Chapter 100: What Did You Say?

After staying in the State of Yan for a few days, the carriage caravan began its unhurried journey toward Daliang, the capital of the State of Wei. The party, which previously consisted of only one carriage, had now grown to two, accompanied by dozens of Jing Ke’s personal guards.

Passing through the State of Wei, located in the Central Plains, Jing Ke took the opportunity to visit his home and see his junior sister. Consequently, Lin Shu stayed in Puyang for three days. Once they entered the territory of Wei, the number of refugees and beggars increased significantly. These were victims of war, forced to leave their homes because they refused to submit to the tyrannical State of Qin. As territory was lost, more and more refugees crowded into the remaining two commanderies of Wei, making it impossible to sustain them, even on the fertile plains.

Watching the refugees scattered across the mountains and plains, or wading into the small rivers, little Yan’er found it all quite interesting. "Daddy, they know how to play better than I do! So many people going up the mountains and into the water—it’s so lively!"

Lin Shu gave a bitter smile and nodded. Seeing the children also catching fish by the river, he felt as if he had returned to the arduous days of his own childhood in his previous life. Qin was sweeping across the six states, and the King of Qin was self-satisfied, styling himself as the "Emperor of All Ages." Yet, he did not realize that the price of this unification was the blood of the common people. Even if the Great Wall was truly magnificent, it was built upon millions of withered bones and fueled by the bitter resentment of millions of impoverished souls. From the ruler's perspective, the King of Qin had achieved great success, but from the perspective of the common folk, it meant displacement, broken families, and life and death separated by a vast, cold expanse.

The sages once said that heaven and earth are unkind, treating all things like straw dogs. In the eyes of rulers, the common people are like ants or grass—cut down, yet sprouting again with the spring breeze. History only praises the victors; it never records the desperate laments of the millions who suffered.

"Alas! The world should find peace sooner," the usually detached Moon Goddess remarked, looking at the farmers struggling to forage for food.

Jingni nodded in agreement. "As you said, my lord: when a country rises, the people suffer; when a country falls, the people suffer just the same."

Xuan Jian, who was driving, felt nothing. This was trivial to him; he had seen too much misery to count.

The situation in the Central Plains was becoming increasingly tense. Jing Ke remained silent, lost in thought. To help Qin sweep the six states, to compete for the Nine Provinces, and to ask the vast earth who shall rise or fall—the ambition of his King still shocked him to this day. Yet, he now hoped the Northern Army would march south as soon as possible to bring peace to the people.

However, "The refugees would rather flee than stay on their ancestral lands. The King is right: the division of the seven states is deeply rooted in people's hearts. You cannot build without first destroying! We can only wait for Qin to unite the world and break the status quo." The King’s talent seemed ordinary, yet it was so perfectly attuned to the world that it felt entirely natural.

The road was filled with sighs and laments, and the carriage began to pick up speed. After crossing the Yellow River, the tall, imposing city of Daliang appeared before them. The city walls, dozens of meters high, reached toward the clouds, and the ancient, long stone city seemed to have no end.

"The strongest city in the Central Plains, Daliang, truly lives up to its reputation! What a pity." Thinking of the fate of the hundreds of thousands of people within those walls, Lin Shu could not simply turn a blind eye. Daliang had high walls, strong stone, plenty of grain, and a defiant populace; in the end, Wang Jian would have no choice but to divert the river and flood it. The great waters would rush down, the walls would collapse, and the people would perish. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians would be swept away into the sea.

As the envoy from the North approached, the State of Wei was already prepared. Wei Yong and Crown Prince Jia personally came out of the city to welcome them.

"To have the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Wei come out to greet me personally, I, Jing Ke, am truly unworthy. Please, I insist that you two proceed first." Jing Ke quickly dismounted and bowed. He knew that in the eyes of his King, these two were not yet significant enough to warrant such formality. Jing Ke’s behavior made it clear to Wei Yong.

"Very well, then!" the young Crown Prince Jia suppressed his secret anger. He had shown such respect, yet this "young master from the North" still sat comfortably in his carriage.

The State of Wei did not have a dedicated embassy for the Empire, and the ordinary guesthouse for foreign officials was not worthy of the dignity of the Northern Prince. Therefore, the Crown Prince’s mansion, located next to the royal palace, became the temporary residence for the Northern delegation. The Northern Alliance was powerful, and Crown Prince Jia, who was preparing to be a hostage in Qin, dared not express his fury.

The carriage arrived at the foot of the small pavilion, and Lin Shu stepped out first.

"This! Qianqian!" Wei Yong was stunned. Hadn't his daughter been taken away by Xuan Jian? Fearing that the old scoundrel would misunderstand, Xuan Jian straightened his headpiece and stood close to Wei Qianqian. Despite being her father, Wei Qianqian still felt a bit flustered, but this was not the time for her to speak.

