Chapter 40 (2/2)
“Then you should call me…”
Xiao Yao cried out “Dad!”
The Grand Emperor smiled while Zhuan Xu furrowed his brows
The Grand Ele one worthy I did hand raise and train three very capable disciples: Ju Mang is reliable and pulls through, Ru So can be trusted with important tasks, and Zhuan Xu…” The Grand E eyes thatopenly read and he wanted to avert his eyes but in the end he kept his eyes locked with the Grand Eht you for two hundred years so I know that your ambition is not on one mountain or one land but on the vast wilderness Since you left Gao Xing, I have been waiting for you to come back”
Zhuan Xu’s heart sank “If Master already knew then why did you let , help estured to the jewelpicked up the jewel and injected his power to project the map in the residence The entire vast wilderness surrounded the vistas In that moment everyone was stunned by the breadth
The Grand Eo, on the plains of Yi Province, Xiao Yao’s mom pointed to a direction and asked me what is over there I answered ‘Mountains, rivers, earth, and people’ She changed three more directions and asked , Xuan Yuan, or Sheng Nong My answer remained the sa would battle with Xuan Yuan but she didn’t want people to be sacrificed like her and Qi Yo So she placed all her hopes withand avoid the bloodshed”
Zhuan Xu stared at the map and mulled over what his Auntie said
The Grand E, he was young but already had the personality of Qing Yang which was a relief to ht hi a future enenored the officials and continued to nurture Zhuan Xu I worried the officials would plot to have their children lead hied Zhuan Xu to travel the coed hi and understand every inch of this land so that one day he could govern it properly”
Zhuan Xu stared in confusion, he understood what the Grand E to get at
The Grand Emperor said warmly “Zhuan Xu didn’t disappoint , or his parents Zhuan Xu grew up just like I had hoped Or no, shall I shall he grew up even better than I expected The Chang Yi and Bai Hu tribes are angry ata successor As the ruler of a kingdootten to do such an i, I even trained two good officials to serve hi is reliable and pulls through, Ru So can be trusted with important tasks, and Zhuan Xu will be tasked with the entire world’s governance”
Zhuan Xu tripped over his words “I…I don’t…don’t understand what Master means”
The Grand Emperor smiled “Silly child, you’re the successor I prepared to rule Gao Xing!”
The Grand E, but the three listened where so thunderstruck as to be i was staring in shock
The Grand Emperor smiled at the expressions of the three kids faces
After a few moments Zhuan Xu said “Master, did you really mean what you just said?”
“Do you think I would joke about so and preparing you, how could that be a joke?”
“But…” Zhuan Xu’s thoughts were so ju person, I am Xuan Yuan born!”
“You see a rule that a Xuan Yuan ? You even send your soldiers to put on plays telling of the world being one family, so how can you doubt that now?”
“The court will vehemently object”
“Did they support your invasion of Gao Xing? Would they agree to allow you to conquer Gao Xing and add it to Xuan Yuan rule?”
“No, that’s not the same!”
Xiao Yao was fed up “Zhuan Xu, when Dad didn’t want you to have it then you would fight for it, now Dad wants to give it to you and you are arguing against it What do youtastes better only if you snatch it by force so you want to keep the war going?”
“I don’t mean that! I just…” Zhuan Xu took a deep breath “I just feel like such a sht now, ashamed and unable to ihed out and pointed at Zhuan Xu “His candor right now is soBoth the Yellow Emperor and I would have never admitted that”
Xiao Yao felt all the dark clouds lifting and sive the throne to Zhuan Xu, why not tell him? Why ?”
The Grand Emperor explained “Is peace and prosperity But Zhuan Xu is right in pointing out the court officials would never agree to it and I can’t influence such a powerful faction alone Zhuan Xu needs to use his ht to make them obey at the tip of the sword, where they are faced with loss or gain before they will all accept Like the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes, haven’t they already accepted Zhuan Xu as their E their pros and cons?”
Zhuan Xu gruain, who knew they did”
The Grand Emperor asked “What did you promise them?”
Zhuan Xu dejectedly explained the terry and yell at hiht, you did well in not allowing thes they will counterbalance each other”
Zhuan Xu felt bad and asked “What will happen to the Qing Long and Yi He tribes? They loyally followed Master the entire time”
The Grand Emperor said “I’ve lived my whole life on Five Gods Mountain and ae from you”
“Which mountain?”
