Miscalculation
What are you thinking about?
Jiang Yan looked up at him: "Are you done with your work?"
"Well, I'm finally done."
Jiang Yan watched as Chen Run walked up to her with a smile, then looked at a pot of dark red chrysanthemums with thick petals and gold edges at her left foot.
"Didn't His Majesty say when the banquet would begin?"
"Wait five more days until all the officials from farther away have arrived in the capital before holding the ceremony."
Jiang Yan was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about Shangguan Zeyu? The Emperor hasn't said how to deal with him?"
Jiang Yan originally wanted to ask about Liu Ruyan, but somehow the words ended up being about Shangguan Zeyu, which shocked her.
Chen Run's face darkened visibly, but he did not refuse to answer the question. Instead, he stared at Jiang Yan's back and said...
"His Majesty has been busy with court affairs these past few days and has had no time to attend to Prince Duan's matter. None of the court officials are discussing this matter either."
It seems he is still alive.
Jiang Yan asked, "What happened with Liu Ruyan?" He turned to look at Chen Run.
Chen Run had put on a peaceful smile: "Ruyi knows?"
"Um."
"Ruyi, I told you I would protect you. She made you suffer in public, and what I did was what she deserved."
"Yes, she wasn't a very good person, but... I mean, she's a woman after all. How will she live her life after being divorced like this?"
“Prince Su has no affection for her. She only cares about him because of his title. Prince Su knows this, so I only briefly mentioned the bad things she did. As for her fate, it is not something I can control.”
"Didn't you persuade Prince Su to divorce her?"
Chen Run smiled bitterly: "In Ruyi's mind, am I really that unworthy of being discussed?"
"No, what I mean is... well, do you have any way... to get Prince Su to retract his order?"
Chen Run thought for a moment with difficulty: "I'll talk to Prince Su about this again and see if there's any chance of a change."
"That's good, otherwise I would have been so annoyed." Jiang Yan hummed the last sentence in her throat, so Chen Run didn't hear it at all.
Jiang Yan looked at Chen Run, whose smile was still so bright and pure, and he kept looking at her.
She couldn't help but laugh too, saying, "It must be very lively in the palace."
"Yes, I've heard that this is the first time in all these years that the palace has been so lively. Everyone's face is beaming with joy."
Jiang Yan suddenly remembered the gossip she had overheard at the market and asked, "Everyone's talking about it, saying the border isn't guarded and they're afraid of foreign invasion. Surely His Majesty has a plan?"
Chen Run looked towards the distant horizon. The sky was a deep, clear blue, without a single white cloud.
"There probably will be."
Jiang Yan felt that Chen Run didn't care much about this matter, and said, "If foreign enemies invade and the border is lost, then the people of Great Zhou will be in dire straits."
Chen Run withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at her with a smile: "If even a woman like Ruyi can think of these things, how could His Majesty not have thought of them?"
But in fact, the emperor never expected such a thing to happen.
Three days later, just as the banquet was about to begin, soldiers on the border sent word that the enemy was already making moves a hundred miles away from the border and urgently needed reinforcements.
But the emperor thought it was alarmist and making a mountain out of a molehill. Moreover, he said that all the soldiers on the border had been recalled to the capital by Prince Su, so how could there still be soldiers there?
The court officials, including Chen Run, who had always kept to himself and remained aloof from the affairs of the state, also submitted a memorial, saying that regardless of whether it was true or false, the border was undefended and it was only a matter of time before it was invaded by the enemy. They hoped that the emperor could send troops to defend it as soon as possible.
But the emperor remained obstinate and wouldn't listen to a word.
Unable to find a solution, the court officials secretly formed a group to visit Prince Su, hoping he would send troops to garrison the border. Prince Su laughed, saying he was merely a powerless, idle prince; how could he lead troops to the border? He added that even if he could recruit soldiers, without the emperor's decree, it would be treason, punishable by death. He said he didn't want to end up like Prince Duan, burdened with guilt and punishment.
Seeing that they could not shake Prince Su's power, the court officials turned their attention to Chen Run, thinking that since Chen Run was close to Prince Su, they might be able to exchange a few words with him. However, Chen Run sternly refused.
Chen Run's meaning was very clear: he was a subject, and his meeting with Prince Su was only for matters of state. There was no other relationship between him and Prince Su. He hoped that the ministers would stop making decisions on their own and harming themselves and others.
