Chapter 99 You can make me emperor

Xiao Chengying said, "She probably thought you were in Yezhou of Jiang Kingdom, so she led an army of 400,000 to the city to demand people, and a fight almost broke out."

"Huh?" Lu Jinlan was startled.

"It's true, I heard that both sides were terrified. Jiang panicked and immediately agreed to cede three cities to your Hua Kingdom. The alliance has already been signed, right here on the city wall."

Xiao Chengying still felt a lingering fear as he spoke, "Yezhou City was almost razed to the ground even though we didn't capture anyone. If I had told her the person was with me, wouldn't she have immediately turned around and attacked Chizhou instead?"

"Let me tell you, this woman is truly insane. With you and General Xiang gone, she's become the boss. She commands a large army, wields a long sword, and is bloodthirsty, following whoever she wants."

Lu Jinlan held her wine glass, looked down and smiled faintly, "That's just her temper. When she gets angry, she's very willful. She does whatever she wants, without any regard for others."

Lu Jinlan smiled and shook her head. "But don't worry, she'll know we're all alright, so she won't be willful. Henglang, go to Prison Dragon Pass."

As Lu Jinlan spoke, she took off the jade pendant from her waist and handed it to Xiao Heng, "Take this to see Wu Xin and tell her that we are all fine. I'll stay here with Ru Zhen to recover from her injuries, so tell her not to worry and not to go crazy again."

Xiao Heng took the jade pendant and immediately left the city, rushing to Prison Dragon Pass overnight to report the news.

Only Lu Jinlan and Xiao Chengying remained in the room. Xiao Chengying snorted coldly, "Lord Lu, you are truly capable. Although my younger brother is a man, he has been pampered by our mother since childhood. But after meeting you, he is completely at your beck and call, both in and out of bed."

Xiao Chengying sneered, "We, the Xiao family, have treated you well, even wholeheartedly, but you haven't been fair to us."

Lu Jinlan glanced at her, sensing it was time to get to the point. She smiled. "What do you mean?"

Xiao Chengying said coldly, "In the Battle of Prison Dragon Pass, you and I formed an alliance. I led the troops of Qu Kingdom to charge first. You and I are both commanders, and we both understand. The vanguard will undoubtedly suffer the most casualties in the battle."

“In that battle, my Qu Kingdom suffered more than 6,000 casualties, which is more than the combined casualties of your troops and the Song family army. I did not complain to you or ask for any compensation.”

"But what about you? You actually sent people here to demand that our Qu Kingdom cede the Chizhou City beneath our feet. Don't you think you've gone too far?"

Lu Jinlan sighed and said sadly, "We all know that wars can't be fought without casualties."

"I am very grateful to you and the soldiers of Qu for launching the first attack for us. I know that your casualties are greater than ours, so you will get the lion's share of the spoils after the battle."

"Whether it's prisoners of war or supplies, as long as your Qu army wants them, our Hua army will give them to you. I didn't say this then, but I'm saying it now not to flatter you or to coax you."

"You can ask around; my troops are unparalleled in cleaning up the battlefield. They're famous for taking on everything, like sweeping away fallen leaves in autumn. Even broken tanks will be dragged back to the city to be dismantled and burned as firewood. They won't let a single thing go to waste."

"Without my authorization, could you have taken so many spoils from them?"

Xiao Chengying thought about it and realized that seemed to make sense. But she was still very unhappy, glaring angrily out the window without responding.

Lu Jinlan continued, "As for asking you to cede cities, that's truly not something a human being would do. After all, we were already allied; how can you ask an ally to cede territory?"

Xiao Chengying said angrily, "You knew that, so why did you do it?"

Lu Jinlan shrugged. "This is not something I should do. It's an order from the Emperor. As a subject, I can't disobey the imperial decree, can I? I know you feel wronged, but I have my own difficulties. You can't blame me just because you're angry. You should come to me, and I'll help you find a solution."

"You? Humph!" Xiao Chengying glared at her. "You avoided me when I asked for you, and now you're blaming me?"

Lu Jinlan hurriedly said, "I was indeed very busy during that period, and I didn't have a plan at the time. I knew you wouldn't give it to me, so I told the delegation not to press me. They were just staying with you for a while, it's not worth you getting so angry, is it?"

Xiao Chengying's expression softened slightly. "That's true, they were quite polite. So, you have an idea now?"

Lu Jinlan nodded. "I've got it."

Xiao Chengying leaned forward, "Tell me about it."

Lu Jinlan: "First, you must cede Chizhou City to Hua Kingdom."

Xiao Chengying slammed his hand on the table. "Don't even think about it!"

