Chapter 373 (1/2)

Chapter 373: Defeat

Once Nan Jihan was seated, Ji Bo gave the dancers a pointed look. Without missing a beat, the two women approached Nan Jihan and each took a side. Their delicate fingers found their way to Nan Jihan. One of them poured wine for him. The other ma.s.saged his shoulder.

Disgust flashed through Nan Jihan's face. Barely managing to stop himself from throwing them out, he seized the hands wandering all over his body. The guard stepped out to dismiss the girls. The dancers had no choice but to go back to serving Ji Bo.

Ji Bo drank some wine and laughed. “It's said that Your Majesty never lays a hand on the stunning women in your harem. An uninformed mind would've a.s.sumed you are into men. However, I know you must have grown to dislike the impure women since you've seen the most stunning beauty.”

Nan Jihan could tell that Ji Bo was testing him. He put on a polite smile. “That's not the case. I simply don't like women of other tribes.”

Ji Bo laughed. “Your Majesty hasn't experienced how soft and seductive they can be, or you wouldn't have been able to let them go.”

Nan Jihan didn't want to continue the conversation. He changed the subject. “You're clever to have earned everyone's trust back in Northern Qi. Even after fleeing to Eastern Wu, you've gained your foothold. How impressively flexible you are.”

Ji Bo wasn't fazed. The mockery had no effect on him. He took it as an insult to the stupidity of Northern Qi's emperor and Eastern Wu's royal clan.

They both had their own agenda, and they mixed truth with lies. Nan Jihan got tired of talking in circles. He spoke up, “I've been meaning to ask where the imperial seal is. That's why I'm working with you. If you don't have it, I'm not letting you trick us into doing your bidding.”

Ji Bo's eyes darkened. He took a sip of the potent wine and smiled. “Why would I lie to you? However, I can't give you the seal at the moment. We're at a disadvantage. If I give you the seal now, you may betray me and destroy my force. Then the deal will be for nothing. I'll give you the seal after we defeat Nan Xun.”

He sounded genuine, and there was no flaw to his logic. However, Nan Jihan wasn't easily fooled. He pulled his lips tight and almost lost his temper. Thinking better of it, he took a deep, calming breath. “I hope you'll honor your word.”

He shot to his feet and gave Ji Bo a look before storming away.

Ji Bo relaxed his guard once he saw Nan Jihan's dark expression. It'd be suspicious if Nan Jihan was able to maintain his calm. The fact that he'd gotten angry made him believe that Nan Jihan was actually going to work with him.

Ji Bo sighed in relief and slumped back onto the divan. The dancers leaned towards him, but he'd lost his interest. He pushed them away. They lost their balance and almost fell, but they quietly followed the others out of the tent.

Ji Bo drank in his own company. Potent alcohol left a burning trail down his throat. He seemed completely sober, and his eyes were unusually bright.

The shadowguard returned after making sure Nan Jihan and his men had gone back to their tent. By then, Ji Bo had finished the jug of wine. He carelessly discarded it. The shadowguard went up to him. “Are you really going to hand the seal to Nan Jihan after everything, Sir?”

Ji Bo laughed. He stared at the shadowguard intensely. “I thought you'd become smarter after following me for so long.”

“Forgive me for being dense,” the shadowguard said, unfazed. “I hope you'll enlighten me.”

Ji Bo put down his empty cup, his eyes cold. “That's just a bait. The seal is crucial to rebuilding our nation. Why would I hand it to a country that cannot survive on its own? Besides, if we give the seal away, the descendents of Tianyu will be considered illegitimate.”

The shadowguard nodded in understanding. Ji Bo relaxed, which caused the alcohol to finally take effect. He slumped down on the divan and closed his eyes.

The shadowguard helped him to the bed and put him to sleep before standing guard outside the tent.

Nan Jihan knew he was followed as he made his way back to his tent, so he and his men put up a front. Only after the shadowguard left did he write a letter to Nan Xun and Jun Huang, saying that he'd earned Ji Bo's trust. The show was going to start.

Jun Huang read the letter without a word. Nan Xun didn't show much of a reaction, either.

After a long while, Jun Huang broke the silence, “Do you think we can believe him?”

Nan Xun didn't immediately respond. He knew how Nan Jihan felt about Jun Huang. Although he was hesitant, he had a feeling that Nan Jihan was telling the truth. Besides, they didn't have a lot of options. They had to put their trust in Nan Jihan at the moment.