After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Everyone else had left, leaving only the two of them in the imperial study.

Xie Qinglan walked to the window, turned her back to Xiao Jingyuan, and gazed at the tall sycamore tree outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

The wind rustled through the leaves. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his pale brocade robe. His back was slender and upright, but his shoulders were slightly hunched, carrying an indescribable weariness.

"That year I carried him out of the cold palace and helped him onto the throne. Was I wrong?" His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were asking Xiao Jingyuan, broken by the wind.

Xiao Jingyuan walked behind him, without saying a word, just standing quietly.

"The year the late emperor passed away, chaos reigned in Nanyue. Seven princes vied for the throne, and two died within three months, leaving the capital awash in blood." Xie Qinglan's voice rang out slowly, carrying a hint of the vicissitudes of time. "I hold in my hands evidence of each prince's crimes—forging weapons privately, colluding with foreign enemies, poisoning brothers, forcing the emperor to abdicate, and murdering their fathers. All seven princes have blood on their hands."

"Pei Nanchi was the only one who wasn't. He was only six years old at the time, and he was locked in the cold palace, where he couldn't even get enough to eat. He was the only clean prince among all the princes."

"I carried him out of the cold palace and personally helped him onto the dragon throne. I taught him to read and write, to govern, to balance the court, and to care for the people. I believed that a child who had never shed blood could become a good emperor if I taught him properly. I spent ten years proving that my choice was correct."

He paused, his voice tinged with self-mockery and bitterness: "Your subject was wrong."

"He is clean not because he is inherently good, but because he hasn't had time to become dirty yet."

Xiao Jingyuan gently hugged him from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm: "You made the right choice when you chose him."

"The way he became was his own fault, and it has nothing to do with you."

"Qinglan, you have no idea how good you are." Xiao Jingyuan tightened his arms, holding her tightly in his embrace, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible heartache. "In my past life, I treated you so badly, imprisoning you in Lanyue Pavilion and doing so many terrible things to you, yet you never abandoned me. You always silently offered me advice and cleaned up my messes."

"I followed the annotations in the 'Records of Water Conservancy and Land Reclamation in the Western Frontier' that you gave me. Despite the snow disaster in the western region this year, not a single person starved to death. You saved them."

"Therefore you are the best prime minister in the world, and also the best teacher in the world."

Xie Qinglan's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, leaning against Xiao Jingyuan's chest. He raised his hand and gently placed it on Xiao Jingyuan's hand wrapped around his waist, his voice slightly hoarse: "Your Majesty, I only wrote a few strokes casually. It was Your Majesty who did a good job."

Her ear tips were subtly tinged with a light pink, which softened her voice.

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head and gently pecked the tip of his reddened ear, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "It's all thanks to Qinglan's excellent teaching."

Just then, Ling Feng's voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, I have just intercepted a secret letter sent from the Cold Palace."

"Come in," Xiao Jingyuan said in a deep voice, releasing Xie Qinglan.

Ling Feng pushed open the door and entered, kneeling on one knee and presenting a letter with the sealing wax still on.

"The messenger was Lan Zan, a palace maid serving Pei Yuning. She was intercepted at the palace gate. She has already been taken away."

Xiao Jingyuan took the letter and unfolded it. After just one glance, his face instantly darkened. His fingers tightened around the letter, his knuckles cracking, and a violent killing intent surged in his eyes.

"That vile woman! I'll go and chop her up right now!"

He suddenly stood up and strode towards the outside of the hall, his fierce aura almost solidifying into a tangible form.

"His Majesty."

A calm and unhurried voice rang out, like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the anger in his heart.

"return."

Xiao Jingyuan gritted his teeth and abruptly stopped in his tracks. He turned around, his face still bearing the lingering anger, but he obediently walked back.

Ling Feng knelt below expressionlessly, but his heart was churning with turmoil. He had served His Majesty for over a decade, witnessing His Majesty kill his father and brother, slaughter cities and destroy countries, but he had never seen anyone who could make him obediently return with just two words when His Majesty was in a fit of rage.