Lu Jinlan clicked her tongue. "Look at you, getting impatient again. What's wrong with your temper? Your Highness, let me finish what I have to say. If you give Chizhou City to Hua Kingdom, I can give an account to my emperor."

Xiao Chengying's face was tense. "To get you to comply, I have to lose a city?"

Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "What is lost on one side is gained on the other. There is always something to give up. I can't just take advantage of myself and let you suffer losses, can I? Do you remember what I promised you when I persuaded you to form an alliance? I said that after we won, I would ask Jiang for two cities and give you one."

Xiao Chengying was taken aback. "Wh...what do you mean?"

Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "The Yezhou City next door is twice the size of your Chizhou City. You give me Chizhou, and I'll give you Yezhou. You'll make a killing in this deal, right?"

Xiao Chengying never expected things to take this turn. Lu Jinlan had indeed said he would give her a city.

But the alliance that night was forced by circumstances; even if Lu Jinlan hadn't mentioned giving her the city, she had no other choice.

Besides, based on her understanding of Lu Jinlan, she knew he would definitely break such a promise, so she never took it seriously.

At this moment, Xiao Chengying looked at Lu Jinlan with a suspicious gaze, "Can you make that decision?"

Lu Jinlan said confidently, "Of course we can. To tell you the truth, our emperor originally only intended to ask each of your two countries for one city. You have to understand her. After all, we've been fighting for so long and finally won. She has to give an explanation to the court and the people."

"For the Emperor, your cession of cities would be a glorious event that would be recorded in history. It is only natural that she would want your two countries to cede territory."

"I've gotten everything she wanted for her. There's even extra. If I give you a city, she'll agree."

Xiao Chengying frowned. "Why?"

Lu Jinlan said, "Isn't it obvious? She wants each country to cede one city. I originally wanted Jiang to cede two cities and give you one. Unfortunately, because of this incident, Jiang actually agreed to cede three cities, so it has become four cities between the two countries."

"If I give you Yezhou, it's still three cities between the two countries. How could the emperor be dissatisfied?"

Xiao Chengying shook his head. "I'm talking about you. Why did you do this? You didn't have to give it to me. I can't do anything to you except hate you."

Lu Jinlan smiled, "That's why I like His Highness the Crown Prince; you're always so outspoken."

“Alas, I always say that the world misunderstands me. In fact, when I say this, I am often just making excuses. It is true that the world thinks I am a lecher. But to be fair, the world does misunderstand me in some ways.”

"Everyone thinks that I, Lu Jinlan, am arrogant because I became famous at a young age, that I am ambitious and eager for fame and fortune, that I look down on everyone, and that I would do anything for my own benefit."

"Actually, they misunderstood. Although I am not a kind person and often resort to unscrupulous means, I actually have many people in my heart, including the common people of the world."

She looked up at Xiao Chengying. "You just said that you would only hate me. I know that, so I don't want you to hate me."

“I am a sentimental person, so I never look down on love, hate and passion. I know very well that those invisible and intangible, insignificant emotions are enough to drive a person to do something earth-shattering.”

"For the public good, I do not want to sow the seeds of hatred. The rise and fall of dynasties are always the suffering of the people. There have been enough deaths and injuries among our soldiers. I do not want war to break out again in the future."

"Personally, I don't want to let you down. There's nothing I dislike about you. I pressured you once, but that was out of necessity. But this time, I don't want to pressure you. Otherwise, it wouldn't be right, both morally and logically."

"Many people think I'm too selfish, always winning, always taking advantage, and always stealing the limelight. It's like I can get whatever I want, and I'm arrogant and smug. Those who can't beat me probably curse me behind my back: 'Tch, a petty person who's gotten his way.'"

"But let me tell you, although I am not a soft-hearted person, I rarely do things that drive people to the brink of death. When I drink and eat meat, I will at least give someone a bowl of soup. Why must I drive someone into a dead end?"

“I respect every opponent on the battlefield. I will never stare into their pained eyes and celebrate my great victory with smug satisfaction. I am not a seven or eight-year-old child.”

"As a general, after a war ends, my first thought is how to comfort the families of the fallen soldiers and how to be worthy of the allies who fought alongside me."

She looked at Xiao Chengying, "So far, I haven't wronged you, have I?"

Xiao Chengying nodded blankly, "Of course, of course."

Xiao Chengying was in a state of profound shock, which kept her silent for a long time.

A moment later, she picked up the wine pot and filled Lu Jinlan's cup with wine.

