Chapter 239 Dispute (Part 2)

After these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Chang just drank the water slowly, as if he was in deep thought.

"Your Highness is overthinking things," Sun Wei said. "The court's dynamics have always been determined not by Wang Han's opinions, but by the Queen Mother's. When it comes to supporting the Crown Prince, the Queen Mother has always been on the same page as the Crown Prince. Just now, the Queen Mother mentioned the Crown Prince's entry into the court to me, which shows that in her eyes, Wang Pushe's influence within the court is too great, and the time has come to curb it. She is happy to lend a helping hand to the Crown Prince, and is also happy to see the Crown Prince, with his help, stand up to Wang Han. Since the Queen Mother is guaranteeing you, why should the Crown Prince hesitate and hesitate?"

Sima Jun said calmly, "Madam, you are too naive. The Queen Mother is your guarantor today, but what if she doesn't tomorrow? How can I drive Wang Xuanji out of the house? I know my grandmother best."

Sun Wei was annoyed when she saw that he was stubborn.

"I just want to ask, does the prince really want to enter the inner court?" she asked.

"Of course."

"If you want to, why don't you try your best to fight for it? Since the Crown Prince has said that there will be a war with the Wang family, we must prepare for it. Even Goujian, the King of Yue, could endure sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, so why can't you endure the Crown Prince's mere marriage?"

"To me, this isn't just a marriage," Sima Jun said. "Even though Gou Jian endured hardships and endured hardships, his ultimate victory was still achieved through the use of force. I have the troops of Jiangzhou at my disposal, so why should I submit to such manipulation?"

"Who will protect the Crown Prince if he goes to Jiangzhou?" Sun Wei asked. "If the Crown Prince and Wang Han start a war, the Crown Prince will fall into Wang Han's hands. Will the Crown Prince just watch helplessly as the Crown Prince is held hostage?"

"Why can't Madam trust me? I will do my best to protect the prince."

Sun Wei sneered: "If I tell you, my lord, that the prince will be poisoned one day, even if you try your best to save him, you can only save a body. Will you believe it?"

These words made Sima Jun and Zhou Chang change color.

Sun Wei continued, "I know that the Crown Prince has always disbelieved these things. But the Crown Prince may not believe other things, but he must believe this one. If the Crown Prince acts recklessly, not only will the Crown Prince and the entire world perish, but the Crown Prince himself will also perish."

Sima Jun looked at her with an uncertain expression, but still did not intend to give in.

After a long stalemate, Zhou Chang said, "You two, why don't you listen to what this old man has to say?"

Sima Jun glanced at him and said coldly, "It all depends on who you persuade, Master. If you want to persuade me, please give up the idea."

Zhou Chang glared at him and said, "Don't think too highly of yourself. Why should I advise you?"

Sima Jun was surprised, but Sun Wei suddenly became alert.

Zhou Chang looked at her and said, "Princess, you're worried that the Crown Prince is in Jiangzhou and can't help the Crown Prince in Jiankang Palace. But what if the Crown Prince doesn't want you to help?"

When these words were spoken, not only Sun Wei, but also Sima Jun was quite surprised.

"Master, why do you say that?" Sima Jun asked.

"You've been away from the capital for a long time, so you're unaware of the rumors circulating there," Zhou Chang said. "Although the Crown Prince and Wang Zhi both achieved success during this southern expedition, everyone in the court and the public know that it was your achievement, and there are many rumors. Among these rumors, two are the most sinister. First, some say that the Crown Prince's achievement was due to your giving him up out of pity. Second, some say that the Crown Prince's ability is inferior to yours, and that if you could take the throne, the world would be considered to have a wise ruler."

"Nonsense!" Sima Jun rebuked immediately, "When the Crown Prince recaptured the Three Wus, I had already marched south to Guangzhou. How can you say you surrendered?"

Zhou Chang smiled.

"There are many anecdotes involved. For example, who was Chu Yue, the man who helped the Crown Prince recapture the Three Wus? And why did you suddenly travel south to Guangzhou and hand over this favorable battle situation to the Crown Prince?"

Sima Jun was silent for a moment.

Sun Wei was also shocked.

She knew that although it was a rumor, it was actually true.

At the beginning, Sima Jun did go south to Guangzhou to avoid suspicion.

Sima Jun mentioned it to her when they left Linhai.

Sima Jun had always been cautious, not wanting to give others a chance to criticize him or put the prince in a difficult position, so he chose to go south to Guangzhou at the critical moment.

Unexpectedly, this move became the biggest handle.

"Rumors are terrifying," Zhou Chang said. "Whether you stayed or left, you would have given someone something to hold against you. You should be thinking, 'Who is deliberately trying to use this against you?'"

Sima Jun asked, "Master, do you think someone is deliberately spreading rumors?"

"That's right," Zhou Chang said, "but the key lies with the Crown Prince. In the current situation, the most important thing to avoid is a rift between the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince."

Sima Jun was unconcerned. "Master, don't worry. Rumors like these have been around since I was in charge of the army. They're just clichés, and the Crown Prince won't believe them. Sometimes he hears them and tells me personally, just to make fun of them. I don't think they're anything to be afraid of."

Zhou Chang didn't answer, but looked at Sun Wei: "What do you think, Princess?"

Sun Wei hesitated for a moment.

In his previous life, Sun Wei had heard that Sima Jun was a tyrant and would seize the throne sooner or later. However, compared to Sima Jun, the Wang family and the later princes all had such qualities, so it was not new.

But now, Sima Jun's achievements are indeed the best, and all the rumors have fallen on him.

The Crown Prince's position was already precarious. If someone with ulterior motives instigated him to become suspicious of Sima Jun...

"I think we shouldn't easily doubt the Crown Prince." Sun Wei thought for a moment and said, "Otherwise, we'll fall into the trap set by those with ulterior motives to sow discord."

Zhou Chang said, "I actually agree with the rumor. It would be great if the prince was the crown prince."

Sima Jun's expression darkened. "Master, please don't joke like this again."

Zhou Chang smiled and took a sip of water.

"That's beside the point." Sun Wei looked at Sima Jun and said, "The Crown Prince hasn't answered my question yet. If the Crown Prince doesn't want to marry Wang, how will he enter the inner court?"

"I'll find a way." Sima Jun said impatiently, "I won't trade marriage for anything."

"Stubborn ox!" Sun Wei blurted out, unable to bear it any longer.

Sima Jun could no longer bear it and blurted out: "Wood."

The two looked at each other and glared at each other.

Sun Wei didn't want to talk to him anymore, so she stood up, said goodbye to Zhou Chang, and left first.

Sima Jun stood in the room, looking at the direction she went out, and remained silent with anger.

Zhou Chang looked at him and said, "You shouldn't have offended everyone who tried to persuade you."

Sima Jun's face was gloomy. He snorted and held his head high. "If she's offended, then let her be."

"That's right," Zhou Chang said. "I heard that the young man from the Yu family is going to Songshan Academy for a leisurely discussion today. The streets outside are packed with people. The princess is feeling depressed, so it's a good idea to go and take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sima Jun stood up to say goodbye.

Sun Wei came out angrily, got on the carriage directly, and ordered to return home.

Team leader Deng Lian was a little hesitant. He was thinking that Sima Jun had not come out yet, and whether he should send Sun Wei back first, but he saw Sima Jun also came out.

Neither of them spoke.

Sima Jun mounted his horse, but ordered his men to avoid the main street and take a less crowded route back to Prince Yuzhang's Palace.