The initial shock subsided, and Ji Wu's fear resurfaced. If defeating Linyuan was one thing, this crushing defeat meant they would never let the envoys of Dali, nor the prince, go.
“Your Highness, our army has massacred the Linyuan border soldiers. If the news reaches the capital, we won't be able to leave at all. I am not afraid of death, but I fear Ji Hong will vent his anger from the battlefield's failure upon you. Your life is precious, how can you endure such harm and insult? Now that the news has not spread, let us leave the capital as soon as possible, otherwise, I fear trouble will arise!” Ji Wu was filled with anxiety. Seeing Yu Chengxuan still appearing as calm as ever, he wished he could tie the man up and throw him into the carriage, but he only dared to think it. He could only repeatedly advise him with all his heart.
However, Yu Chengxuan seemed to care nothing for his own life, acting like an onlooker sipping tea and watching a play, as if all that was about to happen was mere theatrical dialogue, irrelevant.
“Your Highness!”
Ji Wu couldn't help but raise his tone.
Yu Chengxuan lowered his wrist, his fan tapping against the table. The fan, fanned by the wind, struck the edge of the table, stirring the tea and causing ripples.
He looked at Ji Wu and retorted, “If the news did not reach the capital, how would I have received my information?”
The border skirmishes were ongoing, and the memorial reports were still en route. How could he have gotten the news first? If the news didn't reach the capital, where else would he have known? To expect Dali to inform him after they received the news? By then, before any message arrived, official reports would likely have already been sent to the capital.
Ji Wu’s pupils dilated. He naturally understood Yu Chengxuan’s meaning.
So, at this moment, Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo had both received the news? Thinking of Ji Jinmo, Ji Wu couldn't help but tremble. That man could truly be called a living Yama.
If that were the case, they needed to leave even more. Who knew what Ji Jinmo might do after receiving the news!
“Your Highness, that Ji Jinmo is ruthless. He has had deep disagreements with you before. Now, with this incident, he might use it as an excuse. Before, Ji Hong might have stopped him, but now… if you truly fall into his hands, your life will be forfeit. Therefore, while they think we haven't received the news, let us take a gamble. Even if I die, I will escort you out of the capital.” As Ji Wu spoke, he suddenly stood up, smoothed his sleeves, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply to Yu Chengxuan, his body filled with a desperate courage and a resolve to die.
Yu Chengxuan sighed. Ji Wu had no other flaws, except that his mind was not quite sharp. And he was the most outstanding person of this generation in the Ji family.
The Longxi influential families were truly declining with each generation.
“My father already harbored suspicions due to the excessive power held by my maternal family. Do you think, if I were to abandon the officials of Dali and flee back to the capital today, how would my father treat me?”
“If I return, unless my maternal grandfather incites the power of the influential families to usurp the throne, I will have no chance of becoming emperor!”
“Your Highness!”
Yu Chengxuan’s treasonous words of regicide frightened Ji Wu, turning his face pale. Even though they were in Linyuan, if walls had ears and these words were heard back in Dali, then the prince would truly have no amount of lives to spare.
“So, do you still believe fleeing back to Dali is the best option?”
Ji Wu moved his lips, but to say something treasonous, wouldn't usurping the throne also be a means of obtaining the imperial seat? What was wrong with that? If this path to glory was cut off midway, then what was the point of anything?
Ji Wu’s expression turned fierce, and he uttered words that could have led to the execution of his entire clan.
Yu Chengxuan, however, thought highly of him. Indeed, there was still a bit of ferocity. He tapped the table, signaling Ji Wu to sit down and talk. “You have entered officialdom, you must learn to conceal your emotions. What use is all this haste and eagerness now?”
“But…”
Yu Chengxuan stopped him and continued, “Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo are both intelligent people. Why do you think they haven’t dispatched troops to surround the post station? They merely want to see if I have received the news and if I will take any action.”
“They are sitting comfortably, while you are stirring up waves in this small stream, as if afraid the fisherman won't see.”
Ji Wu was very intelligent. Yu Chengxuan thought him foolish, but only because the comparison was between himself, Ji Hong, Ji Jinmo, and Nan Shiying. But Ji Wu, being noticed by Zhang Yafu and sent to serve under Yu Chengxuan, was definitely not a fool.
He immediately understood Yu Chengxuan’s meaning. Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo wanted to use this opportunity to lure out Dali's, no, the Prince’s spies hidden in Linyuan.
They were deliberately allowing the situation to unfold, even hoping the Prince would flee immediately.
This way, no one who assisted, contributed, or transmitted information would escape.
But in this situation, did the Prince have any other options? Wasn’t a desperate escape for survival the only choice!
“There's no need to panic. Dali and Linyuan will never go to war. This matter will not stir up too much trouble. There is just one thing, a beauty, I fear I will not have the fortune to enjoy.”
“Your Highness!”
At such a time, the Prince was still thinking about a beauty?
Yu Chengxuan had finally made a joke, but Ji Wu’s exclamation of “Your Highness!” had dampened all his spirits. If she were here, she would probably laugh and reply: Fortune? What fortune? The fortune of luck, or the fortune of…
“Alright, you may go!”
Yu Chengxuan waved his hand. Although Ji Wu was still uneasy, he dared not say more. The Prince had spoken his mind and made his decision. He rose to leave. Outside the door, he saw the Linyuan guards on patrol. The guards nodded at him, and he returned a smile.
Only after the guards had walked away did Ji Wu turn back to his room.
…
The secret guards reported that Yu Chengxuan had made no moves.
“As expected!”
Nan Shiying felt a bit regretful. Yu Chengxuan was too intelligent. The farewell banquet Ji Hong had arranged that day to lure out Nan Chaoyin had ultimately become someone else’s gain. It was likely that the moment Yu Chengxuan departed, he had already foreseen the direction of events, Ji Hong’s moves, and Nan Chaoyin’s response.
They hadn’t anticipated this border battle, but what about Yu Chengxuan? Had he, like them, not expected Nan Chaoyin to take such a drastic gamble, or did he know from the beginning that Nan Chaoyin would make such a risky move? That was why he was so confident today?
“A truly interesting opponent!” Now that they stood on a new chessboard, it remained to be seen who would become the hand controlling the board, and who would be reduced to a pawn being manipulated.