A somewhat aged voice said: “The Crown Princess is truly a ruthless person.”

Another younger voice, carrying a slightly disgusted tone, said indifferently: “She’s always liked to put on an appearance of enlightened benevolence, gaining some reputation for virtue, but in her bones she’s sinister and vicious.”

The old man laughed: “You’re wrong about that. She’s still far from being sinister and vicious. When I say she’s ruthless, I mean more that she’s an intelligent person who knows what to do at what time.”

“How so?” Another voice, somewhat hoarse and timid-sounding yet making one feel coldly uneasy, suddenly interjected.

“The Prince of Yannan’s mansion has long been the master of Yannan, and the You father and son have managed Yannan for quite some time, with good reputations. They’ve successfully made the people of Yannan harbor great hostility toward the court. For the Crown Princess to peacefully claim Yannan is almost impossible…”

“So I think what she did wasn’t clever,” said the earlier young voice. “When the people are hostile, one should use gentle persuasion to win hearts and minds. For her to come out with bloody intimidation like this—is she afraid the people of Yannan aren’t alienated enough?”

The old man seemed to shake his head: “You need to understand one principle. Those who like you will like you no matter what, and those who don’t like you won’t suddenly start liking you because of a little gentle attitude or small favors. You must also understand that common people are like grass—they need sunshine and rain. They don’t really care about the struggles of those in power, but the intimidation from those in power will make them think about how to protect themselves, who might bring them danger. Once they learn to think, then the favors from those in power can take effect.”

Both young people fell silent, apparently still not understanding clearly.

“Today’s performance of real and fake regicide attempts actually never hoped to kill the Crown Princess. Rather, it aimed to induce the Crown Princess to overreact, killing the dancers before they acted, thereby stirring up popular anger and placing themselves on moral high ground. But the Crown Princess first publicly broke the situation, slapping the people in the face, then boldly killed all the assassins, showing the people the court’s determination to claim Yannan and absolute willingness to shed blood. That final speech was most formidable—a real psychological attack that tore away the masks of those in power before the people, letting them see the coldness and heartlessness within, clearly showing them the fate of being used by those in power: flesh and bones turned to dust, with families left without support.”

“Perhaps these death warriors had received promises of generous support for their families.”

“So what if they did? After all, they can’t come forward to defend themselves. What the people see is only that they died so miserably yet no one even claims their bodies.” The old man laughed. “This forces the You father and son to swallow this bitter pill in silence.”

“But the You father and son control Yannan—they’ll surely find opportunities soon to win back popular support.”

“Yes, but in the short term, the people will be more clear-headed. Sometimes that period of time is enough. Moreover, if the You father and son can find ways to win back popular support, won’t the Crown Princess continue using methods to win over or divide popular sentiment?”

“You mean this isn’t over yet?”

“Of course not. They haven’t even entered Kun Zhou City yet. Before the Crown Princess leaves Kun Zhou City, the struggle in Kun Zhou, in all of Yannan, will never cease.”

Someone let out a long sigh: “If this Kun Zhou could keep the Crown Princess forever, we’d certainly be spared the trouble.”

“That would be you, or rather all of you, not me,” the elder replied calmly.

The three fell into silence.

Though traveling together, they weren’t necessarily on the same path—they merely shared common goals for now. Some had simple thoughts, wanting nothing more than revenge; some wanted to reclaim what they’d lost; others thought of more distant futures and more glorious enterprises.

After the conversation fell silent for a while, that timid yet coldly sinister voice said: “This heir of Liaodong openly serves as the Crown Princess’s vanguard, truly without any scruples.”

The other young person said: “What is the Prince of Liaodong thinking? How can he remain indifferent? Isn’t he afraid that Liaodong’s foundation will be handed away in the future?”

The old man chuckled: “No matter, no matter. Love affairs in the human world, especially those between important figures, cannot be counted upon.”

“Oh? Have you forgotten what happened at Five Colors Plain?”

“So what? The emotions between those in power span too many interests, calculations, backgrounds, and human hearts. If you add territory and borders to the mix, it becomes an even more tangled mess—seemingly stable but actually precarious at any moment. If it’s not so precarious…” The old man’s voice drew out slightly, “then aren’t we just planting grass and growing roots right now?”

