"Outrageous!" The Yuheng Envoy could not help slamming the table and rising to her feet. Though Seven Stars was in an extremely unfavorable position, negotiations were supposed to be a process of asking the sky and haggling back to earth. Yet this was the first time she had encountered such "bargaining." Disband Seven Stars? How was that any different from total ruin?
"Please mind your words, Your Excellency," Qian warned sternly.
"Are you about to say, how is that any different from ruin?" Xia Fan did not seem bothered by her reaction. His tone was so calm that it sent a shiver down Chu Pu's spine. "The difference is that, in the former case, you have a chance to merge into the new era. At the very least, you may preserve your lives. In the latter case, the outcome will be much harder to predict."
Chu Pu's face alternated between red and white. Before coming here, she had considered many possible plans. So long as Xu State could be preserved, they could even yield the rest of their territory. After all, the Heavenly Court remained in Seven Stars' hands. If they could trade it for one or two precious years of truce, there might yet be a turning point. Given Qi State's appetite, swallowing the Six States in one bite should not have been possible. The odds of an agreement between the two sides had not been low.
Yet none of her plans had accounted for this possibility.
Qi State did not care how much territory it gained. It simply wanted Seven Stars to vanish.
"Tell me, what was Seven Stars founded for?" Xia Fan abruptly changed the subject.
"Uh..." The Yuheng Envoy froze slightly before instinctively replying, "To replace the decayed monarchy and create an era led by Qi