"If Your Highness does not believe me, you may wait ten days. If everything I say does not come to pass, you may treat me as a deceiver and punish me for disrespect. But if it does happen, I implore Your Highness to protect the common people while you conquer the land, so that countless lives are not lost. Du Ruo is willing to pledge her life for this!"
A moment of silence fell in the hall.
Bai Li Zhong Yan suddenly burst into laughter. "Your life? What is your life worth? Why would I want your life?"
Killing someone was merely the flick of a head. Killing an enemy was for revenge. What was the point of killing an innocent person?
Du Ruo bowed to him. "Du Ruo thanks Your Highness for sparing her life."
"Enough. I do not have time to entertain the two of you. If what you say proves true, I will grant your request. If it is mere nonsense, then how the people of this world fare is of no concern to me."
He had once felt a deep concern for the realm and its people during his campaigns, believing it was his duty to ensure their peace and prosperity.
However, the rumors he heard from the marketplace later, the whispers of him being used to frighten crying children, had long since changed him.
The common people were largely ignorant, unteachable, and ungrateful. They knew not good from bad.
The Northern Frontier army had shed blood and sweat, risking their lives for the safety of Da Sheng, yet with just a single decree from the Emperor calling them "traitors," the people readily accepted them as such and drove them out of the capital.
They were the soldiers who protected their homes and country, yet they were labeled as rebels by the very people they defended!
The God of Death star ruled over bloodshed, so his promise was more than Du Ruo had expected. She no longer sought anything else.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Your benevolence will surely make you an emperor for the ages. This commoner takes his leave."
"See them out."
What was termed "seeing them out" was, in reality, an expulsion.
They stood at the gate of the prince's mansion for half an hour. They hadn't even been offered a cup of hot tea before being kicked out. Du Ruo was all right, but Du Shan was deeply indignant.
"How dare he treat us like this! He's utterly ignorant."
People from Wang Di Xiang were revered wherever they went, wished to have golden statues erected in their honor. Yet, this Prince Yan dared to treat them this way.
Du Ruo's gaze turned sharp. "Du Shan, your actions today were too impetuous. The God of Death star has a tendency to devour its master. This world will eventually be in his grasp. He has the right to be 'ignorant.' No matter how renowned Wang Di Xiang may be, it is merely a village. Neither you nor I have official titles or achievements to warrant his favor."
Ultimately, they were ordinary citizens. Their entry was owed to the reputation of Wang Di Xiang; they had nothing that made them superior.
Despite this, Du Shan remained disgruntled but kept his silence.
—
News of the emergence of people from Wang Di Xiang quickly reached the Emperor, who summoned the two to the palace.
The Emperor personally received them, a stark contrast to Bai Li Zhong Yan's attitude, which made Du Shan rather pleased.
As they were conversing, a woman with a haggard appearance burst in.
"Consort Xian! Consort Xian!"
Those behind her rushed in, kneeling in panic. "Your Majesty, this servant truly could not stop Consort Xian!"
"Your Majesty, how can you be so heartless? The Master said a thousand longevity pavilions must be built for my son to ensure his peace in the next life! He is our child! Your Majesty…"
Even though Du Ruo had already foreseen this in her divination, she felt a surge of anger.
A thousand longevity pavilions. Easy to say, but they would cost the sweat and blood of countless commoners. The massive construction would increase taxes, leading to widespread suffering and rebellion.
"Consort Xian," Du Shan stood up and cupped his hands towards the Emperor. "You casually speak of building a thousand longevity pavilions, but do you know how much of the common people's hard-earned money that represents? While you sit in your warm chambers drinking hot soup during the cold winter, you expect the people to toil in the snow. How can you bear it?"
"Du Shan!"
Du Ruo had not expected him to speak at this moment. She couldn't stop him, and could only listen to him finish.
Immediately, the Emperor's expression on the dragon throne changed.
Consort Xian also knelt immediately. "Your Majesty, he was our son! A royal bloodline, how can he be compared to those lowly folk? He departed so suddenly, and the Master said his soul will struggle to reach paradise. This concubine is only thinking of our child. He died with such resentment! Your Majesty…"
Hearing some of her words, Du Shan's anger flared, and he was about to speak again when Du Ruo's terrifying gaze stopped him.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xian, my junior brother has spoken rudely. I beg Your Majesty and the Consort for your forgiveness. Junior brother, quickly apologize to the Consort."
Under Du Ruo's warning gaze, Du Shan grudgingly stepped forward and uttered insincerely, "This commoner misspoke. I beg Consort Xian for forgiveness. Those 'lowly folk' are indeed not worthy of comparison to the Second Prince. With the Second Prince's passing, Consort Xian wishes for the common people of the world to lose several sons as companions. Consort Xian misses her son dearly, this commoner..."