NCCnovel Chapter 36 Who is the real chess player?
Chapter 36 Who is the real chess player?
"Thirty-six concubines in the harem, reveling every night, drunk in the Qionghua Palace, sleeping in the Imperial Garden."
Li Chunfeng's voice was calm, yet every word struck like a hammer blow, resonating deep within people's hearts: "Does the Crown Prince think such a ruler is worthy of ruling this vast empire? Is he worthy of governing the people of this land?"
"Your Majesty is the legitimate son of the late Emperor, and his claim is perfectly legitimate," Xu Longxiang said in a deep voice, his tone so calm that no emotion could be discerned.
"Righteous and justified?" Li Chunfeng shook his head slightly. "If one's virtue does not match one's position, then this legitimacy and justification is nothing but a death warrant. Your Highness, I have not come here today with empty words."
He flicked his sleeve slightly.
A piece of silk, as thin as a cicada's wing, drifted down silently and landed precisely on the small rosewood table between the two people.
On the silk, simple lines outlined with cinnabar clearly depict a military deployment map!
Xu Longxiang's gaze sharpened.
The map shows the garrison situation, the names of the generals, and even the rotation time of the seven important towns along the Lancang River in the eastern border of the Qin Dynasty!
Much of the information was more detailed and accurate than what he obtained through spies in the Northern Army!
"This is..." Xu Longxiang raised his eyes and looked at Li Chunfeng.
"A token of my sincerity," Li Chunfeng said calmly.
"Her Majesty the Empress said that if the Crown Prince is willing, Li Yang can deploy 200,000 troops on the east bank of the Lancang River to contain the Qin army's eastern border defenses. At that time, whatever the Crown Prince wants to do, the pressure will be much less."
Xu Longxiang's heart pounded.
Two hundred thousand troops are needed to hold them back!
This is undoubtedly a tremendous help!
If that's the case, when he marches south, the eastern border will be unable to look west, and the capital will be like a turtle in a jar!
But his expression remained unchanged; instead, he slightly furrowed his brow.
"I don't understand what you mean, Daoist. The deployment of troops on the border by Liyang is a matter for your country. What does it have to do with my northern border? I only know how to guard the northern gate and defend against the Northern Barbarians. Other national affairs are for the court to decide."
He was pretending to be stupid, but he was also bargaining.
The benefits are clear, but what about the risks? What about the conditions? Are you trying to get me on board with just empty promises?
Li Chunfeng gave him a deep look, then suddenly took something out of his pocket and placed it on the silk.
It was a jade pendant.
The jade pendant is entirely emerald green, carved into the shape of a qilin, and gleams with a warm luster under the dim light. On the back of the pendant is an ancient seal script character "Xu," written with strong, elegant strokes.
Xu Longxiang's pupils suddenly contracted!
He had seen this jade pendant before!
In the secret room of his father Xu Xiao's study, it was enshrined alongside the iron certificate!
My father once said that this was a token given to me by the late Emperor of Liyang when I was sent as an envoy in my early years. With this jade pendant, I could make a request to Liyang.
Xu Xiao treasured it, saying he would leave it to his descendants for use in critical moments.
Now, this jade pendant has ended up in Li Chunfeng's hands! And judging from the situation, it was sent at the behest of Empress Li Yang!
"This jade pendant is the result of a pact between Prince Xu Xiao and my late Emperor Li Yang."
Li Chunfeng slowly said, "Her Majesty the Empress said that today, with this jade pendant as proof, she makes another promise to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince succeeds, Li Yang is willing to share the Central Plains with the Great Qin, with the Lancang River as the boundary. From now on, the two countries will forever be brotherly nations, jointly resisting foreign enemies."
Divide the Central Continent equally!
Even with Xu Longxiang's unwavering will, he couldn't help but catch his breath at this moment.
The Central Plains are rich and prosperous, and are the foundation of the Great Qin.
If he could acquire half of it, along with the three northern states, the Xu family would instantly become a formidable force capable of rivaling Li Yang!
The temptation is too great!
A long silence fell over the hall.
Occasionally, the lamp flame would burst open, producing a faint crackling sound.
