DIFFICULT DECISION MAKING 2

"I only help him so he can be respected at Ava. To get a decent life, more or less as luxurious and comfortable as his previous life, so that he and his son can live peacefully and happily. Just to reach that point, full stop! I never tell him to usurp the throne of Ava! He doesn't get any noble title here, he still has to bow and pay respect to Ava prince and princess. F*ck the matter of noble title, that is the right of the local kings, we don't want to care even in the slightest! We don't care about politics and power in Ava! Unlike you, who tell him to reclaim power in Ming!"

"Because that's indeed what a prince should do...!"

"Stop it! Don't argue anymore!" Could no longer bear his tension, Zhu Su yelled very loudly. All of them fell silent directly. But Gao Qing glared at Zhu Su with eyes flashing in anger, as if saying, Don't you dare take the wrong path!

Zhu Su looked at Liu Ku, very thoroughly. "You tell me to go back to Ming with no army to fight them, doesn't it mean that I will be blown off?"

Gao Qing nid-nodded, smiled agreeably. But Liu Ku stared back at Zhu Su in confidence. "Didn't I tell you, traitors are also existing on their side? We won't dare to suggest something impossible. Your Highness, you have power! Because we have also heard that news; our colleagues have also been released!"

"Really? All of them have been released?"

"Yeah... exactly!..."

Zhu Su could hear the tone of doubt behind Liu Ku's confident utter. His eyes narrowed. "How many people who have been released?" His voice hardened. "Tell me the truth! Only a few of them have been released, right?"

Liu Ku pressed his lips, it was very obvious that he got angry since his lie was revealed.

Wu Qi joined in, "I heard Qu You has been released. Some members of the Team of Wellbeing have also been released. It's indeed only a few, but somehow I'm sure that we are being supported by great power!..."

Suddenly Zhu Youdun asked. "Can it possibly Fourth Uncle's job?"

Liu Ku smiled meaningfully. "Exactly, Shi Zi. It is not only you who are fighting the Emperor. There is still Yan Wang, who is waging a fierce war in Jingnan Campaign."

"Do I hear the word "War" ?" Once again Gao Qing joined in, his voice rose. "War... it's always war! The nobles fight for power and the victims are always the commoners. So you want to persuade your prince to get involved in war?! Thence I will oppose you more than before!"

Deciding to ignore Gao Qing, Wu Qi focused his gaze towards Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun. "Your Highness, don't you feel sorry for your subordinates who are still locked in prison? You are not touched to free them? After all, they are your subordinates. They are really loyal to follow you, even to the point of willing to be trapped in the darkness of the prison, you don't pity them? So I beg you, please return, and save them!"

The question Wu Qi asked in such a piteous voice instantly made Zhu Su startled. Pitied them? Yes, of course, he pitied his subordinates who were trapped in that horrific prison. In fact, he felt so guilty, they were imprisoned and must experience all this agony, all because of him. Needless to say, it became his duty to return back and save them all...

Doubt began to penetrate into his mind.

"What?! Are you telling your Prince to break into the government prison only by himself? Do you have the heart to sacrifice your lord's life?!" Gao Qing bursted out again. "Let me tell you this reality; his effort to free his subordinates will be ended in vain, and then, he will die, together with his whole subordinates including both of you! How will you take responsibility for your sins in the Hereafter, huh?!"

"Many of our members have gotten free, and remember that we still have reliable supporters on our side who release us, Old Man!"

"That cliche again. How powerful are you if compared to government forces?! And again, let say that the traitor is so powerful, then he will help you openly, not secretly like this!"

"After all, there are so many people who support His Highness in Yunnan!"

"If so many people support him then why are only both of you coming here?!"

"Old Man, you are so stubborn! Do you want to debate overnight?!" Liu Ku snapped.

"Why not? That's a good idea. Let's debate overnight!" Gao Qing sat down, drank his tea in only two or three gulps. Then he reached for a pitcher of wine, poured it into his cup, and drank it as quickly as before. "Come on, sit down! I am ready to serve a debate duel with you guys!"

"Are you crazy?" Liu Ku gnashed his teeth.

"I am crazy? I am trying to save your lord from both of you, the subordinates who want to throw him into the den of death just to fulfill your selfishness!" Gao Qing let out a long sigh. He filled his cup with wine again and gulped it down. "Speak honestly, I get confused. Don't you love your lord? Not respect, but love. So that you can be scared when his life is threatened, you can consider with all your heart what is the best future for him... don't you ever think about that? What he actually needs is neither the throne, nor the power. All he needs is a safe, peaceful, and happy life. Remember, your lord is not God, he is just an ordinary human being like all of us. An ordinary human being who is afraid of death, who wants to live comfortably, who is scared of war, and who can't stand being tortured and arbitrarily treated."

This time, both Wu Qi and Liu Ku did not dispute Gao Qing. To some extent they did not expect this "Crazy Graybeard" would say such heartbreaking words. They were lowering their eyes. Obviously, they were ashamed to make eye contact with Zhu Su due to guilty feelings. Gao Qing's scold should have struck right into the deepest part of their hearts.

Gao Qing stopped drinking his wine. He turned his gaze and now looked at Zhu Su. "You must be able to sort and choose, which actions will make you safe, and which will put you in danger. Helping others is commendable, but there is a saying "Before helping others, we must help ourselves first". In spite of everything, in reality, you're not a prince. You're not the ruler of a big city, you have nothing. What you only own are, your own body, and your son. Those are yours. You have to take good care of them. Life is not only to focus on pursuing something that has already become the past. Life, is to live in the present life. Keep that in mind, Boy. Remember that."

Zhu Su himself, could only remain silent.

Before he smiled bitterly. "But, the Queen Dowager hasn't recovered yet. If Queen Dowager can't get well, then I'll be imprisoned again, and most likely will be sentenced to death. Whether in Ming or in Ava, my fate is all the same. All is uncertain!"