"It hurts, it hurts..."
Zhao Huan was twisted into a pretzel shape and cried out, "Madam, spare me! Spare me!"
Mu Zhaojun glanced at the people who had their backs turned before letting go of her hand and said, "It's not that I want to embarrass you in front of them, but the situation is very urgent now. If we're not careful, the boss will be gone!"
"No way..." Zhao Huan rubbed his ears and said, "I know Yang Zhanbei fairly well. I'm not even in my grave yet, how could he dare to kill my son?"
"Isn't he afraid I'll make him childless?"
"You're just bragging!!" Mu Zhaojun sat back down in her chair, took a sip of tea, and continued, "You have neither power nor soldiers now, why should he be afraid of you?"
“Madam, please trust me.” Zhao Huan walked up to Mu Zhaojun, took her hand, and said, “If it were an ordinary person, Yang Zhanbei would have been killed without a second thought, but they won’t be so reckless with my son. At the very least, they will squeeze every last drop of value out of Cheng’er and try to get more benefits from His Majesty and me.”
"I won't listen to you!" Mu Zhaojun looked at Lian Zhongyi and said, "Sir, please explain!"
Having been called out, Lian Zhongyi turned around and said seriously, "Madam, what the Right Chancellor said makes sense, but..."
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want to hear!” Mu Zhaojun said, pointing at Lian Zhongyi.
Lian Zhongyi continued, "But it wasn't Yang Zhanbei who captured Acheng, but Yang Qingzhi. Young people are bound to act impulsively and without considering the consequences. Last time in the battle at Lingshan, Acheng made Yang Qingzhi suffer a setback, so it's hard to guarantee that he won't retaliate."
Mu Zhaojun's expression immediately changed, and she could no longer sit still. She stood up and said, "What Mr. Lian said is the absolute truth!"
Zhao Huan looked at Lian Zhongyi.
Unfazed by Zhao Huan's gaze, Lian Zhongyi said seriously, "Madam is no ordinary person; there's no need to fool her. We need to work together to find a solution."
Zhao Huan's expression turned serious. He took a few steps forward with his hands behind his back and said, "What you say makes sense, sir, but Yang Zhanbei hasn't completely handed over power to his son yet. Whether or not to kill Cheng'er is not up to Yang Qingzhi!"
Lian Zhongyi said, "But we can't gamble Acheng's life on Yang Qingzhi's temper!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
The crucial point was revealed by Lian Zhongyi's words.
Mu Zhaojun immediately said, "Zhao Huan, write a secret memorial to His Majesty immediately, asking him to send troops to rescue them!"
Zhao Huan said, "This matter is not as simple as you think. How long has it been since the state banquet? How long has it been since the alliance between Da Jing and Nan Zhou? Would His Majesty really go to such lengths to break the alliance just to save Cheng'er?"
"Alright, let me put it another way. If Southern Zhou is willing to give His Majesty face and release Cheng'er, then they'll definitely make exorbitant demands, right?"
"Do you know about Yuan Zhang? A few years ago, his favorite grandson and eldest daughter-in-law were captured by pirates. After the pirates learned their identities, they wanted to sell them to the Southern Zhou. Yang Zhanbei took this opportunity to ask Yuan Zhang for control of the two bridges. If Yuan Zhang agreed, he would help Yuan Zhang buy the people."
"Do you know what Yuan Zhang did?"
"No way!"
"In order to defend the territory, Yuan Zhang didn't even give up two bridges!"
"In the end, not only did his daughter-in-law and grandson die, but his son also perished!"
Zhao Huan glanced around at everyone and said sternly, "That's the border! It's the most sensitive place in terms of military and political affairs! If Yang Zhanbei's conditions for releasing Cheng'er are to demand a bridge, land, or even more outrageous demands, what do you expect His Majesty to do?"
"If Yang Zhanbei makes demands, and His Majesty passes the buck to me, leaving the decision to me, what do you expect me to do?"
"If I don't care about Cheng'er, then Cheng'er will die."
"Me, care about Cheng'er? Then I'm not even as good as Yuan Zhang, who would harm the country and disgrace his authority for personal feelings!"
Mu Zhaojun was deeply shocked. She hadn't expected Zhao Huan to think so far ahead, but she knew that her man was right. She was momentarily lost in thought and slumped into a chair.
"Mother!" Park Yoo-hee rushed over and patted Mu Zhaojun's back.
"I'm not worried about my own son, but we have to think things through comprehensively, otherwise it won't just be Cheng'er who suffers, but all of us!" Zhao Huan walked behind the door, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the night sky.
"Father!" Zhao Zhan stepped forward, raising his fist, and said, "Since it won't work with His Majesty, then we'll go and rescue our elder brother ourselves!"
Zhao Huan turned her head and glanced at her youngest son. Fifteen-year-old Zhao Zhan had changed the most in the past year. He was a head taller than last year and was already a young man.
In particular, he grew more and more handsome, combining the best features of both Zhao Huan and Mu Zhaojun.
In terms of looks, he far surpasses his three older brothers.
Zhao Huan asked, "How can we save him?"
Seeing that his father wanted to hear, Zhao Zhan became excited and said earnestly, "Although Father is no longer in power, his prestige and influence remain, and his disciples and former officials are all over the country. I believe that as long as Father gives the order, all those who truly care about Father will come."
"The Right Chancellor's Office has three hundred soldiers. Li Dai can mobilize the garrison in Yanchuan. Now that Deng Fugui has become the Prefect of Jiangyang and Chai Xin has become the Commandant of Jiangyang, they can also mobilize troops. Without further ado, we should be able to gather twenty or thirty thousand men without much trouble. Moreover, we can take this opportunity to verify which people still have their fathers in their hearts!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhaojun's expression changed.
Lian Zhongyi also frowned.
Zhao Huan walked towards Zhao Zhan, his voice lowering, and asked, "A single order? To gather twenty or thirty thousand men? What are you planning to do? Rebel?"
Zhao Zhan argued vehemently, "My father toiled for the Great Jing Dynasty his whole life. Now that he is in trouble, how can the emperor stand by and watch him die? Doesn't he even remember the great sacrifices my father made to be able to rule in his own right? The emperor treats me well, so naturally I regard him as my father. But if the emperor is heartless and ungrateful, what good is rebellion?!"
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