Shen Yuxi's snark was the deadliest

Why did Emperor Xuanzhao suddenly feel that his life was so miserable?!

No, no!

Emperor Xuanzhao shook his head. Shen Yuxi had nearly brainwashed him with just a few words.

But after what Shen Yuxi and the system had said, alarm bells rang in the hearts of everyone present. They would have to do fewer things that harmed their health from now on.

Yuan Shanjian, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, reported, "Your Majesty, the envoys from the Ruo Qiang Kingdom will arrive in the capital in another five or six days."

Emperor Xuanzhao nodded slightly. "Crown Prince!"

"Present, Father." Mo Jingyu stepped out in response.

"You will receive them when the time comes."

"Your son obeys."

[System, who did the Ruo Qiang Kingdom send?]

[The empress's eldest son, Qiang Tu.]

Shen Yuxi raised her brows slightly. [Although the Ruo Qiang Kingdom lost the war, its emperor strikes me as someone who cares a great deal about face. Suffering defeat and suing for peace is so humiliating, yet he actually sent his eldest imperial son as an envoy.]

Emperor Xuanzhao and the others nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

They had thought the emperor of Ruo Qiang would casually appoint some insignificant prince to come. To think he had sent the empress's eldest son instead. Could the Ruo Qiang Kingdom's wicked ambitions still be alive, and was it preparing to pull some tricks?

Although the Mo Kingdom had nothing to fear, it would still be irritating if they really stirred up trouble.

The system's answer, however, gave them a dose of reassurance.

[The emperor of Ruo Qiang dislikes his eldest son, born to the empress, and favors the third prince, born to Consort Ling. Of course he couldn't send the third prince, whom he protects like the apple of his eye, to do something so humiliating. Naturally, the eldest prince became the best choice.]

Shen Yuxi said, [That's why favoritism is what people should fear most.]

[The emperor of Ruo Qiang has few offspring, with only four princes. The second prince is a sickly weakling who stays shut inside his residence year-round, clinging to life on medicinal decoctions every day. Who knows when he'll kick the bucket? Hardly anyone pays him any attention.]

[The fourth prince is young, still a seven-year-old child, and has no power to compete with his elder brothers.]

[So the fiercest struggle at court is between the eldest prince's faction and the third prince's faction.]

The system continued slowly, [The emperor of Ruo Qiang favors the third prince and intends to make him the heir apparent. Unfortunately, the third prince is mud that won't stick to a wall. Spoiled by the emperor and Consort Ling since childhood, he has accomplished nothing in either letters or arms. Even with the emperor of Ruo Qiang's support, he can't win people over.]

[Most officials at court don't accept this third prince, who spends his days seeking pleasure and knows nothing about affairs of state.]

[By contrast, the constantly neglected eldest prince, Qiang Tu, has silently endured for years, strengthening his wings and secretly establishing ties with court officials. He is better qualified to become heir apparent, but the more outstanding he is, the more the emperor of Ruo Qiang loathes him.]

Understanding dawned on Shen Yuxi. [He got triggered, huh? He can't accept that the son he dislikes is actually better than the son he values.]

It was like painstakingly sowing flower seeds, watering and fertilizing them every day, and tending them with the utmost care, only for them to refuse to bloom.

Then, with a casual glance, one discovered that the seeds tossed aside, unworthy of a second look, had taken root and sprouted in an overlooked corner, producing dazzling flowers.

Some people might be delighted, grow fond of them, and carefully tend them.

Others, however, might feel displeased. The existence of that flower seemed to mock their judgment and slap their abilities in the face.

Why should the seeds they had so carefully tended fail to grow as well as those they had casually thrown away?

The system nodded firmly. [But Qiang Tu isn't a soft persimmon anyone can squeeze. He has the support of the empress's family and a host of court officials. Even the emperor has to mind his limits if he wants to deal with him.]

[Before, when the Ruo Qiang Kingdom went to war with the Mo Kingdom, Qiang Tu did everything he could to dissuade him and sought peaceful coexistence. But the emperor wouldn't listen and stubbornly insisted on his own way. Now that he's lost, he's remembered the eldest prince again. The emperor of Ruo Qiang wants to use the Mo Kingdom to crush Qiang Tu's arrogance and leave him utterly disgraced.]

