He knelt on the ground, looking up at Tie Ci. After not seeing her for a year, she still had that beautiful jade countenance and immortal appearance, even the curve of her lip’s smile seemed the same as before. Yet he couldn’t help but remember their encounter at the tavern before Tie Ci left the capital—she had kicked him down the stairs, and he had looked up at her from the steps. The same angle, the same gaze, the same feeling that made his heart fill with dread, not even daring to have the courage to be vicious.
At that time he was already the loser. Now he had talent abilities, and still shouldn’t think about winning.
Tie Ci leaned forward slightly, her elbow propped on her leg, looking at Tie Lin with considerable interest. She reached out and patted Tie Lin’s head, laughing, “Compete with me? Is this something to compete over?”
She straightened up and laughed loudly, “I have been Crown Prince for eleven years without fault. During my year of training, I solved major cases, protected the people’s livelihood, safeguarded the army, revitalized academies, pacified the Western Rong, and drove back Liaodong. While I won’t claim brilliant military achievements, I have accomplished some merit, not inferior to crown princes of past dynasties, and have never had any improper behavior. Prime Minister Rong, wouldn’t you say so?”
She suddenly turned her gaze toward Prime Minister Rong. Prime Minister Rong, suddenly called upon, wasn’t surprised and quietly gazed at her, saying, “Did Your Highness enter the palace alone?”
Tie Ci smiled, “I would have liked to bring thousands of troops into the palace, but I feared being accused of treason. After all, the forces deployed from the outer city to the palace city would be sufficient to deal with the great armies of Western Rong and Liaodong.”
Prime Minister Rong said nothing. After a long while, he sighed and said, “Your Highness speaks truly.”
As soon as he spoke, half of the officials who had stepped forward immediately retreated.
There was slight commotion above and below the platform, and the Empress Dowager and others changed color.
Tie Ci looked down at Tie Lin, “Get up. This isn’t your affair.”
Tie Lin felt utterly humiliated—from beginning to end, Tie Ci’s expression and attitude showed she had never considered him an opponent.
Her attitude was gentle, but every move and gesture was saying: you’re not worthy.
Because of her attitude, obviously everyone else on and below the platform would naturally feel that he wasn’t worthy either.
This was even more painful than being cursed to his face.
But he couldn’t keep kneeling forever. He gritted his teeth and stood up, reaching to pull together his robe that had split in half, trying to maintain his last shred of dignity.
Tie Ci suddenly reached out.
He instinctively jumped backward.
But Tie Ci’s fingertip had already brushed across his robe.
The next instant, cries of shock arose from all directions.
Tie Lin looked down, dumbfounded.
The robe that had just been torn apart had somehow closed under Tie Ci’s touch.
Not sewn back together—it was perfect as new, as if it had never been torn at all.
This was… a talent ability!
No, the lightning earlier was already a talent ability! Everyone had been so shocked by her sudden appearance that they hadn’t realized that was a talent ability—lightning!
Now this… was restoration!
The Imperial Crown Princess really did have talent abilities, and more than one!
The six-volume works hadn’t lied!
The legends were all true!
The plaza erupted in uncontainable cheers.
Tie Lin’s face went deathly pale, his heart like dead ashes.
The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up, only to be forcefully pulled down by the black-robed figure behind her.
Tie Yan’s eyes filled with tears, and He Zi and others exchanged smiles.
Tie Ci turned her head and fixed her gaze on Assistant Minister Xiao. Assistant Minister Xiao felt a chill throughout his body.
The next instant, cries of shock once again overturned the entire plaza.
The Imperial Crown Princess on the platform had suddenly vanished.
The next moment, she appeared behind Assistant Minister Xiao, her hand resting on his shoulder.
The cheering stopped abruptly. People on the platform stood like clay sculptures and wooden figures, Xiao clan guards’ raised legs frozen in mid-air. Everyone looked at each other, enormous terror flooding their eyes.
Was this… yet another talent ability from the Imperial Crown Princess?
How could there be more?
Hadn’t they said she had never awakened her talent abilities and was unworthy of the great position?
How was it that after a year of training, talent abilities were pouring out like they cost nothing?
And what was the Imperial Crown Princess planning to do?
Kill Assistant Minister Xiao?
Killing the powerless Assistant Minister Xiao would be easy, but would the Empress Dowager agree? Would the Xiao family agree? Would Xiao Xueya, who controlled the southeastern navy, agree? Would the Xiao family’s forces spread throughout the court agree? Would the dependent families hidden in various parts of the country agree? Would the economic forces the Xiao family openly and secretly controlled, capable of shaking the nation’s foundation, agree?
Such a behemoth couldn’t be solved by simply killing one or two people—it could destabilize the entire country.
Everyone held their breath.
But Tie Ci was listening to others’ breathing.
