Chapter 62
◎“Whoever harms her shall die.”◎
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was astonished.
Tuoba Cangjue's fingers, gripping the token, bulged with veins, and his temples throbbed. He took a deep breath: "What do you mean by this?"
The imposing aura of the person in a high position was released in an instant, and some of the more timid courtiers in the hall were already trembling. But Su Lu stood tall and straight, his back straight, like a sword piercing straight into the hall.
"Your Majesty has praised Lu for his strategic brilliance and soaring ambition, and also said that he is getting old and wishes to relieve him of his burdens—in that case, why not give me the throne?" The young man seemed unaware of how shocking and rebellious his words were. "Lu promised that if he were to take control of the Northern Rong, he would make the country strong and the people live in peace."
"you!"
Tuoba Cangjue felt dizzy for a moment, and only with the help of the master of ceremonies beside him was he able to steady himself. He never expected that his beloved grandson, whom he had so happily found, would give him such a big surprise in front of everyone.
The aged emperor flicked his sleeves and turned away: "Guards, Marquis Minyi is having a hysterical episode and is delirious. Take him away to rest."
Armored guards with swords filed in, completely surrounding the hall. Before the guards could take the man away, a long-bearded minister stepped forward and raised his voice, "Marquis Minyi has committed treason and his intentions are deserving of death. Can the King still tolerate such a person?"
Tuoba Cangjue's brow twitched, and he turned to look at the person below the steps. After a moment, he asked, "According to the Hexi Imperial Censor, what should be done?"
The Northern Rong are divided into numerous clans, with the eight major clans checking and balancing each other. He Lou Batu dared to stage a coup, which was undoubtedly supported by the He Xi and Yu Chi clans. Now, He Lou Batu is a discarded pawn. The battle in which Su Lu defeated He Lou Batu at Xue Lang Pass is still being analyzed and studied by various armies. Not to mention the Dayan Army, even the Northern Rong army has many of his followers.
The He Xi and Yu Chi clans had long regarded Su Lu as a thorn in their side, and now that they had such an opportunity, how could they not try to kill him?
The Imperial Censor He Xi spoke with resounding conviction: "I request Your Majesty to strip him of his title and imprison him in the Imperial Prison for joint trial by the Ministry of Justice."
The other court officials exchanged glances, all knowing what he was planning. The Ministry of Justice belonged to that old fox Yuchi Shen; once someone entered the Ministry of Justice, there was no chance of them coming out alive.
Tuoba Cangjue frowned, about to speak, when Su Lu said, "This must be He Xi Tuo, the He Xi Imperial Censor."
He Xituo scoffed, looking utterly disdainful: "I was speaking with His Majesty, and you, young marquis, interrupted so abruptly. Do you even respect His Majesty?"
That's what he said, but when "Your Majesty" was mentioned, He Xituo only gave a perfunctory bow, his expression devoid of any respect. He glanced sideways at Su Lu and said, "His Majesty is deeply devoted to you, yet you are full of scheming and plotting! I just remembered that our young marquis is half-Yan blood. Su Chengyu is already a dead man under the swords of my Northern Rong soldiers. Now that the marquis is causing trouble in my Northern Rong court, could it be that he still thinks of that father of his, Prince Su?"
He Xi Tuo's address of "Young Marquis" and "Young Master Su" conveyed the same meaning, both openly and subtly—those who are not of our kind are bound to have different intentions.
Some ministers in the court who had been wavering changed color slightly and swallowed their words of rebuttal. Several young officials were immediately provoked and glared angrily at Su Lu. Their righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor strangely overlapped with that of the officials in the Dayan court who were prepared to die for their cause, showing a strong sense that if Tuoba Cangjue did not give an explanation today, they would not hesitate to pay the price with their lives to seek justice.
