My Lord, the princess doesn't want you anymore.

Yan Ruobing did not answer him, but raised the letter in her hand and said, "Your aunt Wan is coming back."

"Aunt Wan? Is that the Aunt Wan from Zhenguo?" The King of Chu had a foolish smile on his face. In short, he looked very happy and shocked.

"Who else?" Yan Ruobing glanced at him with some disdain. "Cui Hongjing is willing to exchange your aunt Wan's safety for a few years of peace between the two countries."

"Okay, that's great. As long as Aunt Wan can come back safely, it's worth it..." He knew too well how much his father cared about Aunt Wan, so he quickly flattered him.

……and many more!

No, Aunt Wan was clearly rescued by Li Mo, the master of Wangyou Valley. How did she become a bargaining chip in Cui Hongjing's hands?

Could it be that the Valley Master Li and Cui Hongjing were still working together? Or was it just that Aunt Wan was simply kidnapped by Cui Hongjing?

The shrewdness that flashed in the King of Chu's eyes did not escape his father's keen eyes, "Do you think there is a trick?"

The King of Chu quickly shook his head, "It shouldn't be. In the past few battles, the Zheng Kingdom suffered heavy casualties. They knew they were no match for our Dachang. They must have sincerely wanted to stop the war. It is normal for them to kidnap Aunt Wan in the middle of the battle. I am just worried. After all, Aunt Wan has not returned yet. If I can't see her for a day, I can't help but worry."

These words touched Yan Ruobing's heart.

Even if he knew, it was hard to say how much his son really cared about his aunt Wan. But the King of Chu was smart and would not be as straightforward as King Kang.

Compared with the two sons, Changguo needs such a monarch more.

But he still waved his hands impatiently: "Stop, stop, stop, stop these high-sounding words, I see you are also uncomfortable."

The King of Chu grinned, and did not defend himself after his inner thoughts were exposed.

We are all smart people, and it would be a waste of time to say too much empty talk.

Yan Ruobing shook her head secretly and changed the subject, "I just want to ask you a question, you must tell me the truth."

"Father, please speak."

"Prince, who killed him?"

After a brief moment of shock, the King of Chu's reaction was somewhat exaggerated.

He jumped up from his chair, pointed at his nose, and said indignantly: "Father, do you think that it was your son who did it?"

Yan Ruobing did not answer him directly, but said: "Today I just want to talk to you about my true feelings..."

"I am speaking from my heart, I dare not hide anything, and I cannot hide it from you, Father."

Yan Ruobing rolled her eyes at him again, "I am not senile yet. I have always known that the Crown Prince is not the first choice for the heir. The Crown Prince is not as virtuous as your third brother, King Kang, and not as cunning and ruthless as you. To protect the country of Dachang and govern it well, what is most needed is not benevolence, but wisdom and strategy. When it is time to be ruthless, you have to be ruthless, even to your closest relatives. Just like back then, for the sake of the people of Dachang, even your aunt Wan was able to go to the Kingdom of Zhenguo to marry... In short, as long as it is for the good of Dachang and the people of Dachang, no matter what you do, I think it is justifiable. Do you understand?"

Countless thoughts flashed through the King of Chu's mind at once.

What does the old man mean by this?

——If you killed the prince, just admit it. I just want to know how the prince died. Anyway, the prince is not fit to be an emperor. You killed him to prove that you are ruthless and scheming, which is exactly what an emperor needs. So, just admit it boldly. I will not punish you for a useless prince and ignore the country of Dachang.

King Chu: Bullshit, I am not that stupid! You old man are very evil.

——Being an emperor requires more than just benevolence. I don't like the fake benevolence and righteousness of King Kang. I am more optimistic about you! You see, you are ruthless enough to kill the prince, and you can kill the prince in Zhenguo without anyone noticing. King Chu, I give you a big thumbs up. Just accept it.

King of Chu: You are just trying to test my attitude. I will not be fooled. You are a bad old man.

The King of Chu slowly sat down again and said, "Your son, I am grateful for your advice. However, I really do not know who killed the prince. But I will do my best to find the murderer, avenge the prince, and relieve my father and mother's worries."

Yan Ruobing's pair of eagle-like sharp eyes were fixed on King Chu's face, but she could not see anything unusual.

Then he smiled and said, "You have not visited your mother since you entered the palace today, right?"

"Not yet. I'll be there soon."

"Now, your mother is also a concubine, but she has always been frugal and low-key. She has always refused to move to the palace I gave her and still lives in Yanqing Palace. You go and persuade her."

"On behalf of my mother, I thank my father for his grace. Then, I will leave now?..."

"Go, go..." Yan Ruobing began to raise her hand to drive people away.

The King of Chu had just stood up when he heard Yan Ruobing say, "You brought back that girl. Did you know that she is the only daughter of the Minister of Rites of the Kingdom of Zhen?"

When the King of Chu heard him mention An Ran, he felt inexplicably nervous and nodded, "Your son already knows."

"Once her injuries have healed, send someone to escort her back..."

"No, father—" the King of Chu blurted out in desperation.

Yan Ruobing narrowed her eyes, revealing a gleam of brilliance. "She's a girl, and she lives in your house all day long. What's that? It will damage her reputation, so don't give others an excuse. Besides, this is related to the diplomatic relations between the two countries."

"Father, Father..." The King of Chu didn't know why he became stuttering.

When Yan Ruobing saw her son, her ears suddenly turned red. What else could she not understand? "What do you want?"

"My son, I want to say that her injury will not heal for the time being..."

When I get back later, I will find someone to beat her up and break her legs again, so that she has to rest here for at least half a year.

But, it seems that I can’t do it!

He has always made it his mission to destroy beautiful things, but for some reason, he was helpless against An Ran.

Humph, whoever destroys her, I will destroy him.

Yan Ruobing guessed what the King of Chu was thinking when she saw him like that. "Don't forget, you already have five concubines in your house, and how many concubines and maids are there? Can you count them with your hands and feet? None of those women are easy to deal with. Do you want to kill Miss An by keeping her here? It's okay to save her life, but she is the only daughter of an important official of the Zhenguo Kingdom. If something happens to her in your house, do you know the consequences?"

"Father, you worry too much. The women in my house like her more than they like me. If, if she really doesn't like those women, I can dismiss all the mediocre women in my house."

Yan Ruobing: ...