The Supreme Palace was stifling hot, with ice basins placed at all four corners. The ice blocks slowly melted, their dripping echoing through the spacious hall.

For the first time, Li De carefully studied Yaoying, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, fine wrinkles creasing at their corners.

Yaoying noticed his suspicion and vigilance but maintained her composure.

She knew Li De was distrustful and shouldn’t have spoken these words to him, but things had come to this point. She was about to marry far away, so there was nothing left to be concerned about.

Before leaving, she had to make arrangements for Li Zhongqian and Noble Consort Xie.

“Father.” Yaoying looked directly at the emperor’s dark expression before the dragon throne. “Back then, you allied with the Xie family, promising that if you achieved your great enterprise, you would surely share prosperity with them. The Xie family devoted their entire clan’s resources to recruiting soldiers and buying horses for you, helping you recover Wei Commandery, and uniting with the great families of Zheng, Cui, Xue, and Zhao to recommend you as Grand General. This is the second account.”

Li De remained silent.

Yaoying paused, then continued: “My uncle Xie Wuliang is dead, the Xie family’s women and children took poison to end their lives, no bloodline remains of the Xie family, and all the Xie clan elders who allied with you then are gone… But my mother still lives in this world. She is an Xie daughter, my brother is an Xie grandson, and I am an Xie granddaughter.”

Word by word, she said, “I, Li Yaoying, as granddaughter of the Xie family, demand that Li De of Wei Commandery fulfill his promise from those years.”

Li De narrowed his eyes, his expression growing increasingly stern.

Yaoying continued: “Before his death, Uncle instructed my brother not to rely on past relationships to ask anything from Your Majesty, because he understood that Your Majesty had long intended to break the promise. Forcing Your Majesty to fulfill the promise would only provoke your anger and make life more difficult for my mother and brother.”

“Uncle was a gentleman who cared for the world and had the heart to support the state and society. He always considered the bigger picture, never dwelling on his gains and losses.”

Yaoying paused, her cold gaze falling on Li De’s face: “My uncle’s broad-mindedness is not an excuse for your betrayal.”

…

Xie Wuliang was skilled at judging characters. Back then, he met Li De only once and immediately determined that this down-and-out man was a hero capable of breaking Central Plains’ fractured political landscape, willing to ally with the Li family.

But he firmly opposed his sister Xie Manyuan marrying Li De.

The Xie family’s direct line was declining, and the siblings Xie Wuliang had depended on each other since childhood. Xie Manyuan had never stepped outside Jingnan, and in her innocence questioned her brother: “Brother, since you say Li De is an unmatched hero, why won’t you let the clan elders arrange the marriage? Don’t you always lament that our family has no sons who can lead armies?”

Xie Wuliang answered: “Sister, Li De is skilled in warfare, strict in military discipline, adept at winning people’s hearts, and dares to break conventions by employing common-born talents. I am willing to follow and assist him. He will surely achieve great things in the future and become a clear-minded and prudent ruler, but that doesn’t mean he will be a good husband. Moreover, our Xie family has protected this region and sheltered the common people for hundreds of years, already achieving the highest nobility. We don’t need to seek wealth and glory through marriage ties.”

Xie Manyuan anxiously said: “How does Brother know Li De wouldn’t be a good husband? His first wife was of humble birth and died in the chaos of war. He risked death to avenge her. Everyone says he is a man who values relationships and loyalty.”

Xie Wuliang shook his head and sighed: “Sister, you don’t understand Li De. His loyalty and affection are only for his subordinates and followers.”

Xie Manyuan didn’t understand her brother’s concerns, believing it was all just an excuse to refuse the marriage, and became depressed.

Seeing his sister wasn’t convinced, Xie Wuliang turned to persuade other clan members: “Li De comes from a powerful family. Since raising his army, he has mainly employed relatives through marriage and generals of humble birth who depend on the Li family, while being very wary of great families. If the Xie family can assist him, we will surely achieve the highest glory in the future, but if we try to advance further through marriage ties, it will only invite disaster.”

“Second Sister can marry Li De’s brother or nephew, but absolutely cannot marry Li De himself!”

“Agreeing to marry Li De would be like pulling chestnuts from the fire!”

The Xie clan members thought Xie Wuliang was worrying needlessly. Li De actively sought the marriage – what disaster could there be? They insisted on the marriage alliance with the Li family.

Xie Manyuan was experiencing first love, obsessed with Li De, refusing to eat or drink until she became gaunt.

The Li family repeatedly sought out Xie Wuliang, swearing that if they could welcome Xie Manyuan into their family, they would surely treat her with the utmost respect and not let her suffer the slightest grievance.

