After a while, Wang Zhaodi gradually stopped sobbing and crying loudly. She choked out, "No need. I sent a letter to my parents. They replied yesterday saying they don't want to leave. Our ancestral graves are there, our property is there. They don't want to leave a familiar place either. They told me to live well here with the children!"
This meant she had completely lost her maternal family. Every time Wang Zhaodi thought of this, tears would uncontrollably stream down her face!
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. This was truly a difficult choice!
Breakfast was tasteless. Whether her stomach was full was unclear, but her spirits were certainly dampened!
Returning to her own courtyard, she remained silent for a long time before asking Fan Zehao proactively, "Was it a mistake for us to move to this inner city back then?"
"Why do you think that?" Fan Zehao retorted. He continued, "If we hadn't moved to the inner city, do you think the new Emperor would tolerate our family in Yun Kingdom?"
"Without moving to the inner city, it wouldn't just be you and me who died, but also the children, parents, eldest brother, and his wife. You are from the future, you know what it means to cut the grass and eradicate the roots!"
"Not for ourselves, but for the children, I wouldn't put them in danger, nor would I let the children become hostages in the Yun Kingdom's imperial palace. I cannot accept it, nor will I ever allow such a thing to happen!"
Ancestors?
He knew who the ancestors were, but did the ancestors know who he was?
The ancestors in the graves had already turned to dust, but people were still alive. To put it crudely and disrespectfully, the living must consider themselves. Only by living could they burn paper offerings and offer incense to their ancestors every year!
Otherwise, if everyone died, then everything would be over!
His words were like ice water, splashed directly onto her head, making her sober up considerably. She had been too soft-hearted!
"You are right. I was foolish!"
Seeing that his wife was no longer immersed in self-blame, he smiled!
"Don't overthink it. Huangfu Xu and Huangfu Xian will be here today. You entertain them!"
These two ghosts, if they hadn't tossed the throne back and forth, it wouldn't have escalated to this point today!
Not long after Fan Zehao left, the two ghosts arrived. The moment they saw Zhao Jiaqi's grim expression, they felt a bit guilty!
Huangfu Xian awkwardly chuckled, "Sister-in-law, I have good news for you. My fiefdom is adjacent to your inner city, so I will never stop associating with you just because the inner city has separated from Yun Kingdom. Therefore, I sent a letter to Huangfu Xi!"
Zhao Jiaqi didn't know what he was trying to say, so she just looked at him. However, she guessed that Huangfu Xian didn't have the courage to ask Huangfu Xi to have his fiefdom also separate from Yun Kingdom and declare himself king.
Seeing that his sister-in-law remained silent, he sheepishly continued, "I requested that the walls between our fiefdom and Yun Kingdom not be closed. If they must be closed, then my fiefdom will also separate from Yun Kingdom!"
"And me, I sent the same letter to Huangfu Xi. If he doesn't agree, we will directly build walls on our fiefdoms and completely sever ties with them!" Huangfu Xu quickly chimed in!
The two men found common ground on this matter. Their ways of doing things were the same. They were so close, like brothers who could wear the same pants. Who would have thought that two princes would be so friendly!
However, their decision truly startled Zhao Jiaqi, and she was also deeply touched!
If this were to happen, Yun Kingdom would be severely weakened, losing four cities at once!
Fan Xudong, Huangfu Xu, Huangfu Xian, and their fiefdoms – Yun Kingdom would effectively lose one-tenth of its cities!
"Have you considered the consequences of doing this?"
Although Zhao Jiaqi was touched, she couldn't let their affairs implicate others!
Conversely, Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu didn't see it that way. They had witnessed the capabilities of their spouses over the years. As for Huangfu Xi's methods, they were no match for Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi at all. They lived much more freely with these two than with Huangfu Xi.
The main reason was that Fan Zehao and his wife didn't covet the armies or money behind them, nor did they suspect them of anything untoward!
Behind this couple, there was always peace. Most importantly, Fan Zehao was the God of War, and he was also their eldest brother. Just for these relationships, they would never abandon him!
Anything else was just a distraction!
The two looked at each other and smiled, saying, "The consequence is nothing more than a falling out. Either we'll go to war first, or they'll agree to our demands. Huangfu Xi has just ascended the throne; I doubt he would dare to mobilize troops!"
Huangfu Xian picked up where Huangfu Xu left off, speaking of Huangfu Xi with a hint of sarcasm, "His seat under his backside isn't even stable yet, how dare he mobilize troops? Moreover, the combined might of our families would be enough to scare him, so why would he dare?"
It seemed they had thoroughly considered the worst possible outcome.
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. Since the two were so determined, she let them have their way. However, this also presented a very convenient situation for her!
Her hometown was in Yulin Town, which was also Huangfu Xu's fiefdom. If this plan succeeded, her father-in-law's grave wouldn't need to be moved!
Her eldest brother and his wife could also visit their maiden home anytime. This was truly great news!
However, the matter hadn't been decided yet, so she couldn't tell her sister-in-law about it!
After the three chatted for a while, Zhao Jiaqi also informed them about the possibility of a drought this year, urging them to prepare in their fiefdoms!
Upon hearing this, the two dared not linger any longer and quickly took their leave. Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi was stunned!
This news had already reached Huangfu Xi. Had he not issued a public announcement?
Many things seemed strange!
In the afternoon, the Prefect arrived, carrying an imperial decree from the Emperor ordering him to release Liu Qian!
The Prefect dared not make a decision on his own regarding this matter!
Within the inner city, he knew very well that Fan Zehao was the ruler here. Moreover, the inner city was not under Yun Kingdom's jurisdiction!
In the Prince's Mansion, in the front hall!
Fan Zehao examined the imperial yellow decree, a slight smile curving his lips, with a hint of mockery.
This person was quite meddlesome. Did he really think he had the final say in the inner city?
Even if he did have the final say, killing someone in his territory so brazenly, he would absolutely not let it slide!
Closing the imperial decree, he threw it to Shi Lei, the Prefect of the inner city, and said with a smile, "Since the Emperor so desperately wants Liu Qian, just send him back. What do you think?"
Shi Lei, already trembling, heard the Prince's words and felt a wave of confusion. He couldn't fathom the Prince's intentions!
Shi Lei tentatively asked, "Just releasing the man back might not be appropriate..."
Fan Zehao, who had been smiling all along, suddenly became grim. His eyes, as deep as a cold abyss, fixed on Shi Lei, his lips turning downwards, suppressing his anger with great effort, "Since you already know it's not appropriate, then you tell me, how should we send the man back?"
"This..." He paused. Now he knew for sure that the Prince was angry. He cleared his throat and quickly thought of a solution. There was only one way.