Before Heavenly Gate City.
After only a moment of silence.
Ashina spoke again. "Your Highness, could some of the eighteen tribes' allied forces be spared?"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning gave Ashina another appraising look.
"I really wasn't wrong about you!"
"Since Your Highness has given me an opportunity, I must do my utmost to seize it!" Ashina said, lowering her head.
Jiang Ning nodded. "I'll help you with this!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Ashina bowed to Jiang Ning in respect.
Then she added, "I will relay Your Highness's wishes to the Royal Court. My eldest brother will likely deliver the ransom for the Snow Dragon Cavalry himself."
"That eldest brother of yours is the Northern Barbarian Royal Court's first heir, isn't he?" Jiang Ning asked.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Ashina replied.
At that, Jiang Ning looked Ashina over again, reassessing her.
"Please lend me your aid when the time comes, Your Highness! My eldest brother and father have not witnessed your divine might. They are bound to hold something back when they deliver the Royal Court's resources! If I take power, I will offer you resources without reservation as a token of my sincerity. From then on, the Royal Court will bow before you, offering thirty percent of the resources it acquires on the grasslands each year, paying tribute to you for generations."
"You certainly are ruthless. In mere moments, you've made your plans with such an easy conscience," Jiang Ning said.
Hearing this, Ashina inwardly sensed trouble.
She knew that anyone would grow wary of someone beside them who could disregard the bonds of blood, even coming to feel revulsion and disgust. This concerned human nature, not whether the other person was good or evil.
"You misunderstand, Your Highness!" She hurriedly raised her head and looked straight into Jiang Ning's