strictlysupreme Chapter 2228 Emperor Tang, Aren't you leaving?
Chapter 2228 Emperor Tang, Aren't you leaving?
Han Xing's return to his main camp and the sight of His Majesty unharmed was the greatest comfort and strength for him.
Watching Han Xing gradually move away from the danger zone under the protection of his guards, Chu Ning felt a great weight lifted from his heart.
He remounted his horse, silver spear in hand, and turned his gaze to the west where Li Shimin and his entourage remained motionless.
Yuchi Bo has been returned, and Han Xing is safe. The deal between Tang and Chu should have been completed.
"The hostage exchange is complete."
Chu Ning's voice returned to its usual coldness as he addressed Li Shiming in a loud voice: "Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, you may leave with your men."
This is both a reminder and an invitation to leave.
What follows is a "family matter" between him and Chu Xuan, involving betrayal, coercion, and unknown conditions. Naturally, he doesn't want outsiders present, especially a powerful enemy like Li Shimin.
However, Li Shiming did not immediately order a retreat as Chu Ning had expected.
He sat upright on the chariot, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. Instead of leaving, a meaningful, even slightly playful smile slowly spread across his face.
That smile looked particularly jarring on his pale yet profound face.
"leave?"
Li Shiming chuckled softly, his voice not loud, but loud enough for all three parties in the standoff to hear clearly.
He paused deliberately, his gaze shifting between Chu Ning and the composed Chu Xuan to the north, as if he were watching an extremely interesting drama.
Then he shook his head and burst into laughter.
The laughter echoed across the empty pavilion slope, filled with undisguised curiosity and a hint of malicious interest.
"Hahaha, Chu Ning, Chu Ning, this drama of brothers fighting and internal strife between you and your brother, Prince Xuan, has just reached its most crucial moment."
"How can I, a mere spectator, leave now and miss the most exciting part?"
He suppressed his laughter, but the interest in his eyes deepened, and his tone became slow and deliberate, yet each word was clear and carried an undeniable authority:
"I am very curious."
He deliberately drew out his words: "I am very curious about you, this young and ambitious ruler who aspires to unify the world."
"Faced with the fatal betrayal of your closest brother at a crucial moment, now that you hold the bargaining chips, what price can you offer to get back your resourceful Mr. Su?"
"I want to know more,"
His gaze suddenly sharpened, like a hawk eyeing its prey: "You two brothers, under this sunlight, before this army, how exactly do you intend to settle this family matter?"
Li Shiming's words couldn't be clearer.
He didn't want to leave; he wanted to stay and watch Chu Ning and Chu Xuan negotiate, and even clash.
This is not merely curiosity, but a stance, a declaration:
Although Li Shimin has suffered a setback, he is still a crucial player in this grand game of chess, and he has the right to observe the conflict between the Chu brothers.
Furthermore, when necessary, they exert influence and seize benefits.
His words were like a boulder thrown into an already turbulent pool, instantly creating even bigger waves.
Chu Ning's eyes suddenly turned icy cold, like a thousand-year-old block of ice, and his fingers tightened slightly around the gun.
Meanwhile, Chu Xuan, on the north side, also froze slightly with a hint of displeasure at being spied on and potentially interfered with, but it quickly turned into a deeper calculation.
The atmosphere on Changtingpo became even more unpredictable and tense due to Li Shiming's sudden "advance instead of retreat," filled with more unpredictable variables.
The sunlight was still blazing, but it seemed unable to warm the chilling intrigue and murderous intent that permeated the three of them.
Chu Ning seemed to have anticipated Li Shiming's reaction, showing no surprise or anger on her face.
He merely glanced at the Tang emperor, who sat upright in his chariot with a playful smile, a cold understanding flashing in his eyes, before turning all his attention to Chu Xuan to the north.
At this moment, it is meaningless to dwell on whether Li Shiming has left the scene.
Since the Tang emperor has chosen to stay and watch the show, forcibly driving him away would only increase the uncertainty. It would be better to focus on the transaction at hand.
He did not vehemently condemn Chu Xuan's betrayal as everyone expected, nor did he denounce Chu Xuan's crimes of colluding with foreign invaders and defecting on the battlefield, nor did he even show much of the intense emotion of brothers turning against each other.
That kind of rage and accusation belonged to the venting on the city walls last night, not to the negotiations under the sun and on the edge of a knife at this moment.
Chu Ning's expression was unusually calm, even somewhat abnormal.
It was as if the person standing opposite him was not his sworn brother, a traitor, but merely an opponent with whom he needed to exchange interests.
He spurred his horse forward two steps, his silver spear still pointing diagonally at the ground, his gaze fixed on Chu Xuan, getting straight to the point, his tone as calm as if discussing routine official business:
"Brother,"
He called her that name without any warmth, which also removed all unnecessary emotional build-up.
"Mr. Su is a man of national importance and cannot remain abroad for long. Now that I have arrived, please speak frankly, brother—what can I offer in exchange for Mr. Su's safe return?"
Upon hearing this, not only was Chu Xuan slightly taken aback, but even Li Shiming, who was watching from the sidelines, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Chu Ning's move was swift and decisive, even a bit too direct.
He completely abandoned questioning, condemnation, or emotional pressure, skipping all the prelude, and directly threw the core question, "What do you want?", at Chu Xuan.
This may seem like handing over the initiative in negotiations, but it is actually a very clever and confident strategy of retreating to advance.
Chu Xuan's composed smile froze instantly, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly.
He knew his younger brother too well; Chu Ning was by no means someone who would easily show weakness or let others dictate terms.
This approach is by no means a sign of helplessness, but rather an assumption that one must have a need and a firm belief that one can handle any offer, or that one can discern the other party's true intentions and weaknesses during the process of making an offer.
"They're trying to throw this problem back at me!"
Chu Xuan sneered inwardly, his thoughts racing.
Chu Ning was forcing him to reveal his bargaining chips first.
If he were to make a price, whether it be a city, wealth, a title, or anything else, it would be tantamount to asking Chu Ning and Li Shiming, who were present.
He even exposed to the world Chu Xuan's most pressing needs, core ambitions, and most realistic weaknesses at this moment.
Chu Ning could then use this information to assess his situation, strength, and intentions, and thus make targeted counter-offers, or even set traps.
But what if you don't set a price?
The exchange then lost its meaning.
He brought Su Tingmei with him, intending to gain benefits in return.
Now that the die is cast and all eyes are on him, if he remains silent or evades the question, he will not only appear cowardly and reckless, but will also arouse suspicion among his soldiers, as well as among the observing Scorpion Clan and Tang Army.
Does this Prince Xuan have a clear scheme and the ability to fulfill his promises?
Moreover, Chu Xuan knew in his heart that he did need tangible benefits to solidify the gains he had just made through betrayal.