Chapter 263: The Brainless Empress in the Arrogant Stallion Novel (13)

Chapter 263: The Foolhardy Empress in a Chauvinistic Fantasy (13)

The envoy from the Kingdom of Wu was the first to collect themselves and quickly spoke up, "Your Majesty, if our Kingdom of Wu offers the highest bid, may we also mine the iron ore?"

"Yes, for three years."

Effectively, the iron ore was up for lease. The iron ore’s vast wealth—if seized by Yuan Zhao’s troops—would go solely to Zheng State, leaving the other three countries with no share of the profits.

But leasing it changed everything—now everyone could profit.

In an instant, everyone in the hall grasped the brilliance of this move.

This was an open strategy.

But the rewards were too tempting. This was the legendary, century-old fortune of Lin State!

With such riches on offer, who’d say no?

Zhao State jumped in first, "When will the bidding take place?"

"In ten days."

With Tang Qing’s words, the situation shifted instantly.

Yuan Zhao barked furiously, "Your Highness! You must think carefully. I have brought a hundred thousand troops with me today."

A naked threat!

The empress’s eyes glittered with icy scorn. "And?"

"General Yuan, marching troops here for ore? Zheng State misplayed."

"Like I said, I’ll give up the ore."

"For three years. And no one wants Zheng State hogging it all..." Her gaze shifted pointedly to the envoys of the other three countries as she added meaningfully, "Right now... even if Zheng State leads an army, I doubt they would agree."

She’d hit the bullseye.

With this move, Tang Qing had transformed the conflict between Zheng State and Lin State into a conflict between Zheng State and the other four countries!

Lin State was weak, but four nations together could check Zheng State.

The empress sat tall on the throne, face unreadable.

Only now did the assembly realize that this long-overlooked princess was, in fact, a true imperial sovereign in bearing!

No wonder Lin State dared this—she’d planned her exit!

This strategy was a masterstroke. Even with Yuan Zhao's army at the gates, it was useless...

Now force wouldn’t work.

"General Yuan, you get it now."

"You may leave." Chang Yongshou tossed the contract back like it burned.

"What about you, Gong Sunqing?"

Her icy gaze fell upon the man who had been a nuisance from the very beginning. "Take your South Sea pearls and get out. Slowly."

The situation in the hall shifted rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, the Lin State had gained a new reliance, no longer needing to grovel to the Zheng State.

Gong Sunqing, who had long relied on the Zheng State’s reputation to throw his weight around, was too stunned by the expulsion that he barely reacted, mumbling dazedly, "The pearl is shattered—how am I to take it away?"

The Empress replied coldly, "Then pick it up yourself."

"We gave you respect, and you spat on it, so now you must gather the dignity you threw away before leaving."

Sweet!

So damn satisfying!

The officials of the Lin State watched Gong Sunqing’s humiliation with unparalleled delight.

That bastard finally got his comeuppance!

The ancestors really knew what they were doing, leaving behind such a courageous and resourceful royal descendant for the Lin State!

If anyone dares to call our Empress incompetent again, this old minister will rip their lying tongues out!

Years of humiliation against the Zheng State melted away in an instant, replaced by a swagger the Lin State had never dared before.

News of the conflict in the Golden Hall reached Wei Shang immediately.

Listening to his subordinate’s report, Wei Shang found it hard to believe.

Tang Qing actually had the ability to pull a victory from the jaws of defeat—what was once a political nightmare of an iron mine had now become the Lin State’s shield!

"After the Empress announced the three-year lease of the iron mine, the envoys of Zhao, Chu, and Wu immediately set off for home, likely to prepare for the auction."

"As for General Yuan Zhao of Zheng, he left the hall fuming. Gong Sunqing was unlucky enough to get a boot from the general on his way out..."

Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, Wei Shang lowered his gaze, a sharp glint of understanding in his eyes.

So it turned out he had underestimated the Eldest Princess all along.

He had thought her a fool, but now it seemed she had been playing dumb.

"My lord, you're injured?"

"I’ve got the new Golden Trauma Salve from Qianji." The reporting subordinate suddenly noticed the wound on Wei Shang’s finger—likely cut by some sharp object. Though the cut was small, it looked deep, with a slow trickle of fresh blood still oozing.

Wei Shang raised his hand, the injury on his little finger inflicted by Mu Zimo’s Dark Iron Wire.

The Dark Iron Wire was indestructible; though the wound it left was small, it was slow to heal.

Three days had passed, and the mark showed no sign of improvement.

Lost in thought, Wei Shang suddenly heard footsteps—

Tang Qing had arrived!

With a swift wave, the subordinate disappeared in a blur, slipping out through the window.

"Your Majesty! You’ve come!" Instantly putting on a bright smile, Wei Shang swooped in like an eager songbird before the Empress even stepped inside.

"Today is Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne—Shang didn’t think you’d come." Wrapping his arms around Tang Qing, he nuzzled his face against hers. "This new court robe is truly magnificent. Is it the new unprocessed silk from the Weaving Bureau this year?"

Trailing his fingers along the phoenix embroidered on the fabric, Wei Shang smiled warmly. "On this day of Your Majesty’s ascension, Shang wishes you to soar like the Nine Heavens Phoenix, ruling the world with unstoppable power!"

Wei Shang had always been silver-tongued. As he spoke, Tang Qing gazed into his eyes—soft and full of tender affection.

Too bad... it was all an act.

Catching a faint trace of blood in the air, Tang Qing lowered her gaze and spotted the wound on Wei Shang’s finger. "How did this happen?"

The bright red on his little finger stood out starkly.

As her hand lifted his, Wei Shang merely paused for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. "Came across a dumb cat on the road—got scratched."

"Your Majesty, that dumb cat was vicious."

Seizing the opportunity, Wei Shang clung to Tang Qing and continued, "Your Majesty, there are far more lowlifes out there. I heard you just dumped that piece of trash Guo Kai—don’t go falling for the next one..."

While Wei Shang was busy cursing one "scum" after another, he suddenly felt a warm touch.

Startled, he looked down just in time to see Tang Qing’s lowered lashes...

Clad in the golden imperial robes, she radiated regal authority.

She was now the sovereign of Lin State.

Yet at this moment, the exalted ruler was tenderly blowing on his wound...

"Does it feel better?"

"My nursemaid taught me when I was little—blowing on it makes it better..." Her voice was measured, her eyes revealing little emotion as she held his hand and spoke calmly.

But Wei Shang felt as if something indescribable had touched him—a sudden, delicate warmth spreading from the tip of his little finger.

"System Notification: Wei Shang's Love Points increasing. Current Level: 12."