Hehe, today's update is 6,000 words again!

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  It's really Huazhen's beginning.

  The last wisps of sunset began to sink into the horizon, the vibrant colors that had dyed half the sky red began to fade away, gradually leaving only a faint trace of crimson threads.

  As soon as the voice of the Duke of Jingling fell, countless torches were lit at the same time. In the light of the burning torches, a group of palace musicians played the sheng, guanzi, drums and xiao, coming in a long procession.

  In an instant, the lawn where the young masters sat was filled with a hundred sparkling lights, and dozens of dancing girls fluttered in at the same time.

  The dancing girls wore skirt-like robes, jade legs, with copper bells tied to their ankles. As they swayed their waists, the bell sounds rang out leisurely, with a clear and brisk rhythm.

  On both sides of the dancing girls, there were two teams of maids holding fans, lifting sedan chairs and carrying food boxes. There were over a hundred of these maids, fluttering about like butterflies as they came forward.

  What a massive lineup!

  All the young masters looked at each other in dismay and turned their heads to look at Jingling Gongzi.

  In their stunned gaze, the Prince of Jingling lazily stood up, he didn't wear a crown, only tied his hair with jade, as he stood up, his black hair flowed like clouds on his broad shoulders, black clothes, and a lazy smile hung on his rugged features.

  All of this is incredibly luxurious. Yes, it's luxurious, a kind of innate wealth and nobility that has been passed down.

  The young master of Jingling held a square green zither in his hand, with a faint smile on his face. He looked at the other young masters and laughed loudly, saying: "What a beautiful day! It's rare to have distant guests join us for a feast. I'm not talented, but I've specially prepared wine, feasts, and singing girls to entertain you." He paused slightly, his tone becoming more serious, "However, can wine and beauties truly showcase our elegance? The Crown Prince is the most important person in Qin, and my fourth and fifth brothers also have extraordinary talents. Therefore, I've set up a grand feast here, inviting each of your esteemed guests to take their seats. Now, let's compare the talents of Jin and Qin."

  He laughed loudly and spoke fluently, before the other young masters could react, they found that their seats were filled with virtuous scholars and guests. In an instant, the place where they had just been chatting and laughing turned into a bustling place of debate.

  Debating is a habit of the times, from the noble gentlemen to the humble commoners, everyone enjoys it. The heaven and earth have given birth to the great way, but where is the small way? Every person has too many questions to clarify. They are like newborn babies, full of curiosity and desire for knowledge about the heaven, the country, themselves, specific diseases, customs, and even food. They need to use debate to establish whether their cognition is correct or not.

  It's nothing unusual for the people of Qin to argue, but it's unacceptable that the son of Qujing would ignore others and do as he pleases without saying a word!

  Qin Gongzi's eyes narrowed slightly as he carefully sized up Jingling Gongzi, a faint sense of unease beginning to surface.

  Such a noble young master goes out, and the virtuous scholars and guests around him will not be few. Every time there is a banquet, they will also follow. Therefore, although the young master of Jingling said it suddenly, those guests had already been arranged in another place, and they came as soon as they were called.

  Contrary to Wei Luo's expectations, it wasn't until the six Qin envoys and two young masters' strategists, swordsmen, and retainers had all arrived that the retainers under Prince Jingling slowly took their seats.

  There were only three guests sitting behind Gongzi Jingling, and none of them was a famous virtuous scholar known to the world.

  Everyone looked at the back of Jingling Gongzi, looking at those three guests. When they found that Jingling Gongzi didn't have any empty seats, and his side wouldn't have any more scholars joining in, their faces all turned a bit unpleasant - this Jingling Gongzi really had no regard for others! He suddenly said it was an open debate, but only wanted these three unknown people to participate. This was simply too much!

  The young master of Jingling still had a lazy look on his face, with a slightly hooked lip corner that always seemed to be smiling, but the smile was very faint, as if it were there but not quite.

  After everyone else had entered, he raised his right hand and waved it casually. As soon as he made this gesture, without even needing to open his mouth, the singing girls and servant girls stopped moving, and not a single sound came out again.

  This sudden quiet made the noise made by the guests behind Qin Fang's six people particularly jarring and particularly unrefined, revealing that their host did not have enough restraint and dignity.

  Jingling Gongzi smiled and said in a low, magnetic voice, "Gentlemen, the purpose of this gathering is to break one topic."

