The border affair weighed heavily on everyone in the great hall, leaving them in somber silence.

Especially Emperor Qizhen—his face was shadowed with gloom. His fists rested on the desk as he looked at those standing in the hall.

With slight anger, he said, “Ever since our nation’s war with Qujiang five years ago, Qujiang has been relatively well-behaved over these years. But now they raise troops to invade, causing chaos at the border. Do they consider Great Lin nothing?”

A dull thud as his fist struck the desk.

While everyone remained silent, Crown Prince Jing Hua stepped forward two paces.

Full of confidence, he cupped his hands and said, “Father Emperor, in the battle five years ago, Qujiang was defeated. Now they are merely struggling in their death throes, not enough to pose a threat. Father Emperor can dispatch a great general with tens of thousands of elite border troops to behead those remnant and weak soldiers of Qujiang, then pursue the victory and destroy the entire nation of Qujiang to eliminate future troubles.”

Every word and sentence revealed ruthless cruelty!

But an incompetent fool remained just that—an incompetent fool!

Speaking such words naturally earned Emperor Qizhen’s disappointed expression.

Jing Yi caught his father emperor’s disappointed look, and the corners of his mouth curved imperceptibly in a cold smile as he also stepped forward.

He said, “Father Emperor, the Crown Prince’s strategy is certainly good. However, this son believes that since Qujiang has invaded, they naturally made sufficient preparations. They won’t be captured by us easily. Please consider this carefully, Father Emperor.”

As Jing Yi analyzed, several ministers behind him also nodded in agreement.

And his words gave Emperor Qizhen pause for thought.

However, Jing Hua was somewhat displeased. He confronted Jing Yi, “Jing Yi, when doing great things, one shouldn’t hesitate. No matter how well Qujiang has prepared, if Great Lin can raise troops and defeat them once, we can defeat them a second time. If we delay further, must we wait until the border falls before sending troops?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?”

Jing Hua pressed.

Jing Yi glanced at him coldly and addressed his father emperor, “Father Emperor, this son’s meaning is merely to guard against all possibilities. The warriors stationed at the border number eighty thousand. Qujiang sent only thirty thousand troops yet disrupted those eighty thousand soldiers. Clearly there must be something suspicious about this. Therefore, we must first grasp the full situation before we can send troops to annihilate them.”

Emperor Qizhen made an affirming sound. His sharp eyes seemed to reflect two clear mirrors.

One side showed himself!

The other side showed Jing Yi!

That’s right—among his many sons, only Jing Yi most resembled him. Whether in temperament or decisiveness, they were very similar!

“This son believes it’s most crucial to first grasp Qujiang’s motives.” Jing Yi continued.

But Jing Hua disagreed and hurriedly said, “Jing Yi, Qujiang’s thirty thousand troops simply aren’t enough to constitute a threat. Great Lin has sufficient forces. We need only dispatch troops to conquer them. Your talk of something suspicious is simply ridiculous.”

“I know the Crown Prince is anxious and also thinking of Great Lin, but shouldn’t we also consider everything clearly before making decisions?”

“Consider clearly? Qujiang is merely a small nation. Great Lin has strong troops and horses. It’s only thirty thousand soldiers. Even if there’s something suspicious, how much ability could Qujiang possibly have to oppose us?”

“Crown Prince…”

Before Jing Hua could finish, the Crown Prince turned to Emperor Qizhen, “Father Emperor, this son believes we should immediately dispatch troops to annihilate them and eliminate future troubles.”

Jing Yi and Jing Hua each held their own views, locked in a stalemate!

This wasn’t the first time the two had disagreed either.

Since ancient times, imperial princes within the royal family naturally had vastly different personalities.

As the saying goes, a dragon has nine sons, each different—this was probably that principle!

“Jing Yi’s words are reasonable. There’s no reason Qujiang would be peaceful for five years only to raise troops now. And what the Crown Prince said certainly also has merit.”

Emperor Qizhen was deeply uncertain.

He then turned his gaze to Jingrong, who had remained silent the entire time.

“What are your thoughts?”

Jingrong’s expression showed no fluctuation, probably because in the carriage earlier, Ji Yunshu had already given him a warning bell.

The originally adversarial Jing Hua and Jing Yi suddenly exchanged glances.

In that glance, both harbored their own schemes.

Jingrong remained standing in place, raised his eyes, and said, “This son agrees with Jing Yi’s words. Qujiang’s invasion this time should have other intentions.”

Eh!

Jing Yi was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Jingrong would actually stand on his side.

“Mm, then what is your view?” Emperor Qizhen asked Jingrong.

“If Qujiang truly intended to wage war with Great Lin, they wouldn’t have brought only thirty thousand troops. Furthermore, they are only causing disruption, not slaughter. Although they plunder wantonly at the border, they haven’t harmed a single one of our border citizens. This shows that Qujiang’s purpose this time is not to wage war with our nation.”

“Continue.”

“Five years ago, when Great Lin and Qujiang went to war, there was already devastation with countless civilian deaths. Father Emperor presumably doesn’t wish to see that tragic scene from back then again. If this son hasn’t guessed wrong, the King of Qujiang probably also doesn’t wish to see such a scene, which is why he only sent thirty thousand troops. However…”

Jingrong paused slightly!

He continued, “With only thirty thousand troops, the opponent can disrupt our eighty thousand border forces. Presumably the military leader commanding Qujiang this time is also no ordinary person.”

Since ancient times, the success or failure of campaigns—a commanding general was of paramount importance.

And who was Qujiang’s commanding general this time?

Jingrong’s words were measured yet analyzed the situation thoroughly.

Emperor Qizhen became increasingly curious and raised one hand, “Regardless of who the opposing general is, do you have a good strategy to resolve this matter?”

Only then did Jingrong’s feet step forward.

He said, “The opponent neither engages us in direct confrontation nor sends envoys to clearly state their reasons. Clearly they are employing delaying tactics with us. The meaning is nothing more than one point—the opponent wants to speak directly with you, Father Emperor. Since this is the case, why doesn’t Father Emperor satisfy them and summon that general leading Qujiang’s troops into the palace? After he states his intentions, it won’t be too late to deliberate. If both sides can reach a consensus, the common people won’t need to fall into another terrifying war. I believe this is also why the King of Qujiang has delayed giving the order to wage war.”

After he finished, Jing Yi at the side immediately said, “Father Emperor, this son shares Jingrong’s view that there are major questions about Qujiang’s invasion this time. What Jingrong said is also this son’s thinking. Why not summon that Qujiang general into the palace? First, we can also meet this general with extraordinary strategy. Second, we can learn Qujiang’s true intentions this time and then prescribe the right remedy.”

Such echoing had the suspicion of claiming credit!

At the side, Crown Prince Jing Hua’s expression was extremely unpleasant.

When had these two become so in sync?

Emperor Qizhen thought for a moment, then asked the ministers behind, “What do you all think?”

The several ministers exchanged glances. The Minister of War, Minister Liu, stepped forward.

Cupping his hands, he said, “This humble minister believes that what Prince Rong and Prince Yi said is extremely correct.”

Because the ministers all understood clearly that at this moment, the Crown Prince stood alone on one side, while Jing Yi and Jingrong were ostensibly on one side.

It was better to stand on Jingrong and Jing Yi’s side to maintain a neutral, unwavering position.

Emperor Qizhen thought carefully for a while and made his decision.

“Since that’s the case, very well. Transmit my decree—immediately summon Qujiang’s commanding general into the palace. He must be treated with the courtesy due to an envoy.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Qizhen was also somewhat tired. His elbow rested on the desk, supporting his aching temples as he waved his hand, dismissing everyone.

After everyone withdrew one by one, quiet returned to the hall.

In Emperor Qizhen’s heart, he couldn’t help but feel some worry and wariness.

The way Jingrong had been just now reminded him of someone.

Someone…

Intelligent yet deeply concealing!

Perceptive yet calm and unruffled!

And often such people were like a tiny poisonous scorpion—seemingly possessing no threat whatsoever, but once their tail stinger pierced into bone, they would kill.