Su Lu's expression remained completely calm: "Last spring, Lord He Xi forcibly requisitioned fine horses from herdsmen and resold them to border caravans at exorbitant prices. As a nobleman of the Northern Rong, he preyed on his own people—" He paused slightly, looking at He Xi Tuo's suddenly changed expression, tilted his head, and asked sincerely, "Could it be that in Lord He Xi's mind, only this kind of behavior is worthy of being a Northern Rong person?"
He Xi Tuo angrily retorted: "Nonsense!"
"At the time of the Beginning of Summer, the adults stamped the prisoners who should have been released from the POW camp with their private seals and secretly transported them to the underground slave market via the Yinshan Trail... Is all of this just nonsense?"
Su Lu spoke slowly and deliberately, from the beginning of summer to the beginning of autumn, and then from the beginning of autumn to the twelfth lunar month. With each additional word he spoke, He Xituo's face paled a little more, and the expressions of the young officials who had just been inspired to follow him also changed several times, looking at him with complicated expressions.
"Framed! This is a frame-up! I have served as an official for eighteen years, always diligent and conscientious, my loyalty as clear as the sun and moon. How can I allow such a treacherous villain to slander me!"
He Xi Tuo pointed to the sky, veins bulging on his neck, and his legs trembled uncontrollably beneath his wide official robe.
He acts discreetly and has never been caught red-handed in all these years. How could Su Lu, an outsider who has been in power for less than a month, know so much about him?
He Xi Tuo was already shocked and frightened. When he saw Su Lu walk up to him, he was filled with anger. He raised his head and glared at him. An ordinary person would have been terrified and kowtowed when they saw that look, but he was startled when he met the young man's eyes.
Those eyes were dark and deep, with a hint of mockery—the look of a beast watching its prey in dire straits, yet not wanting to kill it immediately, toying with it with its claws.
An ominous premonition swept through He Xituo's mind.
"Is it slander or not, sir? Don't you know?" Su Lu looked down at He Xituo, who was half a head shorter than him. His jade-colored fingers held an account book. With a slight flick of his wrist, the pages unfolded and spread out on the ground.
He Xituo froze the moment he saw the ledger. After reading the contents of the pages, his pupils dilated and his face turned pale. An indescribable panic, rising from the depths of his soul, crept over his entire body, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
This is an account book hidden under his bed in his study. Only he and his most loyal butler know about it. How did it end up in Su Lu's hands?
He Xituo became increasingly frightened as he thought about it, and his legs went weak, causing him to kneel down on the ground.
The officials in the court were all shocked.
Tuoba Xiu, who had been watching from the sidelines, swallowed hard.
I felt a sudden release of pent-up emotions in my chest, and I felt extremely refreshed.
Logically speaking, since Su Lu wanted to seize the throne, Tuoba Xiu, as the crown prince, should have hated him to the core. However, Tuoba Xiu couldn't feel any hatred at all.
He had never been interested in the throne. If it weren't for the fact that his grandfather only had him as his grandson, there would be no need to force him to take the throne. When he heard Su Lu say that he wanted the throne in the palace just now, he actually felt a little bit of expectation in his heart.
Furthermore, He Xi Tuo was used to being arrogant and domineering, and he had done a lot of things like manipulating power and oppressing the people. However, with Yu Chi Shen as his guarantor, he was untouchable. Now that he had suffered such a big setback, Tuoba Xiu almost wanted to applaud on the spot.
His gaze toward Su Lu involuntarily carried a hint of expectation and a secret admiration—he had managed to make He Xituo look so pathetic with just a few words.
He truly is a good brother.
"Young Master Su, you have slandered our officials and are causing chaos in the court. What are your intentions?!"
Yuchi Shen, who had been hidden in the ranks, emerged from the shadows. He Xituo, as if seeing a lifeline, grabbed his collar tightly, crying out, "Lord Yuchi, clear my name!"
Yuchi Shen flung the man away with a flick of his robe, cursing him as a "fool," and then stared at Su Lu with a sinister look, saying, "In the Battle of Snow Wolf Pass, Prince Su slaughtered countless men of my Northern Rong, yet he still dares to plot to seize the throne. His heart is utterly despicable!"
