“A draw! It’s a draw!”
The exclamation echoed, and all the famous scholars cheered excitedly.
Jimo Qingyu stood on the observation platform with Emperor Sui, his gaze once again cloudy.
At the same time, outside the Muyun Pass, countless Kongming lanterns suddenly rose up, countless and magnificent, like stars covering the night sky.
Jiang Yun put down his drumsticks and stood in front of the city gate tower. The jade belt fluttered, and he looked up at the opposite high platform. Sui Heng also happened to fold his arms from afar, followed by a group of Sui generals and advisors. He waved his arms, raised his eyebrows, and gave a rebellious smile, loudly saying, “Your Highness Rongyu, are you satisfied with Gu’s third gift?”
Jiang Yun didn’t say anything but gently raised the corners of his mouth.
Following behind, Fan Zhou frowned, feeling that the Crown Prince of Sui was acting too ostentatiously. Those who didn’t know would have thought that His Highness had a deep love affair with him!
On the opposite tower of the city, Emperor Jiang looked at the huge gossip pattern below with a solemn expression. Liu Gong smiled and said, “This is truly a scene worth recording in history.”
Emperor Jiang remained silent and looked up at the Kongming lanterns floating in the sky. Suddenly, he asked, “Does the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince of Sui know each other?”
Yun Huai and a group of guards standing behind felt like walking on thin ice, and upon hearing these words, they all paled slightly.
Yun Huai had a calm temperament and knew he couldn’t answer randomly. He quickly replied cautiously, “His Highness has sabotaged the Crown Prince of Sui’s plans for several southern expeditions and even shot him in the arm. The Crown Prince of Sui has been deeply resentful and hates His Highness.”
Emperor Jiang didn’t ask any more questions.
Emperor Sui also frowned and looked at the lanterns, then called Xu Qiao back and asked, “What is the Crown Prince up to again?”
Xu Qiao also felt somewhat ashamed and answered with a stiff face, “His Highness said that he wants all the people of the world to see his determination to stop the war and cease hostilities.”
Emperor Sui sneered.
“The people of the world?”
“Zhen thinks he’s starting to show off in front of the others again!”
Xu Qiao: “……”
Emperor Sui said, “Tell the Crown Prince to come and see Zhen immediately.”
Xu Qiao said yes.
Emperor Sui arrived in the camp for two days and had already understood everything that had happened on the front line. Emperor Sui was no longer heartbroken, but rather angry.
He knew his son had a dog-like temper, but he didn’t expect that his son would dare to play in such a playful military situation!
Emperor Sui sat in the large tent of the central army, deliberately holding back. As soon as Sui Heng entered, he patted the table and said, “Kneel down!”
Sui Heng didn’t even have time to change his clothes. He kneeled down in his robe and saluted solemnly, saying, “If Emperor Father has anything, just send someone over to deliver a message. Why did Emperor Father personally come from a thousand miles away?”
Emperor Sui sneered.
“If Zhen didn’t come personally, how would Zhen know that the Crown Prince of the Great Sui, who was as successful as you, dared to play tricks on 300,000 troops?”
“Zhen heard that today’s chess match was that Crown Prince of Jiang’s idea. Be honest with Zhen, what were you planning to do without today’s match?”
Sui Heng had nothing to hide.
He said, “Erchen intends to retreat.”
“That’s easy for you to say! 300,000 troops, how many things are involved? If you say ‘fight, fight’, if you say ‘retreat, then retreat’, where do you place your Crown Prince’s authority and mine? Even the Yan family cannot do such absurd and outrageous things!”
“If you’re tired of playing the Crown Prince’s role, just say it directly! There’s no need to anger Zhen in this way!”
Emperor Sui had a mild and elegant temperament, and it was rare for him to lose his temper like this. Wei Yan and the palace attendants stood outside, and upon hearing these words, they were all frightened and focused, afraid to make any noise.
Sui Heng said, “There’s nothing Erchen can do either. Who makes Erchen like him? If Emperor Father wants to punish, then punish.”
“There’s nothing you can do?”
Emperor Sui snorted coldly.
“Zhen thinks you have a lot of options, yet you said there’s nothing you can do. You could even kidnap Xiao Huangsun and force him to be with you. You are the Crown Prince, and he is also the Crown Prince. Although Zhen doesn’t know why he fell into your hands before and gave you a big advantage, now that he has a family of his own, you should recognize your own identity.”
“Zhen warned you, negotiating peace is fine, but you must return that Xiao Huangsun of the Jiang Empire immediately. You must not use this kind of coercion to force him to be friendly with you.”
