Chapter 142: A Peerless Beauty
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The tea on the table exuded a faint fragrance, and the room was silent.
Luo Quan stared at Fei Ji for a long time before speaking. “With His Majesty’s wisdom, how could he not see the current state of the empire? If so, why not send the imperial guards to Qingzhou?”
“General Luo, if it were that simple, His Majesty wouldn’t be so furious. The King of Zhao wants nothing more than to divert disaster eastward. If the imperial guards mobilize, the barbarians will surely attack the fiefdoms of the Kings of Yong, Zhao, and Liang to contain them. Do you think they would agree? If His Majesty insists and provokes the barbarians, those kings need only deliberately let the barbarians through to threaten Chang’an directly. Thus, the imperial guards cannot move. The best outcome now is for the King of Wei to assist the Prince of Qi in holding Qingzhou. After all, the King of Wei is powerful among the vassal kings. If he commits fully, defending Cangzhou shouldn’t be a problem.”
“But the King of Wei likely won’t act in good faith,” Luo Quan said, narrowing his eyes.
“It seems General Luo is also a wise man. The whole world can see this clearly—only His Majesty remains blind to the King of Wei’s true nature, too deeply misled. Alas, the pain of Prince Ning’s death has left His Majesty with lingering guilt.” Fei Ji sighed softly.
Luo Quan nodded, secretly admiring Fei Ji. This frail, gaunt man had always been astute in assessing the empire’s situation.
“If that’s the case, what can be done?” Luo Quan asked worriedly. “Isn’t this a deadlock?”
“It is indeed a deadlock, but not necessarily hopeless. Whether the Great Yu Empire can continue to prosper depends on whether the Prince of Qi and the King of Wei can cooperate sincerely. If even they disregard the empire’s peril, the imperial clan is doomed.”
Luo Quan nodded again. “Chief Secretary Fei speaks wisely. His Majesty tacitly allowed my son to go to Qingzhou, likely out of concern.”
Fei Ji smiled. “Enough of this. Come, let’s drink tea. Some matters can only be left to unfold naturally. His Majesty’s considerations are surely the result of deep deliberation.”
Luo Quan agreed, and the two drank tea in silence. Soon, however, a young eunuch arrived with an imperial summons: the emperor wished for them to accompany him on a lake excursion.