Among them was Assistant Minister Xiao’s breathing—suddenly stopped at first, now gradually becoming heavy.
The old fox was afraid.
But besides that, there was another breathing pattern.
Calm, light, like a trickling stream. No matter what happened in this scene, it hadn’t caused this breathing to change even a fraction.
Accompanying this breathing was a faint sense of encompassing control, a feeling of situation management that only masters like her could perceive. Those within it felt watched by a giant eye that could summon lightning and thunder, split everything here with just a blink.
Including her.
Tie Ci sighed inwardly.
No, it wouldn’t work. She wasn’t his opponent yet.
That fellow standing behind the Empress Dowager with no presence at all—he was the one truly controlling the situation.
She might be able to kill Old Xiao regardless of consequences, but Father Emperor, who was closer to the Empress Dowager, would be killed instantly as well.
Besides, what use would killing one Old Xiao be?
To kill both the Empress Dowager and Old Xiao simultaneously—she couldn’t do it.
The scars on her back seemed to itch slightly, but now wasn’t the time to scratch.
Tie Ci smiled slightly, patting Assistant Minister Xiao’s shoulder with an affectionate and natural attitude, as if treating a minister loyal to herself with whom she had an excellent sovereign-minister relationship.
“Minister Xiao, so what do you say? Do I have talent abilities or not?”
She asked Old Xiao while looking at the opposite side, at one of the Xiao faction officials who had just said she had no talent abilities and was unworthy of the Crown Prince position—a Censor. The Censors were controlled by the Xiao family, so whenever there were court disputes, the Xiao family could dominate the discourse.
That person trembled under her gaze and instinctively said, “You do! Your Highness, you do! Your Highness has even more talent abilities than His Highness the Heir! Congratulations, Your Highness, on awakening your talent abilities!”
Tie Ci smiled and said, “Sir is indeed worthy of being a Censor—your words can turn ten thousand rudders, your tongue can bloom lotus flowers.”
The man’s face turned ashen.
Having given such an evaluation of the Imperial Crown Princess in public, his career and reputation were finished.
He would be infamous for eternity.
The Empress Dowager sat on her throne, face pale, turning her body slightly to address those behind her: “Kill her.”
The person behind didn’t move.
The Empress Dowager was furious, grinding her teeth: “Kill her, and I’ll let you go!”
The black-robed figure behind her stirred slightly, seeming tempted, then stopped again. A muffled voice came from within the black robe.
“Can’t kill her.”
“Why not!”
“Fool.” The person behind spoke without emotion. “Can’t you see she’s hiding behind your brother? She’s using your brother as a shield. For me to kill her, I’d have to kill your brother first. If you’re willing, I’ll act.”
The Empress Dowager choked.
Her silver teeth ground together audibly.
Prime Minister Rong was also watching that side. Behind him, Grand Academician Xie Miao of Wenhua Hall sighed and said, “Prime Minister, you seemed to agree too easily.”
It might be difficult to regain the imperial family’s trust and could easily be accused of being opportunistic.
Prime Minister Rong said flatly, “Do you know why I asked that question earlier?”
Xie Miao didn’t understand his meaning.
“Today the Xiao clan mobilized the Three Great Camps, mobilized the Capital Guards, mobilized the Five Military Commissioners Office, even prepared large numbers of common people. All the military and civilian forces inside and outside the capital, normally used to resist great armies, were used to intercept one person—the Imperial Crown Princess. Yet they couldn’t stop her.”
“Perhaps she brought troops to attack the city?”
“If she had brought troops to attack the city, she couldn’t have arrived this quickly,” Prime Minister Rong said. “Do you know what her swift arrival means?”
The Grand Academician, who had always followed his lead, showed an expression of humble inquiry.
“You should consider what the situation inside and outside the capital has been these past few days. That she could enter means the entire capital was providing her assistance. It means the court’s welcoming plan was easily shattered. The Ministry of Rites, the Three Great Camps, the common people were all hindered. It means considerable forces from local armies, capital forces, civilians, even officials and Western Rong all support her, enabling her to pass alone through the outer city, inner city, imperial city, and palace city, walking to our presence under nearly impossible circumstances.”
Rong Luchuan said, “Since Great Qian’s founding, no Crown Prince has been able to accomplish this.”
He said, “How can Tie Lin compare with her?”
“Someone who can’t be helped up—if you don’t let go quickly, are you waiting to be dragged down?”
Xie Miao said, “But we previously…”
“What about us previously? We only fulfilled our duties as ministers, respectfully carrying out the Empress Dowager’s and His Majesty’s intentions.” Rong Luchuan said flatly. “Don’t worry, as long as they remain at an impasse, we’ll never fall. The Imperial Crown Princess will never be able to settle accounts later.”
Xie Miao understood and retreated with heartfelt admiration.
