Unexpectedly, Shen Yuxi had stumbled into saving Mo Xuanchen and neutralizing his poison.
The Ruo Qiang Kingdom's calculations had come to nothing.
Mo Xuanchen returned to the capital, and General Wei took over from the fourth prince, fighting the Ruo Qiang Kingdom in a blazing fury.
After retreating in defeat again and again, the Ruo Qiang Kingdom finally grew afraid.
Rather than be annexed by force and have their dynasty overthrown, they might as well submit voluntarily. At least they could keep their lives.
"Lord Gao, you are mistaken. This war between the Mo Kingdom and Ruo Qiang has not been easy. Thousands of soldiers have lost their lives in it."
"Since we can now bring Ruo Qiang under our rule peacefully, why insist on deploying thousands of troops? Do the lives of the Mo Kingdom's soldiers not count as lives?"
Lord Gao sneered. "You make it sound so easy, Lord Xia. What if Ruo Qiang's wicked ambitions remain, and they merely feign submission, only to cause trouble and provoke another war later? What then?"
"Wildfire cannot burn the grass away; the spring breeze blows, and it grows again."
"Sparing Ruo Qiang now would be no different from releasing a tiger back into the mountains."
"Once they have recuperated and caught their breath, even more innocent soldiers and commoners will be harmed. What will we do then?"
"But we should not blindly choose force to resolve the issue, either. Disasters have struck frequently throughout the country this year, and the treasury has paid out vast sums of silver. Its funds are far from plentiful."
"It is not just Ruo Qiang. We have an even greater need to recuperate. Do not forget that Ruo Qiang is not the Mo Kingdom's only enemy. Other neighboring powers are watching like hungry tigers, too."
"Although we currently hold the advantage, the Ruo Qiang Kingdom is no paper tiger. Driven into a corner, they still have the strength to fight."
"Continuing the war will only make the casualties more severe."
"Moreover, Ruo Qiang has shown the utmost sincerity in submitting, ceding territory, paying reparations, and offering countless treasures."
"I believe that, with peace negotiations possible, the soldiers and commoners on the frontier surely would not wish to see war break out again."
Among the civil and military officials filling the court, one faction advocated war, while the other advocated peace.
They argued until their faces flushed, locked in a furious dispute, spittle flying everywhere.
Shen Yuxi's eyes went perfectly round.
[System buddy, they're arguing so fiercely!]
[A must-see performance at morning court. These ministers shout every day. Even some trivial little matter can keep them arguing for ages.]
[Are His Majesty's ears... all right?]
Shen Yuxi thoughtfully stole a glance toward the head of the hall.
Her inner voice lingered and echoed through the hall.
The courtiers immediately fell silent, and the hall became as quiet as a coop of chickens.
[Huh? Why did they stop arguing? Keep going!]
Shen Yuxi's eyes sparkled. [I just saw one minister get so angry that he pinched another minister's bottom. The one who got pinched hasn't even fought back yet.]
At those words, the two ministers who had nearly started pinching each other immediately lowered their heads.
They did not want to catch young Lord Shen's attention.
"Shen Yuxi!"
Shen Yuxi was so engrossed in watching the show that she could not tear herself away, and the host hurriedly reminded her.
[Host, host, the old emperor is calling you.]
Shen Yuxi abruptly came to her senses and looked up to find Emperor Xuanzhao watching her.
She hurriedly stepped forward and cupped her hands. "Your subject is here."
[That startled me! Could His Majesty speak a little louder next time he calls my name? Thank goodness you reminded me, system buddy. Otherwise, I'd have been disrespecting His Majesty and would be called to account.]
Minister Shen: "..."
You know you could be called to account, yet you still dare not pay attention.
Faced with his troublesome youngest daughter, Minister Shen felt weary to his very soul!
"Lord Shen, you have had a hard time all these years."
With a solemn expression, Mo Yao patted Minister Shen on the shoulder.
"You are too kind, Second Prince. Actually, although my youngest daughter is a little bit mischievous, she... well... has quite a few good points."
Minister Shen stumbled over his words.
He could not bring himself to say any more things he did not mean.
The surrounding ministers wore indescribable expressions.
A little bit?
More like a hundred million bits.
Emperor Xuanzhao asked softly, "What are your thoughts on the matter the ministers were just discussing?"
Shen Yuxi clicked her tongue.
Was it really appropriate to ask a mere court historian like her such a question?
But since His Majesty had asked, she had to answer.
She organized her words in her mind.
The next moment, Shen Yuxi's calm voice rang through the hall.
"If it were up to me, I would choose peaceful means to secure the greatest possible benefit."
Emperor Xuanzhao raised his brows slightly, seemingly taking some interest.
In truth, he, too, found it difficult to choose between war and peace.
As an emperor, every decision he made touched the fates of countless people.
"Tell me your thoughts."
The ministers in court were as quiet as chickens, listening intently, equally curious about what Shen Yuxi would say.
"First, the Mo Kingdom has suffered constant natural disasters over the past two years. Floods, droughts, snowstorms, and other disasters have severely affected harvests, reducing tax revenue. The court has spent vast amounts of gold and silver helping disaster victims rebuild their homes."
"Silver has flowed out like water, and the treasury is far from full now. Maintaining an army is enormously expensive. This is not a suitable moment to continue waging war against the Ruo Qiang Kingdom."
"Even if we fight, we would be killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of our own."
"Second, the Ruo Qiang Kingdom and the Mo Kingdom are evenly matched in strength. Although His Highness the Fourth Prince and General Wei have beaten the Ruo Qiang Kingdom into laying down their arms and surrendering, that does not mean they lack the strength to draw out the war with the Mo Kingdom. If fighting continues, I fear the Mo Kingdom would struggle to win in the short term."
"Furthermore, the neighboring states and powers are watching like hungry tigers. Even if the Mo Kingdom brings Ruo Qiang under its rule, what if those neighboring powers take advantage of the chaos to strike?"
"Third."
Shen Yuxi paused.
"I believe the soldiers and commoners on the frontier are like me: they dislike war and do not wish for casualties."
"The Ruo Qiang Kingdom's provocations and its attack on the fourth prince are unforgivable crimes. But since they have bowed their heads in submission and presented lavish gifts, I believe we should quit while we are ahead."
"What happens later can be discussed later. At least for now, the Ruo Qiang Kingdom has shown submission. Should we not also display the bearing of a great nation?"
"If a moment's anger causes more soldiers to lose their lives, would that not be far too willful?"
"Compared with human lives, any feelings can be set aside for a while."
Having lived in the peaceful, safe modern world in her previous life, Shen Yuxi disliked war between two countries more than anyone present.
After all, behind all those living, breathing human lives were countless families as well.
When her words ended, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. A falling pin could have been heard.
They had not expected a young girl like Shen Yuxi to think so far ahead.
Some of the officials advocating war flushed with shame upon hearing her words.
They had not considered matters as thoroughly as a mere little girl.
Emperor Xuanzhao was deeply moved as well, and a trace of gratification flashed through his eyes as he looked at Shen Yuxi.
"My young Minister Shen speaks soundly."
"In that case, Crown Prince."
"Your son is here."
"Send word to the Ruo Qiang Kingdom. I accept their request for peace, but not a single item of the reparations due may be omitted."
Mo Jingyu inclined his head slightly. "Your son understands."
Shen Yuxi let out a breath.
[Phew-]
[Host, you're starting to have the air of a loyal minister who counsels the emperor and worries for the country and its people.]