{"id":6946,"date":"2025-04-08T10:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T08:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/?p=6946"},"modified":"2025-04-10T13:48:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T11:48:03","slug":"your-majesty-you-mustnt-chapter-54-the-wicked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/your-majesty-you-mustnt-chapter-54-the-wicked\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Majesty, you mustn’t! – Chapter 54: The wicked"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

After waiting outside the city for almost half an hour, someone finally came to receive them\u2014not to take them into the palace, but to escort them to a temporary resting place. They could enter the palace only when the Grand General arranged it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was summer, and there was nowhere to take shelter from the heat outside the city. The group of more than twenty officials had been baking in the sun. Ever since Xiao Rong revealed his identity, the number of guards at the city gate had increased, and they wouldn\u2019t allow Xiao Rong\u2019s party to enter and wait. The guards kept a tense watch over them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When the person came to receive them, Zhang Biezhi unsurprisingly lost his temper.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cIs this how Jinling treats guests? You lock us out in the sun, making us dizzy?! You are deliberately treating us disrespectfully, and disrespecting us means disrespecting the King of the North!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The receiver, sweating nervously, wiped his forehead and quietly explained, “I\u2019ve only just received the message\u2013\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi said, “What do you mean I? You\u2019re just a lowly official! Don\u2019t think I don\u2019t know anything. Our Chenliu Governor is on the same level as your Jinling Governor!”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Earlier, Xiao Rong had ignored him, but now he suddenly coughed heavily.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thanks to the events of last night, Zhang Biezhi\u2019s back stiffened, and he reflexively added, “and I\u2019m here as well. No civil official outranks me!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong: “\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A bit exaggerated, but it would have to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The person sent to receive them was indeed not a high-ranking official. He was a Junior Official in Jinling, a position that allowed him to appear in court and meet the Emperor, but Jinling had dozens of such Junior Officials.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He had been sent out just to take the blame.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi, seeing that the official was uneducated, continued to scold him at the city gate. The official\u2019s face became hard to maintain, but he didn\u2019t dare to provoke Zhang Biezhi. He had never seen the King of the North\u2019s army, but he knew from the rumors that the Northern Army was fearless, even in killing. He feared that Zhang Biezhi might do something to him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Fortunately, not all of them were unreasonable. The Chenliu Governor, a gentle person, tried to stop Zhang Biezhi from continuing but was only met with a glare. As if unwilling to get involved with Xiao Rong, he angrily walked to the back.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From then on, it was only the Chenliu Governor who spoke to the official. When the official first saw him, he almost thought he was hallucinating.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He was so handsome!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

