In the morning, there was one more vacant seat in the first row.
"Why didn't Mr. Xiang come to court today?"
"Maybe he went to Jizhou."
"So the fight is finally about to begin?"
"Who knows, but I heard yesterday that Dafeng has begun to send more troops to the border..."
"..."
Taking advantage of the opportunity before Ning Yongnian showed up, everyone couldn't help but talk a few more words.
Li Qian listened to all this in silence, and unconsciously turned his attention to Ning Wenyu again.
Compared with the eldest prince Ning Wenjun, the second prince seems to be inferior in both civil and military skills.
In addition, Ning Wenyu was born two years later than his brother, so most people in the court were not optimistic that he would defeat Ning Wenjun and ascend to the throne in the future.
Of course, it's too far to think about these things now.
After all, with Ning Yongnian's physical condition, it is not a problem to live for another forty or fifty years.
It's unclear what the situation in Daning will be like by then.
Even judging from the current situation, it is hard to say whether the emperor can die...
"Go to court!"
While Li Qian was thinking, Li Huaizhong's long-pitched shout suddenly sounded.
"kneel!"
"Shanhu!"
"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"
"..."
The deafening mountain call resounded through the Jinluan Palace. Ning Yongnian sat on the dragon chair with a long-lost smile on his face.
...
Ning Yongnian implemented a small plan and successfully dug out the nails buried in the court hall of the Xu family. He felt that he had cleared the last stumbling block to put down the rebellion in Jizhou.
But he probably never imagined that there would be more than just this kind of craftsman around him.
The piece of information that was originally used as bait has also been sent to Jizhou, becoming an important bargaining chip in the negotiations between Wei Changtian and the Xu family.
"...Mrs. Wei, you and I have been talking for so long, and my Wei family has retreated again and again..."
It was the same tea room as last night, with only Wei Changtian and Wei Yanyu alone.
The second round of negotiations has been going on for more than half an hour, but progress is very slow.
However, Wei Changtian was not anxious at all. He took a sip of tea with a calm expression, looked at Wei Yanyu and chuckled:
"But Madam, you refuse to give in even an inch...isn't it a bit too much?"
"Master Wei, you can't say that."
Wei Yanyu raised the pot to fill Wei Changtian's tea, and said softly: "I don't think the request I made is too excessive. Why don't you think more about it, sir?"
"There's nothing to think about."
Wei Changtian shook his head: "It is absolutely impossible for the Wei family to openly rebel. The most we can do is leave a way for the Xu family to retreat."
"Sir, the retreat you mentioned makes no difference to our Xu family whether we have it or not..."
Wei Yanyu sighed softly, with a half-serious look on her face: "If Jizhou cannot be defended, what will happen even if a few people of the Xu family can escape?"
"Madam, if you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood."
Wei Changtian replied noncommittally: "It's better to be alive than to be dead."
"..."
Sandalwood was lit on the low table in the corner of the tea room, but there was no smoke, only a small red glow proving that the incense was not extinguished.
It's better to be alive than dead.
Hearing these words, Wei Yanyu was suddenly stunned for a moment.
She was silent for a moment, stretched out her hand to touch a jade pendant around her waist, and then said calmly:
"Mr. Wei, although my Xu family has the same surname as the three major Daning families, compared to Liu Wei, few people in the government and the public really think highly of us."
"If the emperor wants to regain the power of the world, he must first attack the Xu family."
"People can't afford food and rice, so they say it's my Xu family who has bad intentions."
"Even those rotten literati who want to scold those in power can only dare to scold me, the Xu family..."
"My husband died at the hands of someone, and whether the Xu family really wants to rebel... I believe you also know, Master."
"We have had enough of this miserable life."
"Now that the emperor has forced my Xu family to rebel, then we will show it to him."
"Master Wei."
Wei Yanyu suddenly raised her head, and her tone became decisive in an instant.
"Everyone in the Xu family would rather die in Jizhou..."
"I will never live alone!"
...
"Pap~"
As if foreshadowing something, as Wei Yanyu finished her last words, a curved piece of incense ash fell into the incense burner, causing an undetectable sound.
But it's like the roar of a huge mountain collapsing.
Even if my Xu family is exterminated, the whole country of Daning will be shaken...
Faced with such a motive that was almost pique-like, Wei Changtian couldn't help but slightly widen his eyes.
He didn't know if Wei Yanyu's words were sincere.
But if it is, then...
"Dong dong dong~"
Suddenly, a slight knock on the door sounded from their ears.
Wei Yanyu frowned, but still raised her voice and said something.
"Come in."
"Mother......"
The door was gently pushed open, Xu Chengwen leaned into the room, followed by Chu Xianping.
"This Mr. Chu said that he has something important that must be discussed with Mr. Wei immediately."
"..."
Wei Yanyu looked at Chu Xianping, then at Wei Changtian, and nodded lightly.
"I'm bothering you, madam."
Chu Xianping bowed his hands in a polite manner, then walked to Wei Changtian's side and whispered in his ear:
"Sir, we sent a message to the same boat party. There is one missing person in the court this morning."
"This person also knows the information from last night."
"This is Xiang Shiyuan, Minister of the Ministry of War."
"..."
The corner of Wei Changtian's mouth moved slightly and he waved his hand calmly.
"I know, you can go back first."
"yes."
Chu Xianping came and went in a hurry. He saluted the two of them again and then followed Xu Chengwen out of the tea room.
Wei Yanyu didn't know what he said to Wei Changtian, but she was a little confused about what was so urgent.
Wei Changtian, on the other hand, looked at the door that had been closed again, knowing in his heart that from this moment on, the initiative in this negotiation was already in his own hands.
"Madam, you just said that everyone in the Xu family would rather die than live..."
After pondering for a moment, Wei Changtian finally said slowly: "I don't think so on this matter."
"Master Wei, what do you mean by this?"
Wei Changtian's sudden change in attitude made Wei Yanyu realize something instantly: "Please speak more clearly."
"Madam, you will understand after listening to me."
Wei Changtian shrugged and said in a relaxed tone: "There is one person missing from the morning court in the capital. He is the Minister of War, Mr. Xiang Shiyuan."
"Xiang Shiyuan..."
Wei Yanyu's pupils shrank uncontrollably, and she clenched her palms slightly: "I don't know what the young master is talking about."
"Of course you don't know, ma'am."
Wei Changtian smiled and continued talking.
"But as far as I know, the reason why Mr. Xiang failed to go to court is because the emperor found out that he was a craftsman from a certain company."
"As for why the Emperor was able to find out about this matter, it's because Mr. Xiang just learned a piece of information last night and couldn't wait to send it out. Unexpectedly, it was a trap set by the Emperor."
"lady......"
Wei Changtian suddenly leaned forward to close the distance between him and Wei Yanyu, and said softly: "But the emperor didn't find my people, so I know this information."
"Master Wei, you..."
Wei Yanyu looked at Wei Changtian who was so close and subconsciously wanted to say something.
However, just when she opened her mouth, Wei Changtian interrupted directly:
"Madam, I think you should know how important this piece of information that Lord Xiang failed to send was."
"You can think about the price you can pay for this."
"But I suggest you don't think about it for too long..."
"Because there is really not much time left for the Xu family."