Prince in Dire Straits

"Your Highnesses, why don't you rest for a while?"

Under the blazing sun, a group of slaves were laboring in the fields. Standing out among them were two richly dressed children who had somehow blended into their midst.

They were none other than the brothers Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, whom Di Xin had sent there to temper themselves!

Hearing the guard call out, Yin Jiao licked his parched lips. But when he raised his head and saw the slaves around him still bent over their work, he forcibly suppressed his own hunger and thirst.

"Father King said I had to eat and sleep with them, farm and rest with them. Since they're all working, how can I hide away and drink water?"

After ten days of living as a "slave," Yin Jiao had begun to understand Di Xin's painstaking intentions. His temperament had grown steadier, and he had become more accustomed to this life, even beginning to talk with the slaves.

"Second Brother, have some water and rest for a while."

When he turned and saw the longing in Yin Hong's eyes as he stared at the guard's water jug, Yin Jiao's heart softened. He spoke gently.

"No, Brother, I'm not thirsty!"

Yin Hong swallowed hard. He was still young and soft-natured. Raising his dust-covered little face, he forced a smile at Yin Jiao.

Brother, I'll stay with you!

"Your Highnesses, drink..."

"You may leave. We know our limits!"

When the guard tried to persuade them again, Yin Jiao patted his younger brother Yin Hong's head and smiled at the guard. There was no trace of the arrogance he had once displayed in the palace.

"Yes."

This was the very same guard the two brothers had threatened back then. Now, however, he willingly stayed by their side.

The two princes will surely be able to shoulder the Great King's responsibilities in the future and lead this dynasty to endure forever!

"Second Brother, do you resent Father King?"

Perhaps he had suddenly grown curious, or perhaps he was trying to distract himself from his thirst through conversation. Yin Jiao continued working with his head lowered as he asked Yin Hong.

"I resented him at first, but not anymore."

Yin Hong seemed to have been reminded of something painful. His eyes reddened, and his nose twitched.

"That's right. Here, we can't eat our fill, we can't dress warmly, and we can't sleep peacefully. We have to work all day, without any free time or chance to relax. At first, I resented Father King too."

Yin Jiao gave a self-mocking laugh and raised his head toward Chaoge. He also saw some children ahead who were about the same age as them.

"But when I saw them—children our age who lived like this every day—I suddenly understood. This was what Father King truly wanted us to see."

"Yes, Big Brother. They're so pitiful! They have no houses to live in, no clothes to wear, no food to eat, and they have to do such heavy work every day, while being beaten and cursed at by others whenever they please. I'll definitely change things for them in the future!"

Yin Hong raised his head and clenched his tender fists, his eyes clear and bright.

"Yes, we'll definitely change things for them in the future!"

A smile also appeared on Yin Jiao's face. His younger brother had grown so much.

"Let's keep working. Today, we must finish one mu of farmland!"

"Okay!"

The children's voices echoed across the fields, transforming into the sincerest words displayed on Di Xin's jade desk.

"Change things for them? At least they're not hopeless fools."

Di Xin split his mouth in a smile. In this mythical world, breaking the chains of class was no different from Yu the Fool moving a mountain. It could be done, but it would take a long time.

"Everything is proceeding step by step in an orderly fashion. Since Heaven's Mandate is currently on my side, I naturally have to make more plans. Still, these two cheap sons of mine need more training."

"Someone, prepare the carriage for the Central Palace!"

"Yes!"

With the carriage officials leading the way and guards accompanying him, Di Xin arrived at the Central Palace, where Empress Jiang had already led the guards and servants out to wait.

"Greetings, Great King!"

Empress Jiang's gaze was sorrowful and her expression worried. It had been more than ten days since the incense offering at Nuwa Palace, and this was the first time Di Xin had come to her chambers.

The only thing that reassured her was that none of the consorts in the rear palace had received him. They had all been confined with her.

"Rise. Empress, you've grown thinner recently. You must nourish yourself properly."

Di Xin helped Empress Jiang up and led her into the main hall by the hand.

"I sent Jiao'er and Hong'er out of the palace. Do you resent me for it?"

"I wouldn't dare."

The moment she heard mention of her suffering children, Empress Jiang coldly pulled her arm back, and her eyes instantly grew wet.

"If you wouldn't dare, then you still resent me."

Helplessly, Di Xin took a silk handkerchief from his waist. He had known from the moment he came that there would be a dramatic flood of tears.

And now, it had come in handy.

"I won't explain myself to you. Go prepare several dishes Jiao'er and Hong'er like. At dusk, I'll take you to see them. Then you'll understand why I made them suffer this hardship and endure this ordeal."

As if afraid she still wouldn't understand, Di Xin added:

"Jade cannot become useful without being polished. Sooner or later, they will have to take my place."

"Yes, I'll go at once!"

Empress Jiang did not think much beyond that. It was the first time her two children had left her side, and they had gone to such a harsh, bitter place. Every day, she thought of them through tear-filled eyes.

Now that Di Xin had finally relented, her thoughts had already flown straight to the food.

"There's pear blossom paste, and those dishes... Oh, right! Soup! Hong'er loves the soup I make most. I'll prepare it myself!"

After Empress Jiang busied herself, everything was packed into boxes. Di Xin selected several of his finest guards to escort her out of Chaoge and straight beyond the city walls.

Before long, the bright moon rose at an angle, its light perfectly round. Crickets played their music, making the night seem both lively and still.

Yin Hong lay on Yin Jiao's legs, gazing up at the full moon before suddenly speaking.

"Brother, I miss Mother Queen."

"I miss her too, but Father King definitely won't let Mother Queen come here to see us."

"Why not?"

"Because this is our trial..."

As Yin Jiao spoke, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong. Yin Hong had already sat up and looked delightedly over Yin Jiao's shoulder.

"F-Father King? Mother Queen!"

"Waaah! I missed you so much, Mother Queen!"

The moment Yin Hong recognized them, all the day's exhaustion seemed to vanish. He opened his arms and ran toward Empress Jiang, hugging her tightly.

"Hong'er, Mother Queen missed you too."

As mother and son reunited in a flood of tears, even Di Xin began to wonder whether he had been too heartless.

"Father King!"

Yin Jiao forcibly restrained his excitement, but his footsteps betrayed him. He reached Di Xin in a few strides, then bent both knees and knelt.

"Father King! Yin Jiao knows he was wrong!"

"What were you wrong about?"

"I was wrong to act arrogant and domineering just because I relied on the affection of Father King and Mother Queen. I was wrong to think I could decide whether others lived or died. And I was wrong to live too comfortably and forget that such suffering existed in this world."

"Not bad."

Di Xin patted Yin Jiao on the head, then swept his sleeve across a patch of grass to clear it before sitting down without the slightest concern.

"How do you feel here?"