352: Chapter 352 Poisoning Outbreak

"Your Majesty!!"

Diplomat Zhong Lang's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed!

The assembled ministers were moved, each one stunned and looking at Meng Chong in disbelief.

Meng Chong was also dumbfounded. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the "clatter, clatter" sound of swords being drawn!

"Attempting to assassinate the Queen! Kill him quickly!!"

At Diplomat Zhong Lang's command, dozens of palace guards swarmed out and charged at Meng Chong!

Meng Chong's eyes flashed with a vicious glint; a flying dagger suddenly appeared in his hand, which he flung toward Princess Meng Xi!

"Clang!"

The flying dagger was deflected by a burst of sword energy.

Meng Chong looked sharply toward the nearby area, where Lin Xiao was leisurely drinking, and was filled with both shock and rage!

Unable to care about anything else, he backhanded multiple flying daggers, piercing the throats of several guards who were closing in!

Just as he tapped his foot on the ground, preparing to use his light-foot skills to escape, a table suddenly smashed toward him—it was Lu Sanchuan who had made a move!

Caught off guard, Meng Chong was knocked over by the table!

Lu Sanchuan then casually pulled a blade from a guard and pressed it against Meng Chong's neck.

"Second Prince, you have hidden your skills quite deeply."

"Grand Marshal Lu! I... I did not attempt to harm my sister! I was framed!! Urgh!!"

Before he could finish, two guards suddenly stabbed him to death from behind!

"Traitor! To even poison your own sister, you deserve death!!"

Diplomat Zhong Lang rushed in a panic to Lin Xiao, cupped his hands, and said:

"Lin Xiao! Your martial arts are unrivaled, please, save the Queen!!"

Lin Xiao then slowly put down his wine cup, walked over to the suffering Princess Meng Xi, and crouched down.

Leaning into Princess Meng Xi's ear, Lin Xiao whispered, "Alright, that wine wasn't poisoned, and you're fine. Tell me, how did you know Meng Chong was the problem?"

Princess Meng Xi suddenly hooked her hands around Lin Xiao's neck and whispered, "Lin Xiao, your heart is so cruel. Since you discovered my second brother was a problem early on, yet deliberately didn't tell me, was it because you hoped to watch us siblings slaughter each other?"

"Hmph... If you couldn't discover it, you wouldn't be able to hold onto this throne. If you could discover it, why would I need to tell you?"

Princess Meng Xi's eyes flashed with a hint of resentment: "Am I, in your heart, so dispensable?"

"Your Majesty, if you want to have weight in this General's heart, you must earn it yourself."

Lin Xiao laughed, "Besides, you dared to play this hand, forcing Meng Chong into a dead end, all because you relied on me being here so he couldn't kill you, right?"

"I was also used by you; you should be satisfied."

Princess Meng Xi said aggrievedly, "I did this because I had no choice. If my second brother hadn't revealed his martial arts from start to finish, he actually wouldn't have died; at most, I would have imprisoned him for life."

Lin Xiao thought to himself, *Good grief, as expected of siblings! Ruthless enough!*

"Actually, before I left, I had an agreement with my father. If anyone took advantage of my absence to harm him, he would leave me a secret signal."

"When I returned, I saw the carved signal on the side of my father's sickbed and learned that it was my second brother who was the problem..."

Princess Meng Xi's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness: "I only knew that my second brother was quite calculating, but I didn't expect... he would be so heartless."

*Heartless? You aren't exactly full of heart either!* Lin Xiao scoffed inwardly.

"Alright, that's enough acting. This General will use the Huitian Great Method to grant you a revival!"

Hearing the mockery, Princess Meng Xi's almond eyes revealed a hint of willfulness, as if she had made up her mind...

She slowly stood up, feigning weakness, and grabbed Lin Xiao's arm.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Diplomat Zhong Lang asked, acting with genuine concern, trembling as he came forward to greet her.

Princess Meng Xi nodded and reassured the crowd: "Everyone, thanks to Lin Xiao's unrivaled divine skills, he has neutralized the poison for me."