Shen Yuxi said, [In that case, perhaps Qiang Tu could be won over.]

[Ruo Qiang lost the war and bowed its head in submission to the Mo Kingdom, but who knows how long its emperor's "willingness to submit" will last? If Qiang Tu, as the next emperor, is willing to coexist peacefully with the Mo Kingdom in earnest, wouldn't that save a lot of trouble?]

[In theory, yes.]

The system said calmly, [Qiang Tu already has everything it takes to hold the throne securely. It's just that the emperor of Ruo Qiang is in his prime, so Qiang Tu hasn't found an opportunity yet.]

Emperor Xuanzhao's gaze sharpened slightly as he pondered to himself.

His thinking was entirely different from Shen Yuxi's.

Since the system said Qiang Tu was capable and deeply calculating, that was all the more reason not to let such a man ascend the throne.

Once he attained the supreme imperial seat, he might assess the situation and willingly remain beneath the Mo Kingdom for a short time.

But under his rule, there was no guarantee the Ruo Qiang Kingdom wouldn't grow stronger and more prosperous. What if it came surging back one day...

Every spark had to be snuffed out in the cradle.

[As for winning Qiang Tu over, Host, forget it. In my view, not only will that old emperor refuse to help him, he'll worry the fire isn't burning fiercely enough. He can't wait for Qiang Tu to lose the struggle and for that useless third prince to take the throne.]

With his thoughts exposed, Emperor Xuanzhao broke into a violent coughing fit, choking on his own saliva.

"Oh, Your Majesty, are you all right?"

Startled, Eunuch Yang hurried to pat Emperor Xuanzhao's back. Once the emperor had recovered, he brought him a cup of tea.

Emperor Xuanzhao gulped down several mouthfuls of hot tea before his throat felt considerably better.

Shen Yuxi understood Emperor Xuanzhao. [As the ruler of a kingdom, His Majesty naturally has the ambition to unite the realm and dominate all nations. The Ruo Qiang Kingdom may not be sincere in its submission, and its overall strength isn't much weaker than the Mo Kingdom's. It's only natural for His Majesty to have concerns.]

[That old emperor wants to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. With the emperor of Ruo Qiang and the eldest prince locked in a struggle like the snipe and the clam, even the victor will be badly weakened, leaving the Mo Kingdom to reap the fisherman's profits.]

[As expected of His Majesty-old and cunning.]

Shen Yuxi's eyes were full of admiration. Making no attempt to hide it, she gave a little thumbs-up toward the throne, her tone carrying both teasing and sincere praise.

Emperor Xuanzhao secretly shot her a glare.

Old? Who was old?! He was still young.

[Let that old emperor worry about the rest. Host, eating melons is our top priority.]

The system chuckled twice with ill intent. Its eerie voice made everyone present clench their sphincters.

[Let me pick. Who will be the star of today's melon feast?]

[You're it!]

Shen Yuxi said excitedly, [Lu Song, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.]

Lu Song raised a brow slightly. He had never done anything shameful in his life, so he wasn't afraid of Lord Little Shen exposing his faults.

He was curious about what the system would reveal about him.

Everyone attended court while eating melons.

The system let out a "Wow," then dropped a bombshell. [Host, Lu Song is very likely going to be assassinated and paired in a ghost marriage.]

Everyone: "..."

Lu Song: "...,..."

Shen Yuxi: Huh?

[A little while ago, Lu Song accompanied his family back to their hometown to visit relatives. The daughter of a wealthy local man took a fancy to him and made a life-and-death fuss about marrying him, forcing her parents to propose at Lu Song's home. The wealthy man couldn't win against her and had no choice but to comply. But how could Lu Song agree? He flatly refused, giving the wealthy man no face at all.]

[When the wealthy man's daughter saw Lu Song reject her, she felt utterly disgraced and deeply humiliated. Who wasn't falling over themselves to ask for her hand?]

[Although the wealthy man was angry that Lu Song had given him no face, he had a strong sense of pride, so he warned his daughter not to entertain any more thoughts of marrying Lu Song. But his daughter wasn't obedient. When he refused, she went on a hunger strike in protest.]

The system's tone was one of awed disbelief. [She went hungry for several days without drinking a drop of water and actually starved herself to death.]

Shen Yuxi was astonished. [What a talent!]