They could think of negotiating peace, but they couldn't think of what conditions to offer Yan Xuanye.
Left Prime Minister Lu He said, "Your Majesty, this matter requires further consideration. The Yan rebels have only just captured Qingzhou, and they have traveled all the way here, exhausted by the journey. They will surely need some time to recover."
"I think that should be enough time."
The emperor frowned and thought for a moment, then finally said, "Well, let's adjourn the court."
"General Lu Huan, please come to the back hall after court is dismissed. I have something to ask you."
Lu Huan: "I obey your command."
All the court officials also bowed down at the emperor's feet and said, "I will take my leave."
Lu Huan walked against the crowd towards the emperor's back hall, but there was a person who followed him like a ghost.
Lu Huan turned back impatiently, "Master Pei!"
"Are you okay?"
Pei Ji smiled gently and said to him, "General Lu, it's been a while since you left the Hanlin Academy, and I haven't had a good chat with you. I was thinking..."
Lu Huan interrupted his greeting: "Master Pei, His Majesty is still waiting for me."
Pei Ji: "I mean, after Lord Lu finishes his meeting, why don't we go to Taifeng Tower and have a drink together?"
Lu Huan looked at him expressionlessly, "My father passed away not long ago, and I am still in mourning, so it is not convenient for me to go to the restaurant to have fun. Lord Pei's hospitality is not something I should refuse, but... it is really inconvenient. I hope you can forgive me."
Pei Ji: "Well, then I won't force you, Lord Lu."
Lu Huan nodded and followed the eunuch beside him towards the back hall.
Little did he know that after he left, Pei Ji's gaze followed him for a long time.
…
When Lu Huan arrived at the back hall, the emperor had already changed into his casual clothes. He glanced at Lu Huan calmly and said, "Ziyi, you're here."
"Princess Nanchang is your stepmother. What do you think of her stealing the Tiger Treasure?"
Lu Huan knew the emperor would definitely ask this question. He remained calm and said naturally, "I have also heard about this matter, but I don't know why Princess Nanchang stole the tiger talisman."
The emperor was a little unconvinced. He looked up at her unkindly and said, "Oh~ You really don't know?"
"Your Majesty is joking. How could I know?"
"But Jiarong said that it was you who ordered it."
Lu Huan knew the emperor was deliberately testing him. "I don't know why the princess said that, but please understand, Your Majesty, I did not instruct you to do this."
"I'm sorry to offend you, but the princess has always been proud and arrogant. Only my deceased father can catch her eye. Otherwise, how could the princess obey my orders?"
The emperor thought for a moment and did not refute his words.
After a while, he asked again: "In your opinion, why did Jiarong do this?"
Lu Huan continued, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the princess wanted to steal the tiger talisman because she was still brooding over her father's death and wanted to mobilize troops to avenge her father.
"It is my own incompetence that has prevented me from defending Zhiyi City, and has caused my father harm, and brought this upon the princess. I truly feel guilty towards my father, the princess, and the State of Nanchang."
The emperor saw that he could not get anything out of him, so he decided to end the topic. "Well, it's not easy for you either. Please leave first. I will go see Jiarong."
Lu Huan: "I obey your command."
…
In Zhiyang Palace, Gao Jiarong knelt for another whole night. In the early morning, he felt really unwell, so he was helped by his maid to lie down and rest.
For her, being grounded and not allowed to go out were not what she cared about most. What she cared about most was that she could not get Lu Guang's body back.
If she could not fulfill the agreement with Lu Huan, then Lu Huan would definitely not return Lu Guang's body to her. She was anxious, but there was nothing she could do.
Although she had some experience in picking locks, she was now under the emperor's nose and was being watched by someone, so Gao Jiarong did not dare to be too presumptuous.
He had already offended the emperor by stealing the tiger talisman. If he tried to pick the lock during the house arrest, it would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire and offend the emperor again.
She had no choice but to settle down for the time being, hoping that Lu Huan would give her some more time.
Gao Jiarong was imprisoned for five days, and it was not until the fifth day that the emperor set foot in her Zhiyang Palace.
When Gao Jiarong saw him coming, he struggled to stand up and knelt on the ground, bowing to him, "Royal brother."
The emperor asked the maids to go out and guard the outside of the palace, then found a chair and sat up, facing her. "I asked the maids to leave, just to save your face."
"Tell me, why did you steal the tiger talisman?"
"My dear brother, please understand. I took the tiger talisman only for A Guang."
The emperor looked down at her trembling figure. "Really?"
"Then tell me why you do this."
Gao Jiarong tried his best to endure it, but tears fell silently.
She lowered her head, not wanting to be seen by the emperor.
"I resent the Fengyuan people for killing A Guang, and I want to avenge him, but I also know that this matter is serious, and my royal brother will definitely not agree with me doing this. I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
She knelt on the ground in embarrassment, not daring to look up at the emperor.
The emperor today is no longer the mediocre brother of the past. He is scheming and calculating, extremely dark, and has the domineering demeanor of the supreme ruler.
She felt extremely resentful towards Lu Huan in her heart.
If he loved his father and let Lu Guang rest in peace earlier, she would not have taken such a radical approach and tried to steal the tiger talisman.
The emperor didn't say anything. He was thinking about the truthfulness of her words. Gao Jiarong looked up at him with tears in her eyes and found that the emperor's expression was frightening.
At this moment, Gao Jiarong realized that the princess's dignity and face were all empty and she didn't want them anymore.
Gao Jiarong crawled towards the emperor on her knees. When she reached him, she grabbed his gorgeous boots and said, "Brother, please believe me. What I said is true. I only want to avenge A Guang."
"It's not that I'm not loyal to you, nor do I covet your throne and kingdom! I just can't bear to see Guang go away in such an unclear way."
For the sake of Lu Guang's body, Gao Jiarong did not dare to involve Lu Huan. After all, Lu Huan had a hold on her weak spot.
The emperor sighed, his voice cold and indifferent, "I know you are infatuated, but you are truly foolish!"
"So what if you stole the Tiger Tally? Without my edict, you can't use it even if you got it!"
Gao Jiarong stood there in a daze, "W-what?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
