A day later, King Zhou Ling set off on his journey back to Zhou Xing. Xiao Yunzhou, accompanied by his esteemed queen and treasured Princess, came to bid him farewell.
This was a courtesy among allies. As the Emperor, Xiao Yunzhou would only accompany him to the gates of Jing Country's capital before returning.
But this time, Xiao Yunzhou and his party showed no signs of saying goodbye even outside the capital.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, King Zhou Ling turned to Xiao Yunzhou, "Your sincerity, Xiao Brother, will be remembered by Zhou Xing. You should go back quickly."
Xiao Yunzhou waved him off, his face blushing.
Oh, he wasn't seeing off King Zhou Ling!
Informed by the 'Gossip Eye' of Princess, he learned that Yuan King will take action 'in three days', probably sending scouts or agents to strategic military locations in Jing Country.
He's already sent out an urgent edict to the city defence generals to be on guard for 'agents', dispatched with haste to all troops a couple of days ago.
But Xiao Yunzhou still felt somewhat uneasy, preparing to leave the capital to inspect these critical places.
Sending King Zhou Ling a hundred miles? Not a chance!
He was just on his way to the inspection!
Xiao Yunzhou thought, looking up to see King Zhou Ling's moved expression. He felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly added, "Ahem, given the bond between our countries, what's wrong with bidding you farewell for a hundred miles?"
King Zhou Ling was taken aback, even the wandering King of Chu who followed out of sheer boredom was stunned.
When did they, Jing Country and Zhou Xing, share such a bond?
They never sat down and discussed any future collaborations between the two countries!
King Zhou Ling coughed lightly, the corners of his mouth twitching.
Currently, he indeed improved his impressions on Jing Country and abhorred Yuan State. Anxious to return, he decided to refuse Yuan's right of passage through his lands.
Should Yuan State attack Jing Country, King Zhou Ling has no intention to get involved!
Nevertheless, seeing Princess Ronghua standing with Concubine Liu behind Xiao Yunzhou, he noticed the Princess's teary eyes, reluctant to leave her royal uncle.
"Just let Ronghua send me off," King Zhou Ling didn't want to leave his dear niece in a foreign country, unfamiliar and strange.
However, Ronghua was insistent, her eyes dark with rings today, rumored to have been entranced by a book titled "The First Immortal Lord."
As an uncle, he could only relent to see his distressed niece happy in Jing Country.
Thinking of this, King Zhou Ling beckoned Ronghua, "Ronghua, you may stay in Jing Country for a while, but promise your royal uncle to return before June. You remember your father's birthday, don't you?"
He gave Princess Ronghua an elder's stern gaze, "Celebrating your father's birthday is important. You cannot be selfish. You must return to Zhou Xing."
Should Yuan State not pass through Zhou Xing, they will have to traverse the mountains between Sheng Country and themselves to get to Jing Country's borders.
Going by the troop's marching speed, they would reach Jing Country after June.
Ronghua should be safe if she returns to Zhou Xing in June.
"I understand, royal uncle, don't worry," Ronghua naturally agreed.
King Zhou Ling nodded and glanced at Xiao Yunzhou.
He truly felt Jing Country was extraordinary and respected Xiao Yunzhou, the Emperor of Jing Country.
However, if there was a war between Yuan State and Jing Country, Zhou Xing didn't want to interfere.
Otherwise, what about the common people of Zhou Xing?
Even though King Zhou Ling was genuinely grateful to Xiao Yunzhou for saving his niece these days and he equally harbored true resentment towards the Yuan King, he could not use the lives of Zhou Xing's people and soldiers to repay a favor or to settle a personal vengeance.
A king's every step is connected to countless lives!
"Xiao Yunzhou, you must be careful of Yuan State." King Zhou Ling sighed and addressed Xiao Yunzhou.
"The Yuan King is restless, and he would probably take action soon even without our help from Zhou Xing. You must increase your border patrols."
"What I said the other day was not false. From now on, as long as I live, Zhou Xing and Yuan State will have no alliance, will not give Yuan even the slightest help. All our food and weapons will be sold at high prices, and we will demand compensation from the Yuan King for Yuan Kaizhi's offenses, but only to this extent."
"I won't send troops to attack Yuan State, nor will I help them attack you."
"If our Zhou spies get word of Yuan's troops' movements, I will send you a message. Also, the gunpowder produced by Zhou Xing can be sold to Jing Country at a tenth of the price."
King Zhou Ling narrows his eyes, this is the best he can do for Jing Country.
"[This must be King Zhou Ling's greatest sincerity, right? The current collection rate for the hero King Zhou Ling is 71%.]"
Xiao Chuchu took a look at the system data, "[His character profile suggests that he is rational and cautious, and he doesn't engage in battles he isn't sure of.]"
"[I wonder, if the collection rate reaches 100%, would he send troops to help us.]"
"[I think it's unlikely. He is a King who loves his people and doesn't want to easily engage in war.]"
Xiao Chuchu's words resonated deeply with Xiao Yunzhou.
