Chapter 2832 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 37

Wu Zhengchu didn't notice these subtle actions. After finishing his tea, he looked at Jin Chen with even more infatuation.

"Shutong, as long as the great cause is about to be accomplished, on the day I ascend the throne, I will promise you... to be my empress."

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words."

Just then, a servant's voice came from outside the door, "Your Highness, all the officials have arrived and are waiting for you downstairs."

Wu Zhengchu responded, "Shutong, wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

Jin Chen spoke first, "I want to go too."

Wu Zhengchu was taken aback.

Jin Chen looked up at him, "Didn't Your Highness ask me to be the Empress? Can't I go?"

Wu Zhengchu: "..."

"Or is what Your Highness just said just to make me happy?"

Wu Zhengchu was surprised. Although the sparse pine trees of the past were beautiful, they were always aloof and would never express their dissatisfaction in this way.

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he nodded repeatedly, "Yes! Of course!"

"I am sitting with Shu Tong."

"it is good."

Liu Mianfeng shook his head inwardly. This third prince usually seemed shrewd, but now he was almost completely fooled.

-

The largest banquet hall on the top floor had already been set up. Five or six people were already seated around the round table, all of them officials from Nanzhou: governors, county magistrates, military commanders, and several deputies, as well as three or four local gentry and wealthy merchants.

Upon seeing Wu Zhengchu enter, everyone quickly stood up and bowed.

Wu Zhengchu sat down in the main seat, then gestured for Jin Chen to sit beside him before addressing the crowd:

"This is Young Master Ruan, my...distinguished guest."

The crowd exchanged glances, understanding the situation perfectly, and then bowed respectfully to Jin Chen.

Jin Chen sat down calmly, with Gu Fanghe and Liu Mianfeng standing behind him as his attendants.

Both of them kept their heads down, but their ears were perked up, and they heard every word spoken at the table clearly.

At first, it was just polite small talk, but after a few rounds of drinks, the conversation gradually turned to the main topic.

“Your Highness,” said the governor of Nanzhou, a middle-aged man in his forties with a goatee and shrewd eyes, “the bandits of Black Mountain Village are ultimately a hidden danger. Gu Fanghe is an unruly man and I am afraid he will be difficult to subdue. In my opinion, it would be better to kill him.”

Sima, standing beside him, shook his head. “Your Excellency is mistaken. Although Gu Fanghe has become an outlaw, he is still the former General Hefeng and retains prestige in the army. If he can be subdued and put to use by His Highness, he will be a great help when the uprising begins in the future.”

Another county magistrate chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness. Gu Fanghe's bandits are all veterans who have been on the battlefield. If we can recruit them, they will be worth a thousand troops."

Wu Zhengchu pondered for a moment, "What you all say makes sense."

"This Gu Fanghe is indeed a fine blade, but unfortunately... the blade is not the right one. Back when he was in court, both the Crown Prince and the Emperor felt that his achievements were too great and that he might become a military man who interfered in politics. In addition, his upright nature led to repeated clashes, which led to what happened later."

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, slowly sipped his tea, and remained silent.

Gu Fanghe and Liu Mianfeng stood behind him, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with mockery.

It's amusing that these people are discussing how to kill him and how to use him right in front of him.

Just then, the governor spoke again, his tone tinged with pride, "Your Highness was truly brilliant back then."

"Although the Crown Prince and the Emperor both believe that Gu Fanghe's achievements overshadow the Emperor's, if it weren't for His Highness's secret instigation, his repeated slanderous remarks to His Majesty, and his dispatch of people to secretly monitor the Gu residence, things probably wouldn't have come to this..."

Gu Fanghe's gaze froze, and his pupils contracted.

The governor said, “And there’s Gu Fanghe’s younger brother… Tsk tsk, Your Highness is truly remarkable. You killed the old servant who was taking care of him without anyone noticing, and let the child starve to death in his room. When Gu Fanghe returned, the body was already rotting… He only hated the Crown Prince and the Emperor, and had no idea that it was Your Highness’s doing.”

