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"What do you two think? If I were to proclaim myself emperor, how would that be?"
Xiao Shi looked at his two sons as he asked.
Hearing their father say such a thing, Xiao Mo and Xiao Yichuan were both shaken, and they could not help exchanging a glance.
They even wondered whether they had misheard him, unable to react for a moment.
"Father, I believe that would be unwise," Xiao Yichuan said, stepping forward first.
"Xiao Mo, what do you think?" Xiao Shi frowned, looking somewhat displeased. He ignored his eldest son and turned to Xiao Mo instead.
"I agree with my elder brother. I, too, believe this would be unwise." Xiao Mo also stepped forward and bowed with his hands clasped. "Please reconsider, Father."
"Oh? Then tell me, why not?" Xiao Shi snorted coldly and asked Xiao Mo.
"Father."
Xiao Mo straightened, looked directly into Xiao Shi's eyes, and spoke word by word.
"First, counting my elder brother's generation and mine, the Xiao Family has served with loyalty and valor for five generations. We followed the Late Emperor in founding the Qin Kingdom and expanding its borders, then guarded the Northern Wilderness for centuries. What reason could we have to betray it? If we rebelled, the other direct and collateral branches of Xiao Manor, all living in the Imperial Capital, would surely be slaughtered to the last soul. What would our ancestors think?"
"Second, His Majesty is an enlightened ruler. Under his rule, peace reigns throughout the Qin Kingdom, and the people live and work in contentment. They deeply love His Majesty. If we rebelled now, we would inevitably plunge the Qin Kingdom into chaos. The people would be driven from their homes, forced to sell their wives and abandon their daughters. What would they think?"
"Third,