Hibiscus Tent: The Prime Minister’s palm is reborn

"Open the city gates and send a letter of surrender."

Liang Qian stood there without moving. Her clean, white face was extremely calm, with only the tip of her nose and cheeks slightly pink from the cold. She looked at everyone with eyes that showed neither sadness nor joy, but her tone was firm and unquestionable.

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was surprised.

First there was the coffin and mourning clothes, then there were the white banners and the lack of golden arrows… Although I knew what these meant, I was still surprised when I heard her say it herself. Would she give up the country so easily?

King Xiangcheng's face immediately darkened, and he drew his long sword and pointed it over: "Liang, this is our Gao family's kingdom, it's not your turn as an outsider to make the decision!"

"Gao's kingdom?" Liang Qian frowned and laughed. After a while, she nodded gently and said, "Yes, your Gao's kingdom."

She looked at him with disdain: "Since Pangu created the world, this so-called country has existed. I would like to ask you, what is the basis for you to say that it is surnamed Gao? Even if it is surnamed Gao now, from whose hands did you take it? And why did you take it? To save the people from suffering, or just to enjoy the supreme imperial power and satisfy your own selfish desires?"

"You——" King Xiangcheng was speechless.

Liang Qian ignored him and turned to look at the soldiers who were crowded under the city. Some were injured in their arms, some in their shoulders, some in their calves, and some were holding their ribs...

"Who did you injure yourself for? Who did you bleed for? Was it for the Gao family empire that Gao Hong described as a strife among the people? Was it for this group of ugly creatures fighting for power and leading beasts to eat people? Or was it for the emperor and empress dowager who abandoned you and intended to flee?"

Xiangcheng King Gao Hong looked with a grim face at Meng and Meng Tao who were tied up and standing behind people. He never thought that they would abandon the city and escape with the national seal. Then he looked at the court officials who were escorted by the imperial guards and huddled together, and he was even more speechless.

Liang Qian narrowed her eyes and smiled, her voice not without sadness: "Rivers and deep waters are the homes of fish and dragons, mountains and forests are the homes of birds and beasts, and the country is the home of scholars and people. When rivers and deep waters dry up, fish and dragons leave; when mountains and forests become dangerous, birds and beasts leave; when the country loses its governance, scholars and people leave.

Without land, people cannot live in peace; without people, land cannot be defended; without moral principles and laws, people cannot come; without gentlemen, morality cannot be promoted. Therefore, the relationship between land and people, and between morality and laws, are the foundation of a country.

She looked straight at him, not dodging or avoiding him: "The people are the foundation of the country. If the foundation is solid, the country will be at peace. Is there any need for a country that is cruel to its people, abusive, and has abandoned rituals and music? Are a group of arrogant, extravagant, and power-hungry parasites worth your bloodshed and fighting for them?"

Without waiting for anyone to say anything, Liang Qian walked down the steps, took out something from her bosom, and made the final decision: "Open the city gates and send a letter of surrender!"

Xiangcheng King Gao Hong tried to stop him but was knocked unconscious by a palm strike.

Liang Qian pointed at the coffin on the hearse and raised her voice to the soldiers, "Today, I'm betting my life to ensure that you're safe! Even if the Zhou army enters the city, please trust me. As long as I live, I'll protect you!"

The crowd was buzzing with excitement, staring in disbelief at the rumored 'evil lady who brought disaster to the country'.

"Queen Mother!"

Suddenly, amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd, a deep and powerful voice was heard, which gave one an indescribable sense of security and assurance.

Liang Qian looked over in the direction of the voice and saw the man barely standing, with a scorching gaze on his slightly pale face.

It was Wang Tingyue.

"General Wang! It's General Wang!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone looked over and saw that Wang Tingyue, who should have died in the fire, was standing alive behind them.

The soldiers were surprised and amazed. Some of them immediately surrounded him, some saluted with fists, and some asked questions.

Liang Qian's eyes warmed up as she watched this scene and she clenched the letter of surrender in her hand.

In Jinye City, there are many of Wang Tingyue’s former comrades and subordinates.

Wang Tingyue was supported by someone and took a few steps forward.

