[Who in Great Qing dared discuss such a taboo subject?]
[Even those advocating war avoided this red line as if it were a viper, firmly supporting peace negotiations.]
[Six years ago, aside from the Eighth Prince, who had knelt outside the palace gates for three days and three nights to beg for an imperial decree allowing battle—nearly being stripped of his title—yet winning the people's hearts.]
[At the time, voices calling for war rose one after another in court. Heads rolled, blood flowed like a river, and the imperial capital lay shrouded in a storm of blood and gore. Court and commoners alike trembled in fear.]
[Today, Xie Lingxuan had spoken it openly and squarely.]
[That imperial uncle, too, slowly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.]
["Ah... the eldest daughter of the Xie Clan."]
[This Emperor was famed for his magnanimity. Even when faced with the abuse of his officials, he merely smiled faintly and said, "With others as a mirror, one may set one's virtue straight."]
[Yet when it came to the southern peace negotiations, there was an inviolable bottom line. Anyone who meddled in or opposed the matter would surely incur the Son of Heaven's wrath, implicating many.]
[From then on, there were no longer any ministers in court singing the praises of the Lu Family Army, nor generals speaking on its behalf.]
[The newly appointed censors, eager to make a name for themselves, all submitted memorials using the Lu Family Army as their topic. The Emperor remained utterly unmoved, even advising them to be broad-minded and not dwell too much on the affairs of the Lu Clan.]
[Yet every one of those who offered such remonstrance was openly demoted and secretly promoted.]
[That was the imperial heart.]
[If not for the Son of Heaven's secret command, who would refuse to show Junior Guardian Lu even a little courtesy?]
[Now that this eldest daughter of the Xie Clan had laid it bare, no one dared make another sound.]
[The Empress's eyes, cold as the Cold Pond, swept lightly over Xie Lingxuan. With stern indifference, she said, "Xie Lingxuan, you dare speak such outrageous words before me?"]
["Disaster comes from the mouth. Do you know how hard-won the Xie Clan's current position is?"]
["How much effort did your father expend?"]
["How utterly arrogant!"]
[The Prime Minister's son stood to one side. Hearing the Empress's words, helplessness filled his eyes as he muttered, "Xie Lingxuan, Xie Lingxuan... why must you do this?"]
[The Empress was the mother of the realm. Her every word had already sealed the coffin on this matter; there could be no doubt.]
[Su Yue's eyes were already brimming with tears. Her cousin had truly been far too rash.]
[Xie Lingxuan stood in the middle of the hall and said no more.]
[She fell silent for a moment before finally speaking slowly. "If words from the heart cannot be spoken, then let it be that I, Xie Lingxuan, alone am at fault."]
[Yet Zhou Jinyu, Princess Consort of Han, had no intention of letting the matter rest.]
[She gently smoothed the cloud-blue cuff of her sleeve, her smile dazzling as she said:]
["One person's fault? Aren't you taking that far too lightly?"]
["I recall that the Xie Clan's young lady and the Junior Guardian once had a marriage contract?"]
[Her words stabbed straight into the heart.]
[If Xie Lingxuan's earlier words had not been enough to doom the Xie Clan, then truly becoming entangled with the Lu Clan would make the consequences unimaginable.]
[They might even drag down the Lu Clan.]
[Xie Lingxuan was finally moved. She stared fixedly at Zhou Jinyu and said resolutely, "What Xie Lingxuan said has nothing to do with anyone else."]
[Yet the Princess Consort of Han ignored her and turned her gaze toward you instead.]
[Her smile remained brilliant as she said, "Junior Guardian, do you believe this is merely Miss Xie's fault alone, or is there another hidden truth?"]
["Or perhaps, like Miss Xie, does the Junior Guardian believe His Majesty's decision to go south and negotiate peace was mistaken?"]
[The moment those words fell, the entire hall fell silent.]
[Six years ago, when the Lu Family Army stood at its height, the Lu Family Army led by Lu Chen, Grand Marshal of the northern forces, had been unstoppable, its might shaking all four directions.]
[Even the current Emperor had never asked such a question so bluntly to his face.]
[Yet times had changed. The Lu Family Army had long become drifting clouds of the past, and you, the Junior Guardian of old, had become nothing more than a Taoist priest.]
