If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

The envoys from the Southern Dynasty came to the Yong Dynasty this time not only to congratulate the emperor on his birthday, but also for something more important.

That is to renegotiate the alliance between the two countries.

The original five-year period has expired, and we need to sign another five-year agreement.

He Jingyao was the main negotiator of the Southern Dynasty. He proposed that the Yong Dynasty lease Tianhe City to them as they wanted to expand the port in Tianhe.

Tianhe was the largest canal in the Yong Dynasty. It ran from north to south, through half of the country. Its outlet into the open sea led directly to the Southern Dynasty.

This is not the most outrageous thing. The most outrageous thing is that He Jingyao proposed a rent of 50,000 taels per year.

The good-tempered Minister of Rites was so angry that he overturned the table. The negotiations could not continue.

"Are you here to discuss an alliance? That guy is here to create hatred!" The Minister of Rites' beard was about to stand up to the sky.

It really pissed him off.

"Lu Yuan, tell me, how should we reply to the emperor? I am so angry that I cannot eat. The emperor will be even angrier if he hears this." The Minister of Rites asked Lu Yuan for his opinion helplessly.

Lu Yuan: "He Jingyao just wants to provoke us on purpose."

He could see that the Southern Dynasty was not very willing to continue to coexist peacefully, and they were probably trying to test the Yong Dynasty. If the Yong Dynasty was willing to agree to the conditions, they would continue to negotiate peace.

If the Yong Dynasty refused to agree, they would have a reason not to continue the alliance.

"Are you saying that the envoys from the Southern Dynasty have no sincerity in forming an alliance?" the Minister of Rites asked doubtfully.

Lu Yuan glanced at him and said, "Sir Shangshu, didn't you see it a long time ago?"

“Oh, I see I have figured it out. But I haven’t figured out how to mention it to the Emperor.” The Minister of Rites had a headache.

"How about... Lord Lu, you go and talk to the emperor. You are better at talking."

Lu Yuan looked indifferent, "Sir, I am not responsible for negotiating an alliance with the Southern Dynasty envoys. It is not appropriate for me to report to the emperor."

The Minister of Rites was so worried that some of his beard hair fell out.

"There is nothing to do today, so I will go back first." Lu Yuan bowed and said goodbye to the Minister of Rites.

Negotiating with the envoys from the Southern Dynasty would not be completed in a day or two.

If the deal can be settled in two or three months, then things will be going relatively smoothly.

The Minister of Rites sighed twice and failed to keep Lu Yuan. He stroked his beard and walked to the other side with a sigh.

"Lu Yuan, I happen to have something to do at the Duke's Mansion. Let's go together." Ruan Xinglin came out of the Honglu Temple and walked quickly to Lu Yuan's side.

"Young Master Ruan goes to the Duke's Mansion every day. Maybe he doesn't know the way." Lu Yuan asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ruan Xinglin patted his shoulder and said, "I want to talk to you for a few words. I don't want to ride a horse. Come with me in a carriage."

Lu Yuan followed Ruan Xinglin into the car, "Young Master Ruan, just speak frankly."

"He Jingyao has been investigating your identity recently and has sent people to the place where you lived as a child. I think he will be able to find out your true identity soon." Ruan Xinglin said.

"You mean, after he confirms my identity, he will kill me?" Lu Yuan asked in a calm voice.

"I know you are good at martial arts, but He Jingyao is a sinister person. He will not kill you openly. No one knows what kind of shady tricks he will use." Ruan Xinglin frowned, not wanting Lu Yuan to underestimate the enemy.

Lu Yuan glanced at him and asked, "Who is so afraid of me going to the Southern Dynasty?"

"He Zhiyuan, Imperial Concubine..." Ruan Xinglin said in a low voice.

"Queen and Crown Prince, do you want me to go back?" Lu Yuan asked.

Ruan Xinglin: "They are your relatives, of course they want you to go back. The Queen already knows that you are still alive. If it weren't for the restrictions of your status, she would have come to pick you up in person a long time ago. And the Crown Prince... Lu Yuan, if you meet him, you will definitely like him."

