Chapter 684 - 680: Possibilities
If he truly understood the Twelfth Princess, how could he not know this was a bad idea?
And with such informed news, how could he not understand the Twelfth Princess?
In summary, it all proves he did this on purpose.
Deliberately causing trouble for himself.
This is the basic operation of Third Prince Chu Liyang, his usual style of doing things.
All the princes avoid him, keeping their distance.
Chu Liyang shook his head: "I mean well, Ninth Brother, take care of yourself."
"What are you all talking about, so lively?" Second Prince Chu Lixuan walked in with a smile and asked curiously.
"Second Brother." Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and smiled.
Chu Lixuan laughed and said: "Ninth Brother, what are you talking about?"
"The matter of the Twelfth Princess of the Phoenix Dynasty."
"Oh, the Yuanzhen Dynasty is also proposing marriage to the Twelfth Princess?" Chu Lixuan asked.
"Second Brother also knows?"
"Just received the news." Chu Lixuan shook his head and said, "This is deliberate, truly provocative!"
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Isn’t the Yuanzhen Dynasty fighting them? Have they negotiated peace?"
"They’ve stopped fighting and are negotiating peace, I hear conditions are similar to ours." Chu Lixuan snorted, "This Phoenix Dynasty is too arrogant."
"Who would let the Phoenix Dynasty be the strongest?" Third Prince Chu Liyang snorted.
"If the Yuanzhen Dynasty has also stopped fighting with the Phoenix Dynasty..." Chu Zhiyuan’s face darkened, slowly saying, "Then it’s almost certain we’ll be at war with the Phoenix Dynasty again."
The Phoenix Dynasty stopped fighting the Jade Dynasty back then because they went to war with the Yuanzhen Dynasty and didn’t want to fight on two fronts.
Even so, harsh conditions were imposed, forcing the Jade Dynasty to agree before stopping the war.
Now that the Yuanzhen Dynasty has also stopped fighting with them, for the Phoenix Dynasty, they can start a war with any dynasty at any time.
The Phoenix Dynasty is the most martial, the most belligerent, never idle.
Chu Zhiyuan speculated that the two dynasties would go to war again.
For the Jade Dynasty, this is indeed a big problem, but for him, it might not be a bad thing or even a fortunate occurrence.
Once war breaks out, the ceasefire treaty between the two dynasties will naturally be torn up, and there will be no need for him as a hostage to go to the Phoenix Dynasty.
"Can’t be, can it?" Second Prince said, "The Phoenix Dynasty should also be greatly weakened, otherwise, they wouldn’t stop fighting so easily."
"Exactly." Third Prince seriously nodded.
Chu Zhiyuan glanced at them, shook his head, and said nothing.
They are too optimistic.
They don’t understand the Phoenix Dynasty.
Through the memories of two Spirit Guards of the Phoenix Dynasty, he gained a deeper understanding of the Phoenix Dynasty, knowing that his earlier understanding was superficial.
The Phoenix Dynasty emphasizes gaining from war, using war to enhance mental state and cultivation, which is their basic cultivation path.
Without war, their progress is slow, even stagnant.
The threshold for becoming a Spirit Guard is too high, those who want to become Spirit Guards but don’t meet the conditions, seek to join the military, fighting on the battlefield to enhance their mental state and cultivation.
The Phoenix Dynasty constantly starts wars, not due to the Court’s will, but because it aligns with the will and interests of all in the Phoenix Dynasty.
The three fell silent.
After a moment, footsteps were heard, and Eldest Prince Chu Liechu strode in.
Chu Zhiyuan and the others clasped fists in salute, greeting, "Big Brother."
Chu Liechu clasped a fist in return, sat down next to Chu Zhiyuan, and closed his eyes to begin cultivation.
Chu Lixuan said, "Big Brother, the Yuanzhen Dynasty’s proposal to the Twelfth Princess of the Phoenix Dynasty is stepping on Ninth Brother’s face, and also on the face of our Jade Dynasty."
Chu Liechu frowned slightly and looked at Chu Zhiyuan.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Big Brother, are you aware?"
