As he spoke, Liu Ji couldn't help but cross his legs and sip his tea, feeling immensely pleased with holding the upper hand.

Diwu Fusheng's expression darkened slightly; Liu Ji's smug demeanor was truly detestable.

"Return Qingzhou and compensate with one million taels," Diwu Fusheng said.

"What?!" Liu Ji raised his hand to twist his ear with his finger, pretending he hadn't heard.

"I said return Qingzhou and compensate with one million taels of silver," Diwu Fusheng repeated, knowing Liu Ji was deliberately being difficult, speaking each word slowly.

"Oh~"

Liu Ji responded with a long "oh," clearly dissatisfied with the conditions.

"Liu Ji, don't go too far," Diwu Fusheng said disapprovingly.

"If it's excessive, you can leave," Liu Ji said casually as he picked the dirt from his nails, dropping the pretense and revealing his true demeanor, "My lord has said that our army's morale is currently high, and with the support from the Wu Family, Xiliang, and the Shu Residence, we are ready for a real battle with Prince Huai. If it weren't for concern for the people's suffering, do you think you'd be able to enter Wuguan?"

"..."

"What do you really want?" Diwu Fusheng asked.

"It's quite simple, just four demands: First, return Qingzhou; second, cede Huai State; third, cede the Fourteen Cities on the North Bank of Fengzhou; fourth, compensate with one million taels of silver. If these four demands are met, my lord will release all of Prince Huai's family members," Liu Ji said.

"That's absolutely impossible," Diwu Fusheng refused.

Liu Ji seized the opportunity to mock, "Isn't the legitimate daughter of the Xiao Family, Prince Huai's first wife and the Crown Prince, the Young Master, the Commandery Princess, three Madams, and all the Young Masters and Princesses worth just Huai State and the Fourteen Cities on the North Bank of Fengzhou?"

"Of course..." Diwu Fusheng was about to say they weren't worth it, but swallowed his words, realizing Liu Ji had set a trap. If he said they weren't worth it, Liu Ji would surely tell Princess Consort Huai.

"Greedy like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Liu Ji, shouldn't you consider these demands excessive?" Diwu Fusheng asked.

"Excessive?" Liu Ji scoffed, "Was it excessive when Prince Huai seized my lord's Qingzhou? Was it excessive when attacking my lord's Yu State? My lord saw through Prince Huai's plot and succeeded. If Prince Huai had succeeded and captured my lord's family, what then? Victors and Losers, that's how it is. Why are you so naive?"

Diwu Fusheng: "..."

"How about this, since Brother Fusheng and Prince Huai are old acquaintances, making so many demands at once is difficult for Prince Huai to accept. If Prince Huai returns Qingzhou first and compensates with one million taels of silver, I will personally ask the Marquis to release the Young Master and the three Madams. As for the Princess Consort and the Crown Prince, they will be released once Prince Huai meets the remaining two demands.

Of course, during this time, the Marquis will certainly take good care of the Princess Consort and the others, without the slightest negligence," Liu Ji smiled.

Diwu Fusheng wanted to say more, but Liu Ji waved his hand and said, "Enough, I have other matters to attend to. You should go down and consider it or consult Prince Huai."

...

Liu Ji recounted the negotiation with Diwu Fusheng to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo nodded subtly; negotiations are like this; the more assertive side often gains more, especially when holding the upper hand; the stronger, the better.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Mo said, "I want the world to know that Qingzhou from this Marquis is not so easily swallowed."

"Sun Meng."

"I am here."

"Go inform Cui Shuang and the others to come for a discussion. Chu Ce has stayed in Huainan County long enough; how can we allow someone to sleep soundly beside us? It's time to drive him away and add fuel to Prince Huai."

"Yes."

...

After discussing the matter, the moon was already high.

Since it was decided to release Madam Hui and with Diwu Fusheng also appearing, Chen Mo had to meet with Madam Hui.

Chen Mo headed towards the residence where Princess Consort Huai's family was held.

