Li Xiong’s gaze fell on the left corner of the table, where Zhang Gui’s letter was kept.

In the letter, he mentioned that he previously believed the Jin State ruler incapable of handling great responsibilities, which led to the uprising. However, now Jin State has Zhao Hanzhang at the helm, with strong ministers assisting, the world can be peaceful, so what’s left for him to hesitate?

Never forget the original intention, wasn’t their initial goal to ensure the people live and work in peace and contentment?

Li Xiong clenched his fists, closed his eyes momentarily before reopening them, and said in a deep voice, "I want to meet the Great General’s envoy."

Immediately, a guard went out to convey the message, "Summon Jin State envoy Zhao Xin for an audience—"

Li Xiang silently folded the military report and offered it, then turned his head to look at Fan Changsheng.

Fan Changsheng stood with lowered gaze, without making a sound, knowing that this matter was finally decided. Li Xiang’s heart suddenly felt empty, fearing, unable to discern whether this decision was good or bad for Cheng Country and the Shu people.

Zhao Xin had received the telegram two days earlier and was waiting for the Cheng Country Court’s response.

When the imperial guard of Cheng Country came to invite him, he immediately donned court robes, adjusted his attire, and with a dignified presence, headed towards the Imperial Palace.

Li Xiong and Fan Changsheng saw a more composed and assertive Zhao Xin than before. Meeting his gaze, both felt a chill in their hearts, perceiving that he must know everything.

Was it Zhao Hanzhang’s strategic planning, confident that everything was figured out even before the envoy set forth?

Or did they have special communication channels, spreading information faster within and outside Shu than him?

Li Xiong exchanged a look with Fan Changsheng imperceptibly and began the final negotiation with Zhao Xin.

When Zhao Xin exited the palace, the sun was already leaning west, holding Cheng Country’s national document in his hand.

Li Xiang left the palace with a disgruntled expression.

At the end of the palace path, Zhao Xin turned to face Li Xiang, smiled and clasped his hands, saying, "Please take care of the Princess and Prince Consort afterward, Li Shi."

Both parties had already agreed, Cheng Country would acknowledge Jin as its suzerain, Li Xiong would be King Cheng and renounce the imperial title. Jin would persuade the ministers currently resisting in Fuling, Ba County, and other places, allowing the Shu land south of Guanghan to be governed by Cheng Country.

Han Zhong County and other areas would still belong to Liang State, directly governed by the court, and Cheng Country must not trespass the border.

Cheng Country would return Princess Hongnong and the Prince Consort.

Of course, to confirm the alliance, Cheng Country would send envoys to Luoyang to formally sign the alliance with the Jin Court.

Li Xiang was ordered to serve as the deputy envoy. Oh, the main envoy is Crown Prince Li Ban.

Li Ban was freshly established as the Crown Prince; many ministers were dissatisfied with him and he needed achievements to solidify his position.

Li Xiong appointed him as the main envoy, firstly for him to earn merit, and secondly to familiarize him with Zhao Hanzhang so that in the future, if Shu encounters changes, he could seek Zhao Hanzhang’s assistance.

From this, it is known that Li Xiong was well aware of his sons’ flawed natures and feared that after his death Cheng Country might erupt into chaos over succession matters. However, apart from sending them out and limiting their misconduct, there was no other method available to him.

Those few children behaved well for a while after Li Ban was made Crown Prince but reverted to their original conduct upon realizing that their father had not changed his mind, acting even more arrogantly than before.

Li Xiong was deeply troubled, even had thoughts of eliminating them, but the idea was abandoned the moment he felt pain.

He felt he needed to have more sons, raising them well from childhood and ensuring they wouldn’t turn out like the older ones.

Returning to the topic, he appointed Li Xiang as the deputy envoy because of his uprightness and loyalty. Even if opposing Li Ban as Crown Prince, he would wholeheartedly assist and protect him, not permitting harm to come to him.

Li Xiang had no choice but to accept the royal command.

Actually, Zhao Xin wanted to return to Luoyang with him but he still had to head south to persuade various forces and summon those Jin ministers back to Luoyang to implement the alliance, thus couldn’t return temporarily.

Before leaving, he deliberately visited Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan, telling them, "The wedding date of Third Lady and Ting Han is near, they both always hoped to pay respects to their elders. This mission is considered successful, but Princess and Prince Consort will have to travel hurriedly."

Fu Xuan readily agreed, expressing determination to expedite the journey and return to Luoyang before their wedding.

Princess Hongnong asked, "Have you concluded negotiations? What did the court exchange for us?"

Zhao Xin reassured, "Be at ease, Princess, King Cheng fully understands the righteousness, unwilling to ignite war leading to devastation, and hence is willing to be subjected to Jin."

Princess Hongnong, confined in the house, was late to receive news, hearing this she widened her eyes, asking, "How did you manage to persuade Emperor Cheng?"

Zhao Xin laughed, "I did not exert much effort; it was the Great General’s moral integrity that enchanted King Cheng, making him willing to govern a prosperous era together with the general."

Princess Hongnong asked no further questions, deeply shaken internally.

She had previously heard much about Zhao Hanzhang’s exploits, but due to poor communication between Shu and the Central Plains, much information reaching Shu was altered, thus she maintained skepticism.

Yet now, she directly felt Zhao Hanzhang’s influence and esteem, becoming intrigued by this daughter-in-law she had never met.

Zhao Xin left twenty guards to escort the Princess and Prince Consort back to Luoyang.

There was no choice; when Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan fled here, they had only three guards and a driver. Though a Cheng Country envoy would escort them, he was still concerned about their safety, hence left twenty men for them.

The rest he took southward.

Zhao Xin wrote a letter entrusting them to take it back to Zhao Hanzhang. Ah, telegraph communication is good, but for sending messages one must be concise. Many demands are not as freely expressed as in a letter, he indeed has many things to discuss with Zhao Hanzhang.

The two envoys departed on the same day, one heading south, the other north.

Li Xiang, on horseback, watched Zhao Xin’s distant departing figure, uncertain if he was sulking at Zhao Xin or himself, anyway he snorted at Zhao Xin’s back. Then he turned his horse, chose another path, and waved, signaling the troop to proceed slowly.

Crown Prince Li Ban lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, feeling quite anxious.

He was still the Crown Prince now, but upon reaching Luoyang, he would represent his father in receiving the court’s conferment, Li Xiong formally becoming King Cheng, and he transforming from Crown Prince to Princely Heir.

He had grown up never leaving Shu, having no notion what Luoyang might be like.

Traveling from Picheng out of Han Zhong County to Luoyang wasn’t far, additionally the troop intentionally accelerated its pace, arriving near Luoyang by the fifth evening.

Due to the dim sky, they couldn’t enter the city at night, thus decided to rest for a night at the post station outside the city.

Some soldiers ran ahead into the city to notify, letting people know the envoy had arrived.

Meanwhile, in Luoyang City, it was a festive atmosphere.

Red lanterns adorned the streets and alleys, households pasted celebratory characters on window lattices, doors, and walls.

Zhao Erlang hurriedly led a group of government officials toward the county government. A young boy was chased out from a room by a stick, managing to leap over the threshold, yet accidentally tripped on a small stone outside the door, tumbling forward—

Zhao Erlang instinctively reached out and grabbed, catching the back of his collar just as his face neared the ground.

He lifted the boy upright, seeing it was him, displaying distaste, "Fang Dalang? You angered your mother again? Your tooth got damaged last time, if you fall again, how will you have teeth left to eat meat?"