"Mm."
"Ninth Brother said the Phoenix Dynasty might go to war with us again." Third Prince Chu Liyang laughed, "Isn’t that impossible?"
Chu Liechu looked at Chu Zhiyuan, "Ninth Brother, are you sure war is imminent?"
Chu Zhiyuan seriously replied, "The Phoenix Dynasty is like a runaway warhorse, or a speeding carriage; it cannot stop, and will surely continue to wage war."
"Will it be with us?"
"Unless it’s with the Yuanzhen Dynasty? Then why ceasefire?"
"...Makes sense." Chu Liechu slowly remarked, "The important ministers in the Court also have such concerns, so we are preparing and constantly transporting military supplies."
"Impossible, isn’t it?" Third Prince Chu Liyang frowned, "It’s been such a short time."
"A genius general suddenly emerged in the Yuanzhen Dynasty, so the Phoenix Dynasty couldn’t gain an advantage and stopped fighting." Chu Liechu seriously said, "Compared to the Yuanzhen Dynasty, our Jade Dynasty is weaker, so they naturally turn on us."
"Can’t we ally with the Yuanzhen Dynasty?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.
"No use." Chu Liyang snorted, "We tried, and both sides together couldn’t beat the Phoenix Dynasty."
Chu Zhiyuan frowned.
It was indeed disheartening to see the Phoenix Dynasty holding its own against two.
"Besides, in an alliance, both sides scheme against each other, wishing the other would expend the Phoenix Dynasty’s strength heavily, reducing their own losses."
Chu Zhiyuan found himself unable to rebut.
"Fortunately, the Phoenix Dynasty doesn’t aim to destroy our two dynasties, waging war without total annihilation." Chu Liechu shook his head, "Let’s forget it, no point in talking about this, better focus on cultivation."
"If war breaks out, I, as a hostage, wouldn’t have to go, right?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.
Chu Liechu nodded, "If war starts before your marriage, you indeed don’t have to go."
"...That’s good." Chu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
There is still a year until the wedding.
Within this year, the two dynasties are sure to go to war, so he wouldn’t become the Prince Consort.
Third Prince Chu Liyang shook his head, "I think it might not happen, the Phoenix Dynasty too needs a break; if Ninth Brother can marry the Twelfth Princess, with her influence, she might affect the Phoenix Dynasty’s decisions, choosing not to fight us, but the Yuanzhen Dynasty instead."
Chu Zhiyuan’s expression changed, "Third Brother, you want me dead!"
This statement is condemnable!
This was pushing him into the fire pit.
Second Prince Chu Lixuan shook his head, "Third Brother, you are still so wicked!"
Chu Liechu watched Chu Zhiyuan thoughtfully, then looked at the Second Prince.
Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "Big Brother, you don’t think it’s reasonable, do you?"
Chu Liechu said formally, "Third Brother’s words aren’t decent, but there is some sense to them."
Chu Zhiyuan sneered, "Big Brother, you want me dead too?"
"If it’s possible, you should marry early," Chu Liechu remarked, "See if Ninth Brother can turn the tide."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "I don’t have such ability."
"Ninth Brother, you’re not the same as before," Chu Liechu laughed, "If it were before, definitely no such expectations, now there is a glimmer of hope."
Chu Zhiyuan sneered repeatedly, "For that glimmer of hope, disregard my life?"
"Don’t worry, Ninth Brother, the more dangerous it is, the less likely you are to die," Chu Liechu said, "Father will give you a treasure to save your life, a precious item allowing you to escape at a critical moment."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "If they want to kill me deliberately, I’m afraid the treasure won’t work."
"Let’s see Father’s arrangement," Chu Liechu concluded.
Chu Zhiyuan looked increasingly grim and sullen.
They were all on edge.
Knowing his old temperament was acting up, he was about to cause a scene, defying everything.
In such circumstances, it’s wise to best avoid.
Thus resolved, they sat down, closed their eyes, and began their cultivation, saying nothing.
Chu Zhiyuan glared fiercely at the Eldest Prince, then at the Third Prince, his gaze intense.