Prince Huai's family truly was extensive; including the maids and servants, there were around two to three hundred people.

Upon learning Madam Hui's room, Chen Mo went directly there.

Outside the room, the maids serving Madam Hui saw Chen Mo arrive and hurried to greet him.

Chen Mo waved his hand and said, "There's nothing for you here; all of you leave."

The maids exchanged glances, fearing Chen Mo more than Madam Hui, quickly retreating.

Inside the room, Madam Hui was gazing at the moon, lost in thought.

Startled, she turned to see Chen Mo entering, a hint of panic appearing on her face.

Especially when Chen Mo closed the door, Madam Hui felt a sense of foreboding, quickly removing the golden hairpin from her head for protection, speaking with a cold tone, "Marquis of Pingting County, why do you come... come to my palace so late?"

Though she pretended to be calm, her aura was far weaker than Princess Consort Huai's, and one could hear the fear in her voice. Additionally, her hand holding the golden hairpin trembled.

While Madam Hui was a consort, she married Prince Huai earlier than Xiao Yunxi.

Prince Huai, like Chen Mo, first took a concubine and later married.

Adorned in a long red gown just touching the ground, her figure was voluptuous, her appearance exquisite, exuding a mature charm due to having three children.

Her face was slender and sharp; compared to Xiao Yunxi, Madam Hui's features appeared sharp, revealing a calculating expression.

"Why do I come? On such a beautiful night, what does Madam Hui think this Marquis wants to do?"

Chen Mo moved forward intentionally, teasingly.

Madam Hui grew increasingly flustered, retreating step by step until cornered against the wall with nowhere to go.

Yet, she thrust the golden hairpin forward in a chaotic manner, angrily exclaiming, "Marquis, I am a married woman, please respect yourself."

Chen Mo chuckled, finding Madam Hui's "self-defense" as a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist laughable, like child's play, completely unworried by it. But he ceased teasing her and sat down, saying, "I've come to discuss something with Madam Hui."

"I have nothing to discuss with you," Madam Hui said, trying hard to suppress her inner fear.

"Do you really not want anything to do with the Crown Prince's position?" Chen Mo looked at Madam Hui.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Madam Hui's eyes flickered.

"Really don't understand or pretend not to understand? As far as I know, Madam Hui has long envied and coveted Princess Consort Huai and the Crown Prince's position, hasn't she?" Chen Mo smiled.

"Stop trying to sow discord," Madam Hui said, refusing to be easily manipulated by Chen Mo's words.

Chen Mo continued calmly, "Today Prince Huai sent an envoy to Wuguan. Diwu Fusheng, Madam should know him. I had a pleasant conversation with him, so I intend to release Princess Consort Huai and Madam.

I originally came today to plan to keep Princess Consort Huai and the Crown Prince while releasing Madam and the others, but since Madam isn't interested in the Crown Prince's position, then forget it."

After saying this, Chen Mo slapped his thighs and rose as if to leave.

Madam Hui was shocked, knowing that if she and Xiao Yunxi returned together, Prince Huai would undoubtedly blame her for her actions at Fengnan Port, leading to neglect and implicating Shou'Er.

This cannot be allowed.

"Wait," seeing Chen Mo about to leave, Madam Hui hurried to stop him.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo turned his head, knowing Madam Hui would stop him.

"Will you really keep Xiao Yunxi and Chu Zheng?" Madam Hui hesitated a moment before biting her lips to speak.

If Xiao Yunxi and Chu Zheng didn't return, Fengnan Port wouldn't be exposed, and without Chu Zheng, Shou'Er, as the eldest, would be the rightful Crown Prince.

"Of course, otherwise, why would I come to see you?" Chen Mo replied, sitting down again, "But we are neither friends nor kin; if you want my help, Madam must offer something in return."

"What do you want?" Madam Hui gripped her golden hairpin tightly, fearing Chen Mo would make an inappropriate request.

"What do you think, Madam? Since we need cooperation, naturally, compensation must be made. There's no free lunch in the world," Chen Mo said.

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