"It's the Ninefeather Bird."
"And there are two of them."
As Qiao Da lifted the animal hide, everyone from the tribes stared wide-eyed at the two Ninefeather Birds inside the cage. Even King Grant showed a look of astonishment.
Edward Grant, who had just been furious, now looked much calmer.
At this moment, several women hurried out from the palace. One of them, a bit older, whispered something into King Grant's ear.
King Grant burst into hearty laughter immediately.
"My daughter has been born. Everyone, please wait a moment."
With that, King Grant turned and entered the palace. Charles Grant quickly had someone cover the cage with the animal hide again, since it was winter and the Ninefeather Birds were extremely precious.
Congratulations filled the air. The two Ninefeather Birds truly made all the other tribes' tribute offerings pale in comparison.
It was rumored that even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors once possessed such Ninefeather Birds—a symbol of the royal family.
After a while, King Grant returned, holding a baby wrapped in animal hide, who was wailing loudly. Many women followed behind him.
"Everyone, look—this is my third daughter."
King Grant raised the baby girl high as he spoke, and the leaders of the major tribes all cheered along.
After the cheers died down, King Grant, holding his daughter, approached the three tribal chiefs and pointed to the chief in the middle.
"Leonard Lin, I betroth my daughter to your unborn son. What do you think?"
The chief named Leonard Lin immediately bowed his head and said,
"Thank you, King Grant."
"Father, this must be fate. The Ninefeather Birds arrived just as my little sister was born. It surely means the Grant Family will prosper!" Edward Grant said from the side.
Edward Grant spoke from the side. At this moment, King Grant handed his daughter to the women behind him. They took the baby back into the palace, while King Grant looked at Charles Grant, who was still bowing his head.
"Raise your head, Charles Grant."
Qiao Da looked seriously at King Grant.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Qiao Da nodded.
"King Grant, in recent years, the survival situation of our eleven northern tribes has been dire. I know it's not just us this year—other tribes have also struggled to gather enough tribute. So I hope King Grant will exempt us from tribute for three years."
Suddenly, Ji Chang's eyes widened in anger.
"King Grant, the Ninefeather Bird is called the King of Birds because of its brilliant dark green plumage and exquisite form. Its nine-colored tail feathers represent unity among all tribes, regardless of color. But to achieve this, the body must be whole. Now, our northern tribes are like the wings of the Ninefeather Bird trapped in a cage—useless. If this goes on..."
King Grant raised a hand and nodded. At this moment, the other tribal chiefs had different opinions—exempting tribute would mean leaving the Grant Family, which was absolutely forbidden.
"King Grant, you mustn't! If word gets out, the other regional leaders might take action."
Lin Shan immediately objected, and soon various voices of dissent arose. Lu Yu, silent in the crowd, looked at Qiao Da with deep concern.
"Hmph, Qiao Da, the northern tribes total eleven, with nearly a hundred thousand people. If they stop paying tribute, isn't that a sign of rebellion?"
Ji Chang immediately shouted.
"Everyone, let's enter the palace and prepare for the banquet. Let me consider this matter for a few days."
As King Grant spoke, Qiao Da bowed, then led his son and Qiao Qun to follow the crowd into the palace.
"Qiao Da, what do you mean by this? If you don't want to pay tribute, fine, but do you want to drag us down with you?"
A sinister-looking man blocked Qiao Da and spoke. He was from a tribe neighboring the Qiao Clan, and the other northern tribes were all dissatisfied.
"Those people—they're doing this for everyone."
Lu Yu said angrily, but Qiao Da shook his head.
"It's alright, Ah Yu."
Each tribe was only allowed to bring two people into the palace. In a spacious, round hall, steaming food was already laid out. The tribal chiefs began to eat noisily.
Qiao Yusheng and Lu Xing looked at the large pieces of cooked meat before them, mouths watering. They quickly began to eat.
"What's wrong, Ada? It's a rare feast—why have you eaten so little?"
Qiao Da shook his head, clutching his hand.
"The wound still hurts. I can't eat much."
King Grant appeared extremely happy on the surface, but his expression remained grim. During the banquet, he left with his son, leaving the tribal chiefs behind.
The annual tribute was an unbreakable tradition for all tribes, passed down since ancient times. Yet Qiao Da had brought up such a matter.
