Finally, a reply accepting the meeting request sent by Jian Kingdom's envoys arrived. The important officials tasked with negotiating the purchase of Duanshen ore all had pleased expressions filled with anticipation. They'd even had to appoint envoys and treat the island people as if they were their own kingdom, because to this day, no kingdom had been able to hold power over that island. The Island Lord's status was therefore no different from that of any proper kingdom's ruler.
Once permission was granted, a ship from Long Yu Island would come to escort and guide them—the only way to ensure the journey remained completely safe and free of danger. Given this, how could people not think that the Island Lord had set up formations and traps all around the island?!
After the envoy delegation's ship arrived at Long Yu Island, they were led to a guest residence to rest and wait to meet with the Island Lord the next day.
The officials observed the island's surroundings with interest. They found the island had vast, expansive territory. The center of the island had buildings arranged orderly, no different from a major city. The people here didn't look much different from people in Jian Kingdom, except that the men tended to have tall, muscular builds. They looked like soldiers and warriors—there seemed to be warriors everywhere throughout the city. As for the women, they dressed like martial practitioners—not delicate and gentle like the young ladies in their chambers that they were accustomed to.
When the time came to meet with the Island Lord, they were guided to a large manor that could be called a mansion. It didn't look lavishly decorated with precious gold carved into intricate patterns like the palace in the capital—more like the manor of a city lord from a major city.
After being led into the large main hall, it wasn't long before a middle-aged man with the tall, muscular build typical of Long Yu Island residents entered. His manner looked fierce and imposing. Behind him, two women followed.
One appeared to be his wife. The other was a young lady with an incredibly beautiful, captivating face—unbelievable that such beauty could be found on this remote island. But her eyes held a spark of stubbornness. Perhaps she was his daughter or niece.
"Greetings, Island Lord."
"At ease."
After exchanging customary greetings and making small talk for a while, the Jian Kingdom officials immediately got to the point of their visit.
"As we indicated in our message to you previously, we of Jian Kingdom wish to purchase Duanshen ore from you. As for the price and any costs, Island Lord, you may propose whatever price you deem appropriate."
Yang Yan sat leaning back in the seat at the head of the hall, chin propped on his hand, elbow resting on the armrest, while his gaze swept over each of the weak, frail Jian Kingdom officials. Inwardly, he regretted that the bastard who'd put his eldest daughter in this condition wasn't here too, which put him in a rather foul mood.
"To be honest, my Long Yu Island doesn't lack money or any kind of wealth. I'll speak frankly—I have absolutely no reason to sell Duanshen ore to you people at all."
The Jian Kingdom officials glanced at each other. Though they'd been somewhat prepared that negotiations wouldn't be easy—otherwise Duanshen ore would have been exported from the island in large quantities long ago.
"If there is anything the Island Lord desires to exchange with Jian Kingdom, please don't hesitate. If it's not beyond our capabilities, Jian Kingdom would certainly be willing to exchange it with you."
Right after that sentence finished, before Yang Yan could respond, Yang Xiuying, who was sitting beside the head table, spoke up in a challenging tone.
"Then how about you bring us a Wang to exchange?"
When she said that, not only did the Jian Kingdom officials turn to look at her in unison, but her parents also whipped around to look, nearly giving themselves whiplash—especially Yang Yan, whose eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"This young lady is..."
"Me! My name is Yang Xiuying—daughter of the Island Lord, that's who!" Her chin-up, fearless manner made the officials glance at each other again.
"What do you think? Bring a Wang to exchange for Duanshen ore—don't you think that's worth it?"
"Ying'er... what are you planning to do?!" Yang Yan whispered through gritted teeth to his daughter.
"I'm going to go take revenge on those people for A Zhen, that's what, Father!"
"And what do you need a Wang from that kingdom for?"
"Play with him like Aunt plays with human men! Those people have such short lifespans. Play with them for a bit and they get old and die. Once they all die of old age, I'll seize Jian Kingdom and make it mine and yours too. Isn't that great?"
"Hmm? Why does that sound interesting..." Yang Yan's attitude changed immediately.
Lu Fen, who'd been enduring listening to her daughter's nonsense—and her husband was getting swept up in it too—raised her hand to cover her face.
