Chapter 523: Dilemma
"If you can't explain it, we won't let it go today."
Several ministers spoke with their necks stiff, looking very tough and stubborn, as if they were determined to fight to the death.
They probably forgot that once upon a time, they racked their brains and put a lot of thought into preparing a birthday gift for Xichu, the only little princess, fearing that the little princess would not like it or that she would frown because of their gifts.
Jiujiu remembered.
She remembered all the ministers who had given her birthday gifts.
She also remembered their friendly and kind smiles.
It is precisely because I remember that I feel particularly disappointed when faced with this sudden malice.
Jiujiu didn't like to look depressed. But at this moment, she lowered her head, like a wilted eggplant, and sighed deeply, feeling very powerless. She also couldn't understand why people's hearts changed so quickly?
"Princess, will you answer?"
"You haven't spoken for a long time. Are you feeling guilty?"
Several ministers urged.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Feng Tianzhu arrived. Due to the injury on his back, he walked unsteadily. He hunched over, being supported by someone, and walked slowly, like an old woman strolling, which made people anxious.
When several ministers saw Feng Tianzhu arriving, they looked at him eagerly for rewards.
Seventeenth Prince, you are here!
We have lived up to your trust and as soon as we felt better we came here to ask the princess for an explanation.
Just watch, we will definitely get this done.
I just hope that after this matter is over, our family...
Before today, Feng Tianzhu would have been very pleased to see these ministers looking for reward, and would have praised them in private. But today, he just felt irritated, dissatisfied, unhappy, and unwilling to be like this.
He really wanted to tell them to shut up, leave, and stop causing trouble for Jiujiu. However, his father and his brother were watching him, and if he spoke so blatantly, he might be accused of forming a clique for personal gain.
He had no choice but to shut up and signaled to them with his eyes to stop talking.
Several people didn't understand and kept questioning Jiujiu aggressively.
Jiujiu glanced at a few people and said in response to their doubts, "This matter should be explained by this princess. Please listen carefully."
"Since the founding of Western Chu, the two countries have always been in a state of competition, with a legitimate reason and just cause."
"The Dongcang army was lured to the border of our Western Chu by someone, who was trying to harm our Western Chu. Fortunately, after they learned that they were deceived, they took the initiative to withdraw their troops and promised to severely punish the people who deceived them. They were very honest in admitting their mistakes."
"May I ask, under such circumstances, do we, Xi Chu, still have any reason to ambush them?"
Jiujiu asked everyone.
At the beginning, Jiujiu asked Dongcang to change the retreat route not only because of Dong Buhan, but also for the sake of Xichu's reputation.
The Grand Emperor and Emperor Qing'an both shook their heads, "No reason."
If you don't want to give others a chance to criticize you and be despised by others, you should let them go in this situation.
Several ministers did not think so.
They argued, "But it is a fact that Dongcang wants to harm Xichu. No matter what the reason is, we should annihilate them in one fell swoop and teach them a lesson."
"Let them understand the price of offending Xi Chu."
"Princess, please forgive me for not agreeing with the opinions of the ministers." Jiujiu said seriously.
"Princess, your opinion alone does not count. Why don't you ask everyone? See what everyone thinks. Should we arrest them? Or should we let them go?"
“Minority opinion should be subject to majority opinion.”
Lord Ming relied on their side, including Feng Tianzhu, who had four people in total, all opposed Jiujiu. On Jiujiu's side, the Emperor Taishang, Emperor Qing'an, and Jiujiu had only three people in total, so he put forward such an opinion.
Lord Ming felt that this time, there must be many people who agreed to "take over Dongcang".
After Lord Ming finished speaking, he looked at several of his colleagues.
"You agree, don't you?"
The remaining two ministers nodded in unison.
Upon seeing this, Lord Ming looked at Feng Tianzhu with satisfaction and asked, "Seventeenth Prince, is that right?" As long as the Seventeenth Prince said yes, the four of them, including the Grand Emperor, Emperor Qing'an, and the princess, would not be able to say anything.
However, Feng Tianzhu said: "Princess Yongle is right."
Lord Ming: “…”
The other two adults: "..."
Seventeenth Prince, you are the sixth one.
It was clearly you who instigated us to cause trouble for the princess, so why are you speaking for the princess now?
What are you doing?
Several ministers looked at Feng Tianzhu in astonishment, as if their souls had been ruthlessly taken away, and they were speechless for a long time.
The retired emperor and Emperor Qing'an were also shocked. Although they did not say it, they knew in their hearts that these ministers were helping Feng Tianzhu to embarrass Jiujiu, and there was a suspicion that they were forming a clique for personal gain.
But at this moment, Feng Tianzhu...but...spoke for Jiujiu again.
What is he up to?
Facing the confusion of the crowd, Feng Tianzhu said: "Father, Your Majesty, and several ministers. Before I heard the reasons from the princess, I also felt that the princess was really wrong and let Xi Chu let Dong Cang go in vain."
“For this reason, grievances were also raised.”
"But now after listening to the princess's explanation, I think what she said makes sense. Since Dong Cang was used, he stopped in time and turned back. We should let Dong Cang go this time."
"Otherwise, we, Xi Chu, will be branded as a master without a good name, with an unjust reputation and unsound words, and will be despised by the people."
Upon seeing this, several ministers were confused for a while, but when Feng Tianzhu looked at them again, they finally understood.
They made a few false excuses and then walked down the steps built by Feng Tianzhu.
They all nodded in agreement.
"Since Prince Seventeen feels this way, then perhaps we are wrong. We should not disregard the reputation of Xi Chu and question the princess's decision."
"We, the ministers, were a little paranoid before."
Several ministers gritted their teeth and said things against their will, shedding tears of bitterness!
Seventeenth Prince, what grudge do you have against us?
Are you kidding us like this?
In the end, he extricated himself, leaving us stuck in the quagmire and in a dilemma.
Although we agree with you and say that the princess is right, but the bad guys have already done it, how can they get away with it so easily?
Next, whether it is the emperor or your majesty, they will not let us go in order to seek an explanation for the princess.
When several ministers thought of this, they broke out in cold sweats.
As expected, the retired emperor immediately got angry and found an excuse to send three ministers to mine. He asked them to dig for a year, lose 30 kilograms, and develop eight wrinkles on their faces.
The three ministers felt terrified when they heard this and wanted to refuse. However, the reasons the emperor gave them were very reasonable and they could not refuse even if they wanted to.
What is the reason?