Chapter 394: Resolution

After three consecutive days of clear weather, a light, drizzling rain suddenly began to fall in Jinling.

After rumors regarding the Third Prince permeated Jingshi.

Another piece of news caused quite a stir.

Da Song is to raise a great army to march against Western Liang for revenge.

And just after this became the talk of the streets and alleys.

A carriage escorted by the Imperial Guard quietly entered the city.

But the carriage did not head in the direction of the Imperial Palace; instead, it stopped in front of the He Prince Mansion.

Immediately, a young man was helped by servants into the mansion, and the Imperial Guard soldiers rode away.

Half an hour later, two carriages arrived in front of the mansion; Noble Dou Guifei and Dou Wei stepped down from the carriages respectively and entered the mansion.

"Mother, Uncle..."

On the bed, the Third Prince looked at his mother and Dou Wei and burst into loud sobs.

Noble Dou Guifei was choked with sobs, merely gripping the Third Prince's hand.

Dou Wei also shed tears; at this moment, he drove all the servants out of the room and ordered that no one be allowed to enter.

After the three of them cried for a while, Zhao Mu said, "Mother, I would have been better off dying in Western Liang; at least it could have traded for my reputation. In this state now, what use is there in living?"

"Mu'er, do not say such foolish things. If you were to die, Mother would simply die along with you."

Dou Wei sighed repeatedly at the side, his heart feeling as if it were being twisted by a knife.

Zhao Mu looked up at the sky, "But what can I do while living? Since ancient times, has there ever been an Imperial Prince like me?"

"The Taihe Emperor of the Liang Dynasty was captured by the people of the Grassland, yet after returning to Liang ten years later, did he not still seize the throne and continue to sit as Emperor? If an emperor can do so, why can't you, an Imperial Prince?" Dou Wei comforted him.

"But I am now... has there ever been an Imperial Prince like me?" After Zhao Mu finished speaking, tears gushed out like a spring.

Noble Dou Guifei and Dou Wei knew in their hearts what Zhao Mu wanted to say.

This move by Western Liang was too vicious; it was simply worse than killing Zhao Mu.

It was just that this humiliation was only in terms of the national dignity of Da Song.

In the eyes of Noble Dou Guifei and Dou Wei, they still hoped that the Third Prince could return alive, even if the Third Prince now had a physical defect.

"Mu'er, do not think that way. No matter what, you are always an Imperial Prince of Da Song. What Uncle promised you, I will certainly accomplish," Dou Wei said decisively. "For now, you just need to recuperate well; leave the rest to Uncle."

What Dou Wei had promised him was to make him the Emperor of Da Song.

But if he had been single-mindedly intent on contending for this throne, how could he have ended up like this?

Once this thought occurred to him, he appeared as if mad, "It is impossible now. Father will never choose me as the heir apparent no matter what. He won't even come to look at me now, because I am the shame of Da Song!"

Seeing this, Dou Wei and Noble Dou Guifei felt even more heartbroken and hurried forward to soothe him.

Gripping Zhao Mu's hand, Dou Wei stared fixedly into his eyes, "Mu'er, what Uncle promised you, I will certainly achieve, no matter what price must be paid."

Looking up at the sky, he continued, "In the past, Uncle still considered old sentiments with some people, but from now on, I never will again. No one can stop you from ascending the throne."

The twisted expression on Zhao Mu's face gradually eased.

Now, there was no difference between his current state and that of a living corpse.

If he could only live the rest of his life with this identity, it would be better to die early.

The only reason that could allow him to continue living was the high seat in the Golden Throne Hall.

Seeing Zhao Mu calm down, Dou Wei and Noble Dou Guifei both breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Mu then asked, "What does Uncle intend to do?"

"Now is not the time to tell you; at least wait until after the campaign against Western Liang," Dou Wei narrowed his eyes.

"Campaign against Western Liang? Good, good, destroy Western Liang, must destroy Western Liang." Zhao Mu, as if stimulated, suddenly began to shout.

