Chu Feiyang withdrew his gaze from Han Che, a faint smile flickering in his obsidian-like eyes. He asked calmly, "At this point, Han Xiang still doesn't intend to reveal his true identity?"
As soon as these words came out, Han Che's originally calm face couldn't help but show a hint of surprise. But then he thought, I'm afraid there is nothing in this world that can be hidden from Chu Feiyang.
For a moment, Han Che's slightly impetuous mood suddenly calmed down. He looked at Chu Feiyang's eyes sincerely, which were full of shrewdness, and said slowly, "Nothing can be hidden from the prince's eyes. Han Shaomian and I are twins, the children of Prince Duan and Princess Han."
Han Che's explanation brought a flash of shock to Chu Feiyang's eyes. He had never thought that Han Che and Han Shaomian were twins. Originally, he and Meng'er had only guessed that Han Che was related to the Han family, and Han Shaomian was related to Prince Duan, but they had never expected the truth to be so.
No wonder I'd sent people to Han Che's hometown multiple times to investigate, but they'd always returned empty-handed. It turned out they'd already been on guard. I just wondered if Prince Duan knew about this. If so, what role did he play in this whole thing? But, with his position in the court, how could he allow his own flesh and blood to be stranded outside?
In just a moment, several of the most important questions quickly rolled through Chu Feiyang's mind.
However, Han Che's confession did ease Chu Feiyang's tense heartstrings a little. At least Han Che's confession made him understand that if he hadn't decided to stand on his side, he would never have revealed such a secret matter.
Thinking of this, the expression hidden in Chu Feiyang's eyes changed slightly. Compared to the sharpness he had just shot at Han Che, his expression was now calmer, and he waited patiently for Han Che to explain the whole story.
Han Che noticed the slight change in Chu Feiyang's expression, but smiled indifferently, and continued: "I believe that the prince also knows in his heart that Prince Duan has always been steady and is also quite favored by Emperor Xijing. However, this favor has planted the seeds of disaster for the people around Prince Duan. And this source of disaster is Emperor Yugan. The year when Princess Han gave birth was the year when the struggle for the throne was the most intense. In order to prevent Princess Han from giving birth to a little prince, Emperor Yugan planned to take action when Princess Han gave birth. However, this matter was discovered by Prince Duan, and he secretly He had the Han family switch the babies and take away the newborn Han Shaomian, and personally led the Han family out of Prince Duan's mansion. Unexpectedly, Princess Han was pregnant with twins. When the second child was born, Princess Han saw that the assassins sent by Emperor Yugan were about to break into the inner chamber, so she had her personal maid and guards take the children and leave Prince Duan's mansion. However, Princess Han was murdered by the assassins sent by Emperor Yugan. However, to avoid the assassins' suspicion, Princess Han set fire to herself after the assassination, burning herself alive in the delivery room.
Han Che said all this lightly, his face calm, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Although he was still a baby at that time, Han Che must be feeling very sad when he thinks about how his mother died tragically to protect him.
After he finished speaking, Han Che took out a small anklet made of pure gold and carved with a flying dragon from his arms, and then handed it to Chu Feiyang, asking him to check the authenticity of the anklet.
Chu Feiyang took the anklet, which he could tell at first glance was for a baby, and looked at it carefully. The heavy anklet was delicately engraved with a soaring dragon pattern, which looked so lifelike that it seemed like a golden dragon flying in the clouds before his eyes, which made people feel awe.
In this world, only the royal family can wear jewelry engraved with the flying dragon pattern. This is enough to prove that this anklet is genuine.
Chu Feiyang silently returned the anklet to Han Che, but his face was solemn. His sword-like eyebrows wrinkled slightly without leaving any trace, but he did not make any judgment on the matter.
Taking the anklet returned by Chu Feiyang, Han Che continued, "It was only after I took the imperial examination that I learned the whole story. My adoptive parents, with the money my mother gave them, secretly trained a group of death warriors specifically to protect me. They played an indispensable role in helping me escape Prince Chen's assassination attempt in the imperial mausoleum this time."
