Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

First, in order to develop the image of the eleven executives of Winter Kingdom and let everyone know their backstories, even though it might lead to Mihoyo's betrayal. In reality, the eleven executives of Winter Kingdom have very different personalities, and each one could write their own novel.

Secondly, at the beginning of the book, the protagonist has already reformed the Winter Kingdom for three years.

So, what did the prince do during those three years, what dangers did he encounter, how did he interact with the executive officer, and how did he develop feelings for Columbia? These things have not been explained in the previous chapters, so they will be written in the middle of the book.

I originally planned to write about the Winter Kingdom storyline in the last part of the book, but I found that using Columbia's perspective as a starting point was also quite good.

Chapter 185 Not a god, yet better than a god

The Undead Knight, the North Sea Siren, and the Cloud Lord were unaware that the Prince had activated the sign-in system before the battle began, rewarding him with strength comparable to that of a god. Therefore, even if the three of them attacked together, they would have no chance of winning.

If they had sensed it beforehand, they wouldn't have come to assassinate the employer even if he promised them great benefits. No one understood better than these top experts at the pinnacle of Teyvat that once an ordinary person rivals a god, their strength is enough to contend with the seven true gods.

After this battle, Sandone, the "Puppet," became completely obedient to the Prince. With his exceptional governing skills and astonishing martial prowess, he was truly a man of both literary and martial talents, capable of changing the fate of the nation until winter.

People say that the Geo Archon of Liyue, who is both a man of great talent and wisdom, is the most perfect among the Seven Archons. He possesses strength no less than that of Her Majesty the Empress and has transformed Liyue into a prosperous nation of contracts. His Highness may one day grow into someone who is on par with the Geo Archon.

If that day ever comes, he will be considered a meritorious official, having at least personally "protected" His Highness the Prince.

The three sat around the campfire, and she said with a mischievous smile, "After today's battle, His Highness the Prince will be famous throughout the Winter Kingdom. I'm sure His Majesty will be very pleased, as the person he risked his life to save was not just an ordinary person, but the hope for the future of Winter. Sigh, I suddenly don't want to study those cold machines anymore; studying His Highness is much more interesting."

No matter how badly His Highness described the Undead Knight's condition, none of the eleven Executors could have killed him in such a few moves. Even if His Highness was truly lucky and accidentally eliminated the enemy, he was still a courageous and resourceful individual.

Undoubtedly, most people would be in a panic and wait to die in despair when faced with a fierce and sudden attack from an undead knight. It is unimaginable for someone like His Highness to adopt a fighting stance.

The prince, having filled a pot with clean ice and snow and boiled water, brewed tea for the two of them and asked with a smile, "Have you figured it out?"

Unexpectedly, the prince took it seriously. Sandonne, the "puppet," revealed his true thoughts, saying:

"Your Highness is very clever. You deceived everyone in Winter Palace, keeping me by your side at all times, creating the illusion that Your Highness is just an ordinary person. You only revealed your strength at the most crucial moment. Caught off guard, the undead knight was caught off guard and killed by you, ending the battle at minimal cost."

His Highness smiled slightly and said, "Concealing one's strengths and revealing one's true abilities are profound skills. My competitive spirit is stronger than yours. The night I discovered the unexpected fusion with the Empress's divine power, I thought of immediately informing the Empress and announcing to the world that the newly appointed prince is not only literate but also skilled in martial arts. If I had done that, the assassins coming tonight would not have been three, but ten. Only by knowing how to conceal one's strengths can one strike unexpectedly."

[Puppet] Sandoni nodded and asked, "Your Highness, what is meant by 'drawing the sword'?"

The prince casually picked up a knife from the ground, staring at its sharp blade, and said, "The undead knights are charging at us. Knowing we're no match, what do we do? We draw our weapons and unleash our swordsmanship. Sandone, believe it or not, even if I didn't possess divine power today, the moment I take the initiative to fight, the undead knight will be taken aback and hesitate to attack me. Even if I were to be trampled over by the undead knight's hooves today, it would witness the indomitable spirit of the people of Winterfell. It can never defeat or conquer them."

