Xie Qing waited for a long time in front of the Liang Yi Hall. Golden pavilions floated among clouds as fragrant smoke rose from beast-shaped censers.

When footsteps sounded from behind the vermillion palace gates, he immediately ascended the stone steps to meet them.

Yao Ying emerged from the great hall with faltering, heavy steps. She had obtained the promise she sought. In exchange, Li De had also gotten what he wanted.

Yao Ying had never expected her accusations would awaken Li De’s conscience. After leaving the Eastern Palace, she immediately entered the palace to make a deal with Li De before Li Xuanzhen could arrive.

The political marriage would certainly cost her life. Since she wouldn’t live long anyway, she might as well make one more transaction. The deal with Li Xuanzhen was to have the Flying Cavalry rescue Li Zhongqian. The deal with Li De was to arrange for Li Zhongqian’s future after his return to the capital.

Perhaps shocked by Yao Ying’s decisiveness, before she left, Li De suddenly gazed at her for a long while and pointed to a worn floor tile in front of the dragon desk: “Seventh Lady, look.”

He glanced around the hall.

“This great hall was once burned down. The previous dynasty’s consorts were locked in here and burned to death. Everything needs repairs – the tiles must be replaced, the floor needs to be relaid, and the Taiji Hall requires a completely new foundation…”

Court officials had repeatedly requested palace renovations.

Li De’s response was: “Frugality nurtures character, tranquility cultivates the self. As the new dynasty is just established, we should not engage in excessive construction.”

He implemented strict austerity measures, ordering all ongoing palace construction projects to halt. He only had palace servants repaint the interior before moving in. He banned regional tributes of rare treasures, especially those claimed to be auspicious omens.

With the emperor practicing frugality, court officials naturally couldn’t be extravagant. The growing trend of competitive luxury among noble families was quickly suppressed.

Li De said: “Seventh Lady, who doesn’t love fine clothes and ornaments? Who doesn’t appreciate magnificent halls? I’m not an ascetic monk – I too love luxury and comfort, I too want to live in grand, bright chambers.”

He paused, then changed his tone: “But I am the emperor.”

He was still an emperor who had only recently ascended the throne in an era of competing powers.

It was far from time to indulge in pleasures. As a ruler, he had to lead by example.

He was emperor – he had to be cautious in everything, guard against everyone, and use every available means to balance power at court.

Yao Ying spoke calmly: “Uncle once told my brother that some people are shortsighted and can only see immediate wealth and status. Others see far ahead – years, decades, even centuries and millennia into the future. Uncle was physically weak from childhood and couldn’t fulfill his dream of pacifying the realm. He and Your Majesty were kindred spirits when you met. He said Your Majesty could see decades and centuries ahead.”

When barbarian tribes invaded from the north, noble families fled south to avoid disaster. Only the Zhu clan boldly stayed behind despite risking extinction, protecting civilians who had nowhere to flee.

When the Zhu established their dynasty, they had the people’s support and universal acclaim.

However, this dynasty built amid devastation only flourished for one generation before rapidly declining and ultimately perishing completely.

Xie Wuliang and Li De had once debated this.

Li De believed the previous dynasty’s downfall wasn’t primarily due to civil unrest or the final emperor’s incompetence, but rather the mutual strife between noble families and corrupt governance.

The Zhu had tried to save their dynasty by promoting officials from humble backgrounds, reforming administration, and expanding the imperial examination system. This alarmed the noble families, leading to constant court struggles and infighting among royal princes that triggered civil wars. Each succeeding ruler became more brutal and foolish than the last. The realm fell into chaos and reforms ended in complete failure.

Li De said if he became emperor, he would never easily compromise with the noble families. He would consolidate imperial power, control military authority, and use officials from humble backgrounds to check the nobles’ power, preventing a repeat of the previous dynasty’s princely wars.

The noble families could no longer stop the rise of officials from humble origins. They should have adapted to the trends and sought other ways to preserve their family interests.

Xie Wuliang worried about the country and its people, sharing Li De’s long-term vision. He deeply understood the families’ monopoly on power and knew that if noble families regained control of the court, there would inevitably be a prolonged power struggle with imperial authority, bringing instability.

Whether the dynasty prospered or fell, the common people suffered.

The new Wei Dynasty had to establish solid foundations from the start, eliminate all threats, thoroughly reform administration, and avoid the previous dynasty’s failings.

Only then could there be lasting peace and stability, allowing people to live and work in peace, far from the flames of war?