Prince Duan had cultivated his character over the years, and while serving as an official at court, he rarely interfered in state affairs. Consequently, the attention of the court, both inside and outside, was fixed on the ambitious Prince Chen. Everyone discussed how Emperor Yugan had seized the throne from Concubine Yuande and Prince Chen, overlooking the brutal nature of that succession struggle and forgetting that Prince Duan was the prince most favored by Emperor Xijing.
Chu Feiyang carefully observed Han Che in front of him, his mind recollecting Yun Qianmeng's previous comments on Han Che's appearance. They say nephews resemble their uncles. No wonder Meng'er had commented after the dinner at Prince Duan's mansion that Han Che and Han Zhengyi looked slightly similar. This must be the reason.
Chu Feiyang compared Han Che's age with Emperor Yugan's reign title, both were eighteen years, and he gradually believed Han Che's words.
"Does Prince Duan know about this?" Chu Feiyang gradually understood what was happening, remembering the strange look Prince Duan always had on Han Che. He was afraid Prince Duan, the person involved, didn't even know that Han Che existed in this world.
Han Che seemed to have not expected Chu Feiyang to ask Prince Duan about this question. He was slightly startled, then slowly lowered his eyes and slowly replied: "Before rushing to Jincheng, my adoptive father Han Jing had already rushed to Chaocheng. I believe he will tell Prince Duan about the matter."
Han Jing was originally a guard in Prince Duan's mansion. When he met Prince Duan, he would tell him everything in detail. This was beyond doubt.
Hearing this, Chu Feiyang's mind shifted, and he then asked, "Then what are you going to do? Now that Emperor Yugan is dead, even if you want revenge, I'm afraid you won't be able to find anyone. Or, do you want to take his place and become the overlord of the world?"
Prince Duan is the prince of the previous emperor, and Han Che is naturally the grandson of the emperor. Now that Western Chu has no ruler, it is only right for Prince Duan or Han Che to succeed to the throne.
However, Chu Feiyang's question shocked Han Che even more than when he mentioned Prince Duan just now.
Han Che's eyes showed shock, but he just smiled and shook his head, saying, "Your Highness, I don't have such plans. I just want to..."
"You just want to rescue Qu Feiqing." Chu Feiyang interrupted Han Che's words and said for him the name that was already deeply engraved in Han Che's heart.
"But, what if you rescued her? No matter who sits on the throne in this world, I'm afraid they won't treat the Qu family well. Instead of that, it would be better for you to sit on the throne and protect the Qu family. And as the grandson of the emperor, this is what you should do. Do you want to see the empire that your ancestors worked so hard to build fall into the hands of others?" Chu Feiyang spoke next, weighing the pros and cons and analyzing them in full for Han Che to hear.
However, Chu Feiyang also believed that with Han Che's intelligence, he would definitely make the most correct choice.
Seeing Chu Feiyang's thorough analysis of everything, a trace of bitterness flashed across Han Che's eyes. A wry smile played on the corners of his mouth as he spoke lightly, "Your Highness, above me are Prince Duan and Han Shaomian. They can also ascend the Nine Dragon Throne."
How could Chu Feiyang not see Han Che's concerns? With so many royal heirs, Prince Duan, as the eldest son of the previous emperor, was the most qualified to inherit the throne. Otherwise, Emperor Yugan wouldn't have been so eager to eliminate Prince Duan's newborn. And Han Shaomian, as Prince Duan's eldest son, was the first choice to succeed him.
If the King of Chu decided to support the lineage of Prince Duan to inherit the throne, during the chaos in Western Chu, they must not let the throne cause internal disputes. This was probably one of the things Han Che was thinking about.
Seeing Han Che's worry, Chu Feiyang's eyes showed a hint of admiration, and he immediately spoke: "Prince Duan has been cultivating his character over the years, and I'm afraid he has long since given up the idea of ascending the throne. As for Han Shaomian, he can be a minister, but he lacks the temper to be an emperor. As the Left Prime Minister, you have been at the top of the court for a long time, and you are the person closest to Emperor Yugan. How could you not see the difficulties of being an emperor? Emperor Yugan has always been fond of studying the art of balance. Although he wields little military power, the ministers in the court have long been divided into several factions. But Emperor Yugan also uses the art of balance with ease, otherwise how could he have sat on the throne for nearly twenty years? In comparison, Han Shaomian's character is too straightforward. He may be a loyal minister, but as an emperor, he is too transparent. I'm afraid he can't hold that position firmly."