The guards nearby had just woken up and were pleasantly surprised to find His Highness the Prince talking with the two executive officers, which meant that the battle had been won. They also heard His Highness explain the meaning of "concealing one's strengths" and "drawing one's sword." Overwhelmed with emotion, they were moved to tears. The indomitable spirit was the very soul of the army during winter.

The guards used great effort to pull the battle flag from the dead flag bearer's hand. As long as one soldier survived, the camp's battle flag would fly high in the wind.

[Puppet] Sandonne gazed at the battle flag fluttering in the wind and snow, a sense of unease washing over him. He then looked at the tall, autonomous machine beside him and said with some excitement, "My modified 'plowing machine' always lacks something compared to the ancient kingdom of Kanria. Now I seem to understand—it lacks a soul. If I imbue them with an indomitable fighting spirit, then the Winter Kingdom's 'plowing machine' will be more advanced than Kanria's manufacturing philosophy."

Without even a greeting, he led the self-regulatory team straight into the tent. A moment later, Sandonne's voice rang out: "Captain of the Guard, bring in the toolbox from the carriage, quickly!"

The guards had just gone through a major battle, and their mental and physical strength were greatly depleted. In addition, the toolbox itself was very heavy, and several people struggled for a long time, their faces turning red, but they still couldn't move it.

His Highness rolled up his sleeves and smiled through the sparks flying from the campfire in the middle: "The only one who can command me and the [Girl] Executive Officer to help fetch tools is Sandone."

She snorted, but still got up and went over to lend a hand.

Having obtained the toolbox, Sandone reflexively immersed herself in her research. Every now and then, the sounds of her smashing things and cursing could be heard after her repeated failures, a stark contrast to the quiet, adorable short-haired girl she had been sitting demurely in the autonomous machine earlier. The guards, who had already heard about her, wisely went to clean up the mess in the distance, afraid of provoking this research fanatic.

His Highness, while sipping his hot tea, would occasionally glance over there with interest, a hint of helpless smile occasionally appearing on his face.

Sitting by the campfire, once she was warmed up, she couldn't help but ask, "Sandonne's love for the autonomous organization even surpasses her love for life. I wonder why Your Highness mocks her for this."

His Highness added a few more pieces of firewood to the fire and replied, "Her performance this time was too exaggerated; I could tell."

It's an open secret that Sandone, the executor of the Fools, is obsessed with mechanical research, but the prince says she's just putting on an act.

She frowned and asked, "Extravagant? There's no reason for her to do that."

His Highness the Prince explained with a chuckle, "Sandonie doesn't want to be a third wheel."

She wanted to refute it, but then she noticed that the canvas of Sandoni's tent window was unusually bulging; the little girl was indeed eavesdropping behind the tent. However, that fool was so careless; the giant body of the autonomous machine almost burst the other side of the tent. She could only say, "Please, Your Highness, have some self-respect."

Despite the campfire separating them, the prince, upon hearing this, sat down in the seat next to her.

Seeing her pouting, he plopped down next to her and, before she could speak, asked, "I knew you hid in Sandone's carriage last night as soon as we arrived at the camp. Don't you want to know how I found out?"

She had wanted to ask this question earlier. She had clearly used her divine power to conceal her aura when she left, making it difficult even for the Ice Queen to detect her, but she replied, "I have no interest."

Her reaction seemed to be exactly what His Highness had expected. She frankly said, "I can hear your heartbeat, your breathing, and your singing. I don't know if it's because I stared at that painting of your back for a long time a few days ago, but I can sense it whenever you're near me. Has anyone else experienced this?"

A blush flashed across her face, and she gently shook her head, saying, "Your Highness is the first."

The prince said in surprise, "This shouldn't be. Could it be a curse from the heavens that has given me some strange sensory ability? But why can I only hear yours, and not the breathing and heartbeat of Sandone and the others?"

Feeling guilty, she changed the subject, saying, "Your Highness, I'd like some tea."

