Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Cui Yan pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping the table lightly. "To resist head-on is a dead end. The Liu royal family is a lesson for us."

"The Chu army is at its peak. Although each of us has our own troops, to compete with them is like hitting a rock with an egg."

"Are we just going to let him slaughter us and hand over our ancestral property to us?" Zhao Kuo growled unwillingly.

"Not necessarily."

A gleam of light flashed in Cui Yan's eyes: "Although the Emperor of Chu was born a warrior, he was able to build such a foundation. He is definitely not a bloodthirsty person."

"He may need us...at least until he completely stabilizes the Han area. He needs our cooperation and needs to use our influence in the local area to appease the people and maintain order."

Li You pondered, "Mr. Cui means we can negotiate terms with him? In exchange for our cooperation, we can secure the preservation of the land? Or... at least a partial preservation?"

"Negotiate terms?"

Wang Jing smiled bitterly: "What bargaining chips do we have to negotiate with him? He holds the knife in his hand!"

"The bargaining chips are ourselves and the forces we represent."

Cui Yan said in a deep voice, "The Han territory has just been settled, and there is much to be done. The officials of the Chu State will not be able to fully take over the local area in a short period of time."

"If we all join forces, fully cooperate on the surface, and even offer some money and food as a token of our loyalty, we might be able to temporarily stabilize him and buy him a buffer."

"As long as the family foundation remains and the descendants are protected, there may be room for improvement in the future."

He paused, then lowered his voice even more: "The most important thing is to find out his bottom line!"

"What kind of land system does he intend to implement in Han territory? Will he copy the old Chu system, or will he make some modifications?"

"At tomorrow's banquet, we need to observe his expressions and be careful with our words. We need to show his willingness to submit, but also subtly make him understand. If we push him too hard, it might cause chaos, which would be detrimental to his ability to stabilize the overall situation."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded, thinking that this was the only feasible strategy at the moment.

However, everyone still feels heavy in their hearts.

Facing an emperor who does not play by the rules, holds the power of life and death, and intends to shake their foundation, tomorrow's banquet is tantamount to a test of life and death.

"I hope... I hope there is a way to survive!" The head of the Zheng family murmured to himself, expressing the thoughts of everyone.

The candlelight stretched their shadows long, casting them on the wall, twisting and swaying, just like their uneasy fate at the moment.

This night was destined to be long and torturous for the aristocratic families in Chang'an City.

The fortress of wealth and power that they have carefully built over hundreds of years is facing unprecedented shocks from underlying logic.

The banquet to be held in the back garden of the imperial palace tomorrow will determine their ultimate fate and that of the ancient class they represent in this new and cruel era.

The next day, it was almost noon.

The winter wind was quite biting, pouring down mercilessly on every corner of the imperial garden.

Pavilions, towers, exotic flowers and plants still retain the refinement and luxury of the past.

But the black-armored guards walking around and the subtle sense of tension in the air constantly remind people that the owner of this place has changed.

Dozens of heads of aristocratic families, guided by eunuchs, came one after another to the lakeside pavilion in the center of the imperial garden.

They all wore the most formal formal attire, with wide robes and large sleeves, tall hats and wide belts, trying to maintain the dignity and demeanor of aristocratic families.

However, their deliberately slowed pace, their slightly lowered eyes that dared not glance around, and their tightly pursed lips all revealed their inner anxiety and restlessness.

The pavilion had already been decorated, with exquisite tables arranged in an orderly manner, placed on them with seasonal fruits, fine wines and delicacies.

Stringed musicians were waiting quietly on the side, and everything was in line with the format of a high-standard court banquet.

But no one was in the mood to appreciate the scenery of the royal garden, and no one dared to sit down easily.

They stood in groups of three or five, talking to each other in very low voices, but their eyes occasionally glanced towards the entrance of the pavilion, waiting for the appearance of the new emperor who would decide their fate.

The heads of top families, such as Cui Yan of the Qinghe Cui family, Wang Jing of the Taiyuan Wang family, Li You of the Longxi Li family, and Zhao Kuo of the Xingyang Zhao family, naturally gathered together and formed the core of the crowd.

They exchanged glances and saw the same worry in each other's eyes.

All the countermeasures discussed last night seemed to become pale and powerless after actually stepping into this deep and forbidden palace.

Time passed little by little in the dull and anxious waiting.

The noon bell rang melodiously, echoing among the palace gardens.

According to the time on the invitation, the banquet is about to begin.

Everyone's heart couldn't help but rise, and they straightened their clothes and prepared to welcome the emperor.

However, at the entrance of the water pavilion, apart from the guards standing solemnly and the palace maids with lowered brows, the expected figure did not appear.

A quarter of an hour passed...

Two quarters of an hour passed...

The cold wind was howling. Although the pavilion had a roof, it was transparent on all sides and the cold wind was still blowing.

Some older family heads could no longer bear the cold wind and were sweating profusely.

They didn't dare to wipe it casually and could only bear it.

With exquisite cakes and mellow wine placed before them, no one dared to touch a single bit.

There was no sound of stringed instruments, and the musicians were like wooden carvings and clay sculptures.

Silence, a frightening silence enveloped the pavilion.

The only sounds were the occasional rustling of lotus leaves in the wind and the slight clang of armor rubbing against each other as guards patrolled in the distance.

This kind of waiting is a silent torment.

Chu Ning's absence is more stressful than his presence.

This is a naked show of power, an undisguised declaration of power - I am the master, your fate is in my hands, and you have to wait until I appear!

"Mr. Cui..."

Wang Jing leaned closer to Cui Yan and spoke in an almost inaudible voice, his voice trembling slightly:

"Your Majesty...what does this mean?"

Cui Yan's face was solemn. He glanced at the guards inside and outside the pavilion who looked like stone statues, and whispered:

"Be patient, this is to temper our tempers and dampen our spirits. Remember, no matter what happens, patience is the best way."

Li You wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a wry smile, "I am at the mercy of others. What else can I do except endure it?"

Zhao Kuo clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He was a quick-tempered person, and this invisible psychological torture made him feel extremely depressed, yet he dared not show it at all.

Time was still passing, and most of the afternoon had passed.

The cold wind grew stronger and stronger, and some of the family members began to lose strength and sway slightly, but they still managed to stand upright.

The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe, and every minute and every second seemed extremely long.

The glimmer of hope and bargaining thought that still existed in their hearts was being gradually worn away by this long and humiliating wait.