Though the value of the Ninefeather Bird was undeniable, the tribute issue was even more important.
There were unwritten rules among the tribes, and tribute was one of them. If a subordinate tribe stopped paying tribute to the leading tribe, it meant they no longer submitted—and intended to rebel.
Late at night, Qiao Da sat alone under the cold sky. They were staying in the Grant family's house; each tribe had its own room and a small courtyard for rest.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
Qiao Yusheng had somehow appeared behind Qiao Da. Qiao Da smiled.
"It's late, Yusheng. Go to sleep. There's a meeting tomorrow—you need to learn well."
"I can't stand this anymore. People in our tribe have starved to death this year. Why? There's no war between the tribes, and the Grant family just sits back and enjoys the benefits."
Qiao Da shook his head.
"You're wrong, Yusheng. It's precisely because the Grant family is so powerful that our weak tribe hasn't been swallowed up. If war breaks out again, we'll have to rely on their strength."
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Qiao Da's eyes widened in surprise—it was King Grant.
"King Grant, it's so late."
King Grant walked over, glanced at Qiao Yusheng's fierce expression, and gently patted his head.
"Child, go to sleep."
Qiao Da saw his son reluctant, standing angrily. He slapped him across the mouth, and only then did Qiao Yusheng, clutching his cheek, return to the house.
"Qiao Da, what you said today wasn't wrong. I've thought about these things too."
"I understand, King Grant. This is something that's never happened before, and it's difficult for you."
"Although I live here in the prosperous Grant Capital, long ago, before the city was built, I was young and saw what famine was like. This time, the meat from the northern tribes is already spoiled and sour. Life must be very hard for everyone."
Qiao Da immediately bowed his head and saluted.
"King Grant, I have an idea—if it works, it should solve the problem."
King Grant stared at Qiao Da in surprise, then nodded.
"Speak."
The next day at the banquet, after lively conversation, King Grant stood up and silence fell.
"Alright, tribal chiefs—I've made my decision about Qiao Da's proposal."
King Grant spoke, picked up a piece of meat from the table, and smiled.
"Three years. The eleven northern tribes are exempt from tribute."
"Father, what are you..."
Ji Chang instantly stood up, and the other tribal chiefs erupted, voicing concerns about the decision.
"But..."
King Grant shouted loudly and continued.
"If things haven't improved after three years, the annual tribute must increase..."
"Absolutely not, King Grant!"
Lin Shan immediately stood up to object.
"Now, the tribes of Si Land have been coveting our prosperous Grant Land for a long time. If the eleven northern tribes stop paying tribute now, word will spread and..."
"Everyone, quiet down."
King Grant shouted again.
"There's one more condition: the children of the eleven tribes must stay in Grant Capital as a sign of loyalty."
This statement threw the scene into greater chaos. Most of the northern tribal chiefs began blaming Qiao Da.
With a smack, King Grant threw a large piece of meat into the center. Everyone looked over.
"This piece of meat comes from one of the northern tribes. It's infested with worms, sour and rotten."
The northern chiefs who had been cursing Qiao Da fell silent, guiltily staring at the meat.
"Clearly, everyone is struggling. If I make you keep paying tribute, soon you'll all be like this rotten meat."
Things finally calmed down. The chiefs of the eleven tribes agreed, sending their children with tribal inheritance rights to Grant Capital as a sign of loyalty.
The banquet finally came to an end. Next, the chiefs would return home, but first came the final ritual—naming the newborn girl, an important ceremony.
The well-fed baby lay in King Grant's arms, but he remained silent. Then King Grant looked at Qiao Da.
"Let her be called Yun."
All eyes turned to King Grant.
"This time, I promised the eleven northern tribes three years without tribute. I hope this promise brings loyalty, so my daughter will be named Yun."
Cheers erupted all around.
At the city gate, Qiao Yusheng's eyes brimmed with tears as he watched his father leave. Grant soldiers stood by his side; he was required to stay in Grant Capital for three years.
"Yusheng, it's hard on you. Just practice diligently—I'll come for you in three years."
Qiao Da left, while Lu Xing laughed loudly nearby.
"Hey, what's there to cry about? Are you still just a baby nursing at your mother's breast?"
"Get lost."