Hearing his name, one would think Chu Chengyu must be refined and elegant, like a scholar, but he was actually a rough fellow. Though not tall in stature, his body was packed with muscle. His face was sallow and meatless, his eyes long and narrow with a sharp gaze, his nose and mouth pointed—he rather resembled a petty person in appearance. If not for his scale armor and the long sword at his waist, it would be hard to believe this person was a great general stationed at Xiamen Pass!

He had been stationed here for six years!

Hearing his words, Jingrong’s gaze fixed on the cup before him, a cold light flashing. He raised his eyes slightly and said to him with a serious expression: “General Chu, this Prince needs you to understand one thing. This time the Emperor sent this Prince here not to wage war, much less to provoke a war between Houliao and our Da Lin. As long as they are willing to submit, we cannot harm a single one of their soldiers.”

A reminder!

Chu Chengyu had been thinking: if Houliao refused to agree, they would raise troops to destroy that “tumor,” and he could return home to reunite with his family sooner.

But Jingrong’s words were like cold water splashed upon him.

He could only accept the order.

He clasped his hands in response: “This subordinate understands.”

There seemed to be some embarrassment.

He suddenly looked toward Ji Yunshu. “This… must be the renowned Mr. Ji?”

Ji Yunshu happened to be sitting across from him and replied courteously: “General Chu flatters me.”

“I’ve long heard that Mr. Ji is exceptionally intelligent and has solved many cases, which is admirable. What’s even more unexpected is… that Mr. Ji is actually a woman.”

“…” She didn’t know how to respond.

At this moment—

A young soldier outside came to report: “General, someone has come outside the city saying he wants to see the Prince.”

Chu Chengyu was surprised: “One person?”

“That’s right, just one person!”

“Who?”

“He’s from Houliao. He says as long as the Prince sees this, he will meet with him.” The soldier immediately presented the item.

Jingrong took it and looked—it was a jade pendant.

It was a jade tablet allowing the Mo family free passage in and out of the imperial palace, bestowed by the late Emperor.

He immediately ordered: “Let him enter the city.”

“Yes!”

One incense stick’s time later.

Muruo followed the soldier to a room.

Upon opening the door, he saw Jingrong waiting inside.

Tea had already been prepared!

“Your Highness, the person has been brought.”

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes.” The soldier accepted the order and withdrew.

Jingrong pointed to the seat beside him: “Please sit.”

As if they were about to have a casual conversation!

From the moment Muruo entered, his face had been stern, his brow highly furrowed, desperately restraining the anger in his heart. He sat down cross-legged!

With one hand, he grabbed the teacup before him and drained it in one gulp.

“Thud!”

The teacup was heavily set down.

Jingrong looked at him but said nothing throughout.

The two sat in silence like this for a while.

After a long time, Muruo stared at him, tapped his finger on the table once: “Speak.”

Speak!

Two simple words.

Jingrong: “Don’t you already know?”

“I want you to tell me personally.”

“Muruo…” He had just begun to speak,

“So this is true?”

Jingrong furrowed his sword-like brows and replied: “Yes!”

One word.

Immediately, Muruo could hardly sit still and raised his voice: “Have you all gone mad? Do you know what you’re doing?”

Clearly, he still couldn’t believe it even now!

When they learned that Da Lin had dispatched troops to Xiamen Pass to persuade Houliao to submit, all of Houliao was shocked.

Muzhaar had said nothing at the time.

Neither had Third Master.

The other “higher-ups” had slammed tables in fury.

The soldiers of Houliao were even more prepared for battle, planning to fight to the death.

So Muruo could only secretly come to see Jingrong first to understand the situation clearly.

Facing Muruo’s interrogation, Jingrong’s expression showed no ripples. He said seriously: “I know what I’m doing!”

“If you know, then why do you still…” “From the moment Houliao destroyed Yue Dan, such a situation today was destined! Even if the person who came wasn’t me, it would be someone else. Even if the person sitting on the throne wasn’t Wei Yi but someone else, they would make the same decision, because… all the civil and military officials at court have already developed wariness toward Houliao as it is today. You should know that once such feelings arise, then…”

“Enough.” Muruo growled to stop him. “But you clearly know that Houliao has never had any ambition to contend for the Central Plains. The reason for destroying Yue Dan this time was also because Yue Dan harbored such ambitions first. This was an unavoidable step.”

“What does it matter if I believe you? But the Emperor doesn’t believe it! All the civil and military officials at court don’t believe it either! All they see is an increasingly powerful Houliao, a tribe that poses an extreme threat to Da Lin.”

After listening, Muruo gradually calmed down and took a sip of water: “I understand now.”

He came precisely to figure this out, to understand clearly.

Now, he understood!

Houliao stood alone in dominance, and Da Lin was wary—this was inevitable.

But—

He raised his eyes to Jingrong and said: “However, given the temperament of the Houliao people, they can accept defeat in battle, they can go to their deaths, but they absolutely will not admit defeat, much less surrender to anyone! For Da Lin to want Houliao to submit this time—this is simply impossible.”

Jingrong told him: “There’s another solution.”

“What?”

“Houliao retreats three hundred li westward.”

“That’s impossible!” Muruo immediately rejected it, saying emotionally, “What the tribal people on the grasslands value most is territory. Having them retreat three hundred li westward is even harder than having them submit.”

“This is the only solution.”

“Then we can only meet on the battlefield!”

“You…”

“Don’t say anymore. In any case, whether it’s submission or retreating westward, neither is feasible in the eyes of the Houliao people.” Muruo told him clearly.

Both their faces flushed with emotion. Jingrong didn’t want to continue arguing with him like this and composed his emotions, saying: “Muruo, you know I don’t want to be your enemy. Think about it—if the person who came here this time wasn’t me but someone else, the final outcome would definitely be war! But my purpose is not to wage war with Houliao, but to solve the problem!”

“But you’re putting me in a difficult position. I’m caught in the middle with nowhere to turn!” Muruo wore a bitter expression, extremely troubled. “Even if I understand you, it’s useless. You need to make the Houliao people understand. I think… you should go personally to meet Third Master and Muzhaar. No matter what, you did help Houliao defeat Yue Dan, so at the very least they’ll let you finish speaking. As for whether they’ll listen, that depends on what you say.”

Jingrong nodded.

“I should indeed go meet them personally.”

Gradually calming down.

After the two talked a bit more, Muruo left.

Jingrong rose and walked to the doorway.

His heart weighed down by a massive stone!

Actually, from the moment Wei Yi issued that decree, he had thought of rejecting that edict, had even thought of producing the late Emperor’s testament to force Wei Yi to abdicate. But… if he forced Wei Yi to abdicate in the name of protecting Houliao, would the court officials and the people of the realm still accept him?

All he could do was try to persuade Houliao.

Afterward, Ji Yunshu came over and asked him: “How did it go?”

Jingrong shook his head and sighed.

Ji Yunshu gently grasped his arm.

As if giving him a great surge of strength.

She knew he carried enormous pressure in his heart. On one hand, he had to give the subjects and citizens of Da Lin an explanation; on the other, he didn’t want to wage war with Houliao. Those two massive stones pressed upon his heart—if it were an ordinary person, they would have long been unable to bear it.

How she wished she could share some of that burden for him!