I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

The dragon gently waved its feather fan, and a breeze swept across the baby cub's chubby face in the basket, making him sleep more comfortably.

"Um... Big brother."

Chilong stared at his nephew for a while before continuing the conversation.

“I heard that my elder brother found those fragments to be Ah Xi’s teacher.”

"Yes, please."

"...Okay, please."

“But our Great Yan is not lacking in learned and capable people, so why does my brother need to seek them out... What if they harbor ill intentions and let their twisted logic corrupt Ah Xi…”

Chilong tried his best to keep his voice down so as not to wake his nephew.

The true dragon was neither angry nor pleased.

He waved his feather fan, his blue eyes reflecting his child's face.

"What kind of fallacy is that?"

"They have fallacies, but don't those scholars from aristocratic families have fallacies too? Don't those generals who fought on the battlefield have fallacies too?"

"If we talk about loyalty and righteousness... the ones I found have all done good deeds for the Great Yan Dynasty. The hardships they have endured for the Great Yan Dynasty are no less than those of any great scholar-general."

"I believe they will do their best to teach my son."

"Since it is my elder brother's decision, I will naturally comply."

Chilong understood his elder brother; his mindset was such that even their father couldn't change it, let alone his younger brother.

"However, if one day I discover that they have any ulterior motives and have corrupted Ah Xi, I ask that you punish those disloyal people."

"Naturally...naturally."

The dragon reached out and gently grasped the cub's tiny paw.

"Elder brother...the matter of the Li and Wang families of Jibei..."

The red dragon spoke even softer.

This matter has far-reaching implications, involving far too many people and deep involvement...

"The aristocratic family... this tree has grown too luxuriantly under the nourishment of the fertile soil of the Great Yan, and has seriously affected the growth of other plants. If its roots and trunk are not removed now, when my son succeeds to the throne, they will become the biggest intractable disease of the Great Yan."

“Those noble families must make way for my son.”

The dragon carefully felt the softness coming from the palm of his hand, its dragon eyes revealing its emotions.

How many soldiers have been replaced from the northern frontier?

"Reporting to elder brother, there are already more than 80,000. They are just waiting for the Emperor's decree to transform into falling stars and rain, sweeping away the stains that have tainted the Great Yan."

"In that case..."

The dragon released the cub's hand, gently stroked his cheek, and revealed a fatherly smile.

“No one from any of the prominent families involved in the case, regardless of whether they are collateral relatives or direct descendants, will be spared.”

"Here."

The red dragon retreated, and he seemed quite happy as he left.

Apart from those aristocratic families, although bloodshed may occur, the confiscated wealth is enough to alleviate much of the burden on the Great Yan.

“Axi…my son…this imperial power is like a thorny thicket. Now that I still have the ability, I will first remove the thorns from it for you. Only in this way can your benevolence…make the new and old ministers submit to you.”

Whether the dragon's words reached the cub's ears or not is unknown. But perhaps sensing his emotions, or simply aroused by the heat brought in by the red dragon, the little guy cried out before even opening his eyes.

“Oh…oh…Ah Xi, good Ah Xi, don’t cry…don’t cry…”

Zhenlong hurriedly reached out to soothe the little guy who was crying again, and waved his feather fan to bring a cool breeze to dispel the heat.

The baby's cries continued for a long time before gradually fading away, and with them, his dream also ceased.

"..."

The little guy licked his paws, offering no comment.

The concepts of a behemoth and a human are different, and it cannot resonate with such complex emotions as humans. But since the other party has shown weakness to it, as the stronger being at this moment, it can magnanimously appease it.

"What...how do you view your father?"

"My father."

Bai Zhou's hand paused in mid-air for a moment before he poured the tea from the cup into his mouth.

“I don’t know my father well. No, I should say that all I know about my father is… that he loves me very much.”

"If you don't understand, how do you know about this?"

"My second uncle told me."

Bai Zhou put down his cup, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

“My second uncle told me that my father spent very little time with me; he left me without even hearing me call him father.”