"It's strange, we haven't actually had much interaction. But every time I see you and talk to you, it's like getting to know you all over again. But even after getting to know you, I still feel like it's not enough. You're like a thick and complex book that I can't finish reading or understand, and you've given me so many shocks."

Xiao Chengying raised his glass. "I think I said last time that I admired you. But I said that last time because you were better than me. Your strategy, courage, and methods were all superior to mine, so I had no choice but to submit."

"But now I truly admire you. You have won my heart and I admire you wholeheartedly. I respect you."

Xiao Chengying downed his drink in one gulp, his eyes suddenly hardening as he said, “In my opinion, you’re being wasted as a subject.”

Lu Jinlan smiled. "I don't think so. I have money and power, two sworn brothers, and beautiful women in my arms. Everyone envies me, even I envy myself. What's there to complain about in such a carefree life?"

Xiao Chengying smiled and said in a low voice, "Don't you want to take it a step further?"

Lu Jinlan was taken aback. "What do you mean? You want me to rebel so you can take advantage of the situation?"

Xiao Chengying said, "If I were you, I would rebel. But if you don't want to rebel, then you should stay in Qu Kingdom. No matter how glorious you are in Hua Kingdom, you will still be second only to the emperor."

Lu Jinlan laughed out loud, "What kind of talk is that? In Qu Kingdom, would you make me emperor?"

Xiao Chengying said, "That's about right. Once I ascend the throne, we'll rule the world together, and we'll be equals, how about that?"

Lu Jinlan was taken aback; she truly hadn't expected Xiao Chengying to have such thoughts. For a fleeting moment, her heart fluttered.

But after thinking it over carefully, she shook her head and refused.

"I am grateful for Your Highness's kind offer, but I am not worthy of it. As a citizen of Hua Kingdom, it seems a bit odd that I would leave my family and home to come to Qu Kingdom to work hard and govern it. But let's forget about it. However, the fact that you have this idea shows that you think highly of me, and I am honored."

Xiao Chengying tried to persuade her for a while, offering her generous benefits and allowing her to make any request. However, Lu Jinlan insisted, so Xiao Chengying had no choice but to compromise.

"Very well, since you refuse to stay in Qu Kingdom, then you shall marry your fourteenth brother. You shall leave him with a child, and I will pass the throne to your daughter in the future."

Lu Jinlan was taken aback again, then smiled in confusion, "You're just talking nonsense, aren't you? Your throne will naturally be passed on to your own child. Even if Xiao Heng and I have a daughter, it won't be our child's turn to sit on the throne."

Xiao Chengying pursed his lips. "Didn't Fourteenth Brother tell you? I'm not married and I don't have any children."

Lu Jinlan said, "As the crown prince, it's normal for you to have high standards. But you're so young, and the entire Qu Kingdom is yours. Choosing a few men to bear you sons and daughters is a piece of cake, isn't it?" Xiao Chengying shook his head, his eyes full of meaning. "I really like power, because once I have supreme power, no one can force me to do anything I don't want to do. I don't want to get married, and I don't want any man to bear my children."

Lu Jinlan was a little confused. In this world, the idea of ​​not marrying or having children was extremely rare. In a matriarchal world, marriage and childbirth were not considered a loss for women. She couldn't understand for a moment what Xiao Chengying's objection to marriage and childbirth was.

Especially since she has a special status, as she is the crown prince and her family truly has a throne to inherit.

Seeing her blank expression, Xiao Chengying curled the corners of his mouth and said, "Can't figure it out, can you? There's finally something in this world that can stump you, Lu Jinlan, and leave you puzzled."

Lu Jinlan pondered for a moment, still completely baffled. She cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, "Please enlighten me."

Xiao Chengying leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Because I don't like men."

Lu Jinlan suddenly realized what was going on, nodded slightly, and tried her best to appear calm and composed.

Xiao Chengying smiled, his phoenix eyes twinkling as he looked at her calm expression and asked with a smile, "You like men?"

Lu Jinlan was already confused by the series of unexpected events, and couldn't help but frown and ask, "Everyone in the world knows that I like men, is there any need to doubt that?"

Xiao Chengying smiled calmly, "I'm just confirming."

Lu Jinlan warily distanced herself, her mind in turmoil.

Xiao Chengying said, "Then you should marry your fourteenth brother and give birth to a daughter who will be adopted by me. As soon as I ascend the throne, I will immediately name her Crown Princess."

“You are still the mother and father of the child. After I pass away, your child will become the emperor and can do whatever she wants. Abdicating the throne to you will only be a matter between you and your daughter.”

"Lord Lu, what are your thoughts?"

Lu Jinlan: "Wait a minute, my mind is a bit muddled."