“I want totribes will follow ive them territory near the Xuan Yuan Mountain”
Xuan Yuan Mountain was vastly idoht exchanging Five Gods Mountain for Xuan Yuan Mountain was an even trade That’s not how Zhuan Xu or Jing saw it – the Grand E the entire world that his position is as i the world that Gao Xing did not get conquered It was sio when he gave up Xuan Yuan Mountain andMountain Both rulers did not want the officials to have options, to see the kingdo two rulers, so they both definitively ended that possibility It allowed Zhuan Xu’s rule to be smoother and eliminated unnecessary bloodshed
An even deeper reason was the Grand E in two this way One half stays in Gao Xing and the other half leaves with hienerations of interraduallycitizens would completely be part of the Xuan Yuan people This was the sa and has his people govern the Gao Xing castles and towns under Xuan Yuan rule sagely to allow the Gao Xing people to get used to the Xuan Yuan customs
Zhuan Xu was so touched but didn’t want his Master to leave his homeland “Master, you needn’t do this The climate and environs of Xuan Yuan Mountain is vastly different than Five Gods Mountain…”
The Grand E Mountain is vastly different than Xuan Yuan Mountain yet the Yellow E there just fine I hear the Yellow Emperor’s health is even better than before The importance of Xuan Yuan Mountain cannot be overstated so ive it to me then I will be very comforted”
“Master……”
“Zhuan Xu, I really do want to leave Five Gods Mountain There are the reasons you have already thought of but I also have my own selfish considerations My father’s shadow is everywhere on Five Gods Mountain, every flower and every pond was crafted by hirow up here so I don’t have any happy s back all the conspiracies and the deaths and I’m tired! Xuan Yuan MountainYi, and Ah Heng grew up there so I’m very familiar with Cao Yun Peak and won’t feel lonely there”
The Grand Emperor’s eyes showed his weariness “There, I likely won’t have any htmares”
Xiao Yao said “Zhuan Xu, just say yes to Dad!”
Zhuan Xu got on his knees and bowed his head hard on the ground with his face pressed low, not getting up for a long time When he learned the truth of how his father died there was a part of hiive his er was coive Little Zhu Rong but not Master because Little Zhu Rong had no connection with him but his master took him in when he was in peril He raised hi since ed with his memory of his dad Because he saw his master as his father now, that is why he couldn’t so easily forgive hi only the coratitude of love The Grand Emperor really did do his job as a dad and take care of everything for Zhuan Xu leaving him like any child in this world who could never repay the parental care
The Grand E saw the Grand E tiht over a cup of peach juice The Grand Emperor took a sip and continued “Now that the official matters are done, let’s discuss some personal items”
Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao stared at the Grand E “Xiao Yao doesn’t need me to worry about her I just have to prepare her dowry and wait for her to get hed “She leaves me with a headache and worry Zhuan Xu, who should Iwhile Zhuan Xu aardly answered “I thought Master wanted to marry Ah Nian to Ru So”
“Ru So? He would be willing to die for ree to reed Ah Nian would never ”
“Since you left Gao Xing I have been looking, for the past hundred years and still she hasn’t found one she likes” The Grand Ehed “It’s evenwith the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes! I said it all, logic and persuasion, and even hoped that your war against Gao Xing would end her feelings Who knew she was so persistent and still only wants you! Zhuan Xu, tell me what I should do with her?”
Zhuan Xu lowered his head while Xiao Yao was giggling and sprawled next to the Grand Emperor
He asked Xiao Yao “What do you think Dad should do?”
Xiao Yao smiled “What does my little sister want?”
“Of course she wants to marry that Zhuan Xu”
“Dad doesn’t object?”
“Will ? I’ve objected tens of years and now I’o with it Life ive in to her and let her have what she wants Xiao Yao, do you agree with Dad?”
Xiao Yao thought about it and nodded Ah Nian would be unhappy her entire life if she didn’t get what she wanted, if she was given what she wanted at least Zhuan Xu would always reratitude to her dad and treat her well
The Grand Eree to hter?”
Xiao Yao saw that the Grand Eh They say the world pities the parents worry and even the Grand E princess, her iti with Xuan Yuan But the Grand Ee as a political bargaining chip which is why he first discussed official e and emphasized that this was a personal issue He also didn’t want to ask Zhuan Xu directly and pressure him so he had Xiao Yao act as the intered Zhuan Xu’s sleeved “Hey you, do you agree to hter?”
Zhuan Xu stared at Xiao Yao’s hand and felt the absurdity of the world on hiet close to Xiao Yao, if back then he , if he never let her hand go……would the “ about today be referring to herself and not Ah Nian? Would he then happily yell “Yes!” and not once again forced to agree to marry another woman in front of Xiao Yao?
Zhuan Xu kept his head lowered and said nothing so Xiao Yao stuck her head in his lap and stared up at him “Zhuan Xu?”
Zhuan Xu lifted his head with a s as Master doesn’t object then I of course will be willing Except……Ah Nian is the Princess and I already have an Empress”
The Grand Emperor already considered this probledodo Yue Empress then you can also make Ah Nian Empress”
Xiao Yao suddenly remembered what the Yellow E Yue was going to be E Did the Yellow Emperor also have the saree! My little sister of course has to be an Empress!”
Zhuan Xu stared at Xiao Yao and while his s wells with no light Xiao Yao suddenly felt this odd sensation so she yelled “What? What did I say wrong?”
