Hi guys..<b>Minak Amie</b> has done a great job in editing my trantion..he he.. Thanks for your hard work. Enjoy this chapter. Poor Zi Yan being sold by the dense Feng Ming!


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    <span>Taking a closer look, the man behind Rong Hu really was Zi Yan, whomFeng Ming had been anxiously worried was killed by the pirates.


    <span>The harsh sunrays of the sea had made his skin sunburned, and he hadbe a little thin, however, his face still remained that of an upright andresolute man.


    <span>Rong Hu exined, “I came across him in front of the mansion’s gate.Fortunately I did, or he would have had to gain that ck-faced Luo Ning’sconsent before he could enter.”


    <span>Cheerfully, Feng Ming said, “Zi Yan, when there was no news of you… Ihad been worried that the pirates had…”


    <span>He had yet to finish his sentence when suddenly…


    <i><span>Thump!!</i>


    <span>Zi Yan’s expression turned serious and he immediately went down on bothknees.


    <i><span>Eh? </i><span>Everyonebecame stunned seeing his actions. Feng Ming’s eyes blinked in confusion as heasked, “What’s wrong?”


    <span>“Your Majesty, Duke Ming, this lowly servant is ipetent. I causedDuke Ming’s fleet to suffer under the pirates’ malicious attacks on the AmanRiver. All of it was this lowly servant’s fault.” The expression on his facewas one of bitter guilt.


    <span>While at the seaside, he had been waiting for He Di’s counterattack whenhe heard news that the prince was heading towards the Tong Kingdom. Immediatelyhe realized something was wrong, so he swiftly attempted to regroup with DukeMing. However, after arriving to Han Ruo, news of the ordeal was spread by QinZhang’s men. Hearing of the events that had urred, Zi Yan felt as if he hadjust been hit by lightning.


    <span>The Xiao Family’s fleet that was led by Feng Ming had suffered aterrible attackst night, and the assant was Dan Lin’s He Di.


    <span>Duke Ming and his group had nearly been annihted.


    <span>Listening to the news was even more painful than being stabbed in thechest by dozens of swords. He Di suddenly showing up and attacking, Zi Yan wasabsolutely certain the reason for this was because he had provoked him, the manwho was the leader of the ferocious and evil pirates.


    <span>He Di must have chosen Duke Ming’s fleet as a despicable method ofcounterattacking.


    <span>At the moment of hearing the news, if not for the fact that he wished toask for the King and Duke Ming’s forgiveness first, he would have taken out hissword and killed himself. No matter what punishment was handed out, Zi Yanwould ept because he could not justify the huge blunder he hadmitted.


    <span>His duty was to obey the King’smand, bring Duke Ming back to DongFan to regroup, and protect him.


    <span>However, he failed and instead brought acmity to Duke Ming.


    <span>“It’s not your fault! The events of two nights ago…”


    <span>“I am too ashamed to serve under the King and Duke Ming. I request punishmentfrom Your Majesty.” Zi Yan pulled out the sword from his waist and with hishead bowed, offered it resolutely with both hands.


    <span>In regards to the matter with He Di, Rong Tian had only heard the reportof what had urred from Rong Hust night. However Rong Hu also didn’t havemuch information on the sequence of events that led to the attack. Of course,the information he provided Rong Tian with contained nothing that covered thereason.


    <span>Even though Rong Tian had always been cunning, hecouldn’t immediately figure out the mysteries behind the events.


    <span>If even Rong Tian couldn’t, there was no doubt that the foolish FengMing wouldn’t understand much either.


    <span>Looking at Zi Yan kneeling down on the ground with a face full of griefand a sword in his hands, it appeared the situation was incredibly serious. Onthe other hand, Feng Ming was hurriedly trying to exin the details in orderto eliminate Zi Yan’s “misunderstandings.”


    <span>“Zi Yan, you don’t have to do this. The matters on the Aman River havenothing to do with you. The people who attacked were not Dan Lin’s pirates. Ah,but at first we thought they were, but afterwards, we found out they wereactually the Navy led by Dan Lin’s Second Prince, He Di.”


    <span>“Duke Ming, aren’t they the same? That He Di…”


    <span>Because of his overwhelming feeling of guilt, his voice sounded weak andwas drowned out by Feng Ming’s next words.


    <span>“That He Di exined that their attack was to help our Xiao Familyunderstand the pirate’s fighting capabilities. Of course I know he isn’t to bpletely trusted, however the oue seems to be quite good… Oh, we agreedto sign a peace treaty with them.”


    <span>“A peace treaty?”


    <span>“Yes. We signed a peace treaty with Dan Lin with the condition that theroyal family agrees to help us open the route for trading their luminous sand.Furthermore, we will work together to fight against the pirates. With theirhelp, the task my father had given has hopes of seeding.” Feng Ming turnedto face Rong Tian and excitedly said, “I’m so smart right?...”


    <span>With his eyes filled with conceited pride, he turned back to Zi Yan andsaid, “With the sand, we can produce good weapons. For Rong Tian’s ambitions inunification, this will be of great advantage.”


    <span>“Duke Ming…”


    <span>“Oh, right. In order to facilitatemunication and enhance thertionship between our countries, we will each dispatch an emissary. Ah! ZiYan, I really didn’t realize you were so great at dealing with pirates. Eventhat prince of Dan Lin had heard of your name. To tell you the truth, you’renot only young, but great at fighting with swords. You’re also familiar withthe territorial waters around Dan Lin. And you’re also really smart andcapable.”


    <span>A sense of foreboding suddenly passed as Zi Yan’s mind became nklistening to Feng Ming’s sudden praise.


    <span>He slowly raised his head and saw Duke Ming’s eyes shining with joy asthe next words left his mouth.


    <span>“Therefore, I signed your name on the peace treaty as the designatedenvoy to Dan Lin.”<b></b>