For a moment, Han Che lowered his head in silence. Chu Feiyang did not force him any more, but just sipped his tea quietly, waiting for Han Che's reply.
Han Che, however, looked up at Chu Feiyang while he was sipping his tea, his eyes calmly gazing at him, his heart in awe of his ability to read people's minds. Seeing Chu Feiyang's calm demeanor, and how he seemed to be discussing the throne with him as easily as drinking water, Han Che's heart gradually relaxed. He slowly lowered his head and began to seriously consider Chu Feiyang's proposal.
What the King of Chu said just now was true and insightful. If he had not seen through me clearly, I am afraid he would not have said such words that would cause bloodshed.
Although he had not participated in the struggle among the kings during his time as the Left Prime Minister, he had a clear understanding of the situation because he was not involved.
As the King of Chu had just said, Prince Duan had long since abandoned his ambitions to become emperor. Han Shaomian was a man of integrity. If he became emperor, he might be too upright to see through the ministers' ulterior motives, which would not be a good thing for the country.
But, had the King of Chu forgotten him? Wasn't Chu Feiyang the best candidate for the throne? Furthermore, the King of Chu commanded a large military force. Emperor Yugan was now dead, leaving no portrait behind. Given the Chu family's status in the hearts of the people of Western Chu, there would be no obstacle to Chu Feiyang ascending the throne. So why would he nominate him now?
Thinking of this, Han Che raised his head, his eyes still clear, but when he looked at Chu Feiyang, there was a hint of doubt, "With your ability and means, it would be easy for you to sit on the throne. Why would you give up the throne of the Nine Five Supremes? Besides, Shao Mian and I are twin brothers. If he succeeds to the throne, with the assistance of your highness and many ministers, he will definitely become a wise ruler. Why did your highness choose only me?"
Chu Feiyang put down the teacup in his hand with a smile on his face. When he looked up again, the smile had faded. His eyes were solemn and serious. He spoke with a promise, "This is not my ambition. Since you have a good successor, I will send you to the throne and then I can leave with peace of mind. As for Han Shaomian, I have just said that he is too upright. Compared to you, he lacks the ruthlessness that an emperor must possess. Cruelty is not something that can be learned; it is innate."
Han Che may seem gentle and refined, but he actually has an extremely strong mind. It would be impossible for someone who is so strict with himself to do so without being ruthless.
The most important thing for an emperor is ruthlessness. Especially after Western Chu experienced this catastrophe, it needed a decisive emperor to unify the world.
"What does the prince need me to do?" Han Che naturally understood that since he could get Chu Feiyang's help, he must do his part.
Although Han Che did not tell him his decision, when he saw him asking this, Chu Feiyang knew that Han Che had already agreed to it.
Chu Feiyang curled his lips into a smile, then waved towards Han Che, motioning him to come closer, and whispered something in his ear.
Han Che listened attentively, taking Chu Feiyang's instructions into account carefully. However, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and he couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, you..."
Chu Feiyang always had a faint smile on his face. Compared to the solemnity he had when facing Qi Jingyuan just now, his smile now had a hint of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Seeing Han Che's surprised expression, Chu Feiyang did not explain. Instead, he picked up the brush on the table with his slender fingers, quickly wrote a letter on the rice paper, and then put it away and handed it to Han Che.
Han Che didn't waste any more time. He took the letter handed to him by Chu Feiyang and put it away. Then he stood up in the silence between the two of them, clasped his fists and bowed to Chu Feiyang who was sitting in the first seat, then turned around and walked out of the tent without hesitation.
Less than half a cup of tea later, the sound of galloping horses could be heard outside the tent...
The capital of Western Chu.
As Han Che arrived at the Chu King's military camp in Jincheng, Han Jing also rushed to the Chu King's military camp in Chaocheng with dozens of guards as quickly as possible.