"..."

Do you mind if I sit here?

A gourd of wine gently landed, accompanied by a languid inquiry, and the blue-and-white poet had already sat down beside him.

"Mia... your sister."

Only after Bai Zhou changed her tune did her serious expression turn into a relaxed one.

“Unlike the eldest brother, Little Ah Xi, we can be more relaxed and casual with each other.”

Ling poured herself a glass of wine, picked it up and gently sniffed it until the aroma was irresistible, then she took a satisfied sip.

"I was thirsty when I came out to get some wine, and I vaguely heard you having a dream, Little Ah Xi? May I hear it too?"

“It’s nothing embarrassing. I’ll tell you if your sister wants to hear it.”

"Humph……"

Sui glanced at the fragment and moved back in disgust.

Alcoholics are much more annoying than street thugs and shut-ins.

"Oh...your father."

Having heard the dream of daytime, he drank the wine in his cup with satisfaction.

"Your father... um... that kid, I'm fairly familiar with him, although I don't remember him very well now, but I can still say a few things about him."

Ling closed her eyes, and without her saying a word, Bai Zhou immediately poured her wine.

"Not bad, not bad."

Once the cup is full, he opens his eyes, takes the cup, and drinks.

"Your father is resolute...stubborn. When I first met him, he was still the crown prince."

"At that time, he was holding a broken blade, covered in filthy blood, and leading his remaining troops back to Yumen."

Although Xi's father was the crown prince and would soon become emperor, he voluntarily requested permission from the late emperor to go to the frontier. He disregarded his status and fought alongside ordinary soldiers on the battlefield, killing enemies and rescuing comrades. He earned his merit with his own blood and strength, enduring countless wounds.

Several years later, when he returned to the capital from the northern frontier to assume the throne, he had risen from a mere squad leader to a general of the three armies.

Holding military power ensures a stable position.

Returning to the Eighteen Avenues, the world belongs to all.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised when he came to me to be your teacher. After all... even if I am his comrade-in-arms, Zhenlong and Sui are not allies."

Ling glanced at the Year Beast over there and changed his words.

"At least... that wasn't the case back then."

"Later I found out that he contacted the boss first, and me second. Well, after all, the boss is indeed trustworthy."

"Master?"

"Yes...your master..."

……

In the ninth year of Tianyu, on the day of Lixia (the beginning of summer), in the hot earth element, at a certain place.

"I ask that you take care of my son's affairs. I don't expect him to learn all your skills, I only hope that he can protect himself within the Great Yan."

The immortal sitting opposite the true dragon did not respond.

He was quietly observing the baby in his arms.

The baby was fast asleep, but this shouldn't be... No cub could sleep so soundly beside them. Cubs are most sensitive to malice and murderous intent, and he is the foremost "evil," radiating an aura of "not to be trifled with" even when motionless.

But this child...

"Does Your Majesty believe in divination?"

He was indeed a little curious.

"Divination itself is merely one possibility."

The true dragon looked at the cub in the other's arms, which was snoring softly because of its comfort, and a hint of envy flashed in its eyes.

Little Ah Xi has never been so quiet around him. Every time, he has to be held and coaxed for a long time before he will calm down.

"As the saying goes, the mandate of Heaven cannot be taken away. If Your Majesty truly intends to act on behalf of Heaven, I fear it will bring calamity upon you."

"The belief that our Great Yan has always upheld is that human will can conquer nature."

Faced with the immortal's rebuttal, the true dragon did not back down.

"Although Ah Xi is young, he is the most important hope of our clan."

"Most importantly... has Your Majesty considered the child's feelings?"

The dragon gazed at the infant silently, and after a moment, a look of tenderness appeared on his face.

"...Born into our clan, we are already separated from the world. Children of commoners can be happy and carefree, and children of noble families can be content and without hardship. My son... cannot have even a moment of leisure or contentment."

"In my position, to be even slightly negligent or idle would be irresponsible to the Great Yan. I cannot do that, nor can A-Xi."