His Highness, disregarding any notion of status, immediately poured her a cup and said, “Miss Columbia also likes the taste of dandelions. These were just picked from the field. You throw them in a pot, boil them in water, and eating them relieves hunger and can be drunk as tea. This is a practice in my hometown. I didn’t expect the serfs here during winter to tell me they often use this method too…”

Upon mentioning the word "serfs," the prince abruptly stopped speaking, poured himself another cup of dandelion tea, and splashed it towards the group of tombstones nearby.

The fact that His Highness the Prince valued a group of serfs who lived at the very bottom of society and were worth less than livestock stirred up strange emotions in her heart again. For a moment, she suddenly had the absurd idea of ​​taking care of this kind and righteous man for the rest of her life.

This time, it was her turn to pour tea for His Highness the Prince.

The prince snapped out of his sadness and smiled as he clinked glasses with her.

She didn't refuse. After clinking glasses, she carefully tasted the tea; it was a little bitter, but the aftertaste was wonderful. Setting down her cup, she asked, "What does Your Highness intend to do next? When we return, I will petition Her Majesty the Queen to join forces with Arecino and Sandone to investigate this assassination attempt. In short, we must give you an explanation. To dare to openly assassinate even a prince—these people have incredible audacity!"

Recalling the fierce battle just now, she was still shaken. If His Highness hadn't concealed his strength, the mental storm she released would have only been able to suppress the undead knight for a few breaths. If [Puppet] Sandone hadn't been able to break away from the battle with the Cloud Lord and the North Sea Demon in time and quickly return to protect His Highness, then another tombstone of the prince would have appeared in the nearby cemetery.

After a moment of contemplation, His Highness the Prince opened his eyes and said, "The mastermind behind this incident is likely not just one person, but a massive interest group. They control valuable resources and can hire top experts like the Cloud Lord, the Undead Knight, and the Kraken as assassins. Therefore, conventional investigation methods will definitely not lead to the true culprit."

"My opinion is this: the outside world is still unaware of the outcome of the battle here, and those who want me dead are also waiting for news. It would be better to announce to the public that I perished together with the three assassins. The Undead Knight, the North Sea Banshee, and the Cloud Lord each have their own powerful racial forces behind them. Having lost three top experts from their respective races, the three races will send people to Winter City to demand hefty compensation. Then, we'll know who is obstructing the reforms and who is targeting me."

"During this period, you will temporarily take over my work and focus all your efforts on advancing the reform process. Don't worry, I will support you from behind and tell you what to do next, cough cough..."

His Highness coughed, his face pale. She quickly asked, "Are you alright?"

His Highness closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "When I attacked the undead knight just now, I triggered a curse. It's alright, I'll go back to my tent and get some sleep, and I'll be fine."

The curse of Heaven is incurable. The only way is to rely on willpower to withstand it. If you can withstand the onset period, the power of the curse will subside. If you can't withstand it, you will die on the spot.

She was worried and helped the prince back to his tent. The prince lay on the bed and soon fell into a coma due to the excruciating pain.

Worried, she fetched a basin of hot water and carefully wiped the sweat from the prince's forehead. [Puppet] Sandoni teased her, saying, "Columbia, you look like a little wife." She pouted and replied, "No, I'm not."

Sandonne remarked, "His Highness defied the curse of fate with sheer willpower, and that alone is enough to be recorded in history." But she replied, "Those who are recorded in history are the dead. I hope he lives well."

For most of the night, she sat by the Prince's bedside, her mind constantly replaying an ancient legend from her clan.

It is said that once a girl of the Fairy Spirit Clan meets her true love, the man will be able to have a unique connection with her spiritual world. When they get close, the man can always hear the ethereal songs of the Fairy Spirit Clan. It is a magical phenomenon that even the gods cannot explain, and the Fairy Spirit Clan romantically describes it as an arrangement of fate.

The old women in the tribe often say that many women in the Fairy Spirit Clan will live out their lives alone and never meet such a man. If they do meet one, they must cherish him.

