The First Marquis of Leisure

Soon, news spread that the State of Zhao had ceded sixteen cities in Nanjun to the State of Yan, and that Princess Zhao Sisi had been chosen to marry into the State of Yan as part of a peace treaty.

Arrangements for marriage alliances were inherently shameful, and Zhao Tianhe never agreed to such an arrangement during his reign.

Why did Zhao, which had won the poetry competition, still insist on a marriage alliance with Yan?

That's alright, especially considering the cession of sixteen cities in Nanjun to the Yan state.

This news was so shocking that it ignited public outrage.

Many ordinary people took to the streets, angrily denouncing Li Taibei, who was in charge of the matter, as a traitor to the Zhao state and a betrayer of its interests!

Ordinary people dared not blaspheme the emperor in the street, but they dared to curse the prime minister.

"I had long heard that Li Taibei was treacherous and cunning, adept at manipulating power, but I never imagined he was such a beast, actually ceding sixteen cities of our Great Zhao's Southern Commandery to the Yan Kingdom!"

"Bah, he deserves to be childless and without descendants. It was good that the Marquis's heir castrated the Li family's young master back then!"

The people were furious, and even many officials from other places despised Li Taibei.

The sixteen cities of Nanjun were extremely important to the State of Zhao. If Zhao lost the sixteen cities of Nanjun, it would be like losing more than half of its territory!

Hearing the insults and angry cries from the outside world, Li Taibei had no way to express his suffering.

He was completely taking the blame for Zhao Xing, but he had no way to defend himself.

In a fit of anger, he had no choice but to issue an order to the Nine Gates Commander's Office.

Anyone who dares to discuss this matter will have their entire family executed!

Only through ruthless and bloody means can the anger of the people be temporarily suppressed!

At this moment, in the death row.

The jailer who had accepted Bai Xinghe's silver notes also secretly brought the news.

When everyone learned of these two things, they were shocked and stood up to condemn them.

"Zhao Xing is not only brutal and bloodthirsty, but also utterly incompetent!"

"Beast! It's a pity that the great Zhao dynasty is truly going to be ruined in this beast's hands!"

The Third Prince and the Eighth Prince cursed loudly.

Bai Xinghe was also unusually angry. The cession of the sixteen cities of Nanjun was none of his business, and he would not care even if the Zhao Kingdom were to perish.

What angered him was that Zhao Sisi was actually sent to the Yan Kingdom as a pawn in a political marriage.

He had read many history books and knew that marriage alliances were far from the wonderful things depicted in history books!

Besides, he had long harbored a strange feeling towards Zhao Sisi.

"It's said that the cession of the sixteen cities of Nanjun was the Prime Minister's idea, and the suggestion to send the princess in place of the princess for a marriage alliance was made by the Eldest Princess!"

The jailer told him everything he knew and then left.

"Father, Brother Bai, Elder Zhang, I don't want to marry into the Yan Kingdom, even if it means death."

Zhao Sisi was extremely flustered, her eyes were red, and she hugged the Eighth Prince tightly.

"Sisi, your father is powerless and unable to protect you." The Eighth Prince was also helpless and kept sighing.

He was originally a carefree prince, powerless and without influence, unable even to protect his own daughter.

"Brother Bai, I would rather die with you than marry into the Yan Kingdom."

Zhao Sisi suddenly became strong, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, looked at Bai Xinghe, and her eyes were filled with determination at this moment.

Bai Xinghe also felt uneasy, although he had a premonition that Bai Heng, Bai Shuang, and Bai Li would definitely take some action.

But now he's trapped in a death row, and there's nothing he can do.

Therefore, he could only gently comfort Zhao Sisi: "Don't be afraid, everything will be alright."

It was at this time that someone arrived at the death row.

The person who arrived was Zhao Feishuang, who was accompanied by several court officials.

Upon seeing Zhao Feishuang, Zhao Feng stood up.

"Zhao Feishuang, what are you doing here? You have failed to live up to Father Emperor's favor!"

