C553

In the sunless dungeon.

Su Yu Wan was trapped behind an iron fence and the only light that was left on her face illuminated the newcomer's face.

She didn't expect that she would be mercilessly thrown into the dungeon under the title of the new country's princess without even meeting Ai Yan once. After being whipped by the vines, her back was already badly mutilated, and her clothes were scattered.

Ai Qi, who was once trapped in front of Su Yu Wan, stood calmly in front of the door. The guard beside her even held a lantern for her.

"Father had long known about your relationship and deal with Gu Cheng, but he didn't expect you to truly think that he wouldn't dare to kill you." Ai Qi squatted beside the iron fence, staring at her, "You're much more foolish than Gu Mingyan. You didn't even know that Gu Cheng had never planned for you to return alive from the very beginning."

"It's Gu Cheng …"

"Do you think we have spies that can get close to the enemy kingdom's emperor?" Aizi took the food from the servant and brought it to the iron fence.

However, she inadvertently saw the terrifying scar on her thigh.

"With your body covered in wounds, how are you going to meet the Jing King in the future?" Ai Qi sighed again and passed some medicine and some cloth to her through the gap.

Su Yu Wan breathed heavily and tried to cut Gu Liu Yan into a thousand pieces.

Just as he was getting angry from embarrassment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the quiet dungeon.

Mu Qing rushed to the front of the prison and squatted on the floor to hold Su Yu Wan's hand. His eyes were full of pain, "You …"

"She was sold to us by Gu Cheng." Ai Zhi looked at the two men's tightly clasped hands and felt nauseous. With a cold expression, she stood up. "I can't protect you. You two can discuss among yourselves. The people outside have already made preparations."

Aizi ordered the attendants to put down the lanterns and left in a hurry.

Inside the room, there were naturally others who could listen in on their conversation. However, she still had to gather information, so she couldn't let Ai Yan know that she had heard the news from Gu Sheng. She only arranged her clothes before bringing the others to her father's study.

Aiyan was old, and at this time he reviewed most of the documents for the king and gave them to his sons.

Now that you have seen your daughter, you are quite curious, "How did you know that Su Yu Wan did not come with good intentions?

Ai Qi sneered, placing a jade bottle on the table. "I have seen this poison in the King's Manor before, it was done by Crown Princess Gu Daiyan. She has brought more than a dozen poisons this time, and she is not Gu Cheng's biological daughter, so I was wondering if she was planning to use her own life in exchange for someone's …"

At this point, Ai Qi only looked at his father.

The latter understood his intentions and held up the jade bottle, "But I haven't heard any news. If Gu Cheng is truly willing to make peace, I've even injured his daughter on the surface …"

"Report!" A soldier rushed in from the side. "The new nation is attacking the city again. His Highness has personally led people to defend the city!"

Ai Yan immediately slammed the table and stood up, but Ai Qi merely laughed coldly, "Does father think that this is Gu Cheng's sincerity?"

Ai Yan's eyes immediately turned cold as he thought to himself, If it weren't for the fact that this Gu Cheng had already planned this beforehand, thinking that Su Yu Wan had already succeeded, why would he send people to attack the city? I can only let Ai Qi watch Su Yu Wan properly while I listen to some news from the front lines.

He never would have thought that this siege would cause even the new nation to fall into chaos.

Gu Cheng slammed his hand down viciously on the table, slamming it loudly and angrily shouting, "We just sent him over! Why did those idiots disobey our orders and send their troops over?"

His children lowered their heads for some unknown reason.

Gu Zixian should have been standing obediently at the side, but seeing Gu Sheng nod at her, he walked up, following the explanation he had prepared, "It's not that we're sending troops, but rather the majority of the people from the villages and towns are slaves, and they've not been properly settled, and are even being bullied. Speaking of which, they're sending troops, it's more accurate to say that they want to rely on Lai Xuan."

Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow, curious about his daughter who had never had any opinions since he was young, "How did you know?"

"That's where I passed when I returned to the new country." Gu Zixian spoke so casually.

In reality, all of this was just a trap set up by Gu Sheng and Ai Qi, while Gu Zixian just did as they were told.

Gu Cheng furrowed his brows and sent some people to investigate the matter. However, after a while, the two officials shared the same reason as Gu Zixian. Although they knew, Jiang Yan definitely didn't know, and the situation between the two countries would only grow more tense.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the manpower to catch those slaves now. Even if he did, it would only let those slaves at the bottom level of the new country find out that something was wrong and start another riot.

After pondering for a moment, Gu Cheng waved his hands, "Send people to get rid of Lai Xuan. If we have the Navy Tide Army defending the city, we'll immediately break through."

He refused to believe that Navy Tide would really use troops to help out a small city between every country.

Gu Sheng realized that something was wrong, but he had also prepared a plan to resolve this matter. Not to mention that he wasn't very good at going to the battlefield, so he gave this opportunity to his brothers.

After they left, he took a step forward and said, "Even if we take the city of Lai Xuan, sooner or later, those slaves will still turn back."

"What do you think?" Gu Cheng stopped tapping the table.

"Naturally, we should think of ways to win him over. For those who are unable to be won over, we might as well do our best to show our kindness to Lai Xuan." Gu Sheng laughed softly as he looked at the map on the table, "Lai Xuan is not an Emperor. Most of the slaves by her side are difficult to be king, so I've always been curious as to why Navy Tide chose to protect this city."

Gu Cheng looked curiously at the layout of the map, before chuckling softly, "Do you think that Navy Tide wants Lai Xuan to sit down and reap the rewards?" That's why they have the heart to support and protect us. "

Gu Sheng laughed softly, just like what Gu Liuyan had said. Gu Cheng didn't believe that the reason why Navy Tide protected Xuan Yuan was because of one of Gu Liuyan's words. Instead, he had thought of many things.

He still remembered the words in the letter. He said bluntly, "In the war between Jiang Yan and the new kingdom, both sides will surely suffer losses. However, both countries have one thing in common, and this is the true key to this battle."

Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly, "Those oppressed slaves."

Although not half of Jiang Yan's slaves had remained, they were still quite numerous. Compared to ordinary civilians, even if those slaves didn't know how to brandish their sabers and spears, they were still much stronger, not to mention that most of the remaining people in these two countries were mostly women and children.

But now, slaves had become the core strength.

The number of slaves in the new country was almost half of that of ordinary people. In addition, the other tribes were becoming more and more difficult to manage, so if he were to let the slaves obtain the same rights as the common people, then there would be internal strife.

But now that he mentioned it, he realized just how terrifying these people were.

If these slaves rebelled against Lai Xuan, and Jiang Yan Xinguo had already expended a large amount of manpower and resources, she would only be able to be devoured by these slaves.

Thinking about it carefully, Gu Cheng slammed the table and rose to his feet, "Then I'll just sell this favor to Lai Xuan. Rather than letting him take all the benefits from being a fisherman, why don't I bow to Navy Tide first and take care of Jiang Yan? My new country is still one of the three great powers!"

"The Emperor is wise." Gu Sheng bowed, but Gu Cheng did not see the cold glint in his eyes.