Xiao Yunzhou initially didn't plan on opening his heart to King Zhou Ling, and even the whole journey of accompanying him was filled with dishonest talk. But at this moment, his daughter's heavenly information made Xiao Yunzhou look at King Zhou Ling with a sort of respect.
"King Zhou, I am the same as you." Xiao Yunzhou looked at King Zhou, "I don't want to go to war, to see devastation and the people suffer."
Xiao Yunzhou deeply understands King Zhou Ling, "Today, if our situations were reversed - if Zhou Xing is being attacked by Yuan, Jing Country wouldn't send troops either to offer help."
"If you were to die, and Zhou Xing was to be vanquished, Jing Country would only stand by."
"......!"
The corners of King Zhou Ling's mouth twitched. How come this fact stated bluntly sounded so unpleasant?
"Hmph." King Zhou Ling turned his head away.
Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but laugh, "How come? You are allowed to stand by but when it is my turn, it's not ok?"
King Zhou Ling was stunned.
"[Eh? The collection rate for King Zhou Ling has risen to 75%?"
Xiao Chuchu blinked, even Xiao Yunzhou was startled by his daughter's good news.
Xiao Yunzhou couldn’t help but glance towards King Zhou Ling, almost blurting out the main male character's dialogue from "The First Immortal Monarch" - Don't love me, there is no outcome.
Who would have thought, a casual remark of his would make King Zhou Ling appreciate Jing Country once again?
This was completely absurd!
Xiao Yunzhou may have been complaining, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but rise, feeling a sense of regretful admiration for King Zhou Ling.
These two kings, although they were distant during normal times, when it came to considering issues, there was some tacit understanding!
But after King Zhou Ling let out a cold snort, he looked deep in thought, "Brother Xiao, are you...trying to provoke me?"
The King of Chu nodded, "Xiao Yunzhou, you're challenging us, aren't you?"
Xiao Yunzhou: "???" Uh, where?
King of Chu squinted, "When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If Yuan eradicates Jing, Zhou Xing, who is in the middle, will he be safe?"
"Will we, Chu state, remain unscathed?"
"Xiao Yunzhou, are you mocking King Zhou and I?" The cunning King of Chu, full of thoughts, his face was filled with an expression of 'seeing through the meaning beyond Xiao Yunzhou's words'.
"If we don't help Jing today, it might be our turn - Zhou Xing and Chu - to be attacked by Yuan tomorrow. And once a country is gone, there is one less country's military strength to resist Yuan. In the end, none of us three countries will benefit."
"Do you mean this?"
Indeed, after hearing these words from King of Chu, King Zhou Ling also wore a conflicted expression.
【King Zhou Ling's collection rate rose to 77%.】
Even Xiao Chuchu was surprised, 【I didn't expect that my father is the smartest of the three.】
Xiao Yunzhou: "…!"
He was blushing.
Xiao Yunzhou coughed lightly, straightened up, "Indeed, King of Chu, King Zhou, this is what I mean, the lips and teeth depend on each other.."
"When one falls into trouble, we stand by and watch. When we ourselves are in a bind, we cry to heaven and the earth, but to no avail. Looking around, there are already no military forces to resist Yuan!"
"But now, Chu has a lot of iron mines, Zhou produces gunpowder, and my kingdom of Jing can manufacture advanced firearms."
"Furthermore, the country of Wu Yun has a lot of cavalry."
"If our four sides unite, anyone, anywhere who wants to encroach upon our four nations, it would be a pipe dream!"
【King Zhou Ling's collection rate rose to 78%!】
Xiao Yunzhou's acting skills had become quite sophisticated.
With all these words, he was able to make King Zhou Ling and King of Chu thoughtful.
On top of that, Xiao Yunzhou chatted while on the move, and also took King Zhou Ling to a hundred miles outside the city... two hundred miles...
King Zhou Ling really was moved, and a bit ashamed, "I will seriously consider your proposal about a four-nation alliance, Brother Xiao. Really, Xiao, there's no need to escort me any further, really, you should go back."
Xiao Yunzhou cleared his throat lightly, looking at the nearly within reach Luo Mountain City, a major defense point.
He and the military department had discussed overnight that Yuan was most likely to let spies infiltrate the border of Jing, and they must enter Luo Mountain City.
As Xiao Yunzhou was about to bow his head to King Zhou Ling, he saw a simple clothed man riding a horse coming from a distance.
He quickly dismounted in front of them.
"Master," the clothed man knelt down in front of Xiao Yunzhou, "as you expected, this morning two suspicious individuals entered Luo Mountain City, likely spies from the Yuan State."
Xiao Yunzhou's face was full of 'I knew it', but King of Chu and King Zhou appeared shocked.
The clothed man offered a gaze of admiration to Xiao Yunzhou, "Master, as per your instructions, we pretended to have a loose guard since yesterday, and our soldiers appear old, weak, sick, and lacking in supplies for many days."
King Zhou and King of Chu: "!”
