I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 217 Letting His Wife
Seeing that Fu Mingchi's expression had softened, Ye Wanshu continued to persuade him, "His Majesty has waited for many years and finally welcomed His Highness to Lin'an. He certainly does not want His Highness's arrival to make Lin'an even more chaotic."

Although Fu Mingchi listened to her words, he felt somewhat resentful: "Could it be that Wan'er really wants to go to the Northern Border?"

Ye Wanshu shook her head: "I promised Your Highness that I would face whatever happens with you from now on. Of course, I will not let Your Highness be sad again. Although I am a woman, I know that our country and Daqiu can no longer maintain peace by simply showing weakness through marriage. Only by fighting to the death can we regain our national prestige."

Pulling him toward Mu Cang Zhai, Ye Wanshu said as they walked, "However, the hearts of the people in the Daye Dynasty are not all like those of the Yuezhou army. If we cannot unite the civil and military officials, it will be difficult to win with just Your Highness's enthusiasm. If we rashly kill that Princess Daqiu today, it will only plunge the entire court into a state of panic and chaos."

She kept spouting these grand principles, and although Fu Mingchi didn't understand what she was really up to, he began to feel uneasy.

He suddenly picked her up and said with a wary look in his eyes, "Wan'er is clever and quick-witted. I will remember the principles you have taught me today, but there is one thing: you must not gamble with yourself again."

Ye Wanshu blinked: "Your Highness cares about me, so naturally I cannot disobey Your Highness."

As she spoke, she gave him a playful smile: "So this time I want to use Your Highness as a wager."

"you……"

Fu Mingchi's mind raced, and he roughly understood what she meant: "You want me to curry favor with the enemies of my Yongning Prince's Mansion."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes were filled with anger: "What kind of bad idea is this, Wan'er? Our marriage should have been completed in Yuezhou long ago. Now His Majesty is hoping that we can continue the royal line as soon as possible. How could you have such thoughts at this time? I only wish I could kill that enemy princess with my own hands right now."

"Your Highness taught me how to kill today, and I think that sometimes it is the best way to protect myself. But I believe that occasionally showing weakness can also achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Ye Wanshu patiently persuaded, "Since the entire court is hoping for peace talks, why not let them experience the fear of being controlled in advance? As long as they have the will to rise up and resist, and everyone is of one mind, Your Highness will be able to get the strongest support for your northern expedition."

Hearing this, Fu Mingchi finally understood her thoughts: "My Wan'er is truly not an ordinary woman."

After saying that, he glanced at her with ill intent: "But Wan'er, aren't you afraid that I'll actually fall for that vixen?"

Ye Wanshu wasn't worried at all. If the person she valued changed his mind so easily, especially since he was her enemy, then such a person was completely unworthy of her trust.

Therefore, she had nothing to be sad about; on the contrary, it was Consort Zhang and the Duke of Ningguo who were in utter despair.

Compared to whether Fu Mingchi and Princess Daqiu would develop a real-life relationship, Ye Wanshu was more worried about Mu Qingqing. She and the Lady Hou had relied on each other for many years, and if she learned of her mother's tragic death, she would be heartbroken.

Gently holding Fu Mingchi's hand, Ye Wanshu said with a firm gaze, "Since I dared to make this suggestion, I am completely at ease. Your Highness should go to the palace as soon as possible. His Majesty needs Your Highness at this time."

After saying that, he deliberately added, "Your Highness must put aside today's grudges. No matter what harsh conditions the Daqiu people propose, Your Highness must agree to them."

Now that he knows Wan'er's thoughts, Fu Mingchi naturally knows what to do next.

He boasted that he was more experienced than Wan'er in manipulating people.

He lightly kissed her forehead and said with a faint smile, "Wan'er has gone to such great lengths, so of course I won't let you down."

The two parted reluctantly, and Fu Mingchi headed straight for the palace.

When I rushed to the Qianqing Palace, I saw that the area outside the hall was filled with kneeling court officials.