"What are you all standing there for?!" Yuchi Shen suddenly turned around, stretched out his long arm, and without even glancing at Tuoba Cangjue on the long steps, he sternly ordered the guards in the hall, "Take him away—"
The sound stopped abruptly.
With a soft thud, Yuchi Shen looked down in confusion and saw the hilt of a long sword against his chest. He couldn't utter another word. As he fell to the ground, his eyes were still wide open, filled with shock, as if he couldn't comprehend how he had died.
Everyone stared at the scene, their eyes wide with shock. Their expressions were initially blank before gradually filling with fear, panic, and other emotions.
A drop of blood appeared on Su Lu's chin, a striking red against his porcelain-white skin. This red seemed to break some kind of seal, unleashing the bloodlust, cruelty, and slaughter within this man.
He lowered his eyes, his jade-like fingertips wiping away the red mark. When he looked up again, his dark eyes showed no sign of life, like a vengeful god crawling out of hell.
"Whoever harms her shall die."
That statement is completely incoherent.
Tuoba Xiu instantly understood—Yuchi Shen was the mastermind behind Xie Yutang's assassination attempt at Meishan Villa.
Helou Batu was already dissatisfied with the peace talks, so Yuchi Shen took the opportunity to suggest that if Princess Ning'an died at the hands of the Northern Rong delegation, the peace talks would be ruined, and the Da Yan government could be used to eliminate Tuoba Xiu and others, killing two birds with one stone.
Therefore, Helou Batu bribed the patrolling censor Chen Bingliang with a large sum of money, and then, through spies planted in the delegation, placed gunpowder on Xie Yutang's only route back to his residence, so that Yuchi Duohan could lead a group to intercept and kill him.
If Su Lu hadn't discovered this in time, saved Xie Yutang, and immediately cleared away the evidence used to frame the Northern Rong delegation, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Tuoba Xiu looked at Yuchi Shen's still-warm body and felt a chill run down his spine. He was almost certain that even if Yuchi Shen was not a two-faced and wicked person, this one incident alone was enough for Su Lu to take action against him.
Su Lu wiped the blood off his longsword onto Yu Chi Shen's body. The moment he stood up, everyone, without exception, took a half-step back, then awkwardly regained their footing, belatedly realizing that their scalps were tingling.
But the young man merely flicked his wrist, and the long sword plunged straight into the scabbard at the waist of the guard beside him.
The head guard, who was supposed to apprehend the man, handed over a handkerchief with both hands. Su Lu took it, lowered his eyes, and slowly and methodically wiped his fingers clean one by one.
Only then did everyone realize something was wrong.
The head guard knelt down, bowed his head, and respectfully clasped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, all entrances and exits to the palace are now under our control."
When he finished speaking and looked up, everyone realized that it was a completely unfamiliar face.
Half a month ago, Su Lu and Xie Yutang had already made a thorough plan. The royal guards with swords in the palace were replaced by their own people without anyone knowing. The leader was Xie Shiyi, a secret guard of the Xie family.
Realizing they were now at the mercy of the guards, the courtiers were filled with fear. Some of the more timid ones reached for the palace gates, trying to sneak out, but a flick of the guard's gleaming white blade sent them tumbling back to their original positions.
Almost all the prominent figures in the country were here. Su Lu controlled the royal palace and had practically brought the entire Northern Rong under his control.
Su Lu wiped his fingers dry and coldly watched Yu Chi Shen, who was gradually stiffening on the ground.
"This man is two-faced. He Loubatu was able to imprison you all, and Lord Yuchi deserves a lot of credit for that. He spoke righteously in court, talking about the country and the world, and wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible—" The young man paused slightly here, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm not afraid to tell you all that, but a few days ago I received a box of gold and pearls personally presented by Lord Yuchi."
Unexpectedly, there was this twist in the story, leaving all the officials in the hall stunned.
