Chapter 233 Second Urgent Report
He sent the princess to marry into a foreign land, and then killed the ruler of the country who was to marry her!
Emperor Jingping's first reaction was not satisfaction, but shock and anger.
Wouldn't this create an irreconcilable feud between the two countries? Forget about getting help from Xi Jiang; they might even have to push Xi Jiang to the Northern Qi.
How could Rong Ning have such audacity? Didn't he think about the Great Xia Dynasty, the royal family, or his parents when he did such a thing?
And then there's Prince Fu. Knowing full well that his daughter wasn't exactly submissive, he still insisted on pushing her forward. Was this really to ease his burden or to create more trouble for him?
Wait, the most unbelievable thing is how Rong Ning managed to kill the King of Xijiang?
King Xijiang is younger than him and is in his prime. Even on their wedding night, it's impossible for a young girl like Rong Ning to succeed in taking advantage of him, right?
Could it be that internal strife has broken out in Xijiang, and someone with ulterior motives has shifted the blame onto Daxia?
Emperor Jingping thought about it countless times in a short period of time, but still couldn't believe it: "Could there be some misunderstanding?"
"The urgent report was delivered by the border guards; they encountered Princess Rongning and her entourage who had escaped back..."
Emperor Jingping held out his hand: "Let me see."
Tao Shumi presented the urgent report with both hands.
Emperor Jingping took it and read it word by word, and there was no longer any hope: it really was Rong Ning and his men who killed the King of Xijiang!
"Summon Zhu Xiang and others to enter the palace immediately."
Soon, knocks sounded on the vermilion gates of several high-ranking officials' residences. One by one, important ministers crawled out of their warm beds and hurried towards the palace. Some met along the way, inquired about each other's whereabouts but found nothing. When they finally saw the solemn-looking Emperor Jingping, their hearts pounded even more.
This is a huge incident! Could it be that another riot has broken out somewhere?
Experienced ministers know that if a place suffers a natural disaster, although it is a major event, it is impossible for the emperor to summon them to the palace for a meeting in the middle of the night. Only matters such as riots and rebellions would be so urgent.
Once everyone had arrived, several ministers glanced at Prince Fu out of the corner of their eyes, wondering to themselves: Strange, why is Prince Fu here for a meeting at night?
Prince Fu, who had inexplicably wandered into this occasion, felt heavy-hearted.
He's not stupid. Everyone present was a high-ranking official, and he was the only member of the imperial family. This was definitely not a good thing for him.
Could it be that Rong Ning's marriage to Xijiang went wrong? Did he fall ill due to the change in climate and water in Xijiang, or did he lose his temper and clash with the King of Xijiang?
Emperor Jingping gave Prince Fu a deep look and dropped a bombshell: "We just received an urgent report that Princess Rongning and her accomplices killed the King of Xijiang on their wedding night and escaped back..."
Prince Fu's face turned deathly pale instantly.
Several gazes turned to Prince Fu, who immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter. Please punish me."
Emperor Jingping gazed at Prince Fu for a long time, then sighed, "I truly never imagined that Rong Ning and the others would kill the King of Xijiang in a fit of anger because Xijiang broke the agreement. Xue Quan, do you know that Xue Han was left behind to cover their retreat..."
This means that Xue Han was also involved, and Emperor Jingping's use of the phrase "killed in a fit of anger" makes it clear to everyone that he was dissatisfied.
Xue Quan has now joined the ranks of those who apologize.
"Now is not the time to apologize. Speak up, how should we deal with this matter?" Emperor Jingping asked coldly.
Emperor Jingping was in a terrible mood at being woken up halfway through his sleep, especially since it was such a troublesome thing.
The discussion lasted until dawn, and the civil and military officials were all present at the morning court, continuing to discuss this jaw-dropping matter.
