Jin Dongxing went away with a great deal on his mind. He meant to go back and keep fighting the alliance with Nanyue.

Kang Luo really was able, a general of a kind you rarely see.

But set beside Ning Chen he still fell a good way short.

Ning Chen had a record of taking three Nanyue cities in a row. Making an enemy of a man like that was no wise choice.

And even if it came to that, could a Nanyue–Gaoli alliance really stand against Ning Chen?

When Jin Dongxing had gone, Feng Qizheng said angrily, "This Gaoli ruler doesn't know what's good for him. Agreeing to an alliance with Nanyue — isn't that a slap in Ning Chen's face?

Tonight I'll slip into the palace and twist that dog's head off."

Ning Chen gave him a look of pure exasperation, then said, "It's fine. This is the Gaoli capital. Who they ally with is their own business... It makes no difference to me. I only hope the Gaoli ruler doesn't come to regret it."

As he said it he turned to Zisu. "Do you have one of those poisons that seals the throat the moment it touches blood? The kind where one touch kills you."

Zisu opened her lovely eyes wide and asked, puzzled, "What do you want it for?"

"Uh... it's too early now. We'll talk about that tonight... Just tell me first whether you have the poison I want."

Zisu blinked, and her small face went red. She gave Ning Chen an exasperated glare. Always talking nonsense.

She gave a small nod. "I have the poison you want. But what do you want poison for?"

Ning Chen smiled. "To poison Kang Luo and the Nanyue State Preceptor, of course."

Everyone in the room was left speechless.

The next day Jin Dongxing came again.

This time he came by royal command. The Gaoli ruler was giving a banquet for the envoys of the Great Xuan and Nanyue.

Ning Chen took only Pan Yucheng.

The Gaoli palace was a good deal smaller than the Great Xuan's, and…