Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Ban Dingyuan, what exactly do you want to achieve by playing tricks on me time and time again?"

Ban Dingyuan's sarcastic remarks completely enraged Ye Fan.

"Ever since this mission to the Song Dynasty, you have never given me a kind look, and you have even disregarded the bonds of camaraderie by humiliating me."

I don't know where I offended you. Is it because I'm new to officialdom and don't understand the ways of the game that I'm being ridiculed?

"Let me tell you, that's not how it is. I, Ye Fan, am utterly loyal to the Chu Kingdom and His Majesty, with absolutely no disloyalty!"

Seeing his impassioned and indignant expression, Ban Dingyuan smiled disdainfully.

"Alright, you don't need to yell and scream like you've suffered some great injustice."

Which courtier, when visiting another country, would address the ruler of that country as a brother? Only you, the third young master of the Ye family,

Everything he does is unexpected. Today, meeting with Emperor Zhao...

Originally, this was an exchange between the Emperor Zhao and the Duke of Zhenguo, and they could be said to have had a very good talk.

But what did you do? You couldn't wait to jump out and start giving your opinions.

What are you trying to do? Is it to show off your extensive knowledge of history and the present, or to steal the spotlight from the Duke of Zhenguo?

"You've forgotten who the pacification envoy was on this mission to the Song Dynasty!"

Ye Fan was taken aback, then realized what was happening, and stared wide-eyed at Ban Dingyuan, saying, "I understand, you're jealous of me, aren't you?"

This time, Ban Dingyuan was stunned: "Jealous of you?"

He had no idea what kind of weird logic Ye Fan was using.

What am I jealous of him for? Am I jealous of his good background, or am I jealous that he's more shameless than me?

"Yes, you're just jealous of me!" Ye Fan said, his eyes red. "You must be jealous that the Emperor Zhao values ​​me so highly."

They are jealous that I address the Emperor Zhao as a brother, and they are jealous that I can devise strategies for the Song Dynasty to repel the Jin army.

But have you ever considered that I'm also bringing honor to my Great Chu?

Why must colleagues be so irreconcilable?

As Ye Fan spoke, his eyes kept glancing at Shen Lang out of the corner of his eye.

These words were spoken to both Ban Dingyuan and Shen Lang.

The point is to tell everyone that I, Ye Fan, am exceptionally talented. If it weren't for Shen Lang deliberately suppressing me because of my status, I would already be a pillar of the Great Chu.

Ban Dingyuan was so angry he laughed. He really didn't know where Ye Fan got the courage to say such shameless things.

At this moment, Shen Lang, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Alright, since you think you can make the Jin army withdraw, why don't you stay in the Song Dynasty?"

"I'll help your sworn brother resolve this matter, and I'll explain the details to His Majesty when I get back. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan instinctively wanted to say "okay".

But remembering that he hadn't completed the task assigned to him by the system, he immediately replied, "Duke Zhenguo, this humble servant is well aware of his position."

They were officials of the Great Chu, and no matter when or where, they always remembered the dignity of the Chu court and its people.

"My relationship with His Majesty today is something I never anticipated. Even if I have made a mistake, I beg the Duke of Zhenguo to show leniency and allow me to return to court for further action."

Shen Lang looked at his obsequious appearance and sneered inwardly.

Impressive! They can be flexible and adaptable. Although their methods and abilities aren't particularly impressive, this kind of mentality is something not everyone can maintain.

"So what do you plan to do now?" Shen Lang asked in return. "How do you plan to help the Zhao Emperor get the Jin army to withdraw?"

Have you considered how to carry out what you said in the side hall?

Ye Fan replied, "Please rest assured, Duke Zhenguo, I already have a plan in mind and will certainly handle it properly."

He would never reveal the implementation plan. Even if he did have a detailed plan in mind, he wouldn't tell you.

"Then you should think about it yourself. Anyway, you've already done something wrong, and punishing you now won't change anything."

But I must warn you, if you cause the State of Chu to suffer humiliation abroad, I won't be so accommodating now.

Ye Fan cupped his hands in a respectful bow: "Yes, this humble servant will remember it."

"Dingyuan, come with me."

"Yes!"

Leaving Ye Fan behind, Shen Lang called out to Ban Dingyuan and left the inn without even glancing at him.

Watching Shen Lang and Ban Dingyuan's departing figures, Ye Fan's body trembled uncontrollably.

This feeling of being ignored is what he finds hardest to accept.

"One day, I will make you all regret what you have done today!"

Just as Ye Fan was thinking about what methods he would use to make Shen Lang submit after becoming the supreme ruler, a eunuch's voice rang in his ears.

"Royal brother, His Majesty Zhao invites you to dine with him. Please come with me to the palace."

Seeing the eunuch's obsequious face, Ye Fan's frustration vanished instantly.

"Father-in-law, you've worked hard."

As he spoke, he took out a gold bean from his pocket and stuffed it into the eunuch's hand.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. I will serve as your horse stool."

The eunuch, overjoyed to receive the reward, knelt down under the carriage and became a stepping stone for Ye Fan to step on.

"Ah."

Ye Fan did not refuse and stepped onto the eunuch's back with a clear conscience, entering the carriage in one go.

The carriage slowly started moving, heading towards Bianliang Palace.

……

On the other side, inside the Jin Kingdom's post station.

"Wanyan Wo greets the Duke of Zhenguo!"

Shen Lang brought Ban Dingyuan to the Jinren Inn. Wanyan Wo did not dare to be negligent in the slightest after learning of Shen Lang's arrival.

While having his room tidied up, he also sent a table of dishes to a restaurant in the city. He changed into brand-new clothes and made special effort to touch up his makeup before smiling and coming out to greet them.

"Prince Wanyan, it's been several months, but you still look as dashing as ever."

"You flatter me, Duke Zhenguo. Compared to you, I am but a mere extra."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two entered the inner room and took their seats.

Two foreign maids poured a cup of hot tea for Shen Lang and Ban Dingyuan respectively.

Shen Lang joked, "You Jurchens are really trustworthy. You said autumn would come, and autumn came just like that. Now that it's almost October, are you planning to launch another major attack on Bianzhou Prefecture before winter arrives?"

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Wo said to the maids in the inn, "You may all leave now."

After the maid left, Wanyan Wucai said with a troubled expression, "To be honest, Duke Zhenguo, my army will be returning north by early October at the latest."

Shen Lang was taken aback: "150,000 troops set up camp on the banks of the Bian River and remained in a standoff for more than a month, and then just went back like that?"

Wanyan Wu looked helpless: "Originally, our Jin army planned to flatten Bianzhou Prefecture and then discuss with the Chu Kingdom how to divide the Song Kingdom. Now it seems that it won't happen this year."

Shen Lang could clearly detect something was off in his tone.

"What happened?"

Wanyan Wo: "Does the Duke of Zhenguo know about the current war between Yan and the Wolf Barbarians?"

Shen Lang: "Of course, could it be that the war situation has changed?"

Wanyan Wodao said: "In late August, Yizhou, the capital of Yan State, was captured by the Langman. All 80,000 soldiers and civilians in the city were slaughtered by the Langman. It was extremely cruel."

Shen Lang remained silent; such things were nothing new to him, so he simply listened to what Yan Wo had to say.

The next moment, Wanyan Wo's eyes were filled with intense fear.

"I never imagined that the fall of Yizhou was orchestrated by Murong Ke behind the scenes. He is an absolute devil."

In order to win, they were willing to use human lives as bargaining chips, even those of citizens of the Northern Yan Kingdom.