Even though Bu Shulin grew up under Emperor Youning’s nose and admired many of his political tactics, she had never truly grasped what it meant to have an emperor’s breadth of mind. All she had seen was Emperor Youning’s deep desire for power and self-serving nature.
She never imagined that one day she would experience what it meant to have an emperor’s breadth of mind and foresight through a young lady.
“I’m not as noble as you think.” Shen Xihe smiled lightly, her eyes gleaming with brilliance. “I understand His Majesty’s position, but I don’t agree with his methods, nor will I surrender because of it.”
“Though His Majesty’s position demands it, he had other options. He didn’t have to resort to such drastic measures…” Bu Shulin harbored some prejudice about this.
“You haven’t listened to a word I said.” Shen Xihe sighed softly. “His Majesty acts for his reputation. He cannot allow powerful ministers to grow too strong, so conflict with us is inevitable. His Majesty’s unwillingness to choose peaceful methods isn’t due to excessive paranoia, but because he values reputation and achievements.
If His Majesty maintained harmony with the Gu and Shen families as a benevolent ruler, allowing them to withdraw unscathed, history would record him as a mediocre emperor who obtained and kept his throne only through his ministers’ support. This is what His Majesty cannot tolerate.”
His Majesty cared too much about reputation, both during his lifetime and after. Eliminating eunuchs, crushing noble families, subduing warlords, and leaving a prosperous empire for his descendants – these would make him a legendary ruler of remarkable achievements, remembered for generations.
“Perhaps every emperor with great ambitions is like this,” Bu Shulin sighed softly.
Just like how scholars from humble backgrounds aspire to achieve greatness and eternal fame – it was the same principle.
“Not just rulers, this is the lofty ambition of every man,” Shen Xihe said quietly.
Bu Shulin suddenly looked at Shen Xihe, hesitating for a moment before saying: “His Highness the Crown Prince will also be emperor one day.”
Shen Xihe had chosen Xiao Huayong, so there were only two paths: either accompany Xiao Huayong to rule the world, or perish with him.
Throughout history, idle princes might live long lives, but no crown prince who failed to ascend the throne could keep his life.
Shen Xihe’s expression remained unchanged as she nodded calmly: “I know.”
“You…” Bu Shulin wanted to say something but finally remained silent. Nothing she said could change Shen Xihe’s fate of marrying into the royal family.
Since she had made her choice, Bu Shulin shouldn’t say anything discouraging. Besides adding to her troubles, what good would it do? Now she could only hope the Crown Prince was different from ordinary men. At this thought, Bu Shulin couldn’t help but laugh.
Where in this world were there men not bound by fame and fortune? Only mediocre people lacked ambition. Anyone with ability – who wouldn’t want to become the ruler of all under heaven?
And after becoming ruler, they would want their name to echo through the ages.
“This time when I was in danger, His Highness saved me. Without his timely arrival, my life would have been in peril. This is a life-saving grace,” Shen Xihe said softly.
Bu Shulin: “For such a life-saving grace, should you pledge yourself to him?”
“Not to that extent.” Shen Xihe shook her head slightly. “But owing a life-saving debt means I cannot be his enemy again.”
This debt must be repaid. Unless it was cleared before drawing swords against each other, she would lose the right to oppose him.
Since she couldn’t be Xiao Huayong’s enemy, she couldn’t marry other princes. In the imperial family, all princes were enemies of the Crown Prince, even those born of the same mother.
“Youyou…” Bu Shulin felt some heartache for Shen Xihe.
“You pitiful creature, what right do you have to feel sorry for me?” Shen Xihe couldn’t understand why Bu Shulin sympathized with her.
No matter how you looked at it, her situation was better than Bu Shulin’s. She didn’t have to worry about her identity being exposed at any moment, and didn’t have to shoulder a family’s burden alone – at least she had her brother to share the load.
Moreover, by marrying Xiao Huayong, she would one day become the empress mother of the nation, unlike some who might never be able to live as a woman again, forced to hide their true identity their whole life.
Bu Shulin: …
Any attempt at sentimentality would be destroyed by this cold woman. She was truly heartless!
Stung by her words, Bu Shulin let out a light snort and turned to face the wall, not wanting to look at Shen Xihe anymore.
Shen Xihe pressed her lips together slightly and left without a sound.
Seeing the shadow move and grow distant, Bu Shulin still muttered: “Thank you, Youyou.”
Shen Xihe had told her all this to broaden her perspective, to help her understand His Majesty’s thoughts, to warn her about His Majesty’s spies in Shunan, and to comfort her. Though her words weren’t pleasant and she hadn’t cursed once, she had branded “fool” on Bu Shulin’s forehead. Still, Bu Shulin was grateful to Shen Xihe.
Moreover, if not for the incense Shen Xihe had prepared for her, and Duan Ming’s timely arrival, her life might have been lost.
Shen Xihe’s steps didn’t pause, her smile growing deeper, flowing into her eyes, making them shine like the bright moon emerging from clouds.
With Bu Shulin injured, Xiao Huayong ordered some people to go ahead, letting Bu Shulin rest for a day before continuing the journey back to the capital.
They soon learned what had happened in the capital – the arsonist turned out to be the deceased Prince Xun, Xiao Jian’an!
‘Jue’ was avoided out of respect for Emperor Youning’s name – the deceased Prince Qian’s tablet read Xiao Juezong. Xiao Jian’an was Emperor Youning’s cousin.
This cousin was different from Prince Kang. Prince Kang and His Majesty shared the same grandfather, while Prince Xun shared the same great-grandfather with His Majesty – a much more distant relation than Prince Kang.
But Prince Xun was a man of brilliant military achievements. During the previous emperor’s reign, he had fought four campaigns against the ethnic minorities led by the Shiwei, protecting the peace of the northeast. He and Shen Yueshan were known as the Twin Peaks of the North.
One towering like a mountain, keeping the Turks at bay in the northwest; one outstanding like a cliff, resisting the eastern barbarians to protect the northeast.
Ten years ago, Prince Xun died in the northeast, causing widespread regret. Emperor Youning personally attended his funeral. Now a man dead for ten years had come alive – not only alive but had infiltrated the palace to set fire to the ancestral temple!
This was such a shocking event. Most terrifying was that although Xiao Jian’an wasn’t captured, many people had seen him. It wasn’t just hearsay, leaving court officials no choice but to believe it.
Emperor Youning angrily denounced this as absurd, saying someone must be playing tricks with evil intentions, and ordered the Imperial Clan Court to thoroughly investigate.
“Using the Imperial Clan Court?” After hearing this, Shen Xihe found it quite intriguing, her gaze sliding toward Bu Shulin, who had recovered enough in just two days to squeeze into her carriage and was now enjoying her tea and fruits.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Bu Shulin felt puzzled by her stare.
Shen Xihe smiled slightly: “I’m just curious why such a major case was taken from the Court of Judicial Review and given to the Imperial Clan Court?”
Although Emperor Youning cited the involvement of imperial clan members as the reason for letting the Imperial Clan Court handle it, the Court of Judicial Review was more skilled at investigations. Even court officials opposed this, yet His Majesty stubbornly insisted on the Imperial Clan Court.
“Didn’t His Majesty already explain?” Bu Shulin carelessly lifted a cup of flower tea and took a big drink. “Since it involves imperial clan members, the Imperial Clan Court is better suited for the task.”