  He actually said there was a topic for everyone to discuss, rather than letting people from various factions argue among themselves.

  For a moment, the guests and scholars stopped talking and looked up at the son of Queling. This son of Queling was too arrogant and had to be put in his place! So they listened very carefully, preparing to vent their anger through debate.

  "The proposal is as follows: If a country is located in the Central Plains and borders a certain barbarian state." As soon as he said this, everyone present changed color. The words of Jingling Gongzi were too clear and too impolite. The country located in the Central Plains was naturally referring to his own Jin State, while the barbarian state was naturally referring to Qin. Qin bordered Xidi, and after hundreds of years of contact, it had been influenced by many habits unique to the barbarians, often being belittled by the orthodox states of the Central Plains. The words of Jingling Gongzi were a naked mockery.

  The young master of Jingling still had a faint smile, his ink-like eyes were as unpredictable as the night sky. He continued to say: "The barbarian countries see that a young master from the Central Plains has great power and is afraid of being uncontrollable. They want to marry their fathers and brothers to divide and dissolve them."

  The whole scene fell silent. The Qin people looked at each other in dismay, and the Qin swordsmen standing behind them even gripped their hilts, their muscles bulging.

  Jingling Gongzi raised his cup, took a sip and stood up. He poured himself another drink, turned to the people around him and asked loudly: "May I ask, in this barbarian country, how will you treat this young master?"

  Demonstration! This is an outright demonstration!

  Every Qin person's face changed greatly, countless pairs of eyes looked at Prince Yiren of Qin, waiting for his instructions.

  Even the two Jin princes' faces changed color, in fact, they were also one of the main targets that the Qin envoy deliberately won over to deal with the Prince of Jingling.

  The usually round and smiling face turned gloomy, he stared at Jingling, his mind racing with thoughts.

  Just as the Prince of Jingling said, this time he came to Jin as the Crown Prince of Qin, and it was not with good intentions. Qin and Jin are adjacent, and Jin is located in the Central Plains, which has a natural advantage. In the past, the Marquis of Jin loved wine and women, and his ears were soft, so Qin did not worry about this neighbor. However, in recent years, he saw Prince Jingling grow up, and saw that he was talented and had ten million soldiers!

  It's not a good thing to have such a strong neighbor, the Qin people thought and thought, and found that the best way was to divide the Jin people internally, so that they would weaken themselves. Fortunately, this Viscount Ling had become too powerful and was deeply feared by the Marquis of Jin and the other Jin viscounts. So they brought a thousand pieces of gold and beautiful maidens, and the crown prince Ying Yi personally accompanied two sisters to come, wanting to marry the elder sister to the Marquis of Jin, and the younger sister to the Crown Prince of Jin, discussing strategies to deal with Viscount Ling together.

  Ying Yan thought that he had been very secretive, and shouldn't have aroused the suspicion of Prince Jingle of Jin. Even if he had noticed something, it wouldn't be so soon. He had only just arrived in Jin, and yet this prince had already detected him. Not only did he detect him, but he also knew all about the details, and his reaction was so direct, so unreserved, and so without regard for consequences!

  Suddenly, Ying Yan understood why Gongzi Jingling killed He and Jiang Gongzhu last night. It turned out that after knowing this matter, he was preparing to openly confront his father! The act of killing He and Jiang was actually a show of force!

  At this time, the Prince of Jingling turned his head and stared at Ying Yan with a smile that was not quite a smile. He shook the empty wine ladle in his hand towards Ying Yan, raised an eyebrow slightly, and smiled very elegantly and warmly, "What does Crown Prince Yan think?"

  Within a moment, he had regained his smile. He looked up at the Prince of Jiangling and said with a smile: "Who was Emperor Shun? He ruled the world, but his brother was foolish and his mother was cruel. Yet he still governed with virtue. I am not talented, so I don't know what you mean, Your Highness."

  This answer is completely off the mark. However, everyone present understands that Qin Taizi Yan is telling Gongzi Jingling that, just like Emperor Shun, a wise and virtuous ruler can only use virtue to transform even the most stubborn and evil people, including his own brother and stepmother. You, Jingling, may have powerful troops at your command, and you may know that I am allied with your father and brothers against you. But what can you do? Do you dare to be unfilial and unvirtuous?

  As soon as Ying Yan's voice fell, the young master of Jingling suddenly raised his head and burst into a loud laugh.

