Realistic governance games for both male and female audiences

Chapter 22 Of all the kings, you are the only one I can trust!

Meanwhile, in the Daliang Dynasty.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the white marble steps in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, turning the entire palace into a poignant golden hue.

The wind howled through the palaces, as if whispering secrets from bygone years.

Xiao Qingkuang, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood with his hands behind his back on the steps.

His gaze passed over the layers of rooftops and landed on a slightly dilapidated palace in the distance.

Do you remember that place?

Xiao Qingkuang's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were asking her younger brother beside her.

Xiao Suyue followed his gaze, paused slightly, and then a complex smile appeared on his lips.

"Of course I remember," Xiao Suyue's voice was low and hoarse. "Your Majesty, it was in that very place that you killed the Prince of Chu's son—Xiao Li!"

Back then, Xiao Li was a notorious playboy in the Daliang Dynasty, and also an absolute madman.

Relying on his father, the King of Chu, he ran rampant in his southern fiefdom, abducting women, torturing and killing civilians, and even using living people as targets for archery practice.

Wherever he went, nothing grew, and complaints filled the air.

On that day, in that side hall, the hot-blooded young Crown Prince Xiao Qingkuang witnessed Xiao Li's brutal act of torturing a young girl from the southern border to death.

At that moment, the pent-up anger finally erupted.

Xiao Qingkuang did not use his imperial power or summon any guards. Instead, he personally picked up a bronze incense burner from the table and smashed it hard on Xiao Li's head.

Blood... instantly splattered all over the screen depicting "a prosperous and peaceful world"!

Recalling what had happened, Xiao Suyue paused slightly before speaking with a cold glint in his eyes: "In my opinion, Your Majesty is not to blame! The fault lies not with you, but with that beast!"

"well--"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingkuang let out a long sigh, a sigh that contained a great deal of emotion.

There seemed to be regret, helplessness, and even more so, deep weariness.

"What I did back then was truly absurd!" Xiao Qingkuang spoke slowly, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Although it was to rid the people of a scourge, and although it was a cause for celebration, to be honest, I have always felt remorseful over the years!"

"Why blame yourself, Your Majesty?" Xiao Suyue stepped forward, looking intently at Xiao Qingkuang, and said firmly, "In my opinion, Your Majesty has done absolutely nothing wrong! Even if there is a mistake, it is the fault of the Prince of Chu and his son! Who told them to fail in raising their son properly, and to be so cruel and tyrannical?"

Even after so many years, a cold glint still flashed in Xiao Suyue's eyes when he mentioned the King of Chu and his son:

"To kill this traitor would be a great act of merit for the people of the Southern Frontier! Back then, even if my elder brother hadn't intervened, I couldn't help but do it myself and kill this traitor!"

Xiao Suyue was telling the truth.

Although he was young at the time, witnessing the tragic state of that girl had already planted the seeds of hatred in his heart.

Even if Xiao Qingkuang doesn't make a move, he will find a chance to make Xiao Li "die unexpectedly".

"But……"

Xiao Qingkuang shook his head, his eyes becoming deep.

"Regardless of age, smashing someone's head with a bronze incense burner will ultimately leave ammunition for all subjects, especially those treacherous noble families and vassal kings!"

Xiao Qingkuang pointed to the dilapidated palace in the distance, as if pointing to a huge shadow in his heart.

"It was from that time onward that I became extremely cautious and dared not act rashly!"

At this moment, Xiao Qingkuang deliberately lowered his voice.

"Because of this incident, the King of Chu has been constantly instigating rebellions in various places, to the point that the kings in those places are extremely wary of you and my brother, especially of me!"

"Because in their eyes, you and I, brothers, have never been on the same side as them!"

"Our imperial power represents centralized authority and is a threat to these feudal princes. That smashed incense burner not only killed Xiao Li, but also sounded an alarm in their hearts!"

"Imperial power and royal power are, in essence, in deep conflict!"

…………

At this point, Xiao Qingkuang gripped Xiao Suyue's shoulders tightly, his eyes blazing, and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Therefore, if anything happens in this world, you and I, brothers, should unite as one to defend against external aggression. We must not let brothers turn against each other!"

"Brother..."

Looking at the deep worry in his brother's eyes, Xiao Suyue felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but also felt an immense weight on his shoulders.

He knew that Xiao Qingkuang was forming an alliance with him, his younger brother.

It was at this moment when the storm was brewing that he extended his final and most resolute invitation to his younger brother.

"Your subject understands."

Xiao Suyue knelt on one knee and performed the most solemn salute of a subject.

"Please rise quickly!" Xiao Qingkuang hurriedly helped his younger brother up, his eyes slightly red. "Brother Su, among all the princes, you are the only one I can truly trust!"

After a slight pause, Xiao Qingkuang spoke again: "Although you are also a prince, and in essence there is a power conflict between you and me, the emperor, but... you are returning to the capital this time on the Empress Dowager's orders, and I think you should be aware of the Empress Dowager's intentions. So, in fact, between us, there is truly no power conflict, and we are truly comrades-in-arms belonging to the same camp. We..."

At this point, Xiao Qingkuang patted Xiao Suyue's shoulder with a touch of emotion: "Anyway, you understand what I mean, right?"

"Your Majesty, I understand!"

Faced with such a frank elder brother, Xiao Suyue naturally had no intention of hiding anything, and immediately nodded solemnly.

Then, the two brothers looked at each other and smiled.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them, which intertwined and seemed to merge into one.

……

……

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, red candles burned brightly, and the wisps of ambergris emanating from the golden lion-shaped incense burner swirled and enveloped the entire hall in an atmosphere of extravagance and solemnity.

The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix throne, her head full of pearls and jade gleaming under the lamplight.

Today is the first welcoming banquet for Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, upon his return to the capital!

As the high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies rang out, members of the imperial family and nobles filed in, each with a solemn expression, and performed the grand ceremony of audience with the Empress Dowager.

Immediately afterwards, civil and military officials lined up in two rows, wearing python robes and jade belts, with swords and seals hanging on their heads, displaying the majestic power of the Daliang Dynasty.

Finally, the main character of this welcoming banquet, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, made his appearance.

"Prince Su has arrived!"

A long, drawn-out chant pierced through the music in the hall, and then the hall doors swung open, letting in a gust of cold wind carrying the chill of the frontier, causing the candlelight inside to flicker.

Everyone immediately held their breath and focused their attention on the tall figure who had just entered the hall.