Wu Zhengchu chuckled lightly, his tone casual, "He's just a simple-minded warrior, how would he understand these intricacies? However... if he can be subdued, he'd be quite capable."

Gu Fanghe clenched his fists, his pupils turned red, and he gritted his teeth to restrain the urge to draw his sword and slash.

It turns out... the death of my younger brother and the accident involving the old servant were not entirely the work of the Crown Prince's faction.

What a brilliant move to fan the flames! What a brilliant way to kill two birds with one stone!

Jin Chen reached her hand out from under the table, gently took his hand, and squeezed it lightly in his palm, as if to comfort him.

Gu Fanghe's surging killing intent gradually subsided. He took a deep breath, grasped Jin Chen's hand in return, and slowly wrote a word in his palm:

沈。

Jin Chen gently tapped his palm with her fingertip to indicate that she understood.

Shen Sima is one of our own.

As expected, Shen Sima advised, "Your Highness, I have a plan."

"We can send a team of elite soldiers disguised as a caravan to pass through the Black Cliff road, luring Gu Fanghe down the mountain to plunder. Then we can ambush him in the valley and catch him like a turtle in a jar. We will definitely be able to capture him alive. If we can also find a way to sow discord or lure him out of the camp and ambush him in a dangerous place, we may be able to capture him in one fell swoop."

The governor frowned. “This is not advisable. Black Cliff is a treacherous place, and we are not familiar with the terrain. If we fail, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

The other officials and gentry also nodded in agreement, feeling that Shen Sima's plan was too risky.

Wu Zhengchu also showed a hint of hesitation.

Although he wanted to eliminate or subdue Gu Fanghe, he was unwilling to take risks easily. If he failed, the loss of soldiers and generals would be a minor matter. If Gu Fanghe became alert or even launched a counterattack, it would be detrimental to his grand plan.

"I know the terrain well."

Jin Chen raised his eyes and looked calmly at Wu Zhengchu. "I have stayed in Black Mountain Village for a long time and have a thorough understanding of the terrain. If Your Highness trusts me, this plan is feasible."

Wu Zhengchu looked at him, his eyes full of infatuation and trust, "I naturally believe what Shu Tong said."

The governor, however, remained uneasy, frowning as he said, "Young Master Ruan, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that this matter is of utmost importance, and if anything goes wrong..."

Jin Chen suddenly lowered his eyes and said in a lower voice, "If Your Highness does not believe me, then so be it."

Wu Zhengchu felt a pang of heartache. "I believe you! Of course I believe you!"

He then looked at everyone, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Proceed according to Sima Shen's plan! Sima Shen can discuss the specific details with Shu Tong in detail, and make sure everything is thorough! All the necessary manpower and equipment will be allocated by the Nanzhou Prefecture, and must be arranged in the shortest possible time!"

Shen Sima bowed and accepted.

Jin Chen raised her eyes, smiled slightly, and pushed a plate of osmanthus cake on the table in front of Wu Zhengchu. "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will certainly live up to your expectations."

With this plan, we'll wipe you all out.

Just this made Wu Zhengchu feel overjoyed. He quickly picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, and then asked the servants to bring over a lot more pastries.

Standing behind Jin Chen, Gu Fanghe watched this scene, and the suppressed jealousy resurfaced, making his teeth itch with rage.

But he couldn't lash out; he could only stand there like a statue, watching helplessly as his beloved was courted by another man.

The feeling is... indescribable.

Liu Mianfeng, standing next to him, almost couldn't hold back her laughter and quickly covered her face with her fan.

Goodness gracious, bro, you're so jealous... you could practically dip dumplings in it!

However, seeing how the Jin brothers completely outmaneuvered Wu Zhengchu and even finalized the bandit suppression plan, this drama was truly spectacular.