The Han family was not merely an aristocratic family, but an aristocratic family that wielded military power. Though Han Shousong, the current family head of this generation, was a reasonable person, the others were not necessarily so—no aristocratic family head could truly restrain all their clan members. Shen Qian couldn’t do it in the past, nor could Qi Zhang and Qi Ying later. So how could others manage it? Impossible.

Greed is human nature; no one can resist it—perhaps one can refuse once, twice, three or four times, but can one refuse for an entire lifetime? Even if someone could refuse for a lifetime, could an entire family refuse for a lifetime? Utterly fantastical.

Since they were destined to be unable to restrain themselves, they could only be restrained by external forces—as the Son of Heaven, the only way to ensure his own safety was to reclaim the power that had been reluctantly ceded to the aristocratic families after the southern migration.

But how should he collect the military authority in Han Shouye’s hands?

Han Shouye was different from both Shen Qian and Qi Ying. He lacked their strategic thinking and broad-mindedness; he was merely a crude and reckless fool, most straightforward and direct. But it was precisely this type of person that made the Son of Heaven, accustomed to schemes and strategies, somewhat unable to act. Han Shouye wouldn’t consider balance, wouldn’t think about family and country, and had no one or thing he truly cared about. What could he use to constrain him?

Moreover, behind the Han family stood the Empress Dowager—the Son of Heaven’s mother.

His mother was confused, always believing that her natal family would do her no harm, constantly babbling in front of him about wanting to grant hereditary honors to the children and relatives of the Han family, which invariably annoyed him. With the Empress Dowager’s protection, moving against the Han family became even more difficult.

Xiao Ziheng knew he could not personally move against his maternal clan, otherwise, once Han Shouye raised troops in rebellion, everything would become impossible to manage.

To act, it could only be done by others.

The Fu family was probably a good choice. They were best at pursuing profit, and now they depended on the Son of Heaven for their existence, so they should be his most obedient dogs. However, they also had their own selfish motives, which couldn’t satisfy Xiao Ziheng completely: after bringing down the Qi family, the Fu family members had continuously hinted at wanting rewards from him. Though Xiao Ziheng had ascended to the throne, he couldn’t be completely free from his ministers’ constraints. He had to make some concessions, allowing them to divide up the power left after the Qi family’s collapse, while also loosening restrictions on their favorite land transactions.

The Fu family members were insatiable, especially after Qi Yun was dismissed from office. The Department of State Affairs almost became their domain. They quickly halted and abolished the new policies that had just been implemented, particularly turning the land and head tax reform policies into waste paper. The achievements that Qi Yun and Qi Ying had obtained by overcoming countless difficulties were reduced to nothing overnight.

But the changes in the situation went far beyond this.

Though the Han and Fu families competed with each other and their relationship wasn’t particularly harmonious, they were united in one thing: consolidating aristocratic family power and excluding officials from humble backgrounds.

Less than half a year after the Qi family’s collapse, officials from humble backgrounds in the court gradually withered away. When Qi Ying was far away on the battlefield and not in Jiankang, after losing his protection, many officials from humble backgrounds were demoted or reassigned to remote posts by the Han and Fu families. Some even lost their lives—for instance, Zhang Deci, who had placed third in the imperial examinations in the seventeenth year of Qinghua, was framed by the powerful and wealthy with trumped-up charges. Not only was his lifelong reputation completely ruined, but he died outright in the Supreme Court’s prison.

With Zhang Deci as an example, officials from humble backgrounds inevitably felt anxious. They all knew that young Master Qi, who could protect them, was now fighting a losing battle alone. If they wanted to survive, they had to find other ways to make a living. Therefore, without the aristocratic families needing to take drastic action or make threats, clever minor officials sought new masters—for instance, Zheng Xi, who had placed second in the same examinations as Zhang Deci in the seventeenth year of Qinghua, was now Fu Zhuo’s right-hand man.

At that time, Xiao Ziheng’s attention was entirely focused on military affairs, so he had no energy to intervene in the treacherous waves of this factional struggle. By the time he finally freed up his hands, the court’s political landscape had completely changed.

