calculation
Inside Prince Yong's Mansion, the scent of agarwood lingered in the air, and the warm room kept out the chill of late autumn.
Prince Yong, Ning Yanli, was leaning against a rosewood couch covered with white tiger skin, playing with a warm mutton-fat jade ring with his fingertips. His face was calm, but undercurrents were flowing in his eyes.
"Royal brother," Ning Lingli, sitting below, spoke with a hint of urgency, "Our father is seriously injured, and the Crown Prince has become regent. If anything were to happen to our father, he would be able to legitimately ascend the throne. By then, will there still be a place for you and me?"
Prince Yong slowly stroked his thumb ring, his eyes deep, "The Crown Prince is now acting as the Emperor, and his position is established. If we directly challenge him, it would be disobedience."
Ning Lingli's eyes flashed with a cold light: "If open means don't work, why not try covert means? Perhaps, we can start with our good sister Ning Lingyi."
"Oh?" Prince Yong raised his eyes, a curious look on his face. "What do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, you must be feeling incredibly guilty for forcing her to marry Beishuo. A while ago, wasn't it just because of a single word she gave that the number one scholar, who had offended her, was exiled? Now that Your Majesty is ill, his mind must be heavier than usual, and he's even more suspicious."
Ning Lingli analyzed, "If we can somehow create a conflict between the Crown Prince and Ning Lingyi, the Crown Prince will be caught in a dilemma."
A knowing smile played across Prince Yong's lips. "If the Crown Prince punishes Ning Lingyi, he will surely incur the wrath of the Emperor, who will think he is being harsh towards his younger sister and showing no sympathy for the Emperor. If he doesn't punish her, it would be unfair and a dereliction of duty as Regent. It would put him in a real dilemma."
"That's exactly what's going on." A calculating look crossed Ning Lingli's face. "Look at Ning Lingyi, she's been jumping around a lot lately, trying to avoid the marriage, recommending officials and trying to manage her fiefdom. It's a sensitive time right now. If we tease her a little now, she might harbor resentment towards the Crown Prince. This is our opportunity."
Prince Yong nodded and pondered, "Not only that, but the Northern Shuo prince, Tuoba Hong, is also a viable pawn. From what I understand, he's not the only one in the Northern Shuo court, and the struggle for the throne among his brothers is fierce. This time, he insisted on coming to the alliance to negotiate peace because this year, Northern Shuo suffered a rare snowstorm, freezing pasture grass and killing countless cattle and sheep. He desperately needs the Southern Dynasty's support, especially sufficient food and fodder, to consolidate his position and reputation when he returns."
Ning Lingli's eyes lit up: "My royal brother is absolutely right! If he wants something, we can cater to his needs!"
Her tone suddenly turned resentful, tinged with hatred. "Brother, you must get that position. Why did our mother die of depression? Wasn't it because that bitch, Imperial Concubine Yu, stole all of our father's favor, leaving the three of us, mother and son, helpless in this deep palace? I must avenge this humiliation!"
Prince Yong's eyes turned cold, and he clenched the ring in his hand tightly. His voice was low but firm: "Don't worry. That position is naturally mine."
*
The lights in Prince Yong's Mansion are just beginning to come on.
The rosewood furniture glowed dimly, the floor was covered with thick Persian velvet carpets, and the gilded incense burner exhaled elegant and expensive ambergris, giving off an air of luxury.
A luminous cup held a deep crimson wine from the Western Regions. Yong Wang Ning Yanli beamed as he personally filled Tuoba Hong's cup: "Prince, try this! This is a tribute from the Western Regions, and it's perfect for dispelling the cold."
After a few rounds of drinking, the atmosphere seemed lively. Prince Yong sighed casually, "The weather this year is truly unusual. I heard the snowstorms in the north are particularly severe. The herdsmen's livelihood is difficult, which is really worrying."
Tuoba Hong paused slightly while holding the wine glass, and looked at Prince Yong with sharp eyes. He said calmly, "Your Highness Prince Yong is well-informed. It is true. This is a natural disaster, which cannot be stopped by human power."
Prince Yong leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice to sound sincere. "Although natural disasters are unstoppable, human hearts can be warmed. I know that His Royal Highness is concerned about state affairs. If we can resolve this urgent crisis, it will surely greatly enhance His Royal Highness's prestige in Beishuo."
He changed the subject, hinting at something, "Coincidentally, Mingzhou, the fief of my sister Mingzhu, is the granary of the southeast. Last year's harvest was abundant, and the granaries are extremely full. The huge amount of grain stored there may be able to alleviate your worries."
Tuoba Hong's eyes suddenly became deep, and he instantly understood Prince Yong's hint.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Highness, I appreciate your kindness. However, Mingzhou is the princess's fiefdom, and its grain reserves are limited. As an envoy, how can I act rashly? This is not the way for a guest, and it is also taboo for both countries."
Seeing that he had not directly refused but merely pointed out the difficulty, Prince Yong felt more confident and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you are worrying too much. In extraordinary times, extraordinary things may be done. As the saying goes, everything depends on human effort."
He did not go into details and raised his glass. "This king is only offering a plan. The specific method of action will naturally require your Highness to decide. I hope to work with you, Your Highness, so that we can each achieve what we need."
Tuoba Hong looked at the wine swaying in the glass and weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
Beishuo's urgent need for food and fodder was true, but Prince Yong's plan was sinister, intended to drag him into trouble while simultaneously striking at the Crown Prince and Ning Lingyi. If he acted, he would be handing them a lever; if he didn't, Beishuo would face a difficult winter.
His face remained expressionless as he raised his glass and clinked it lightly with his, his voice unrecognizable as either emotion or anger: "Your Highness's words will be carefully considered by Honghui."
The two luminous cups clinked lightly together, and beneath the crisp sound were their respective deep calculations.
*
Tuoba Hong returned to the posthouse with a calm expression and immediately summoned his trusted envoys.
Under the flickering candlelight, the envoy whispered, "Your Highness, the Southern Dynasty has collapsed to such an extent. If it weren't for the severe snowstorm this year that exhausted our troops, we would have marched south to plunder by now. Why would we need to negotiate with them in vain?"
Tuoba Hong tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, a cold glint in his eyes. "This is what I, the king, mean. Today's alliance is only a temporary measure. One day, our Beishuo cavalry will surely march south. If the Southern Dynasty falls into civil unrest, it will be a good opportunity for us."
"Prince Yong is an ambitious man, and perhaps he can be used as a tool," the envoy pondered.
Tuoba Hong sneered: "Exactly. Why not secretly encourage the fight between him and the prince, and let them kill each other. When both are defeated..."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and the envoy said, "As for Princess Mingzhu..."
Tuoba Hong played with the dagger in his hand, his tone indifferent: "She's just a princess, just marry her. If it can be exchanged for a few years of food and grass to stabilize Beishuo, it's worth it."
Outside the hall, the autumn wind was even stronger, blowing up countless fallen leaves.
A storm that takes her as its prey is quietly closing in from all directions.
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