No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

Just as Emperor Wu issued an edict to punish Yue Zhanpeng, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the palace.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Su Chuang looked closely and saw that it was Chen Luyu, the Minister of Rites, who was holding a memorial to the throne.

"Rise..."

Emperor Wu said calmly. After this interruption, he calmed down and began to think about how to deal with Yue Zhanpeng in order to maximize his interests!

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Before Chen Luyu could even stand up straight, she bowed again and said.

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu envoy has written down all the contents of this discussion in this booklet."

After he finished speaking, he quickly offered it with both hands.

During this time, he didn't forget to give Yue Zhanpeng a reassuring look.

Su Chuang instantly realized that the two were on the same side.

If he remembers correctly, Chen Luyu has a beautiful daughter who married the second prince as his principal wife.

The Second Prince is also one of the few princes of the first rank, and his title is Xiao!

His full name is Lin Xiao!

"This is outrageous!"

Emperor Wu slammed the memorial onto the table, his chest heaving.

This was the second time he had lost his temper today, throwing the memorial at Su Chuang's feet.

"hiss…"

Su Chuang didn't dare to delay and quickly picked it up to read.

He hadn't forgotten that he was fully in charge of this negotiation.

Unexpectedly, just one day later, Wanyan Zongbi regained his composure and signaled that negotiations were possible.

"First, provide 30 million dan of grain free of charge!"

"Secondly, warhorses can be exchanged for armor at a ratio of one to three."

"Third, it is required to reduce the number of soldiers stationed in the northern border region, especially at Yumen Pass, to no more than 30,000."

Su Chuang glanced at it and sneered inwardly.

He never expected that the conditions proposed by the Xiongnu were simply outlandish.

Does Wanyan Zongbi think Su Chuang is a fool, or does he think the entire Daqian Dynasty is a fat sheep to be slaughtered?

It seems we need to find a way to break the deadlock outside of negotiations and turn the tables!

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"We should send the Duke of Xin to negotiate with Wanyan Zongbi as soon as possible, instead of making a mountain out of a molehill and playing word games here."

Chen Luyu succinctly described the crimes committed by Yue Zhanpeng and his son in just a few words.

Su Chuang instantly realized that experience truly matters.

"Hmm...that's true, but mistakes should be punished, otherwise where is my authority!"

Emperor Wu was furious and definitely needed to vent his anger on someone, and Yue Zhanpeng was the perfect target.

"By imperial decree, Yue Zhanpeng and Yue Xinyang have shown no respect for the law, knowingly violated the law, and neglected their duties."

"Furthermore, it constitutes the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

Yue Zhanpeng, kneeling below, trembled, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"Considering that you have worked hard even if you haven't made any great contributions, we can treat you leniently."

"He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment!"

"His salary will be deducted for three years, and he will be disqualified from being promoted to Minister of War!"

"His son, Yue Xinyang, will never be employed!"

"Any repeat offender will have their entire family executed!"

After Emperor Wu finished speaking in a cold voice, he already had a suitable candidate in mind for the position of Minister of War, and it was time to bring him out.

He began paving the way for his chosen heir.

"minister…"

By the time Emperor Wu finished reading the decree, Yue Zhanpeng had collapsed to the ground, unable to speak coherently.

"Father, although Lord Yue is guilty, considering his many years of hard work, I have a suggestion."

At this moment, Su Chuang stepped forward half a step and bowed.

He looked up and saw the hope that instantly lit up Yue Zhanpeng's eyes, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

"How about sending Young Master Yue... to the Jade Gate Pass in the northern frontier to serve as a border guard?"

"Let him make amends for his mistakes, to show the Emperor's magnanimity!"

As soon as Su Chuang finished speaking, Yue Zhanpeng's face turned even paler, as if he were about to die at any moment.

Northern Xinjiang?

That was the place where he personally or indirectly committed countless sins, and it was also the place where Su Chuang's father, Su Zhenbei, died in battle!

Sending Yue Xinyang there would be either suicide or...

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

However, Yue Zhanpeng dared not resist, fearing that Su Chuang would suggest even more ruthless punishments.

Since this was the imperial palace, he quickly crawled out on his knees.

Today, I really tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead.

Not only did it not cause any harm to Su Chuang, it also completely shut down his own and his descendants' official careers.

Fortunately, he is still alive; unfortunately, he can only live in constant fear and anxiety.

In a place like Beijing, where people devour each other without spitting out the bones, I don't know how long I could survive.

I can only hope that Yue Xinyang can find a glimmer of hope under Ye Qingyue's protection.

"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now."

Having achieved her goal, Chen Luyu quickly took her leave.

"Um…"

Emperor Wu did not stop him.

He understood that these people were all seasoned veterans who wouldn't put in any effort unless it threatened their own interests.

"Xiao Chuang, are you confident about this negotiation?"

This is what Emperor Wu is most worried about right now.

We cannot start a war in the northern border region now, otherwise we will lose more than we win, and the Xiongnu will easily break through the Yumen Pass.

"Your Majesty, I have done my utmost..."

Su Chuang didn't speak definitively. He already had an idea in mind, but he still needed to discuss it with Jia Xu and refine it.

"Um…"

"However, today you have successfully done me a favor. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

"It's not still gold, is it?"

Emperor Wu pondered for a moment, then grinned.

"Father understands his son best."

"Your subject only likes gold and such things, things that are yellow and white."

Su Chuang reverted to his usual street rogue demeanor, laughing it off.

Now that Yue Fei has the time, it's time to start preparing to train his private army!

As one of the three Dukes of the Great Qian Dynasty, Su Chuang was entitled to command a private army of three hundred men.

We must be armed to the teeth, each one as strong as ten, or even one hundred!

Take the elite force route!

"Very well, I will reward you with another 30,000 taels of gold as a reward."

Emperor Wu chuckled.

He likes people who are openly greedy for money; they are easy to control.

If Su Chuang hadn't performed so poorly in his daily life, he might have been groomed to become the new crown prince.

"Thank you, Father..."

Su Chuang gladly accepted the order. He grinned and, in front of Emperor Wu, stuffed the rewarded gold notes into his pocket and then took out an IOU.

"Father... this is money Yue Xinyang owes me. I beg you, Father, to help me collect the debt!"

He opened the IOU and showed it to Emperor Wu.

"you!"

Emperor Wu never expected that, in the very end, Su Chuang would infuriate him once again.

You can be greedy, but you can't have your mind filled with nothing but gold and silver!

"You unfilial son! If you're so capable, ask for it yourself!"

"If you're not going to return it, then tear up the IOU. Don't bother me with this kind of nonsense!"

"Get out of here! Remember to go to the Court of State Ceremonial in three days to negotiate with the Xiongnu!"

"If the result doesn't satisfy me, I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"

Despite the Emperor's scolding, Su Chuang left the Imperial Study with a smile.

"It smells so good?"

After he met up with Zhao Yun, he hadn't taken two steps when he smelled a refreshing fragrance in the air.

It's a woman's natural fragrance...

The delicate fragrance emanating from that stunningly beautiful woman…

Su Chuang's eyes lit up instantly; he was going to have a lucky night with a woman!