Then, seemingly too exhausted, Zhao Mu closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

At this moment, Noble Dou Guifei and Dou Wei exchanged a glance.

Noble Dou Guifei began to sob, "Brother, why is Mu'er's fate so bitter? He has always held himself in high regard; having suffered this calamity, I fear he will not be able to go on living."

"That is why I promised him the position of heir apparent; this is his only hope. If even this hope is gone, he will truly be unable to live on," Dou Wei sighed at length.

Noble Dou Guifei wiped away her tears, "But how could the Emperor ever let him inherit the position of heir apparent?"

"You do not need to worry about that; I have my own plans." A flash of resolution crossed Dou Wei's eyes.

Noble Dou Guifei nodded and leaned her head on Dou Wei's shoulder.

Imperial Study.

Zhao Heng looked at the map of the mountains and rivers on the wall, his gaze resting on the location of Western Liang.

This was a war concerning the dignity of Da Song.

Western Liang must be made to pay a heavy price.

It was just that he knew that conquering and destroying Western Liang was likely just his own wishful thinking.

After all, behind Western Liang was Northern Di, and Northern Di would not sit idly by and watch Western Liang be conquered by Da Song.

However, even if he could not destroy Western Liang, he had to take back Qinzhou and Yongzhou, and strike Western Liang until it was devastated and could never again wreak havoc in the northwest of Da Song.

"Has the Third Prince entered the city?" Zhao Heng asked, seemingly unintentionally.

Liang Cheng nodded, "Replying to the Emperor, the Third Prince has returned to the mansion; Noble Dou Guifei and Dou Prime Minister have both gone to visit."

Zhao Heng nodded.

He did not want to visit him at all right now.

Following the Third Prince's return, more matters regarding the Third Prince in Western Liang were passed back.

Leading the horse for the Emperor of Western Liang, wiping the boots for the Emperor of Western Liang.

These various actions had simply thrown away all of Da Song's face.

Now, when facing the court officials, he always thinks these ministers are mocking him behind his back.

He even hoped the Third Prince had some backbone and would have committed suicide when he was captured.

That way, at least, the dignity of the Imperial Clan could be protected.

And it would not be necessary to launch a war against Xiliang for his sake now.

"Send someone to Yanzhou to urge Yan Wang again, tell him to deliver the Artillery as soon as possible, and also, tell him that I intend to attack Xiliang and order him to be prepared," Zhao Heng said.

He originally had no confidence in the matter of attacking Xiliang.

But under the lobbying of Dou Wei, the Xiao Family, Wang Family, and Han Family have now all agreed to this war and promised to send troops.

As for the Xie Family, it goes without saying that they share his opinion, and the Ma Family hates Ma Jin to the bone, so they will naturally agree as well.

Now, only the Liang Family and Fan Family have ambiguous attitudes.

The Liang Family claims they cannot spare troops because pirates frequently attack the coast.

The Fan Family says that Jiaozhi is repeatedly invading, and the distance is too far, making it inconvenient to send troops.

However, even so, in his view, these forces are enough.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liang Cheng acknowledged the order and turned to withdraw.

Seven days later.

Zhao Heng's imperial oral decree arrived in Yancheng.

Zhao Xu immediately called Chang Wei and Liu Fu to the study.

"The Emperor wants to attack Xiliang?" After Zhao Xu read the contents of the oral decree, Chang Wei was greatly shocked.

For these years, the Great Song has only been passively beaten and has never taken the initiative to launch a war.

That is why he was slightly surprised.

"What is strange about this? If you captured the son of the Beidi Khan and did this to him, what do you think the reaction of Beidi would be?" Liu Fu glanced at Zhao Xu while making a gesture.

Zhao Xu glared at him; although he had no feelings for the Third Prince, as a fellow Imperial Prince of the Great Song, he truly felt this humiliation.

After all, it was the Third Prince who was humiliated, but what Xiliang humiliated was the entire Great Song.

However, he remained rational for the time being.

Because this was undoubtedly an open conspiracy by Beidi.