Tiger Owl

Chapter 282 Persuading Shangxiang to Stop
Gan Ning pondered for a moment, "The situation in Jiangdong is not good now. Cao Zhi has personally arrived in Jiangdong."

Sun Shangxiang's heart skipped a beat. 'Cao Zhi!' Could it be...?
“Miss Sun, Cao Zhi’s arrival in Jiangdong is of great significance!” Gan Ning said calmly.

Gan Ning had always called her Shangxiang, but now he suddenly started calling her Miss Sun. Sun Shangxiang felt a sudden, indescribable sense of loss, but it was immediately replaced by a strong sense of crisis.

"Mmm!" she replied softly, waiting for Gan Ning to continue.

Gan Ning then said slowly, "Nominally, it was Sun Ben who attacked Jiangdong, and Cao Cao's army was also fighting under Sun Ben's banner. So after taking Jiangdong, it should belong to Sun Ben and have nothing to do with Cao Cao. But now that Cao Zhi has arrived, it means that Cao Cao has torn off the pretense and directly took over, kicking Sun Ben aside. So Jiangdong may not have a Sun family regime anymore."

Sun Shangxiang's eyes suddenly reddened. Was the foundation built by her father and brother just going to be lost like this?

Her voice trembled, "Is there...not even a sliver of hope left?"

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps a shell will be left, but it will only be a shell."

Xu Wei, standing nearby, asked in confusion, "Husband, what do you mean by 'empty shell'?"

Gan Ning smiled and said, "It depends on how Cao Cao's army takes Dantu County. If they take it directly, then the Jiangdong regime will cease to exist. But if they take Dantu County through negotiations, then Cao Cao might save face and delay for a year or two, leaving Jiangdong as an empty shell to silence public opinion. After all, he signed an agreement. But even if it's just an empty shell, it won't last more than three years."

Sun Shangxiang suddenly asked, "Have they started negotiating yet? What about those men in black today?"

Gan Ning glanced at her, his gaze so sharp it seemed he could see right through her.

Gan Ning had already told Xu Wei that the men in black were there to take Sun Shangxiang back to Jiangdong. Sun Shangxiang knew this, of course. Now that she was suddenly asking this question, Gan Ning knew what she was thinking. She wanted to sacrifice herself to save Jiangdong, even if it was just an empty shell.

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, “Miss Sun, I understand what you mean. I will not interfere with your choices and decisions, but I have to tell you the truth. Those men in black today are not your brother’s men, but Sun Ben’s men. Sun Ben wants to capture you and hand you over to Cao Zhi. In addition, the empty shell of Jiangdong does not belong to your brother, but to Sun Ben. This is what Cao Cao promised him.”

Sun Shangxiang's pretty face turned deathly pale in an instant, and she couldn't utter a single word.

After a while, she stood up and whispered, "I'm going back now!"

Sun Shangxiang left looking dejected, and Xu Wei then asked, "Husband, what about Shangxiang?"

"She wanted to sacrifice herself to marry Cao Zhi in order to save Jiangdong."

Xu Wei nodded. "Is she really likely to do that?"

Gan Ning sighed, "She can't save Jiangdong. Jiangdong is finished. Even if it recovers for two or three years, the shell will still belong to Sun Ben, and it has nothing to do with her brother."

"What about the Xu family?"

“The Xu family will be fine. Your father is a high-ranking official in the court, and the Xu family has a high reputation in Jiangdong. Cao Cao will only try to win over the Xu family. If I’m not mistaken, Xu Kun will continue to serve as the governor of a prefecture.”

Xu Wei's tense mood finally relaxed, and she stood up and said, "I'll go see Shang Xiang."

"Go!"

Gan Ning watched Xu Wei leave, without telling him that he also wanted to participate in the struggle for Jiangdong.

At this moment, Da Qiao walked in, carrying a cup of tea.

"How did your conversation with them go, husband?"

"Yunqing is fine, but Shangxiang is a bit emotionally unstable and has some very dangerous ideas."

"What dangerous idea is she thinking?" Da Qiao asked. "She wants to sacrifice herself to become Cao Zhi's concubine in order to save Jiangdong."

"how is this possible?"

Da Qiao shook her head. "How could Cao Cao possibly give up Jiangdong for a woman? That idea of ​​hers is too foolish."

"Those involved are often blinded by their own perspective!"

Gan Ning sighed softly, "She really wants to do something for the family, even if it's wrong, she wants to try!"

Da Qiao pondered for a moment and said to Gan Ning, "Husband, please accept her! I am willing to accept this younger sister; this is the only way to prevent her from doing anything foolish."

Gan Ning nodded silently; he needed to think about this matter further.

Xu Wei arrived at Sun Shangxiang's room and found her still sitting blankly on the bed, her eyes empty.

Xu Wei sat down beside her, gently took her hand, and said softly, "Shangxiang, I know you're sad, but wealth and status are just external things. The most important thing is that my family and I can live peacefully. Try to think more positively."

Sun Shangxiang slowly turned her head to look at Xu Wei, her eyes reddening, and choked up as she said, "Father and brother worked so hard to start their business, but it's all gone in the blink of an eye. I'm really sad and want to do something, even if it means suffering a lot."

"I know you want to save Jiangdong and are willing to sacrifice yourself to marry Cao Zhi as a concubine, but have you thought about whether Jiangdong can be saved if you marry him? Even if Jiangdong is just an empty shell for two or three years, it will still belong to Sun Ben. Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for Sun Ben?"

Sun Shangxiang gently shook her head, "Of course I don't want to!"

"That's it! Your sacrifice for Sun Ben is the greatest disgrace to your father and brothers!"

Sun Shangxiang was jolted awake. Xu Wei's words had a sudden realization, as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Yes! Some foolish things should not be done.

At this moment, a maid came in and whispered a few words to Xu Wei. Xu Wei nodded and said softly to Sun Shangxiang, "My husband is waiting for you outside. He wants to talk to you."

"what!"

Sun Shangxiang was startled and quickly stood up. She glanced at Xu Wei, who gently nudged her, "Go!"

Sun Shangxiang walked out of the courtyard and saw Gan Ning standing at the door, looking at her gently. She felt a little flustered and quickly lowered her head to walk forward.

"Let's take a walk!"

Gan Ning's voice was gentle, with a hint of concern. Sun Shangxiang nodded silently and followed Gan Ning for a walk along the path in the back garden.

Soon they arrived at the vegetable field. Looking at the thriving melon vines that had been carefully tended by Sun Shangxiang, Gan Ning finally spoke, his voice low and his tone slow.

"My veteran general Huang Zhong and his wife once had a son. From pregnancy to birth, they raised him. That child was their greatest hope and their greatest source of comfort. But when the child was nine years old, he unfortunately fell ill and passed away. The couple never had another child. Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the couple still live happily together, supporting each other through thick and thin."

At this point, Gan Ning turned to look at her, his eyes filled with concern and encouragement.

"I just want to tell you that everyone will experience various pains and setbacks in their lives, but we still need to live well, let go of what we have lost, and seek new hope and new sustenance. Although Jiangdong is gone, you will have a life that is more worthy of your cherishing. Perhaps this new life has not yet appeared, but perhaps it is right in front of you. Do you understand what I mean?"

Tears streamed silently down Sun Shangxiang's face as she tightly embraced Gan Ning's waist, pressing her face against his chest. Her tears quickly soaked through the front of his robe.

(End of this chapter)