The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Chapter 1757 Mature and Prudent

So he didn't care at all that Ge Dongqing was crying. Let him cry, let him go about his business. He figured if he couldn't get rid of him, he'd let him cry it out. He believed that eventually, everyone would tire of crying. As the emperor, he had done all he could. He had already made arrangements for the forty-seven people who died saving Ge Dongqing, as requested, and he had granted Ge Dongqing a month's leave to recuperate at home. But Ge Dongqing insisted on venting his emotions right under his nose! Since Ge Dongqing was so heartbroken, he, as his elder brother, couldn't possibly say anything harsh. He could only let him be.

Suiying couldn't hold back any longer: "Your Majesty, why don't we send Lord Ge as an envoy to the Southern Yan Kingdom? The Southern Yan Kingdom has repeatedly sought peace and promised to cede several cities to us as tribute. Guanri, which is rich in saltpeter, is already something we have ceded. Doesn't Your Majesty also intend to cease hostilities and allow the troops to recuperate? The Southern Yan Kingdom is very sincere; they are willing to send a princess to marry into the kingdom."

Wan Lianxing shook his head slightly. "What use is it to send a princess? Is it because I am so lucky, or because that brat You Ning can consummate the marriage? In my opinion, it is an insult to me. And the monarch of the Southern Yan Kingdom, I heard he doesn't even have hair on his head. How can his daughter be beautiful?"

Suiying had an idea. "Your Majesty, why don't we send our attendants to see if the Southern Yan Kingdom has any outstanding princesses?"

Wan Lianxing stood still and said frugally, "What's the use of being outstanding? I've already said it, we don't need it, so why bother making that trip?"

"Your Majesty, why not take advantage of this opportunity? Sending your attendants on the trip won't take much effort. Yihe must have the Southern Yan Kingdom send a princess. This is the rule of every dynasty, and we, Fengqi, cannot be outdone."

Sui Ying spoke with conviction and his words were quite persuasive; Wan Lianxing had already been swayed by him.

"A trip is fine, to investigate the sincerity and true intentions of Yihe in the southern Yan Kingdom, and while I'm at it, to check on that brat Sui Dan for me."

Upon hearing that they were going to see Sui Dan, his attendants ran out from behind, with Cheng Youning by his side.

The attendant asked, "When do we depart?"

Wan Lianxing said, "Look at you, the sooner the better. The letter says that Sui Dan wants to eat crabs from Fengying. It's autumn, and the crabs in the city are at their fattest."

The attendant rolled his eyes. "Your Majesty, you're not going to ask me to bring him crabs, are you? I'm not going to bring them from that far away."

"Then bring him some crab roe!"

The attendant said, "I reluctantly put a jar of crab roe on his head."

Cheng Youning finally found an opportunity to interject, "Since my master is going south, I'll go with him too. It'll be good to have company on the road."

Wan Lianxing rolled his eyes at Cheng Youning, then his gaze fell back on the memorial.

Cheng Youning was good at reading people's expressions. He could tell that his great-uncle was not going to agree, so he tilted his head and pleaded with his great-uncle, "Great-uncle, I also want to go see Dandan. He said in his letter that there are many rare and exotic animals in his hometown. If there is anything that catches your eye, I'll bring some back for you. I also want to visit the royal palace of the Southern Yan Kingdom. Bajiao has been there for two or three years now. I wonder how she is doing."

"You want to walk into the lion's den!" Wan Lianxing's tone was one of strong disagreement.

"Grandpa, I'm fairly skilled. Be careful to protect yourself. If you don't believe me, ask my master."

The attendant said, "My disciple is right. It's time to take him out and test his lightness skill."

Wan Lianxing looked at the master and apprentice, both of them seemingly determined to go. He wondered how Cheng Youning had managed to please the attendant so much that the attendant had decided to take him along to the Southern Yan Kingdom. The attendant was always willful and capricious, and Wan Lianxing often couldn't do anything about him, since he couldn't catch or beat him. However, if he didn't agree, the two of them wouldn't dare to travel far without permission.

Wan Lianxing said, "We petition that the land is vast and rich in resources, so we don't need to travel south to test our lightness skills! I do not agree to your going!"

Ge Dongqing, who had been crying uncontrollably, stood up. "Brother, let me go on this trip south. So many people saved my life; I cannot stand idly by!"

Wan Lianxing said, "You have just returned from your mission. The journey was fraught with danger but you escaped unscathed. You should stay by my side and rest. If you want to share my burdens, there will be other opportunities in the future!"

“Brother, I am feeling down and have lost my appetite. If you would be so kind as to send me on a mission to the Southern Yan Kingdom to serve you.”

Wan Lianxing thought it was better to go out. With the whole city in turmoil, it was Lu Siniang's husband who saved people. Ge Dongqing was indeed in a difficult position. So he ordered, "Attendant, you will escort Dongqing to the Southern Yan Kingdom."

The attendant was astonished. He was the emperor's personal bodyguard. "You want me to escort an envoy?"

Wan Lianxing said, "Since you also want to go to Sui Dan's place, you can go with Dong Qing."

The attendant vehemently objected, “How can I go with him? If I set off now, I can drink and chat with Sui Dan at dinner, visit Sui Ming and Sui Xin at the military camp at night, and make a trip to the royal palace of the Southern Yan Kingdom the next day. You can see me at dinner tomorrow. If you ask me to escort him, when will we ever be back?”

Ge Dongqing also made it clear that he had to go. "Brother, even if I have to go alone on horseback, I will go to the Southern Yan Kingdom. If I encounter any Yato people, I will fight them to the death."

Wan Lianxing also made his stance clear: "If you two are going, then go together; if you're not going, then you two will both stay by my side."

Suiying chimed in, "Your Majesty, if we don't go, how will we know what the princess of the Southern Yan Kingdom looks like!"

Wan Lianxing said, "It is because the Southern Yan Kingdom is no match for my pleas that it has taken the initiative to make peace. If their sincerity is lacking again, then let's continue fighting. I don't care about wasting more explosives. I am willing to agree to the peace because I care about the soldiers who have been guarding the border for many years. This war has lasted for seven years, and it is time for a truce to allow them to recuperate. If their terms are not sincere, I am willing to fight them to the end, including those who cause trouble."

Ge Dongqing was the first to speak up, "My attendants may or may not go, but I must go."

The attendant protested: "How can I say I can go or not go? I'm going to see people. I'll go see Sui Dan first, and when I get to the camp, I'll also see Sui Ming and Sui Xin."

Ge Dongqing said, "The people you want are all with us in Fengqi, so there's no need for them to go to the Southern Yan Kingdom. But I am an envoy, and my trip is destined to take me to the Southern Yan Kingdom."

The attendant stroked his chin: "That's really true! When you go to the Southern Smoke Kingdom, we'll split into two groups and each go our own way."

Cheng Youning protested, "What about me? What am I supposed to do? I still need to go see the banana trees!"

Wan Lianxing looked at Cheng Youning and said, "You'd better wait and see how you marry the princess of the Southern Yan Kingdom!"

"Another wedding?"

Wan Lianxing continued to look down at the memorials on the dragon table, and casually said, "Yes, there will be many more such things in the future. Grandson, there's no need to make such a fuss. You are the Crown Prince, the heir apparent I have begged you to be. You must remain calm and composed in the face of any danger, and always be mature and prudent."