"Xiao Qi, the Great Blue Dynasty is a net. No matter what we do within this net, we'll never accomplish anything."
"We can only burn this net!"
"."
In my memories, I was always impassioned during our arguments, while Xiao Qi was always calm.
"If we do it, can we really do better than the imperial court? His Majesty is wise and mighty. Perhaps we should try believing in him."
"No matter how wise and mighty His Majesty is, can he compare with the Grand Ancestor Emperor? Do you think the Grand Ancestor couldn't see the aristocratic clans' cancer? Couldn't see the officials' decay? He couldn't change the situation—what can His Majesty do?"
"."
"Xiao Qi, the Great Blue Dynasty's net has been woven for more than five hundred years, and it's growing tighter and tighter. The common people beneath it are suffering more and more. Even if we truly can't do better, at least if we burn this net and start over, the people of the world can have another five hundred years of better days!"
"."
After arguing again and again, even having great quarrels, I had nearly convinced him, but there was always still that little bit missing.
Until a minor matter that he had paid little attention to occurred.
It was the first year of Hongguang, not long after the New Emperor ascended the throne.
A military general who had once stood on the Second Prince's side was convicted of treason, and his entire family was executed.
Qi Zhou had initially wanted to investigate the evidence, but he abandoned it halfway through, disheartened and dispirited.
It was a late-autumn night. When I found him, he had unusually drunk a great deal of wine.
"Hey, are you all right?"
".I agree."
"What?"
"I agree with what you