His forehead glistened with a light sweat, his cheeks had a faint unhealthy flush, and his weak voice… oh my, even Jinling\u2019s number one Young Master would be outshone by him!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Zhang Biezhi had complained earlier, the official didn\u2019t think there was a problem with keeping the guests waiting outside. Now, he couldn\u2019t bear seeing such a handsome young man suffer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He quickly led Xiao Rong and the others away to rest. Xiao Rong, hearing his concern for his health, simply smiled faintly and said, “It\u2019s an old problem. It\u2019s not serious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This made the official even more concerned.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong took this opportunity to ask about the situation in the palace. Though the official didn\u2019t say everything, some information slipped out, such as how the palace was too busy to meet him because of ongoing intense discussions. They had come at an unfortunate time when the Emperor wasn\u2019t in court, so they couldn\u2019t let him in immediately.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Did the Emperor need special preparations to meet ministers? Weren\u2019t the ministers supposed to bathe, change clothes, and attend the Emperor without causing him trouble?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, this young emperor was a puppet, and Sun Renluan was undermining him while still relying on him. This made it impossible for Xiao Rong to apply his previous experiences with the imperial palace to this one.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong also couldn\u2019t tell whether they really hadn\u2019t thought things through or if they were intentionally keeping him waiting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Well, if things were delayed, he\u2019d simply wait. Since he couldn\u2019t enter the palace for now, he decided to take a nap. He hadn\u2019t been feeling well, and after standing in the sun for half an hour, he felt like he was about to faint from heatstroke. It was best to rest for a while.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He laid down. Meanwhile Zhang Biezhi was still angry with Jinling\u2019s attitude and wasn\u2019t feeling sleepy. Ah Shu stayed by Xiao Rong\u2019s side, both to protect him and keep an eye on him should he suddenly feel feverish again like before.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After a while, everything calmed down, and no one noticed that, while they were resting, one of the guards snuck out. He didn\u2019t run far and left a letter he had hidden in his sleeve in front of a pawnshop. Soon after, the letter was picked up and quickly sent to Northern Yang.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While Southern Yong had spies in Chenliu, Qiu Yunmie also had spies in Jinling. He never mentioned them because they seemed useless. Despite this, he had sent them to monitor the movements of the Jinling army, and though they had been idle for years, they were still quite pleased to have a task, even if it was just delivering a letter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qiu Yunmie didn\u2019t go to the stationed army in Northern Yangzhou but stayed near the dock. Ever since Xiao Rong had left, he had felt uneasy and regretted allowing him to go alone. He realized he could no longer afford to be so lenient in the future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While pacing back and forth in the room, the guard outside told him that the letter from Jinling had arrived.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Qiu Yunmie heard this, he immediately strode out, snatched the letter from the scout whose name he had forgotten, tore it open quickly, and read through it in one go.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gradually, the scout delivering the letter grew less pleased.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He noticed that Qiu Yunmie\u2019s expression was becoming increasingly terrifying\u2026 more and more frightening. In the end, he crumpled the letter into a ball, and because he applied so much force, bits of paper fell from between his fingers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Furious, he looked toward the other side of the Han River, as if he could already see Xiao Rong sleeping in the guest room in Jinling.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Through gritted teeth, he muttered, “When you come back, I\u2019ll show you how I\u2019ll deal with you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Meanwhile, in his dream, Xiao Rong clicked his tongue. He seemed to hear a buzzing sound, which was incredibly annoying, so he slapped it away, turned over, and went back to sleep peacefully.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If no one had called him, Xiao Rong could have slept until morning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, before dusk, someone from the palace arrived. This time, it was a proper eunuch, and one with a relatively high rank.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The term “eunuch” wouldn\u2019t actually come into use until much later. If people were to be called eunuchs at this time, they probably wouldn\u2019t understand what it meant. After all, the “Internal Affairs Department” hadn\u2019t even appeared yet, let alone the general term “eunuch.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this time, people referred to them behind their backs as “castrated officials” or “officials of the inner palace.” In front of them, they would naturally address them by their official titles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The eunuch sent to invite Xiao Rong was from Dowager Empress Sun\u2019s palace, with the title of Shaofu “Master of the Estate ” In an era when the Emperor had been sidelined and the Empress was nowhere to be seen, Dowager Empress Sun held supreme power over the entire harem. This eunuch, as the Shaofu, was essentially the head eunuch of the royal palace.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, eunuchs were a peculiar type of figure. When things were good, they could control the entire realm, but when things were bad, they were just higher-ranked servants. Under Sun Renluan\u2019s control, even Empress Sun couldn\u2019t interfere in state affairs, let alone these eunuchs who had to keep their tails between their legs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So, Xiao Rong didn\u2019t need to be overly polite to them. After all, being polite wouldn\u2019t help\u2014this person, though high-ranking, had no real power. There was no need to waste energy on them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even so, it was quite intriguing that the palace sent a eunuch from the Empress Dowager\u2019s side to invite him. Did the Emperor no longer have anyone useful around him, or did Sun Renluan think he was a small figure who wasn\u2019t worth much attention, so he just casually sent someone?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps Sun Renluan was worried that he might strike up a conversation with the eunuchs that were by the Emperor\u2019s side, so he had preemptively blocked that route by using his sister, who, despite being as beautiful as a flower, had no intelligence at all. This way, he could maintain proper etiquette without worrying about a eunuch\u2019s loose lips. As the saying goes: “A foolish general leads to a foolish army.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Shanlu was a foolish beauty. Even if her eunuchs wanted to learn something useful, they wouldn\u2019t have the opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong curled his lips into a smile. After thoroughly checking himself to ensure there was no flaw, only then did he step out with renewed energy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As the only one with an official title, Zhang Biezhi naturally had to follow him. When he saw that Xiao Rong had only taken a short nap but was already fully revived, he was astonished.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Is this how scholars are so energetic? Xiao Rong\u2019s younger brother seemed to be the same, always holding a book and reading, while also writing essays and dealing with various emergencies. As for the old lady, Zhang Biezhi could barely stand a quarter of an hour with her before he wanted to jump into the river to end it all, yet Xiao Yi could cheer her up with just a few words. Though more issues would arise later, he still remained patient and in good spirits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi: I\u2019ve figured it out.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The difference between him and the Xiao brothers was that he didn\u2019t have such a troublesome old lady at home. Whether it was Xiao Rong\u2019s extraordinary strength or Xiao Yi\u2019s incredible patience, it must have been the result of their grandmother\u2019s daily torment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Well, he no longer had to doubt life. His growth had been too smooth; no one had tortured him in his childhood, and he couldn\u2019t help but feel helpless about that.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong didn\u2019t know what Zhang Biezhi was thinking, and he didn\u2019t care to investigate. After all, people would never understand the thought process of a monkey. However, Zhang Biezhi\u2019s mood visibly improved. He really did start to emulate his former self, walking around with his nose in the air, occasionally snorting as if looking down on everything around him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, in reality, Jinling was far more prosperous than Chenliu. Chenliu still had many vacant houses. Not because there were too few people, but because living in the city was inconvenient. Everywhere required money, so some people preferred living outside the city. In contrast, the streets of Jinling were crowded with people. The sound of vendors shouting filled the air, and almost every few seconds, someone could be seen walking by with an ox cart or donkey cart. Some carts were loaded with goods, while others carried nobles adorned in gold and silver.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What surprised Xiao Rong the most was that he actually saw quite a few people from foreign tribes. These people usually gathered together in groups. If they were merchants, they carried large bundles, and they appeared much wealthier. If they were mercenaries, their expressions were more vigilant, and they didn\u2019t interact much with each other. They always carried weapons, and the common people would avoid them, but it seemed they had already gotten used to coexisting with them in the same city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These were the so-called mercenaries from foreign tribes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong couldn\u2019t tell which country they were from, but he watched them with interest. Since they appeared in the city and were so close to the palace, this group mustn\u2019t be very large\u2014probably just a few dozen people looking for work. At this level, they weren\u2019t really mercenaries anymore but hired thugs or guards.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong wanted them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this world, money was never the biggest concern for the leaders of various factions. Even the poorest leader could easily receive money if they took their army out for a while. While it wasn\u2019t guaranteed that everyone under them would have food to eat, the leader would immediately enter the ranks of the wealthy, and there would be no problem for him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For example, the Northern Army\u2014Qiu Yunmie’s troops never had to worry about military supplies. If it weren\u2019t for Xiao Rong\u2019s decision to relocate the capital to Chenliu, the money in their treasury would have lasted for many years. It was only because Xiao Rong insisted on relocating the capital and pushing for so many developments that they started to run low on funds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even so, this gap didn\u2019t need to be worried about. As long as there was time, it would definitely be replenished.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