"Lord Yuchi said that Helou Batu has become a pawn, and I am the best candidate to oppose the Crown Prince. He personally promised that if I can kill my elder brother, he will put me on the throne—"
This pause caused many court officials to change color. Tuoba Xiu was the king's only descendant and the crown prince. If he were to die, it would be...
“However, I refused.” Su Lu finished observing everyone’s expressions before leisurely continuing, and before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, he seemed to have just remembered something, and said “Ah” slowly, “But I will accept that box of gold beads, as a gift from Bei Rong to His Highness, how about it?”
...
This unexpected display of affection was completely unexpected.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions shifting several times before finally settling on a very complex one.
“Your Excellency, I know that what you did was not without the instruction of Yuchi Shen.”
Su Lu walked up to He Xituo, who was still lying on the ground, and bent down to help him up.
He Xituo shuddered and desperately tried to back away: "No, don't come any closer—" Before he could finish speaking, Su Lu grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "With such a gold-devouring beast forcing you, your life must not be easy. However, the treacherous officials have been eliminated. Now you can put aside your past grievances, stand up straight, and be an upright person."
The young man, who had just killed He Xituo's backer, gently stroked his collar, smoothing out the wrinkles. He spoke like a wise ruler who cared for his subjects: "The disaster in the Sebo region has just subsided, and there is an urgent need for relief funds. If you can show me your sincerity, I will spare your life for now. What do you think?"
The court officials were all shocked, and the young officials who had initially been provoked to fight back had complicated expressions.
Several blizzards this winter have covered the grasslands, burying the grass and preventing cattle and sheep from grazing. In addition, the continuous low temperatures have caused a collective disease outbreak among the sheep. Memorials from the Nasebo City government have been sent one after another, but the Northern Rong have already had their national treasury emptied by years of war. In addition, with the rebellion of Helou Batu, the court is powerless and can only watch helplessly as starving people die on the ground.
He Xituo has been in officialdom for many years and has amassed countless riches from the people. If we can really get this old man to give back what he has, then the disaster in Sebo can be resolved.
No amount of money is more important than life. He Xi Tuo immediately kowtowed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I will do my best to fulfill your request."
Su Lu publicly executed court officials and threatened high-ranking officials. It was clear that the distributed documents were not of any good quality, showing that he did not take the supreme royal authority seriously. However, Tuoba Cangjue sat firmly on the throne, his expression unchanged from beginning to end. Tuoba Xiu could tell at a glance that his grandfather was not truly angry.
The Yuchi and Hexi clans have always been a cancer in the Northern Rong court. If this cancer is not removed, its deep-rooted habits will be difficult to eradicate and will inevitably lead to great trouble. However, these two clans have been operating for many years and their foundations are too deep. They even dare to touch him, the crown prince. On the surface, they have been making things difficult for him to implement his decrees. In private, they have been using all sorts of dirty tricks, such as assassination and poisoning. If it weren't for his cleverness, he would probably be buried with grass growing three feet high by now.
Yuchi Shen was the true leader of the two families. He was a deep and ruthless man who never left any trace of his evil deeds. He was like an eel. The Emperor tried to take action against him several times but failed. He was even tricked by this old schemer through Helou Batu.
Unexpectedly, Yuchi Shen is now dead, and He Xi Tuo has been thoroughly subdued.
Tuoba Xiu wasn't unaware of the gazes directed at him, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Those gazes passed over Su Lu and then looked at him, and he understood the underlying thoughts—perhaps Su Lu's ascension to the throne would truly be far better than his incompetent crown prince status.
Just when everyone thought that Su Lu had killed one and threatened another, establishing his authority and discipline, this "coup" should be almost over, the young man turned to Xie Shiyi and said, "Distribute the co-governance plan that His Highness and I have drafted."
Who "Your Highness" was was self-evident. Before everyone could figure out what the "co-governance strategy" was, Su Lu turned around, his pair of watery peach blossom eyes sweeping over everyone in the hall. He had a gentle smile on his face, and his previous ruthlessness was almost an illusion: "Gentlemen, please observe this discussion. If there are any shortcomings or differing opinions, please feel free to correct them."
