Xu Wan patted his back and said softly, "Because your status is different now. The Son of Heaven cannot be insulted or slandered without cause. Those scholars were indeed in the wrong, but... their fate shouldn’t have been so tragic. The Duke of State Protection’s actions were far too extreme."
She wasn’t skilled in political maneuvering and could only view things from the perspective of an ordinary person. Jin Cheng couldn’t accept it, and neither could she.
Zong Zhao handed over a handkerchief to wipe the tears off the brat’s face and said, "If you’re truly angry, just have him beaten with a rod. No one in this world dares to punish the Duke of State Protection, but you can."
The little demon wiped his face, sniffling, "Dad, didn’t you say he wouldn’t kill innocents? You lied to me."
Zong Zhao hadn’t lied. The Luo Jingfeng of the past had been exactly like that—arrogant, yes, but only in demeanor, his mind wholly focused on warfare and conquest, never so cruel as to kill indiscriminately.
But now, the change was because...
"He cares too much about you. He believes that only by eliminating every possible threat to you can you be safe."
Tears rolled down the little demon’s cheeks again. "I know he dotes on me, but I’m not happy at all. I don’t want this kind of care. I don’t want it."
Zong Zhao reached out to wipe his tears and began dissecting the situation for him. "Right now, you’re too emotionally involved. If you step back and analyze it objectively, this matter isn’t entirely wrong—there are both right and wrong aspects. The right part is that he did succeed in intimidating the masses. No one will dare to slander you without evidence from now on, which will bring stability to the court. The wrong part is that his punishment of those scholars was too severe. But he also took all the blame upon himself, so no one will point fingers at you. Though none of us—neither you, nor I, nor His Highness—would ever resort to such methods, from a political standpoint, you’ve gained a sharp blade."
When caught up in their own affairs, people often lose sight of the way out.
But if they view it as someone else’s problem, many things become much clearer.
The little demon recalled his past debates about good and bad officials. Back then, he had defended bad officials, arguing that they could do things for those in power that good officials couldn’t. But now that it had actually happened, he found he couldn’t accept it.
Yet, with Zong Zhao’s breakdown, Jin Cheng’s thoughts became clearer. He understood the pros and cons of the entire situation.
His mind plunged back into chaos.
Logically: Luo Jingfeng wasn’t wrong. His actions did serve as a warning to others. If this were written in a history book or someone else’s story, he could understand it. Brutal, but effective. A few lives in exchange for the nation’s stability—it was worth it.
Emotionally: These people had erred, but not enough to deserve death. They had died because of him, just like Shadow—sacrificed to pave his way... But why? Why did they all insist on forcing this path upon him? Couldn’t he walk it slowly on his own? Couldn’t he have the right to choose?
Jin Cheng closed his eyes, vowing this would be the last time he cried.
When he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Zong Zhao and asked solemnly, "Dad, does it have to be me who becomes emperor?"
Zong Zhao paused before replying, "His Highness wouldn’t hold the throne firmly. If Luo Jingfeng became emperor, it would mean overthrowing the dynasty and plunging the land into turmoil. Only you sitting on that throne is the best outcome for the people of Great Chu."
Jin Cheng understood. He lifted his teary eyes and said pitifully, "But I don’t want to be his puppet emperor. I already ordered the exam papers to be posted, yet he went behind my back and executed people in the streets. How is that any different from sidelining me?"
Either he ruled, or Luo Jingfeng did.
There was no such thing as two rulers in one nation—no reason for him to play the subordinate.
He wouldn’t accept it. He refused.
Zong Zhao said to him, "Then grow stronger. Take back everything that rightfully belongs to you. You have unparalleled advantages, as well as the imperial strategies His Highness taught you. You shouldn’t—and can’t—remain a puppet emperor for the Luo family."
"What rightfully belongs to me... what rightfully belongs to me..." The little demon muttered these words several times before suddenly looking up, his thoughts crystallizing, his gaze bright. "Military power."
The reason Luo Jingfeng could intimidate everyone was because of military power—and that should have belonged to the emperor.
Only by seizing military power would Great Chu truly be under his rule. Only then would he no longer be a puppet emperor.
Xu Wan watched the father and son converse. The little brat was no longer as despondent as before—he was even starting to formulate plans, with no trace of despair or collapse.
Xu Wan thought: He really was born to be emperor. His adaptability was astonishing.
Zong Zhao ruffled his hair and reminded him, "Take your time. Remember His Highness’s words—stay low for now. Don’t expose your hand."
Jin Cheng nodded firmly. "I understand, Dad. I’ll be careful!"
In the end, the matter wasn’t left unresolved. The little demon punished Luo Jingfeng with a hundred military lashes and ordered him to reflect on his actions at home, barred from court until his wounds healed.
The punishment wasn’t overly harsh, but it wasn’t light either.
Yet it sent shockwaves through the court.
Who would have thought that the Duke of State Protection—whom even the late emperor hadn’t dared to confront—would be punished by the very nephew he had helped put on the throne?
Never mind whether those carrying out the punishment dared to strike hard. Just the fact that the emperor had ordered a hundred lashes was enough to humiliate the Duke of State Protection and demoralize his entire faction.
But far from flying into a rage, the Duke of State Protection accepted the punishment without protest and retired to his residence to recuperate.
Jin Cheng even suspected that the executors had gone easy on Luo Jingfeng—how else could he be back in court, lively as ever, after just a few days?
Feeling slighted, Jin Cheng continued giving Luo Jingfeng the cold shoulder.
By June, the summer heat had grown oppressive, but the General’s Manor delivered joyous news.
Xu Wan was pregnant.
The little demon leaped three feet in the air, howling with delight through the palace halls, "This is wonderful! I’m going to have a little empress! I won’t be alone anymore—someone will come to the palace to keep me company!!"
Eunuch Huang, watching his ecstatic display, chuckled and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it’s still too early to determine the child’s gender. How can you be so sure it’s a girl?"
Given how overjoyed he was now, what a disappointment it would be if a boy were born!
Jin Cheng cackled gleefully. "No, you don’t understand. It’s definitely a girl! This is the telepathic bond between me and my little empress!"
Eunuch Huang: "???"
The fetus probably wasn’t even the size of a bean sprout yet. What kind of telepathy was this?!