People were a different matter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All battlefields were meat grinders. In an era without firearms and long-range strikes, every battle cost lives. Famous battles might not have many casualties, and victories with small numbers defeating larger armies seemed common, but that was the survivor\u2019s bias. It was precisely because these battles achieved what ordinary battles couldn\u2019t that they became famous. A famous general might only have one battle in his life that would be remembered for centuries. The moment where his strategic brilliance shone, but there were no endless opportunities to display that kind of strategy. Most battles were just straightforward clashes, a test of who had stronger fists and more soldiers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now, the Northern Army seemed to have the most men, but once dispersed, they were still vulnerable to being defeated. The Xianbei were like the crossroads in front of everyone. They were heading in one direction but wouldn\u2019t stop at that crossroads. Sooner or later, they would cross it and choose their own path, which would bring about new problems\u2014like formally governing the area north of the Han River, eliminating useless officials, and maintaining a balance between the North and South.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So, they were short of people. Not just scholars, but warriors as well. Even those starving refugees, Xiao Rong wanted to bring them back to his territory. Here, they were just refugees, but in Chenliu, they would be excellent workers employed through a public works program.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This was just something he could only think about. People naturally gravitated toward benefits and avoided harm. Though Jinling had many aristocratic families who looked down on others, they were genuinely wealthy and safe. The thick city walls alone instilled a sense of security. In comparison, Chenliu was still in ruins, and the king was preparing for war with the Xianbei. Unless the Xianbei were defeated, and the King could announce that he would never leave again, the people outside would remain cautious and wait-and-see.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Except for the crazy Buddhist followers\u2014they didn\u2019t care where Qiu Yunmie was going, they just wanted to be closer to him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong looked at the gazes of the people from Jinling with a slight hint of restlessness. When Shaofu glanced over, he quickly lowered his eyes and coughed softly twice, pretending to be very weak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shaofu: “\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He couldn’t help but look at Xiao Rong a few more times, and his gaze seemed to have some meaning behind it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