With these words, all fell quiet. Vaguely someone seemed to be chuckling coldly, the sound seeming to emerge from between teeth, like a snake sliding through deep forest shadows.

Meanwhile, on the official road, the sunlight blazed fiercely.

The commoners had been baking in the sun for half the day. Originally blocked by this dancing affair, they’d planned to watch some excitement and vent their complaints, but instead received quite a fright, dampening their enthusiasm considerably.

Some, thinking of what had been arranged for later, began harboring thoughts of retreat, but the crowd behind them pressed thickly, a sea of humanity blocking their way.

People in the crowd exchanged glances, thinking that if they were going to act, they had to seize this moment with one decisive push. If they truly let the people properly receive the imperial procession, Kun Zhou’s momentum would be lost.

The blood-stained wheels rolled across the ground, and wherever they passed, people instinctively retreated far back.

Yet several people emerged from the crowd, bowing respectfully toward the carriage from a distance. By their clothing and appearance, they seemed to be scholars and examination graduates.

Yannan’s scholarly traditions weren’t flourishing, and over the years few had passed the imperial examinations, so lettered men with degrees were always more respected in Yannan than elsewhere. Almost the moment they stepped forward, all eyes turned toward them.

The several men carefully avoided the bloodstains on the ground, offering a deep bow toward the carriage.

No sound came from within the carriage. The Crown Princess didn’t, as the Yannan people had imagined, show respect for the learned and personally step down from the carriage to help these scholars up.

The several scholars inevitably felt they’d bowed too low, suffering some humiliation. When they straightened up again, their expressions carried some cold, unyielding hardness.

However, looking ahead at the heavy curtains hanging deep, armor stained with blood, and vivid red traces that seized the eye, the courage they’d harbored, their supposed fearlessness, and the speeches they’d prepared suddenly scattered by more than half.

Wan Ji sat high on his horse, coldly regarding these scholars: “Who are you people? Why do you block the imperial carriage?”

The scholar in the middle, sporting a three-strand long beard, coughed once and declared loudly: “We do not block the carriage, but merely have three requests and three questions, seeking audience with His Highness.”

An accompanying Eastern Palace lecturer said: “Only officials of third rank or above may see the imperial carriage without summons, and only by imperial will may one present policy suggestions across ranks. What ranks and grades do you hold? Do you have imperial summons?”

The several scholars’ faces flushed red, and the middle one said through gritted teeth: “This humble one holds the degree of Provincial Graduate…”

“You serve as their leader with merely a Provincial Graduate degree, and your companions presumably don’t exceed your rank. A few Provincial Graduates and Scholars dare block the carriage in the street, brazenly seeking to question His Highness. You know not the strictness of ritual and law, nor the regulations of the court. How fallen is Yannan’s moral education! Where are your parent officials? Where is Yannan’s Education Commissioner?”

The last sentence was raised in volume, and the surrounding guards shouted in unison: “Where are your parent officials? Where is Yannan’s Education Commissioner!”

The sound carried far over the crowd, and the officials in the rear all turned their heads skyward, playing dead.

The Kun Zhou Prefect and Yannan Education Commissioner couldn’t play dead.

The two looked with difficulty at You Jun, who was drinking tea and eating preserved fruit in his pavilion.

The lecturer continued his relentless pursuit: “Border regions like Yannan should prioritize moral education above all, yet observing the conduct of you several, you show no respect for ruler or father and know no repentance. Do you truly believe that future imperial talent selection ceremonies would not dare to reject you?”

This Eastern Palace lecturer had been sharp-tongued since youth, skilled in lecturing and court debates—a first-class expert, which was why he’d been selected for the Eastern Palace. Unfortunately, having become a close minister to the Crown Princess, who preferred wielding swords and staffs, he’d been worried about having no place to demonstrate his skills. Rarely encountering such an opportunity, his tongue flew up and down, spraying saliva like a waterfall.

He even waved a rod in his hand, staring intensely at those scholars, clearly prepared to reward anyone who dared speak recklessly with a blow from his staff.

He was a properly examination-born civil official whose rank and degree far exceeded those of the scholars before him. If he adopted the bearing of a teacher to discipline these juniors, it would be completely justified—no one could say a word against it.

