"Your Majesty is wise! Please look this over. The royal seal will be presented shortly, and Bofu will remain here to facilitate communication!"
Before long, Sun Jian and his son, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and the others returned to the hall. With a complicated expression, Sun Jian presented a scroll of golden silk bearing their declaration of surrender and the signatures of all four men.
Xiao Ying drew it over with a wave of his hand, glanced through it, then rose and said:
"Good! Later, I will send the two princesses, Xiao Huaiying and Xiao Nianying, the Carefree Evil King, Xiao Fengxuan, the Heaven-Questioning Marquis, Xiao He, and the Wisdom Marquis, Chengshalina. You may discuss the details among yourselves!"
He paused, then looked at the somewhat reluctant Sun Ce and said with a smile:
"I naturally trust the Sun Clan's word. There is no need for Bofu to remain! It would indeed be a pity not to take part personally in something so momentous!"
"Ah?!"
Sun Jian, Zhou Yu, and the others from the Wu State froze, looking at Xiao Ying in bewilderment. He needed no hostages? Or was Sun Shangxiang alone enough?!
"Thank you for your boundless grace, Your Majesty!"
Overjoyed, Sun Ce immediately fell to his knees and cried out, as though afraid Xiao Ying might change his mind.
Sun Jian was the King of Wu and certainly had to appear in person for a matter concerning the Wu State's survival and fortunes. Zhou Yu and Lu Su, meanwhile, lacked sufficient standing, so Sun Ce could only remain behind as a hostage. This had disappointed him bitterly, though he had expected it.
Now that Xiao Ying was willing to let him leave without serving as a hostage, Sun Ce was naturally wild with joy!
It was worth mentioning