Quan Dean nodded slowly. "What others say doesn't matter. What matters is what you do. Will you accept this Imperial Decree or not?"
Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing. "You're as overbearing as ever, Eunuch Quan. Are you planning to force me?"
"I wouldn't dare. You now rule a domain of your own, and even Xingzhou has fallen into your hands. Who would dare force you to do anything?"
Hu Xiaotian set down his teacup and said unhurriedly, "You certainly are well informed. I had barely taken Xingzhou before you arrived. Did you come from Yunyang?"
Quan Dean shook his head. "We were originally heading to Eastern Liang Commandery to see you, but when we heard that you had marched on Xingzhou, we came looking for you here instead." Hu Xiaotian's capture of Xingzhou had indeed caught them by surprise.
Hu Xiaotian glanced at the Imperial Decree. "Is this thing meant to fool children?" Qiqi's attempt to frame him in the Kang Capital was still fresh in his memory. He would never believe that the girl had suddenly found her conscience. There had to be an ulterior motive behind this overture.
Quan Dean said, "If Her Highness truly wanted to deal with you, she would only need to join forces with Great Yong. You would have no chance of maintaining a foothold on the Yong River." His words remained aggressive, his manner exceedingly forceful.
Hu Xiaotian laughed scornfully. "Then go ahead and try. Joining forces with Great Yong would be dancing with wolves. There's no telling who would suffer greater losses in the end."
Seeing that Hu Xiaotian was utterly unfazed by his threats, Quan Dean grew less overbearing than before. He raised his teacup and drank in silence, adjusting the pace of their conversation to ease the atmosphere of drawn