Triangles were always the most stable.
The Xiao family, the imperial house, and the Rong clan formed the court’s triangle. With the Tie and Xiao clans incompatible as fire and water, as long as one side didn’t collapse completely, the Rong faction would be safe and would definitely be courted by both sides.
Previously, when the Tie clan was obviously weak, Prime Minister Rong had slightly favored the imperial family, constantly showing goodwill.
Now that the imperial family had produced Tie Ci and the Xiao family was being continuously weakened, the Rong clan’s strategy toward both corners should also be adjusted.
Tie Ci still stood behind Assistant Minister Xiao, smiling: “My Tie imperial family is blessed by Heaven. Besides myself, another person with talent abilities has emerged in our clan. This should be widely announced and celebrated with the people. Today’s grand court session invited gentry and common people to jointly celebrate our imperial family’s joy. Thank you, Assistant Minister Xiao, for your thoughtful arrangements.”
Assistant Minister Xiao kept a stiff face. Looking at the Empress Dowager and seeing no action from her, he knew today’s great momentum was lost. He forced a smile and said, “Yes…”
“No!” Prince Zhao suddenly stepped forward and said sternly, “Don’t try to confuse the facts. Today was originally my son’s coronation ceremony! So what if you have talent abilities? My son has them too, and he is High Ancestor Emperor reborn, and moreover a male heir—he should rightfully be the legitimate heir of the Tie imperial family!”
Tie Lin’s whole body trembled as if pricked by a needle. He jumped up suddenly, pointing at Tie Ci and shouting loudly, “Right! You’re just a girl—why do you always steal my things! If not for you, the crown prince position should have been mine! A waste who was just lucky to be born from the right belly, occupying the Crown Prince position for over ten years! Just when I finally awakened my talent abilities, you immediately awakened yours too! When I was about to become crown prince, you appeared! Why do you always ruin my affairs! How can there be such coincidences in the world! It’s fake! It must be fake! I am High Ancestor reborn, I should inherit the throne, my talent abilities are the strongest!”
Everyone: “…”
Big brother, please stop talking! Don’t you know every sentence is digging a pit for yourself?
Tie Ci didn’t even glance at this father and son pair, saying gently to those below: “Additionally, there’s another joyous matter I haven’t had time to report to His Majesty. Today, with this grand gathering, I’ll tell everyone together—I have made an agreement with the new Western Rong king Wuliang Suoye. Western Rong henceforth submits to Great Qian, will forever be Great Qian’s loyal vassal, and has agreed to return Hanli Hanmo to Great Qian. From now on, three hundred li of vast desert returns to old territory, forever part of Great Qian’s domain.”
Below was first complete silence.
People looked at each other, not daring to believe their ears.
The common people also had passionate blood in their hearts. At any time, they had an unbreakable attachment to expanding territory. Great Qian had been peaceful for long, with several generations of emperors all mediocre. Though there were many border incursions, mostly they only defensively expelled invaders. In recent years, busy with internal strife, they had even adopted appeasement policies toward the increasingly disloyal Three Great Fiefs. The people inevitably felt dissatisfied and missed the magnificent spirit of the founding era when they rode across the world with sabers drawn, but could only relive past glories in teahouses and taverns, indulging in nostalgic talk.
Yet who would have thought—without war, without taking a grain of rice from the people and court, without spending a single soldier—they had subdued the always rebellious Western Rong and recovered Hanli Hanmo?
Although that place was barren and desolate, the significance was different!
That was territorial recovery, domain expansion, Great Qian finally showing the dignity of a suzerain state before Western Rong, the best beginning of universal unity.
After a moment of silence, sound waves suddenly exploded.
Officials and gentry who knew past history began cheering, some laughing loudly. Some common people who didn’t know the details, after being educated by inquiries, also excitedly clamored.
Tie Ci pressed down with both hands, and everyone immediately fell silent, looking at her with burning gazes.
This scene made all the officials’ hearts tremble, thinking when did she gain such prestige?
They didn’t know that since ancient times, the power of written transmission knew no bounds. The six-volume works were comparable to the best publicity, having already suggested the Imperial Crown Princess’s strength countless times in the minds of the capital’s people.
“There’s another piece of good news.”
Hearing this, the Xiao clan’s eyes went dark again while the plaza reached another climax.
“Hanli Hanmo is not as barren as everyone imagines. In fact, there are substantial oil deposits there, as well as fertile plains suitable for cultivation. Currently, teams from Yueli Academy are researching water engineering projects from surrounding snow mountains. If successful, Hanli Hanmo can become Great Qian’s mining area and also one of Great Qian’s granaries.”
