novelraw Chapter 806 - 784: Slander
Chapter 806 - 784: Slander
Xie Jue was amused by this proposal, and Fang Chuning beside him was also enjoying it thoroughly. For King of Sannan and Han Ziqi to propose such a deal proved that they didn’t understand Xie Xun at all, nor did they understand Xie Jue. They had no idea how hard these brothers had supported each other for so many years.
"You and King of Sannan want to abdicate the throne to me?" Xie Jue slightly raised an eyebrow, showing a bit of interest. For men, personal interests come first, and power always holds a fatal allure for men. Han Ziqi thought, even Xie Jue is no exception.
"This throne was originally yours. You’re the only son of my aunt and the rightful heir of our Sannan. It was meant to be yours. We are merely returning it to you, cousin. In the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, your prestige and military achievements surpass Xie Xun’s. You should have succeeded to the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry and ascended to the throne as the emperor. When you were in Ningzhou, you and Xie Xun had one person in the military and one handling civil affairs; even in governance, he is not as capable as you. You are the elder brother; if it weren’t for half of your Sannan bloodline, you would have ascended to the throne long ago. Are you content in your heart? The vast land of Beining is almost in your hands. Now that he has ascended the throne and made you a prince, second only to one, but no fiefdom was granted, nor military power given. He’s dispatching you as an envoy to Sannan, a journey fraught with danger. Has it not occurred to him that Sannan might act against you, leaving you with no return? You consider him a close brother, but after his ascension, he never thought to make your life easier. If you ascend the throne in Sannan, the entire Sannan would be your domain, giving you the ability to challenge Beining. With your authority in the court, no one would dare question or attack you; even if Xie Xun wishes to reclaim Sannan, he wouldn’t dare send troops. You could reign over a corner as king or emperor." Han Ziqi’s voice was quite seductive. Though not a clever tactic to sow discord, it was enough to sway some people’s thoughts.
"To secure Sannan, you’re genuinely willing, even ready to wager a throne. But, Han Ziqi, for the mere throne of Sannan to demand my life as a gamble, it’s not worth it. In Beining, even without a fief or military power, I’m Xie Xun’s brother, a prince second only to one. I have loyalists like Fang Chuning in the army and numerous generals, forming my own faction. It’s impossible for Xie Xun to harm me. But in Sannan, it’s a different story; isolated and without support, our thin kinship is not enough to make me take such a big risk." Xie Jue’s tone was calm. "If the Princely Heir does not add more to the offer, then this matter can’t be discussed."
"By that, it seems there is room for negotiation. I’m curious about what my cousin desires. As long as it’s within my capacity, I will certainly give it!" Han Ziqi said in a deep voice, "The wish of Sannan’s people and the Royal Family is straightforward; they simply hope Sannan can maintain its status quo, achieving complete independence. If my cousin can achieve this, we will all support giving you the throne with both hands."
Fang Chuning couldn’t help but interject, "There’s something I don’t quite understand, Heir Han. If you and King of Sannan surrender with a good stance, it’s quite possible to be enfeoffed like the Beiman King. In Beining, the only foreign-named king is Prince Jingbei. If King of Sannan surrenders, he too would be enfeoffed with nobility, becoming highly prestigious in Beining. Yet, King of Sannan would rather abdicate, granting the throne to Xie Jue, leaving him only as a prince. The treatment of being a prince in Sannan and a prince in Beining is worlds apart. Beining, with its vast territory and bounty, is far superior to Sannan, so why does King of Sannan settle for the lesser?"
Han Ziqi seemed to have anticipated that Fang Chuning and Xie Jue would have such questions. "General Fang, there is something you don’t know. The ancestors left behind a mandate that all descendants of the Sannan Royal Family must do everything to ensure Sannan’s integrity and must never return to the old dynasty. My father and I are compelled by our ancestor’s mandate!"
"Bringing up ancestors, when there’s no way to verify the truth, it’s something you can get away with, but it’s really hard to convince me. If you can’t even persuade me, how do you plan to persuade Xie Jue?" Fang Chuning’s manner was leisurely, yet every word hit the mark on Han Ziqi’s heart.
Han Ziqi regretted deeply, wondering why he didn’t insist on expelling Fang Chuning. But he also knew that even if he insisted, Xie Jue might not be willing.
Han Ziqi lightly smiled, seeming assured of something, "Cousin, if you become King of Sannan, you can do whatever you wish in Sannan without caring about rumors or the eyes of others. You and General Fang can act as you please, and no one would be able to restrain you. Just this, alone, is enough to move you, isn’t it?"
Xie Jue, "..."
Fang Chuning, "..."
Though Xie Jue and Fang Chuning’s hearts were somewhat heavy, nothing showed on their faces. Was Han Ziqi’s insight really this sharp? Perhaps he saw something secretly?
Fang Chuning scoffed, saying, "Heir Han, you can say whatever you like, but don’t make reckless accusations. Why don’t you explain how you recklessly tarnish my and Prince Yan’s reputation?"