Zhuan Xu s the poive her the sa Yue”
The Grand Emperor said “I willto you I suggest you give one palace to Ah Nian since she grew up here I don’t feel cohter of the Sheng Nong fa you problems Why don’t the two e Mountain and Ah Nian on Five Gods Mountain”
Xiao Yao clapped “What a great idea!” She was just getting worried about Ah Nian dealing with all those wives on Zhi Jin Su became part of Xuan Yuan then Zhuan Xu would have to visit annually to govern in person Even if he lived just one month a year on Five Gods Mountain, that was one ed coreat idea! I orried about how to placate the Middle Plains fa”
Xiao Yao inwardly sighed Even if her dad was just trying to hter, if Ah Nian didn’t have such a powerful dad and all of Gao Xing behind her, how can she get an entire palace? The Grand Emperor passed his throne to Zhuan Xu unrelated to Ah Nian, but the world est dowry in the world If the Grand Edom to Zhuan Xu as dowry for Ah Nian, then even the Middle Plains fa her an empress as well
The Grand Eo see what’s to eat and bring me a couple dishes”
“Yes” Xiao Yao walked outside and Jing kneas intentional to divert her so joined her
After both Xiao Yao and Jing left, the Grand Emperor stared at Zhuan Xu “You’re not happy to marry Ah Nian”
Zhuan Xu’s smile lessened “I don’t want to lie to Master, Ah Nian is not the wo An is not the woman Master loves, but I will treat Ah Nian with the sa An I will give Ah Nian a lifetime of comfort and peace”
The Grand Emperor was not surprised Zhuan Xu didn’t love Ah Nian in that way and sighed “You remember this promise you made today” He knew that between Zhuan Xu and Ah Nian, the person as happier in this e would be Ah Nian
Zhuan Xu’s face revealed his desolation “Master, what does it feel like to marry the woman you love”
The Grand Emperor smiled sadly “I don’t know”
“Didn’t Master marry Auntie?”
“When I married her I didn’t love her yet, by the time I fell in love with her, she already saw herself as Qi Yo’s wife”
Zhuan Xu sighed “So even Master doesn’t know!”
The Grand Eht”
Zhuan Xu sadly continued “Soarden of flowers into my backyard but the only flower I want isn’t there Just that one I want isn’t there! When in actually I don’t even want an entire backyard full of flowers, I just want that one flower!”
The Grand Emperor patted Zhuan Xu on the shoulder because only he understood howlay underneath Zhuan Xu’s calhest chair, it appeared one had it all but there wasn’t a single e that hat Zhuan Xu really wanted Each time he married to resolve an io he could have suffered intribes would not be fighting near a civil war now
Xiao Yao and Jing wandered outside the pavilion and she said “Years ago you told me ‘Zhuan Xu is not the Yellow Emperor and the Grand Emperor is not Qi Yo’ You wanted me not to think of the worst case scenario and I didn’t believe you then but now I really understand what yousaid “The critical eledom now is not the saes on the sht now s to Xuan Yuan so it’swill be ruled by Xuan Yuan which is why the Black Eht a sloar of attrition Fro was doomed to be conquered That’s why it’s the smart choice for the Grand Emperor to pass the throne to Zhuan Xu……”
Xiao Yao covered her heard “Not listening! So s sound worse when you analyze it!”
Jing grabbed Xiao Yao to avoid a low branch and laughed “The tides cannot be changed but the choices made can impact how it happens Without the Black Eht, it’s hard to have such a happy ending for all that is happening now”
Xiao Yao glanced back in the pavilion “What do you think they are talking about? Are they done yet?”
Jing could tell she couldn’t wait so said with a laugh “Let’s go check”
Xiao Yao i “Dad!”
Zhuan Xu walked to the door and gestured her inside Xiao Yao ran inside and reached Zhuan Xu before realizing her hands were e a basket of food
Xiao Yao placed the dishes before the Grand Eo the battle?”
“She really went Regardless ofYi tribes betrayalis with her”
“That e victorious then?
“Yes”
“What happens afterwards?”
The Grand Elanced at Zhuan Xu who smiled and popped a snack in his mouth “After the battle is won, Master will announce that Ah Nian isme That’s the best of both worlds as Ah Nian will be the Gao Xing Princess who punished the betrayers, but she’s also going to be the next Xuan Yuan Empress so even if she vanquished the two tribes it’s like she’s battling for e their defeat”
Xiao Yao laughed “Everyone thinks the battle is so earthshattering, who can expect it’ll be followed by a ”
In thePrincess ent to war for her father successfully defeated the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes On the sa as envoy to Five Gods Mountain for the hand in reed
With the wedding set the war between the two kingdo about revenge to shutting up and hoping the Princess didn’t hold a grudge later on
The palace was ready and the doas prepared, the two kingdo autudo but in truth the Grand E the abdication and succession plans
Since Zhuan Xu left Gao Xing, the Grand E for this day and many of the people were already prepared The Grand E and assured hi Mountain was already on track and could administer itself for now
The Grand Eh i and execution of three brilliant rulers it continued step by step without delay