"This matter... we'll need some time to discuss among ourselves and will bring you an answer soon." The voice of one of the officials interjected, making the father and daughter's whispered conversation stop, as well as ending that negotiation session.
***
The Jian Kingdom officials spent a long time debating this matter among themselves, since some officials were obviously unhappy that people from this remote island dared to put forth such ambitious and arrogant proposals. But because they truly needed to obtain Duanshen ore, they couldn't refuse and return empty-handed.
They decided to draft a letter to send back to the capital, requesting a decision from the highest authority on the throne.
As for the host side—the Yang clan—they were currently using their gazes to pressure the second daughter who had put forth such an insane proposal.
"Where is your aunt? I'm going to snap her neck right this instant! To think she'd teach my daughter to become like this. Hmmph!" After Yang Yan was brought back to his senses by his beloved wife, his thoughts became clear again as before.
"Why are you angry, Father? Don't you want to take revenge for A Zhen? As long as I get a Wang in the palm of my hand, that means half of Jian Kingdom is in my grasp already."
Yang Yan looked at his second daughter, who was bold and decisive, and also had some of the strongest power of their race. He'd once wondered if, when she was in her mother's womb, she'd absorbed all her twin sister's power. That made Zhen'er have less power than the average Nai'er tribesperson, while Ying'er had such formidable power that he'd trusted and allowed her to travel and play with his wife's younger sister freely. He never thought she'd come back with such bizarre ideas.
As for Lu Fen, she sat listening quietly. Inwardly thinking that one day her daughter would have to marry anyway, and she still didn't see anyone suitable to be this child's husband.
Zhen'er was born weak and needed a trustworthy man like Yi Tao to protect and care for her. But as for Ying'er, she feared that whichever household she married into would find her more of a disaster than anything. In that case, sending her to create trouble for Jian Kingdom wouldn't be any loss.
Lu Fen let out a sigh before speaking with an impassive expression.
"Actually, Ying'er's proposal isn't bad. We just need to add a few more conditions for Jian Kingdom."
This time Yang Yan turned to look at his beloved wife, eyes wide.
"Wife, are you going to send our little daughter to struggle and suffer in a foreign place where that bastard lives?"
Lu Fen met her husband's eyes meaningfully.
"I'm confident Ying'er will be fine on her own." The phrase "will be fine on her own" from his beloved wife made Yang Yan pause. "But if you're still worried, send Tan Wu along with her. Besides, they've already gone back to discuss it. If they agree to offer an imperial prince and we suddenly change our minds and refuse, how will they see us?"
Yang Yan thought over his beloved wife's words and agreed somewhat. He didn't doubt that Ying'er would survive, and was even more confident that his beloved wife would set conditions that wouldn't put Ying'er in a difficult position.
That very day, the conditions drafted by the Island Lord's wife were sent to the guest residence of the Jian Kingdom officials. When they opened and read them, their faces turned grim.
The conditions stated,
'This Wang must be of the Jian royal bloodline. He must have no primary wife, no secondary wives or concubines, and no bed-maids. From now on, he may take no other women into his household.'
These conditions made the officials feel troubled, because based on the qualifications she'd specified, there seemed to be one person who fit the criteria. Except that person wasn't someone who would easily marry any woman—otherwise he'd have had a primary wife, secondary wives, or concubines long ago. These Long Yu Island people truly couldn't be underestimated. They'd even blocked the path of appointing a Wang from a different surname specifically for this marriage arrangement.
In addition, there was another condition that made them grit their teeth.
'If my daughter is dishonored, scorned, bullied, or caused distress by those in power in Jian Kingdom, or suffers harm from anyone connected to those in power in Jian Kingdom, our purchase agreement for Duanshen ore will immediately be terminated.'
The next passage made their faces even more ashen.
'Don't look so shocked. I merely want a guarantee for my daughter who must leave home to live alone in a foreign land without relatives or friends or anyone to back her up. As long as those in power like yourselves treat my daughter as if she were your own true daughter, surely no problems will arise, right?'
The officials had to grit their teeth after reading the additional conditions that were sent. Purchasing Duanshen ore this time came with a hot potato they couldn't just toss aside or let rot from neglect. They'd have to carefully cradle it so it wouldn't fall and get bruised, or have dogs come snatch it away to gnaw on.
A true burden!