The next day, Jinluan Hall.
During the morning session, there was one more vacant seat in the first row.
"Why didn't Mr. Xiang come to court today?"
"Maybe he went to Jizhou."
"So the fight is finally about to begin?"
"Who knows, but I heard yesterday that Dafeng has begun to send more troops to the border..."
"..."
Taking advantage of the gap before Ning Yongnian showed up, everyone could not help but have some more discussions.
Li Qian listened to all this in silence, and unconsciously turned his attention to Ning Wenyu again.
Compared to the eldest prince Ning Wenjun, the second prince seemed to be inferior in both civil and military skills.
In addition, Ning Wenyu was born two years later than his brother, so most people in the court were not optimistic that he would defeat Ning Wenjun and ascend to the throne in the future.
Of course, it's too far to think about these things now.
After all, with Ning Yongnian's physical condition, it was not a problem to live for another forty or fifty years.
It's unclear what the situation in Daning will be like by then.
Even judging from the current situation, it is hard to say whether the emperor can die...
"Go to court!"
While Li Qian was thinking, Li Huaizhong's long-pitched shout suddenly sounded.
"kneel!"
"Shanhu!"
"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"
"..."
The deafening mountain call resounded through the Jinluan Palace. Ning Yongnian sat on the dragon chair with a long-lost smile on his face.
...
Ning Yongnian used a small plan and successfully uncovered the nails buried in the court hall of the Xu family. He felt that he had cleared the last stumbling block to put down the rebellion in Jizhou.
But he probably never imagined that there would be more than just this kind of craftsman around him.
The piece of information that was originally used as bait has also been sent to Jizhou, becoming an important bargaining chip for Wei Changtian and the Xu family in negotiations.
"...Mrs. Wei, you and I have been talking for so long, and my Wei family has retreated again and again..."
It was the same tea room as last night, with only Wei Changtian and Wei Yanyu alone.
The second round of negotiations has been going on for more than half an hour, but progress is very slow.
However, Wei Changtian was not anxious at all. He took a sip of tea with a calm expression, looked at Wei Yanyu and chuckled:
"But Madam, you refuse to give in an inch...isn't it a bit too much?"
"Master Wei, you can't say that."
Wei Yanyu raised the pot to fill Wei Changtian's tea, and said softly: "I don't think the request I made is too excessive. Why don't you think more about it, sir?"
"Nothing to think about."
Wei Changtian shook his head: "It is absolutely impossible for the Wei family to openly rebel. At most, we can only leave a way for the Xu family to retreat."
"Sir, the retreat you mentioned makes no difference to our Xu family whether we have it or not..."
Wei Yanyu sighed softly, with a half-serious look on her face: "If Jizhou cannot be defended, what can the Xu family do even if a few people escape?"
"Madam, if you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood."
Wei Changtian replied noncommittally: "It's better to be alive than dead."
"..."
Sandalwood was lit on the low table in the corner of the tea room, but there was no smoke, only a small red glow proving that the incense was still burning.
It's better to be alive than dead.
Hearing these words, Wei Yanyu was suddenly stunned for a moment.
She was silent for a moment, stretched out her hand to touch a jade pendant around her waist, and then said calmly:
"Mr. Wei, although my Xu family has the same surname as Daning, compared to Liu Wei, few people in the government and the public really think highly of us."
"If the emperor wants to regain the power of the world, he must first attack the Xu family."
"People can't afford food and rice, so they say it's my Xu family who has bad intentions."
"Even those rotten literati who want to scold those in power only dare to scold me, the Xu family..."
"My husband died at the hands of whose hands, and whether the Xu family really wants to rebel... I believe you also know, Master."
"We have had enough of this kind of frustration."
"Now that the emperor has forced my Xu family to rebel, then we will show it to him."
"Master Wei."
Wei Yanyu suddenly raised her head, and her tone became decisive in an instant.
"Everyone in the Xu family would rather die in Jizhou..."
"I won't even live!"
...
"Pap~"
As if foreshadowing something, as Wei Yanyu finished her last words, a curved piece of incense ash fell into the incense burner, causing an undetectable sound.
But it is like the roar when a huge mountain collapses.
Even if my Xu family is exterminated, the country of Daning will be shaken...
Faced with such a motive that was almost pity-like, Wei Changtian couldn't help but slightly widen his eyes.
He didn't know if Wei Yanyu's words were sincere.
But if it is, then...
"Dong dong dong~"
Suddenly, a slight knock on the door sounded from their ears.
Wei Yanyu frowned, but still raised his voice and said something.
"Come in."
"Mother......"
The door was gently pushed open, and Xu Chengwen leaned into the room, followed by Chu Xianping.
"This Mr. Chu said that he has something important that must be discussed with Mr. Wei immediately."
"..."
Wei Yanyu looked at Chu Xianping, then at Wei Changtian, and nodded lightly.
"I'm bothering you, madam."
Chu Xianping bowed his hands politely, then walked to Wei Changtian's side and whispered in his ear:
"Sir, I sent a message to the same boat meeting. There is one less person in the morning today."
"This person also knows the information last night."
"This is Xiang Shiyuan, Minister of the Ministry of War."
"..."
Wei Changtian's mouth moved slightly and he waved his hand calmly.
"I know, you go back first."
"yes."
Chu Xianping came and went in a hurry. He saluted the two of them again and then followed Xu Chengwen out of the tea room.
Wei Yanyu didn't know what he said to Wei Changtian, but she was a little confused about what was so urgent.
Wei Changtian, on the other hand, looked at the door that was closed again, knowing in his heart that from this moment on, the initiative in this negotiation was already in his hands.
"Madam, you just said that everyone in the Xu family would rather die than live..."
After pondering for a moment, Wei Changtian finally said slowly: "I don't think so on this matter."
"Master Wei, what do you mean by this?"
Wei Changtian's sudden change in attitude made Wei Yanyu realize something instantly: "Please speak more clearly."
"Madam, you will understand after listening to me."
Wei Changtian shrugged and said in a relaxed tone: "There is one person missing from the morning court in the capital. He is the Minister of War, Mr. Xiang Shiyuan."
"Xiang Shiyuan..."
Wei Yanyu's pupils shrank uncontrollably, and she clenched her hands slightly: "I don't know what the young master is talking about."
"Of course you don't know, ma'am."
Wei Changtian smiled and continued talking.
"But as far as I know, the reason why Mr. Xiang failed to go to court is because the emperor found out that he was a craftsman."
"As for why the Emperor was able to find out about this matter, it's because Mr. Xiang just learned a piece of information last night and couldn't wait to send it out. Unexpectedly, it was a trap set by the Emperor."
"lady......"
Wei Changtian suddenly leaned forward to close the distance between him and Wei Yanyu, and said softly: "But the emperor didn't find my people, so I know this information."
"Mr. Wei, you..."
Wei Yanyu looked at Wei Changtian who was so close and subconsciously wanted to say something.
However, just when she opened her mouth, Wei Changtian interrupted directly:
"Madam, I think you should know how important this piece of information that Lord Xiang failed to send was."
"You can think about what you can pay for this."
"But I suggest you don't think about it for too long..."
"Because there is really not much time left for the Xu family."