Xie Wuliang had only this one sister, and truly couldn’t bear to see her crying every day. Seeing the Li family’s sincere attitude, he could only agree to let his sister marry.

“So be it. As long as Brother lives one day, I can protect you for one day.”

On the wedding day, Lady Tang and Li Xuanzhen mother and son suddenly appeared at the feast. Xie Manyuan was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond.

Xie Wuliang took Xie Manyuan aside, let out a long sigh, and instructed her: “Sister, remember, don’t make things difficult for Lady Tang and her son. If you trouble them, Li De won’t distance himself from you, but he will remember every single thing in his heart until the day he can no longer endure it.”

Xie Manyuan was in turmoil but remembered her brother’s warning. Though she couldn’t avoid quarrels with Lady Tang in the inner quarters afterward, she never harmed the mother and son.

No one expected that Lady Tang would self-immolate while pregnant.

After her death, Li De’s hair turned white overnight, and he completely neglected Xie Manyuan.

Xie Manyuan became disillusioned.

Xie Wuliang found his sister again, repeatedly and tirelessly instructing her: “Sister, don’t mention the old alliance to the Grand General. Remember, not a single word!”

Three years later, the sickly Xie Wuliang defended Jingnan with his frail body.

When the city fell, he had his subordinates cut off his head to present to the enemy.

“Tell Second Sister not to grieve for me. This is the proper way for Xie family sons!”

“Second Sister, Brother can no longer protect you. Take good care of yourself, and look after Hu’er and Seven Sister. Don’t let Hu’er pursue military affairs, and don’t mention the alliance matter to Li De.”

“Brother must go now.”

…

It had been exactly eleven years since the Xie family’s destruction.

Yaoying understood why Xie Wuliang left such last words.

Because he understood Li De.

Lady Tang was dead, and the alliance between the Li and Xie families had become Noble Consort Xie’s death warrant. Only by avoiding mention of this matter could the mother and children preserve their lives.

Noble Consort Xie didn’t mention it, Li Zhongqian didn’t mention it, and Li De wouldn’t bring up his scar.

They seemed to have all forgotten the promise of those years.

The court officials who were once close to the Xie family knew Li De’s taboo and tacitly agreed not to mention the Xie family.

Everyone forgot the Xie family.

Forgot the Xie sons who sacrificed themselves on battlefields generation after generation.

Forgot the heroic spirits buried in foreign lands.

Forgot the green mounds of the Xie family’s ancestral graves in Jingnan, now overgrown with weeds.

Forgot Xie Wuliang who, though weak from childhood, still devoted his heart and soul to pacifying the chaotic world, running about everywhere.

Yaoying had not forgotten.

Not just because she was the Xie family’s granddaughter, but because she was born and raised in chaotic times, and at age five had been cast adrift, witnessing too many instant separations of flesh and blood, partings of life and death.

The realm was shattered, cries of suffering everywhere.

Yaoying was also one struggling to survive in these chaotic times when human life was as worthless as grass. She admired the former Zhu family who had stemmed the tide, admired the Xie family who generation after generation gave their lives for the nation’s troubles and viewed death as returning home, admired her uncle Xie Wuliang who, though physically frail, never extinguished his will to support the state and society.

It was precisely because of the former Zhu ancestors, the Xie family, and countless heroes who resolutely stood up when the realm was falling, sacrificing their lives to protect the common people, that peace and tranquility could be exchanged, that the common people could live in peace and prosperity.

Some revered the Xie family.

However, more people couldn’t understand the Xie family’s ancestral teachings. They mocked the Xie family’s generations of pedantic loyalty, mocked that the Xie people didn’t know how to plan for themselves, only knew how to lead armies in battle, which led to their decline after all their direct line sons and hundred thousand Xie army soldiers died gloriously, forcing the noble young master Xie Wuliang to lower himself to associate with merchants, covered in the stench of copper coins.

Yaoying had thought before that if Uncle Xie Wuliang were still alive, she would surely advise him to protect himself, advise him to plan more for the Xie family.

Because she was just an ordinary person who wanted to live well with her loved ones.

Xie Wuliang wouldn’t have listened to her advice, he would have just smiled it away.

Xie’s family sons were not cowards who feared death.

Fighting for family and country, dying for a worthy cause.

For the realm, for the masses, for the common people, but never for themselves.

Such an Xie family had completely lost its bloodline.

Like smoke dispersing, like clouds scattering.

Eleven years later today, Yaoying stood before Li De in the spacious Two Forces Hall, speaking word by word: “Your Majesty, I am not begging for mercy as a Li family daughter, but demanding justice as a Xie family granddaughter from the monarch the Xie family was loyal to!”

