Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I gripped his hand tightly and shouted, “Younger Brother, stop!”

He froze, his eyes burning with a fire so intense it seemed he might devour someone.

In that moment, I felt as though he even wanted to kill me.

I looked at him calmly, placing both hands on his shoulders. “It’s all over,” I whispered. “Elder Sister believes in you. You are not a violent person. You will be a wise ruler, a sovereign for the ages.”

He gradually calmed down, though he seemed lost in a daze.

“Elder Sister, I can’t control it-”

“It’s alright. I can’t control things sometimes either, but we can take it slow. Today, you listened to Elder Sister and stopped. You did very well.”

However, this particular group of palace maids and eunuchs could not stay.

I granted a special grace: aside from a few loyal and trustworthy servants who remained, those willing to leave the palace were given money to do so. Those unwilling to leave were settled in the detached palace to live out the rest of their lives in comfort.

Then, I transferred a new group of eunuchs and maids from the detached palace to replace them.

This significantly reduced palace expenditures. Moreover, these newcomers harbored less resentment toward the Emperor, making change possible.

Still, my Imperial Younger Brother had a fire in his heart that needed an outlet.

I had him personally train the Imperial Guard. The military is a place for hungry wolves and fierce tigers; only there would his violence not be viewed as a monstrous scourge.

I set a rule for him.

“You may only lose your temper three times a day. Once those three times are spent, you are not allowed to get angry again, even if you feel like you’re going to burst.

“Furthermore, you must befriend those three generals. If you can’t do it, then come back and let me go instead.”

Hearing this, he left without a backward glance.

He had spent his entire life in the palace, never having left this small corner of the world.

When I told him to go, he was absolutely overjoyed.

He is so foolish, yet so good.

From ancient times to the present, no emperor has ever trusted their siblings to interfere in government affairs as he does.

But he did it.

Based on this trust alone, I cannot allow us to repeat the mistakes of the past.

…

The Ye Family took three days to scrape together thirty-five thousand gold coins.

I heard that Ye Weilan finally woke up after being unconscious for three days.

I felt a slight pang of regret. He was the culprit who killed me; I would only truly be at ease once he was dead.

Unfortunately, heaven did not grant my wish.

Xiangnu, fearing I might soften my heart and go see Ye Weilan, pestered me into staying in my room for three days and three nights.

After three days, I couldn’t take it anymore.

This Princess is going out!

His small face filled with panic. “Princess, it’s very fun here in the manor. Why don’t I call my five brothers over to play with us?”

He bit his lip slightly, clearly having made a massive resolution to say such a thing.

He was unwilling, yet felt he had to do it.

I sucked in a breath.

The things inside that little head of his were truly terrifying.

I pinched his cheek.

“Having just you is enough. This Princess is truly afraid of dying in your bed. How about I build a Chenxiang Tower for you?”

Xiangnu murmured the name a few times before pouting. “Chenxiang sounds like it lacks fortune. I want a name that brings good luck.”

I thought he was right.

In this life, we cannot sink down again. We must ride the wind into the blue clouds and soar ninety thousand miles high.

Thinking of Xiangnu’s proud expression, I smiled. “Then let’s call it Aoxiang Pavilion.”

Building Aoxiang Pavilion naturally required money, and the wealthiest people were the noble clans.

A few days later, Second Young Master Ye got into a fight at a tavern and offended me. He was sentenced to thirty strokes of the heavy paddle.

This time, the Ye Family did not bring money to redeem him. Second Young Master Ye had to endure all thirty strokes.

I ordered people to carry him back.

I heard that Second Young Master Ye wept and cursed as he was taken home.

“We were born from the same mother! They spent thirty-five thousand gold on him, yet I had to endure thirty strokes. Such blatant favoritism!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

In my past life, the Ye Family was a solid, united front, and Second Young Master Ye viewed Ye Weilan as his role model.

Can it still be that way in this life?

I am looking forward to finding out.