"Why are you so confident?" Zheng Congyuan was no longer just offering comfort but was seriously beginning to listen to what Zheng Nianru had to say. Or rather, he had never truly listened to her on these matters before.
Since the rebellion, he knew Zheng Nianru must have had her own thoughts, and it was his negligence of them that had been the issue. At that ti, he couldn’t care for Nianru, but that didn’t an she wouldn’t be worried or afraid.
Now, it seed that Zheng Nianru had not only gotten through the toughest tis but also ford her own opinions.
"Because, from the beginning, Nanzheng State had no choice but to rely on him. The prophecy accurately told us that the fortunes of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan had run out."
Zheng Congyuan did not speak; only he knew that the final confirmation was fake, but he wondered why Zheng Nianru believed in the prophecy so much.
"At the Bu Er Temple—" Zheng Congyuan began to speak slowly.
Zheng Nianru glanced at Zheng Congyuan, did not answer, but instead slowly stood up and took a step forward.
"I will tell Ju Nanyi that as long as he agrees to campaign against the Western Border, and achieve victory, I will agree to him," Zheng Nianru said slowly. Zheng Congyuan instantly stood up, his face changing dramatically, but the next mont, he rembered what Zheng Nianru had just said.
Was it so that they could be together for a long ti?
Zheng Congyuan didn’t know what to say.
"I disagree, I can’t possibly agree," Zheng Congyuan shook his head.
Zheng Nianru turned her head, not refuting directly.
"How much of a chance do we have to win if we, Nanzheng, fight Nann State?" Zheng Nianru asked.
Zheng Congyuan didn’t answer; less than half. And with their rushed preparations, even a fifty percent chance of winning wasn’t certain.
"If Nann Yu knew the reason why Ju Nanyi was heading off to war, do you think he would spare his life?" Zheng Nianru asked again.
Zheng Congyuan looked at the young girl in front of him; if that was the case...
"It would not only hold Ju Nanyi in check, but with his abilities, tying down Nann State for a year or two wouldn’t be a problem, giving us breathing room, then everything becos possible."
Zheng Congyuan fell silent; if there were any other way, any at all, he would not have remained silent.
Zheng Nianru stepped forward.
"Moreover, you still need the person in Ju Nanyi’s hands who can save you." Zheng Nianru stepped forward, took Zheng Congyuan’s hand, "Compared to saving you, what does anything else amount to?"
So, Eunuch Du was not acting out of sheer panic when he ca to him, wanting to give her the news first, waiting for her response.
But Zheng Nianru didn’t care; she rather felt that things were slowly reaching a point where a conclusion was possible, which in turn made her feel relieved and unburdened.
"Nianru—" Zheng Congyuan began, "Perhaps we have other thods, I’m sure..."
Zheng Nianru looked up and smiled faintly; she’d known Zheng Congyuan for so many years, how could she not know that Zheng Congyuan was already hesitating, yes, for the sake of Nanzheng State, and for their future with great odds of success, he seed to have acknowledged her thod.
"I know, but Nann State isn’t giving us ti. If news of discord between the emperor and his advisor spreads now, it would only worsen the situation for Nanzheng," Zheng Nianru said gently, "Trust , Ju Nanyi may be very capable, but in this matter, he doesn’t have the upper hand."
Zheng Congyuan looked at the young girl in front of him, listening to her tender and affectionate voice, which was like a stream washing over his internal organs, easing his tense nerves, knowing only when Zheng Nianru left ho did he manage to pull himself out of his thoughts.
A voice inside Zheng Congyuan’s head urged him to catch up with Nian Ru; no matter what the outco, he shouldn’t let her venture into danger.
But if he had nothing at all, how could he oppose Ju Nanyi?
Zheng Congyuan sat down dejectedly, asking himself over and over again.
If it were him, would he be willing to—like Ju Nanyi—be willing?
...
Ju Nanyi hurried back to his place, where the trusted aides of the Northwest Army, who had all previously served under General Ling of the Jiumu Aristocratic Clan, had been waiting. Ever since General Ling’s death, many of these n had loyally followed Ju Nanyi. As soon as they saw Ju Nanyi appear, they watched him eagerly.
Ju Nanyi didn’t have to ask to know what these people wanted to do.
"Pri Minister—"
"Pri Minister—"
The crowd surrounded him, but Ju Nanyi responded to none and headed straight for the courtyard, with everyone imdiately following him inside.
"Where is he?" Ju Nanyi asked. Things were not going as smoothly as he had anticipated; up to now, Zheng Congyuan had not shown any sign of relenting.
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