This small garden was not a place for discussions, nor was it a necessary route to any destination. Nan Ruohuai’s expression carried an unhidden sense of pride. The path he chose seemed to imply that while Zheng may be smaller, it had everything the Empire had.
Qian Ye understood his little thoughts, but there was no need to point them out. For a small kingdom like Zheng, if it didn’t strive to boost its own confidence in certain ways, it would not survive.
This prince, now the king, had never left Zheng in his entire life. His farthest journey was being kidnapped by Song Lun into the void, and his horizons were thus extremely limited, deeply marked by the imprint of his homeland.
For many people, after reaching adulthood, their ingrained views, influenced by their origins and experiences, become set and unchangeable. It is not something that can be simply turned around by resources or mentors. Objectively speaking, Nan Ruohuai’s performance in this short period was quite commendable.
After passing through the garden, they entered a quiet courtyard with hills, water, and a small pavilion. This was the proper place for rest. The earlier garden, filled with dense flowers, could hardly accommodate more than a few people.
The small pavilion, adorned with pots of vibrant flowers, exuded an unnatural opulence for the season. However, the excessive beauty was somewhat glaring. Qian Ye, accustomed to the luxurious yet understated elegance of Zhao Jundu, Song Zining, and even Wei Po Tian, found this overly attention-grabbing arrangement rather displeasing.
Three people sat in the pavilion, with several maidservants standing beside them and a whole team of eunuchs waiting outside. Though the setup was grand, the courtyard was too small, making the space feel cramped. The person who arranged this clearly did not understand that having many people does not necessarily mean showing power. In the central part of the capital, where land is precious, having a large area is what truly matters.
Nan Ruohuai said, “My lord, those who wish to see you are already waiting in the pavilion.”
The three figures in the pavilion were all women. Qian Ye did not pay much attention as he approached, but when Nan Ruohuai spoke, he shifted his gaze towards them.
The woman in the center was visibly older, but her charm was undeniable, seeping from her every feature. She must have been even more beautiful in her youth, though she may not have had the same allure then. The other two were young girls, around fifteen or sixteen, one appearing even younger.
Both girls were very beautiful, sharing some resemblance with the woman and Nan Ruohuai. Qian Ye, having met the second prince of Zheng, understood that these people were likely closely related by blood.
Indeed, Nan Ruohuai introduced them, “In the middle is my mother, and the other two are my sisters. My lord, please take the upper seat.”
Qian Ye nodded and entered the small pavilion, sitting down calmly.
The pavilion was tiny, and with so many people, even turning around was difficult. As Qian Ye sat, his knees almost touched the legs of the girl opposite him. The girl moved, seemingly trying to make some space, but accidentally kicked Qian Ye’s leg, causing her to blush and fluster.
The woman shot her a glance, and even this small action was filled with coquettishness, subtly glancing at Qian Ye, whether it was a stolen look or a flirtatious one.
She scolded the girl softly, then turned to Qian Ye, “My lord comes from the Empire and has seen the world. You naturally wouldn’t be impressed by such a small place. But this courtyard is the most beautiful spot in the palace, and I decorated it myself. What do you think?”
Qian Ye could only nod and respond vaguely, “Not bad.”
The woman covered her mouth and laughed, her chest heaving, “As long as my lord likes it. I am Ruohuai’s mother, and my title is Shu. But you… you should call me by my name, Shurong. These two are my daughters, your nieces. The elder one is Jin Yi, and the inexperienced one is Jin Hang.”
Qian Ye nodded, his gaze sweeping over them, a silent greeting. Jin Hang blushed again under Qian Ye’s gaze. Jin Yi, however, was braver, meeting Qian Ye’s eyes and even puffing out her chest slightly.
Qian Ye was thinking about something else. Hearing Nan Ruohuai address his mother as Empress, it was clear he had elevated her position upon becoming king. For Nan Ruohuai, this was a natural move to solidify his legitimacy. Yet, in the case of the Supreme Emperor of Qin, his mother seemed to have remained just a concubine?
From this small title, one could glimpse the subtle dynamics between royal power and noble families. Zheng emulated the Qin system, but the two were different. It was unclear if Zheng, seeing Qin as large but weak, considered this matter of the royal family’s face.
Empress Shu’s intentions were clear, but Qian Ye did not intend to waste time. He said coolly, “Alright, I have met everyone. Is there anything else, Empress Shu?”
Empress Shu was taken aback, not expecting the situation to unfold this way. However, she recovered quickly and smiled, “My lord is my brother, and the palace is like your home. You can move around freely. How about letting Ruohuai show you around, and you can appreciate the architectural achievements of the Great Zheng Dynasty?”
