Witnesses?
The Ninth Prince scoffed and said sarcastically, "Are all the people of Chu as ignorant of etiquette as you?"
On the day the princes of various countries were sent to the Great Qi, the Great Qi had already made its position very clear.
The princes came to our Great Qi to study.
Daqi only provides accommodation; it is not responsible for anything else.
Assassins broke into Chaoyun Palace, and your prince was left with only one breath. I helped him to be saved, which is already more than enough.
Now you come to me demanding witnesses? To prove my and Daqi's innocence?
Utterly ridiculous!
Upon hearing this, the envoys began to exchange glances.
As rumored, the Ninth Prince was indeed imposing.
Now, what should we do?
At this moment, Yuan Yao clumsily but carefully poured a cup of tea from the Ninth Prince's arms and handed it to him: "Father, have some tea and calm down."
As soon as she spoke, all the Chu envoys turned to look at her.
Just now, as soon as they stepped into the Haoran Hall, they saw that the Ninth Prince was holding a little girl in his arms.
Upon entering the capital of the Great Qi, they heard that the Ninth Prince had an adopted daughter named Yuan Yao.
Yuan Yao and Yun Chan attended the same school. Both were clever and well-behaved. At a young age, they opened a dessert shop in the capital, which was very successful.
Rumor has it that this little princess was only recently weaned...
The little person in front of me, who looks like a snowball, is indeed more well-behaved and adorable than ordinary children.
Those eyes were so dark and bright, they were unbelievably beautiful.
The previously cold-faced Ninth Prince accepted Yuan Yao's tea, took a small sip, and his expression immediately softened...
The envoy couldn't help but marvel.
At this moment, Yuan Yao spoke up.
She glanced at the Chu envoy below the steps, her little voice soft and sweet: "Father, actually, it's not that the envoy doesn't need witnesses."
"Oh?" The Ninth Prince stared at her intently.
Yuan Yao obediently said, "Father, although Yun Chan and A Qi are victims, they are the only two people who survived in Chaoyun Palace."
"If Your Excellency insists on finding witnesses, then these two will suffice, won't they?"
As she spoke, she looked at the envoy from the State of Chu.
Upon hearing her speak, the Chu envoy knew that this little baby was indeed as clever as the rumors suggested.
This adorable child is actually the daughter of a 9,000-year-old!
What a pity...
Facing Yuan Yao, the square-faced envoy unconsciously softened his tone: "What the young princess said isn't entirely impossible..."
"Yun Chan, did you hear that? The envoy said that you and A Qi can be witnesses!" Yuan Yao interrupted the envoy in her childish voice: "Yun Chan, do you still remember the assassins who stormed into Chaoyun Palace?"
The Chu envoy opened his mouth: "Princess..."
Yuan Yao looked over with her large, clear eyes.
The envoy looked at Yuan Yao and forgot what he was about to say.
Seeing that Yuan Yao was on his side and even spoke up for him, Yun Chan said coldly, "The assassin's goal is very clear: he came directly to take my life."
Yuan Yao said to the envoy, "Did you hear that, Your Excellency?"
An assassin infiltrated the palace, but instead of killing anyone else, he specifically targeted the prince of Chu...
Yun Chan is in Daqi, and Daqi is hoping he'll be alright!
What benefit would killing Yun Chan bring to the Great Qi?
It's obvious that Yun Chan's death benefits whoever most—the person who killed him!
She spoke in a childish, sweet voice, yet she was incredibly earnest.
The envoy stood there speechless, unsure how to refute her.
Even a child could leave them speechless...
At this moment, Yuan Yao continued, "There is another possibility: the person behind this wants to kill Yun Chan in order to provoke a war between the Qi and Chu kingdoms."
However, this possibility seems unlikely.
After speaking, she looked at Yun Chan.
Yun Chan covered her mouth, coughed a few times, and swayed weakly, looking as if she was about to die.
This little quirk is actually quite reasonable!
Yuan Yao gave him an approving look.
Upon meeting her gaze, Yun Chan covered her lips with her pale, almost transparent hand, coughing uncontrollably.
Are you getting carried away?
However, she acted quite well.
Yuan Yao raised her eyebrows almost imperceptibly, looking playful and cute.
