He turned his head, his dark eyes capturing Empress Ming Xing’s evasive gaze, smiling yet not smiling: “Imperial Sister will come of age in just half a year. How about I give you the military tally in my hand in advance?”

There were a total of three military tallies in the court. One was in Pei Yuanshao’s hand, commanding three hundred thousand troops in the northern desert. Before the empress died, she had handed the military tally to Pei Yuanshao. Three years ago, he personally reorganized the northern desert army, removing potential threats. It was at his full disposal.

The second was in the hands of the Southern Marquis Jing Huan, able to deploy the Dragon Tiger Army in the northwest.

The third was in the hands of the Duke of Ying, commanding the Jiaodong Army.

The day of personal rule would be the day to take back the three military tallies. Even if Ming Xing was young and weak in character, with military power in hand, she could still act as regent.

Pei Yuanshao proposing to hand over military power now would break the existing balance. If the civil and military officials knew about this, someone would surely stand up to oppose.

Empress Ming Xing’s eyes suddenly widened, a flicker in her gaze. She turned her head to look at the large garden in front of her and asked, “Why? Is Imperial Brother upset that I’m indulging in flowers and plants, not encouraging myself to review memorials?”

A complex look flashed across Pei Yuanshao’s eyes and disappeared. The young ruler in the flower garden had grown taller. In the past, when talking to him, she needed to look up, but now she only needed to raise her eyes.

He raised his hand to rub his forehead, showing complete fatigue: “Fifth Sister, you will come of age in half a year. From now on, you must stand on your own. These three years, you’ve been troubled by matters of the heart. Knowing your inner turmoil, I couldn’t bear to rebuke you, but three years is the limit!”

“You are the emperor, carrying the lives of all people under heaven on your shoulders. Now the court is divided into three factions. Officials are in conflict, the gentry’s power is growing, the evil practice of buying and selling official positions is getting worse, corruption is rampant, and the people are suffering. You are the emperor, you don’t just have romantic feelings, but also all the people under heaven! And I… Fifth Sister, even the Long Imperial Consort will have a day when he falls! I can’t replace you, this Pei family’s world can only be protected by your own hands!”

Empress Ming Xing opened her mouth, forcefully turning her gaze away. Faced with those tired ink-black eyes, all the suspicion and resentment disappeared by half under that gaze.

“Fifth Sister, if you’ll listen to your elder brother’s advice one more time. Forget about the viscount, how about marrying the eldest son of the Duke of Ying as your imperial consort? The Duke of Ying holds the Jiaodong military tally in her hands. She has a fox-like nature, maneuvering between the pro-emperor faction and the gentry families. If you marry into her family…”

Empress Ming Xing’s gaze fell on the water-droplet-covered lilies in front of her. In her mind flashed the elegant face of Viscount Jia standing in the imperial garden, reciting poetry while burying flowers.

She was in a daze for a moment, her eyes filled with a plea and greed: “Elder Brother, can you hold on a bit longer, help me! I want the Jia family’s viscount to return to the palace!”

Pei Yuanshao opened his mouth, but finally closed it powerlessly.

Disappointment was fully displayed. He lowered his head, his half-loose hair sliding down, covering the gray defeat in his eyes.

Imperial Sister was indecisive, only caring about romance. This world, even if he offered up the military tally, she still dared not accept it.

Help! In this world, he helped her hold up, who would help him?

“Four years ago, I knelt for a whole night at the gate of the Jia family, begging for Grand Tutor Jia’s most precious only son for you, but Sister, you couldn’t protect him! He was nearly forced to hang himself by Yu Qinglan and the Southern Marquis. The Jia family’s three generations of clean reputation were completely ruined. The Grand Tutor, in his late years, was forced to retire to his hometown. Both you and I have failed the Jia clan! How can I help you marry him now?”

Empress Ming Xing plucked a petal from the flower in front of her, crushing it. Her eyes reddened as she shouted angrily at Pei Yuanshao: “I am the empress. Everything under heaven belongs to me, but look, I’m like a puppet every day. In court discussions, I need to watch your and Jing Huan’s expressions, every word and action is restrained. How do you expect me to act? I, the dignified emperor, just want one man, but I can’t marry him. When I was young, I didn’t understand love, but now I’m an adult. I want him, why can’t I have him?”

Pei Yuanshao felt somewhat tired. He pinched the bridge of his nose again, his eyes flashing. He opened his robe and knelt straight on the ground. He took out the military tally from his bosom and said firmly: “Emperor, take back the military tally. Ziyuan can’t bear this heavy responsibility and doesn’t know what to do!”

Not knowing whether there was more disappointment or more relief, it was expected that Fifth Sister would become wary of him. Hearing her accusations firsthand, his heart actually felt a bit lighter…

See? Except for that person, mother and son, brother and sister, all were like floating clouds! This imperial city couldn’t have familial affection!

He was tired, tired of this Pei dynasty. Little sister couldn’t bear the throne!

Jing Huan wouldn’t do either!

If that person wanted it, he would help her fight for it. If she didn’t want it, they would find a suitable person! To give the people under heaven a peaceful and prosperous era.

At Xiangyu Tavern, she had said she had once seen a city of dead people. That’s why she entered officialdom. If she cared about the world, he would help her!

Pei Yuanshao looked up, facing the light, his ink-black eyes flickering. After a moment of silence, he smiled with relief: “If Imperial Sister still has any sibling affection in her heart, please give this official a way out. This official is willing to never interfere in court affairs again and marry into a humble family as a husband.”

He smiled faintly, casually saying: “Choosing the imperial consort at the Qinglin Banquet is a custom. Just choose this year’s gold medal scholar for me. I guess this year’s gold medal scholar will be none other than Liu Cangyun, the top scholar from a humble background. She represents countless scholars from humble families. If I marry her, she will be Your Majesty’s person in the future, for Your Majesty to use. Killing two birds with one stone, this is the last thing this official can do for Your Majesty after stepping down from the position of assisting the country as Long Imperial Consort.”

The empress squinted her eyes. Although she wasn’t clever, she understood her elder brother’s words. If he were to marry into a humble family, it would be excellent!

But…

She glanced at the military tally right before her eyes, clenched her fist, and suppressed the greed in her heart.

She dared not accept the military tally because she couldn’t compete against the Southern Marquis Jing Huan! She couldn’t fight against the deeply rooted noble families.

Her childish roar was both a vent and a warning.

Imperial Brother’s power was great now, if he were to lose his loyalty to the monarch…

Empress Ming Xing raised her head, her expression changing, panic clearly showing. She quickly approached, the corner of her bright yellow dragon robe caught on the surrounding flower thorns, pulling out a long thread.

She bent down to personally help the kneeling man in red up, but he remained kneeling without moving.

Empress Ming Xing had no choice. She lifted her dragon robe and knelt in front of him, hurriedly admitting her mistake: “Imperial Brother, I know I was wrong. Please take back the military tally. I will never say such childish things to you again. If you want me to marry the eldest son of the Duke of Ying, I will!”

Pei Yuanshao lowered his head, a fleeting look of mockery flashing across his face.

The human heart has seven apertures, each with its own mystery! Fifth Sister was guarding against him, avoiding the important and dwelling on the trivial!

She wouldn’t accept the military tally, yet she still wanted the son of Master Jia.

She pushed all the difficult problems to him, wanting both the empire and the beauty!

Hah…

Pei Yuanshao narrowed his eyes, concealing the calculations in them. No one was a fool! It was just mutual probing…

If she wanted to marry that person, he had to first plant a shadow in the empress’s heart. As long as Fifth Sister harbored wariness towards him!

He could then act according to the situation!