Chapter 622: Compromise Does Not Bring Peace

"Ah."

In the night, Qin Ze sneezed for no reason while walking on the cobblestone path.

He rubbed his nose, thinking that it might be because he had stayed at sea for too long in the past few days and was exposed to too much moisture-filled sea breeze.

It is now mid-to-late May. Whenever there is a strong wind at sea, the city of Nangang, which is adjacent to the sea, always becomes humid. It is getting hotter day by day. In the stuffy and humid environment, Qin Ze has also felt a little unwell in the past two days.

Fortunately, the things at hand have been arranged properly, so there is no need to worry about it anymore.

——Since he defeated the other nations a few days ago, he has been arranging many matters for returning to Beijing. When Jin Fengluan fled from Jinling to Nanze before, although he did not have time to move all the things in the Jinling Palace, he still took most of them away. Therefore, when he returned to Jinling this time, he naturally had to take all these things with him.

However, after searching in the old palace of Nan Ze, the imperial seal could not be found. Qin Ze could only guess that perhaps those who escaped took it away and hid it somewhere. The seal was only the size of a palm, and if it was really hidden, it would be nowhere to be found. Fortunately, it was now a new dynasty, and it would not matter even if the old seal was lost.

The imperial seal can be lost, but the person cannot be lost.

Qin Ze went out tonight to look for someone.

Today, Nangang was dark all day long. Thick clouds piled up in the sky for the entire day. Although it is now night, the clouds have not dispersed yet, blocking the moonlight and starlight. The stuffy and hot weather made people break out in a thin layer of sticky sweat. Fortunately, it finally became much cooler after nightfall.

Qin Ze walked on the cobblestone path without carrying a lantern. After all, there was a two-story building in front of the path. There were two bright lanterns hanging on the corridor upstairs. At this moment, they were swaying slightly in the breeze, and the dim candlelight was enough for Qin Ze to see clearly under his feet.

And that is exactly where Jin Changge lives.

-

"Why are you tearing off the petals for no reason?"

On the second floor, in the room, under the candlelight, Jin Changge, who was sitting in a chair, looked up at Qing'er, who was sitting on a bench.

Qing'er was holding a lotus and was tearing off a petal.

Hearing this, Qing'er stopped what she was doing, looked at Jin Changge and said with a smile: "I'm counting the days."

"What day?" Jin Changge retracted his gaze and asked casually, continuing to rub the hilt of the sword in his hand.

After these days of recuperation, the injuries he had suffered previously have basically healed. If Qing'er and he hadn't pulled the wound while playing in bed that night, it might have healed even earlier.

On days when he had nothing to do, Jin Changge seldom went out. He would just ask Qing'er to bring some books to pass the time. During his free time, Jin Changge would take out the Water-Bi Sword from time to time, and practice a few times with the sword in the corridor or in the backyard. The hilt with a golden dragon engraved on the front and a golden wind engraved on the back became brighter and brighter.

At this moment, following Jin Changge's casual question, Qing'er put down the lotus, pulled the stool and sat next to Jin Changge.

"Miss, I've seen soldiers and horses being mobilized in the city these days. Carriages are being sent out one after another. They are walking along the main road, and it seems they are heading towards Jinling."

"Your Majesty won the battle a few days ago, and those foreigners were killed. After experiencing this tragic defeat, they must know that our Yan Kingdom is not easy to mess with, and they will definitely not dare to come again."

Having said that, Jin Changge turned his head and looked at Qing'er.

Qing'er curved her eyes and continued with a smile: "Now that everything is fine and everything is peaceful, Your Majesty should return to the capital."

"Who said it's peaceful now?" Jin Changge asked suddenly.

Qing'er tilted her head, looking confused.

Jin Changge stretched out a finger and pointed it at her forehead. Qing'er leaned back in pain and muttered, "We defeated them badly this time."

"You little fool, you think it's too simple."

"Isn't it? Our fleet is very powerful. We beat them without any chance of resistance. Humph! They are no match for us at all. In this case, they will definitely behave themselves. Then everything will be peaceful." Qing'er said with a pout.

Jin Changge shook his head: "These people came all the way to our land, how could they admit defeat and surrender after just one battle?"

"They are bound to come back and launch a more ferocious invasion."

"How can we say that we are at peace now? The current peace is only temporary, and a bigger war is yet to come."

"Don't forget, they are many countries. What they sent this time is just the advance troops, not their full combat power. After this disastrous defeat, as long as they learn lessons and make better preparations, the next battle will be much more difficult." At this point, Jin Changge frowned and lowered his head to look at the sword in his hand.

After hearing this, Qing'er's face changed and she said with a gloomy face: "Then...if this is not over, then our Yan country will have to keep fighting."

Jin Changge said nothing, Qing'er hesitated and said:

"....If we win that battle, maybe we can make a deal with them..."

Before he could finish his words, Jin Changge suddenly clenched the hilt of his sword, looked up at Qing'er, and interrupted with a cold face: "Don't harbor any illusions."

"Peace bought with compromise is useless."

"That can only protect the moment, so it is more accurate to say that compromise cannot bring peace, it will only..."

At this point, a voice was heard outside the door.

"Peace dies when it is sought through compromise."

As the voice fell, there was a knock on the door.

The master and servant stood up at the same time. Qing'er hurried to the door, pulled out the bolt and opened it.

In front of the opened door, Qin Ze's smiling face appeared in Jin Changge's eyes.

"How come you were eavesdropping?" Jin Changge blushed slightly.

"Your Majesty." Qing'er bowed hurriedly.

"I wasn't eavesdropping, I just arrived at the door." Qin Ze stood at the door, looking at Jin Changge holding the sword.

Feeling this look, Jin Changge was a little at a loss. He was about to explain that he brought the sword just for observation, but Qin Ze had already stepped into the room and said with a smile:

"I brought a sword, too."

"My sword is also extremely sharp." As he said this, he patted the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"What are you thinking about?" Jin Changge blushed as he took off his sword and placed it on the table. Qing'er laughed beside him and said, "Your Majesty is really good at joking."

Qin Ze nodded slightly towards Qing'er: "Yes, this is a joke."

Then, his expression turned serious and he looked at Jin Changge: "However, what I just said was not a joke."

"If you seek peace through compromise, peace will die."

“Peace can only last if it is achieved through struggle.”

After saying this, Jin Changge's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he looked at Qin Ze without blinking. Qin Ze continued:

"Although we have defeated the overseas countries this time, we still cannot let our guard down. As you said, they will definitely come back and form a larger army."

"But it doesn't matter."

"If there is a war, we must fight it, and we will win!"

“This is what I will do from now on.”