Life is always full of hardships and trials

Wen Cheng spoke with some agitation.

"Brother Chen Liang, it is true that the Eldest Princess has a tranquil nature and does not fight or contend. But right now, what we seek is not for her to fight or contend, but for her to take back what belongs to the Great Yu Dynasty!"

"She has received deep imperial favor, and her power is overwhelming."

"As long as she steps forward and says a word, the situation in the world will undergo an earth-shattering change. No matter how arrogant and domineering Ren Tianye is, he will have to pull in his horns and behave himself."

"At a time like this, I believe the Eldest Princess can definitely see things clearly."

These words of Wen Cheng spoke right to Chen Liang's heart, or rather, to the hearts of all those who wanted to oppose Ren Tianye.

The Great Yu Dynasty has been established for eight hundred years; it is not without capable people!

It was only because of Gu Qingyue's foolish actions that the Great Yu court fell into such a precarious situation.

At this time, as long as a person of high prestige and virtue steps forward, how could Ren Tianye be allowed to run amok?

His spirit was also roused.

He said, "Brother Wen Cheng, you are right."

"Your words have truly awakened me from my dream."

"It seems I was overthinking things before."

"Come to think of it, no matter how aloof and uncontested the Eldest Princess is, she is still a member of the royal family. How could she watch helplessly as the Great Yu royal family falls into the hands of outsiders?"

Pausing, he took a deep breath and said, "Brother Wen Cheng, just go ahead. I will go and make contacts for you right now. If everything goes smoothly for you, that would be for the best."

"If you feel apprehensive about this trip, we, the ministers of Great Yu, will definitely stand behind you."

Wen Cheng cupped his hands in a salute.

At this moment, his heart was completely settled.

He no longer had the panic and fear from before. Hot blood surged in his heart, and a bright, clear sky seemed to open up before his eyes.

After packing up briefly, he immediately left the manor.

He even walked out of the gates with a swagger.

Acting as if he didn't care about Ren Tianye and his group at all, he headed straight for the Eldest Princess's estate.

By the time he arrived, the sky had already grown dark.

The Eldest Princess, Xiao Ruyi, had always been detached from worldly affairs, practicing vegetarianism and reciting Buddhist scriptures. She would go to bed early every day. Right now, although the capital was brightly lit with colorful lanterns, the Eldest Princess's estate was pitch black.

Wen Cheng didn't mind.

He reached out and knocked on the main gate of the estate.

Soon, a man who looked like a steward came out.

As the saying goes, a steward in the Prime Minister's residence is equal to a third-rank official.

Wen Cheng didn't dare to be careless. After bowing, he explained his intentions one by one and handed over his visiting card, saying, "Please inform her. This matter is of the utmost urgency."

"It concerns not only my own life!"

"But also the Great Yu Dynasty, and the fate of that rebellious traitor Ren Tianye. Please report this immediately."

The steward looked at Wen Cheng with considerable displeasure.

However, Wen Cheng was, after all, a Cavalry Commandant, which was not a low rank. Plus, anyone who could sit in that position had some background, so he said, "Please wait a moment."

"I will go and announce you."

Taking the letter, the steward quickly found the personal maid of the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi and explained the matter clearly.

The personal maid, however, looked troubled.

These days, although the capital was in turmoil—first with Tuoba Xiangtai leading a large army to station in the Yuchen Estate, and then with Ren Tianye wreaking havoc in the royal court—the Eldest Princess had not been affected in the slightest.

At this time, she had already gone to bed.

Was she supposed to wake the Eldest Princess now?

"Hurry up and go. In emergencies, we must act according to the circumstances. Her Highness the Eldest Princess will not blame you."

"Alright." The personal maid agreed and went to report. After a short while, a gentle yet authoritative voice was heard: "What kind of matter requires disturbing me late at night?"

"You've completely ruined my good sleep."

The Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi clearly scolded her a few times before getting up. After reading the visiting card submitted by Wen Cheng, she said, "As a minister, Wen Cheng must act according to rules and regulations."

"Disturbing me late at night to seek asylum."

"If this gets out, where will the royal family's face be?"

"All my life, I have only sought quiet and peaceful years. Everything else is just passing clouds."

"I am so noble and pure, yet he wants to drag me into the bloody affairs of the court? How improper!"

"Go, answer him and tell him to go back!"

The steward was already covered in sweat. After listening to the Eldest Princess's instructions, he hurried out and saw Wen Cheng shivering from the cold, jumping around like a rooster to keep warm.

He coughed to attract Wen Cheng's attention and said, "Sir, Her Highness the Eldest Princess asked me to reply to you."

"What did Her Highness say?"

Wen Cheng looked expectant.

"Her Highness the Eldest Princess tells you to go back. Do not stay here and dirty the gates of the Eldest Princess's estate."

"Wh-what?"

Wen Cheng felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He simply couldn't believe that the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi would say such words, and asked, "You, you didn't hear wrong, did you?"

"I have confirmed it again and again. These are her exact words. Sir, please go back!"