During the hour that Xiao Rong was in a deep sleep, the palace investigated everything about him. Of course, it was their own assumption they had uncovered everything.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

…<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> Xiao Rong, male, and still a year away from coming of age. No one knew who his teacher was, or where he had studied before. He seemed to be from the Linchuan Xiao family, but he had never publicized this, so whether it was true or not remained uncertain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Linchuan Xiao Family also had people in the court\u2014one was a Director of the Censorate, and the other was a Court Secretary. Their official ranks were neither high nor low, typical of a second-class family, neither overly flamboyant nor destitute.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The history of the Xiao Family was almost as long as the Sun Family’s. Both families had risen to prominence hundreds of years ago, but their current situations were as different as day and night. Compared to other noble families, the Xiao Family still had a solid foundation, but when compared to the Sun Family, they were nothing more than a subordinate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When summoned by the Grand Marshal, they were asked about this obscure family member with no notable title. The two of them racked their brains and finally remembered something.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

“During the Yanping years, someone from the family made a mistake. I should address him as Seventh Uncle. His father and my grandfather were brothers. According to family tradition, the head of the family expelled him and his entire family from the Xiao Family territory. Later, they found a house near the family estate and settled there. We hadn\u2019t heard from them for years. A few years ago, I heard their descendants had dwindled. Only one grandson survived, was raised well, and sent to study outside. That grandson seems to be called Xiao Rong.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan: “\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Yanping years\u2014this was over forty or fifty years ago.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It didn\u2019t matter. People nowadays value bloodlines the most. Even if it was relatives from four or five hundred years ago, as long as both sides recognized it, they could still treat each other as close family. While Sun Renluan was thinking, the two opposite him glanced at his face, trying to gauge his thoughts, and cautiously asked if he wanted them to officially acknowledge Xiao Rong.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From their expressions, it seemed they were somewhat unwilling. After all, the family had already expelled him. Now, Xiao Rong served the King of the North. Who didn\u2019t know that the King of the North was of lowly origin, with his subordinates being either common villagers or criminals? Serving such a person was seen as self-degradation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan: “…”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He often felt out of place because he couldn’t follow the thought process of his colleagues.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

No matter how lowborn the King of the North’s origin was, he had become the King. Xiao Rong had suffered so much in his early years, with his family almost wiped out. Under such circumstances, if he were someone without clarity, he would likely yearn to return to his family. However, if he had any sense of pride, his thoughts would go in another direction, such as hating the family that expelled them, and wanting nothing more than to trample them underfoot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These two weren\u2019t fools, but they couldn\u2019t see this possibility because they were too confident about their family\u2019s status. They also looked down on people like Qu Yunmie and Xiao Rong, whose origins weren\u2019t noble. They considered both of them uneducated and from outside the civilized world, fundamentally different from themselves. These two might seem impressive now, but it was only because the world was in turmoil, giving these two rough people a chance to rise. Even if they climbed higher in the future, even reaching the position of Emperor, these two would still look down on them, and the only reason was their origins.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan had been through too much in his life. He had seen countless poor scholars buried without recognition, and countless noble families torn apart by angry commoners breaking down their gates, with the once mighty masters being hacked to pieces. In an age where rites and music had fallen apart, maintaining reverence for everything was the true way to survive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He saw through it all, but he didn’t remind the two of them. When they asked if he wanted to make a good impression on Xiao Rong, Sun Renluan actually agreed. The reason was simple\u2014 the Xiao Family wasn’t a vassal of the Sun family, after all, so if they wanted to make a fool of themselves, let them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong had no idea that his “family” was about to come looking for him. He leisurely walked into the Grand Hall, then stood in the appropriate spot and bowed to the young Emperor sitting at the highest seat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie had instructed him not to bow deeply to anyone again, but since Qu Yunmie wasn’t present at the moment, Xiao Rong didn’t care.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After completing the formal bow, there was no rule against looking at the Emperor\u2019s face, so Xiao Rong quickly lifted his head. He prepared himself, and after a brief moment of eye contact, he smiled just right, neither making the young Emperor feel awkward nor causing those around him to reprimand him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The young Emperor, He Fu, looked at him with curiosity. It was because this person had arrived that he was interrupted from his calligraphy practice in the study. His uncle had sent someone to bring him out and even had him change into the ceremonial robes usually worn for court sessions, just to meet this person.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan was very strict about controlling the young Emperor. He would allow He Fu to get some fresh air only once every five days, during regular court sessions. The rest of the time, He Fu was kept confined in the harem, with only his mother being allowed to visit him. However, his mother was often busy and rarely came to see him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He Fu sensed that this person was special. Otherwise, his uncle wouldn’t have made such a big deal about it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When he saw Xiao Rong\u2019s smile, the immature judgment He Fu had been forming in his mind quickly vanished. After all, he was still a child. Children like fun and things that are pleasing to the eye.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He Fu couldn’t help but kick his legs in excitement, a sign that he was pleased. Sun Renluan sat next to the Emperor. This spot was originally meant for the Empress, who would sit behind a curtain to listen to the court’s discussions, but the country uncle had taken that seat for himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

