Unable to read Oyashiro En's intentions, Shiraishi Yoshijo remained silent for a long while before asking, "Were you behind what happened in the Land of Lightning?"
"His Majesty favors Prince Nianze too much. Sanzō was deeply dissatisfied and wanted to do something to prove himself. He came to discuss it with me, so I went along with the flow and told him about the plan concerning the Land of Lightning."
"Went along with the flow?" Shiraishi Yoshijo raised a brow. "Even without Sanzō, you intended to make a move against the Land of Lightning?"
"That's right."
"Why?"
Oyashiro En lifted his teacup and took a sip before saying leisurely, "When I was young, my greatest dream was simply not to go hungry. Yet in an environment as harsh as Hell Valley, that dream—which ordinary people would find incredibly simple—was harder to achieve than reaching the heavens."
Shiraishi Yoshijo frowned. "Why bring up the past? If you want to express gratitude or pledge loyalty, there's no need. You know perfectly well what kind of person I am."
Oyashiro En shook his head. "It is precisely because I know that I must say this. Your Majesty, you used to be selfish to a chilling degree. You are still selfish now, but you have gained some warmth. Indulging your children too much is not a good thing. Of course, I understand—I have children too. But you are the Emperor!"
Shiraishi Yoshijo took a deep breath. "I understand what you mean. But I am the Emperor. Since when was it your turn to tell me what to do?"
"Because you understand perfectly well, yet pretend to be confused!"
Oyashiro En said sternly, "Look at Peach Country now. Dozens of political parties attack one another, single-mindedly fighting among themselves. This is the consequence of your