If You Cannot Win, Then Perish!

Qi Bei's carriage and entourage arrived grandly at the Sleeping Moon Palace, only to be stopped by a squad of palace guards outside. Apart from Qi Bei, the ceremonial officer, and the dozen or so maids, no one else was permitted entry.

It wasn't Qi Bei's first time at the Sleeping Moon Palace, though that was in the past. Back then, he used to come to the palace every day, relentlessly pursuing Princess Mingyue.

"Young Master Nord, the Princess requests your presence. It's just you," a delicate palace maid said, bowing gracefully to Qi Bei.

"This… it's not in accordance with etiquette… but if Mingyue is this eager, then this young master shall indulge her," Qi Bei coughed lightly, feigning seriousness. Seeing the maid turn to leave, he chuckled and followed her.

Etiquette? Does this little scoundrel even know what etiquette is? the ceremonial officer grumbled inwardly, though he dared not show it on his face.

The little palace maid led Qi Bei towards Princess Mingyue's chambers. This was a place Qi Bei had dreamed of entering in the past, but now Princess Mingyue had openly invited him in.

Upon entering Princess Mingyue's chambers, Qi Bei was greeted by a faint, refreshing fragrance that filled his senses.

Princess Mingyue's chambers were divided into a front and back room by a layer of semi-transparent, snow-white gauze.

The front room was furnished with a table, chairs, and tea sets, with stacks of books placed nearby. This was presumably where Princess Mingyue spent her leisure time reading. The back room, needless to say, was for resting and sleeping.

"Princess, Young Master Nord has arrived," the little palace maid announced from beyond the gauze curtain.

"You may leave," Princess Mingyue's cool voice replied.

The little palace maid turned and exited, leaving the chambers in silence.

If it were any other man, he would have sat down in the front room. However, Qi Bei unhesitatingly lifted the gauze curtain and entered the back room.

Princess Mingyue, clad in a pure white ceremonial gown, sat before a vanity mirror. Her elegant hair was styled high, adorned with a single jade phoenix hairpin. Though simple, it highlighted her noble and graceful demeanor.

A flash of admiration crossed Qi Bei's eyes. He had to admit that Princess Mingyue's beauty needed no deliberate embellishment to captivate the heart. Yet, compared to her beauty, her aura was what truly drew him in.

"It's just the two of us, alone. You called me in, aren't you afraid I'll do something to you?" Qi Bei chuckled, plopping down onto Princess Mingyue's soft couch.

"You won't," Princess Mingyue said calmly, patting the somewhat startled Unicorn Cub on her lap.

"Heh heh, you're so confident in my character, I'd feel too embarrassed to do anything even if I wanted to," Qi Bei laughed, his nose twitching. The fragrance on the couch was indeed pleasant, like a natural woman's scent.

Princess Mingyue turned to face Qi Bei, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with a hint of inquiry, as if trying to see through his eyes into his heart.

"Mingyue, if you keep looking at me like that, I might not be able to resist. You know, my self-control has never been very strong, especially when facing a beautiful woman," Qi Bei's gaze turned somewhat predatory, sweeping over her delicate red lips and the increasingly full bosom beneath her form-fitting gown.

Princess Mingyue shifted uncomfortably, averting her gaze. She stroked the Unicorn Cub and said lightly, "Qi Bei, I asked you in because I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead," Qi Bei replied nonchalantly, his gaze growing more presumptuous.

"Our engagement, regardless of whether it's driven by political reasons, is still a bond. I heard that after your engagement, you'll be heading to your own fiefdom. Perhaps after today, we'll never see each other again..."

Qi Bei paused, slightly confused by Princess Mingyue's words. He couldn't quite grasp her meaning.

"You know, I'll be heading to Tongtian Mountain soon and can no longer interfere in the power struggles of the mortal world. The noble families and the imperial power will eventually have to decide who wins. Either your Nord Family triumphs, or the imperial power prevails," Princess Mingyue paused here, then continued, "If there's a change in power within the Golden Leaf Dynasty during our generation, and if your Nord Family loses, I will ask my father to spare your Nord Family. If... if the Nord Family wins, I hope you will promise me that you'll spare those of us in the royal family."

Qi Bei looked at Princess Mingyue thoughtfully. Her words had taken him by surprise. To so brazenly lay bare the conflict between them, speaking of defeat before victory, was essentially securing an escape route for the royal family right now.

"You're so sure I'll agree? And even if I did, my words as a good-for-nothing in the Nord Family won't carry much weight then," Qi Bei said calmly.

"This is beneficial to both of us. As for whether your words will carry weight later, we'll see. For now, you just need to answer whether you agree." Princess Mingyue replied.

Qi Bei burst into laughter. He stood up and walked before Princess Mingyue, his smile suddenly vanishing. He spoke word by word, "I disagree."

Princess Mingyue was stunned. She had thought long and hard and was confident Qi Bei would agree. After all, the Golden Leaf Family, not the Nord Family, was currently in control of the Golden Leaf Dynasty. She hadn't expected him to outright refuse.

"When two tigers fight, one must die. You're being too naive," Qi Bei said.

"The one likely to die is your Nord Family," Princess Mingyue replied coldly.

"But it could also be the Golden Leaf Family. Otherwise, why would you make this request?" Qi Bei sneered.

Princess Mingyue was speechless. Although Emperor Hanmos was orchestrating a grand plan, she believed the old fox of the Nord Family was no pushover.

In fact, Princess Mingyue had never considered this issue before. However, after their confrontation in the western suburbs, she had a vague sense that Qi Bei would be a significant variable. He possessed a disquieting aura of fear. Even now, her magical pet, the Unicorn Cub, still felt afraid when it saw him.

"Time is almost up. My Princess, come with me. Everyone in our Nord Family is waiting," Qi Bei extended his hand, making a gesture to hold hers.

"Qi Bei, you're too arrogant. Do you know that if your Nord Family loses, tens of thousands of people from the main and collateral branches will perish because of your impulsive actions?" Princess Mingyue's pretty face flushed with anger as she ignored Qi Bei's outstretched hand.

"No family can last forever, and no dynasty can reign for eternity. If we cannot win, then so be it," Qi Bei said with a faint smile, withdrawing his hand and walking towards the exit of the chambers.

If we cannot win, then so be it! Princess Mingyue stared blankly at Qi Bei's retreating back. For this guy, was everything simply a matter of winning or losing, of life or death?

Little lady, though you are exceptionally intelligent, how can you understand that some things simply cannot have a win-win outcome? That's why you are only a princess, not an empress, Qi Bei sighed inwardly. Within the Golden Leaf Dynasty, the complex web of relationships between the Emperor's faction and the noble families was too intricate. One prospered, and all prospered; one suffered, and all suffered. The Five Great Holy Lands had a customary agreement not to interfere in secular power struggles. Emperor Hanmos would absolutely not listen to her words, and even if he did, would the people under him listen? The Nord Family was the same. It would only be possible if, one day, he, Qi Bei, possessed absolute control.