Xie Shiyi carried a stack of papers and distributed them to everyone with the guards.
The court officials were all uninterested in this matter. They thought, "Let's seize the throne, why bother with all this bureaucratic formalities?" But with a knife to their throats, none of them were foolish enough to challenge him on such a matter. They perfunctorily accepted the paper, but their expressions all changed after reading its contents.
Several thoughtful individuals steadied themselves and subtly observed those around them out of the corner of their eyes. They noticed that everyone was standing restlessly, and some of the less composed individuals were trembling as they held the paper, their foreheads covered in sweat no less than He Xituo's.
Tuoba Cangjue, sitting on the throne, observed everyone's expressions and guessed what was going on. What Su Lu had distributed was not a "co-governance strategy" at all, but rather the things that everyone or their relatives had done that they most wanted to cover up and that could not be brought to light.
Water that is too clear has no fish; if you are determined, even the most honest official cannot withstand such a thorough investigation.
Xie Shiyi brought over a mahogany carved high-backed chair, and Su Lu sat facing the assembled officials. It was just an ordinary chair, but he made it look like he was ruling the world, so much so that his poor grandfather, Tuoba Cangjue, the true king of the northern grasslands, was overshadowed and looked like a background figure.
Her slender, jade-colored fingertips tapped the armrest of the chair, as she looked at the civil and military officials who were now drenched in sweat: "Are you gentlemen feeling hot?"
After saying that, he considerately raised his hand and said, "Open the window so the adults can get some fresh air."
Several senior officials standing closest to the window were seething with rage. In the dead of winter, with the north wind howling, opening the window at this hour was tantamount to freezing them to death. But the man held the key to their crimes, and the men, shivering, clutched the paper, wiping their sweat, and could only dare to be angry but not speak out.
An elderly minister finally succumbed to his injuries and fainted.
Su Lu stopped Xie Shiyi, who was about to open the window: "Grand Secretary Helai is in poor health. Quickly help him downstairs and have the imperial physician treat him properly."
Xie Shiyi accepted the order and directed the guards to carry the person away.
After this ordeal, what else could the courtiers not understand? Not only was everyone in the hall clearly recognized by Su Lu, but their every weakness had also been thoroughly investigated by the all-pervasive secret guards.
The factional maneuvering, schemes, and collusion behind them are probably known far better to this young man sitting comfortably in his high-backed chair than to Tuoba Cangjue, who has been in power for many years.
The main hall was deathly silent.
The look in his eyes as he looked at Su Lu was one of deep-seated fear.
This young man always followed Xie Yutang, and given his appearance, even though he was of noble birth and exceptionally skilled, people couldn't help but feel a bit of contempt for him. Now they realized how ignorant and foolish they had been! It turned out that Xie Yutang was his sheath, the chain binding his neck, the cage in which the evil spirit willingly imprisoned himself as a human.
With Xie Yutang gone, it was clear that the evil spirit had been released.
Tuoba Xiu sighed. Although it was satisfying to see these arrogant old fogies suffer, if things continued like this, the hearts of the people in the court would be scattered and difficult to reunite. Regardless of their good or evil, he could not let them all perish here.
He stepped forward and said to Su Lu, "Brother, if you want the throne, the person you should deal with is me." Ignoring the gasps around him, he calmly said, "As long as you promise to spare Grandpa Wang and the innocent officials in the court, you can do whatever you want with my life."
"Your Highness!"
"Tuoba Xiu!"
The faces of everyone in the court changed drastically. Tuoba Cangjue suddenly stood up, but was stopped by the guards on his left and right. "Tuoba Xiu, don't do anything stupid!"
Tuoba Xiu simply looked at him calmly and smiled, her gaze frank: "Grandpa Wang, you have been protecting me all these years, and now it is finally my turn to protect you."
