Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

Tuotuo listened to this and looked at Ruyang King, saying, "Am I begging for these shackles to bind me, for exile to the frontier?"

Ruyang King looked at him and said, "Tuotuo, do you know where your mistake lies?"

"Where else could my mistake be? The cutting of vassals affected the interests of the princes, and this is just a backlash against me."

Ruyang King listened to this and looked at Tuotuo, saying, "It seems like you still haven’t understood. Your mistake isn’t in cutting vassals, but in selfishness!"

"Hmm? I’d like to hear the details."

Ruyang King looked at Tuotuo and said, "If you had really done it for the sake of Daqian and thus cut vassals, we would have had nothing more to say. But your motivation for cutting vassals wasn’t pure; you did it for selfishness, for the desire for power,"

"Selflessness versus selfishness, everyone in the world, the court and the Emperor can discern. If it was selfless, me as Ruyang King wouldn’t just not complain about being stripped of my vassal status, but would even willingly act as your vanguard."

"But your selfishness exceeds your selflessness, and your desire for power is overwhelming. Given your position as Imperial Chancellor, wanting to shake Daqian’s century-long vassal system is a pipe dream. So, you lost because your heart wasn’t righteous!"

Ruyang King pointed at Tuotuo’s heart.

Listening to this, Tuotuo laughed loudly and said, "Pedantic, pedantic!"

"Prince, your so-called selflessness versus selfishness is nothing more than a justification after your victory. Do you know what my justification is?"

Ruyang King looked at him and said, "What?"

Tuotuo said, "My ambitions are too grand; I always thought of doing two things together to stabilize the realm in one move. If only I hadn’t insisted on executing Little Ming King and cutting vassals together, if I had done one thing at a time, the result might have been different."

"Moreover, Prince, the reason you won isn’t because you’re particularly capable; it’s because the Zoroastrian Sect’s attack on the palace disrupted my plans, and then there’s your adoptive son Wang Baobao, and..."

Tuotuo paused here and looked at Ruyang King, saying, "Chen Jiusi and your family’s Commandery Princess..."

Ruyang King’s face changed, saying, "Don’t talk nonsense. My Yaya was taken by mountain bandits."

Tuotuo said, "Heh, you know the truth in your heart, but in fact, let me tell you, the Zoroastrian Sect’s recent attack on the palace was likely arranged by Chen Jiusi, and even my current predicament was deliberately designed by him!"

"I must say, Prince, your son-in-law has truly worried himself sick over his father-in-law."

Ruyang King approached Tuotuo menacingly then and said, "Dare to speak nonsense again, and don’t blame me for not being polite. The road from entering the city to Yunnan is still long."

When Tuotuo heard this, he looked at Ruyang King and said, "Prince, I’m telling you all this to let you know that I am aware of everything, and should anything happen to me, this news will immediately spread. If His Majesty finds out, I don’t know if you can still hold your position as Three Pearl Prince!"

Ruyang King looked at Tuotuo and said, "What do you really want to do?"

Tuotuo said, "Hehe, nothing much; I just want to safely reach Yunnan. As long as you don’t attack me, I won’t speak recklessly. Prince, you can rest assured."

Ruyang King, hearing this, sneered at Tuotuo, "Hmph, do you really think I am afraid of your threats?"

Tuotuo said, "You might not be afraid, but Chen Jiusi is, and your daughter Princess Xiangning is too. As parents, should we not plan deeply for our children?"

Upon hearing this, Ruyang King looked at Tuotuo and laughed, "Hehe, indeed, no wonder you could control the affairs of the court as the Chancellor, truly able to create chaos with a flip of your hand, incredibly skilled, and frighteningly so."

Tuotuo listened to this and looked at Ruyang King, saying, "The Prince flatters me; just a few life-preserving techniques, after all, I’ve made too many enemies. Without this skill, I might not live to see tomorrow’s sun after leaving the Capital."

Ruyang King listened to this and looked at Tuotuo, saying, "Hehe, just some petty tricks."

Tuotuo said, "The Prince speaks truthfully."

Ruyang King said, "Rest assured, I won’t secretly kill you, for I disdain kicking a man when he’s down."

Upon hearing this, Tuotuo extended his hand and said, "The Prince is truly magnanimous. I am impressed."

After saying this, Ruyang King turned around and left, while Tuotuo shouted from behind, "Prince, don’t forget, this matter is of great importance!"

Ruyang King didn’t bother with him at all, turning around and leaving directly for the palace. At this time, Mr. Zhao called after him, "Prince, wait for me..."

Watching Ruyang King leave, Tuotuo breathed a sigh of relief, liking to mock such honest people, with Ruyang King being too straightforward, not worthy of concern!

Thinking this, Tuotuo was directly escorted by guards, leaving through West Prosperity Gate. Throughout the process, Tuotuo showed no displeasure; on the contrary, his mood was exceptionally good.

Ruyang King was now smoldering with anger as he entered the Imperial Palace. Upon entering, Ruyang King felt emotionally stirred, as he had played here in his youth.

Watching every tree and blade of grass inside the palace, he felt quite touched, though the scorched places within the palace might evoke even more emotions. Mr. Zhao looked at him and said, "Prince, are you feeling sentimental?"

Ruyang King heard this and looked around and said, "Sigh, it’s been decades since I left this place; once guarding my vassal land, I haven’t returned!"

Mr. Zhao heard this and said, "Then the Prince should seize the opportunity this time to properly experience the old scenery of the past."

Ruyang King said, "I truly have to thank Tuotuo for this."

As they spoke, Mr. Zhao made a gesture of invitation, saying, "His Majesty is waiting for the Prince in Yanyan Hall!"

Ruyang King nodded, immediately following Mr. Zhao straight to Yanyan Hall. Upon reaching the door, he heard lively music inside. As he approached, he saw a song and dance performance, with palace dancers twirling gracefully like sprites in the wind, a lively affair!