Emperor Sui’s concern, of course, was not limited to this; Emperor Sui was even more concerned that Sui Heng would, because of his own personal feelings, disregard the interests of the Great Sui, which was a great taboo for a Crown Prince.
Sui Heng’s expression was a bit odd.
Then he asked, “Emperor Father has already seen that little thing?”
“What little thing? Zhen warns you. This time, if you dare to act recklessly, Zhen will not spare you lightly!”
Sui Heng continued, “What does Emperor Father think? Does Emperor Father like him or not?”
Emperor Sui said in a bad mood, “That’s the Jiang Empire’s Xiao Huangsun. Whether Zhen likes him or not, what does that have anything to do with you?”
“Of course it has to do with Erchen, he’s not just the Jiang Empire’s Xiao Huangsun.”
“Then what? Could he still be Zhen’s little grandson?”
“Yeah ah, he’s your little grandson. How is it? He’s pretty enough to make you proud, right?”
Emperor Sui froze, thinking his son had gone crazy.
Jiang Yun only learned about the arrival of Emperor Jiang when he returned to the pass.
Jiang Yun asked Yun Huai as he walked, “Why don’t you inform Gu immediately?”
Yun Huai said, “His Majesty specifically instructed us not to disturb Your Highness.”
Jiang Yun walked directly to the place where Emperor Jiang was staying. As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the palace, he saw King Chu, Jiang Lang, kneeling on the ground with tears in his eyes, crying and apologizing inside.
Seeing Jiang Yun come over, Jiang Lang’s eyes showed a hint of pride.
Jiang Yun ignored him and directly let the attendant in to deliver the message.
The attendant quickly came out and said, “Your Majesty invited Your Highness to enter.”
Emperor Jiang, dressed in a Yanju white robe, sat at the back of the table, with his hair flowing down and being combed by Liu Gong.
Jiang Yun kneeled down directly in the hall and saluted, saying, “Erchen greeting Emperor Father. Erchen hopes that Emperor Father will forgive Erchen for being late in greeting.”
Emperor Jiang looked up and asked Liu Gong to stop, step aside, and then speak, “It’s fine, it’s Zhen’s intention for not letting them disturb you, get up.”
Jiang Yun remained unmoved and said, “Erchen is guilty. Emperor Father, please punish Erchen.”
After a moment of silence, Emperor Jiang asked, “What crime have you committed?”
Jiang Yun said, “Erchen has taken the liberty of setting a bargaining chip against Sui.”
Emperor Jiang looked at this young son for a while and said, “You are the Crown Prince, and you are supervising the war on the front line, Zhen allows you to act and take care of things urgently. However, Zheng is curious. The Crown Prince of Sui, who is known for his ambition and martial prowess, has been preparing for this southern expedition for nearly two years. How did he agreed to confront you in a chess formation so easily?”
Jiang Yun looked up and said, “Did Emperor Father see the lanterns in the sky today?”
Emperor Jiang didn’t say anything.
Jiang Yun said, “That’s a gift he gave Erchen. He likes Erchen, so he is willing to retreat and make concessions for Erchen.”
Liu Gong was shocked and looked at Jiang Yun incredulously.
Emperor Jiang’s face was also instantly as cold as frost.
“What about you?”
After a long while, Emperor Jiang resumed speaking.
Jiang Yun calmly looked at Emperor Jiang.
“Erchen also likes him. Therefore, Erchen is also willing to negotiate peace with him.”
Emperor Jiang picked up the tea cup at hand and smashed it into pieces.
Emperor Jiang fiercely stood up and walked to the center of the hall, his eyes dark and heavy as he looked down at Jiang Yun.
“You say it again.”
Jiang Yun looked up, his black eyes glistening, still calmly gazing at Emperor Jiang.
“Erchen likes him.”
“We will be together in the future and have a very happy life. Erchen is not Emperor Father, and will never repeat Emperor Father’s tragedy.”
“You—”
For the first time, Emperor Jiang saw rebellion and revenge in the eyes of this usually gentle and obedient young son of his. His mouth muscles twitched, and he suddenly raised his hand.
Liu Gong was startled and quickly kneeled over, saying, “Your Majesty, calm down!”
Emperor Jiang took a deep breath for a long time, then slowly let go, brushed his sleeves, and walked out.
King Chu, Jiang Lang still kneeled down at the steps and cried loudly. When he saw that Emperor Jiang had finally come out, he immediately called out “Emperor Father,” kneeled over, and hugged Emperor Jiang’s leg.
Emperor Jiang kicked him down the stairs and walked away.