  His laughter was very loud and far-reaching on the deserted island, his laughter was also very arrogant and domineering.

  The loud laughter had just begun when it suddenly stopped. The Prince of Jingling stared coldly at Yingyan, slowly holding the jug to pour himself a drink. As the turbid wine flowed into his cup, he said calmly: "Shun? What does Shun have to do with this? I find the land of Qin to be fertile and vast, quite satisfactory."

  His voice was faint and calm, but as soon as he said this, the faces of the Qin people changed drastically. The young master of Qin, Ying Yi, stood up abruptly, his hands on the table, glaring at the Marquis of Jingling, shouting: "How dare you?"

  Ying Yan's voice was a bit urgent and chaotic. This time, the matter of coming to Jin was very important. He thought that his covert operation had been done well, and he also thought that Gongzi Jingling, who had just ascended to the throne, was still young and could be deceived. Neither he nor his guest scholar, nor his father, the Marquis Hou, had expected that this would lead to Gongzi Jingling declaring war directly!

  He actually declared war directly!

  He didn't even bother to inform Duke Jin, let alone care about the opinions of the various ministers of Jin State, and directly declared war on his own accord!

  Is it possible that in the entire state of Jin, there is no one who can hold him back? Neither people nor moral principles can hold him back.

  This guy has got some nerve!

  After his great anger, suddenly, a kind of fear came! Gongzi Jingling really didn't put Duke Jin in his eyes, nor did he put his brothers in his eyes! He completely did as he pleased!

  If a big war breaks out, wouldn't the Qin prince who has fallen into his hands become a hostage? The war between Qin and Jin was caused by him, wouldn't Father think that he is incompetent in handling affairs?

  All sorts of worries and concerns flooded his mind.

  Thinking and thinking, Ying Yan's face had turned white as paper, and his hands, which were resting on the table, began to tremble.

  Unconsciously, the swordsmen of Qin converged on their prince, surrounding him and protecting him. The swordsmen rested their hands on the hilts of their swords, scanning their surroundings with a posture that suggested they would draw their swords at the slightest provocation.

  The singing and dancing girls have not yet begun their performance, but the banquet has already become tense!

  All of this, the Duke of Jingling seemed to have not seen, he still smiled with great elegance. His white and slender hands stroked the green zither on the table, his eyes didn't lift, as if laughing and saying: "How come the Crown Prince can't stand steadily? Could it be that Mei Ji was too passionate last night, making the Crown Prince's legs weak?"

  No one could hear his joke, and all the Qin people were still staring at him.

  Jingling Gongzi took a light sip, then gently wiped the corner of his mouth with the handkerchief handed over by the servant girl. He put down the wine vessel and said calmly without raising his head: "It's just a joke, Your Highness is overthinking it. Qin and Jin being neighbors can indeed bring good fortune to both countries if they can make peace. Jingling is delighted for his father and Your Highness."

  His mouth was saying happy words, but his expression didn't show any sign of happiness.

  However, Ying Yan breathed a sigh of relief. What he feared most was becoming the hostage of the Duke of Jingling. Now that he said so, it would be over.

  Ying Yan supported the table, slowly sat down, and his thoughts surged: As long as he left Jinfeng Prefecture, he would immediately return to his country at the fastest speed! As for what was discussed with Duke Jin and Crown Prince Jin, it had just begun, and there was no conclusion yet! No need to consider it again - the person involved, Gongzi Jinfeng, already knew everything, what else was there to discuss?

  As for the two sisters, since they have already been brought here, let's first leave them in Jin State temporarily, and discuss the marriage alliance another day.

  Re-sitting well, Weng Yun waved his hand and ordered the swordsmen to retreat.

  At this point in the banquet, everyone was already distracted. The Duke of Jingling didn't mind either; he sat at the head of the table, elegantly sipping his wine and signaling for the music and dance to begin.

  The dancing girls danced numbly, the music was loud, but there was no laughter or human voice in the banquet, it was quiet and eerie.

  It is unknown what the Duke of Jingling was thinking, but he insisted on maintaining this banquet without anyone drinking until late at night. When he finally waved his hand and said that the banquet was dismissed, the clothes of the Qin people had been soaked with sweat and dried again, and then sweated again.

  And when they left, they were in a hurry, flustered and anxious, where was the calm and composed demeanor they had when they first arrived?