The minister was incompetent and helpless, and could only grieve endlessly, blaming heaven and earth.
The palace banquet began amidst much anticipation.
On this day, the Emperor was very excited and thrilled. Early in the morning, he ordered Chen Run to bring the criminal Shangguan Zeyu to the court at the height of the banquet, as he had requested.
Chen Run already knew that Shangguan Zeyu had escaped, but he was still able to accept the order without changing his expression.
Early that morning, Chen Runtian left home before dawn, but instead of going to the palace, he went to the Prince Su's residence.
Prince Su had been waiting for him since early morning, and was very pleased to see him arrive.
"Lord Chen has arrived at just the right time."
"This humble servant greets Prince Su."
"Don't be so polite, please sit down."
Chen Run sat down, and the maids serving Su Wangchao waved their hands, and the maids obediently withdrew quickly.
Prince Su: "Has Lord Chen finally come to his senses?"
"This humble servant would like to know whether Your Highness can fulfill the promise you made to me."
"Rest assured, I will grant Lord Chen's wish today."
Chen Run did not hesitate and said, "This humble servant agrees to Prince Su's request."
Prince Su was very happy, extremely happy, but also puzzled: "She's just a woman. I've gone to such lengths for her. Don't I regret it?"
Chen Run countered, "Does the Prince of Su mean he doesn't believe he can control the situation?"
Prince Su paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Lord Chen is indeed a decisive and calm man! Very well, I will not interfere further, let's proceed according to plan!"
Chen Run left and entered the palace.
The palace was filled with the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, and the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air, immersing everyone in a joyful atmosphere.
The emperor, wearing the golden dragon robe he had ordered to be sewn long ago and a matching crown, stood at the highest point of the palace, looking down at the land under his control, his excitement and exhilaration overflowing.
As the banquet began, officials from all sides, dressed in brand-new official robes and hats, entered the palace in two grand processions through the main gate.
The emperor sat on his high seat early in the morning, a smile in his eyes, watching them all bow to him and pay their respects. For the first time in his life, he felt the taste of power and control.
"My beloved subjects have traveled a great distance to come. Rise and be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
What a peaceful and prosperous scene!
The song and dance performance is about to begin, one song ends and another begins.
The Emperor was pleased with what he saw and heard. The ministers were also pleased with what they saw and heard. As the banquet reached its climax, the Emperor looked at Chen Run, who was sitting to his left.
Chen Run accepted the order and slowly withdrew.
When the music ended, the Emperor said, "The song and dance performance will be paused for now. I have a gift for the ministers present. I wonder if any of you can guess what it is?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone who had been beaming with joy suddenly became terrified and fell silent.
"Why is no one guessing? Should I invite someone to guess?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere became five or six degrees colder than before, as if a cold front had just passed.
The emperor was very excited, as if he were toying with something in the palm of his hand, his eyes showing amusement as he looked at this minister and then at that minister.
The saying "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger" is perfectly illustrated at this moment.
Just as the Emperor had witnessed enough of the ministers' panic and trembling, and was about to ask the minister he had his eye on to answer, Chen Run suddenly rushed up in a hurry.
Upon seeing his expression, the Emperor's own expression suddenly turned serious, and he couldn't help but stand up nervously, asking urgently, "What's wrong? Where is he?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Duan has disappeared."
The Emperor was momentarily shocked and slumped heavily into his seat, but he quickly regained his composure: "How could it be gone? What do you mean, gone? It was here yesterday, how could it be gone now? Find it! Go and find it for me!!!"
"Your Majesty, I have already ordered people to search for it."
"No! Go and invite Prince Su! Have him send a large force to search! Quickly!!"
However, no sooner had the words been spoken than Prince Su slowly walked out, as if he had been waiting in secret all along, just waiting for the emperor's words.
Upon seeing Prince Su appear, the Emperor, disregarding why Prince Su was there at this time, dressed in silver armor and a silver battle cap, exclaimed excitedly, "Go quickly! Go and capture Prince Duan!!!"
“Your Majesty, I have indeed come to arrest Prince Duan! But considering that Prince Duan may bring troops and threaten the safety of Your Majesty and the ministers, I have now sent my personal guards here to protect Your Majesty and the ministers.”
After speaking, without waiting for the emperor's approval or disapproval, he gave a single command, and soldiers, like a flood, surrounded everyone present in the blink of an eye.
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