Xie Qinglan took the letter from Xiao Jingyuan's hand, unfolded it, and read it from beginning to end. The letter contained only a few words, written in delicate handwriting, yet every word was malicious: "Xie Qinglan knows that his former subordinates have all been purged, and harboring resentment, he has instigated the Emperor of Beishuo, intending to use Beishuo's power to launch an attack on Nanyue and usurp the throne. I hope that Your Majesty will make plans early and eliminate him before his power grows strong, otherwise Nanyue will be in danger."

Xie Qinglan finished reading the letter, his face expressionless. He folded the letter again, placed it on the imperial desk, and tapped the paper lightly with his fingertips, once, twice, the rhythm steady, carrying an air of complete composure.

Pei Yuning certainly didn't disappoint him. From being banished to the cold palace that morning to finishing this secret letter, only two hours had passed. Jealousy truly is the most potent force in this world to breed malice.

"Send this letter as is. Deliver it to Pei Nanchi."

Xiao Jingyuan abruptly raised his head, staring at him in disbelief: "What did you say? This letter is clearly slander! If this letter reaches Pei Nanchi, he will definitely seize the opportunity to make a big fuss, and then everyone in the world will think you are a traitor!"

"It's alright, I anticipated the contents of this letter." Xie Qinglan looked up at Xiao Jingyuan, her lips curving slightly, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Besides, her letter didn't slander me."

Xiao Jingyuan was stunned: "What...did you say?"

Xie Qinglan did not answer directly. He walked to the desk and slowly unfolded the map of the Nine Provinces that was laid out on it. The parchment was yellowed and densely marked with mountains, rivers, passes, and cities. The territories of the five kingdoms—Beishuo, Nanyue, Xirong, Beidi, and Dongqi—were laid out on this paper like scattered chess pieces.

His fingertips rested on the mountain range stretching for thousands of miles at the border of Beishuo and Nanyue on the map, his voice calm and resolute: "Lingfeng, repair the letter and send it out exactly as it was."

Ling Feng looked up at Xiao Jingyuan, awaiting his instructions.

Xiao Jingyuan waved his hand irritably: "Go. Do as he says."

Ling Feng acknowledged and withdrew, and the palace door closed gently.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to be angry." Xie Qinglan looked up and beckoned to him, "Come here."

Although Xiao Jingyuan was puzzled, he still obediently walked over and stood beside him.

Xie Qinglan's fingertips slid slowly across the map, from the grasslands of Beishuo to the water towns of Nanyue, from the Gobi Desert of Xirong to the coast of Dongqi.

"Since the previous dynasty, there has been constant warfare between Beishuo and Nanyue. The border people do not plow in spring or harvest in autumn. The able-bodied men are conscripted into the army, and the old, weak, women and children are displaced. I served as an official in Nanyue for ten years and received no less than a hundred reports from the border. In every single one of them, there were the same four words—'The people are living in misery.'"

"I once intended to use a marriage alliance to maintain temporary peace. But as you and I both know, a marriage alliance is merely a temporary expedient. Over the years, the five kingdoms have frequently used marriage alliances to form alliances, but when the time comes to fight, they still fight. I need time to strengthen our military, while Your Majesty needs an opportunity with a legitimate reason for war."

"Now, Pei Yuning has brought us this opportunity." Xie Qinglan's fingertips landed on the capital of Nanyue, applying slight pressure. "Pei Nanchi is inherently suspicious and wary of His Majesty's iron cavalry. Upon receiving this letter, he will definitely choose to strike first."

"If Nanyue broke the agreement first, Beishuo is acting in self-defense. We have a just cause and the people's hearts are with us."

He raised his head and looked at Xiao Jingyuan. His usually cold eyes were now surprisingly bright.

"Your Majesty has the blood of a conqueror flowing in your veins. Iron cavalry trampled across the grasslands, and scimitars were stained with the blood of enemies. If it weren't for my influence on your mind in your past life, Your Majesty would probably have already led your armies westward and southward, bringing all five kingdoms under your control." Xie Qinglan's voice remained calm, yet carried a power that struck straight to the heart. "Am I right?"