The Yannan officials watching from their elevated positions in the distance all understood the danger. Seeing the Eastern Palace lecturer’s arrogant manner with both tongue and staff eager for action, they thought the Crown Princess was truly quite wicked—using scholar against scholar, first suppressing their momentum, then wielding the big stick. Two or three blows could knock these embroidered pillows flat, and then their side would lose another round.

They all turned to look at You Jun.

Behind the crowd, You Jun spat out a plum pit and waved his hand.

The Kun Zhou Prefect and Yannan Education Commissioner understood his meaning and prepared to squeeze forward with bitter expressions.

These officials had originally felt confident, thinking that when a mere girl arrived, Commander You would naturally handle her. If that girl proved ignorant of her place and tried to pressure them with authority, since Yannan’s military and popular support lay with the You father and son, if pushed to extremes they could simply turn hostile, ensuring she could enter but not leave.

However, they’d just received news this morning that the Qian Zhou Commander had been arrested, and the Surveillance Commissioner, who had always been at odds with the Qian Zhou Commander, was temporarily serving as Commander. Following the Crown Princess’s orders, he was assembling forces within his jurisdiction—mobilizing one hundred thousand troops positioned along the Eastern Frontier to Yi Zhou line. From there, riding hard, they could reach Kun Zhou in three days.

More importantly, the Crown Princess herself possessed extremely powerful innate abilities. Even if surrounded by great armies, she might not be containable. Even if all her followers were killed, as long as she escaped, Yannan would be plunged into warfare.

These people naturally didn’t know that Tie Ci could no longer easily teleport, nor that she would never abandon her followers to escape alone. In their logic, such choices by those in power were perfectly natural, and for them, failing to detain Tie Ci at the crucial moment would be an unbearable loss.

So just as the Crown Princess was unwilling to rashly take up arms, they were equally unwilling.

The two squeezed forward, prepared to endure the Crown Princess’s harassment and fury.

But they’d barely taken a few steps, sweating profusely, when wind rushed behind them, their vision went black, and they collapsed.

Immediately someone shouted: “The Prefect and Education Commissioner have fainted!”

The cry passed from person to person, and by the time it reached the front of the crowd, it had become: “The Prefect and Education Commissioner have fainted from the heat and excessive pressure!”

The crowd then parted, and the pale-faced, sweat-soaked Prefect and Education Commissioner were carried forward, looking truly pitiable indeed.

Those scholars who had been forced to retreat step by step by the Eastern Palace lecturer suddenly found their spirit, standing firm.

They felt that today the Crown Princess displayed arrogant behavior, killing people in the streets and pressuring officials. Such a domineering person—how could she treat Yannan well in the future? They had read the books of sages and understood the people’s affairs. If they couldn’t establish principles for heaven and earth and secure lives for the people, what face would they have to stand in this world?

It was just one life—to be crushed today beneath imperial wheels would still earn eternal fame, making it worthwhile!

Scholars’ love of reputation—an unchanging principle through the ages.

They didn’t retreat but advanced, stepping forward and bowing again. This time, fearing prolonged bowing might earn them a club to the head, they rose quickly after a brief bow and spoke rapidly: “We have three questions and three requests, seeking instruction from His Highness!”

“First question: We ask His Highness, since your southern inspection should comfort the people in myriad ways and spread beneficence throughout the realm, how can you mobilize massive forces, encroach upon people’s livelihoods, and force local officials to increase taxes and levies to support Your Highness?”

“Second question: We ask His Highness, people say you are benevolent, frugal, diligent in governance and loving toward the people, yet along this journey you’ve maintained lavish provisions, wasting state treasury funds. Though staying in Kun Zhou only briefly, you’ve ordered the construction of a traveling palace, requiring additional corvée labor, forcing countless people to serve imperial needs and abandon their own fields. How is this the conduct of a future benevolent ruler?”

“Third question: We ask His Highness, you came to inspect Yannan yet lingered long in Qian Zhou, purging Qian Zhou’s officialdom, replacing generals, and stationing troops at the border while casting covetous eyes on Yannan. We wonder what Your Highness intends by this? Have you considered whether the tens of millions of people in Yannan, facing such military pressure, might feel terror and flee with their families, thereby harming people’s livelihoods? Or was this always Your Highness’s intention—never viewing Yannan as subjects of your territory, willing to ignite warfare and wield weapons on Yannan soil, just as today, seizing Yannan through slaughter and bloodshed!”