his throat and said loudly, "Your Crown Princess is currently a guest in our court, so His Majesty has specially dispatched us to Da Zhao to discuss the matter of the Crown Princess with His Majesty."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

Emperor Jingzhao's originally calm face showed shock.

His eyes widened slightly, and his body unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

And only now did they finally realize that what Lao Liu had said a while ago鈥攖hat they would soon know about Lao Liu's wife鈥攚as true.

So that's how it is!

The civil and military officials below were also astonished, whispering among themselves and discussing the matter.

Some ministers stared wide-eyed, their mouths slightly agape, as if they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

Some frowned, whispering to their colleagues, speculating about the reasons behind it.

Apart from Xiao Muyao, He Jingchuan, and Lu Yanqing, everyone else had just learned about this.

Emperor Jingzhao quickly recovered from his shock. His eyes sharpened as he stared intently at the envoy and asked, "Guests? What is the meaning of this from Bei Li? How did my daughter-in-law end up in your Bei Li?"

His voice was deep yet full of authority, echoing throughout the hall.

The envoy remained calm and raised his head slightly, saying, "Your Majesty, you and the other officials must have heard about the assassination attempt on the Crown Princess some time ago. To be honest, it was the people of Bei Li who rescued the Crown Princess and then brought her to Bei Li. When His Majesty learned of this, he originally intended to send her back immediately, but considering the relationship between the two countries, he felt that it was necessary to formally discuss it with His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the officials immediately understood.

It turns out that the assassination attempt on the Crown Princess some time ago was actually orchestrated by Bei Li.

They claimed they saved the Crown Princess, but in reality, they were the murderers.

They still speak so righteously now, it's utterly shameless!

Moreover, they kidnapped the Crown Princess in the hopes of using her as leverage to gain benefits from the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Thinking of this, some of the upright ministers already showed anger on their faces and glared at the envoy.

Meanwhile, some shrewd ministers lowered their heads slightly, pondering how to respond.

Emperor Jingzhao's expression had returned to calm.

He sat up slightly, his gaze calm yet authoritative as he looked at the envoy from Bei Li and said, "My daughter-in-law is a guest in your country. I wonder what thoughts Your Majesty has to discuss with me? I am curious how your country treats its guests, that my daughter-in-law is in a foreign land and you have to send your entourage here to discuss this."

His words were veiled in barbs, both implying that Bei Li's behavior was against the rules and probing the other party's true intentions.

Emperor Jingzhao knew he couldn't afford to lose his composure at this crucial moment; he had to first ascertain the enemy's true strength.

Then, Emperor Jingzhao changed the subject and said, "Although my Great Zhao has always valued peace, if anyone tries to threaten Great Zhao by improper means, I will not tolerate it. The soldiers of my Great Zhao are all brave and fearless, and their hearts are firm in protecting their country. I hope that your country can handle this matter properly and not let some unfounded things affect the peace and friendship between our two countries that have lasted for many years."

He was implying to Bei Li that if they wanted to use the Crown Princess as a bargaining chip to gain improper benefits, Da Zhao would not stand idly by and would be capable of dealing with any threat.

Emperor Jingzhao used this combination of soft and hard tactics to demonstrate his stance to the Northern Li envoy, laying the foundation for subsequent negotiations.

After all, the sixth son's wife must be brought back.

He also knew that Bei Li would definitely make exorbitant demands and would have many requirements.

However, he wouldn't let Bei Li do whatever he wanted, or he'd be facing the army of Da Zhao.