No one dared to comment on this. Since a few years ago, when He Fu was still too young to sit properly, Sun Renluan had directly taken the Emperor\u2019s seat. Though the concept of the dragon throne hadn\u2019t been established yet, Sun Renluan\u2019s actions were already quite audacious.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite all these borderline actions, Sun Renluan had never shown any desire to ascend to the throne. No one knew if he truly didn\u2019t want to or if he was just too hesitant and afraid to make that move.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan looked at the young Emperor’s actions, then turned his gaze to Xiao Rong, his expression turning a bit unfriendly. He suspected Xiao Rong was doing this on purpose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However the next second, Xiao Rong turned his attention away and began his opening remarks and talking endlessly. He spoke about how wise the Emperor was, how heroic the Grand Marshal was, and how busy the King of the North was, therefore he had to come in his stead to meet His Majesty and the loyal ministers and generals.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was hard to comment on other things, but there was one thing Sun Renluan was sure of\u2014this Xiao Rong was really good at flattering.<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong’s appearance was very advantageous. The officials who had previously looked down on him, after seeing his appearance, were willing to listen to him speak a few words. Since most of what he said was praise for them, they loved hearing it even more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, some people didn\u2019t like it. When they realized that Xiao Rong\u2019s words were all flattery, they lowered their heads in disappointment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While speaking, Xiao Rong subtly observed the entire room. He noticed a few people looking down, and he paused for a moment but didn\u2019t pay them much attention. He continued speaking and gradually shifted the topic to Qu Yunmie, describing how difficult the recent period had been for him. First, the Huns had come back, causing bloodshed in Dunhuang and Zhangye. Then, a rebellion broke out in Yizhou, and Qu Yunmie had to send troops to suppress the insurgents, leading to more carnage. To make matters worse, traitors had emerged among the Central Plains people, and even the generals of the Northern Army had been swayed. They had allied with the Xianbei and planned to advance into the heart of the Central Plains. The Northern Army had almost been trapped by these people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The old man, Yang Zangyi, who had been resting with his eyes closed and stroking his beard, slowly opened his eyes upon hearing this.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Was he trying to cry poor?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What good would it do for the King of the North to cry poor? It was clear to everyone that the King of the North had already established his own faction, independent from the Yong Dynasty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Hmm\u2026 “Southern Yong” was the term outsiders used for them, but the people of Southern Yong still considered themselves as part of the Yong Dynasty. They refused to admit that the Yong Dynasty had already split in half, so care had to be taken when speaking to avoid offending anyone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n



<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gradually, others also understood Xiao Rong\u2019s intention, but like Yang Zangyi, they didn\u2019t know what Xiao Rong was really trying to do. It wasn’t until Xiao Rong had laid enough groundwork that he bent down and bowed to the young Emperor and the Grand Marshal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