“My mother is the Xie family’s only remaining blood in this world. My uncle asked for nothing else, only hoped you would treat my mother well. You swore you would take good care of my mother. Your Majesty, have you done so?”

Every word dripped blood, falling with resounding force.

Li De said nothing, silently watching Yaoying.

The lion-shaped incense burner continued to emit wisps of faint fragrant smoke.

Yaoying’s strength faltered, her body trembled, but she steadied herself and continued: “The third account is what I’m claiming for my brother.”

Her lips twisted: “Father, back then the Li family members supported making my brother the heir apparent, and Empress Tang quarreled with my mother over this. Your daughter wants to ask you one question.”

Li De’s expression remained as dark as water, but the scrutiny in his phoenix eyes gradually faded, replaced by surprise and something else: “What does Seven Sister want to ask?”

Yaoying’s face was calm: “Father, from beginning to end, did you ever intend to make my brother the heir apparent?”

Li De started slightly, his expression growing more shocked.

Yaoying laughed coldly: “So it is indeed so.”

She said mockingly: “Father is skilled in calculations. From the moment you knew Empress Tang and the eldest brother were still alive, you had determined the eldest brother would be your heir. But at that time you hadn’t recovered your strength yet, you had to rely on the Xie family. You feared the Xie family would harm Empress Tang, so you deliberately neglected Empress Tang, letting my mother think you cared for her.”

This was one reason Noble Consort Xie later became deranged: she thought Li De had loved her.

“Later when Father’s wings were full-grown, you no longer needed to fear the Xie family. By then you had gained the great families’ support, but there was constant conflict between the common-born and noble families who supported you. My brother’s maternal grandfather was from the Xie family, so you deliberately pretended you couldn’t choose between my brother and the eldest brother, using this to pacify the great families and balance them against the common-born.”

Everything Li De did had far-reaching considerations. For the bigger picture, he could sacrifice everything, even willing to drag the young Li Zhongqian and teenage Li Xuanzhen into the muddy waters of the heir apparent dispute.

Yaoying closed her eyes briefly: “How pitiful that my brother always thought Father had once placed high hopes in him. To earn a word of praise from Father, he studied texts and practiced martial arts diligently every day… but it turns out he bore an empty name for nothing…”

Li Zhongqian had always thought that his heir apparent dispute with Li Xuanzhen led to Lady Tang’s death, which made Li De despise him and Noble Consort Xie. The young him was depressed and tormented by this, not knowing it was all just Li De’s strategy!

The art of being emperor, cold to such extremes.

The former Zhu dynasty fell at the hands of the great families. Li Xuanzhen had always been wary of the great families, and never truly trusted them. To suppress the great families, even Lady Tang and Li Xuanzhen became pieces on his chessboard.

In his life, he had only loved one woman, Lady Tang. He loved her, respected her, and also used her.

That lowborn Noble Consort Rong in the rear palace was also one of Li De’s chess pieces. Most of his consorts were from great families; someone like Noble Consort Rong was used to balance the rear palace.

Yaoying stood before the dragon throne, her gaze falling on Li De’s graying temples.

“Li De, being your children is the greatest tragedy of this life for me and my brother.”

Li De smiled faintly, seeming to mock himself, or perhaps showing indifference.

Yaoying didn’t care about his reaction. “As a ruler, one can be cold and ruthless, can use any means necessary, can be shameless, can use brutal methods to achieve his goals. As long as he can convince the common people, can maintain long-term stable rule, can let the people under his rule eat their fill and dress warmly, he need not worry about being overthrown.”

“The former Zhu dynasty was eager to break free from the great families’ constraints, attempting to suppress them by reforming official appointments, promoting common-born talents, and strongly advocating the imperial examination system. As a result, they were marginalized by the great families. The last emperor was an incompetent ruler who intensified conflicts and provoked war, leading to people’s destitution and constant uprisings everywhere, but it was the rebellious great families who truly destroyed the Zhu dynasty.”

If not for the powerful local great families rising in rebellion everywhere, how would the last emperor have been forced to flee south, ultimately dying at the hands of treacherous ministers?

Yaoying looked at Li De: “Father, from the moment you allied with the Xie family, you had already planned how to suppress them. Even without Empress Tang, my mother would still have been neglected by you, my brother was destined to never gain your favor.”

Li De put away his half-smiling expression and remained silent for a long while.

Yaoying met his deep, inscrutable gaze, her eyes like a still pool: “Your Majesty, how do you plan to settle these accounts?”

A bright beam of light passed through the straight-latticed window into the dim hall, enveloping Yaoying.

Like the deep of night, with floating light and mist, like a tree full of pear blossoms blooming in the flowing moonlight.

Between heaven and earth, silver clouds shone through.

Li De looked at Yaoying, suddenly reminded of someone.