Song Chaoyu had not expected them to fall out so quickly.
A hint of mockery flickered in her eyes.
Mu Hansu's expression also turned grim. "Must we do this and become a laughingstock for others?"
Unexpectedly, Yuan Daren seemed to have other opinions about Mu Hansu as well. He shrugged, completely disregarding Mu Hansu's words. "At this point, what's there to laugh about?"
He stared at the Crown Prince and Mu Changxi. "In any case, it's impossible for me to retreat. Things have come to this, I have no way back."
"Then what is the meaning of your coming here for negotiations today?"
Mu Changxi tried to discern something from Yuan Daren's expression, his aura pressing down with full force.
This made Yuan Daren involuntarily swallow, his throat bobbing.
Mu Changxi, sensing this keenly, looked at Yuan Daren coldly. "It seems you still have something to say."
He sat down opposite Yuan Daren and tapped the stone table before him. "Speak. Since we still have a chance to negotiate, why must we let everyone fall into utter chaos?"
In just a moment, the initiative for negotiation had returned to the Crown Prince and Mu Changxi.
Yuan Daren had no choice but to sit opposite Mu Changxi, narrowing his eyes, daring not to underestimate Mu Changxi any longer. "Everyone used to say that His Highness Prince Chang was a cripple, a useless person. Now, I see that's not entirely true. I must admit, after your return, things have changed. The throne was originally within Mu Hansu's grasp, but now it seems he is about to lose it!"
His gaze was deep, then he suddenly leaned forward. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness Prince Chang. I have the Emperor's eldest son here. If I hand him over to you in exchange for the title of General of the North in the future, what do you say?"
"Yuan Daren, you scoundrel!"
However, before Mu Changxi and the Crown Prince could speak, Mu Hansu was already so enraged that his eyes seemed to burn with murderous intent. "Don't forget what you promised me! Are you going to defect so quickly?! Do you think they will really let you go if you hand over that person?"
"Shut up!"
Yuan Daren glared fiercely at Mu Hansu, showing a rather heartless turn. "I am speaking with the Crown Prince and Prince Chang now, what business is it of yours?! If you hadn't been incompetent and captured, would I need to protect myself? Mu Hansu, you are truly useless! No wonder you could never defeat His Highness the Crown Prince. I must have been blind to help you do this!"
"Yuan Daren, you are the useless one!"
Mu Hansu was already beside himself with anger, even speaking without restraint. "You didn't say this when you followed me! We have tens of thousands of troops, what are you afraid of them?"
"Tens of thousands of troops?!"
Yuan Daren was almost amused to death by Mu Hansu. "Who knows what you've done, don't you know? Those people from the Southern Kingdom have already withdrawn! That Ti Le, she betrayed us!"
"How is that possible?!"
Mu Hansu suddenly looked up at Song Chaoyu. "Didn't Ti Le die already? You lied to me, you lied to me again?!"
Song Chaoyu shrugged, showing no mercy to Mu Hansu. "Did you really think I wanted to follow you? Mu Hansu, take a look at yourself in the mirror. Are you worthy?"
These words finally made Mu Hansu understand something. "You deliberately made me say those things, didn't you?! It was so I could say them for Ti Le to hear, you never killed her! She's hidden in that house, isn't she?"
"Yes."
Song Chaoyu's attitude was also exceptionally indifferent. "I knew you were an idiot, but I didn't expect you to be so foolish. For someone like you to have initiated such a large coup, I am truly impressed! Mu Hansu, do you think everyone will be as foolish as you? In this world, would a woman truly like a man like you? You really think too highly of yourself, don't you?"
These words, without a doubt, were the greatest disdain for Mu Hansu, causing the veins on his forehead to bulge, yet he could not refute Song Chaoyu at all.
At the same time, Mu Changxi looked at Yuan Daren. He raised an eyebrow slightly and directly rejected Yuan Daren. "The General of the North is the protector of the entire northwest of the Great Yue Dynasty. Yuan Daren, who is so easily swayed by profit and changes his allegiance like a weathervane, how can he bear the important responsibility of the General of the North? This King advises you to give up this idea. Shall we fight again today?"
Seeing Mu Hansu's firm stance, the Crown Prince echoed his sentiment. "Yuan Daren, if you withdraw your troops, I can guarantee you this. No matter what crime you are charged with later, your family will not be implicated. Especially your elderly parents, this Crown Prince will definitely treat them well. Allow them to leave the capital to live out their years in peace, and let your children leave the capital with them, so they will not lose their lives because of you."
The implication was that the Crown Prince was determined to take Yuan Daren's head!
Yuan Daren naturally understood. His eyes turned cold, and he stared intently at the Crown Prince. "So, my life is forfeit, isn't it?"
"Yes."
The Crown Prince smiled slightly, confident in the current situation. "Although we are talking about negotiations now, it is only because we hope everyone is a Great Yue person and does not want to kill each other. But if you insist on going your own way, this Crown Prince will never be lenient. You should know that the Crown Prince and the Emperor have held on for so long, and His Highness Prince Chang has returned from outside. Reinforcements will arrive soon!"
Yuan Daren naturally knew that Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu's return meant that reinforcements would surely follow closely behind.
They had no more time.
He looked at Mu Hansu, seemingly seeing their failure and despair.
But at this point, Yuan Daren had no other way out.
He stood up and ultimately rejected the Crown Prince's proposal. "Impossible! We will not retreat! Things have come to this, it's death either way. If we retreat, won't we just be at your mercy?"
He then gave Mu Hansu a deep look, and bowed to Mu Hansu. "I apologize, Your Highness Prince Ning. Consider your life as a price for my and my brothers' future! Rest assured, when I hold the empire in my hands, I will surely honor you in the imperial mausoleum!"
"You scoundrel! Yuan Daren, you utter scoundrel!"
Mu Hansu roared at Yuan Daren, becoming even more hysterical. "You're abandoning me like this?! You scoundrel, could you have reached this point without me?!"
But no matter how he roared, Yuan Daren had made his decision.
He turned and left the octagonal pavilion, not even looking back at Mu Hansu.