"Your Majesty!" There was a sigh in the court.
Han Cheng saw that everyone had almost vented their emotions, so he walked out and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Please speak, Prince Regent," said Emperor Dezong.
Everyone was also a little surprised. At this time, what ideas did this old fox have?
"Your Majesty! As the saying goes, when the lord worries, the minister is humiliated; when the lord is humiliated, the minister dies. As a minister, it is shameful for me not to be able to share the lord's worries. If you use the lord's humiliation as a hostage, then how can we, the ministers, have the face to live?" Han Cheng's face was serious and his words were passionate.
Everyone was stunned. What did this mean? You were the one who advocated peace, and you were the one who refused to send a hostage. Was there any other solution?
"What the Regent means is..." Emperor Dezong asked hesitantly.
"Your Majesty! Throughout history, women from the imperial clan, even palace maids, have been canonized as princesses for marriages. Naturally, our dynasty can also use a son from the imperial clan as a hostage in place of the Eighth Prince! This would not only grant Mobei's request, but also preserve the dignity of the imperial court, and take into account Your Majesty's love for his son. Isn't this three virtues in one stroke?"
There were exclamations! Everyone expressed their admiration. "Prince Regent, you are indeed shrewd and calculating!" I just wonder whose son is about to suffer?
Huang Yanjing stepped forward and asked, "It's easy for the Regent to say that, but who will take the place of the Eighth Prince as a hostage? Besides, the Eighth Prince is young, intelligent, and handsome. How can any of the other royal families find a suitable candidate?"
Yan Suizhi suddenly had a strong, very bad premonition.
On the surface, he has always been on good terms with the Regent Han Cheng. A few days ago, Han Cheng suddenly came to visit him and asked him how old Jin Bai was and what his hobbies were. He also specially called Jin Bai over to test his homework.
He felt strange at the time, but didn't think much of it. Could this old fox be plotting something?
As expected, Han Cheng said loudly, "I recommend someone to serve as a hostage in place of the Eighth Prince. There is no one more suitable."
A malicious look lingered on Yan Suizhi's face.
Yan Suizhi felt as if a hand had grown out of that gaze, gripping his neck and making it difficult for him to breathe.
Han Cheng's voice was like a razor blade, piercing into his heart word by word.
"Yan Jinbai, the nephew of Yan Suizhi, the Second Minister of the Cabinet, is young and intelligent, skilled in both civil and military matters. He is about the same age and appearance as the Eighth Prince, making him the most suitable candidate."
There was a burst of exclamations in the court.
Yan Suizhi's mind went blank.
All the sounds seemed to be separated by a barrier, buzzing and unclear.
The people standing in front of me became blurry.
For a moment I didn't know where I was.
"Lord Yan, Lord Yan?" The malicious old face of Regent Han Cheng swayed in front of him.
Yan Suizhi took a deep breath and dug his fingernails into his palms, using the stinging pain to clear his already somewhat confused mind.
"Thank you for your kindness, Prince Regent. But I am a naughty boy. How can I take on such a big responsibility?" Yan Suizhi heard his own voice, which was vague and ethereal, as if it came from far away.
"Lord Yan is too modest. I have met Young Master Jin Bai. He is truly intelligent and also skilled in martial arts. He is the perfect candidate for hostage. Lord Yan is making excuses, could it be that you are reluctant to let him go?" Han Cheng said sinisterly, his eyes dim.
Yan Suizhi turned around and looked at the emperor.
Emperor Dezong's expression was thoughtful, but there was a hint of anticipation.
They had planned it long ago.
They just teamed up to put on a good show, setting up the net and waiting for his Jinbai to jump in.
Yan Suizhi felt a sharp pain in his heart.
He had always been very smart, but at this moment he was completely confused, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.
Emperor Dezong shook his head and said, "The Prince Regent's words are inappropriate. What Mobei wants is the prince."
Han Cheng shouted, "Your Majesty, we didn't say we wouldn't give them a prince! Please issue an imperial decree to confer Yan Jinbai the title of prince and send him to Mobei as a hostage immediately. A prince as a hostage is a great honor for them."
Everyone was amazed.
Some gloated over Yan Suizhi's misfortune, some waited for him to laugh at them, and some looked at him with sympathy. Some were even puzzled: why was Lord Yan so heartbroken over his nephew?
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