This was the difficulty of being a ruler… your fangs could tear at others for you, but at the same time, they might also bite you.

At this moment, Xiao Ziheng gazed at Qi Ying kneeling beneath his imperial throne, his expression undergoing subtle changes.

What if… he didn’t kill him?

There were no eternal enemies or friends in this world. For example, he and Qi Ying had originally been friends, but later turned against each other due to conflicting interests. So why couldn’t they join hands again now due to common interests?

The Qi family was finished, never to rise again. Compared to a complete family like the Fu family, wouldn’t the isolated and weakened Qi Ying be easier to control? He now had to rely on his own magnanimity to survive, which meant he had to be completely loyal to him.

What kind of person was Qi Ying? Even in the most dangerous and disadvantageous predicaments, he could remain undefeated. Now Great Liang’s court situation was so precarious—externally needing to contend with Northern Wei, internally having to compete with the Han family for military authority and struggle with the Fu family over administrative governance. Besides this world-renowned Qi Jingchen, who else could bear such tremendous responsibility?

Xiao Ziheng’s gaze deepened.

He indeed couldn’t wait to see Qi Jingchen fall into the mire, but more than that, what he cared about most was the stability of his own dynasty.

Why not let Qi Ying become his hunting hound? Let him fight with Northern Wei, fight with the Han family, fight with the Fu family. Let him become a thoroughly isolated minister, let him become everyone’s target, until he bled every last drop for this dynasty, then let him die with nothing.

This would be his way of atoning for his family’s sins.

Having made up his mind, the new emperor said to Qi Ying kneeling below: “Jingchen, since your father has stepped down from the position of Left Chancellor, this position cannot remain vacant for too long. I shall promote you to become Great Liang’s foremost minister—how does that sound?”

Qi Ying raised his eyes, meeting the Son of Heaven’s gaze for a moment, immediately understanding his true intention.

He hadn’t misjudged—Xiao Ziheng was one who understood the times. Though he harbored deep hatred for the Qi family and himself, what he valued more was the stability of his own rule. His desire for power had reached an obsessive level. Whether the Han family or the Fu family, both had now become thorns in his side. As long as he remained on the throne for a single day, he would definitely strangle all the aristocratic families to death, never resting until they were destroyed.

And now, he wanted him to become the blade in his hand.

Qi Ying lowered his eyelids, bowing to the Son of Heaven again. Without engaging in false pleasantries with Xiao Ziheng, he respectfully answered: “Your subject humbly thanks Your Majesty for this imperial grace.”

The Son of Heaven smiled with pleasure, his laughter carefree, those peach blossom eyes brightening even more.

He personally descended the imperial steps to help up the new Left Chancellor, speaking a few beautiful words about imperial benevolence. Then his expression shifted, and he said: “I know your character—you are not one who speaks sweetly while harboring malice. However, in my position, I inevitably must be more cautious in my actions.”

He looked at Qi Ying with examining eyes, saying: “I caused your family’s downfall—how do I know you won’t harbor resentment and betray me someday?”

This was where words became useless.

Everyone knew that no matter how submissive an attitude Qi Ying adopted or how beautiful his words, he could never eliminate the new emperor’s suspicions. The only thing he could say was: “I submit entirely to Your Majesty’s arrangements.”

Whatever Xiao Ziheng required him to sacrifice at this moment, he had to agree without hesitation. Only this way could he exchange for a thread of survival.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ziheng pondered for a moment, seeming to consider what exactly he wanted Qi Ying to do. He remained silent for a long time, until later when he remembered some past events.

He thought of his imperial father.

The late emperor had been spirited and ambitious in his youth, harboring the heroic aspiration to lead armies north and recover the Central Plains. But later he was constrained by various aristocratic families. A dignified seven-foot man was manipulated like a three-year-old child, unable even to achieve the most natural thing of governing by his own will.

Later, all his ambitions turned to nothing. In day after day, year after year of depression and pain, he gradually fell into depravity, eventually becoming addicted to Five Stone Powder, indulging day and night in sensual pleasures until his body rotted, finally reaching a pathetically absurd state.