Xu Longxiang's gaze darted back and forth between the silk and the jade pendant, his mind rapidly weighing the options.
The conditions for leaving Yang are unbelievably favorable.
Restraining the Eastern Frontier and dividing the Central Continent... it practically paved the way for him, just waiting for him to raise his arms and call to arms.
But, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang is no easy opponent.
She endured five years of hardship before wiping out five princes in one fell swoop. Her ruthlessness and cunning were unparalleled throughout history.
Why would she be so generous in helping her potential future rival?
There must be a deeper calculation behind this.
Perhaps she wanted to use one tiger to devour another, causing both herself and Qin Mu to suffer heavy losses so that she could reap the benefits.
Perhaps she wanted to use him to get rid of Qin Mu first, and then turn around and punish him for "killing the emperor and rebelling," thus gaining both fame and fortune?
Or perhaps she has other plans, and I am just a pawn on her chessboard?
Risks and opportunities coexist.
Refusing might mean missing a great opportunity.
Accepting it might lead you into a trap.
Xu Longxiang closed his eyes, and images flashed through his mind: Jiang Qingxue's pale and haggard face, his father's unwilling gaze before his death, the eager eyes of 300,000 soldiers in the Northern Border, and even the languid yet unfathomable young face in the Golden Palace...
When he opened his eyes again, they were clear and decisive.
He reached out and picked up the emerald green jade pendant with a unicorn design, feeling the warmth and smoothness of the jade with his fingertips, and also sensing the towering waves it represented.
"Her Majesty the Empress's kindness, Li Yang's sincerity, Long Xiang..." he began slowly, carefully considering each word, "I am deeply grateful."
Li Chunfeng looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
"However," Xu Longxiang changed the subject, gently placing the jade pendant back on the table, "this matter is of utmost importance, involving the fate of the nation and the family. It is difficult for me alone to make a decision. I need to discuss it carefully with my civil and military officials. I humbly request that you grant me some more time."
He neither agreed nor refused.
He's dragging his feet.
They bought time to observe Li Yang's subsequent actions, investigate Qin Mu's true background, and at the same time, accelerate their own plans.
A knowing glint flashed in Li Chunfeng's eyes, as if he had already anticipated this.
"Your Highness's prudence is an essential quality for those who achieve great things."
He didn't pressure him; instead, he nodded in approval.
"This matter certainly requires careful consideration. Her Majesty the Empress has also said that there is no need to rush. This jade pendant will remain with the Crown Prince for now. The information on the silk can be verified by the Crown Prince at his own pace."
He stood up, his Taoist robe fluttering even without wind: "This old Taoist has achieved his purpose for this trip and cannot linger any longer. The Qinglan Sword Sect's gathering is on the seventh day of the seventh month; I presume the young master will also attend?"
Xu Longxiang's heart stirred, but he remained expressionless: "The Sword Sect's grand gathering is attracting worldwide attention. If I have the time, I might go to attend, to repay the kindness of your guidance back then."
"Very good." Li Chunfeng gave him a meaningful look. "That old Taoist priest may meet with the young master again at Qinglan Mountain."
After he finished speaking, his figure gradually faded away, like ink dissolving into the night, and disappeared without a trace in a few breaths.
The flame of that solitary lamp flickered, then returned to its upright position.
Inside the hall, only Xu Longxiang remained, facing the silk and jade pendants on the table, amidst the complete silence.
He picked up the jade pendant and held it tightly in his palm, the coolness of the jade seeping into his skin.
"Zhao Qingxue..." he murmured the name of the Empress of Liyang, his eyes flashing with a mixture of coldness and ambition. "You want to borrow my blade, and why can't I borrow your power?"
"The game of chess in this world is becoming more and more interesting."
"Qin Mu, Zhao Qingxue... and me, Xu Longxiang."
"Who will ultimately sit in the player's seat?"
He looked south, his gaze seemingly piercing through the heavy night, landing on the majestic imperial city, and on a solitary figure leaning against a window in Yuxiu Palace, gazing at the moon.
As the night deepened, the solitary lamp in Zhenyue Hall remained lit throughout the night.