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

The moment the letter was unfolded, Chu Ning's familiar, sharp handwriting came into view.

The letter was short, but the very first sentence made Chu Xuan's pupils shrink abruptly!

The letter contained no pleasantries or reprimands, but went straight to the point: "I heard that Mr. Mei has fallen slightly ill and is temporarily recuperating in my elder brother's camp. I am deeply worried about him."

Sir, you are a man of profound learning and exceptional talent, a true national treasure. I have always held you in high esteem. Tomorrow at the Long Pavilion, in addition to the matters concerning Generals Han and Yuchi, I will prepare a small gift to meet with my elder brother, the Emperor, to discuss the matter of your return to your home.

If Your Majesty were to bring the gentleman along, I would certainly offer terms that would satisfy Your Majesty, to reward the gentleman for his hard work, and to fulfill the unfinished business between us brothers.”

Just a few lines, yet they contain an enormous amount of information!

Chu Xuan gripped the letter tightly with his fingers, his knuckles turning slightly white.

His expression quickly shifted from initial surprise and doubt to annoyance at having his secret exposed.

Then it turned into disbelief and astonishment, finally settling into a complex state of coldness mixed with intense curiosity and scrutiny.

"Well done, Chu Ning! What swift intelligence!"

He whispered through gritted teeth. He believed he had kept the news of Su Tingmei's control extremely secret, and that the place of her confinement was in the heart of the military headquarters, guarded entirely by trusted confidants.

Chu Ningyuan is in Jianghuai City, having just suffered a major defeat. He should have already eradicated most of the Jinyiwei's network in Youzhou.

How could he know so precisely that Su Tingmei was in his hands in such a short time, and even use such seemingly respectable but actually revealing wording as "slightly ill and temporarily residing in the camp"?

This is not merely a matter of intelligence capabilities; it is a demonstration, a declaration:

Your camp, Chu Xuan, is not a monolithic entity. I, Chu Ning, am not entirely unaware of your every move!

Shocked, Chu Xuan was even more intrigued by the second half of the letter.

Chu Ning not only knew that Su Tingmei was in his hands, but also explicitly demanded that he take Su Tingmei with him to Changtingpo tomorrow!

He also promised to offer "conditions that would satisfy him" in exchange for Su Tingmei!

"Satisfactory conditions?"

Chu Xuan repeated the word, the coldness in his eyes gradually being replaced by a playful and calculating look.

Once the anger subsided, the instincts of a political animal began to take over.

For him, Su Tingmei is now more of a card, a symbol, a "hostage" to ensure that certain forces within the Youzhou army will not rebel.

Its actual value is far less than that of Han Xing to Chu Ning.

If Chu Ning is willing to offer Su Tingmei a high enough price...

What could it be?

Gold, silver and treasures?

Chu Ning is currently trapped in an isolated city and probably can't afford to contribute much.

City and land?

That's possible, but where else can Chu Ning offer up resources near the Jianghuai region?

Could it be... an acknowledgment of Chu Xuan's separatist status?

They even promised some kind of "co-governance" or division of benefits in the future?

Chu Xuan's heart involuntarily quickened.

It's not impossible!

Chu Ning is now in dire straits, surrounded by powerful enemies on the outside and threatened by internal betrayal. Offering some astonishing conditions to buy himself a respite or to divide the enemy is a perfectly reasonable political maneuver.

If Chu Ning is truly willing to pay a huge price to bring back Su Tingmei, this "national hero," then it means that Su Tingmei's importance in Chu Ning's heart may be even greater than he anticipated, which in itself is a valuable piece of information.

Moreover, Su Tingmei was taken along...

A glint of light flashed in Chu Xuan's eyes.

This might not be a burden at all, but rather an opportunity.

Su Tingmei could serve as a kind of "insurance," or at crucial moments, as a pawn to provoke Chu Ning and disrupt his mind.

"Chu Ning, Chu Ning, what exactly are you planning?"

Chu Xuan gently placed the letter on the table, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the sharp characters.

"Is this an attempt to feign weakness and seek peace? Or is it a covert plot to rescue Su Tingmei, or even... to deal with me?"

He pondered for a long time, while the charcoal fire inside the tent crackled.

Finally, a smile that blended greed, caution, and absolute confidence reappeared on his lips.

"Interesting. Since you want to play, then I, the King, will play with you to the very end!"

He stared at the empty tent, as if conversing with Chu Ning across a distance:

"Tomorrow, I will take Su Tingmei to hear what conditions you can offer that will satisfy me!"

He raised his voice: "Someone come here!"

The guards entered immediately.

"Issue the order: tomorrow, the Central Army's personal guard will select five hundred of its most elite men to accompany me to Changting Slope. Furthermore..."

He paused, a cold glint in his eyes: "Invite Mr. Su Tingmei out and take good care of him."

"Tomorrow, I will take him with me to the meeting. Remember, keep a close eye on him, and there must be no mishaps!"

"Yes!"

The personal guards took the order and left.

Chu Xuan sat alone in the tent, his gaze returning to the letter, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his thoughts already drifting to Changting Slope the next day.

There, it will no longer be just a simple hostage exchange, but a complex game involving multiple parties, full of variables and dangers.

The fact that Chu Ning proactively offered this piece about Su Tingmei undoubtedly made the game even more unpredictable and gave Chu Xuan's ambitions more possibilities.

"Chu Ning, your conditions had better truly satisfy me!"

"Otherwise, tomorrow at Changting Slope will be the burial ground for you, Su Tingmei, and the last hope of your Great Chu!"

He chuckled softly, a burning ambition blazing in his eyes.

The night was as dark as ink, heavily covering the camp. Only a few torches flickered in the night wind, illuminating the long, silent figures of the patrolling soldiers.

Inside a seemingly ordinary but heavily guarded tent in the core area of ​​the Youzhou army, the candlelight flickered dimly, casting a yellowish glow.

Su Tingmei stood quietly in the tent, her plain scholar's robe spotless, standing out starkly from the simple military tent furnishings around her.

He habitually clasped his hands behind his back, his posture upright like a pine tree, as if he were not in prison, but rather pacing and deep in thought in his study.

However, those eyes, which always shone with wisdom, were now shrouded in a deep sorrow.

The air inside the tent was stagnant, with only the occasional crackling of the candle wick and his barely audible breathing.

He pondered over every detail he had heard and seen since being placed under house arrest.

Chu Xuan's increasingly frequent secret meetings, the strange coordinated movements of the Youzhou army and the Scorpion Clan cavalry, and the unusual commotions that could be faintly heard from the Jianghuai direction in the distance, which were different from the usual offensive and defensive actions.

All signs pointed to one fact: a massive upheaval far beyond any ordinary battle was brewing, and he himself seemed to have been unwittingly drawn into the eye of the storm.

Just as he was deep in thought, the curtain was gently lifted, letting in a cool night breeze.

A soldier with his head bowed and eyes down walked in carrying a wooden tray, on which were placed several dishes and wines that were obviously much more refined than usual, and even a pot of warmed wine.