While Shen Youying was visiting the Zhang family, the palace was in an uproar over the new conditions imposed by the Northern Rong.
The pro-war faction, led by military generals, naturally opposed the war most fiercely. Many generals even took off their official hats and robes in court, threatening to die in their remonstrance: "If Your Majesty agrees to such conditions, we will have no words to face the people of the world, and we can only prove our loyalty with our lives!"
Even Xie Lianhong, who was usually mild-mannered and had never taken sides, could not hold back this time. He recalled when he followed the founding emperor and the late emperor. Although they were in turmoil and impoverished, their backbone never bent!
Since Emperor Cheng'an ascended the throne, he had noticed the differences between the current emperor and the previous emperor, and he knew that there were many conflicts between them. However, when he looked around, he saw that his former colleagues who had worked hard for the same ideals had been suppressed and demoted because they were too upright, and no longer had the right to stand in the palace.
However, there were more and more opportunists and sycophants like Wang Yuanguang in the court. He suppressed all his dissatisfaction, thinking that as long as he was still alive, he could do more practical things for the people.
He never imagined that Emperor Cheng'an could be so muddle-headed!
This is not only handing over the territory that our ancestors fought so hard to conquer, but also giving away the livestock that our people used to be offered up to the Northern Rong people for their cruelty and slaughter!
If he can accept such humiliating conditions, how will he face the people, or the ancestors and the late emperors in the afterlife?
With tears in his eyes, Xie Lianhong knelt in the main hall with the other military officers, removed his official hat from his head and placed it aside, touching his forehead to the ground as he said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. We are willing to fight the enemy with our lives rather than endure such humiliation, and the people in the city have always felt the same way!"
Half of the officials in the court had already knelt down, and upon hearing this, they all said in unison, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Emperor Cheng'an gripped the armrest of his dragon throne tightly, coughed heavily twice, staggered to his feet, and walked down the steps. Looking at the kneeling officials, he sneered, "Do you think I wanted to suffer such humiliation? You only care about the people, but have you ever considered how much heartache and shame I endured in making this decision?!"
"The Northern Rong army of 80,000 has besieged the city, and scouts just reported that the central army of 100,000 is also about to arrive in the capital!"
Emperor Cheng'an, his back hunched, looked at the kneeling courtiers one by one: "Eighteen Northern Rong soldiers! If we do not sue for peace, when the city falls, how many more civilians will die?!"
"I merely wish to use the lives of a few to save more people. Is that wrong?"
"There are 50,000 imperial guards in the city, which is enough to defend the city and fight against the Northern Rong people."
Upon hearing this, Xue Shen straightened up and looked at Emperor Cheng'an, calmly analyzing, "There are countless civilians in the city, and all the men can participate in the battle. With the army and civilians united in resisting the enemy, we are not without a chance of victory. As long as we can hold out until the Crown Prince leads his army back, we can attack from both sides, and then it will be the Northern Rong army that suffers the loss."
"Absurd!" Emperor Cheng'an retorted, "This is merely your speculation. What if we can't stop them? What if the Crown Prince doesn't return in time?"
Xue Shen stood firm, his voice resounding: "His Majesty has entrusted me with leading the troops. I am willing to swear an oath of life and death: I will live as long as the city stands, and I will die if the city falls!"
Emperor Cheng'an was so angry that his face turned red. He pointed at him with a trembling finger for a long time before flicking his sleeve and saying, "You make it sound so easy. Your death may end everything, but there are countless people in this city! How can you gamble with one person's life?"
He breathed heavily, and Qi Zhong helped him back onto the dragon throne. He declared decisively, "This matter need not be discussed further; I have already made my decision. The Ministry of Revenue shall immediately inventory the national treasury and raise the necessary funds. The Palace Guard shall select eligible young women from the city. The Imperial Clan Court shall compile a list of unmarried women of marriageable age from each household and select ten to serve as maids accompanying the princess..."