As he spoke the last word, his eyes hardened with resolve, and he drew the dagger hidden in his sleeve, stabbing it fiercely into his own chest.
With lightning speed, Su Lu grabbed his wrist and with a burst of internal force, the dagger clattered to the ground.
"When did I say I wanted to take my brother's life?"
Hearing Su Lu's words, it seemed he didn't intend to kill Tuoba Xiu. The courtiers breathed a sigh of relief. Tuoba Cangjue slumped back onto his throne, still clutching his chest, not yet fully recovered from his shock.
Watching the interaction between the grandfather and grandson, Su Lu's long eyelashes concealed the emotions in his eyes. This royal court of Dayan was indeed more humane than the Golden Palace of Dayan.
Some of the more astute courtiers began exchanging glances. If Tuoba Yu's address of "brother" had the implication of building rapport, then Su Lu's address of "elder brother" was certainly unnecessary. To address someone as such even when it was not necessary was, to some extent, an acknowledgment of his own status and a declaration to the crowd that he stood on the side of the Northern Rong.
Tuoba Xiu showed no joy, calmly looking at Su Lu: "If you obtain the throne, will we, the Northern Rong, then have to obey Xie Yutang from now on?"
This question drew the attention of not only the court officials and members of the royal family, but also Tuoba Cangjue on the throne, all of whom looked at Su Lu.
Su Lu raised his long eyelashes and looked at Tuoba Xiu, who quietly returned his gaze.
The two looked at each other for a moment. Su Lu showed no anger and asked, "Now, the people of my Northern Rong are suffering from the ravages of war, wandering and homeless. Every household conscripts able-bodied men, leaving children born without fathers; officials levy heavy taxes, leaving the common people destitute and barely surviving—is this a good life?"
Tuoba Xiu clenched his fist: "Of course not."
"If the common people were free from the suffering of displacement, free from the calamity of war, well-fed and clothed, and households enjoying peace and prosperity, with full granaries leading to the flourishing of propriety and righteousness, and with sufficient food and clothing leading to a clear understanding of honor and shame—brother, do you think such a life is worth living?"
"nature."
Su Lu smiled slightly: "So what difference does it make who the Northern Rong obey?"
Tuoba Xiu was stunned.
The courtiers exchanged glances, none of them expecting that their feelings and attitudes toward Su Lu would change several times in just a few moments.
He inspires hatred, fear, and dread, yet one cannot help but feel awe, trust, and hope from the bottom of one's heart.
I hope to believe... that he really can give Bei Rong a different future.
“Brother.” Su Lu took in Tuoba Xiu’s expression, his eyes calm and insightful. His face was serene and expressionless, yet it conveyed a sense of divine compassion. “Whether you love power or the people, I believe you can tell the difference.”
With a bang.
It was like a sudden enlightenment.
It was the beginning of chaos.
It was as if an ancient morning bell, silent for too long, was struck with tremendous force, its sound piercing through the rising sun and clouds, crashing into the bones of the ears.
Love rights.
He still loves the people.
Tuoba Xiu felt the thick fog that had been hanging over him dissipate, revealing a smooth road ahead.
The good days of ordinary people are not found on the throne, nor in grand and eloquent speeches, but in the simple meals, in the smiles of loved ones, and in every ordinary day.
Although he had no interest in the throne, he claimed to love his people, but it was all a facade, and he only just realized it now.
Su Lu's gaze swept over the court officials with their varied expressions, and he said loudly, "I dare to inform you all that the trade agreement between the Northern Rong envoys and Dayan remains as solid as gold and stone."
These words were like a torpedo hitting the water, blasting open the Northern Rong court.
If the areas that have become disaster victims due to the war are not properly appeased, they are very likely to experience popular uprisings. If Dayan is still willing to open the border trade, at least the border people can get through this winter safely.
In this way, the white disaster in Nabo was covered by the Hexi clan, and the money and grain for quelling the rebellion and disaster relief were supported by the trade market. The two most pressing problems troubling the Northern Rong were thus solved.