In the silence, the sound of strong and powerful horse hooves was heard, and torches were suddenly lit at the originally dark entrance of the camp. The bright light of the fire illuminated the outside of the camp, covering the figures of Han Jing and others, and exposing them to the eyes of the Chu King's army on the tower.
"Hold on! Who are you?" the Chu army on night watch shouted to the crowd below the tower, watching the dozens of figures reining in their horses outside the main camp gate. Meanwhile, the Chu army, which had been quietly guarding the camp, had already formed its battle formation, in case anyone took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack.
"My name is Han Jing, and I'd like to see Prince Duan!" It was no longer a secret that Prince Duan and Qu Lingao had followed Chu Feiyang into battle. Seeing that Prince Chu's army had instantly prepared for defense, Han Jing relaxed his tense nerves a little and responded quickly to Prince Chu's army's questions.
At the same time, Han Jing took out a gold medal from his arms, dismounted and walked to the Chu army guarding outside the camp gate, and handed the gold medal to him.
The Chu King's army took the gold medal and immediately turned and ran back to the military camp...
After a cup of tea, the Chu King's army returned to the camp gate and said only to Han Jing, "Old Prince, please come in."
Upon hearing this, Han Jing understood that although the King of Chu was not present, the old King of Chu, Chu Nanshan, was in charge. Prince Duan was a noble man with no martial arts skills. If he wanted to see Prince Duan, he would have to get through Chu Nanshan first.
Thinking of this, Han Jing couldn't help but recall Han Che's previous analysis of the Chu family. He gradually agreed with Han Che's words, and the worry that had been weighing on his mind all the way slowly settled down.
He turned around and nodded to the guards who followed him, indicating that they should wait outside. Han Jing clasped his fists and nodded to the Chu King's army, then followed him into the military camp.
It was night time, and the Chu King's camp was silent. Except for the patrolling Chu King's soldiers, the rest of the soldiers had returned to their tents to rest.
But it was this silence that allowed Han Jing to see the strictness of the two generations of Kings of Chu in managing their armies. Moreover, in this quiet atmosphere, there was a solemn and dignified air that made those present in it stand in awe.
"Your Highness, please come in." After walking for about half a cup of tea, before Han Jing could take a clear look at everything in the Chu King's military camp, the voice of the Chu King's army leader rang in his ears.
The Chu King's army led him to the outside of the commander's tent, then turned and left. Their speed and light steps were admirable.
The curtain that was originally hanging in front of him was lifted by the guards outside. Han Jing felt that his eyes suddenly brightened and his heart suddenly tightened. He did not dare to hesitate any longer and immediately walked into the tent.
Sitting on the commander's seat in the commander's tent was Chu Nanshan, who had white hair and beard and was wearing the commander's robe. Sitting to the lower left of Chu Nanshan was Prince Duan, who was wearing the clothes of a prince.
Han Jing was startled to find that they were the only two people in the commander's tent, and for a moment he even forgot to salute...
Prince Duan was seated, but when Han Jing appeared before him, shock flashed across his eyes, and excitement gradually emerged from his usually calm expression. The gold medal he had originally held in his hand was now deeply imprinted in his palm, and the word "Duan" carved on the surface of the gold medal had even left a mark on his palm...
Chu Nanshan took the expressions of the two people into his sight calmly, but did not point it out immediately. He just stayed out of the matter and continued to watch how things developed, while in his heart he was speculating on the reason why Han Jing had come.
"Are you Han Jing?" A very prestigious voice came from Chu Nanshan's mouth. The loud voice did not sound like that of an old man. The truly shocking voice immediately pulled Prince Duan and Han Jing back from their respective thoughts.
Han Jing didn't dare to neglect Chu Nanshan in front of him anymore. He immediately knelt on one knee in front of Chu Nanshan and Prince Duan, and said sincerely: "Humble Han Jing pays homage to the old prince. Paying homage to the prince!"
Compared to his respect for Chu Nanshan, Han Jing's voice was choked with an inexplicable sob when he mentioned Prince Duan. He looked up at Prince Duan after he finished speaking, his eyes already slightly bloodshot...
