Chapter 147 - 133 You Must Stay by My Side as a Hostagei
Lu Chen seemed utterly unaffected by the tense atmosphere surrounding him as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance at the Wanning River.
“Queen Yelv, I have a question for you. What was the initial reason you attacked North City?”
Upon hearing Lu Chen’s sudden question, Yelv Nanyan grew even more puzzled. What was the point in asking such a question at a time like this?
She simply couldn’t fathom what the young man, more than a decade her junior, was thinking.
Nevertheless, Yelv Nanyan eventually responded, “North City is surrounded by mountains, which block the northern winds, and it’s rich in rivers. It’s a treasure of land. Since Great Sum treats North Land with such disregard, why shouldn’t we take it for ourselves?”
Lu Chen’s face remained calm as he said, “Your answer has a flaw. It sounds like you’re saying that you attacked North City for its land.”
This…
When Lu Chen said this, some of the Barbarian Tribe Elders were confused. Weren’t they attacking North City precisely for its land? How had the North Prince managed to suggest that their objective in attacking North City had somehow changed?
At that point, Yelv Nanyan asked, “Oh? Then, North Prince, what do you think our reason was for attacking North City?”
Lu Chen continued, “You did it for a better living environment, for the chance to have the same beautiful life as Great Sum, and that’s why you attacked North City.”
This…
Yelv Nanyan did not rebut, for Lu Chen was right.
If it had been in the past, the Barbarian Tribe would descend south to plunder mainly for food and women, but this time was different. This time they were establishing a nation to secure the same beautiful life as Great Sum.
Lu Chen then said, “This king can offer you an opportunity to change your living environment.”
Hmm?
Yelv Nanyan suddenly felt she was struggling to keep up with the young man’s thoughts upon hearing this unexpected proposition from Lu Chen.
Yelv Nanyan then asked, “Would the North Prince be so benevolent?”
Lu Chen went on to say, “I’ve heard that under Queen Yelv’s leadership, the Sky Wolf King Tribe has been learning from Great Sum. Many people have adopted the same living habits as those in Great Sum, and the majority have even learned the language of Great Sum.”
” Out of benevolence, I believe you are worthy of becoming citizens of Great Sum. Therefore, I permit the Sky Wolf King Tribe to relocate and settle in North City.”
His words exploded like a bombshell.
The Barbarians behind Yelv Nanyan were instantly unsettled by this proclamation, bursting into a flurry of discussion.
“The North Prince is allowing us to move into North City? How is this possible?”
“It must be fake, definitely fake. He must be plotting to wipe us out in one fell swoop!”
“How could the North Prince possibly be so kindhearted!”
“Exactly, we just fought a battle against North City and lost so many lives. He couldn’t possibly be so kindhearted!”
Unlike the agitated Barbarian Tribe behind her, Yelv Nanyan fell into deep thought. After a long silence, Yelv Nanyan finally spoke up, “The people of Great Sum often say that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Since the North Prince has allowed the Sky Wolf King Tribe to move into North City, what are the conditions?”
Setting aside the possibility of any conspiracies for the moment, Yelv Nanyan decided to hear out the North Prince’s conditions first. If the North Prince had already prepared the conditions, then they could discern from them whether he harbored any ulterior motives.
After hearing Yelv Nanyan’s question, Lu Chen turned his head to look at Yelv Nanyan and Xiao Wenyao before saying, “Indeed, there’s no such thing as free pies falling from the sky.”
“Ido have several conditions for allowing the Sky Wolf King Tribe to move into North City.”
“The first one concerns you and the Sky Wolf King’s daughter.”
Upon hearing this, Yelv Nanyan and Xiao Wenyao were both startled, their delicate bodies trembling slightly. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing and stared at Lu Chen’s eyes in disbelief.
Regaining her composure, Yelv Nanyan asked with a smile, “Is the North Prince jesting?”
Lu Chen said, “As to what kind of person I am, Queen Yelv should be very clear. I have a fondness for beauty, which is common knowledge. Thankfully, Queen Yelv and the young princess beside you are just my type.”
“Of course, that’s not the most important point. The most important thing is that you are the Sky Wolf King’s queen and hold great power in the Sky Wolf King Tribe. You’re one of the most important figures there, so you must stay with me as a hostage.”
No sooner than Lu Chen had spoken these words did the Elders behind Yelv Nanyan start to protest.
“Queen, you must not agree!”
“Yes, Queen, if you’re not in the tribe, our tribe will truly be finished!”
“Queen, don’t fall for the North Prince’s trick; he surely has ill intentions!”
The significance of Yelv Nanyan was clear. The prosperity of the Sky Wolf King Tribe today couldn’t be separated from Yelv Nanyan, although the defeat of the thirty-thousand-strong Barbarian Army at North City also had a lot to do with her decisions.
However, the people of the Sky Wolf King Tribe had no intention of blaming Yelv Nanyan. On the contrary, at that moment, Yelv Nanyan became even more important to them—she was at the core of their power and the hope of the entire tribe.
If Yelv Nanyan were to leave the Sky Wolf King Tribe, once the tribespeople learned of the defeat of the Barbarian Army, the morale of the whole tribe would collapse, and the Sky Wolf King Tribe wouldn’t last much longer.
Yelv Nanyan did not heed the words of the Elders behind her; she was contemplating the truth behind Lu Chen’s words.
After a while, Yelv Nanyan spoke up, “Aside from the first condition, may I know what the other conditions are?”