Before Qian Ye could answer, Nan Ruohuai eagerly said, “Of course, I will serve my uncle!”
Qian Ye thought for a moment and replied, “Fine, let’s take a look.”
Though the Zheng Palace was small, it still had some noteworthy features.
Nan Ruohuai ignored the shocked looks of the eunuchs and maids. Seeing them unmoving, his face darkened, and he barked, “Are you all deaf and blind? I am taking my uncle to the harem, didn’t you hear me?!”
The eunuchs and maids looked at each other, and suddenly, an old eunuch fell to his knees, shouting, “Your Majesty, this is absolutely not permissible! The harem is no place for outsiders. If this gets out, it will stain the annals of history! Absolutely not, Your Majesty!”
Nan Ruohuai’s face twisted, “Stain the annals? How would palace affairs leak out? I think someone like you must be spreading it.”
The old eunuch paled, “How could that be? Your humble servant is loyal…”
Before he finished, Nan Ruohuai cut him off, “Guards, cut off the head of this disrespectful wretch!”
At this command, the eunuchs and maids knelt, begging for mercy. The old eunuch seemed to have considerable influence among the palace staff. Someone even shouted, “Your Majesty, might as well kill us all!”
Qian Ye stood motionless, as if completely uninterested in the commotion.
Nan Ruohuai glanced at Qian Ye, then swept his gaze over the kneeling eunuchs and maids, “Is this how you treat me on my first day as king? Do you think I won’t kill?”
He unsheathed his sword and with a swift stroke, the old eunuch’s head was separated from his body!
The palace staff were shocked, falling silent. Even those who supported Nan Ruohuai, knelt in terror.
Nan Ruohuai shouted, “Who else wanted to die with me? Stand up! I will fulfill your wishes!”
No one answered. Nan Ruohuai, unsatisfied, pointed his sword at a young maid, “I remember you spoke. Do you think silence will save you?”
As he raised his sword, a hand reached out, effortlessly seizing the blade and turning it to rest on Nan Ruohuai’s neck.
Nan Ruohuai froze, slowly turning to see a plain-looking middle-aged eunuch. He had no memory of this man, but given his proximity to warrior status, being disarmed so easily meant the eunuch was far stronger. How could such a person be unknown?
Nan Ruohuai, undaunted, demanded, “Who are you? Are you rebelling?”
The eunuch said, “Your Majesty, moderation in all things. Such killing is inappropriate.”
Nan Ruohuai’s eyes turned cold, “Zheng is mine. I can kill whoever I want. Do I need your permission?”
The eunuch frowned, “Your Majesty, your throne came easily and can be lost just as easily. Any other prince would not bring an outsider into the harem, disgracing our ancestors. Since you act so recklessly, I will rid the world of you today. You, a mere son of a songstress, have been Zheng’s king for a day, and that is enough. Farewell!”
He exerted force, aiming to decapitate Nan Ruohuai. Chaos ensued, with the screams of women.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before the eunuch, and the sword was as immovable as a mountain. No matter how he channeled his power, the sword did not budge.
The eunuch was shocked to see Qian Ye holding the blade. Nan Ruohuai’s sword, a relic of the Zheng kings, was a Level 7 weapon. Yet, Qian Ye held it without effort, and the blade did not cut his hand.
Qian Ye said calmly, “You have a loyal spirit. Unfortunately, that means you must die. Follow your master in peace.”
The eunuch, pale, asked, “How do you know?”
Qian Ye did not reply, striking him with a palm. The eunuch, tensed, took a stance, and shouted, blocking with his elbow. But as soon as he touched Qian Ye’s hand, his eyes showed utter horror.
Qian Ye’s palm descended normally, reaching his waist before retracting.
A dull thud sounded, and the eunuch sank into the ground, arm still raised. His eyes dimmed, and he slumped, lifeless.
All the palace staff prostrated themselves, not daring to look up. Most were terrified by the new king’s brutality, while a few knew the eunuch’s identity. A disciple of the national teacher, Liu Zhongyang, he was a Level 16 expert, the strongest in the palace next to the old king, with hopes of breaking through to the Divine General realm.
Nan Ruohuai, absent from the palace for years, was nearly invisible to the old king, only visiting his mother annually. He didn’t recognize the eunuch, but he guessed who he was. The eunuch had not shown himself when Nan Ruohuai invaded the palace, but appeared now.
Qian Ye, unfazed, said to Nan Ruohuai, “Let’s not tour the harem after all this.”
Nan Ruohuai, understanding the eunuch’s identity, knew he had narrowly escaped death. His voice, strained, said, “We will see it! Why not? I will show my uncle the harem, today or any day! Who dares speak against it, I will kill them! If I cannot even handle you, how can I govern the country!”
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