Upon seeing Fu Mingchi, everyone kowtowed and pleaded, "We beg Prince Yongning to prioritize the stability of the nation, hand over Princess Jinghe, and persuade His Majesty to agree to the peace talks with the Daqiu people."

"Are you in such a hurry to make peace?" Fu Mingchi's eyes were filled with mockery. "Or do you think that by groveling and fawning over the Daqiu people, their iron cavalry will retreat beyond Tiemu Pass?" "Your Highness, the Mu family army is so brave and skilled in battle, yet it is no match for the Daqiu iron cavalry. One hundred thousand soldiers were wiped out by the Daqiu people in the blink of an eye. If you gamble everything, does Your Highness have any chance of defeating the Daqiu iron cavalry?"

Second Grand Secretary Li Youzhen earnestly advised, "If not, Your Highness, please reconsider. Otherwise, who knows how many more people will become victims of the Daqiu people's swords."

Knowing that these guys had been completely demoralized by the Daqiu people and had no will to fight, placing all their hopes on humiliating peace, Fu Mingchi looked at the large group of courtiers in front of the hall with disdain: "Is this what you all think?"

The crowd responded in unison, "Your Highness, please consider the greater good."

“Very well.” Fu Mingchi smiled and said, “Since everyone agrees, I will certainly go in and persuade His Majesty.”

His eyes turned cold, and he forced himself to suppress his anger as he stepped into the Qianqing Palace.

Inside the candlelit hall, Emperor Zhaolie sat on the ground, looking utterly dejected and haggard.

Upon seeing Fu Mingchi enter, Emperor Zhaolie, leaning against the corner of the dragon table, coughed incessantly and staggered to his feet.

“Nephew, you must already know what’s happening outside,” Emperor Zhaolie said with a grim face. “These spineless cowards are trying to force me to hand over the ancestral legacy to the northern invaders.”

He thought Fu Mingchi would stand with him against the common enemy, but what he heard next enraged Emperor Zhaolie.

"Your Majesty, it is merely a matter of submitting to the emperor, and it is the common wish of the court officials. Why must Your Majesty continue to act unilaterally? Why not follow the will of the people?" Fu Mingchi advised calmly.

"Mingchi, you..." Emperor Zhaolie was deeply disappointed, his brows furrowing deeply.

Seeing that the man's face showed no sign of anything amiss, Emperor Zhaolie suddenly felt that something was wrong.

He and Jinghe were deeply in love, so how could he be willing to send her to the northern border for a political marriage?

"Have you met Jinghe?" Emperor Zhaolie asked thoughtfully.

Fu Mingchi nodded: "It is precisely because the princess is so wise and righteous that she advised me to persuade His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the worry on Emperor Zhaolie's face gradually dissipated, and he nodded without hesitation: "In that case, summon the ministers and the Daqiu delegation to an audience."

Before long, the princess of Daqiu led her delegation into the Qianqing Palace with an air of arrogance.

The moment Princess Daqiu's gaze fell upon Fu Mingchi, she was completely dumbfounded.

Li Youzhen had been watching silently for a long time. Noticing the lecherous look in Princess Daqiu's eyes, she quickly stepped forward and whispered a reminder: "Princess, His Majesty and Prince Yongning have both agreed to peace talks. Please send a letter to your sovereign as soon as possible to request that he withdraw his troops."

Princess Daqiu stared intently at Fu Mingchi, slowly leaning closer, and said with eyes full of infatuation, "I have long heard that the Prince of Yongning of the Daye Dynasty is handsome and dashing. I suppose Your Highness is him?"

Fu Mingchi simply nodded in response, and then said bluntly, "Your Majesty and I agree to peace talks, but there is one condition: Jinghe is already my wife, and it is absolutely impossible for her to be sent to your country for a marriage alliance."

“But my elder brother, the Crown Prince, has already taken a liking to this woman,” Princess Daqiu retorted without backing down. “Since Your Highness has agreed to peace talks, offering your own wife to my brother would only further demonstrate Your Highness’s sincerity in the peace talks.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Mingchi's calm eyes were clearly tinged with anger.