After the two finished their meal together, Dai Qiyou handed over the two thick books presented by Jiang Kangchen to Emperor Yongming. Emperor Yongming first read the book about the relief fund proposed by the Empress. As Emperor Yongming read, his expression changed accordingly. After reading it, Emperor Yongming was very happy. “Great, great! This matter must be presided over by the Empress. If it can be done, it would be very good.”

Emperor Yongming’s joy also infected Dai Qiyou, who was equally happy as he spoke. “I still underestimated that Shao Yunan. There is a sentence in it that I think is very reasonable. If this matter can be accomplished, even if we can’t help everyone in need, it would still be a good deed by the Emperor, for helping the Great State of Yan.”

Dai Qiyou stood up and knelt down respectfully. “Your Majesty, I beg you to leave this matter to me.” Emperor Yongming leaned over and lifted up the Empress with both hands as he spoke in a deep voice. “I grant it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Dai Qiyou’s smile made Emperor Yongming a little dazed. How long had he not seen such a high-spirited smile, full of fighting spirit on the face of his beloved. Dazed for a while, Emperor Yongming hugged Dai Qiyou and laughed. “Qiyou, I remember I said that sooner or later, I will let you overlook the prosperous Great State of Yan for me. I will not let you even have a chance to regret it.”

Dai Qiyou also excitedly hugged Emperor Yongming tightly. “I will never regret it.” Emperor Yongming kissed the Empress’ forehead affectionately and only left a long time later.

In fact, Emperor Yongming’s road to the empire could have been less difficult than it was now. As long as he married the daughter or son from a noble family as a concubine or Empress and balanced the power of all parties and got the support of the nobility, his life would become much easier. But Emperor Yongming was unwilling and resistant, even resentful at the bottom of his heart.

Emperor Yongming’s mother was the first Empress of the late Emperor and was made the Empress because she had saved the late Emperor’s life. She didn’t come from a noble family, but Emperor Yongming was still the first legitimate son.

At that time, the first Emperor was still immersed in his gratitude and love for his mother, so he named him the crown prince. To apply the current words, it meant that a man in love was hot headed and made rash decisions. But as Emperor Yongming’s mother fell out of favor, the former Emperor also began to neglect him as crown prince.

New women entered the palace one by one. Those women with family support became the late Emperor’s favorite concubines. There was only one result for the Empress without a strong background, either to be abolished and sent to the cold palace or to die and perish. In order to protect him, Emperor Yongming’s mother, knowing someone was going to poison her, endured the chronic poison, until she died. On her deathbed, she told Emperor Yongming not to take revenge, but to use all means possible to keep his crown prince seat.

Since the Empress was poisoned to death, it caused an uproar in the court. Master Weng, who was the crown prince’s tutor, was the first to come forward and speak out, followed by General Dai, who was then a great general. The late Emperor executed the two concubines who were in favor at the time, but not their material families. In order to appease the crown prince’s anger and the discontent of loyal subjects such as Master Weng and Great General Dai, the late Emperor, either out of guilt or out of his weakness, dismissed the idea of abolishing the crown prince.

After that, until Emperor Yongming ascended to the throne, he was persecuted by those big families, because as long as he did not die, no other royal son could become the crown prince. The late Emperor had made it clear that he would not abolish the crown prince. There are many dangers around Emperor Yongming and the people closest to him have become the most dangerous. 

Dai Qiyou was in danger several times and was poisoned because he was Emperor Yongming’s confidant and the person Emperor Yongming liked the most. If it wasn’t for Dai Qiyou’s high martial arts skills and the General’s Mansion behind him, he would have passed away a long time ago. 

Even if Dai Qiyou had become the Empress now, Emperor Yongming could not just sit back and relax. There were still many people secretly waiting for an opportunity to kill Dai Qiyou. Because Dai Qiyou was not dead, other people could not become the Emperor’s concubines or the Empress and had no chance to give birth to a prince.

Emperor Yongming’s hatred for these noble families was so great, that he would rather have an unstable kingdom and a difficult position on the throne than bow down to these families. He even planned to eradicate all these families one day! But this matter was very difficult, very difficult… Emperor Yongming even made preparations for his descendants to complete it, if he could not complete it in this lifetime. 

Although this path was very difficult, Emperor Yongming knew that there was someone who would always accompany him and help him without complaint or regret. Dai Qiyou raised his head in Emperor Yongming’s arms and said, “Does Your Majesty want to see what is written in the other book?”

“Empress join me.” Emperor Yongming took the Empress’ hand and pulled him down to read the other book.

“Good!”

“Excellent!”

“Great!”

Inside Master Weng’s study, from time to time, his excited shouts of approval could be heard. Old Master Weng’s face was flushed, his eyes were round, and his beard was rising and falling, which was caused by his violent breathing. Sitting below him was Jiang Kangchen, who had come directly after coming out of the palace. Before Jiang Kangchen left, Elder Cen copied all the poems and lyrics that Shao Yunan ‘recited’ and asked him to bring them to his Senior Brother. 

Elder Cen also attached a letter to Master Weng, so now that these things were in Master Weng’s hands, he was very excited. After reading those classic poems and lyrics and reading the letter sent to him by his Senior Brother through Jiang Kangchen, Master Weng looked up with gleaming eyes. “Kangchen, tell me more about what you heard and saw there!”

Jiang Kangchen immediately sat upright and told Master Weng in detail all the new things he had seen and heard in Xiushui Village during the New Year. Master Weng was as trustworthy and reliable as Elder Cen and was also one of the big backers that Shao Yunan wanted to get on his side. Not only did Jiang Kangchen not hide anything, but his words were full of admiration for Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing.

Master Weng was so excited to hear this that he wanted to make a personal trip to Xiushui Village to meet this wonderful person. Master Weng listened to Jiang Kangchen say that Shao Yunan did not want to go to the county school as a teacher, because he was afraid that his words might attract unnecessary trouble.  Master Weng frowned when he heard Jiang Kangchen say that Elder Cen planned to recognize Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing as his adopted sons. Saying only “Brother really acts fast.” 

Hearing from Jiang Kangchen that Wang Shijing brought back a set of toys called a ‘Rubik’s Cube,’ but even Elder Cen could only play it to the fourth level, Master Weng felt very itchy. But upon hearing that there was only one set of Rubik cubes and they were left at the Wang residence, he immediately lamented, and asked Jiang Kangchen to draw a picture of what it looked like. Then he listened to him about playing ‘mahjong’ together and how his junior brother, Elder Cen, would still play tricks, making Master Weng yell, “Next time I see Junior Brother, I must be taught by him.”

After fighting with people in the capital every day and helping the Emperor to remove the obstacles in the imperial government, and then listening to Jiang Kangchen’s description of their New Year’s celebration, Master Weng wanted to go to Xiushui Village for some peace and quiet.

When Jiang Kangchen finished, Master Weng stroked his beard and said, “Kangchen, you must not talk about these things in public. The existence of that husband and wife duo will not be concealed for long, but we can’t let them be exposed to people too soon either. There are still many dangers and obstacles we have to face.”

Edited by: Jaisland

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