……

At dawn, the reinforcements sent by Her Majesty the Queen arrived.

The Prince's three thousand elite soldiers quickly deployed, vowing to protect His Highness's safety to the death.

The leading general was the steward of the Prince's mansion. He was taciturn but exuded a powerful aura. He was a general personally selected by Her Majesty the Empress. However, after receiving the order to take command of the Prince's guards the day before yesterday, he had not even seen the Prince himself.

But just yesterday afternoon, when the news came out that His Highness the Prince had decided to abolish slavery, he knew that this prince, who was so highly regarded by Her Majesty the Empress and was the first non-royal prince in history, was worth following to the death. The people had long harbored resentment towards serfdom, but every reform had ended in failure.

Upon learning that His Highness the Prince had perished alongside three assassins, the general's vision blurred, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot. But none of the soldiers laughed at this battle-hardened general, for the Prince's reputation had already spread the day before. In the vast Kingdom of Zhidong, no one dared to directly issue a decree abolishing serfdom and the human trafficking, yet His Highness dared!

Heeding the voices of the common people, even though he is not a god, he is better than a god.

Chapter 186 The Future and Fate of the Winter Kingdom

Upon hearing the tragic news of His Highness the Prince's passing, the entire Imperial Guard of the Prince's residence was shrouded in deep sorrow.

Two days ago, their nearly five thousand elite troops suddenly received orders from their superiors to protect the prince's safety with all their might. At first, many people were quite puzzled, after all, the Empress's guards were of the same standard, but this was just an unknown prince from another family, who was said to be very young. Using the same standards as protecting Her Majesty the Empress to protect him was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Until something happened.

His Highness the Prince was working with a group of people near the village cemetery, making the Prince's mansion courtyard seem deserted. However, just yesterday afternoon, the alley in front of the gate was suddenly blocked by all sorts of carriages.

The owners of each carriage were no ordinary people; they included princes, ministers, and imperial relatives, as well as a group of large landowners and slave owners. Finally, a group of girls dressed in flamboyant attire from a "forgiving family" arrived. The middle-aged madam led the way, kneeling and weeping in front of the prince's mansion, causing chaos in the alley. Anyone who didn't know the situation might have thought that His Highness had gone there to enjoy himself without paying.

It took a long time of questioning to figure out why this group of people came.

His Highness actually dared to "defy the world" by abolishing slavery and prohibiting the buying and selling of people. This group of high-ranking officials, landlords, and brothel girls did not come to visit His Highness, but rather to verbally attack and cause trouble for him. The reforms had touched the interests of these people.

The news that His Highness the Prince was conducting business at the cemetery spread quickly throughout the city that afternoon. These people must have all heard the news, and they still came by carriage to crowd at the Prince's mansion, simply to show their opposition to the reforms.

The subtlety of this approach lies in the fact that the newly appointed prince was fully entrusted by Her Majesty the Empress with the reforms until winter. Therefore, even members of the royal family could not openly express their opposition, as that would be tantamount to opposing Her Majesty the Empress. However, they could exert immense political pressure by surrounding the prince's residence with carriages, thereby obstructing the reforms. If the new prince was wise enough, he should have known to pull back from the brink; otherwise, he would have offended almost half of the powerful and influential class.

The guards drove away the madam and the girls from "The House of Tolerance." These people had no social standing, and if they continued to cause trouble, it would inevitably affect His Highness's reputation. However, they could understand the madam's mentality in coming to make a scene; if the buying and selling of people were prohibited, where would they buy decent girls?

As for the others sitting in sedan chairs or carriages, no one dared to offend them. They could only let them "show their power," thinking that these important figures would leave when they got hungry. However, they persisted until night and still showed no sign of leaving. Only then did they realize the seriousness of the situation: these people were determined to oppose His Highness the Prince.

With most of the royal family and the elite class putting pressure on His Highness the Prince, officials in various regions will have to consider whether to follow His Highness down the same path or to align themselves with these deeply entrenched royal nobles when implementing the reform decree abolishing serfdom.

