Chapter 512 "Ruthless" and Free from Responsibility
Jiang Fenghua told Xie Shang what she knew and asked directly, "What does the Emperor plan to do now?"
Xie Shang frowned. "I only sent a secret letter to Jiang Zhiqin to handle this matter in secret. Even Peng Fei only found out about it later. How could he tell his nephew about something so important?"
Jiang Fenghua's eyes were open and honest as she analyzed earnestly, "It makes sense. My uncle is a general, and he wants to use his military achievements to promote his own people. General Peng probably didn't expect his nephew to be so eager for quick success. Now, I just hope that Consort Song's brother only told Consort Song about this, and that General Peng is wary and keeps his nephew in check. The worst outcome is that this matter has already been leaked. Is the Emperor still planning to take this step?"
Xie Shang was attracted by Jiang Fenghua's true nature. He stared intently at her face. Now he finally understood why he always felt he couldn't see through her. For the past three years, she had deliberately hidden all her brilliance, pretending to be charming and affectionate with him every day. Now she was no longer willing to pretend, and even her clothes and makeup had become casual.
"Your Majesty." Jiang Jinyan felt embarrassed for the Emperor when he saw him staring blankly at his sister's face. He had just returned to the palace when he heard that the Emperor had conferred the title of concubine on another beauty. At that time, he felt a mix of emotions. Now, the Emperor was staring at Ruan Ruan in a daze. What did he mean by this?
Xie Shang looked away awkwardly and said in a deep voice, "The arrow is on the string; there's no reason not to release it."
Xie Shang's handling of the situation was within Jiang Fenghua's expectations. Now that she was out of the picture, she blinked and remained silent. However, she no longer bothered to dress herself up elaborately. She sensed the meaning behind Xie Shang's gaze; she felt he wanted to devour her.
She quickly said, "Now that Your Majesty knows, I shall take my leave."
She raised an eyebrow at Jiang Jinyan and gave him a cryptic smile, implying that he should come to her when he was done with his work.
Jiang Jinyan smiled, indicating that he understood.
Xie Shang stared at the brother and sister in front of him, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Jiang Fenghua was clearly his woman, but now she seemed "heartless" and carefree.
His gaze turned cold again, and he said in a deep voice, "Stop."
Jiang Fenghua said, "The women of the inner palace must not interfere in politics."
"Then why did you rush here just now?" Xie Shang deliberately said, "The Empress has already interfered in court affairs. She is no longer the pretentious little woman in Grand Tutor Jiang's household who only knows how to pretend to be learned. Don't try to fool me with the excuse that the harem should not interfere in politics." You want to get rid of me after using me? Do you think I will be willing to suffer such a loss in silence?
"I'm just worried about my fourth brother; he's still at the border," Jiang Fenghua said, offering a reason.
Xie Shang then directly exposed, "With Jiang Zhiqin's cleverness, even if he is defeated, he will be safe and sound. Didn't you send people to secretly protect him long ago?" Otherwise, where did Jiang Zhiqin's military achievements come from?
Jiang Fenghua paused for a moment. It turned out that he had known all along that Tan Wanqing had brought their people to protect his fourth brother.
She said, "I'm wondering who will be responsible for the safety of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty. If the other side finds out, it will be the people of our Great Zhou Dynasty who will suffer."
Xie Shang was stunned. She said "we" and that she didn't like him. She didn't like why she cared about the fate of the Xie family's empire. She hated Su Tingwan, so she must hate him too. Why didn't she seek revenge on him? He naturally kept these words to himself.
He said in a deep voice, "Does the Empress have a way to continue my plan? Retreat is out of the question."
“I know that His Majesty will definitely fight this battle and will not back down.” Jiang Fenghua’s gaze was firm.
Xie Shang stared at her face again. "How do you know I will definitely fight? Are you so sure I won't back down? Since things have been exposed, stopping the war is the best option. I can replan and then take action again."
Jiang Fenghua also stared at Xie Shang's face, and now she found him rather annoying, the more she looked at him, the more she disliked him.
Jiang Jinyan also felt that stopping the plan was the best option. Besides, the ministers did not know that the emperor was going to attack the Hu tribes and recover the northern border. It was too risky to entrust such an important matter to Jiang Zhiqin, who had no combat experience.
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "Those who kill my people, slaughter my cities, and invade my Great Zhou, no matter how far away they are, shall be punished. The Emperor is determined to exterminate the Hu tribe. Now everything is ready except for the east wind, and the Emperor has borrowed the east wind. It is impossible for him not to take action..." She had already laid her cards on the table with Xie Shang. In the next ten years or so, it was something Xie Shang would definitely do to recover the northern frontier.
Xie Shang felt a surge of emotions upon hearing this. He walked up to Jiang Fenghua, his emotions even becoming agitated, and asked, "How do you know these things?"
Jiang Fenghua said, "The Emperor told me, you've forgotten? It was when the late Emperor scolded you last time, you ran to me as if in great pain, and you told me about killing the Hu prince, and about your determination to exterminate the Hu tribe..."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Xie Shang's eyes. He had indeed said the same thing to Jiang Fenghua, and she had also said that she had never been to the palace when she was a child.
He stared at Jiang Fenghua, a burning desire rising within him. He hoped that this exceptionally intelligent woman was the one. He said in a deep voice, "Thirteen years ago, did you enter the palace and see a young man and say something to him?"
"No, I never entered the palace when I was a child. I have already told the Emperor." Jiang Fenghua quickly denied it, wondering what Xie Shang meant.
Xie Shang stared into her eyes and said coldly, "Jiang Fenghua, do you dare to swear that every word you said to me is true? Swear on the promise of your entire Jiang family." She cared most about the Jiang family.
Jiang Fenghua laughed it off again, "I've told too many lies, and I know I've wronged the Emperor. My sins are grave. I swear I'll be struck by lightning. Now I just want to be an honest person. Please don't make me swear on my family!"
Xie Shang's lips twitched as he looked at her grinning face.
Before Xie Shang could react, Jiang Fenghua quickly slipped away without a trace of regret.
Xie Shang knew she was hiding something when he saw her fleeing in such a panic.
Jiang Jinyan was also speechless. What happened between Ruan Ruan and the Emperor? What happened in the palace while he was away?
Jiang Jinyan stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or stay.
Xie Shang suddenly sat back down and said in a deep voice, "I'm leaving this matter to you. Get to the border as fast as you can and find out who else Peng Fei's eldest nephew has said those words to. Proceed according to the original plan. This time, I am determined to defeat the Hu tribe."
Jiang Jinyan had just returned from outside and was now leaving the capital. Before leaving, he asked, "Is nothing wrong between Ruan Ruan and His Majesty?"
"What do you think?" Xie Shang asked him.
Jiang Jinyan was stunned and couldn't say anything.
Xie Shang said directly, "Your sister has already admitted that she doesn't like me. She has been using me to deal with the Su family. She only married me to use me because she only wants to become my empress."
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