Chapter 218 The Twentieth Day of Entering a Rebirth Novel

Chapter 218: The Twentieth Day of Transmigrating into a Rebirth Novel

Crown Prince Qi Haocang frowned slightly and introduced on his behalf, "This is the National Preceptor of our Great Ming, Real Person An Yi."

"National Preceptor?" The Second Prince raised an eyebrow. The grassland tribes also believed in shamanic spirits, so they naturally held some wariness toward a figure like the National Preceptor, but he trusted more in his own martial prowess and the tribe's Beki.

He made a curt bow toward An Yi as a greeting, then turned back to the Emperor, continuing to press the advantages of a marriage alliance, even adding a hint of threat in his words, as if refusal meant the Great Ming had no sincere desire for peace.

The Old Emperor, aggravated by the commotion, was torn—he didn't want to marry off his daughter, but he also feared renewed border conflicts that would disrupt his cultivation. He instinctively deferred the question to An Yi: "National Preceptor, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on An Yi.

An Yi, meeting their eyes, rose slowly, his black Daoist robe making him stand as straight as a pine.

He looked calmly at the Emperor and spoke in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable."

His reply was direct, leaving no room for negotiation.

The barbarian envoys erupted in uproar, several showing anger.

The envoy who had earlier spoken sneered, "What authority the National Preceptor has! But may I ask, is this the National Preceptor's own opinion, or that of His Majesty the Great Ming Emperor?"

"We come with sincere intent to request a marriage alliance, to secure eternal friendship between our states. Why does the National Preceptor block us? Could it be that you think our steppe warriors are unworthy of the noble ladies of the Celestial Empire? Or... is it that the Celestial Empire, though seemingly strong, is actually cowardly at heart, unwilling to part with even a single woman?"

"How dare you!"

"How dare you barbarians speak such insolence!"

A wave of anger surged among the Ming officials. Several hotheaded generals pounded the table and leaped up, cursing the envoy.

Even some civil officials looked indignant.

Of course, a few thought a marriage alliance might secure peace, but amid the heated atmosphere, they dared not voice their opinions.

The Second Prince, noticing that many Ming officials instinctively glanced at An Yi's expression before roaring, deliberately stirred the pot:

"His Majesty has not yet spoken, yet at the National Preceptor's single word, you all react like this? Could it be that the National Preceptor's words hold more weight here than the Emperor's?"

This struck at the Emperor's most sensitive point.

The old emperor's face instantly clouded, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes.

Though he trusted An Yi, he would never allow anyone to challenge his imperial authority.

He slammed the armrest of his dragon throne and said in a deep voice, "All of you, be silent! Shouting and quarreling—what kind of decorum is this?"

The clamor in the hall was momentarily suppressed, but the atmosphere grew even more tense.

An Yi looked at the Second Prince and suddenly gave a faint smile.

The smile was still gentle, even with a hint of casual ease, but when it fell upon the Second Prince, it inexplicably sent a chill through his whole body, as if he had been targeted by some extremely dangerous beast. Cold sweat broke out on his back.

He felt that this seemingly frail, pale-faced National Preceptor was... somehow eerily terrifying.

Seeing the emperor waver, the earlier barbarian envoy secretly rejoiced. He stepped forward again, pressing the marriage offer more fervently, even making exorbitant demands—specifying a legitimate princess and a huge dowry.

He heaped praise on the old emperor, calling him a sage ruler for the ages who would surely care for all under heaven.

The old emperor, pleased, actually showed signs of leaning toward the idea as he looked at the envoy.

An Yi closed his eyes, then opened them once more.

He stood up, his dark sleeves billowing without wind: "This matter is absolutely unacceptable."

He turned to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, our Great Ming stands on the might of our armies, the majesty of Heaven, the devotion of our soldiers, and the loyalty of our people—not by sacrificing women to purchase a fleeting peace!"

"Once this precedent is set, our national dignity will suffer, our backbone will be broken. The iron pen of history will judge Your Majesty. Moreover, the barbarians are fickle—they marry today and tear up treaties tomorrow. What will become of the princess we sent then? I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

His words struck home, stirring hearts, and many officials silently applauded.

But the barbarian envoy refused to yield, retorting stubbornly: "National Preceptor, you are mistaken! Marriage alliances are a wonderful thing—how can they be called sacrifice? I think the National Preceptor is prejudiced, deliberately sabotaging friendly relations between our states! Could it be that the National Preceptor looks down on the sons of the steppes? Are you not afraid of reigniting war?!"

An Yi had no wish to waste more words.

He knew that for these barbarians, who believed in the law of the jungle, only absolute power could instill fear and thoroughly shatter their fanciful ideas.

He half-turned, looking back at the envoy who still would not shut up. His expressionless face flickered in the dim light of the palace lanterns.

"Enough," he said softly, yet his voice cut through the envoy's chatter like a blade.

"How dare you babble here?!"

Before the words had faded, An Yi, with a casual wave of his wide, dark sleeve toward the untouched imperial wine cup on the table before him, made the wine inside rise as a crystalline stream, spiraling upward!

The stream started as thin as a finger, winding through the air.

But in the next instant, as if breaking some container's limits, it began to expand and grow visibly!

More and more water poured out endlessly from that small jade cup, as if the cup's bottom were connected to a boundless ocean!

This... how is this possible?!

How... how could the wine in the cup...?

A divine feat! This was truly a divine feat!

Everyone was petrified, staring dumbfounded, minds blank.

Civil and military officials, barbarian envoys, princes and princesses, even the Emperor on his throne—all were frozen like statues, eyes wide as bells, fixed on the scene that defied all reason!

In the span of a few breaths, the water had transformed into a surging, half-man-high massive water vortex, swirling in midair in the hall. The water roared, reflecting the surrounding lights, casting a hypnotic, dreamlike yet terrifying radiance!

An Yi cast a cold, indifferent glance at the envoy, who was already pale as death and trembling like a leaf.

The massive water vortex, as if alive, roared and lunged toward the envoy!

Before the envoy could even scream, he was completely engulfed by the colossal current!

The water spun and compressed rapidly, producing a grinding, grating sound.

Then, before countless horrified eyes, the huge mass of water containing the man, from outside in, instantly froze!

It transformed into a huge, crystal-clear ice sculpture, radiating a chilling cold!