Emperor Jingping, his head throbbing with pain, listened to his ministers' arguments and finally decided on three matters: First, he ordered the garrisoned generals to strengthen defenses to prevent the Western Jiang from launching an attack. Second, he would wait for Princess Rongning and her entourage to return and carefully inquire to see if there were any discrepancies with the urgent report. Third, he would dispatch a more influential envoy to the Western Jiang as quickly as possible to handle the aftermath and try to prevent war from breaking out.
So while the second wave of envoys was still on its way to Xijiang, the third wave of envoys hurriedly set off.
Prince Fu returned to his residence and went to Princess Fu's room, where he sat silently.
Since her daughter was sent away for a political marriage, Princess Fu inevitably harbored resentment towards Prince Fu. However, Prince Fu visited her more frequently than before and offered her comforting words, which lessened her dissatisfaction considerably.
Princess Fu knew that Prince Fu had been urgently summoned to the palace last night and had been worried ever since. Seeing Prince Fu like this, Princess Fu asked, "What happened to Your Highness?"
Prince Fu looked at Princess Fu, his expression extremely complicated.
"Your Highness, what is it? You're not saying anything, aren't you making everyone worry?"
"Rong Ning—" The mention of his daughter made it hard for Prince Fu to breathe.
Princess Fu's expression changed drastically, and she grabbed Prince Fu's sleeve: "Something happened to Rong Ning?"
"She led her men to kill the King of Xijiang and fled back to Daxia!" King Fu said through gritted teeth.
Princess Fu froze, then grabbed Prince Fu's sleeve tightly: "Rong Ning, is Rong Ning injured?"
Prince Fu's expression twisted in an instant: "Is that all you can think of? Rong Ning killed the King of Xijiang. If Xijiang and Daxia start fighting, then Rong Ning will be a sinner of Daxia!"
Looking at the agitated Prince Fu, Princess Fu suddenly felt that her husband was a stranger: "Isn't it natural for parents to worry about their children's safety? Why is Your Highness so angry?"
Prince Fu shook off Princess Fu's grip on his sleeve: "Rong Ning's lawlessness is all because you spoiled him!"
Princess Fu trembled with anger: "Your Highness, I told you long ago that Rong Ning was unsuitable, but you insisted on sending her. Now that something has happened, you blame me for spoiling her and call her a sinner. So it's all our fault, mother and daughter? That King Xijiang is a liar who broke his word. If you ask me, he should be killed!"
Prince Fu's face turned ashen: "What are the consequences of acting rashly? If we kill the King of Xijiang, how can Xijiang let it go!"
Princess Fu sneered: "Xi Jiang demanded so much wealth from Da Xia, and even trampled on Da Xia's face to ask for a princess to marry into the country. In the end, she took the people and money but did not do anything. Aren't you afraid that Da Xia will not give up? If Xi Jiang will not give up, then fight! Are you going to send Rong Ning to Xi Jiang to apologize again?"
"Incomprehensible!" Prince Fu was frightened and humiliated in the palace. He came back intending to vent his anger on Princess Fu, but he didn't expect to be rebuked by her instead. He left in a huff.
Upon hearing the news, the Earl of Yongqing rushed to Qiansong Hall immediately.
"What's wrong with you, sir?" the old lady asked calmly.
She thought that with Sixth Sister doing so well, things would be calmer in the Earl's mansion, but unexpectedly, another upsetting thing happened, so she was naturally furious with the old man.
When Yongqingbo saw the old lady's lukewarm attitude, he also became angry. He thought to himself that she was inexplicably taking her anger out on him because of the third girl's matter. Now look what's happened.
Why isn't Your Excellency speaking?
The Earl of Yongqing sat down heavily, his face grim, and said, "Princess Rongning killed the King of Xijiang and escaped back from Xijiang!"
The old lady paused, then subconsciously asked, "What about Sixth Girl—"
Yongqingbo was so annoyed he wanted to pluck his already thinning hair: "Is there even a question? Of course she'll be included!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