"No..."

Before Wen Cheng could react, the steward angrily shut the main gate of the estate, leaving Wen Cheng standing alone, disheveled in the wind.

No, he was rejected just like that?

Rejected with such an... unreasonable excuse?

This matter concerned the Xiao family's empire!

The Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi also had the surname Xiao!

The Great Yu court he was loyal to, wasn't it actually the Xiao family he was loyal to?

He didn't even care about his own head or the lives of his nine generations, just wanting to kill Ren Tianye for the satisfaction of it. Yet now, when he was just seeking temporary asylum, the Eldest Princess rejected him like this?

Fine!

Rejecting to protect him was fine!

But she couldn't just dismiss him with one sentence like that, could she?

His death would be the death of a subject, insignificant!

But the Great Yu Dynasty, did she really not care about it?

Wen Cheng was angry and furious. Coupled with the fact that Ren Tianye had already sent people to arrest him, he was also anxious. Suddenly losing all restraint, he rushed directly to the main gate of the Eldest Princess's estate and began pounding on it fiercely.

"Your Highness the Eldest Princess, if not for me, for the sake of the Great Yu empire, shouldn't you step forward?"

"Could you really bear to watch the Great Yu empire fall into the hands of that thief Ren Tianye?"

"When the late Emperor was bedridden with illness, he held your hand and entrusted the Great Yu empire to you, asking you to take up the responsibility of protecting His Majesty and the world. How can you..."

"...be so indifferent?"

Unfortunately, no matter how Wen Cheng roared and shouted, there was not the slightest movement from within the Eldest Princess's estate. It made Wen Cheng's voice go hoarse, but more than that...

His heart went cold!

Not cold from Ren Tianye's ruthlessness, but cold from the Eldest Princess's indifference.

Just then, a shout came from behind.

"Brother Wen Cheng, how did it go?"

Wen Cheng turned around and saw Chen Liang walking over with several people. One of them was surrounded by the crowd, like stars revolving around the moon.

Because the night was dark and there wasn't even a single lamp at the gate of the Eldest Princess's estate, Wen Cheng couldn't see clearly. Facing Chen Liang's inquiry, his eyes simply dimmed.

He let out a miserable laugh and said, "Brother Chen Liang, as you expected, the Eldest Princess told me to leave immediately and not to dirty the gates of her estate!"

Chen Liang's expression instantly changed.

"The Eldest Princess actually said that?"

"We pour our hearts and blood for Great Yu, and in this moment of life and death, we are risking our lives. How could the Eldest Princess say such a thing?"

"Does this not chill the hearts of all the scholars in the world?"

Beside Chen Liang, an angry and authoritative voice rang out: "This is going too far. Xiao Ruyi, this is simply going too far."

"Does she not consider that her exalted status as the Eldest Princess was bestowed by the Great Yu dynasty? Now that Great Yu is in peril, how can she just sit by and do nothing?"

Only then did Wen Cheng notice that beside Chen Liang stood an old man. His hair and beard were completely white, yet he was hale and hearty. Dressed in official robes, he possessed an imposing and dignified aura.

It was none other than the Minister of the Imperial Household, Pei Jingzhi.

Not only was his status extraordinary, but he was also a family brother who had grown up alongside the Eldest Princess. He was an elder statesman who had served three emperors and was considered one of the royal family's own.

In the imperial court, he had always been highly respected.

Even when the Female Emperor Xiao Mingzhao had forcefully suppressed the officials to marry Tuoba Xiangtai, it was he and other pillar ministers like the Duke of Zhenguo who had stepped forward to admonish her.

The Duke of Zhenguo had brought a coffin to court to remonstrate, and Pei Jingzhi had done something similar, once threatening Xiao Mingzhao with a hunger strike.

He could truly be called the heaven-supporting pillar and the sea-spanning beam of the Great Yu court!

Seeing him, Wen Cheng finally felt a sense of reassurance in his heart.

He hurriedly said, "Lord Pei, please uphold justice for us. We must ask the Eldest Princess to come out and take charge of the situation."

Pei Jingzhi nodded and helped Wen Cheng up, saying, "Although the Eldest Princess has a detached temperament, this matter is extraordinary and concerns the very destiny of Great Yu."

"I believe she is merely momentarily confused. Once I go in and explain the greater good, she will surely come to her senses."

"And she will unite with us to fight against that traitor, Ren Tianye!"

Having said this, Pei Jingzhi strode forward.

Upon reaching the gates of the Eldest Princess's estate, he immediately shouted loudly, "This old minister, Minister of the Imperial Household Pei Jingzhi, requests an audience with Her Highness the Eldest Princess."

"I beseech Her Highness to open the gates!"

Pei Jingzhi's shouts carried considerable weight.

After shouting like this three times, the tightly shut gates of the estate were opened once more. The steward, who had just worn a look of disdain and annoyance, now revealed a fawning smile.

"Lord Pei, what brings you here so late at night?"

"Our Eldest Princess has already retired for the night."

