Xiao Zhen knelt on the ground, his back straight.
The emperor received memorials one after another, yet Xiao Zhen remained silent. The emperor felt increasingly stifled.
Yun Qi's young emperor had now escalated the stakes to twenty border cities. Twenty cities! To sacrifice one Xiao Man for twenty cities was an immensely profitable exchange. Moreover, going to Yun Qi for a marriage alliance meant not just being a royal consort, but an Empress. The Yun Emperor had even promised that as soon as Xiao Man bore a prince, he would immediately name him Crown Prince. Such a fortunate turn of events was beyond even the most fervent prayers!
"Minister Xiao, what are your thoughts on this marriage alliance?" The old emperor, seeing Xiao Zhen's silence, decided to initiate the topic, hoping Xiao Zhen would follow his lead.
"Your subject has no opinion."
"So, you are willing to let Xiao Man go for a marriage alliance with Yun Qi?"
"This subject is unwilling. If Your Majesty commands it, this subject will obey."
"The Yun Emperor proposes twenty border cities as a betrothal gift to welcome Xiao Man as Empress. This is an immense honor, Minister Xiao, do you understand?"
"Your Majesty, the Yun Emperor is capricious and prone to breaking his word. He has done this before. If we accept his offer of twenty border cities, it might not be a good thing for us."
The emperor narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, how many people reside in these twenty cities?"
"At least a hundred thousand souls."
"Whose subjects are these hundred thousand people?"
"Naturally, they are the Yun Emperor's subjects."
"If these twenty cities are suddenly ceded to Yusheng, how many people will genuinely pledge allegiance to Yusheng?" Xiao Zhen asked softly.
"This..." The emperor could not help but frown. He had only considered the ease of acquiring twenty cities, not the subsequent issues of their assimilation.
Seeing the emperor's hesitation, Xiao Zhen pressed on, "How many soldiers would be needed to defend these twenty cities? Each of the twenty cities would require a great general to govern them. Whom would you send?"
"To defend these cities, at least fifty thousand troops would be necessary. As for the governing general, Major General Xiao could be sent."
"If Yun Qi attacks while we have not yet secured these twenty cities, will the people within these twenty cities open their gates to welcome them? Will the defending general and soldiers be annihilated?"
"We can expel all the people from these twenty cities."
"Your Majesty, this course of action is even more ill-advised," Xiao Zhen analyzed. "Furthermore, these twenty cities are not being seized by us; they are being gifted by Yun Qi. If we expel all the inhabitants, we would lose all righteousness and the people's hearts. Moreover, where would we find a hundred thousand people to fill the void in these twenty cities? Would they not become deserted cities? What would be the use of holding them then?"
The old emperor was momentarily speechless. He had summoned Xiao Zhen today to persuade him to willingly offer Xiao Man for the marriage alliance, yet under Xiao Zhen's few words, the situation had turned completely.
"According to you, the Yun Emperor's offer of twenty cities as a betrothal gift to marry Xiao Man as Empress is a trap?"
"Your Majesty, would you be willing to trade twenty cities for a woman?" Xiao Zhen retorted.
The old emperor's brow furrowed. He certainly would not trade twenty cities for a woman, no matter how beautiful she was, unless marrying this woman brought him benefits far exceeding the value of twenty cities!
Then, why did Yun Qi propose to marry Xiao Man? How could Xiao Man bring him benefits surpassing twenty cities? Behind Xiao Man was the Xiao family, loyal for generations, guarding the borders of Yusheng. If… the Xiao family were to fall, Yusheng would be like cutting off its own arm, opening the gates to invite enemies!
At this thought, cold sweat beaded on the old emperor's forehead. No wonder he insisted on marrying Xiao Man. Xiao Man's health was frail; imperial physicians had long predicted she would not live for more than three years. With her constitution, could she bear a child?
"This matter, I will consider carefully. Minister, you may rise," the emperor said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Zhen's expression was composed. Though a military man, he was not foolish. The Yun Qi young emperor's proposal to marry his daughter was inherently ill-intentioned. The emperor saw only twenty cities and failed to consider the much larger conspiracy brewing behind them.
"How is Yongning's health?"
"She is recovering well, but not as a normal person," Xiao Zhen replied with feigned concern. "This subject does not seek her to achieve great success or wealth, only for her to be safe and sound."
"Summon the imperial physicians. Bestow upon Yongning a pair of jade Ruyi scepters, a Hu of pearls, and a root of hundred-year-old ginseng."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Tell Yongning to take good care of herself. This marriage alliance matter, I will find another solution."
"This subject obeys."
Xiao Zhen emerged from the imperial study, letting out a sigh of relief. He happened to encounter the Imperial Advisor and they exchanged a nod of greeting.
Eunuch Hu, seeing them merely nod without speaking, felt a touch of confusion. The Imperial Advisor was known to be Princess Yongning's teacher, a fact known to all. Now that Yun Qi proposed a marriage alliance for Princess Yongning, it was understandable for the Imperial Advisor to remain composed. To his surprise, the Great General also seemed unfazed, as if his previous affection for Princess Yongning were a pretense.
After the Imperial Advisor entered the imperial study, Hu Wan stood guard at the door. A young eunuch curiously asked, "Master, are the General and the Imperial Advisor entering one after another because of Princess Yongning's matter?" Su Dan Novel Network.
"You cur, guard your door properly. Why ask so many questions?" Hu Wan flicked his horsetail whisk. "If you want the thing on your neck to remain stable, you must be blind, deaf, and when necessary, mute. Only then can you live a long life."
"Disciple is just curious. Will Princess Yongning really go for the marriage alliance?"
Hu Wan raised his horsetail whisk, intending to strike the young eunuch, but ultimately lifted it high and then gently lowered it. "I've told you, it's best to listen less, speak less, and ask less. Why can't you learn your lesson?"
The young eunuch scratched his head. "Master, just tell me."
Hu Wan moved aside slightly, glancing at the door of the imperial study. He understood that Princess Yongning, while seemingly just a young lady, involved too many people. Not just the General's mansion, but also the Prime Minister's mansion. The General's mansion commanded the military, and the Prime Minister's mansion commanded the civil officials. Princess Yongning was also the fiancée of Minister Wen. If His Majesty forcefully ordered Princess Yongning into a marriage alliance, he would lose the hearts of his ministers, not only the military officials but also the civil officials!
Therefore, Princess Yongning would not go for the marriage alliance unless she herself stepped forward to volunteer. Otherwise, no one could force her. But would Princess Yongning step forward to volunteer? Hu Wan doubted it. Based on his understanding of Princess Yongning, she would never volunteer.
"Master, will Princess Yongning go for the marriage alliance?"
"Unless Princess Yongning herself wishes to go for the marriage alliance, no one will make her," Hu Wan said in a low voice, speaking tactfully. The emperor coveted the twenty border cities, but he also had to consider the influence of the Xiao and Wen families. If handled poorly, it could lead not only to estrangement between ruler and subject but even to turmoil in the empire!