The situation is extremely unfavorable for His Highness's reforms.

The moonlight was cold and clear. Another group of people came into the alley, some dressed simply, others with a sleazy air.

They were at the very bottom of Winterhold, ordinary residents, farmers, vagrants, drunkards, thugs, and small vendors.

The old beggar at the head of the group, whose name no one knew, was called Old Dog. He led a lame, skinny old yellow dog, wore a drafty cotton-padded coat, and carried a broken porcelain bowl. Every now and then, he would turn his head to look into the carriage parked by the roadside, shaking his head with considerable disappointment and mocking with a bitter face, "You officials and landlords, how come you don't even bring a pretty woman with you when you go out? What a disappointment."

The drivers wanted to curse and whip him again, but the stench emanating from the old dog made them cover their mouths and noses. Besides, the old dog was very influential among the beggars, almost like a leader. If anyone hit him, thousands of beggars would surely flock to their door the next day. Trying to get rid of them without giving each one some money or food would definitely not end well.

This had happened several times before. The most "famous" time was when it angered a marquis so much that he moved his house. From then on, the high-ranking officials and nobles of the Winter Kingdom regarded the old dog as a plague god.

However, among the hundreds of carriages, there were also some new coachmen who didn't understand the intricacies of the situation. One of them spat at the old dog and couldn't help but curse, "A bunch of stinking beggars! Her Majesty the Queen is merciful and allows you to beg in the city. Otherwise, how could she tolerate you running wild here? If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"

The old dog wasn't angry at all. It simply let go of the dog's hand, and the lame old yellow dog, with its tail between its legs, trotted away to the other side of the alley.

The new coachman was jumping off the carriage, rolling up his sleeves, ready to whip the old dog, when the important figure inside the carriage called out "Assistant!" and then, supported by his maids, slowly stepped out, asking with an imposing air, "Do you recognize this outfit?"

The old dog sat on the ground in front of the carriage, squinting in surprise, and said, "Wow, eight-petal snowflake embroidery! You must be one of Her Majesty the Empress's uncles. My family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke, for I have met such a powerful and influential person as you today." Every word sounded like a compliment, but he was picking at the mud between his toes, showing no respect whatsoever.

From a nearby carriage came the voice of another important figure, his tone menacing: "Old dog, since you know each other, why don't you leave? This isn't a place for your nonsense."

Old Dog said, "Gentlemen, you've come to see His Highness the Prince. What a coincidence, we've also come to see His Highness the Prince. You can send me away, but whether my brothers will agree is another matter."

A gust of cold wind blew in, and suddenly the alley was filled with a foul stench. Then someone in the carriage cursed, "What bad luck! Let's go home!" Immediately, many carriages and sedan chairs turned around and left.

It turned out that the lame old yellow dog had gone to inform the other beggars. Now, it was leading hundreds of beggars and homeless people, surging over from the other end of the alley, and they were also informing each other that more and more beggars would be arriving.

The old dog alone was enough to make the rich and powerful avoid him, and now a group of little beggars had arrived. They were used to living a life of luxury and wearing perfume, so they didn't dare to stay for even a moment longer, as if staying any longer would make their gorgeous mink coats smell bad.

The important figure in the carriage frowned. Then, remembering that there were five thousand elite soldiers in the Prince's mansion, he immediately said, "Prince's guards, listen to my command! A large number of beggars have gathered here and are disturbing the people. Quickly drive them away, and execute anyone who dares to resist on the spot!"

The guards could easily discern the malice in his words. Arresting the beggars and vagrants today would surely cause a riot, damaging His Highness's reputation. Besides, even an idiot could see that the beggars had come to help the Prince's residence out of a predicament, so they couldn't be arrested. Therefore, they responded crisply and decisively:

"I'm so sorry, sir. The duty of the Prince's Guard is to guard the Prince's residence and ensure His Highness's personal safety. As long as the beggar does not break into the courtyard, they have no right to arrest him. If you really want to arrest him, send your men to do it. The Prince's Guard can assist you from the side."