"Hmph!" Pei Jingzhi scoffed coldly. "The nation is in peril, and Great Yu is at the brink of survival or destruction. His Majesty has been missing for a long time. In such a critical moment, how can the Eldest Princess actually sleep?"

"Countless officials are awake day and night. How can the Eldest Princess sleep so peacefully?"

Pei Jingzhi opened his mouth with reprimands, frightening the steward into silence. The steward could only try to pacify Pei Jingzhi's temper first and then immediately go to report.

Before long, the steward came back out and invited Pei Jingzhi inside.

When they reached the side hall of the main building and he had just sat down, the steward served a cup of chrysanthemum tea. This tea was brewed from the favorite flowers of the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi and was usually never offered to outsiders. Serving it to Pei Jingzhi now was considered quite an exception.

Pei Jingzhi, however, was in no mood for tea; he simply waited anxiously.

Fortunately, the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi did not dare let Pei Jingzhi wait too long. A moment later, she walked out, wearing a moon-white plain satin outer robe with subtle patterns, over a slate-blue cross-collared inner garment.

Her features were peaceful. The simple and elegant clothing accentuated her gentle complexion. She lacked even the slightest hint of the arrogance typical of royal noblewomen, and her posture was exceptionally dignified and graceful.

"Jingzhi, what brings you here so late in the night?"

The Eldest Princess clearly knew what the matter was, yet she still asked without any impatience or haste.

Pei Jingzhi was not nearly as polite.

His mother had been the late emperor's wet nurse. He and the Eldest Princess had studied under the Grand Tutor and learned archery and horsemanship from the imperial guards together since childhood. Though nominally sovereign and subject, in private, they addressed each other as brother and sister.

But now, looking at this sister, Pei Jingzhi was consumed by anger and demanded, "Do you know absolutely nothing about what is happening in the capital?"

The Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi lowered her brows.

She nodded and said, "I know a little."

"With things escalating to this extent, I should think you would know!" Pei Jingzhi said. "Since you know, why are you still staying inside this estate without taking the slightest action?"

"Do you not understand the implications of His Majesty's disappearance?"

"Or can you not see Ren Tianye abusing his power and parading his might?"

"Or can you not foresee that if this continues, the world of Great Yu will change hands, and the eight-hundred-year-old Great Yu dynasty will be reduced to ashes in an instant!"

Xiao Ruyi kept her eyes lowered and remained silent.

This made Pei Jingzhi frantic: "Say something!"

"So many officials are holding their breath, just waiting for someone to raise their arm and rally the call to kill Ren Tianye, kill Tuoba Xiangtai, and rescue His Majesty."

"You are the Eldest Princess. At a time like this, how can you sit idly by?"

"Have you forgotten the late emperor's dying instructions to you?"

"Or have you forgotten that your title of Eldest Princess was given by Great Yu? If Great Yu falls, your position as Eldest Princess will vanish with it!"

Being reprimanded so directly and with such anger forced the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi to respond. She raised her head and said, "Jingzhi, although Ren Tianye is domineering, he is ultimately still a court official."

"Though you are loyal to the sovereign, you are also court officials."

"If you resort to weapons and violence, how would you be any different from him?"

"If I act like you, how would I be any different from him?"

"We are all officials of the court. What matter is there that cannot be discussed slowly over a cup of tea?"

"Even if drinking tea does not work, you do not need to be so secretive, do you? You should prepare generous gifts, visit his residence, and speak with Ren Tianye properly."

"In the court of Great Yu, what misunderstandings cannot be resolved with words?"

Hearing this, Pei Jingzhi stood up abruptly in anger.

"You are foolish!"

"Ren Tianye is a rebellious and treacherous minister. Since we are loyal to the sovereign and love our country, we are naturally irreconcilable with him."

"Between us and Ren Tianye, it is a matter of life and death. Where is there any middle ground left to take?"

"How... how could you possibly harbor such thoughts?"

Pausing, Pei Jingzhi demanded angrily, "I will ask you one last time: are you going to intervene in this matter or not?"

"Are you going to be an Eldest Princess who merely enjoys peace and quiet, waiting for Ren Tianye to depose you once he grasps full power? Or will you unite with us to slay Ren Tianye, defend the realm of Great Yu, and fulfill the mission the late emperor entrusted to you?"

The Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi did not answer.

"Say something!" Pei Jingzhi urged anxiously. "Are you really going to watch helplessly as the Great Yu dynasty suffers such torment?"

Only then did the Eldest Princess reply, "Jingzhi, living in this world, one is bound to endure much torment."

"Just endure it, and it will pass."

"You should not get so worked up either!"

Pei Jingzhi: "..."

He truly wanted to curse aloud: Worked up my ass!

But looking at the Eldest Princess Xiao Ruyi's face, which was as placid as an ancient well, he knew that saying anything more would be useless. He could not help but feel the exact same despair that Wen Cheng had felt.

The hot blood in his heart had run cold.

He stood up and walked straight out.

"The world of Great Yu will sooner or later be utterly ruined by people like you!"

...