Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Daiyu looked at Xie Changqing calmly.

Xie Changqing's legs softened and he knelt down, trembling with fear: "Princess, spare my life..."

"What are you afraid of? What you said was what we had discussed. Since I promised, I will not go back on my word."

Daiyu smiled sweetly, her eyes grim.

During the discussion, Daiyu repeatedly reminded him that he could bluff but the numbers couldn't be too different, otherwise he wouldn't be able to make up for it later.

Just one sentence of "falsely conveying the imperial edict" could cost Xie Changqing his life, and he might even have to spare Princess Shanglin's title!

So, when the four words "discussed" were bitten fiercely between Daiyu's teeth and rang into Xie Changqing's ears, he felt as if his head was about to be pierced!

The time they "agreed upon" was a lie that the emperor would arrive in the capital at 9:00 p.m., so that they could enter the city at noon.

Considering the fiery temper of Emperor Zhaoming, Daiyu guessed that there should be enough time. So if it is only moved forward one hour, it should not make much difference.

Moreover, the statement that they entered the city at noon should coincide with the time when all the ministers were sent back to the palace, the men were locked up, and the women were confined.

If there are those who want to surrender themselves, inform on others, or even commit suicide, there is actually enough time for them.

——By committing suicide before the emperor returned to Beijing, there would be no embarrassment for both parties. It was a way to give these people a break and also saved the emperor from depression.

But now...

Ha ha.

Daiyu ignored Xie Changqing and looked at Prince Dun: "Your Majesty, do you know the list of foreigners who will be invited to the banquet?"

Prince Dun nodded, took out a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to Daiyu: "This is the list of names copied by Kou Zhaorong from last year."

"Last year?" Daiyu frowned slightly.

A lot happened last year.

At least when Tai Shang was assassinated in Jiangnan, the two people who pretended to be the East King's men should be the foreign tribesmen who came from the northwest.

Since they had been plagued by family problems since returning to the capital, the retired emperor and Emperor Zhaoming had not yet had time to question the Northwest, but they certainly could not treat their Cheng as cordially as they did last year.

Thinking of this, Daiyu's gaze subconsciously drifted towards the King of the East.

The King of the East knew something was wrong and raised his eyebrows: "What?"

"Don't you have any feelings about the assassination of the Supreme in Jinling?"

Time was urgent, so Daiyu didn't beat around the bush. She opened her red lips and asked a fatal question.

This matter has long been kept secret by the Supreme Emperor, so the outside world should not know about it.

But everyone present was a person of sharp hearing and sharp eyes, and Feng Tang was even an eyewitness. Upon hearing what happened, they all turned to the King of the East with puzzled expressions.

The King of the East suddenly understood, laughed, stroked his long beard and nodded to Daiyu with satisfaction: "You are really thoughtful, girl!

"good!

"There is actually a spy from the Northwest barbarians who has sneaked into my service and is colluding with the Southeast pirates.

“The Supreme sent me an urgent message about this matter.

“It was for this reason that I had my troops dig three feet underground and search the ground thoroughly, and then I went to the northwest to retrieve Shui Rong’s body.

"All the foreign countries in the northwest, as well as those in the East China Sea, should be severely punished this year!

"So at the banquet today, either delete the names involved, or change the seating arrangement, and the Third Prince will have to give a few lectures during the banquet..."

Everyone was suddenly in trouble.

It was feasible to let the Third Prince, a young boy, preside over his own family's ceremony. At least there were people from the Ministry of Rites to help, and the Third Prince just had to follow and recite the words of blessing.

But when it comes to warning foreign envoys, we must be able to adapt to the situation.

Can a little kid do it?

Don't mess it up and make it unrecoverable...

"I think you all think that since there is no money in the treasury and the Ministry of War is about to undergo a drastic change, it is not appropriate to use foreign forces in the next one or two years, right?"

Daiyu studied the expressions of several people carefully and asked tentatively.

Cao Feng nodded heavily and said, "Last year, Your Majesty was unwilling to celebrate your birthday. Firstly, it was too much trouble, and secondly, the Ministry of Revenue was indeed short of money."

"But..." Daiyu hesitated for a moment and whispered, "We have just confiscated more than ten houses, and now we are going to confiscate another ten houses..."

Cao Feng felt dizzy!

How could he forget this!?

"Your Majesty is a master strategist. Although Prince Yu wants to stir up unrest in the world, your Majesty's idle moves over the past few years have blocked his chess skills.

"All the expenses for this chaos are just the food, clothing, shelter and transportation for the emperor, the queen mother and others to go to the temporary palace, and the food and fodder for the troops and horses mobilized from the Xiangping camp."

Daiyu counted on her fingers, "But the property confiscation here, not to mention the residences of several dukes and ministers, the residences of Prince Yu and Prince Zhongshun alone will cost a lot of money.

“Prince Zhongshun was well-known in the capital for his business acumen. He had taken over many shops and farms, and he took over the most profitable ones.

"Don't even mention Prince Yu. He can command the rebels, so military expenses are indispensable. But he must not dare to be too conspicuous in the capital.

"You can check the provinces and ancestral home, especially the maiden home of his female relatives.

"I estimate that this may bring back two or three national treasuries!"

The Eastern King was more and more impressed and slapped his thigh: "With this money, what kind of war can we not afford to fight!?"

Turning to Prince Dun, he said aggressively, "Tell the Third Prince to do whatever he wants! Don't be afraid of offending anyone!

"Moreover, if your Majesty presides over this, he might turn hostile and chop off the envoy's head, declaring war on the barbarians in the northwest!"

Prince Dun forced a smile and agreed with him, looking at Feng Tang for help: "Old General..."

"Yes!" Feng Tang nodded decisively.

Cao Feng looked at the others, thought for a moment, and stood up, saying, "Well, the two princes and General Feng will discuss this first, and I will go to the Ministry of War and the Honglu Temple to discuss it.

"If there's a real quarrel at the banquet, we can't be completely unprepared."

Daiyu and others nodded in approval.

The King of the East also stood up and waved his sleeves: "Okay, there is nothing to discuss now. Let's go.

"Princess Zhaoqing sent someone to tell Concubine Dou to send the third prince to Linde Palace.

"I'll go over and wait. I'll teach the Third Prince how to quarrel with those barbarians!"

Upon seeing this, Prince Dun decided to resign along with Feng Tang.

After the four of them left Shoukang Palace, Prince Dun and Cao Feng subconsciously looked at each other and asked Prince Dong and Feng Tang at the same time:

"Are you really holding this banquet as if you were going to fight a war?

"Where is that?"

The King of East looks at Feng Tang.

Feng Tang coughed and said vaguely: "Although Princess Lin may not really understand the political situation;

"But she definitely understands His Majesty's thoughts better than any of us..."

Prince Dun and Cao Feng looked at each other in bewilderment: "You mean, the emperor will fight a war with foreign tribes because he has sufficient military funds?!"

"I think so too." Dong Wang stroked his beard and sighed, looking at the rising sun, and said softly, "The light of the Supreme is too dazzling.

"The rumors Prince Yu spread outside are too widespread.

"Wang Ziteng has been the commander of nine frontiers and the inspector of nine provinces for several years, and his relationship with foreign tribes is too close.

“If the emperor does not demonstrate his iron fist in time, there will be more chaos in the future.

“This battle must be fought.

“The assassination of the Supreme is a good excuse from God!

"If it were me, I would have already started preparing for battle!"