The dozens of people present gradually stood up and left, with only Su remaining in place.

“He Cai is gone. I want to find a reason to live on,” Su said.

Su was an orphan, taken into the Konghe Academy at twelve, and joining the Konghejun after countless life-and-death trials. He entered the assassin’s trade late, and during the monotonous killing day and night that followed, everything from before he was twelve became increasingly vivid and clear. Even his near-death experiences fighting beggars for food became precious memories. He could never truly make his heart as cold as ice.

In his midnight dreams, his mind was filled with those he had killed. He began to seek playmates within the Konghejun, using desire and others’ body warmth to drive away the cold nights.

He liked He Cai, initially because of her hot figure. At first, he just wanted to use her body heat to get through the night, as was common among the Konghejun. The female assassins didn’t place too much importance on chastity, as they lived each day not knowing if there would be a tomorrow. However, He Cai acted like a chaste and virtuous woman, not only refusing him but also fighting with him.

From then on, it aroused his desire to conquer her.

He wasn’t sure when he fell in love. He only knew that when He Cai agreed to retire with him, he was overjoyed. When He Cai died, he felt as if struck by lightning.

Su murmured, “I thought after being an assassin for so many years, I had become indifferent to life and death. But it wasn’t until He Cai died before my eyes that I realized I had never truly overcome it.”

What he couldn’t overcome wasn’t life and death, but emotion.

Chu Dingjiang looked at him, feeling as if he was looking at himself.

In this life, until the previous moment, he thought he had achieved enlightenment. Who knew that after letting go of his grand ambitions, he would fall into another trap?

Chu Dingjiang thought, that to live a colorful life, one needs some obsession.

“I’ve lost,” Chu Dingjiang sighed.

Su was slightly surprised. If easily eliminating the Crown Prince’s forces with such a well-laid plan wasn’t considered a victory, what would be? He suddenly became angry, “The result we risked our lives for. You say you’ve lost?”

Compared to most historical power grabs and usurpations, this battle was indeed easy, largely thanks to Chu Dingjiang.

“You all won, but I lost,” Chu Dingjiang said calmly. “Even if I could overturn the empire, I couldn’t protect one person. So I lost.”

Chu Dingjiang felt he had lived two lifetimes, having an advantage over others from the start. Yet in the end, he schemed for the empire but couldn’t protect his woman. This was fate’s blatant mockery of him.

In the tumultuous Warring States period, Chu Dingjiang once thought that given the chance, he wouldn’t be inferior to Zhang Yi, Song Chuyi, or Xishou. Now, he felt he was far behind.

“No wonder He Cai liked you,” Su felt somewhat relieved. Although still grieving He Cai’s death, he felt that her dying for the person she loved fulfilled her wish, which was another kind of perfection.

Some people rarely show sentimentality, yet always attract many sentimental people.

Chu Dingjiang took off a jade pendant and threw it to Su. “This is the token given to me by the Second Prince. With it, you might receive great rewards and important positions from him, but great benefits often come with great risks. Consider it carefully.”

Su held the jade pendant as if holding a burning scepter of power.

Watching Su’s hand slowly tighten around the pendant, Chu Dingjiang said slowly, “It might fill the emptiness in your heart, or you might feel increasingly empty.”

Without waiting for Su to say anything, Chu Dingjiang vanished. He didn’t know about He Cai’s feelings, nor did he feel the need to repay anything for her death. He suddenly felt weary and tired. Perhaps his psychological age was too old; he could no longer find that stubbornness of his twenties when he would keep going even after hitting a wall.

He thought, that even if An Jiu never woke up, he would willingly sit by her bedside until the end of time.

In Bianjing, the imperial palace, having just undergone a bloodbath, still reeked of blood. The area around Baohua Gate was stained with blood. The blood had seeped into the bluestone bricks, leaving traces even after scrubbing. They eventually had to pry up the stones and replace them with new ones.

With only ten days until Zhao Huo’s enthronement ceremony, the entire palace was in a frenzy of activity.

Zhao Huo was mainly busy with three things: dealing with the Crown Prince’s remaining supporters; proclaiming to the world that he was the rightful heir; and rewarding meritorious officials, as well as posthumously honoring loyal ministers who sacrificed themselves for his cause during the Baohua Gate incident.

Zhao Huo kept a group of high officials busy in the Zichen Hall until late at night. During a brief two-quarter-hour break, he stood outside the hall, gazing into the distance. Baohua Gate was brightly lit, illuminating the ink-black sky. The sound of voices was clamorous, and perhaps due to his state of mind, he found it somewhat lively and cheerful.

