The wooden house is quiet, with only the breathing of the cat. The wooden window reveals the sky, and moonlight falls from the night sky. The faint divine smoke circles around Xiulote, evoking distant thoughts. He gazes at the jade incense burner before him, placing the divine smoke in his hand into it, like lighting an offering incense for distant gods.
"Awakening without knowing the bright moon above, full of flower shadows needing a hand to lean on..."
Recalling this long night, celebrating the fall of Stone Carved City, drinking with many generals and subjects, and finally, the pleasure after being drunk with Yilian... Xiulote’s expression is complex as he looks up at the starry sky. He seems to see a pure, beautiful white cloud, imprinted in his deep eyes, as if watching him from afar with a cold gaze.
"Yesterday’s stars and yesterday’s , today’s blazing sun and today’s change..."
Xiulote lowers his gaze, murmuring softly. This night’s indulgence in pleasure is unlike any before. He seems to have drunk himself into a stupor, but in reality, his mind is clearly awake, even recalling every cry of the cat.
In fact, he has long been able to control his desires with ease, and tonight was not driven by lust, but by the desire for power within. The choice made tonight, the beginning of this final decision... also signifies that he has finally embarked on a path of rciless emperorship, becoming a political creature chasing power!
"To counter the pressure from Aweit, to quickly subdue the tribes under heaven, I must set the dark moves... political marriage and childbirth, claiming inheritance, unifying the tribes... so-called ’spreading seeds across the world’, the so-called ’Golden Family’! I will be accountable to everyone, except you..."
Xiulote remains silent, watching the divine smoke burn out. He gazes at the dissipating smoke, looking at the unseen slim figure, softly murmuring the last inaudible words. Then, everything quietly and silently disperses into dust and smoke.
"You have not betrayed , but I have betrayed you; longing for you at the end of the world cannot be forgotten... I will not be the pure star, nor the hidden moon... I am the one and only radiant sun!..."
The divine smoke extinguishes, the beauty sleeps in spring. Moonlight is like water, and the window is already empty. Xiulote dons a robe and strides out of the wooden house. Guard Commander Ecatl bows his head respectfully, having awaited him for a long ti.
"Family Head! You’re awake!"
"Hmm."
Xiulote nods slightly, glancing back at the courtyard where the wooden house stands, softly instructing.
"Ecatl, from now on, let Yilian reside in this courtyard. Select so reliable maids, and warriors from the Tecos Tribes to care for Yilian and ensure her safety!"
"Yes! Family Head!"
"I will often co here recently... Yilian’s living expenses should match my daily standard."
"Yes! Family Head!"
"For the ti being, Yilian will handle the daily paperwork, but find a suitable successor for this role..."
Xiulote muses for a mont, looking at Ecatl.
"Ecatl, do you have any recomndations?"
"Hmm... Family Head, the tribes of Nianshui City have once again offered several noble ladies..."
"The tribes of Nianshui City?"
Upon hearing this, Xiulote ponders slightly, shaking his head.
"Refuse! The situation in the Seaside Alliance is stable, and the tribes of Nianshui City need to be reorganized and formally structured into banners again! This is not the right ti... Additionally, as Miyava’s delivery is imminent, if she gives birth to a son, I will not take any more noble ladies from the Seaside Lands who are Divine Descendants..."
"Hmm... Family Head, the success of the expedition fleet’s return is largely due to the assistance of the Vastec Silver Raven Great Tribe... Over the past two years, with the support of the Alliance and the Kingdom, the Chieftain Papata of the Silver Raven Great Tribe has consolidated half of the Vastec Alliance. In essence, the Silver Raven Great Tribe controls the southern Vastec Lands, ruling over hundreds of thousands of Vastec tribes..."
Guard Commander Ecatl cautiously hints.
"Calculating the ti, the two daughters he sent to your side, Liuyu, Liuyao... have just completed two years of clerical training in Divine Power University, mastering the Alliance’s characters. If they do not pursue further studies in mathematics, astronomy, and geography, they can already graduate!..."
"The daughters of the Silver Raven Chieftain? Liuyu, Liuyao? The sisters close in age?..."
Xiulote pauses slightly, recalling the sisters from mory. The elder sister Liuyu is quite composed, splendid like a Michelia in sumr; the younger sister Liuyao is sowhat shy, exquisite like a daisy in early autumn. Both possess extraordinary, graceful figures cultivated from a young age through dance, leaving a deep impression that’s hard to forget upon seeing.
"Michelia and daisy, twin sisters... Silver Raven Great Tribe..."
After a mont, Xiulote rubs his brow and nods slightly.
"Ecatl, let it be them! Hurry, as my ti in the Seaside Lands might be short! Over in Cloud Serpent Mountain City, new developnts have erged... Once the Eastern Expedition is completely over, King Aweit will certainly summon back to Lake Capital City!..."
"Ah! Family Head! You, you intend to?... Please, think about it! Think about the High Priest’s final letter! You must consider carefully!..."
At these words, Guard Commander Ecatl stands stunned for several monts, his expression changed dramatically. He appears anxious, wishing to persuade further. Yet, Xiulote waves his hand to stop the guard commander from speaking, calmly deciding.
"Ecatl, stop talking! I see things clearly, and I know my choices!... Hmm, how is Snake Woman Miyava recently?"
"..."
Guard Commander Ecatl remains speechless for a while. After a long pause, he bites his lips and bows his head, responding solemnly.
"Family Head, as your guard commander, my only advice is still to keep yourself safe..."
"Since you placed her under house arrest, Snake Woman Miyava has been very obedient... She stays in the courtyard nursing her pregnancy, following the doctor’s advice in diet and activity to protect the fetus... According to the doctor’s diagnosis two days ago, the delivery is estimated to be only half a month away..."
"Hmm, pregnant since last June, and now it’s late March... counting the days, it indeed approaches!..."
Thinking of the Snake Woman under house arrest, Xiulote rubs his chin, with his eyes showing a flicker. During the New Year’s grand ceremony, the Snake Woman and Yilian sohow ca together, nearly causing so unforeseen tantalizing and absurd incident.
However, he always had people placed by the Snake Woman’s side, monitoring her actions, therefore knowing everything in advance. He was repeatedly tempted by the two bold won throughout the night, yet never drank the "entertaining" Deer Blood Wine until the end...
Yilian’s admiration was sincere and simple, and Xiulote didn’t bla her. But towards the pregnant Snake Woman, with her hidden probing intentions, Xiulote responded explicitly, stating his stance.
"House arrest for three months to nurture the pregnancy! All Seaside Alliance affairs to be handled by others!..."
Thus, the Snake Woman once again lost her power, clarifying the king’s attitude and the reality of being under constant surveillance. Fortunately, she knew this was all temporary. After testing the king’s bottom line, she secretly cursed "the heartless man" for a long ti, then returned once again to obedient compliance.
"Snake Woman Miyava..."
Moonlight pours, and Xiulote turns around, looking towards the small courtyard where Miyava resides. After pondering for a long ti, he lowers his gaze, sighing deeply within his heart.
"Among my won, only you have the most ambition, the most talent... and you alone bring joy, allowing to cherish and admire you!..."
"But even though you are exceptionally intelligent, able to recite the entire ’Book of Ama Colley’ by heart, you only know the epics of the Seaside Tribes and Highland Tribes, yet unaware of the history of the Celestial Empire..."
"In the future, if I beco the Martial Emperor, then you shall be Lady Gouyi!..."
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