Xue Ye's Decision

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere at Moonlight Pavilion, the imperial palace's grand hall was somewhat silent at this moment.

"Your Majesty, are you truly going to execute all those children? They are all members of the royal family. Even if they are merely from collateral branches, this will be detrimental to the future loyalty of the kingdoms and duchies to the Empire."

A potbellied man dressed in lavish princely robes spoke hesitantly. Even his oily skin seemed capable of "reflecting light."

"Stay out of this matter. You have no insight whatsoever. You accepted a few benefits from those bastards' parents and now you're speaking up for them. Tell me, what exactly is inside your head? I'm increasingly convinced that handing the affairs of Heaven Dou Royal Academy to Qinghe was the right decision. Though Qinghe is still young, he can see the stakes involved. He has already gone to visit Mu Chen and Ning Rongrong.

"You have spent so long in court. Haven't you improved in the slightest?"

Upon the dragon throne, a white-haired old man spoke helplessly. Though he was not particularly tall, he carried the imposing presence of one in power without needing to show anger. His wrinkled face was filled with helplessness.

"Children? They're all adults, yet you still call them children? I've disliked them for a long time. They've been committing all sorts of evil for so long.

"By the way, Qinghe told me that Xue Beng seems to have been rather close to those people. Is that true?" Xue Ye asked in a hostile tone.

If he had not known that the man before him was his own brother, Xue Ye would truly have wondered whether this fellow had a brain at all. They had come from the same womb, so why was he so stupid?

"Your Majesty, Xue Beng's contact with them was merely normal social interaction. It did not involve any other criminal or immoral acts," Prince Xue Xing hurriedly denied.

"It had better not. Ning Fengzhi will soon come to demand an explanation. I only hope he does not pursue this matter too harshly.

"Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to resolve as well." Xue Ye looked toward the ceiling and spoke helplessly.

Although he was the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, there were still many matters that could not be handled however he wished.

In the covert struggle against Spirit Hall, he had increasingly found himself unable to keep up, repeatedly falling into a disadvantageous position. Sigh... "Your Majesty, then this younger brother shall take his leave," Prince Xue Xing said reluctantly. After receiving Xue Ye's nod, he prepared to depart.

"Tell Xue Beng not to cause trouble for me. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to confine him for ten years or eight," Xue Ye's voice rang out from behind him.

"Yes, Your Majesty! This younger brother will certainly warn Prince Xue Beng," Prince Xue Xing replied respectfully before turning and leaving once more.

Yet his eyes were full of gloom. Xue Ye was becoming increasingly satisfied with and attentive to Xue Qinghe, while growing more and more displeased with Xue Beng.

That meant Xue Beng's chances would only grow fewer in the future, and supporting him to ascend the throne would become increasingly difficult.

After Prince Xue Xing left, Xue Ye took out the proposal Xue Qinghe had previously written for him regarding the establishment of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"The gap between the Empire and Spirit Hall in terms of Soul Master strength has many causes. The most crucial is that the Empire's base number of Soul Masters is far smaller than Spirit Hall's.

"Spirit Hall awakens martial souls for commoners free of charge, and commoners make up the overwhelming majority in numbers. Even if the quality of their awakened martial souls and Soul Power is inferior to that of the Empire and other Soul Master forces, their numbers are simply too great.

"Even if only one out of every hundred succeeds, the number of people awakening martial souls and Soul Power will still far exceed that of other Soul Master forces and the Empire. Moreover, most of these commoner Soul Masters will join Spirit Hall. This is why Spirit Hall's strength has grown ever greater.

"By contrast, apart from Spirit Hall, the Empire and other Soul Master forces all look down on the potential strength of these commoners, focusing only on awakening martial souls for their own people.

"However, Soul Masters are ultimately a minority. Remaining closed off will only make one's strength weaker and weaker. The Empire's already relatively small number of Soul Masters consists almost entirely of nobles.

"The conduct of nobles is generally poor. They lack ambition and refuse to improve, making matters even worse. If this continues, the gap between the Empire and Spirit Hall in Soul Master strength will only grow wider."

"Therefore, this son offers the following recommendations:

"First, awaken martial souls for commoners in the Empire's name. Begin with a trial within Heaven Dou, and after determining its suitability, gradually expand the scope. Ideally, the number and quality of awakened martial souls should be included as one of the standards for evaluating officials' performance, forcing local authorities to implement the policy. Second, academies under the Empire may appropriately admit commoner students, while the Empire allocates financial support for tuition and miscellaneous fees as a dedicated assistance fund.

"Reward outstanding commoner students, with Heaven Dou Royal Academy serving as the first official Imperial institution to admit commoner students as a trial;

"Third, rectify the conduct of the nobility. True nobles should not be people universally despised.

"—Written personally by Qinghe."

Xue Ye slowly read through it, his expression exceptionally complicated.

"Qinghe, you are right. In truth, rulers throughout the generations have considered similar methods.

"Unfortunately, reality has proven that they will not work.

"The Empire's nobles will not allow these commoners to seize resources that belong to them, especially cultivation resources. Without an absolute advantage in strength, how can nobles suppress these commoners? How can they preserve their privileges over commoners?

"The nobles will never accept it, and our royal family itself is the greatest noble house.

"Qinghe, human desire is like a boulder rolling down a mountain. Once it begins, it can never be stopped.

"Once those commoners become powerful, they will compete for the nobles' resources! Therefore, we nobles must, as absolute powerhouses, imprison these stones at the foot of the mountain!" Xue Ye rose to his feet and spoke calmly.

Looking at the empty grand hall around him, Xue Ye coughed several times before leaving as well.

Of Xue Qinghe's proposals, only the final point concerning reforming the nobility's conduct was adopted. The rest could only be discarded. There was no need even to have the Empire's ministers discuss the matter; it was meaningless.

At Moonlight Pavilion.

"Bad guy, I'm going back. As the Crown Prince, I still have things to do." Qian Renxue straightened her clothes before getting out of bed.

"Mm, Xue'er, in the future, you can frequently visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as Uncle Ning's disciple. Then we can see each other often," Mu Chen said with a smile.

"Pah!

"I don't want to. You bad guy, it would be more like you coming to find me." Qian Renxue blushed.

Didn't this bad guy know that a girl was supposed to be reserved?