Though physically weak and unable to fight on battlefields like his ancestors, Xie Wuliang actively worked toward ending the chaos.

As long as it could bring prosperity and peace to the people, he didn’t mind serving others.

He had met many regional powers before finally meeting Li De.

Xie Wuliang placed great hopes in Li De, believing his talent, strategy, and foresight made him the enlightened ruler who would end the chaos.

So even knowing Li De’s true nature and foreseeing the eventual betrayal, Xie Wuliang still chose to give Li De a chance to cooperate.

He didn’t fear being discarded after serving his purpose – he only asked that Li De treat his sister well.

Yao Ying gazed at the brilliant sunlight filtering through the layered screens into the hall, her face unwavering.

“Your Majesty, Uncle considered you a kindred spirit. Even when you distanced the Xie family to warn other noble houses, he never complained… But he didn’t understand you at all. He thought you would surely remember your promise to take good care of my mother.”

Yao Ying’s voice lowered, “Uncle certainly never imagined that you couldn’t even keep this simplest promise. You too had selfish motives – you couldn’t face Empress Tang’s death or resolve your elder brother’s hatred, so you took it out on my mother and brother.”

The Eastern Palace targeted Li Zhongqian – how could Li De not know?

He knew.

He didn’t intervene.

Li Xuanzhen was trapped by vengeance for his mother. Consort Xie and Li Zhongqian were Li De’s whetstones for tempering Li Xuanzhen.

He couldn’t hide his ruthlessness toward those close to him.

Li De remained silent.

Yao Ying continued: “In Jingnan, I treated refugees, opened libraries, and printed books so more children from humble backgrounds could afford to study… But I didn’t dare let Your Majesty know of these things. Because I knew that even though these actions benefited the country and people, Your Majesty wouldn’t praise me for them. Your Majesty would only suspect ulterior motives and extend those suspicions to my brother.”

“Your Majesty, though I am a woman, I understand the weight of state affairs. But I cannot agree with Your Majesty’s various injustices toward my mother and brother, nor with using the loyal Xie family to warn other noble houses.”

A ruler who would scheme against even the most loyal subjects, letting them die with grievances – how would the common people treat future heroes?

Heroes who sacrificed themselves for the public good shouldn’t be treated so callously.

Li De wasn’t worthy to be her and Li Zhongqian’s father.

Nor worthy to be Xie Wuliang’s kindred spirit.

Having finished speaking, Yao Ying walked out into the brilliant sunlight without looking back.

Just outside the hall, the strength she had been gathering drained away like the tide. Her legs weakened and her head spun.

Yao Ying began trembling slightly.

Xie Qing’s hand supported her arm through the thin silk: “My lady, let me help you.”

Yao Ying steadied herself and, with Xie Qing’s support, descended the long steps one by one.

Fierce sunlight flooded the square as whistling wind brought the clear chiming of roof bells.

“Ah Qing, I am to marry into the Yelu tribe.”

Yao Ying raised her head, gazing at the cloudless azure sky.

“I will write you a letter of recommendation – you can join the army. The military urgently needs talent now. With your martial prowess, you will surely distinguish yourself there.”

Supporting Yao Ying, Xie Qing maintained a respectful posture but expressionless face as he replied: “I am the Princess’s guard. Wherever the Princess goes, I will follow.”

Yao Ying looked up at him: “Aren’t you afraid of never returning? The Yelu are nomads who live by raiding and plundering. Once I go, I will never return to this life.”

The steppes were even more turbulent and savage than the Central Plains. Tribes slaughtered each other constantly. Though the Yelu tribe was powerful now, they could be utterly destroyed under another tribe’s iron hooves in an instant.

She had prepared for the worst.

Xie Qing’s face remained expressionless as he calmly replied: “Then we shall never return.”

Yao Ying gave a small smile.

After leaving the square, Yao Ying trembled more violently, breaking out in cold sweat as her teeth chattered.

Without a word, Xie Qing lifted her directly into his arms, wrapping her completely in his cloak and carrying her back to the prince’s mansion.

Seeing Yao Ying shaking in pain, the Chief Steward wept openly.

Yao Ying grasped the steward’s hand, speaking haltingly: “Uncle Hu… I’m fine… I’ll be better in three days. Send someone to bring my mother back…”

The Chief Steward nodded through his tears.

“I’ll be fine…” Yao Ying curled into a ball, “Very soon… Mother and Brother will be safe from now on…”

She drifted into deep sleep, the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward.