"Your men attempted to assassinate us first, but instead of eliminating them to prevent future trouble, we recruited them and even agreed to take in all your families..."
"Why did you become bandits in the mountains? Wasn't it just for food, for survival? Then let me ask you..."
"During the time you've been with us, have you ever worried about food? Have you ever had to pay for your rations? In terms of food and supplies, in any way are you inferior to our people, or even to me or the Prince?!"
"It's one thing to be ungrateful, but how can you eat and then kick the pot?!"
"If you want to leave now, we won't stop any of you, and we won't take back any of the carts or supplies we gave you. But if you don't leave and dare to cause trouble like this again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The scene was completely silent.
The woman had been vehemently refusing to divulge anything, but when the princess's maidservant offered her a share, she immediately confessed everything...
After the woman was carried away, the princess gave her the medicine powder, and the bloodstains on the ground were cleaned up completely...
And the fluorescent powder that rescued the mastermind...
Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but show fear on their faces.
"Good! Well said!"
Applause sounded behind me; it was the voice of Eunuch Xu.
Ning Xi'er turned her head and saw Eunuch Xu walking over with an excited expression.
Eunuch Xu gratefully brushed Ning Xi'er aside and stood in front of the bandits and their families.
"Your Highness is right! Our Prince is kind and benevolent, but our family is different. If anyone in our family ever harbors even the slightest thought of harming His Highness..."
Eunuch Xu looked around, not only at the bandits, but also at the people in the Prince's Mansion and the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion.
"Our family will definitely grind him to dust and make his whole family pay with their lives!"
"Not only the Prince, but also the Princess Consort. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on the Princess Consort or those around her..."
"We'll skin him alive!"
After making those harsh remarks, Zheng Chengguang and Zheng Ye were immediately invigorated and arranged for everyone on site to perform their respective duties.
Everyone worked in an orderly manner and got to work.
"princess......"
"What you just said was so satisfying! The Prince..." said Eunuch Xu eagerly.
"It's too bitter!"
Eunuch Xu hesitated, then looked distressed.
Ning Xi'er seemed to understand somewhat.
If a person does nothing, yet their birth, or even their breathing, is considered a mistake, how cold and callous this world must be.
Moreover, he was the victim.
Despite holding the most prestigious position and having the potential to ascend to the throne, she was poisoned and mutilated, and even her mother's death was highly suspicious...
"Your Highness, please come forward to speak..."
Eunuch Xu gestured towards the mountain.
Perhaps it was Ning Xi'er's dramatic and emphatic speech in support of Xie Zhun, or perhaps it was the several times Ning Xi'er had saved Xie Zhun's life during this period...
Eunuch Xu had completely dispelled his doubts about Ning Xi'er and could be completely open with her.
Ning Xi'er followed.
"princess......"
Eunuch Xu looked down the mountain; from this angle, all living beings were beneath his feet.
"Have you ever wondered why Your Highness didn't fight for it and instead resigned yourself to going to the desolate realm?"
Xu Gonggong's tone was not that of a defeated person's helplessness, but rather that of a strategist's choice.
Ning Xi'er nodded slightly.
Although Xie Zhun's talents were only partially displayed, his cunning and methods clearly surpassed those of those currently in power in the court.
If they strike first, not to mention the old officials in the court, even the Duke of Protectorate and his followers, and the power behind Eunuch Xu...
The influence of Zheng Chengguang and Zheng Ye in the military...
According to Zheng Chengguang's previous statement, since there are still deployments in the wasteland, there might be other forces involved...
A head-on confrontation might not be viable, but defeating them one by one could weaken the influence of the Empress, the Crown Prince, the two princes, and their respective backers.
It would not have led to such a passive situation, making them the target of public criticism.
Eunuch Xu sighed, "Back then, the Duke of Protectorate, the two generals, and I also tried to persuade them..."
"But His Highness said that in a war between two armies, it is always the civilians and soldiers who suffer..."
"His Highness must have a broader perspective than we do, or perhaps he's utterly disillusioned with the court..."
“Fighting them one by one would not only be exhausting and costly, but would also result in numerous casualties. And all of this would only exacerbate the situation by allowing these people to siphon off public funds to cover their financial deficits…”
"Even if there is an inevitable war with those above us in the future, it will only lead to more exorbitant taxes and forced conscription..."
"His Highness said that if we were to forcibly seize the country and plunder the people, he would rather postpone it."
"If troops are diverted, resulting in insufficient troops for border defense or local operations, it could lead to foreign invasion or local rebellions, causing the loss of territory and the displacement of people..."
"The prince said he would rather not have that position."
After hearing this, Ning Xi'er was deeply moved.
From Eunuch Xu's words, it seems that he has gained a deeper understanding of Xie Zhun.
This man, who almost became the most important person in her life, was not only meticulous and quick-witted, but also unexpectedly possessed such magnanimity and breadth of mind.
After all, not everyone can easily give up such an opportunity.
In particular, his reasons were so straightforward.
Looking at the likes of the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince, even though the Emperor is in his prime, they are still targeting Xie Zhun as if they fear something might go wrong...
When the emperor is truly on his deathbed, would they care about the lives of others for the sake of a readily available position?
Eunuch Xu turned around, "Your Highness, could you please help persuade the Prince...?"
Ning Xi'er chuckled, "With such a resolute will, Your Highness shouldn't need any coaxing..."
Eunuch Xu said, "But if you flatter him, the Prince will be happy..."
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