Cheng Gang waved to Cao Yu, who had just entered, "Hurry up and sit down for some tea."
The moment Cao Yu stepped into the hall, he had already noticed the three people who entered.
Apart from Duke Lin, who looked somewhat familiar, he didn't recognize the other two.
Upon closer inspection, one of the women was a beautiful woman whose elegant dress accentuated her noble demeanor.
Looks like there's going to be some good drama!
Cao Yu chuckled.
He pulled out an empty chair and joined Cheng Gang and Xu Tianshui.
Because of Cao Yu's arrival, Xu Jiawei's conversation with them was temporarily put on hold.
At this moment, Duke Xuesha, Duke Lin, and Vina all looked at Cao Yu. This must be the legendary Chancellor Cao!
I didn't expect her to be so young.
And he's so handsome.
Even Duke Lin, who had met Cao Yu before, was somewhat surprised.
It's been decades since I've seen it.
Unexpectedly, he turned out to be a handsome young man. Duke Lin glanced at Princess Vina.
What a pity.
If Vina and Cao Yu had been brought together sooner, this day might never have come.
"Greetings, Chancellor Cao!"
The three men bowed slightly to Cao Yu with respectful manners, and Xu Jiawei chuckled softly:
"Alright."
"What is the purpose of your visit to me, the three of you?"
"Hurry up and speak, I still need to discuss state affairs with Minister Cao and the others later."
The three of them immediately realized Xu Jiawei's urging, and it was clear that Xu Jiawei was getting impatient.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Duke Lin spoke first, "Your Majesty, we have come here today to discuss the issue of the survival of the royal family."
"We are hoping that, for the sake of this small gift, Your Majesty will allow the Heaven Dou Empire to be restored."
"Of course, as another condition, our Heaven Dou Empire is willing to submit to you permanently."
Seeing that the opportunity had arrived, Duke Xuesha, who was standing to the side, hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, our Dou Ling Empire is the same."
As their gazes met, the pressure in the arena increased slightly. Xu Jiawei smiled and said:
"Hehe!"
"That's actually quite interesting."
A moment later, Xu Jiawei looked at Cao Yu and the others and asked:
"My beloved ministers, what do you think?"
How do you see it?
Of course, we'll just sit and watch.
"Your Majesty, why bother getting entangled with them? Once we unify the continent, not only will these gifts be yours, but their national treasuries will also belong to Your Majesty." Cheng Gang, true to his straightforward nature, spoke these words in front of everyone.
This shows that he didn't want to give Vina and the other two any face, after all, they were people from a fallen country.
A person who has no value whatsoever.
They actually dared to come and make demands.
How ridiculous! Ha!
Upon seeing this, the smiles on the faces of Duke Lin and his two companions vanished instantly.
My heart sank instantly.
It's over!
With Cheng Gang Douluo intervening and causing trouble, their plan to revive the empire will likely be completely ruined.
"I hope the others don't think the same way," Vina thought to herself.
really.
Upon hearing Xu Tianshui and the others' next conversation, their faces immediately lit up with joy, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
" Cheng Gang, you should at least give Princess Vina and the two dukes some face. They're all so old, yet you're acting like a brute."
Xu Tianshui laughed and cursed, and the others joined in the laughter, especially Lu Xuanshui and Liu Kongzhu, who loved to gloat.
Cheng Gang's smug expression made them especially gratified.
However, Xu Tianshui then changed the subject and said:
"However, Your Majesty, my opinion is the same as Cheng Gang's."
"We're the same." Liu Kongzhu, Lu Xuanshui, and Cao Yu all nodded in unison, tacitly agreeing to stand on the same side.
Vina and the others' hearts started pounding again; what they didn't want to happen had still happened.
As for these people wanting to restore their country, that's just wishful thinking!
Who would willingly give up the fruits of their victory?
Xu Jiawei's banter with Duke Lin and the others was merely a ploy to see them make fools of themselves.
Just like a cat catching a mouse, it doesn't immediately kill the mouse.
Instead, they tease them, play tricks on them, and then devour them whole when they're tired of playing with them.
Xu Jiawei's expression immediately turned serious, and he addressed Duke Lin and the other two:
"Don't even dream about restoring your kingdoms. As for the treasuries of your two great empires..."
"Of course, they must all be confiscated, otherwise none of your titles will be kept."
Princess Vina wanted to say something more, "Your Majesty..."
"Very well, I've already been merciful enough by preserving your titles. I will personally issue the decree when the time comes."
"Except for certain dukes, no other nobleman may retain military power."
Seeing that Xu Jiawei had made up his mind, Princess Vina could only accept her fate. Her face was filled with sorrow, and she said in a tearful voice:
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Before long, Princess Vina and her two companions left the Star Luo Imperial Palace. Duke Xuesha left first, looking dejected as well.
The strategist remained silent, observing his utterly speechless demeanor.
After all, the matter is over.
Only Duke Lin, Princess Vina, and their entourage remained, strolling leisurely through Star Luo City, preparing to leave through the city gate.
"Sigh! Is the princess really going to just let it go like this?" Duke Lin sighed, somewhat unwillingly.
Princess Vina said dejectedly, "What else can we do?"
"Let's go back. I never really expected to succeed this time."
Inside the palace, Xu Jiawei, who had previously been serious, cheerfully drank and chatted with everyone.
" Little Yu, you can spend the rest of your time at home with Jiujiu and the others."
"Yes, you shouldn't be running around during this time."
Cao Yu naturally nodded in agreement to the advice from his elders, after all, he would officially become a father in a few months.
To be honest, he's still not ready.
And all of a sudden, I have to deal with so many children.
My head hurts!
The thought of a bunch of silly kids crawling all over his head and shoulders filled Cao Yu with helplessness.
Most people have one or two children, but I have more than a dozen—enough to form a football team.
"I'll arrange for dedicated midwives; there will definitely be enough, so don't worry."
Seeing Cao Yu's worried expression, Xu Jiawei assumed he was concerned about the smooth progress of the delivery, so he arranged for enough midwives in advance to ease Cao Yu's worries.
Cao Yu could only say, "Then I'll have to trouble you, brother-in-law."
Xu Jiawei smiled and said, "Sigh, we're all family, there's no trouble at all."
Cheng Gang poured some more wine into everyone's glasses. "Come on, let's keep drinking. I reckon Little Yu be quite busy for the next few months, hahaha!"
In the following days, the Star Luo Empire's National Celebration Ceremony was held as scheduled.
At the same time, a major announcement was made: all territories formerly belonging to the Sun Moon Empire, Heaven Soul Empire, and Dou Ling Empire were incorporated into the Star Luo Empire.
From that moment on, the Star Luo Empire unified the Douluo Continent!
The original town names remained unchanged, and soon officials from the Star Luo Empire came to serve as local officials in these towns.
Of course, those nobles and officials from the three former empires who chose to pledge allegiance also received corresponding positions.
Some of the original Imperial Duke titles remained unchanged, but they had no military power, and the Star Luo Empire's taxi troops were stationed nearby.
One of their purposes was to monitor them.
(End of this chapter)