Yuan Xiu sat back down on the dragon throne, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Are you all so determined to take my imperial sister?"

Zhou Jinghuan nodded and said, "The Second Prince is still thinking about the Eldest Princess. He can only fall asleep at night with her portrait in his arms."

Yuan Xiu shuddered, thinking to himself, "You're a pervert!"

If she were to marry into that family, wouldn't my sister be devoured by your second prince?

The officials began to discuss the matter again, but the majority still opposed compromise. Only a small number suggested agreeing to the Southern Zhou's demands and exchanging a marriage alliance for a chance for the Great Jing to recuperate.

Zhao Cheng quietly watched as a bystander, also showing great interest in the outcome of the matter.

Although his demands were non-negotiable, agreeing to them would halve the prestige of the Great Jing's Northern Expedition, and the hard-won image of a powerful nation would be greatly diminished in the eyes of the Western Regions states.

But he knew that this was indeed a difficult choice for Yuan Xiu.

Just as Zhao Cheng was acting as if it were none of his business, Yuan Xiu's gaze shifted from the officials and suddenly landed on his face.

"Zhao Cheng!"

ah?

Zhao Cheng thought he had misheard, and only after everyone looked at him did he stand up and reply, "Your subject is here!"

Even though he was General Zhaoyong, he still had to refer to himself as a subject.

Yuan Xiu asked, "What's your opinion on this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng was completely stunned.

What do you mean by "how I see it"?

What does Yuanfang think?

Your Majesty, you've asked the wrong person.

What does this have to do with me?!

The officials were also stunned. They could understand if the emperor asked Wen Tai or Mu Shanyue, or even the various ministers of the Ministry of Personnel, but why did he ask Zhao Cheng?

Could it be that because he is Zhao Huan's eldest son, the emperor wanted to test the attitude of the Right Chancellor's Office?

In response to the officials' astonishment, Yuan Xiu said, "Our General Zhaoyong destroyed the Southern Zhou intelligence network in Yanchuan and the thirteen cities of Jingdong. Apart from the Champion King's team, he is probably the person who knows the Southern Zhou best. Why don't we hear what his insights are?"

Zhao Cheng felt nauseous.

What kind of lame excuse is that?!

Did they destroy the Southern Weekly intelligence network?

Why don't you ask Xiao Luofeng?

He also decisively defeated the Yang family army of the Southern Zhou Dynasty!

Zhao Cheng sensed something was wrong; the emperor had specifically called him out!

What exactly happened that connected him to the marriage alliance between Nan Zhou and Da Jing?

Otherwise, why would the emperor single him out at such a critical juncture?!

"Zhao Cheng, I'm asking you a question!"

Yuan Xiu didn't give Zhao Cheng time to analyze, so Zhao Cheng had no choice but to step forward and stop thinking about why Yuan Xiu had called his name. Instead, he looked at Zhou Jinghuan.

He knew that at this moment, his every word and action was related to the dignity of the country.

Sigh, I just can't seem to keep a low profile...

"Prince He is spouting utter nonsense!" Since there was no way to avoid it, they might as well go all out. Zhao Cheng set the tone with his opening remarks and angrily rebuked Zhou Jinghuan.

"It's you again..." Zhou Jinghuan had experienced Zhao Cheng's sharp words before, so he retreated to advance, saying, "Reason doesn't lie in the volume of your voice. Since you are so confident in refuting me, then show me a reason that will convince people!"

Zhao Cheng snorted coldly, deliberately adopting a spoiled and arrogant demeanor, and said with great enthusiasm, "You say that the Great Jing is too exhausted and weakened by the Northern Expedition, and therefore unable to fight another major war? That's just wishful thinking!"

"Do you, a leisurely prince of Southern Zhou, really understand the national strength of Great Jing? Of course, your Southern Zhou has an intelligence network, through which you can learn some information about Great Jing, but the problem is that your intelligence organization is not very good! I am just a mere sixth-rank general who was able to destroy the intelligence networks of your Yanchuan and the thirteen cities of Jingdong. It's not that I am too strong, it's that you are too weak."

"What useful information can you expect from an intelligence organization that can't even protect itself?"

"That's an absolute joke!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jinghuan frowned, while Yuan Xiu's expression gradually relaxed, and his gaze toward Zhao Cheng even showed a hint of excitement.

Yuan Xiu's idea to call Zhao Cheng out was purely on a whim. If Zhou Jinghuan hadn't proposed marriage to Yuan Yun, he wouldn't have thought of Zhao Cheng at all.

Since her sister wants to take revenge on Zhao Cheng, she'll help kick him while he's down.

That's all.

But to everyone's surprise, Zhao Cheng's words completely stunned Zhou Jinghuan.

What a surprise!

"And then there's the Battle of Lingshan. Let's not even talk about how our Great Jing's General Longxiang won a victory against overwhelming odds. Just consider the fact that you sent the Southern Zhou's most elite Yang family army to Lingshan, along with the renowned Seven Generals of Yangmen. And what was the result? A thousand of the elite troops were killed or wounded, and all seven generals of Yangmen were wiped out!"

"Tsk tsk... Our Northern Expedition suffered casualties, but we gained far more. And what about your Southern Zhou?"

"The intelligence network has been destroyed, the Seven Generals of Yangmen have been wiped out, and you still say that our Great Jing is severely weakened? I think it's you who are severely weakened!"

“You…” Zhou Jinghuan suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

"Good!! Well said!!"

"Young Prime Minister is right!!"

The officials of Jingguo cheered. Zhao Cheng had a reputation for being a spendthrift and dissolute playboy. If it weren't for his merit in destroying the Southern Zhou spy network, he would have been seen as a useless person who dragged Zhao Huan down.

Who would have thought that being a playboy has its advantages!

Zhao Cheng's spoiled and arrogant attitude and his harsh words were exactly the right medicine to use against Zhou Jinghuan!

Many officials looked at Yuan Xiu with admiration, thinking that His Majesty was good at recognizing and appointing people, and had a unique insight.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Zhao Cheng stepped forward and approached Zhou Jinghuan, continuing, "I admit that the Prince said that your Southern Zhou's entire military force is capable of marching north, that you can afford to fight, and that you have the courage to fight to the death. You have the economic strength, but whether you can fight is one thing, and whether you can win is another!"

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