Song Qingshu's face darkened. "No, you heard wrong."
Although Madam Zhen did not think she had misheard anything, she now revered him almost like a god. Since he said so, she suppressed her doubts.
Song Qingshu gave a light cough and introduced both sides to each other. When Zhalandin first saw the pretty young girl, he had not thought much of her. But upon hearing that she could represent the Jin Dynasty, he immediately put away his contempt.
Even from faraway India, he had heard that the Jin Dynasty was the Mongol Empire's greatest enemy in the Central Plains. Establishing ties with the Jin Dynasty during this trip to Western Xia had been one of his primary goals.
Wanyan Chongjie curled her lips, thinking that she was more suited to being a ceremonial mascot than representing the Jin Dynasty. Still, she understood that Song Qingshu did not want to step into the spotlight, so she tacitly accepted it.
As Song Qingshu introduced the two sides, he sent someone to invite Galdan and the others over. He had not summoned the people from Western Xia and Qing because he had thought it through carefully. Western Xia was currently too close to the Mongol Empire and constantly threatened by its military might, so it was not yet suitable for them to openly break with the Mongols. As for the Qing side, he did not wish to expose their connection for the time being.
Zhalandin, meanwhile, was overjoyed at the news. Though the Jin Dynasty was powerful, it was too far from Khwarazm; distant water could not quench immediate thirst. The Dzungar Khanate was different. It was quite close to Khwarazm, and there were far more opportunities for cooperation between them.
Madam Zhen blinked as she looked at Song Qingshu, utterly admiring him