Zhao Feishuang's face turned ashen, and she couldn't say anything. She had only helped Zhao Xing usurp the throne, but she never imagined that Zhao Xing would kill the emperor, and so cruelly at that.

In a single day, almost all the court officials were executed.

"Third Brother, I've come to see you off on your final journey, and also to take Sisi with me. She's going to marry into the Yan Kingdom as part of a political alliance!"

"You're dreaming!"

"You dare touch Sisi!"

Zhao Feng clenched his fists, and the Eighth Prince also stepped forward, protecting Zhao Sisi behind him.

Bai Xinghe stared coldly at Zhao Feishuang, and Zhao Feishuang snorted coldly upon seeing Bai Xinghe's gaze.

"Bai Xinghe, this time no one can save you!"

"I've said it before, I want to see him torn to pieces!"

Bai Xinghe did not answer, and just stood there quietly.

"Third Brother, Eighth Uncle, you'd better step aside. At least Sisi can save her life if she marries into the Yan Kingdom for a political marriage. Are you suggesting she be executed by slow slicing tomorrow along with you?"

Zhao Feishuang hit the nail on the head; this is indeed a cruel problem.

Bai Xinghe was just thinking about this question too; no man can bear to see the woman he loves become someone else's.

But if we don't do this, we're doomed!

"No, I'd rather die with Brother Bai and Father than go to Yan!"

Zhao Sisi's attitude was very firm, making her stance clear.

"Hehe." Zhao Feishuang chuckled and ordered the jailer to open the cell door and forcibly take the person out.

"That's not up to you. Besides, Lord Feng of Yan seems to be quite satisfied with you."

"I'm not going, I'd rather die than go!" Zhao Sisi gripped Bai Xinghe's hand tightly.

Bai Xinghe was under special care and was covered in shackles, making it impossible for him to move.

Besides, he really couldn't bear to watch Zhao Sisi and the others be subjected to slow slicing together.

"Brother Bai!"

Zhao Sisi cried and shouted loudly, but Bai Xinghe's hand slowly loosened until Zhao Sisi was forcibly taken away.

After Zhao Feishuang ordered her men to forcibly take Zhao Sisi away, Bai Xinghe gritted his teeth, feeling utterly helpless for the first time.

The Eighth Prince remained silent, while the others were indignant but powerless to do anything about it.

.......

Night deepened.

In the mountains and forests a hundred miles from the capital, the mournful sound of horses' hooves echoed.

A strong aura of killing intent surged into the sky, and three robust figures clad in white armor rode warhorses at breakneck speed toward the capital.

Behind the three figures, eight hundred cavalrymen, all fully armed and dressed in identical white armor, followed closely behind.

"General, we have traveled a thousand li in two days, and we are exhausted. Should we rest and regroup? We are only a hundred li away from the capital!"

At this moment, a lieutenant rode over on horseback to ask for instructions.

"No, we can't delay a moment longer!"

"If anything happens to our young master, how will we face General Bai after we die!"

"Pass down the order: depart immediately!"

The three were Bai Heng, Bai Shuang, and Bai Li!

That evening, with little time left in the day, he called the three of them in and entrusted them with an important matter.

Although Bai Tianque was a military general, he was also well-versed in court intrigues!

He knew that he had great prestige and commanded all the elite troops of the Zhao state.

Zhao Tianhe showed him great favor, but serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; sooner or later, the birds will be discarded and the bow put away.

So over the years, while he was fighting, he also used his salary and the emperor's rewards to privately train eight hundred personal guards.

These eight hundred men were all heavily armored cavalrymen, scattered along the border of the Great Zhao, and all of them were well-trained veterans!

Therefore, before his death, Bai Tianque instructed the three men to set off immediately to gather the eight hundred cavalrymen, just in case.

Bai Tianque was well aware that if he died, the Marquis's mansion would inevitably face retaliation from Li Taibei and others.

Indeed, it was exactly as expected, but Bai Tian had no idea that the situation in Zhao would evolve into what it is now!