“They think my Yan Kingdom is weak, but they have interests that tempt them, so of course they will do this.” Zhang Zisheng said softly as she listened to her father’s sigh.
"Hmm." Zhang Li nodded slightly, then frowned and shook his head: "I just don't understand why we can't get along harmoniously."
Zhang Zisheng sighed softly: "If even an island nation like Japan is like this, what about the major powers overseas?"
"Since His Majesty has said he wants to fight them directly since they have come to Nangang, he must be confident of victory. We should receive the news in the next few days."
Mentioning this, Zhang Li's brows relaxed, and he stroked his beard, saying, "Although it's too early to say, His Majesty always makes thorough preparations before taking any action."
"If we can defeat them this time, those overseas countries should finally curb their ambitions and retreat. Our Yan Kingdom will then be able to live in peace and stability."
Zhang Zisheng's hand, which was rubbing her shoulder, gradually slowed down. She lowered her eyes and sighed almost inaudibly, "Father, I'm afraid they won't stop."
Zhang Li pursed his lips, and after a long while, he slowly said, "Perhaps."
Zhang Li was unwilling to dwell on this heavy topic any longer, so he changed the subject and said, "Once the matter in Nangang is settled, His Majesty should return to the capital." As he spoke, Zhang Li slightly raised his head to look at his daughter.
Zhang Zisheng hummed in agreement and then said, "Speaking of which, some people did come back early."
Zhang Li was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "Who?"
But as soon as he asked the question, he suddenly realized something, and his expression turned serious.
The day before yesterday, the Jin family members were escorted back to Jinling from Nanze, the most important of whom was the former emperor Jin Fengluan.
Since arriving in the capital, they have been imprisoned in the imperial prison. Zhang Li has not yet been there. Now, after his daughter brought it up, Zhang Li said in a deep voice, "I don't know why His Majesty wants to send her back to Jinling."
Zhang Zisheng remained silent. Zhang Li paused for two breaths before continuing:
"I think it would be more appropriate to execute them during the attack on Nanze."
"The Jin family and all their associates should be eliminated as soon as possible." As he said this, a rare ruthless look appeared on the old man's usually gentle face.
“His Majesty has certainly considered this.” Zhang Zisheng released his hand, walked to the table, and casually flipped through the memorials.
Zhang Li didn't take it to heart. After all, during these past few months, although he was the one fulfilling the responsibility of "regency," his daughter often assisted him. She was involved in confidential matters, wrote articles, kept records, and handled all matters in an orderly manner.
Although he knew his daughter was intelligent and quick-witted, Zhang Li still couldn't help but sigh that if she hadn't been a girl, she would surely have achieved great things if she had entered officialdom and held a high position.
Zhang Li picked up his teacup, drank the rest of the tea in one gulp, and after setting the cup down, he casually remarked:
"Jin Weizun's daughter, Jin Changge, was not sent back to the capital this time."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zisheng abruptly stopped flipping through the memorials. She turned to look at her father, raising an eyebrow slightly, and said:
"The assassination in Nangang is known throughout the country. She risked her life to assassinate the enemy. She is a virtuous woman with a strong sense of righteousness. How could Father say such a thing?"
Zhang Li shook his head and said with a stern face, "She is Jin Weizun's daughter, and a member of the Jin family."
"So what?"
"How about that? Isn't that enough? You should know..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Zisheng put a hand on Zhang Li's arm and interrupted, "Dad, is your brain not working properly again?"
Zhang Li sighed helplessly: "Eliminate evil completely. Now that the Jin family has been overthrown, we naturally cannot leave any future troubles."
"How could I not know that this woman is a woman of great principle who puts the country first? Otherwise, how could she have committed such a shocking crime? However, the fact that she is a member of the Jin family cannot be concealed."
"There's nothing wrong now, but I'm afraid that someone with ulterior motives might make a big deal out of her in the future."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zisheng's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and finally she burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Li asked, looking up in confusion.
Zhang Zisheng suppressed her smile and looked at her father, saying, "But His Majesty said that not only must the princess be kept, but her safety must also be protected."
"Moreover, he said this in front of a large crowd of people, right there on the execution ground."
"Father, are you going to offer advice to His Majesty, advising him not to leave this potential problem unresolved?"
Zhang Li's face stiffened, but Zhang Zisheng continued, "If His Majesty really follows your advice, wouldn't he lose face? And how will the people view this act of going back on his word? If a new emperor breaks his promise so easily, how can he be trusted in the future?"
Zhang Li gave a bitter smile and sighed.
"His Majesty has decided to keep this woman. Who can change his mind? He saved her from the execution ground, which is a foregone conclusion."
"But this stay will inevitably leave hidden dangers. It would be best if this incident had not occurred."
“My daughter has a different opinion,” Zhang Zisheng said with a smile.
"Oh?" Zhang Li stroked his beard and listened intently.
“Father’s words about eradicating evil completely are true. But now that the evildoers have been exposed, the princess is a righteous person who risked her life to fight on the foreigners’ ship. The people she killed were foreigners who were in cahoots with the Jin family. Therefore, this shows that she has completely separated from the Jin family. Thus, she is naturally not among the ‘evil’.”
"Your Majesty saved the princess and praised her as a 'righteous hero' in front of the people. This is not only appropriate, but also shows that you are fair in rewarding and punishing, and are kind and benevolent."
Zhang Li nodded repeatedly at these words, and Zhang Zisheng then said:
"As for the potential dangers you mentioned, that is true. History serves as a lesson. Even if the princess has no intention of causing trouble, it is hard to guarantee that there won't be any treacherous individuals who, in the future, use her status as the former ruler of the dynasty to plot a rebellion. Of course, it is impossible for this to happen now, but who can guarantee it decades from now?"
Hearing this, Zhang Li lowered his head slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said in a low voice, "That's not necessarily true. Everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies. Perhaps she won't live that long."
"Dad!" Zhang Zisheng pushed his arm in annoyance: "You're overthinking things again."
"Taking matters into your own hands will only result in good intentions leading to bad outcomes."
“My daughter hasn’t finished speaking yet. I have a good way to make this matter completely safe.”
"Alright, alright, go ahead," Zhang Li waved his hand.
Zhang Zisheng bent down and whispered something in Zhang Li's ear.
After he finished speaking, Zhang Li looked surprised as he stared at his daughter's smiling face.
"Zisheng, are you joking with your father?"
“My daughter wasn’t joking.” Zhang Zisheng suppressed her smile, but even so, the corners of her mouth still turned up slightly.
“This…this…it seems like…” Zhang Li stammered, spreading his hands.
"Isn't it good?" Zhang Zisheng stood gracefully beside her, trying her best to suppress her laughter.
With a loud "smack," Zhang Li slammed his fist into his palm, then burst into laughter: "Good, hahaha, but I wonder if His Majesty..."
Zhang Zisheng's smile finally blossomed, and she said with a smile, "That's exactly what he thinks."
“Otherwise, why would it have come to this…” Zhang Zisheng revealed a meaningful smile, and Zhang Li naturally understood.
"Then let's wait for His Majesty to return to the capital, hehe."
At this point, the father and daughter looked at each other and smiled, and the gloom in Zhang Li's heart vanished.
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