Chapter 214: Is this the only way we can endure this kind of humiliation?
"Royal Guards!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The royal guards stationed outside came in hurriedly, dragged Di Chaoyang away, and locked him up in prison according to the emperor's order.
Di Chaoyang was being held by the Imperial Guards. In a panic, he threatened, "I am the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom. You treat us like this, aren't you afraid that my father will hold you accountable?"
"Aren't you afraid that my father will take this opportunity to attack Western Chu?"
“Hehehe.”
Emperor Zhaoning just smiled and said nothing.
The Southern Kingdom has not been able to pay off the huge debt it owes to Western Chu, and now it has sent their crown prince to discuss a strategy to ease the tension, rather than using military force if the debt cannot be paid off, or simply refusing to pay off the debt.
It can be seen that the Southern Kingdom does not have the ability to fight again.
They didn't dare to fight again!
These words from the Prince of the Southern Kingdom are really unnecessary.
The Southern Prince is still unaware of this.
Emperor Chaoyang was thinking that when the news of his imprisonment spread back to the Southern Kingdom, his father would make the decision for him, send troops to attack Western Chu, defeat Western Chu, and then welcome him back in glory.
·
Three days later.
Southern country, court meeting.
The news that Di Chaoyang was imprisoned was reported back to the South Country yesterday.
Today's court meeting focused on discussing this matter.
A group of court officials grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"Does Xi Chu really not take our Southern Kingdom seriously?"
"They even dared to lock up our prince?"
"What about the abuse of lynching in the palace to scare the princess? Haha, abuse of lynching is only abuse of lynching for us southerners, and nothing happened to the Western Chu people. The little princess can't stand being scared, can you blame us?"
"Waste little princess."
"A mean and mean person from Western Chu."
“That’s too bad.”
The court officials and even the king, Emperor Qing Jing, were furious. They wanted to rush to Western Chu immediately and kill the Western Chu people who were holding their prince.
Until Emperor Qing Jing said: "My dear ministers, Western Chu is really bullying us too much. It is unbearable. Who is willing to help me lead the army to fight? Save the prince and restore the dignity of our southern country?"
“This, this, this…”
The court, which had been bustling just a moment ago, suddenly became quiet because of Emperor Qing Jing's words.
No one dared to speak.
Those who had just cursed the most fiercely tried to shrink their necks and reduce their presence. They didn't dare to speak, nor did they dare to be noticed by Emperor Qing Jing.
"No one?"
"Is this the only way the prince can be humiliated?"
"Is it possible for us to be humiliated like this and not be able to redeem our dignity?"
Emperor Qing Jing found it difficult to accept this. He tried his best to induce his ministers to speak up, and hopefully get them to take the initiative to offer to lead the army.
But after a long while, no matter what he said, the court officials did not respond.
The situation in the South is very bad now. There are too many redundant officials who do not do practical work and focus on enjoying themselves. The aristocratic families are deeply rooted and cannot be removed, so the national strength cannot be developed, talents cannot be brought up, the national strength is gradually weakening, and there is no one available.
Some people advocated reform and strengthening the country, but they were killed by the aristocratic families.
As for the outside world, the South Country owes a lot of debts and is currently unable to repay them.
The neighboring countries were very dissatisfied with them. If it weren't for the friendly country Mobei helping them, they would have been attacked by several countries together.
The Southern Kingdom is not fit for war at all! It is impossible to fight! There are no good generals available!
It's okay to say things like supporting the prince and restoring his dignity, or to shout slogans about it, but it's impossible to actually do it.
It's all pure wishful thinking.
"Then I, the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom, will have to be locked up?"
"Is this the only thing we can do to endure this kind of humiliation?"
Emperor Qing Jing's old face was full of disappointment.
The Queen of the Southern Kingdom could attend government affairs with the monarch. Seeing that no one responded to Emperor Qing Jing's words, she stepped forward and helped, saying, "My dear ministers, our Prince of the Southern Kingdom cannot bear this humiliation, right?"
"We must fight this battle! We can't tolerate it."
"If we tolerate this, Xi Chu will then go even further and make even more outrageous demands."
“…”
Hehehe.
How to play?
Mobei refuses to help, and if we rely on the Southern Kingdom alone, we will die and there will be no return. Who would be willing to take the risk of fighting such a war?
Queen, are you going to fight?
That's right. Aren't you and the prince the ones who usually enjoy and have fun? Now something's going on, why don't you do it? What are you asking the ministers for?
The Queen of the Southern Kingdom has been arrogant and domineering for a long time and is really unpopular!
The court officials were all very dissatisfied with her words.
Emperor Qing Jing clenched his fist unwillingly and said, "Are we in the Southern Kingdom destined to be humiliated and exploited?"
Since the war with Western Chu a few years ago, the Southern Kingdom was defeated, its national strength began to decline, and internal and external troubles intensified.
Emperor Qing Jing couldn't understand why this happened.
We should have won that battle, so why did we lose?
And it has become like this?
On the other hand, Western Chu was thriving, its national strength was growing stronger, and it even surpassed them.
·
Go to the study.
After class today, Jin Kui was helping her pack her textbook boxes while she herself was lying on the desk in a daze.
Seeing Jiujiu like this, Qi Zhongshu stepped forward and asked with concern: "Princess, I heard that you had a stomachache recently. You look a little pale. Are you not well yet?"
"Okay!" Jiujiu said weakly, "I just don't have an appetite lately."
The weather was too hot, and he had a stomachache and was fainting from blood. Everything was happening at the same time. It would be strange if Jiujiu could recover in a short time.
Qi Zhongshu looked at Jiujiu and sighed, then took out some plums from his box, which he had specially prepared for Jiujiu.
At this moment, he handed it to Jiujiu.
"Princess, have some of this. It's sour and can stimulate your appetite."
"Thank you, teacher." Jiujiu said as she accepted the plums and ate one out of boredom. It tasted sour and sweet and was really delicious.
Jiujiu couldn't help it and ate another one.
“It’s delicious!”
"Let Brother Dijiang have a taste too."
Jiujiu said this and stopped lazily lying on the desk. She took a few plums and walked out of the study.
Outside under the pine tree, Dijiang stood upright, waiting for Jiujiu. He had been waiting for quite a while.
These days, after class, he would wait for Jiujiu to go together.
Seeing Jiujiu coming out, his eyes lit up, and he hurried forward and said to Jiujiu with a smile, "I know you are still feeling uncomfortable and have no strength today. Brother Dijiang will continue to carry you back?"
"Okay, okay."
Jiujiu is happy.
Ever since the day she went to Delin Palace to save Brother Dijiang but fainted and was sent back, Brother Dijiang has been particularly nice to her.
He asked about her food and drink every day, and he carried her to school without complaining of being tired.
At this moment, Jiujiu looked at Dijiang with his back to her and squatted down. She smiled and climbed onto Dijiang's back.
After Di Jiang stood up, he weighed the girl. Today, the girl was a little lighter, so he couldn't help feeling depressed.
He sighed, hoping the little girl would get better soon.
"Brother Dijiang, you are so nice!"
"When you grow up, get married and have children, will you not be so good to Jiujiu?" Jiujiu asked naively.