"Besides, there is only one way we can go now, let's take it one step at a time."
Helpless Xiang Yang sighed and could only accept the reality.
Now, he can only hope for various possibilities in the future. Maybe... there is still a chance? But if he doesn't agree now, there will be no chance.
After a moment of silence, he raised his head and asked Li Su: "Besides this, is there anything else?"
"Uh... yes..." Li Su nodded and said quickly: "Except for this, when I was walking back, I was blocked by a chief eunuch."
"He told me that the emperor's so-called competition between the three was actually intentional and not a real competition."
"The Lin family has sent envoys many times, but Nan Yanxi didn't agree, just to wait for us..."
"Because...he wants the little emperor in our hands...Lin Shenqing!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" When Xiang Yang heard the name, he frowned and asked quickly,
Li Su then said everything the eunuch told him: "That's it, my lord."
"The eunuch said that in fact, Nan Yanxi wanted the young emperor Lin Shenqing from the beginning, but because he did not want the people of the world to know, and in order to maintain his reputation as a benevolent monarch, he could not say it clearly."
"The eunuch said that as long as we send the little emperor quietly, although we will still compete with the Lin brothers on the surface, secretly, we will be the ones to be crowned king."
After saying this, Xiang Yang fell silent. After a long time, he slowly spoke: "He wants to quietly deal with the threat to himself!"
"Once Lin Shenqing dies, and he uses the failure of the competition as an excuse to kill the Lin brothers, then the Lin family will really be in ruins."
"If you put it that way, it makes sense. Our big plan...maybe there is a turning point..."
Xiang Yang spoke slowly, gradually falling into deep thought.
Many days later, in Lizhou, thousands of miles away, a group of convoys closely guarded by the Royal Forest Army gradually entered Lizhou City.
He stopped in front of the Lizhou Governor's Mansion, which was temporarily used as a palace by Nan Yanxi.
A moment later, one of the most luxurious carriages was brought into the gate of the Governor's Mansion under the guidance of the imperial guards.
The carriage walked slowly and finally stopped at the door of a luxurious hall.
Immediately afterwards, a group of imperial guards gathered around, brought out a man whose body was covered in a black robe, and then quickly brought him into the hall.
In the main hall of the Governor's Mansion, Nan Yanxi was drinking tea with her legs crossed. Standing under the hall was still Li Su who had been here last time.
The two of them didn't speak. One drank tea, and the other just stood there and waited.
After about a cup of tea, a general of the Royal Forest Army hurried over, said something in Nan Yanxi's ear, and then withdrew.
Li Su looked back at the general's back, then turned back to Nan Yanxi and said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... have you confirmed Lin Shenqing's identity?"
"Yes...confirmed!" Nan Yanxi was very happy and nodded simply: "Not bad, Xiang Yang is really willing to give up."
"But... I don't want him, so why did you send him here? I still have to take care of the food!"
"Ah haha..." Li Su laughed dryly, cursing in his heart that he was so good after getting an advantage!
He quickly followed the words and said, "Your Majesty, it's like this. My lord sincerely wants to submit to the Ming Dynasty and to your Majesty!"
"This Lin Shenqing is a sinner committed by the previous dynasty, so naturally she needs to be handed over to the emperor to deal with."
"The lord of the vassal seized him privately and had the intention to rebel at that time. My lord will never do such a perverse act."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. My lord, considering the sensitive identity of Lin Shenqing, did not make it public this time, but sent it secretly."
Hearing this, Nan Yanxi immediately pretended to be very satisfied, and praised Li Su with a smile: "Not bad, not bad... Go back and tell your lord that he is interested."
"In this way, I have also discussed with all the ministers and decided to grant the Lizhou where we are sitting now to your lord as a fief, and temporarily make him the King of Yan."
"As long as he can deal with the rampant gentry here within half a year, he can also implement the New Deal smoothly."
"I will give him the great seal of King Yan and issue an imperial edict to the world, so that he can be hereditary forever."
Hearing this, Li Su immediately looked like he was crying with gratitude. He quickly knelt down and saluted Nan Yanxi, saying gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Long live my emperor, long live the Ming Dynasty for thousands of generations, long live the Ming Dynasty!"
"Okay, okay... Aiqing, please be free!" Nan Yanxi nodded with satisfaction and said to Li Su: "Li Aiqing, I will have someone draft an imperial edict in a while and send someone to read it out."
"You go back and tell King Yan to make preparations in advance, prepare everything, and be ready to leave at any time."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Su gratefully agreed, and then respectfully retreated.
In the palace, Nan Yanxi immediately ordered someone to draft an imperial edict, appointed the eunuch in charge, and chose an auspicious day to read it out.
After arranging everything, Nan Yanxi got up and left the hall.
First, he went back and changed into plainer clothes and the dragon robe. Then he called Li Shuwan, and the two of them walked side by side towards the place where Lin Shenqing was imprisoned.
The Governor's Palace in Lizhou was not very big, so the two of them arrived at the main hall in a short while, served by the eunuch.
At this time, the palace was already crowded with royal guards and eunuchs, and several nearby houses were even sealed off, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting.
Seeing that it was Nan Yanxi approaching, they all saluted him. A leader of the Royal Forest Army quickly came up to greet him and saluted: "See you, Your Majesty!"
"Well... no need to give me any gifts..." Nan Yanxi waved her hand: "How is that person doing?"
"Go back to the emperor!" the imperial guard general replied: "That man has been sitting in a chair in a daze from now until now, without saying a word."
"I was afraid that he would commit suicide, so I sent several eunuchs and maids to serve him inside."
"Very good!" Hearing this, Nan Yanxi patted his shoulder with satisfaction, not forgetting to ask: "It must be kept strictly confidential at this time, you know?"
"If anyone deliberately asks about this matter, they must investigate closely. Be careful of the remnants of Qian Yan coming here to save you!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" the general agreed quickly.
After saying this, Nan Yanxi stepped forward and headed towards the main hall.
As the royal guards on both sides pushed open the palace door, Nan Yanxi looked inward from the door and saw a skinny man sitting on the Grand Master's chair opposite the main hall.
With a haggard expression, pale face, messy hair, and sparse stubble, he was looking at the tea cup in front of him in a daze.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, there was no reaction.
Seeing this, Nan Yanxi sighed slightly in her heart, thinking about what a high-spirited young man he was back then...