After he called out like this, Prince Duan's body shook violently, his eyes fixed on Han Jing who was kneeling in front of him, his lips moving but he couldn't say a word, his excitement was beyond words.
"It seems that these are really the prince's guests!" Chu Nanshan saw clearly, then stood up, intending to let the two of them be alone.
"Old Prince, please stay!" Unexpectedly, Han Jing actually asked Chu Nanshan to stay at this time.
Hearing this, Chu Nanshan raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Prince Duan beside him, observing his expression.
However, Prince Duan regained his composure after the initial excitement. When he saw Han Jing asking Chu Nanshan to stay, there was no trace of unhappiness on Prince Duan's face. Instead, he looked at Chu Nanshan calmly and nodded slightly to him.
Prince Duan then stood up and walked to Han Jing. He bent down and stretched out his hands to help Han Jing up. He said in a very heavy tone, "This prince thought that you were..."
Having said this, Prince Duan paused for a moment, and a trace of pain flashed across his face.
How could Prince Duan not feel pain when he thought of his wife being murdered during childbirth, and the guards around him also disappearing at the same time? Now, seeing Han Jing standing in front of him alive, countless questions suddenly flooded his mind, and he wanted to ask all the questions in his heart.
The veins on the back of the hand that was holding Han Jing's arms were slightly bulging. Prince Duan wanted to control his emotions, but the thoughts that kept surging in his heart made it impossible for him to control them.
How could Han Jing feel good? Nearly twenty years of hiding his identity was something no one could endure. Seeing his master now, he was even more overcome with emotion. They held hands, speechless.
After a long while, Han Jing swallowed hard several times, forcing down the discomfort in his heart before speaking, "Your Highness, I'm afraid you don't know that the princess gave birth to two sons."
As soon as these words were spoken, Prince Duan's face suddenly turned pale, his eyes were filled with shock, and he looked at Han Jing in disbelief, unable to recover for a long time.
Not to mention Prince Duan, even Chu Nanshan showed a look of surprise on his face after hearing the news.
Han Jing saw Prince Duan's face suddenly change, and knew he was unaware of the situation. He lowered his eyes and recalled everything that had happened that year. "Not long after you left Prince Duan's mansion with the eldest son, the princess gave birth to the second son. Unexpectedly, assassins broke into the delivery room at that moment. All the guards you originally assigned to guard the delivery room, except for me, had followed you to the Han Mansion. The princess had no choice but to hand the second son over to me and Yunniang. We took advantage of the chaos to take the second son away from the palace, and have been hiding our identities ever since, not daring to appear in the capital."
Just a few words instantly reminded people of the tragic death of Princess Han. Prince Duan's face changed again and again, and was now gray, obviously he had suffered a great blow.
After Han Jing briefly recounted what happened that year, Prince Duan remained in his senses for a long time, staring blankly at the candlestick in front of him, his eyes already dead.
Even Chu Nanshan frowned after hearing this, but he had a vague guess in his heart about the reason why Princess Han suffered this disaster. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Born into a royal family and married into a royal family, one is probably rich and powerful in front of others, but has no control over life and death.
"So, the fire in the delivery room that year was caused by..." As if he couldn't bear to say the name of the person in his mind, Prince Duan looked extremely sad. Although his eyes turned to Han Jing, there was no trace of human aura in them.
Han Jing nodded silently, his expression equally grim. He replied in a deep voice, "The princess was stabbed by assassins. Knowing she was dying, she set the fire herself, simply to hide the fact that the Second Young Master was still alive. Yunniang and I took the silver entrusted by the princess and left the capital with the Second Young Master. We didn't return to the capital until last year when he took the imperial examination."
After he finished speaking, the tent fell silent. Prince Duan slowly closed his eyes, but his mind was full of thoughts that were difficult to express in words.
Now that Han Jing had explained everything clearly, Prince Duan and Chu Nanshan gradually came to a conclusion. Furthermore, when Han Jing mentioned the imperial examination, a name popped up in their minds almost at the same time...