If not for those damned aristocratic families pressing him step by step, how would his imperial father have come to this!

He was driven to a dead end by them!

Xiao Ziheng’s mind was made up—he knew what he wanted Qi Ying to do.

This person Qi Ying was too terrifying. Though he was indeed a sharp blade capable of contending with those two surnames, he equally couldn’t let him feel at ease. What if he ultimately grasped this lifeline and turned the tables? Xiao Ziheng absolutely wouldn’t take such a risk.

Better to destroy his body.

Let him be contaminated with this thing that destroyed people’s bodies and crushed their will. Let him properly taste the pain that his forebears had left for his imperial father. Let him become addicted, let him not live long.

This idea was simply too perfect, because Xiao Ziheng discovered this move could also make Xiao Ziyu give up hope. He could tell her that it was because of her obsession that he forced Qi Ying to become addicted to Five Stone Powder, and if she remained unchanged, next time he might not be able to guarantee he wouldn’t simply kill Qi Ying outright.

How perfectly reasonable.

Xiao Ziheng smiled, casually patting Qi Ying’s shoulder, then said quite offhandedly: “A few days ago, the Empress mentioned to me that her family’s younger brother by a concubine enjoys Five Stone Powder, and recently concocted a particularly pure variety that supposedly tastes excellent—would Jingchen like to try some?”

How could Qi Ying not understand Xiao Ziheng’s meaning?

Ever since entering officialdom, he had been constantly bound by the imperial family with ropes. The late emperor had trapped him with marriage matters and family concerns, and now this current majesty seemed intent on trapping him with Five Stone Powder.

Not allowing him even the slightest chance of survival.

Qi Ying understood everything, yet his expression became even more peaceful and respectful, even showing some gratitude toward His Majesty, bowing and saying: “Your subject respectfully follows Your Majesty’s sacred edict.”

That day Qi Ying dined with the new sovereign. The Empress was also present at the banquet, smiling pleasantly as she commanded Su Ping to bring Five Stone Powder and wine to his table.

He had always suffered from stomach pain and couldn’t drink much alcohol, let alone something like Five Stone Powder. But at that time, he seemed to forget these taboos, drinking every cup the palace servants poured to the full, then consuming the Five Stone Powder, feasting joyfully with the emperor and empress until deep into the night before leaving the palace.

That night, his body felt as if being gnawed by insects and ants. Because Five Stone Powder easily triggered fever symptoms, he felt even more as if his five internal organs were all burning. Combined with severe stomach pain, he nearly fainted, frightening Qing Zhu and Bai Song into helplessness.

He should have immediately returned home to call a physician, but unable to bear the thought of his mother seeing him in such a state, he still forced himself to have Bai Song drive the carriage back to Fenghe Courtyard.

His and her Fenghe Courtyard.

Actually, ever since Shen Xiling left, he had hardly ever returned there, except for being busy with official duties. In his heart, he actually felt somewhat afraid of returning there.

Everywhere there were her traces, everywhere were the marks she had left behind—like望园 (Wang Garden), like 忘室 (Wangshi), like 懷瑾院 (Huaijin Courtyard) and 握瑜院 (Woyu Courtyard). Even the flowers and trees in the garden that seemed not greatly connected to her were enough to make him think of her. He knew he was being somewhat delusional.

But that night, he was so urgently compelled to return to Fenghe Courtyard.

To return to the place where she had been.

Even though he knew that going back wouldn’t let him see her.

Even though he knew that tomorrow he would regret tonight’s impulsiveness.

Even though he knew that his current wretched self was utterly unworthy of returning to the place where they had lived together.

…But he still went back.

When he stood alone in Wang Garden looking at the completely dead withered lotus in the pond, in his body’s extreme pain he couldn’t help but gaze northward, thinking of that person he had already lost.

He felt sorrow that she wasn’t by his side at this moment, but at the same time, he felt fortunate.

Fortunately… you didn’t see me in such a disgraceful state.