AEOGA CH80

Helian Yu’s fingers, painted in bright red nail polish, picked up an orange, peeled it slowly to reveal its orange-yellow flesh, and brought it to her red lips for a bite.

Sweet juice instantly burst in her mouth. The golden flesh was juicy, crisp, and refreshing—far sweeter than even the oranges of Xifeng.

A strange look flashed in Helian Yu’s eyes.

To be fair, this was the sweetest orange she had ever tasted.

Yet for Xifeng, this was no good news; it meant she had lost another bargaining chip for her negotiations.

Among the four nations, Leyang was surrounded by sea, occupying the safest geographical position. With thriving shipbuilding, fishing, incense-making, and embroidery industries, it engaged in foreign trade through seafood, spices, and embroidery products. Xifeng was affluent, serving as the largest exporter of rice, fruits, and vegetables, while boasting rich mineral veins and a prosperous economy. Changli leaned heavily into industry, monopolizing porcelain and paper-making. Due to its freezing climate requiring heavy clothing, its textile industry was also mature. Yelang’s agricultural economy was a joke, but it excelled in smelting and forging weapons, possessing formidable military strength alongside its ultimate killer weapon: Gu poison.

The moment she entered the hall, she had noticed that Changli’s people were dressed far better than those of Xifeng, adorned in silks and satins. The few bolts of Glimmering Silk they brought as tribute were likely less valuable than what Changli’s people wore on their backs.

That alone was nothing; Changli’s textile industry had always surpassed Xifeng’s. But for even their food and fruit to be this delicious…

Without Xifeng’s traded rice last year, Changli had still managed to weather the winter on its own. Not only was there no grain shortage, but even a surplus. She had heard they had acquired an extraordinary agricultural officer who could turn Changli’s barren soil into absolute miracles. Thus, growing such fruit was no longer a surprise.

However… with Changli quietly developing its agriculture and reducing its reliance on Xifeng, Xifeng’s position would become increasingly passive.

Moreover, Helian Yu had heard rumors that Changli had invented Mafei Powder, an anesthetic painkiller. With this medicine, Changli’s medical industry would become unmatched across the world. Paired with these rare culinary delicacies… given time, its economy would surely surpass Xifeng’s.

Helian Yu immediately adjusted her negotiation strategy.

Originally, she had intended to offer Xifeng’s grain and wealth as leverage to propose conditions for restoring diplomatic ties with Changli. But since Changli already possessed these, she had to pivot her approach—Yelang would not sit idly by while Changli grew rich and strong. Yelang would surely harass Changli just as it harassed Xifeng, giving the two nations a continued reason to ally.

Furthermore, there was another rumor everyone had heard. The Emperor of Changli had neglected his court for three years, wallowing in pleasure, leading neighboring nations to believe he was an incompetent ruler. Just as everyone waited for Changli to destroy itself, the Emperor suddenly announced that he had been afflicted by Gu poison for three years—the work of Yelang—and had now returned to normal.

It sounded utterly ridiculous, yet considering Yelang’s usual conduct, it seemed strangely plausible.

If the rumor was false, perhaps the Emperor of Changli was simply framing Yelang to wash his hands of three years of neglectful rule. If true, Changli held a hatred for Yelang far deeper than Xifeng’s.

Either way, Changli and Yelang were irreconcilable foes. Yet with Changli’s current military force, it was no match for Yelang’s iron cavalry. Though Xifeng’s military was even weaker, it had long supplied Yelang with grain under physical coercion. War relied most heavily on grain and provisions. If the two nations allied, and Xifeng cut off Yelang’s grain supply during a clash between Changli and Yelang…

Changli would have no reason to refuse cooperation.

—In truth, Yelang knew this as well, which was why it frequently sowed discord between the two nations to keep them from uniting. Yelang periodically borrowed passage through Changli’s borders to attack Xifeng out in the open, making Xifeng view Changli as a bystander and fostering resentment. Her Imperial Mother had fallen for the scheme, foolishly waging war on Changli and severing ties with an ally.

As long as she laid out the stakes clearly, and as long as the Emperor of Changli was reasonable…

In the time it took to eat an orange, ten thousand thoughts flashed through Helian Yu’s mind.

Organizing her words, she stood up with a solemn expression and said, “Helian Yu comes on her Imperial Mother’s orders, with one more matter to discuss with Your Majesty.”

Xie Chongjin said, “Speak freely.”

Helian Yu spoke methodically: “Our humble nation and your noble country have been friendly allies since ancient times. Incited by Yelang, my Imperial Mother made a wrong decision, harming an old friend instead of confronting the true enemy, for which she is deeply regretful. She specifically dispatched envoys to convey our intent: Xifeng wishes to restore good relations with Changli. If your noble country is willing to set aside past grievances, our humble nation is willing to gift additional silver and grain. Once trade resumes, we shall sell at low prices and buy at high prices to express our apologies. All we ask is that when Yelang harasses Xifeng’s borders again, your noble country does not grant them passage.”

Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao exchanged a glance.

This had never happened in their past lives.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Xuechao leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Times have changed. Changli’s revitalization differs from our past lives, so the Empress Regnant naturally seeks protection.”

Every nation had spies abroad. In less than a year, Xie Chongjin had given a crumbling dynasty a brand-new face, developing its scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants at a terrifying speed.