[Matters of former days were raised again today, surfacing once more at this moment.]
[Everyone held their breath, waiting for you to give a clear answer.]
[The Empress also raised her head to stare at you, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.]
[This was a question that not even the current Emperor had ever asked outright.]
[Once, in the dead of night, His Majesty had sat alone by his pillow, asking and answering himself: "Going south to negotiate peace... Junior Guardian Lu, did you truly think it was right or wrong?" Yet the current Emperor had never mentioned it to Lu Chen face-to-face.]
[You merely smiled.]
[You looked over the crowd. You had already weighed the matter in your heart. Known for your ability to judge people, you saw everyone's thoughts as clearly as a mirror.]
[Thus... you decided.]
1. If you support the southern peace negotiations, you can win Zhou Jinyu's favor, but Xie Lingxuan's situation may become even more difficult. 2. If you oppose the southern peace negotiations, you will also encounter other troubles. Zhou Jinyu's favorability will be halved, and Xie Lingxuan's crisis will remain unresolved. 3. Berate Xie Lingxuan harshly, and she can free herself from this crisis. 4. Praise Zhou Jinyu, and she will fall for you. 5. Praise Xie Lingxuan, and her favorability toward you will rise. She will fall into a hopeless dead end, a certain death. 6. Participate personally. (1/3)
[The light screen above the cauldron flowed, and five options slowly appeared.]
[Yu Ke was somewhat surprised.]
[Usually, there were only three or four such options. Yet now, an unexpected new variable had appeared.]
[Yu Ke knew well that behind every option lay countless tangled threads of cause and effect. Like the butterfly effect, a single hair could move the entire body, bringing immeasurable consequences to the developments ahead.]
[Every choice was of great importance.]
[He focused, held his breath, and carefully weighed every possibility in his heart. In the end, he decided that saving Xie Lingxuan was the best course.]
[Finally, he settled on option 3: Berate Xie Lingxuan harshly, and she can free herself from this crisis.]
[The first and second options were clearly not wise choices. If he chose either, the Xie Clan's woman would remain in danger and might even invite even more needless trouble.]
[Looking again!]
[The fourth option.]
[4. Praise Zhou Jinyu, and she will fall for you.]
[Seeing that option, Yu Ke could only say that the Second Prince had a little green on his head.]
[The fifth option.]
[5. Praise Xie Lingxuan, and her favorability toward you will rise. She will fall into a hopeless dead end, a certain death.]
[Yu Ke could not help complaining:]
["If she's dead, what the hell is favorability good for?!"]
[This ten-year simulation of Celestial Reincarnation was only for his pursuit of the Dao. He had no desire to be burdened by courtly strife.]
[Yu Ke directly chose option 3: Berate Xie Lingxuan harshly, and she can free herself from this crisis.]
[Following your choice.]
[You lightly raised your eyes and looked toward the woman named Xie Lingxuan. She seemed to have been speaking for you all along, protecting your dignity.]
[The corner of your lips curled slightly. With a trace of disdain, you said softly, "It is only a marriage contract. How could a bitch of the Xie Clan possibly be worthy of me, Lu Chen?"]
["A true man lives in this world—why should he fear having no wife?"]
[You continued coldly, "She is merely a woman, yet she dares discuss affairs of state. Does she even know how much grain and fodder the army has?"]
[The moment those words fell, even Zhou Jinyu at the side was stunned. Then a smile appeared on her face.]
[Yet the atmosphere in the hall changed at once, and murmurs surged up like a tide.]
[Someone said in displeasure, "The Junior Guardian's words are far too harsh."]
[The Xie Clan's eldest daughter had stepped forward for your sake, only to be met with such cold and cutting words. It was truly lamentable.]
[Su Yue's face was full of anger as well. Her cousin had done so much for you, Lu Chen, yet you had humiliated her like this.]
[For a moment, it stirred sympathy. Even the Empress furrowed her brows slightly, seemingly displeased by your words.]
[Only Xie Lingxuan looked toward you once more.]
[Her gaze was complicated.]
[I'm a little pressed for time. I'll revise the wording later.]
[Tomorrow I'm getting on the highway. Please, it's Tuesday tomorrow—keep reading.]
Before you continue