Su Lu promptly launched a second torpedo: "Dayan can lend another 200,000 gold coins to the Northern Rong to help with the recovery from the war."
"In addition, the two countries can form a 'close alliance' and help each other..."
One by one, the young man spoke in a clear and gentle voice, covering various aspects such as people's livelihood, culture and education, and law. The royal family and the ministers in the hall listened, thought, and pondered. They seemed to see a future in which there was no hatred, war, or killing, but mutual assistance and cooperation, and harmonious coexistence between the Han and non-Han peoples.
This is the real "co-governance strategy" that Su Lu and Xie Yutang devised, working day and night without rest.
Disputes gradually arose in the hall. Some agreed to give it a try, some firmly opposed it, and many more observed the situation. A glimmer of light appeared in Tuoba Xiu's eyes as he looked at Tuoba Cangjue on the throne.
An urgent report came from outside the palace.
A figure walked straight through the hall full of ministers, hurriedly bowed to Tuoba Cangjue, and leaned forward to report to him in a low voice.
The crowd couldn't hear what was being said, but those with sharp eyes could tell that the man was dressed as a guard of the capital, with undried snow and mud still on the soles of his boots, and his chest heaving violently, indicating that he had come at breakneck speed.
But now that the palace gates are guarded by Su Lu's men, how did this person get in?
Then look at Su Lu, who stands calmly in front of the steps, with no surprise on his face.
Those with quick minds had already grasped some of the meaning.
After the messenger finished his report, he presented the letter in his hand.
It is Xie Yutang's handwritten letter.
Tuoba Cangjue's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of the line, his expression filled with suppressed rage.
Xie Yutang has deployed 100,000 troops to the northern border. The 2,000 elite soldiers from Dayan who were originally released into the capital are still there. In addition, there are 6,000 troops who have infiltrated the capital through various means. She is currently leading them personally and waiting outside the city gates. If things do not go smoothly in the palace, she will give the order to lead the army to attack the city.
Tuoba Cangjue was furious. He had actually pleaded with her to persuade Su Lu to return to Beirong. He was afraid that this girl had already set her sights on his throne back then. Just thinking about how he had been happily preparing for the grand ceremony for the past two weeks, while Xie Yutang was plotting to usurp the throne with her grandson right under his nose, made him so angry that his liver ached!
If it weren't for so many court officials watching in the hall, he would have torn this tattered letter to shreds long ago!
Xie Yutang seemed to have anticipated his mood, and changed the subject, becoming more conciliatory.
The text elaborates on the various diplomatic policies between the two countries, detailing them in more specific terms. It is identical to what Su Lu said in the palace, and is accompanied by Xie Yutang's princess seal, demonstrating the sincerity of the document.
Just as Tuoba Cang's anger subsided slightly, Xie Yutang changed the subject again, saying that she had written the above policies in both languages and posted them all over the ten prefectures, eight counties, and thirty-two cities of the Northern Rong, opening up channels for public opinion and asking the people for their advice.
At the end of the letter, she said, "I admit my selfishness, but I can promise that I will not harm the interests of the Northern Rong for my own selfish reasons... Why doesn't Your Majesty allow us to give it a try?"
She wasn't referring to "him," but rather to "us."
Tuoba Cangjue looked at the tall, elegant young man standing below the steps, who was also looking at him.
Their eyes met, and Su Lu's gaze was calm and indifferent, as if the infinite power he was about to obtain was just another job for him, and he would not even be as happy as being a guard in the princess's mansion.
With Xie Yutang's 100,000-strong army pressing in, he could easily launch a direct attack on the city, or have a messenger announce the city's situation in the main hall—both would have had a more immediate effect.
She was by no means a soft-hearted person, and the reason she was so considerate of his reputation was because of that person.
Tuoba Cangjue's expression changed several times before he finally sighed deeply, clutching the letter in his hand. He looked intently at his grandson and asked, "Can you guarantee that you will not break your promise today?"
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