"That I can still be alive, and that Western Qiang can escape the danger of national destruction, is all thanks to Lin Xiao..."

"I have no way to repay this... Therefore, I have decided to offer myself to you to repay Lin Xiao!"

Lin Xiao looked at the woman in astonishment. *Damn it, this cunning woman, a sneak attack!?*

The ministers exclaimed, whispering and discussing among themselves...

The Queen taking the initiative to marry a Central Plains General; such a thing was unprecedented and unheard of!

But everyone present knew exactly what kind of strength Lin Xiao possessed today; it was said that even the Grand Shaman Holy Maiden had thoughts of marriage.

Women on the grasslands were naturally more unrestrained than those in the Central Plains; it was not strange to take the initiative in courtship. If one could use marriage to stabilize the status of the Western Qiang royal family, many could actually understand it.

"Wait!"

Before the crowd could congratulate them, they saw Lin Xiao wave his hand and say: "Regarding the marriage, this General still needs to consider it; let's discuss it another day!"

"Queen Princess Meng Xi has just inherited the throne and has too many matters to handle; there is no need to rush the wedding."

Lin Xiao's words immediately caused the atmosphere in the room to drop to freezing.

Princess Meng Xi bit her lower lip, her pretty face turning even paler. Those who didn't know would have thought the "poison had taken effect"!

She was embarrassed and annoyed. This man really wouldn't let her take any advantage at all!

She had gone all out; couldn't he let her "win" once!?

This was great; the Queen had offered herself, only to be "shelved" by Lin Xiao. All of Northern Desert, and even the whole world, would be laughing at her!

The Western Qiang officials also felt like they had a bone stuck in their throats. In the past, this would definitely have led to raising an army to fight the Central Plains; otherwise, where would their face be!?

But now... *Forget it, forget it!* What could they do if they couldn't win?

Anyone with a brain understood that the current Queen was nothing more than a puppet of Lin Xiao.

The next day.

As many Western Qiang dignitaries expected, Princess Meng Xi, following Lin Xiao's intentions, issued several royal decrees in succession.

First, all Central Plains soldiers imprisoned and enslaved within Western Qiang territory were to be released.

Second, Western Qiang would establish the Dingxi Protectorate, accept the long-term garrisoning of the Zhenbei Army, and reduce Western Qiang's own military forces.

Third, long-term trade routes with the Northern Barbarians and Cang Province would be opened, free trade zones would be set up, and the people of Western Qiang could trade freely with the Central Plains without having to do so in secret.

Fourth, some aspects of the slavery system were to be abolished, such as masters not being allowed to execute slaves at will, and not being allowed to forcibly take the first night of slave women, etc.

Lin Xiao understood that wanting to completely eradicate slavery could not be done in a short time.

Pressing too hard would instead easily cause some nobles to go to extremes and kill the existing slaves.

Three days later.

The entire Darkhan Pasture almost knew that the Queen had ascended the throne and had issued various unprecedented royal decrees.

And the Queen's ascension and the issuance of the decrees were all approved by the Zhenbei Generals Mansion!

In the eyes of countless Western Qiang people, the Queen was most likely "forced."

Behind these political decrees were the ideas of that demon who killed the Grand Shaman, the Northern Border God of War, Lin Xiao!

Of course, for those at the bottom who suffered oppression, the name Lin Xiao was practically a "savior"!

Even more explosive was the rumor that at the banquet, because of the life-saving grace, the Queen was willing to offer herself, but who would have thought she would be politely rejected by Lin Xiao in public!?

Many people naturally laughed off such absurd news, finding it completely ridiculous.

But there were also many who were convinced that Lin Xiao had the confidence to do so, and that the Western Qiang Queen had indeed been rejected!

For a time, the nobles, commoners, and slaves on the grasslands all began to repeatedly mutter the name "Lin Xiao"...

Lin Xiao's prestige and fame on the Northern Desert grasslands rose with the tide!