Chapter 241 Requesting an Order
Inside the council hall, the arrangements for Xue Han and Qiu Heng were almost finalized.
Then, another envoy was chosen to escort the two men to Xijiang to negotiate peace.
Seeing Emperor Jingping nod, Imperial Censor Yan urged, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Everyone knows the deeds of Xue Han and Qiu Heng. If this is done, the court will lose the hearts of the people!"
"Lord Yan, you're exaggerating. These people have the leisure to discuss politics instead of struggling to make a living because they are blessed by His Majesty and live in peace and contentment. To blame the court for such a peaceful life is to be an ungrateful and ungrateful scoundrel."
"Indeed. How can matters of state be decided by illiterate commoners? What use are we then?"
The two ministers, who held differing opinions, quickly began arguing.
Emperor Jingping was getting annoyed.
They argue every single day, all they want is for him to make the final decision. In the future, history will likely record a bad word about him. But with so many thorny issues piled up, can they really manage without making choices?
Fine, I'll just send Xue Han and Qiu Heng to Xijiang as an apology. At least we'll have some peace and quiet then.
Just as Emperor Jingping was about to speak, a palace attendant announced, "His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."
Emperor Jingping was somewhat surprised: "Summon him."
Soon the Crown Prince entered and bowed to Emperor Jingping.
"What business does the Crown Prince have?"
The Crown Prince bowed deeply: "Father, I dare to beg you not to send Xue Han and Qiu Heng to Xijiang."
Emperor Jingping's expression darkened slightly: "Do you know what you're saying?"
The expressions of the officials in the hall were also quite interesting.
Has the Crown Prince lost his mind, saying such things to the Emperor?
It is a long-standing rule in the Great Xia Dynasty that the Crown Prince does not attend court sessions. The Crown Prince is required to study Confucian classics and history, as well as the principles of governance, but he is not allowed to directly participate in court affairs. The Crown Prince's actions today will surely displease the Emperor.
Emperor Jingping was indeed furious.
He was already annoyed enough. For the sake of national peace, he was willing to bear the infamy and endure the humiliation to send Xue and Qiu to apologize to Xi Jiang.
Didn't he know how frustrating it was to do this? But he had to consider the bigger picture and sacrifice Xue Han and Qiu Heng. The Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, was his most valued son, who not only failed to understand his father's difficulties but also added to the chaos.
The emperor's angry question pressed down like Mount Tai, causing the crown prince to catch his breath.
He knew that as the crown prince, he shouldn't speak out, as that would make his father suspect him of challenging imperial authority and harboring ambitions.
But the thought of Da Xia sending Xue Han and Qiu Heng to apologize to Xi Jiang made him unable to sit still any longer.
They were innocent; they were clearly meritorious officials of the Great Xia Dynasty. How could they have ended up like that?
Not all situations are suitable for enduring humiliation. If we do that this time, there will only be humiliation, and we will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame.
As a son, he did not want his father to bear eternal infamy. As the crown prince, he did not want his people to have their spines ripped out by the monarch himself.
Even if it aroused his father's suspicion, he accepted it.
“Father, our national treasury is full and our military strength is sufficient. Although the situation is tense at the moment, we are not incapable of dealing with it as long as we are determined. If we bow down to Xijiang for the sake of temporary peace, neither Xijiang nor Northern Qi will take Great Xia seriously, and we will definitely face more provocations in the future.”
"I don't need you to teach me," Emperor Jingping said coldly.
"Father Emperor—"
"That's enough. You may leave."
Seeing that the Crown Prince was still insisting, a minister advised, "Your Highness, His Majesty has been worried about the country for many days. You should be more understanding."
For the officials, discord between the emperor and his son could be detrimental to the country and its people; it was better to maintain harmony.
The crown prince lowered his eyes and remained silent, tightening his grip on his hand.
It's clear that Father Emperor is determined to send Xue Han and Qiu Heng to Xijiang. Is there really no way to change this?
In an instant, helplessness, disappointment, resentment... all sorts of emotions surged into the Crown Prince's heart.
Emperor Jingping was about to dismiss the Crown Prince with a cold face when an urgent report came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, many students from the Imperial Academy have gathered outside the palace gates, petitioning for your permission!"
Emperor Jingping was greatly surprised: "What did you request in the memorial?"
The head guard who brought the news immediately presented a petition for orders.
Emperor Jingping took the document from the eunuch and unfolded it. After reading it, his expression darkened even further: "How many imperial students are there outside the palace?"
"There are at least a hundred people, and more students are on their way."
Emperor Jingping read the petition again. The impassioned words were full of scholarly spirit and unwavering loyalty.
Did sending Xue Han and Qiu Heng to apologize to Xi Jiang really have such a big impact?
Throughout history, whenever a student petition has occurred, it has left a significant mark, and the monarch sitting on that throne has always been the target of criticism and condemnation from later generations.
Emperor Jingping suddenly felt that the dragon throne beneath his buttocks was a little hot.
At Emperor Jingping's instruction, the ministers present took turns reading the contents of the petition.
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Imperial Censor Yan stepped forward: "Your Majesty, our Great Xia has no shortage of passionate people; we cannot let people's hearts grow cold!"
On the other side, someone else stepped forward: "Your Majesty, these students are young and impetuous, and they act without considering the consequences. How can the affairs of the state be swayed by a group of children?"
"His Majesty……"
Emperor Jingping felt that one side was right and the other side was right. Because of the students' petition, the scales in his heart were quietly tilting towards the release of Xue Han and Qiu Heng, and he could not make up his mind.
"I'll think about it some more."
Just as Emperor Jingping was thinking this, the head guard who was monitoring the movements outside the palace reported again: "There are already hundreds of students kneeling and begging for mercy outside the palace gates!"
Outside the palace gates, the cold wind was like a knife, and the sky was gloomy.
The students knelt silently, and more and more people joined in.
An official standing nearby earnestly advised, "National affairs are decided by the ministers. You are still students. What you should do is study hard. Go back now."
"You are kneeling here to put pressure on the Emperor. Aren't you afraid of his wrath and losing your future?"
The young man at the head of the group had clear eyes and a loud voice: "We are afraid that if Great Xia bows down to foreign countries, they will think that Great Xia is a sick tiger without claws, a lamb to be slaughtered! We are afraid that we have a lot of passion, but no way to sacrifice ourselves for our country!"
He raised his crossed hands high, then prostrated himself deeply: "I beg Your Majesty to release Xue Han and Qiu Heng. We will never bow down to the greedy and broken promises of Xi Jiang!"
More students shouted, "We implore His Majesty to release Xue Han and Qiu Heng! We will never bow down to the greedy and untrustworthy Xi Jiang!"
Qiu Yang, who was also among the students, shouted these words, her eyes already brimming with tears.
Qiu Heng is his sixth sister, and he is truly proud of her!
The shouts of hundreds of people were deafening, echoing throughout every corner of the imperial city.
The guards responsible for maintaining order unconsciously changed from being serious and indifferent to being moved.
Compared to these students, they are the ones who should be the ones to take up arms and shed blood for their country.
I fear I will be shattered to pieces, with no way to serve my country.
The emperor and his ministers in the hall all heard the students' shouts. Some were excited, while others were indifferent.
Another report came: "Your Majesty, many more people have flocked to the outside of the imperial city!"
Emperor Jingping closed his eyes and finally made up his mind: "Summon Xue Han and Qiu Heng to the palace for an audience."
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