Xiao Jingyuan looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

In his past life, he did indeed harbor ambitions to unify the world. But ever since meeting Xie Qinglan, all his ambitions have transformed into an obsession with one person. He only wanted to keep that person by his side, only wanted to see him smile. What were the affairs of the country, what were the eternal foundations? In front of that person, they all became insignificant.

He didn't want to make Xie Qinglan even more upset, so he never dared to make a move against Nan Yue.

But things are different now.

If Xie Qinglan is willing to stand by his side.

If his ambition were no longer an obstacle between them, but rather their shared goal.

Xiao Jingyuan looked into Xie Qinglan's eyes, and his heart pounded. He nodded heavily, his voice firm and resolute: "Yes."

Xie Qinglan smiled slightly, a smile that was gentle yet dazzling, like the first melting of snow, or like flowers in full bloom. He picked up a smooth white chess piece, held it between his fingertips, suspended it in mid-air for a moment, and then gently placed it in the center of the map, landing precisely on the territory of Beishuo. The chess piece landed with a crisp sound.

"The Northern Barbarians possess the strongest cavalry in the land, while the Southern Yue boasts the richest granaries. The Western Barbarians are nomadic, swift as the wind but utterly insignificant. The Northern Di, entrenched in the harsh lands, have long coveted the Central Plains but are powerless to advance south. The Eastern Qi, confined to a corner, has long been weak. Now, the Western Barbarians are in turmoil, the Northern Di have suffered a recent defeat, and the young ruler of the Southern Yue is busy purging loyal ministers—this game is a once-in-a-century opportune moment."

"Throughout history, what is divided for a long time will unite, and what is united for a long time will divide. The five kingdoms have been divided for more than a century, during which time the flames of war have never ceased, and the people on the borders have been displaced. Your Majesty is a rare and wise ruler, with an iron cavalry, granaries, strategists, and good generals. In today's world, only Your Majesty has the ability to unify the world."

"Your Majesty, I wish to make Your Majesty the ruler of all under Heaven, and bring peace and prosperity to the world."

He looked up at Xiao Jingyuan, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness and determination, as well as a hint of tenderness that he couldn't hide.

"Does Your Majesty dare to conspire with me to rule the world?"

The imperial study fell silent for a moment. A breeze swept through the room from the window, causing the edges of the maps to flutter gently, carrying a faint scent of ink.

Xiao Jingyuan stared at Xie Qinglan for a very long time.

He saw a sharp, domineering glint in that handsome face, a glint he had never seen before.

In his past life, he imprisoned this eagle, which should have soared through the heavens, with a pavilion called the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. But in this life, the eagle has spread its wings and invited him to join it in overlooking the vast land.

"I dare."

"Of course I dare."

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly took a step forward, grabbed Xie Qinglan's waist tightly, and pulled him into his arms. The force was so great that it felt like he wanted to meld Xie Qinglan into his own bones. His chin rested on the top of Xie Qinglan's head, and his voice was tinged with a barely perceptible sob: "Qinglan, what have I done to deserve such treatment from you?"

Xie Qinglan was almost suffocating from his embrace. He raised his hand to push against his chest, but couldn't budge him. He sighed and let him hold him. After a moment, he finally spoke in a muffled voice, "Your Majesty, please be gentle, my back is still sore."

Xiao Jingyuan quickly released his arm and carefully supported Xie Qinglan's waist, his voice tinged with guilt and concern: "Still sore? Did I use too much force last night? Should I call the imperial physician to take a look?"

"No need. It's just a little sore, I'll be fine after a rest." Xie Qinglan turned her face away, her ears turning red again.

"I'll be gentler next time," Xiao Jingyuan quickly assured him.

"If Your Majesty continues to be so reckless, there will be no next time." Xie Qinglan glared at him, then turned and walked out of the hall. The hem of her moon-white robe swept across the threshold, stirring up a wisp of breeze.

"Qinglan—wait for me—" Xiao Jingyuan hurriedly chased after her, his voice full of flattery, "I promise! Really! I swear!"

The door to the Imperial Study closed gently, and sunlight fell on the map of the Nine Provinces. The white chess piece lay quietly in the center of the Northern Shuo territory, gleaming with a warm light, while the capital city of Nanyue in the distance had become the most prominent move on the chessboard.