Minister Gu of the Ministry of Revenue immediately said, “Your Highness, even during training, you haven’t forgotten national planning and people’s livelihood. This minister is deeply moved. Granaries and mineral deposits are both great matters benefiting a thousand autumns. The entire Ministry of Revenue is willing to fully support developing Hanli Hanmo, only awaiting Your Highness’s orders.”
Commander Qi also immediately said, “For various projects, plain irrigation and cultivation, relocating people, and if the Ministry of Revenue needs insufficient manpower for transporting various materials, the Five Military Commissioners Office can also deploy garrison soldiers from various locations to help.”
The Empress Dowager: …I wanted to have a proper birthday celebration, but you old fox refused to agree no matter what!
In fact, once these matters began, the Cabinet would naturally make assignments. All the officials understood this was merely positioning and expressing stance.
Minister Gu and Commander Qi had always belonged to the neutral faction. Minister Gu’s son was childhood sweethearts with the Imperial Crown Princess, but Minister Gu himself was someone who didn’t take sides or compete, only did practical work, his heart full of concern for Great Qian’s treasury. Obviously, the Imperial Crown Princess’s behavior of extracting oil in such a poor place as Hanli Hanmo greatly pleased Old Gu, making him step forward.
As for Qi Ling, who controlled the capital’s military power… this significance was quite different. He didn’t have a son who was childhood sweethearts with the Crown Princess. He had always been of the “wise self-preservation” faction. After all, military generals generally didn’t participate in court struggles, and military generals holding military power were even more sensitive. What was wrong with him today?
What was wrong with him today? This was also a question Tie Ci pondered.
Earlier in the imperial city, when Qi Yuansi came to help, she had found it strange. Qi Yuansi had brought quite a few family retainers—without his father’s approval, could he bring so many people? There seemed to have been personnel movements in the outer city earlier as well.
Looking now, it was indeed with Qi Ling’s consent.
That meant Qi Ling wasn’t making a temporary stance based on the current situation reversal—he had risked being purged and acted early.
But Qi Ling had always had no relationship with her. How had he suddenly been willing to risk helping her? Tie Ci didn’t think such a major matter could be achieved by Qi Yuansi simply kneeling and pleading.
She looked toward Qi Ling. Qi Ling was smiling at her, nodding slightly.
That gaze was very gentle and kind.
Tie Ci was somewhat puzzled.
How is it like how my father looks at me…
But the cheering at this moment interrupted her thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to research this matter.
In the cheering, she smiled and nodded to Prince Zhao, saying, “Uncle Wang, I also dreamed of High Ancestor Emperor last night. High Ancestor Emperor praised me profusely, saying I deeply resemble our ancestor, and he was extremely gratified.”
Prince Zhao: “…”
I knew you were quite capable.
But I really didn’t know you were so shameless.
My family’s High Ancestor reborn, and you come with High Ancestor Emperor personally determining you’re more alike?
Are you bullying High Ancestor Emperor because he can’t crawl out of his coffin to slap your face?
He Zi immediately bowed, “Your Highness possesses numerous talent abilities, combined with outstanding ability, concern for people’s livelihood, many achievements during training, repeated extraordinary accomplishments, and moreover the glorious ancestral deed of Hanli Hanmo’s return. If Your Highness doesn’t resemble High Ancestor, then no one under Heaven could resemble him!”
“Right, no one under Heaven is more worthy of resembling High Ancestor!”
“Your Highness has such great talent—the Tie clan’s revival is in sight!”
“High Ancestor’s spirit would surely be proud of Your Highness!”
In the cheering, Prince Zhao’s face grew gray inch by inch.
He looked at Tie Lin standing dazedly to the side and dejectedly retreated.
What was there left to compete for?
Divine will, popular sentiment, people’s hopes—all belonged to someone else.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it verbally, in his heart he understood that Tie Lin couldn’t compare with Tie Ci.
Tie Lin had talent abilities, but so did Tie Ci, and she had more.
Tie Lin was a man, but Tie Ci was only stronger than men.
Without a single achievement to his name, having exposed his character at today’s grand court session, Tie Lin was one step away from the throne but would never reach it.
Tie Lin still stood there dumbly, not understanding why Tie Ci was saying all this. Prince Zhao reached out to pull him, but he stubbornly refused to move, as if retreating one step would mean losing the crown prince position that was within his grasp.
He hated—why did this woman always steal his things?
“I…”
Tie Ci suddenly glanced at him.
That glance was like heaven and earth forming a whirlpool. The sun, moon, stars, and surrounding people suddenly became shattered, spinning, dissolving into dark chaos.
In the chaos, someone said quietly to him, “Quick, say ‘I am an idiot.'”
Instinctively, the words on his lips took a turn, becoming a confused yet sharp cry: “…I am an idiot!”
Everyone: “…”
People stared blankly at Tie Ci, who wore a benevolent smile.
Mm, now you tell me—regarding talent abilities, who’s stronger?