"Han Che is my son?" A mixture of joy and sorrow filled Prince Duan's heart. His son was a treasure he had lost and now found. Especially since Han Che possessed exceptional talent, beauty, and character, he was a rare talent. A glimmer of fatherly pride and pride appeared in Prince Duan's eyes.
However, when he thought about it, he realized that his son had been living away from home for nearly twenty years because of him. Suddenly, a wave of heartache welled up in Prince Duan's heart, and all kinds of feelings filled his heart, making Prince Duan frown for a moment.
Chu Nanshan, who had guessed Han Che together with Prince Duan, now had an extremely solemn expression, with deep thought in his eyes.
"Your Highness, please be aware that Han Che is indeed your son. However, I have promised the princess that the young master can only be allowed to enter the capital after he is able to protect himself. This has delayed the time for Your Highness and the young master to recognize each other. I hope Your Highness will punish me!" After saying this, Han Jing knelt down again towards Prince Duan with a calm face, and it was obvious that he was willing to accept the punishment.
Prince Duan quickly extended his hands and lifted Han Jing up before he could even kneel. He said solemnly, "You saved my bloodline for me, so how could I blame you? Where is Che'er now? Does he know his origins?"
When asked the last question, Prince Duan's tone was obviously a pause. It seemed that he must have felt guilty towards Han Che, which was why he seemed to lack confidence.
However, even so, it still couldn't stop Prince Duan's eagerness to see Han Che. The renewed vitality in his eyes made Prince Duan full of energy.
Han Jing breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his master gradually regain his energy. He glanced at Chu Nanshan before slowly replying, "The young master originally came to Chaocheng with me. But halfway through, he heard that the King of Chu was heading to Jincheng, so he and I parted ways. I'm sure the young master has already arrived in Jincheng and met with the King of Chu."
"In that case, congratulations to the prince for finding his offspring!" Han Jing's glance made Chu Nanshan understand what he meant, so he spoke at the right time, but another strategy had already emerged in his mind.
"Thank you, Your Highness! I only blame myself for not thinking it through back then, allowing that person to take advantage of the opportunity, which led to an irreparable regret. Alas..." A light sigh contained everything about Prince Duan's life. His wife died, and his infant child was lost. Even though Prince Duan was a descendant of the royal family, he lived an extremely difficult life.
"Since the prince has found the emperor's grandson, and Western Chu is now leaderless, why don't you take over?" Unknowingly, Chu Nanshan made the same suggestion as Chu Feiyang, which shocked Prince Duan and Han Jing so much that their faces changed suddenly.
The two looked at each other, not understanding why Chu Nanshan made such a request at this time.
As for the throne, Prince Duan lost his wife and children because of the fight for the throne. How could he allow himself to be involved in such a vortex of power again?
After hearing Chu Nanshan's proposal, Prince Duan subconsciously frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Chu Nanshan spoke first, "Your Highness, please think carefully before giving us an answer. The world is now divided into three parts. No matter who ascends the throne, Prince Chen or Prince Hai, we will all be doomed. Moreover, Prince Hai framed the Crown Prince, and Prince Chen forged the imperial edict. Even if he takes the throne, it is not legitimate. Since Prince Duan has the qualifications, why not give it a try?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Duan's expression became even more serious. He was about to politely decline Chu Nanshan's kindness, but suddenly stopped.
Prince Duan then pondered Chu Nanshan's words carefully in his mind. He suddenly looked up at Chu Nanshan with a hint of confusion in his eyes, and then asked, "What did you mean by what you said just now? Prince Chen is also the prince of the late emperor. Even if he forged the imperial edict, it is only natural for him to inherit the throne. Why did you seem to exclude him from your words just now?"
As he spoke, Prince Duan kept his eyes fixed on Chu Nanshan, trying to find any clues from Chu Nanshan's shrewd expression.
However, Chu Nanshan has been the King of Chu for so many years, and he is the only one who can guess people's hearts. When has he ever seen others see through him?
Chu Nanshan had a fox-like smile on his face, and then he beckoned Prince Duan to come closer and whispered in his ear for a moment...
As expected, Prince Duan's face changed drastically after hearing Chu Nanshan's whispers. Unlike the grief when he mentioned Princess Han and the guilt when he mentioned Han Che, the shock that could not be concealed was completely conveyed from Prince Duan's heart to his eyes and face, and it really fell into Chu Nanshan's eyes.
"Your Highness...is this true?" After thinking about it for a while, Prince Duan finally found his voice and asked Chu Nanshan in a somewhat clumsy voice.
The imperial decree deposing the emperor, unknown to both him and Prince Chen as royal descendants, was actually in Chu Nanshan's possession. If true, this was truly a matter of great significance. With the red seal and iron certificate, anyone could naturally ascend the throne of Western Chu. The temptation was simply too great. Even Prince Duan, who had lived a life of seclusion for many years, was stunned for a long time when he first heard this shocking news.
"When have you ever seen me tell a lie?" Chu Nanshan just asked back softly. His calm aura made Prince Duan believe the fact instantly.
Chu Nanshan had joined Jiang Sujun in conquering Western Chu, so their brotherly bond was naturally extraordinary. Perhaps my grandfather trusted this brother even more than he trusted his own children and wife. Coupled with Chu Nanshan's impressive character and personality, it was only natural that my grandfather would entrust such an important item to him for safekeeping.
After this analysis, all the doubts in Prince Duan's heart were dispelled, but he was still struggling with the issue of the throne.
"Your Majesty, may I have a few words?" Han Jing spoke respectfully at this time.
Chu Nanshan smiled faintly in his heart, glanced at Prince Duan first, and then nodded slightly.
Prince Duan also needed advice from others. Seeing that Chu Nanshan agreed with Han Jing's suggestion, he nodded as well.
"Your Highness, although the Second Young Master grew up among the common people, I dare not neglect his moral integrity and academic training. From his youth, I invited many renowned hermits to teach him. I believe that his achievement of the top scholar in the imperial examination will convince you both! Secondly, I have watched the Second Young Master grow up. Although he didn't grow up in a noble family, he behaves with dignity and dignity, which is truly impressive. As the old prince just said, the ruler of the world must be courageous and virtuous. I believe that the Second Young Master is worthy of this responsibility." Han Jing didn't directly persuade Prince Duan to become emperor, but instead focused on Han Che, allowing Prince Duan to see his son's potential. Even if Prince Duan wanted to step back from government, he still needed to consider his son's future. Moreover, he owed Han Che his entire life.
After listening to Han Jing's advice, Prince Duan fell into deep thought, with a complex expression between his brows, but it also showed that he had taken Han Jing's advice to heart...
Chu Nanshan stopped talking to disturb Prince Duan's thoughts and sat down on the first seat to continue studying the offensive and defensive battle with Yuan Yao and others.
"Your Highness, the guards outside the camp want to see Han Jing." At this time, the guards guarding outside the tent reminded him.
"Your Highness, I will be back soon." Han Jing heard the guard's reminder and asked Prince Duan's opinion in a low voice.
Prince Duan just looked up at him and nodded in agreement, then sat back in his previous seat and continued to analyze everything.
It only took a cup of tea for Han Jing to quickly return to the tent.
He was beaming with joy, and his eyes were filled with excitement as he looked at Prince Duan. Before Prince Duan could ask what was going on, he immediately reported, "Your Highness, the Second Young Master has already set off for the imperial city."
Upon receiving this news, there was no trace of joy on Prince Duan's face. His complicated eyes were mixed with a hint of nervousness, which made him feel a little uneasy. He didn't know how to face the outstanding Han Che.
Chu Nanshan noticed Prince Duan's nervousness, yet a faint smile flickered in his eyes. This was perhaps the bond between father and son. However, Chu Nanshan knew that Prince Duan would not be able to make a rational decision under such circumstances, so he said, "It's late today, Your Highness, please go back and rest. Regarding the matter just now, it's better to wait until Han Che arrives before making any decisions."
Prince Duan felt relieved, and there was a hint of gratitude in his eyes when he looked at Chu Nanshan. He then stood up, nodded respectfully to Chu Nanshan, and walked out of the tent with Han Jing.
In the Sea King’s military camp near Jincheng.
Hai Quan, clad in military uniform, personally led his troops to the Jincheng Sea King's camp. He had arrived from west to north, his once sparkling armor now coated in dust. Coupled with the successive misfortunes of his two most beloved sons, the once high-spirited Hai Quan now looked rather grim, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, a chilling omen.
"Your Highness is here to see you." When the generals of the Sea King's army who were transferred to Jincheng to fight saw their commander coming, they gathered in the tents and saluted the Sea King.
"Everyone, get up. How's Jincheng doing now?" Hai Quan's voice was low and sinister, completely unlike his usual elegance. As soon as he entered the tent, he immediately started asking about Jincheng's recent situation.
Murong Jie, the commander-in-chief of the Sea King Army's expedition to the northern border of Western Chu, had received a secret order from Hai Quan a few days ago and went to Jincheng in person to command the battle.
Hearing Hai Quan's question, Murong Jie led the generals to stand up and immediately replied, "Your Highness, the three armies are facing each other, but no one dares to act rashly, fearing they will become the target of public criticism. However, compared to the Chen Wang Army guarding the inner circle and the Chu Wang Army guarding the outer circle, our Hai Wang Army is surrounded by both armies, and the situation is not very good. If we don't find a breakthrough, I am afraid that the Chu Wang will block all the roads outside, and our food supplies will be greatly limited."
Murong Jie had always been bold and careful, his approach to things more comprehensive and thorough than Yuan Yao and the others. He was able to discern the impending predicament facing the Sea King Army besieging Jincheng amidst their bright prospects, and to accept it calmly, clearly demonstrating his exceptional talent.
The atmosphere in the tent also changed from the joy of welcoming Hai Quan to a heavy one because of Murong Jie's words.
Hai Quan had seen the truth of the situation more clearly than the soldiers guarding the camp. His siege of Yun Qianmeng had already angered Chu Feiyang. Given Chu Feiyang's temperament, he would certainly not let it go. He hadn't taken any action yet, naturally out of concern for Yun Qianmeng's well-being in Jincheng.
What's more, there is Yun Qianmeng between Chu Feiyang and Jiang Muchen, so the two will definitely not join forces. This is the point that Hai Quan is most certain of now.
It was precisely because of this affirmation that Hai Quan's slightly impatient mood was slightly relieved, and he was able to concentrate more on dealing with the two people.
"I have thought about this matter on the way here. Compared with the Chen Wang Army trapped in the inner circle, the current situation of the Hai Wang Army seems to be slightly more relaxed. Moreover, Jincheng has been under siege for more than a month, and the food reserves in the city must have been almost consumed. Chu Feiyang loves his wife deeply, how could he watch his beloved wife starve and freeze? He will definitely find ways to transport food into Jincheng to alleviate the famine that is gradually emerging in the city. However, if he wants to transport food to Jincheng, he must first pass through us. If the crisis really comes, we can just rob the food that Chu Feiyang sends to Jincheng. As for Jiang Muchen, he has already hated Chu Feiyang in his heart, so how could he let Chu Feiyang succeed? By then, wouldn't King Chen be helping us in disguise?" With a cunning smile, Hai Quan's eyes were full of calculations and conspiracies, but behind all this, it was the indelible hatred that supported him.
"Bring us the map of Jincheng." After saying that, Hai Quan untied his cloak and led a group of generals to the table, apparently to start discussing the battle plan.
An enlarged map was instantly presented to him by the guards. Hai Quan spread the map flat on the table and immediately focused his eyes on analyzing the terrain near Jincheng. His brows were sometimes furrowed and sometimes relaxed, and his fingers slid along the roads. Finally, his right index finger gently tapped a corner of the map a few times.
When the generals saw that Hai Quan's expression had calmed down, they knew that the Sea King had made a decision, so they all kept silent, waiting for the Sea King to speak out his plan.
"The army has been stationed in Jincheng for more than a month. Even if famine has broken out in Jincheng, it will be difficult for us to break in if Dong Jin does not open the city gates. Moreover, our hundreds of thousands of troops are being stored here, which is also a waste of resources. The longer we delay, the worse it will be for us. For now, we can only take the initiative to attack and force Dong Jin to
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