“The Xianbei problem will not be resolved, and the people of the world cannot rest easy. Unfortunately, the Northern Army is now in a dire situation with broken swords and cut-off food supplies. With just the Northern Army’s forces alone, it is insufficient to defeat the Xianbei. Therefore, His Majesty has issued a letter inviting all those with the will to join in the fight against the Xianbei. This war is to avenge the dead citizens, to provide peace for the living, and to relieve His Majesty from the danger of the Hun people marching south. The late Emperor\u2019s passing was a great sorrow! We mustn\u2019t let the tragedies of the past repeat. Your Majesty, as a son and as the Son of Heaven, I respectfully request that you send troops to assist the King of the North and take the head of the Xianbei emperor, to comfort the spirit of the late Emperor!”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The officials in the room: “\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How can you be so shameless?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does fighting the Xianbei have to do with us? Even if the Hun people are marching south, they\u2019ll first cause trouble for you, right? As for the late Emperor, didn\u2019t we all know his character? How many people secretly lit red candles to celebrate his death? You’re calling it a great sorrow? Aren’t you embarrassed to say that?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was obvious that Xiao Rong wasn\u2019t embarrassed. He even took out a personal letter written by Qu Yunmie. Someone took it and handed it to Sun Renluan. The young Emperor, He Fu, looked at everything in confusion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The late Emperor?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Wasn\u2019t that the one many people said wasn\u2019t even his real father?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although He Fu was a puppet, he wasn\u2019t that young anymore\u2014he was already eight years old. He could understand the adults\u2019 words, and he could feel the mockery, pity, and disgust directed at him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He vaguely understood that his situation wasn\u2019t good, and he wanted to fix it. This was the thinking of a child. Children couldn\u2019t deal with complex matters, their actions were driven by survival instincts. At this age, children would grab food without control because they knew that eating would help them grow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He Fu wasn\u2019t lacking food, but the danger he faced came from things he couldn’t yet comprehend. He wanted to stay alive and not be dragged off the throne or killed outright. To him, this meant he should get rid of the illegitimate child label on him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He didn\u2019t fully understand what sending troops meant, but the idea intrigued him. He looked eagerly at Sun Renluan, hoping Sun Renluan would agree to this and send troops in his name to avenge the late Emperor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong\u2019s true purpose hadn\u2019t been figured out, though, and up until then, he had only invited Huang Yanjiu. It was only two days before his departure that Qu Yunmie sent out the rest of the invitation letters. So, Sun Renluan didn\u2019t know that Qu Yunmie had decided to stop working alone and had instead gathered a team to attack the Xianbei.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Naturally, the reaction in the court was intense, and it was one-sided. Why would anyone do such a thankless task? If the Xianbei were defeated, only Qu Yunmie would benefit. They would be foolish to do such a laborious job with no reward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong had anticipated this reaction. He smiled lightly and began mocking the group, saying that he had always heard of people lacking gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, but he had never heard of people lacking benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith. Oh, maybe this is what you would call lacking morality?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The officials: “\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong successfully stirred up hatred with just one sentence. Almost immediately, they started attacking him, and Xiao Rong initially responded skillfully. However, as time went on, it became harder for him, and he began to lose ground.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Outside, there were already Hun-style chairs and couches, but the palace was still following the old traditions. In the court hall, everyone had to sit in their designated seats, facing each other. Those standing in the middle were easy targets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi had been looking dazed since Xiao Rong started speaking, as he didn\u2019t understand most of it. When the formal conversation turned into heated verbal exchanges, his eyes immediately cleared up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He saw that Xiao Rong was losing to these people, and he was very angry. However, his speaking skills were poor, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he considered rolling up his sleeves and starting a fight.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Before he could charge, Xiao Rong, using the hem of his robe as cover, stepped hard on Zhang Biezhi\u2019s foot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi: “\u2026!”<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It hurt so much!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zhang Biezhi\u2019s face twisted in pain, but at that moment, Xiao Rong turned to look at him as if seeking help.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the surface, it seemed like Xiao Rong was asking for help, but only Zhang Biezhi knew that his toes were almost broken. Xiao Rong slowly ground his foot on Zhang Biezhi’s instep, and his gaze shifted from pleading to sharp.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, the rehearsed response kicked in. Zhang Biezhi\u2019s expression returned to normal as he raised one side of his mouth into a perfect, sarcastic, and cold smile. He then pulled his foot away with a swift motion and stepped to the side, clearly intending to watch from the sidelines and let Xiao Rong deal with the verbal battle alone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Rong’s face turned a little ugly. However, he had no other choice but to continue sparring with the others. In the end, the result was mutual destruction. Xiao Rong won, but it wasn\u2019t a satisfying victory.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this moment, Sun Renluan, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, declaring that the matter would be discussed later. Xiao Rong wanted to argue further but had to obey Sun Renluan\u2019s order. Soon, everyone left, but when Xiao Rong and Zhang Biezhi walked out, they kept a noticeable distance from each other, making it obvious they weren\u2019t on the same side.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sun Renluan glanced at them before getting up to leave, but he didn\u2019t notice that the young Emperor, He Fu, also looked at them for a moment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Edited by: Antiope<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Support translation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"This<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

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After waiting outside the city for almost half an hour, someone finally came to receive them\u2014not to take them into the palace, but to escort them to a temporary resting place. They could enter the palace only when the Grand General arranged it. It was summer, and there was nowhere to take shelter from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-your-majesty","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240106180053_200_280-1.jpg?fit=199%2C280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6946"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6954,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6946\/revisions\/6954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}