"I thought we were friends, at least." This was the opening of the letter, identical to the note she had left on the Emperor's desk.
The Emperor held the letter in his hand, speechless for a long while.
Wang Zhen stood nearby with a worried expression, but his gaze darkened as he tried to peer through the thin paper and make out the words upon it.
But the Emperor was especially sensitive at this moment. No matter how much Wang Zhen wanted to know, he did not dare approach and could only seek another opportunity.
"I have never regarded you as an enemy, even though you have always stood in the path of my advance;
Nor have I ever seen you as a foe, even though I lost my family, left home young, and wandered in exile because of you;
I understand you, because you are like me—you lost your parents at a young age and had no parental shelter. Being Emperor is difficult, a hundred times harder than being a Daoist well. So though I do not agree with you, I have remained loyal to you;
I am one of the Ming Dynasty's people, so I cannot bear to see my countrymen slaughtered. I joined the campaign against the bandits and pursued vengeance all the way to Japan. I thought that though you never said it aloud, our hearts were the same;
When I saw treasure abroad, the first things I thought of were my sovereign and my country. I have always wanted you all to be better;
I was born human, so injustice angers me, and misery grieves me. My Majesty, if you truly no longer wish to see me, then govern this country well. Let the people of the Ming Dynasty, even if poor as beggars or