novelraw Chapter 854: If I’m Unhappy, Then the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu Are Unhappy!
Chapter 854: If I’m Unhappy, Then the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu Are Unhappy!
......
As he spoke, the Jing Emperor followed Consort Rong to the Filial Prince's Manor.
As soon as he entered,
he saw Consort Rong had already found An Wuyang, who had changed into leather clothes and was laughing happily.
She got straight to the point, saying, "Just tell me, what exactly must be done for you to make Lu Ding spare my son?"
Hearing this, An Wuyang laughed, "Consort Rong, has your son ever considered sparing me?"
"Give me three breaths of time to choose; if I don't cooperate, he'll take action himself."
"I've given him so much time now, from the city gate all the way here. He's lived this much longer; he should be thanking me."
At this moment, An Wuyang was sharp and exposed, no longer resembling his former timid and submissive self.
No!It should be said he was never a timid and submissive person to begin with. He was just forced by circumstances, with no other choice. Not holding back would only lead to losses, only to death!!!
As a former prince, he possessed plenty of methods and temperament.
Now that Lu Ding was about to arrive, soon he could return to the Great Han with Lu Ding, live comfortably, and even join the Great Han's 749 Bureau.
Although the entry requirements for the Great Han's 749 Bureau were very strict, he, An Wuyang, had never done anything illegal or disorderly. Moreover, he had cooperated with the 749 Bureau in the Third Circle before.
With such a background and experience, wanting to join the 749 Bureau wouldn't be difficult.
Since he was going to join the 749 Bureau afterward anyway, naturally, he no longer needed to consider these people's feelings or worry about whether they would target him. So, there was no need to hold back so much.
The Jing Emperor felt satisfied with An Wuyang in his current state.
This was more like it!
As a future Crown Prince, if he were truly as honest as before, that would be the sorrow of a ruler of a nation.
Consort Rong frowned, "Is this how you speak to me? At the very least, I am your elder!"
"Xingyun is also considered your elder brother. Can't you be more tolerant of him? Moreover, this is a matter of our royal family and should be resolved within our imperial household."
"Afterward, if you have any dissatisfaction or grievances, I can fully compensate you, even have Xingyun apologize to you. As long as you are willing to reconcile, you can state any condition you wish to propose."
An Wuyang had truly witnessed it now.
"Elder? We have no such distant, barely-related connection. As for elder brother........"
Strictly speaking, An Wuyang was now over a hundred years old, he had just been sealed in the underground palace for several decades.
So.....
"Is he even worthy!?"
An Wuyang personally began wiping the cup he would later use to brew tea for Lu Ding, "As for reconciliation........"
Consort Rong, who had almost been unable to suppress her anger, instantly calmed for a moment, "State your condition."
An Wuyang slowly turned his head, his gaze slightly resembling that of a hawk watching or a wolf looking back, "Very simple. Let him die. Once he's dead, I'll be willing to reconcile with him."
These words infuriated Consort Rong, twisting her features, "Hahahaha, fine, fine, fine! Then I'll capture you and exchange hostages with Lu Ding!!!!"
She raised her hand to seize him.
With An Wuyang's cultivation level, there was nowhere to dodge, no way to avoid it.
However, he had no such intentions anyway.
He just stood still on the spot, as if surrendering without resistance.
As he waited for Consort Rong's attack to arrive,
at some unknown time, the Jing Emperor had actually stepped in front of An Wuyang. He released his own aura, blocking the hand Consort Rong was using to capture An Wuyang outside his own qi barrier with an imposing, naturally angry presence.
He spoke, "Consort Rong, you have overstepped."
An Wuyang was the future Crown Prince. Being connected to Lu Ding meant that once he ascended the throne, he could reach a preliminary cooperation agreement with the Great Han. At that time, the Great Han issue could be properly resolved. Freed from the troubles with the Great Han, the resources and forces allocated for defense against potential Great Han invasions could be redirected to deal with other countries, including but not limited to the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu!
Consort Rong looked at the Jing Emperor displaying his imperial majesty before her, "Your... Your Majesty, Xingyun is your son! Your own flesh and blood!!!"
The Jing Emperor remained unmoved, "He made the mistake first."
Consort Rong found it hard to believe. Perhaps now, she seemed to understand once again what it meant that 'accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger.'
In the past, because of the powerful backing of her maternal family, the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu, she enjoyed immense favor in the palace. The Emperor never even spoke a harsh word to her. This situation made her increasingly unable to control herself.
But now...
Consort Rong's eyes gradually reddened, still deludedly trying to use the backing of the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu to oppose the Jing Emperor.
"Your Majesty, your such favoritism will wound my heart! It will wound the hearts of the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu!!"
"If I am unhappy, then the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu are unhappy! If the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu are unhappy, they will begin to doubt whether the Emperor we have always relied upon is a wise ruler!!!"
Hearing these words, the Jing Emperor somewhat exploded!
Threatening him!!
She actually dared to threaten him!!
Wasn't this putting him in an awkward position? If it were before, he might have let it slide.
But now, of all times, she had to make things difficult for him!
Just as the Jing Emperor was about to speak,
commotion came from the entrance.
Lu Ding dismounted, gripping An Xingyun as he walked inside. Unrestrained, rampant laughter rang out, "Hahahaha...... Well said!"
"Consort Rong, is it?"
"Your words are particularly excellent."
"I like them, but they're not direct and domineering enough. Now, I'll use your own words to demonstrate for you."
Lu Ding strode through the main gate, "Today, if An Wuyang's mood is not soothed, if he is unhappy, then I am unhappy. If I am unhappy, then the entire Great Han—its one capital, two cities, three continents, thirty-six provinces, seventy-two jurisdictions, and one hundred and eight autonomous regions—are unhappy!!!!"
Consort Rong had roughly spoken up to this point earlier.
Lu Ding decided to complete the part she didn't dare to say, "If they are unhappy, then their iron hooves will march south and sweep through the Great Jing!!!!"
"The Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu........"
Lu Ding cast a sidelong glance, looking at Consort Rong with disdain and arrogance.
"Are they impressive? Are they imposing? Are they powerful?"
To the side,
Fu Xinghe wasn't very familiar with the situation of the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu, as they were still somewhat distant, so he couldn't chime in.
But An Ning knew.
She picked up the conversation, playing the straight man, saying, "The Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu are probably only about the size of two autonomous regions of the Great Han."
As the saying goes, 'brothers join forces to fight a tiger, father and son fight together on the battlefield.' Prince Zhao, who had 'fathered and raised' her, closely followed his daughter's words, saying, "The Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu... Hah... In a little while, I'll personally lead people to the Fourteen Tribes of Jinwu. I want to see for myself just how big their temper is, why they're always so unhappy."
"This is an illness that needs treatment!"
Among those present, apart from Lu Ding, an outsider, Prince Zhao was probably the one most qualified to say such a thing.
When the Jing Emperor was still the Crown Prince, Prince Zhao and his elder brother were born to the Crown Princess. Later, the Crown Princess passed away due to certain events. After the Jing Emperor ascended the throne and took his two sons to avenge their mother, he then established other consorts.
That was how the Third Prince came later.