Taking over the mess left by his father, Zhao Huo truly felt the heavy pressure on his shoulders. The internal corruption of the Great Song Dynasty and external threats from strong enemies meant that one wrong move could lead to the nation’s downfall under his rule.

Excess officials and soldiers, emphasis on civil affairs over military matters – from the court to the common people, factors unfavorable to the Great Song’s development were everywhere. Where should he start?

Given his previous temperament, Zhao Huo would have eagerly tackled every aspect at once. But after this ordeal, coupled with dealing with numerous complex state affairs in recent days, he quickly gained maturity and stability. Remembering the mysterious Mr. Chu’s evaluation of him, Zhao Huo became even more cautious.

Chu Dingjiang had once frankly told Zhao Huo that while he was good in many aspects and his passion was commendable, passion alone wasn’t enough for an emperor. What he lacked most was steadiness and composure.

At the time, Zhao Huo couldn’t fully understand. He felt that after spending so much effort and taking such risks to seize power, it was for the immense authority that came with this position above all others. He could reshape this nearly collapsing country according to his will. But now, truly sitting in this position, he discovered that even with the empire in his hands, not everything could be done at will.

To achieve his goals, he had to suppress his temperament and passionate nature.

“Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Hua bowed respectfully.

Zhao Huo pulled back his thoughts and sighed, “Prime Minister, why is everything so different from what I initially imagined?”

Prime Minister Hua paused, quickly pondering the meaning behind these words. He guessed Zhao Huo’s thoughts quite accurately, but outwardly said, “This old minister is slow-witted. Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

In this atmosphere of heart-to-heart talk between emperor and minister, as a qualified official, he must not appear to guess the emperor’s inner thoughts. In this matter, only appearing slow-witted was safe.

“I once thought that sitting in this position above all others, I could make sweeping reforms to remove the Great Song’s burdens. I was sure I could do better than anyone else, but now…” Zhao Huo turned to look at Prime Minister Hua, “I feel restricted. Prime Minister, you were Father Emperor’s right-hand man. Please teach me.”

Prime Minister Hua bowed again, “Your Majesty flatters this old minister.”

Zhao Huo gestured for him to rise, “No need for modesty. I’ve always believed in your loyalty to the country and the throne.”

His words were subtle, implying: Father didn’t trust you, but I do, so you can rest assured!

“With Your Majesty’s words, this minister would die a thousand deaths without regret,” Prime Minister Hua said politely, then moved on from the topic. Having understood the Second Prince’s nature before supporting him, he knew Zhao Huo was straightforward and disliked others beating around the bush. So, changing his usually smooth approach, he said directly, “Your Majesty’s thoughts are a blessing for the Great Song. This old minister shares Your Majesty’s desire for reform, but unfortunately, the foundations of the Great Song are already shaking. We must not use too much force. If we want to rebuild, we must be patient and proceed gradually.”

“What does the minister think we should start with?” Zhao Huo suddenly handed such a big responsibility, was already at a loss and urgently needed to hear the views and opinions of these veteran officials.

Prime Minister Hua paused, then said concisely, “This minister believes the most urgent matter is the military.”

Prime Minister Hua was also a man with ambitions. He wasn’t saying this to cater to Zhao Huo’s preferences, but because they truly couldn’t wait. The Liao State was eyeing them covetously and might take advantage of the Great Song’s internal turmoil to invade. If the Liao army marched on Bianjing in one fell swoop, what use would other reforms be?

Zhao Huo’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, “The Prime Minister’s words match my thoughts exactly.”

Prime Minister Hua glanced at the dark circles under the young emperor’s eyes and quickly looked away, feeling he hadn’t made the wrong choice. Regardless of how Zhao Huo might treat this group of old ministers in the future, at least he was focusing on saving the country from crisis.

“Does the Prime Minister know of a man named Chu Dingjiang?” Zhao Huo suddenly asked.

Prime Minister Hua’s heart skipped a beat. Had Chu Dingjiang’s identity as his son been exposed? Thinking of this, besides feeling shocked, Prime Minister Hua felt full of resentment and grievance. This bastard had been different from others since childhood, truly frightening. Whether it was finding a concubine to bear a child as a substitute or joining the Konghejun, it was all his own decision, having nothing to do with himself as a father. He had long since disowned that person as his son, but if this bastard’s background was revealed, the Hua family would still be the first to suffer.