"What a fellow! Even more dashing than I am!" Crown Prince Jia felt envious. The two beauties by Young Master Lin’s side were truly top-tier. Even though their faces were veiled, Wei Jia, who had seen countless women, knew this at a glance. "A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Lin." Wei Jia was genuinely impressed by the calm and composed young man. Although his reputation was not great, his presence and aura were even more imposing than his own father’s!

"Hmph! That damned Xuan Jian!" Wei Yong seething with secret rage. If Xuan Jian hadn't fled, he wouldn't have had to fully defect to the Net and be controlled by others! Hating the man and everyone associated with him, he decided to make things difficult for them. Besides, his mission was to sabotage their alliance.

Just as Lin Shu returned Wei Jia’s greeting, a cold snort echoed through the air. "Hmph! Xuan Jian, you deserved to die a thousand deaths, yet you dare to throw yourself into the net!" Wei Yong dared not lash out at Young Master Lin, but he had a very good reason to target the assassin.

"Father! He is my husband! Your grandson is resting in the carriage!" Wei Qianqian panicked and grabbed Xuan Jian’s hand.

Xuan Jian gave a cold laugh. There were still people in the seven states who dared to speak to him like that! If not for the sake of his wife, Wei Yong would already be dead. Xuan Jian had defeated 100,000 Yan troops; he was not just a brute, but a world-class general.

"What! So that’s it!" Crown Prince Jia finally understood—it was a family affair. He couldn't say much. He just wanted to see if Young Master Lin would be humiliated.

Hehe, Jingni and the Moon Goddess shook their heads and smiled. This Wei Yong was truly courting death.

"Wei Yong, what did you say?" Lin Shu turned and looked at Wei Yong indifferently.

Wei Yong was about to explain his reasoning, but in an instant, he was even more bewildered. He had knelt! The dignified Prime Minister of a state had been forced directly to his knees!

"Prime Minister Wei, what are you doing!" Crown Prince Jia was stunned. Could Wei Yong be a mole for the North?

The old minister, Wei Yong, struggled, but he couldn't even open his mouth; his oxygen supply seemed to have been cut off. *What is happening? What is happening?* The suffocation and the numbness spreading through his body made Wei Yong realize that he was on the brink of death.

"Heh," Lin Shu nodded in satisfaction. "Prime Minister Wei, there is no need for such formalities. Please, stand up."

"By the way, what was it you wanted to say earlier?"

Wei Yong stood up, greedily gasping for fresh air in his trembling state. So, being alive was such a simple joy! He had realized it, and he was afraid. After catching his breath and steadying his face, Wei Yong quickly raised his hands. "Young Master Lin, this is a misunderstanding! It is a blessing for the Wei family that my daughter can marry a Northern general."

"Good, very good!" Lin Shu nodded. "Since that is the case, you may continue your reunion."

"In that case, Young Master, please rest. Jia will take his leave now!" *What is going on?* Wei Jia seemed to understand something; even a powerful figure like Wei Yong dared not say another word.

Lin Shu nodded in return and walked into the small pavilion. Although the journey hadn't been tiring, he was in no mood to chat with them.

Wei Yong pretended to chat with his daughter for a few moments before quickly taking his leave. "Alas! I hope Father doesn't bring ruin upon himself!" Wei Qianqian sighed and shook her head. She could see that the Prime Minister intended to stir up trouble. Xuan Jian secretly enjoyed it, though he didn't show it. Wei Yong still thought that because they were in Daliang, the King would give him face.

As soon as Wei Yong left the mansion, Crown Prince Jia, who was waiting outside, ordered his driver to set off. The two had agreed to report to the King of Wei together, but they had failed to gather any useful information.

King Jing of Wei was surprised that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister had returned so quickly. "Sit," the King said calmly.

After sitting down, Wei Yong immediately sighed. "My King! This Young Master Lin is incredibly arrogant! When the Crown Prince went to welcome him, he only let Jing Ke show his face!"

"It wasn't until they reached the pavilion that this Northern Prince finally stepped out of the carriage! His attitude was so casual, as if he didn't hold our State of Wei in any regard at all!"

Hmph! The King of Wei was furious, and he looked toward Crown Prince Jia.

Crown Prince Jia quickly spoke up. "Father, this Young Master Lin is indeed very cold and arrogant! He is also mysterious and unfathomable!" Glancing at Wei Yong, Crown Prince Jia felt a bit of satisfaction.

"My King! This Young Master Lin’s bodyguard, Xuan Jian, was once a notorious assassin in Wei! A few years ago, he even abducted my daughter!" Wei Yong added. "I was just about to question Xuan Jian when I was suddenly controlled by an invisible force, forced to my knees, and nearly choked to death! My King, we must be wary of the sinister secret arts of the North!" Thinking of what had just happened, Wei Yong still felt a lingering fear.

"What! How dare he!" The King of Wei was truly enraged. This Northern land was even more rude and barbaric than the tyrannical State of Qin!