Yelang remained still only because Changli had outwardly developed only its agriculture and economy, while its military appeared stagnant. The secret development of repeating crossbows and gunpowder weapons remained hidden, nor had Lu Xuechao revealed his ability to cure Gu poison. Training a few troops did not alter the macro situation, so Yelang still believed itself to be the strongest power. Having long abandoned their own agricultural economy, they preferred other nations to prosper so they could directly plunder the fruits of their labor.

As for the news that Changli’s Emperor claimed to have been poisoned by Yelang’s Gu, but had fortunately found someone to cure it, it had naturally reached Yelang’s ears. Yelang truly hadn’t done it, and after much discussion, they unanimously agreed that Changli was slandering their reputation to stir hatred among its populace. Changli claimed to have a cure, yet Yelang’s spies had searched for so long without finding such a person. Since everyone knew Yelang used Gu poison as a military tactic, the Emperor of Changli was likely putting up an empty fort strategy with fake news to make Yelang hesitate.

For this, many Yelang nobles even mocked Changli, believing Changli had been so terrified by their Gu in the war a century ago that it fabricated such an absurd story.

They refrained from launching an invasion only because Yelang had not yet developed repeating crossbows, nor had they completed their invincible army of living corpses, which was still undergoing secret human experiments… Once they possessed absolute strength to crush the three nations, they would launch an all-out war without hesitation.

Though the Empress Regnant of Xifeng was tyrannical, she was not stupid, and she valued her life dearly. With no generals left in Xifeng capable of taking the field besides Helian Yu, seeking an ally barely able to stand against Yelang was only natural.

Lu Xuechao could say with certainty that if Changli grew to its peak and became stronger than Yelang, the situation would immediately shift to an alliance between Yelang and Xifeng to pincer Changli. What was a feud compared to current and future survival?

At present, however, an alliance between Xifeng and Changli was the optimal choice.

Xie Chongjin replied softly, “I understand.”

He paused, then suddenly smiled: “Qingshu, does this count as us… changing the game’s plot?”

Only now did he feel a sense of reality.

He had witnessed Changli’s decline countless times, able only to stand by as a bystander—just as he had watched Qingshu, the common folk, and everyone in the palace die, watching Changli perish.

Yet this time, he could feel Changli slowly revitalizing in his hands. This riddled empire was gradually recovering through their efforts.

The plot had changed. Xifeng taking the initiative to restore diplomatic ties was the beginning of altering the timeline.

Because they allowed all the Plot Consorts to utilize their talents and fulfill their duties, Changli had revitalized, bringing about this small change.

Their initial approach had been correct.

Lu Xuechao let out a soft laugh: “Yes.”

…

Despite the excitement in his heart over altering the fixed plot, Xie Chongjin’s face remained calm.

“We shall consider this matter and discuss it later.”

Helian Yu’s intent was for Xifeng to support Changli economically, while Changli offered Xifeng military protection. Though Changli’s military was not as strong as Yelang’s, it could at least fight, unlike Xifeng, which lacked all defense.

When Helian Yu repelled Yelang’s forces in the past, she had relied on strategy or taking the enemy commander’s head, never a head-on clash. If a true war broke out between the two, Xifeng would surely lose.

Changli was filled with scholars and refined industries like porcelain and paper-making. Yelang prized brute force, having no taste for porcelain or paper, preferring weapons instead. Though Changli had vast territory, half was barren wasteland and half was bitterly cold, lacking good resources, so Yelang didn’t bother conquering it.

Xifeng, rich in money and grain, was the fat sheep they lusted after. But to conquer Xifeng, Yelang had to march its armies through Changli. Secondly, if Xifeng were conquered, Changli would be surrounded by Yelang territory on both sides, making its own demise inevitable; thus, Changli could never let Yelang succeed.

To conquer Xifeng, Yelang had to conquer Changli first.

And if Yelang launched a full-scale invasion of Changli, Xifeng would send troops to assist for its own safety. If the continent were unified, Leyang across the sea would no longer be safe either, turning the situation into Yelang against three nations.

Before developing stronger weapons, Yelang would not wage massive warfare directly toward the capital. Instead, it would harass the borders, forcing Xifeng to sign unequal peace treaties to extort wealth and grain. Changli had never meddled in such minor skirmishes.

Xifeng used to have two military houses guarding it. Now, the Zheng clan had been executed in its entirety, and the Wen family was sidelined. Had Helian Yu not stepped up, Xifeng would have lost everything.

No matter how prosperous a nation was, it could not withstand such banditry. Xifeng’s people earned high incomes, but taxes were equally high, all used to pay indemnities for peace, leaving their lives miserable.

Having Changli block Yelang’s forces while Xifeng made massive economic concessions was not a bad deal. At this point, Yelang had neither repeating crossbows nor an army of living corpses, whereas Changli had taken the lead in developing secret weapons. Though still being refined, their power was already immense.

Even Yelang’s most terrifying Gu poison could be cured by Lu Xuechao.

Yet Xie Chongjin did not agree immediately.

How could one throw out all their trump cards at once?

Moreover, there was more he needed to negotiate with Helian Yu—conversations best held in private.

Hearing this, Helian Yu felt no disappointment. Such major decisions were naturally not answered in a moment; taking time to deliberate was expected.

Not being rejected on the spot meant there was hope. After all, she would be staying in Changli for a few days.