Chapter 67: The Reckless Youth of the Great Xia Court; Ye Xun's Words Astound Wei Wuji

The Shangguan Estate.

The Front Hall.

Shangguan Panshi stared at Ye Xun, listening to his words, and fell into a momentary trance.

Promising no one with power and authority.
Trading away nothing for the sake of the people's interests.
Anyone who sacrifices the welfare of the common people to secure the position of the crown prince is unworthy of being the heir.

Shangguan Panshi could scarcely believe these words had come from the mouth of Ye Xun.

What was the true backbone of an heir apparent?
This was the true backbone of an heir apparent!
This was the vision that the heir to the Great Xia throne ought to possess and put into practice.
This was the imperial prince he, Shangguan Panshi, ought to pledge his allegiance to.

In the depths of Shangguan Panshi's heart, state politics should never be treated as mere bargaining chips in a game of power. He detested those imperial princes who resorted to intimidation and bribery, dangling grand promises merely to win followers, as well as those officials easily swayed by temptation.

Yet, the officialdom was destined to be murky; it had been so through every dynasty. Therefore, Shangguan Panshi had always clung to the philosophy of keeping himself blameless and focusing solely on his duties, wishing to remain aloof from factional struggles. Moreover, he believed that the fight for the succession would only pollute the administration further. Several other princes had already sought to ally themselves with the Five Noble Clans and the Four Great Kings.

Indeed, the influence and power of the Five Clans and Four Kings were formidable. Yet, most of those people were like beasts that devoured flesh without spitting out the bones. Without grand promises that satisfied their greed, they would never lift a finger.

Currently, Ye Xun alone stood completely untangled from the Five Clans and Four Kings. Those powerful factions disdained any association with him.

The remarks Ye Xun had just made forced Shangguan Panshi to view him in an entirely new light.

Not only Shangguan Panshi, but Wei Feng standing nearby was also gaping with open-mouthed astonishment.

What an extraordinary display of righteousness for the country and the people.

Then, looking toward Ye Xun with solemn gravity, Shangguan Panshi asked earnestly, "Your Highness the Prince of Qin... were the words you spoke just now... from the bottom of your heart?"

Ye Xun stood up, offered a slight bow, and replied in a measured tone, "Lord Shangguan, an army may be stripped of its commander, but even the humblest man cannot be stripped of his will. I, Ye Xun, wish to take this as my lifelong resolve."

"Splendid!" Shangguan Panshi rose to his feet in agitation, exclaiming with mounting excitement, "What a magnificent declaration: 'An army may be stripped of its commander, but even the humblest man cannot be stripped of his will!' If Your Highness truly takes this as your resolve, this old official is willing to pledge his allegiance to assist you. I only pray Your Highness will never forget your original aspiration."

A scholar dies for one who truly knows him, just as a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her.

Among all the imperial princes, Shangguan Panshi had finally found one who truly held the interests of the common people in his heart. He understood well that if Ye Xun refused to trade away the nation's interests, their path to seizing the succession would be immensely arduous. There was no helping it; no one else was willing to support a prince who refused to promise them high office, lavish stipends, servants, wealth, vast lands, and political clout.

However, the imperial court was never devoid of upright, incorruptible, and loyal men. If Ye Xun practiced what he preached and put the people first, he would undoubtedly win the unwavering support of such individuals.

Shangguan Panshi had already mentally prepared himself to fight a grueling battle alongside Ye Xun.

Hearing these words, a wave of joy washed over Ye Xun, and he bowed once more. "Thank you, Lord Shangguan, for your willingness to assist me."

His previous remarks had not been a deception to win over Shangguan Panshi. He had spoken the absolute truth. Having traveled through time, Ye Xun understood all too well the relentless rolling wheels of history.

Vassal kings, powerful gentry, dominant ministers, eunuchs... Whenever any faction grew powerful enough, it was capable of pushing the nation toward ruin. Even if he successfully claimed the crown prince's seat, a long and arduous road still lay ahead of him.

The road is long and winding, and I shall search near and far.

By taking this first step, Ye Xun knew the enemies awaiting him in the future would be endless. Still, he was not one for melancholy. Marching forward steadily, step by footstep, he refused to believe that his modern perspective could not carve out a future for himself.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Yunqing walked in carrying a tray of tea. In truth, she had already arrived outside the doorway. Ye Xun's previous words had compelled her to pause and listen. She had never imagined that Ye Xun possessed such deep concern for the country and its people. Overjoyed upon hearing the conversation between her father and Ye Xun, she realized that the Prince of Qin's Estate and the Shangguan Estate were now firmly bound together. She, too, would become like Wei Feng, a trusted messenger with legitimate reason to enter and leave the Prince of Qin's Estate.