After Emperor Cheng'an finished giving his orders, he looked at Xue Shen and said in a gloomy tone, "Since the Prince of Qin is so devoted to the people, he shall stay in the palace today. You will personally escort the princess to the Northern Rong army camp."
After he finished speaking, he ignored the uproar in the hall and left in a huff.
Xue Shen stood in the hall, and the officials cast different glances at him. He met the eyes of a few of them, nodded slightly, and then left with the guards sent by Emperor Cheng'an.
Emperor Cheng'an was afraid that he would escape, so he planned to take the initiative and put him under house arrest, and then send him directly to the Northern Rong as a hostage.
Xue Shen was not surprised. He cooperated and left with the guards. As he brushed past Cui Zichen, he moved his lips and silently gave a message.
Cui Zichen brushed past him without glancing to the side, and only after leaving the palace gate did he spur his horse to catch up with Xie Lianhong's carriage.
Xie Lianhong lifted the curtain and saw it was him, but he didn't say anything and silently walked back to his residence.
Madam Xie had been waiting for his return. Seeing that he and Cui Zichen looked serious, clearly they had something to discuss, she handed him the horse teeth and said briefly, "They were sent by the Princess."
Xie Lianhong's brows twitched slightly. He put the horse tooth in his palm and led Cui Zichen to the study.
Cui Zichen looked thoughtfully at the horse tooth held in his palm and asked, "After today, will Teacher still have the same idea?"
Xie Lianhong remained silent for a long time before placing the horse tooth on the table and gazing at it intently. His hunched back straightened little by little, as if he had finally relieved himself of a heavy burden and made some kind of decision.
“What you say makes sense. I will contact other people.”
Cui Zichen had prepared for a long and drawn-out negotiation, but he didn't expect him to agree so readily this time.
He looked at the horse teeth: "Teacher, did you change your mind because of this?"
Xie Lianhong smiled briefly: "When you get old, you lose the drive you had when you were young." He said, "Do whatever you want to do. If you can't solve something, come and talk to me."
"The teacher is wise."
Cui Zichen relaxed, bowed deeply to him, and then turned and left, preparing to go to the Prince of Qin's residence.
—Just now, when the King of Qin left, he asked him to deliver a message to the palace.
Just as Cui Zichen came out of the study, he heard a rustling sound from the flower bushes in the corner. He paused, his brows furrowed, and he said, "I see you. Come out."
Xie Qinglan froze, suspecting he was bluffing, and remained motionless.
Cui Zichen sighed and said, "No matter where I hide, I'm not afraid of bugs."
Xie Qinglan was startled and quickly got up and emerged from behind the flower bushes.
Cui Zichen brushed a fallen leaf from her hair and said, "Eavesdropping again?"
Xie Qinglan stuck out her tongue: "Your conversation was all so cryptic, I didn't hear anything." She tugged at Cui Zichen's sleeve and said ingratiatingly, "When you went to the palace today, did you know whether the rumor about the Prince of Qin being taken hostage was true or false?"
She had naturally heard the rumors circulating outside, and she had been worried about Shen Youying these past few days. However, the current situation was not good, and she couldn't visit her in person. She could only hope that if she could get some information from her father, it might put Zhao Zhao at ease.
Cui Zichen remembered the Prince of Qin, who was under house arrest in the palace, and his expression changed. He said, "The Prince of Qin is under house arrest by the Emperor. I was just about to go to the Prince of Qin's residence."
Xie Qinglan became anxious upon hearing this, gripping his sleeve even tighter: "I'll go with you!"
Seeing that she wanted to go, Cui Zichen thought for a moment and agreed: "You can go if you want, but you have to follow my arrangements."
There are differences between men and women, and Princess Qin is pregnant. Although he went to deliver the news, he still had to look after Princess Qin to some extent. If Xie Qinglan were here, she could offer some comfort to Princess Qin.
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