Chapter 315 - 97: Night Talk

Chapter 315: Chapter 97: Night Talk

The officials in the hall murmured amongst themselves, suggesting they throw the Empress’s letter away.

Deng Yi smiled, silencing their discussion. "Let’s first see what the Empress has to say."

’She can say what she wants. What we do is our own business.’

The officials fell silent. Although it was a private letter to him from the Empress, Deng Yi made no effort to hide it, reading its contents aloud as he went.

From the letter’s description, it was clear that the young woman had indeed gone to persuade the King of Zhongshan to surrender—or rather, to threaten him.

She had captured the Princely Heir, Xiao Xun, and threatened to die along with both the King of Zhongshan and his son, ensuring the King would lose everything. The King of Zhongshan ultimately decided to surrender and end the war, but only on the condition that he would not, in fact, lose everything. Therefore—

"The King of Zhongshan and his son are to be pardoned of their crimes. Aside from the Princely Heir entering the Capital City as a hostage, the King of Zhongshan is to remain free of any constraints."

At this, Deng Yi let out a laugh. "Is Empress Chu being a bit too courteous? Perhaps she should have also written that the court ought to reward the King of Zhongshan?"

The officials erupted in an uproar.

"How ridiculous," an official sneered, holding his teacup. "Empress Chu must have lost her mind."

When the King of Zhongshan submitted, he was naturally expected to be convicted of his crimes, stripped of his rank and made a Commoner, thus eliminating any future threat. This crippled Prince had managed to raise such a large army; though he still hid behind a thin veil of pretense, who among them didn’t know his true intentions?

Another official reached out, picked up a pastry, and said, "The court has no fear of the King of Zhongshan. If we go to war, we can eradicate him completely—" He popped the pastry into his mouth. "Mmm."

He took a bite and immediately praised it, calling out to the others.

"You must try this apricot blossom cake. It’s exceptionally fresh."

The official beside him flicked his sleeve, took a piece, and said, "The court has a high chance of victory in this war. How could we not fight? Letting the King of Zhongshan off is out of the question." He ate the apricot blossom cake, nodding in approval. Then he turned to Deng Yi. "Grand Tutor, your mother loves sweets. You should send some of this for her to try."

It seemed everyone now kept the tastes and preferences of that blind old woman in mind.

Deng Yi gave a faint smile. "Some other day, you should all come and try the cooking at my estate. The chef was a gift from Zhang Bianxiu."

The officials scattered around the hall all turned to look in the same direction. Over there, a middle-aged official from the Hanlin Academy with a dark, ruddy complexion smiled and raised his teacup. "It’s an old family recipe from our shops. Just a humble token of my respect, truly."

This Zhang Bianxiu’s family ran restaurants and pastry shops that were famous not only in the Capital City but throughout all of Great Xia. They offered unique pastries and dishes that even the Imperial Palace kitchens couldn’t replicate.

Sometimes, the value of a gift wasn’t in its price, but in how well it suited the recipient. Some of the officials were scornful, some jealous, and others made lighthearted jokes, filling the hall with a lively buzz.

Deng Yi took a sip of tea and coughed lightly. He lowered his gaze back to the letter and read the words the young woman had written: "To fight means great chaos under heaven, peril in the Border County, shattered morale among the troops, immense suffering for the living, and a populace unable to survive."

War had always been this way; everyone knew that.

An official with a salt-and-pepper beard, his hands tucked in his sleeves and his eyes closed, said flatly, "The compassionate heart of Empress Chu."

"The misplaced kindness of a woman," another official added.

Deng Yi continued to read. "Even if the court’s momentum is unstoppable and its forces are ample, the King of Zhongshan has been building his strength for a long time. Furthermore, the King of Western Liang is gnawing at our borders, refusing to let go. Once war breaks out, the realm will fall into chaos, and it might not be pacified even within the next ten years."

’Where did this young woman get such certainty, to declare that Great Xia was headed for an age of turmoil?’

’Although things were already quite chaotic...’

"With the Grand Tutor, the Xie family, and His Majesty present," an official said in a low voice, "even if Great Xia descends into chaos, it can surely be pacified within one, two, or three years. But if we allow the King of Zhongshan to remain, there will never be peace. It’s better to take decisive action now. A sharp pain is better than a long one. Surely the Empress understands this principle."

’Of course she knew,’ Deng Yi thought, his eyes falling back to the letter. "However, the King of Zhongshan has a rebellious heart, but he lacks a rebellious spine. If we break his momentum now, he will hesitate at every turn, and the court can win victory after victory. This is how you subdue an army without fighting."

Yet another official laughed and shook his head. "None of this matters. His Majesty has already set out on a personal military expedition, and Xie Yanfang’s advance is unstoppable. He is grandly purging the wicked, and everyone can witness the Emperor’s might."

Subduing the enemy without a fight would be like wearing one’s finest silks in the dead of night—Xie Yanfang would never agree to such a thing.

And while they weren’t eager to see the Xie family bask in glory, they couldn’t prevent it. After all, the prestige of the country and its Emperor was at stake.

"His Majesty is leading the expedition in person, yet here we are in the rear, discussing peace with the King of Zhongshan. One can only imagine the infamy we would face."

Besides—

He looked at Deng Yi.

"Grand Tutor, Xie Yanfang is already fixated on your past dealings with the King of Zhongshan."

Previously, he was trying to force Deng Yi to confess to being bribed by the King of Zhongshan in the past. But then Empress Chu’s family fled, their guilty conscience plain for all to see, which meant Deng Yi no longer needed to prove his own innocence.

But if they were to do as Empress Chu proposed now—accept the King of Zhongshan’s surrender without punishment or inquiry, sweeping the whole affair under the rug—Deng Yi would truly be branded as the King of Zhongshan’s lackey.