Just as Shangguan Yunqing finished serving the tea, Ye Xun and Wei Feng rose to take their leave.

"Your Highness... the... the tea hasn't been touched yet..." Shangguan Yunqing looked at Ye Xun, a trace of reluctance flickering in her bright, expressive eyes.

With the corners of his lips curling upward, Ye Xun chuckled softly, "There's no need for tea; the night is already deep. If you have nothing pressing tomorrow, you are welcome to come to the Prince of Qin's Estate to help out. We can test out the new fragrances for the soap."

"Very well," Shangguan Yunqing nodded repeatedly, "Yunqing will certainly be there tomorrow."

Watching the scene, Shangguan Panshi could only shake his head with a helpless smile. How much he used to detest the man was precisely how much he now admired him.

After escorting Ye Xun back to the Prince of Qin's Estate, Wei Feng returned directly to the Grand Defender's Estate.

The Grand Defender's Estate.
The Study.

Beneath the dim glow of an oil lamp, Wei Wuji sat holding a volume of the ancient sages.

This was the first time in half a month that he had returned to the estate to rest.

Screech...

The door pushed open.

Wei Feng walked in slowly from the courtyard carrying a bowl of ginseng soup. Placing it before Wei Wuji, he said softly, "Father, you have been working far too hard these past few days. Please drink a bowl of ginseng soup."

A sigh escaped Wei Wuji's lips. He laid down his book and massaged his temples.

Ever since the Sacred Physician diagnosed that Emperor Ye Liantian had fallen into an unawakening coma, Wei Wuji felt as though he had aged several years overnight. The pressures pressing down from all directions and the immense burden of state affairs left him barely able to breathe. Fortunately, Ye Xun had managed to save himself at every critical juncture; otherwise, Wei Wuji shuddered to imagine the relentless impeachments Ye Xun would have faced over these past few days.

Lifting the bowl, Wei Wuji took a small sip, then raised his head and asked, "You and the Prince of Qin went to the Shangguan Estate?"

A smile playing on his lips, Wei Feng nodded repeatedly.

"Indeed."
"Lord Shangguan has agreed to assist the Prince of Qin in seizing the crown prince's position."

At these words, Wei Wuji set down the soup bowl, stared at Wei Feng in sheer disbelief, and asked skeptically, "This... how is this possible? Shangguan Panshi actually said such a thing?" He shook his head again and again, "Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Wei Wuji believed that Shangguan Panshi might eventually support Ye Xun, but he could never believe the man would voluntarily pledge to assist Ye Xun in such a manner. He knew Shangguan Panshi far too well. The man lived up to his name; his temper was as unyielding as a boulder, and he never hesitated to offer harsh admonitions.

If this stubborn rock of a man dug his heels in, he would not spare even Emperor Ye Liantian's face.

Last year, Emperor Ye Liantian had planned to construct a small imperial lodge at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, north of Shangjing, to serve as a summer retreat. In the sixteen years since ascending the throne, Emperor Ye Liantian had never indulged in massive construction projects that exhausted the people and drained the treasury. He figured that a mere small lodge, given his years of meritorious service to the realm, should be entirely permissible.

While all the civil and military officials in the court had given their consent, Shangguan Panshi alone refused. He argued that the project would waste labor and money, and under no circumstances would he allow Emperor Ye Liantian to build it.

He had even declared: "To embellish palaces and pavilions, and to roam scenic terraces—these are the desires of an emperor, not the desires of the common people. A ruler who aligns his desires with his people will prosper; a ruler who makes the people suffer to amuse himself will perish."

In essence, he meant that building palaces was what the sovereign wanted, not what the people wanted. The emperor's desires had to conform to the hearts of the populace for Great Xia to flourish. If the sovereign sought to please himself at the expense of exhausting the people and wasting wealth, Great Xia would march toward destruction.

At the time, Shangguan Panshi's words had almost choked Emperor Ye Liantian with rage. Ye Liantian had thought to himself that after working diligently for all these years, surely building a single palace wouldn't bring about the collapse of Great Xia!

Yet, risking his very life with remonstrance, Shangguan Panshi remained utterly steadfast in his refusal.