The princess regretted it.

Chapter 253: Victory News

After hearing Zhang Chengde's answer, the old master's face instantly darkened. He was so angry that his hands were shaking. He slammed his cane into the ground with all his strength, making a dull thud. The old master scolded him harshly, "How foolish! You haven't heard from me in such a long time, and you didn't think of telling me? Didn't you think that something might have happened to him? What on earth are you thinking?"

Zhang Chengde was also extremely anxious. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his clothes were soaked with sweat. He knew very well that if Zhenyuan really got into trouble, their Zhang family would be in great trouble. Too many things had happened during this period. First, his daughter was demoted, then his grandson was adopted out, and Princess Jin'an was given a marriage. These things happened one after another like a surging wave. Every day, he was busy paying attention to and dealing with these urgent matters. His mind was in a state of chaos and confusion. He had unknowingly forgotten the fact that Zhenyuan had not written to him.

If his father hadn't mentioned this at this time, he wouldn't have realized that his grandson might be in trouble. Being scolded by his father like this, Zhang Chengde was anxious and frightened. He quickly said, "Dad, don't worry, I will arrange someone to contact him in a moment."

"No!" The old Grand Tutor looked serious and stopped him immediately, saying quickly: "You can't take the initiative to contact them again. There has been no news for so long, it is very likely that the plan has failed. At this time, it is not clear whether their whereabouts have been exposed, whether they have fallen into the hands of the enemy, or..."

At this point, he paused and slowly closed his eyes, as if trying to suppress his inner anxiety and grief. After a moment, he reopened his eyes, his gaze filled with worry and determination. He continued, "Or perhaps they've met with an accident. Whatever the case, we shouldn't contact them at this time, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves."

Zhang Chengde's body trembled violently upon hearing this, and he became increasingly restless. He knew very well how important Zhenyuan was to the Zhang family; he was the future head of the Zhang family, and they had high hopes for him.

If his father's speculation came true, the Zhang family's glory and inheritance would be cut short, and they might even face catastrophic destruction. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, but he felt no pain at all. In his heart, he simply prayed that things wouldn't be as bad as he imagined.

The old Grand Tutor, a veteran minister who had served through three dynasties, displayed undeniable composure and composure. His composure had gradually calmed down. He sighed deeply and spoke slowly, "Calm down. This is merely our speculation. Whether it's true or not will become clear once we learn the details of the victory report. Go back and carefully prepare everything you need to enter the palace. As long as we don't act rashly, the Emperor won't be able to take any action against us anytime soon without solid evidence."

Zhang Chengde thought about it and realized that his father was right. He should first find out the content of the victory report before he could confirm Zhenyuan's situation. He immediately stood up, saluted his father, and left.

The old Grand Tutor sat there for a long while without moving, muttering, "The Changsun family can only last until the generation of Changsun Hongze. Look at the next generation, there is really no one who is worthy of your attention. The world is not destined to belong to one family from birth. There is no fixed candidate for the title of Son of Heaven! In this case, why can't we try someone else?" There was a hint of unwillingness and ambition in his words.

Inside the Imperial Study, the messenger had already been sent downstairs by the Emperor to wash and rest. The first to arrive were Prime Minister Mu and the Duke of Protectorate. Upon hearing the news, they had set out directly from their homes. Halfway along, they met the eunuch who had come to announce the arrival of the messenger, and they subsequently entered the palace together.

The two entered the imperial study. After the two came forward and paid their respects, Changsun Hongze gestured to Eunuch Fuquan to hand them the battle report and the letter of surrender from the State of Yu. The two took them and read them carefully, their faces gradually showing uncontrollable joy.

When the emperor saw they had finished reading, he slowly spoke, "This battle is truly gratifying and a blessing for our dynasty. However, the Yu Kingdom mentioned in its letter of surrender that it would send envoys to the capital to discuss compensation. What are your thoughts on this, my dear ministers?"

The Duke of Huguo tilted his head slightly to glance at Prime Minister Mu, then took a step forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I wonder what kind of person the Yu Kingdom has sent this time?"

"It's still unknown for now. The official letter from the State of Yu has not yet arrived." Changsun Hongze replied calmly.

"We don't know yet what kind of people they will send, and it's not easy to specify which personnel will be responsible for the reception." The Duke of Protectorate frowned, with some hesitation in his words.

After hearing what the Duke of Huguo said, the emperor stroked the armrest of the dragon throne and pondered in silence.

At this time, Prime Minister Mu stepped forward and spoke solemnly, "Your Majesty, this negotiation concerns the ownership of Yu's cities, the amount of compensation, and many other important matters. We must treat them with caution. Regardless of the identity of the person sent by the other party, the receptionist must be familiar with the etiquette of our dynasty and have a deep understanding of Yu's national conditions, customs, and the situation at court. Only then can we gain the upper hand in the negotiations and fulfill our mission."

The emperor raised his eyes slightly, his gaze fell on Prime Minister Mu, and he looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, then slowly said, "Does Prime Minister Mu have any suitable personnel to recommend?"

Prime Minister Mu bowed respectfully and responded, "Your Majesty, I believe that Minister of Rites Qin Zhui is well-suited to this role and is competent for handling the reception. After all, Minister Qin is well-versed in our dynasty's etiquette and regulations, and possesses considerable experience in handling such diplomatic matters. However, I suspect that the Yu Kingdom will most likely send a prince as a representative. In this case, it would be appropriate for us to have a prince step forward to address the situation. Of course, if the other side is accompanied by military commanders, I suggest that we also invite the Protector of the State to come forward. Having the Protector of the State in charge would not only demonstrate the majesty of our dynasty, but also allow us to leverage his reputation and experience to address any uncertainties and ensure the smooth progress of the negotiations."

When the Duke of Huguo heard Prime Minister Mu mention him, he didn't hesitate. He immediately clasped his hands together and said loudly, "Your Majesty, if you truly need me, I will do my best to fulfill your trust."

The emperor listened to Prime Minister Mu's coherent plan and nodded slightly, feeling that it was indeed a comprehensive and appropriate move, one that not only took into account the equal status of both parties but also accommodated various possible scenarios. He immediately nodded in approval of the plan: "Well, then it's settled. Now we'll have to wait and see what news comes from the State of Yu."

At this moment, a eunuch entered the room. He stepped forward, saluted, and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang is waiting outside the palace. He has come to ask for an audience with Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty would summon him now?"