The Chu envoy, however, looked quite displeased.
I never expected that a three-year-old toddler could be so smart!
She recited all the arguments they had prepared, and then refuted each one herself...
What else can they say now?
All plans have been disrupted.
After much deliberation, the square-faced envoy spoke up, "I humbly request Your Majesty to release the previous envoy. We may stay in Daqi for a few days to send a message back to Chu. We will discuss this further after our ruler replies."
The Ninth Prince glanced at him disdainfully, his tone very light: "Are you telling me to wait?"
Is he very free?
He doesn't have that much time to waste on these people!
The envoy frowned: "Your Excellency..."
The Ninth Prince stared coldly at him: "I still have survivors in my hands."
I possess more than one piece of physical evidence, including the half-lotus emblem left by the assassin.
"If the State of Chu insists on providing an explanation, fine. Have your emperor bring his empress to the Great Qi and have a proper discussion with me about what kind of explanation they desire."
The envoy was greatly alarmed.
The Ninth Prince actually brought out the Empress Dowager directly!
Although many people know that Yun Chan's existence is a threat to the prince born after her death.
The emperor was in his prime. If Yun Chan did not die, the empress's son would never be able to become the crown prince.
It is an open secret that the other faction wants to get rid of Yun Chan.
But……
The Ninth Prince bluntly stated that Yun Chan's assassination attempt was orchestrated by the Empress!
Who is the Nine Thousand Years Old?
Since he dared to say that, he must be absolutely certain of success!
The envoys exchanged glances.
Even if the Empress Dowager did it, as her subjects, they would never dare to question her...
Given the Empress's temperament, if she dared to kill the late Empress and poison Yun Chan, she would dare to send someone to the Great Qi Palace to assassinate Yun Chan!
Moreover, if Yun Chan were to die in Daqi, it would bring immense benefits to the Chu Kingdom!
Unfortunately, he didn't die.
At this moment, Yun Chan spoke up: "Your Excellency, I'm sure you already know in your hearts who will suffer the most if this matter is investigated further..."
For everyone's sake, it's best to drop this matter.
My father also hopes that I will achieve success in my studies in Daqi and promote exchanges and development between the two countries in the future.
"If this matter escalates, it will be our Chu state that suffers the consequences..."
As he spoke, he covered his mouth and coughed again.
Looking at the sickly Yun Chan, the envoy thought to himself: We'll have to wait until you're alive to talk about that.
The Minister of Rites, who had remained silent until now, bowed to the Emperor after the discussion had reached a conclusion: "Your Highness, how should this matter be resolved?"
The Ninth Prince stared expressionlessly at the square-faced envoy: "Go back and tell your emperor that the assassin killed Yun Chan with the aim of provoking war between the two countries so that he could reap the benefits."
The assassin is dead. I have rescued your prince and saved the people of both countries from a war.
In addition, the Chu envoys indulged in food, drink, and entertainment in our Great Qi for more than two months, using the best of everything and spending hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from the Great Qi treasury.
I am very generous and will waive the change, accepting only 500,000 taels of silver from the State of Chu.
One month deadline: cash on delivery, person in return.
"If the deadline has passed, an additional 100,000 taels of silver will be required!"
What??
Five hundred thousand taels of silver?
The Chu envoy was greatly alarmed and broke out in a cold sweat.
This is robbery, isn't it?!
The Ninth Prince coldly said, "What, you don't want to give it to me anymore?"
"Shall I calculate with you again how much silver your sickly First Prince has cost me these past few days?"
There are also cloud-blooming flowers?
The Chu envoy wiped his sweat: "Five hundred thousand taels of silver will be delivered to Qi in a month, not a single coin less!"
The Ninth Prince impatiently waved his sleeve.
The Minister of Rites said with a smug look on his face, "Esteemed envoys, please."
The Chu envoy was politely asked to leave the palace and escorted to the post station.
As soon as the person left, Yuan Yao jumped down from the Ninth Prince's arms and said happily, "Father! You are so amazing!"
They swindled 500,000 taels of silver from the State of Chu! 500,000 taels! That's a lot of money!
Yun Chan slowly raised her head: "?"
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