Without waiting for Liang Qian to speak, Wang Tingyue bowed and said, "Please rest assured, Queen Mother. I am here to guard you."

She looked at him across the crowd and nodded slightly: "Okay!"

Then he turned and looked at Xiao Wu.

"Send the letter of surrender!"

The Zhou army was ready and waiting on the spot.

Xiao Qianyi was riding on a horse, looking at the city tower not far away with some anxiety, wondering what the situation was in Jinye City.

Xiao Jingnan glanced at the slightly worried face as if unintentionally, "The situation in Jinye City is different from Pingwu. She didn't let you go because it's for your own good."

Xiao Qianyi was stunned and glared at him: "I know, but it is precisely because I know that I am afraid that she will suffer."

Xiao Jingnan turned his head and thought of the newly made sachets, scarves, hand clothes, and some exquisite small cakes he saw in her residence. He couldn't help but look at her seriously: "When did you two become so close?"

Xiao Qianyi snorted coldly: "Master Xiao, don't look at people through the cracks in the door, you will look down on them."

This lukewarm remark left Xiao Jingnan speechless.

He sighed slightly: "Qianqian——"

"With state affairs at hand, Prince Xiao is the future head of the clan after all. Can he only say insignificant gossip?"

Xiao Qianyi didn't give him a chance to speak and turned her face away and ignored him.

They spoke quietly, but still attracted the attention of nearby soldiers.

Noticing the inquiring gaze, Xiao Qianyi lowered her eyes, not wanting to embarrass Xiao Jingnan in public.

She suppressed her emotions and thought about how to find a way out, but she saw Xiao Jingnan lowering his posture.

"Qianqian, you have reason to be angry with me. It's my brother who shouldn't say that to you. I—"

"Okay... I know."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Xiao Qianyi interrupted, looked at Xiao Jingnan awkwardly, thought for a moment, and said, "When I was in Pingwu, Liang Qian and I were drinking in a tavern. That was when I asked her why she left her peaceful life behind and insisted on returning to Qi State, leaving her husband and children behind."

Xiao Jingnan looked at her silently and did not respond.

Xiao Qianyi said: "She said that when a nest is overturned, no egg can be left unbroken. As long as there is a war, people will die. Even if she is not the Queen of Qi, she is still a Qi person. She just wants to use her hands to catch as many people as she can when the nest is overturned.

Brother, don't say you have a prejudice against her. Even before, I also had misunderstandings about her. However, events reveal people's true nature. "

She raised her eyes to meet Xiao Jingnan's: "Brother, if she is really the troublemaker as rumored, do you think you can still stand here safely?"

Xiao Jingnan looked at the man with a serious expression, sighed slightly, and was about to speak, but he saw a not-too-wide gap in the city gate in the distance, and a man on horseback galloped towards them.

The two looked at each other and stopped talking.

After a while, the person was already a few steps away.

He jumped off his horse, knelt on the ground, and presented something with both hands.

"Lord Qi, please surrender."

A Zhou soldier stepped forward, took the letter of surrender from the man, and presented it to Yuwen Jue.

"His Majesty."

"Accept the surrender."

Yuwen Jue took the letter of surrender but did not open it.

The man bowed his head, then jumped back on his horse and headed back to the city.

Yuwen Jue raised his hand and said, "Go into the city."

The army approached and stopped not far from the city gate.

The heavy door slowly opened with a creaking sound, and a person dressed in mourning clothes, with loose hair and holding something in both hands, walked out of the door.

The mourning dress she was wearing was so white that it looked like a piece cut from the snow beneath her feet. Walking alongside her was a young boy who was sobbing with his head bowed.

Behind them was a hearse pulling a coffin, and a group of people wearing only white undergarments, tied in two strings with hemp ropes, followed closely behind, walking barefoot and staggeringly.

"The Liang family of Qi, along with their young lord, led 23,532 officials and soldiers, and 41,263 civilians to beg for surrender to the Lord of Zhou! Respectfully welcome the Lord of Zhou into the city!"

Liang Qian held the national seal in both hands above her head. Just as she was about to kneel down and salute, a shrill voice came from the city wall.

"Liang Huan!"