The Royal Palace of Han.
King Han An's face was etched with worry and unease. Looking down at the ministers assembled in the hall, he asked, "Now that Qin's envoy has died within our borders, what are we to do?"
With Qin's envoy dead in Han, Han bore responsibility, both morally and logically. Who had killed the envoy no longer mattered. Qin had every justification to send its armies against Han.
Chancellor Zhang Kaidi stepped forward and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I believe we must apprehend the murderer and hand him over to Qin. Only then can we avert a conflict between our two states."
"Then who exactly murdered Qin's envoy?"
Zhang Kaidi's gaze hardened. In a low voice, he said, "A surviving remnant of Baiyue-Tian Ze."
The folds of flesh on King Han An's face twitched, and his eyes widened. A moment later, he clenched his fists, disbelief written across his face. "That man is still alive?"
Tian Ze, Baiyue's deposed Crown Prince-hadn't he died more than ten years ago, without even an intact corpse left behind?
King Han An could hardly forget. After all, it was the campaign that wiped out Baiyue's Royal Family that had secured his rightful position as Han's heir and allowed him to ascend to this supreme throne.
Zhang Kaidi lowered his head. "Indeed, it is him. Though I do not know how Tian Ze survived, one thing is certain: this act is a provocation against Han, a deliberate attempt to spark a war between Qin and Han."
Ji Wuye was the first to speak, his shock turning to fury as he ground his teeth. "What? How dare he!"
Although he had ordered Bai Yifei to release Tian Ze, it had only been to deal with Han Fei and his companions, while also using