Lu Yuan pursed his thin lips. He had never expected family affection.

He found it a little ridiculous to hear that he had a brother who liked him.

"Where is your emperor?" Lu Yuan asked.

Ruan Xinglin's heart sank and he didn't know how to answer.

Lu Yuan chuckled, "There's no need to ask this. Didn't he want to kill me when I was born?"

"Lu Yuan..."

"Why don't you just tell me the truth? What on earth do you want me to come back for?" Lu Yuan has worked for the emperor for many years and is also the commander-in-chief of the Pacification Division. He has seen all kinds of secrets.

The Ruan family was so eager to meet him, did they really just want them, mother and son, to recognize each other?

Maybe he doesn't understand the situation in the Southern Dynasty.

"In your opinion, do you feel that there is no family affection in the royal family? Your mother just wants to see you." Ruan Xinglin sighed.

"We've arrived at the Duke's Mansion." Lu Yuan said.

"Master Ruan, may I ask how you want me to return to the Southern Dynasty? Should I go back with you in secret, or should I go back openly?"

Ruan Xinglin raised his eyes and looked directly into Lu Yuan's eyes. "If you agree, I will welcome you back to the Southern Dynasty as the Left Prime Minister of the Southern Dynasty."

Lu Yuan didn't expect Ruan Xinglin to give this answer.

He said nothing, lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

Ruan Xinglin followed behind him, "Lu Yuan, please think about it carefully."

Lu Yuan walked into the gate of the Duke's Mansion without looking back.

"Young Master." When the maid from Danboyuan saw him coming back, she knelt down and saluted.

Shen Sui'an was looking at the account book in the room. He was so engrossed in it that he did not hear the movement of the maid outside.

It was not until a pair of arms wrapped around her waist that she looked up from the account book. When she saw it was Lu Yuan, a smile appeared in her eyes.

"Husband, aren't you busy today? Why are you back so early?" She usually comes back after dark.

Lu Yuan said, "We can't continue the discussion today. The Southern Dynasty may want to break up with us."

"What?" Shen Suian was stunned and couldn't help but worry. If Lu Yuan's identity was revealed, he would also be in danger in Yong Dynasty.

"Don't be impatient. It's just the beginning. The negotiations won't end so quickly," said Lu Yuan.

Shen Sui'an frowned and lowered his voice, "Is it aimed at you?"

"The Southern Dynasty wants to build Tianhe Port in Tianhe to facilitate sea transportation between the two countries." Lu Yuan's tone was a little more sarcastic.

It's really a lion's mouth.

Although Tianhe City is not a large place, it is an important hub between the north and south of the Yong Dynasty.

Once occupied by the Southern Dynasty, the transportation between the north and the south of the Yong Dynasty would inevitably be cut off, which would be a huge trouble in the future.

Shen Suian widened his eyes in surprise. Could it be that in the previous life, the imperial court suddenly built a port in Tianhe City and reopened the special shipping camp because the Southern Dynasty had the crazy idea of ​​occupying their place?

"Why does the Southern Dynasty insist on building a port in Tianhe City?" Shen Sui'an didn't understand.

Lu Yuan: "The Southern Dynasty is surrounded by mountains and has no access to the sea, so it is incredible that they want to build a port."

"Because they want to do shipping, they want to export the tea, silk, porcelain and other businesses of the Southern Dynasty and the Yong Dynasty to overseas. That is a very profitable business." Shen Sui'an's eyes lit up.

"A wise ruler and virtuous ministers are indeed the foundation of a country's prosperity, but financial resources are also very important."

"We in the Yong Dynasty have fertile land, abundant production, and smooth roads and rivers. But the Southern Dynasty is different. The reason they negotiated peace was because their treasury was empty. They must have been recuperating and accumulating wealth in secret over the years. Now they want to use our land to make money for their country."

"Husband, Tianhe City must not be rented out!"

Otherwise, how could she make money and take over the special shipping camp?