Chapter 25

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

“I can’t bring myself to see you bending your knees and lowering your head to anyone… Your back should forever stay straight.”

“There is nothing that deserves you bowing down in this world.”

Bai Lianhua “…” Uh oh… he’s… suddenly… a bit moved?

Seeing Bai Lianhua finally raising his head to look at him, Meng Yanbai softens his tone, “you do know that you have a special place in my heart, a place distinct from everyone else… We should try to treat each other like before, naturally.”

“… Don’t speak like that ever again in the future.”

——Right now, even the imposing aura on Meng Yanbai seems to have diffused somewhat. There is no longer that pridefulness that regards the entire world with disdain from just now.

The system who’s been paying attention is so surprised it pops up and says, “host, are you… still the same host I knew? Since when have you become this adept at things?”

A, a, a few simple sentences have almost completely wiped out the antagonist’s forces?

Bai Lianhua, not expecting the antagonist to react this greatly, and is also surprised, feels he’s been underestimated, and his mood sinks a bit.

So he acts as if it was his pre-concocted brilliant idea all along, “it’s just using stereotypical clichés, so it’s simple. To present weakness to the enemy is supposed to be the white lotus’ skill. It was the antagonist that was the one trying to take my job all along.”

System “…” Emmm, alright. His host has not only become black-bellied, he’s even become a tsundere .

Bai Lianhua changes the topic, and tries to mimic Meng Yanbai’s tone, “speaking of which, you finally deign to speak?”

Since returning to this world, the system almost seemed like it had disappeared.

Seeing the system going ‘hehe’ with a guilty look and not speaking, Bai Lianhua is uninterested in pushing the matter too. He focuses back on Meng Yanbai.

Then he sees Meng Yanbai calls for Hui Jifu to prepare a writing bush and ink after a bit, and writes an imperial decree.

After lowering the pen, he turns to Bai Lianhua, “from now on, you’ll be known as Prince Qi.”

——Bai Lianhua’s identity as a former imperial prince is certainly a thing. He must be given a new identity.

Hui Jifu’s hands that are stretched out to carry the decree almost trembled when he heard his emperor’s voice.

Everyone knows what while the emperor is from the Residence of Great General from the previous dynasty, but he’s always been quite cold towards the Meng family. Even after his enthronement, there were no granting of titles towards the Meng family. Nobody knows if the emperor even sees his family as part of the royal family… The rich and powerful in the entire capital city are all currently still on the lookout. Nobody dares to try to curry favour with the Meng family at this stage, worried they’d anger the emperor while gaining nothing.

——Instead, the officers who have contributed have all been granted titles immediately following the enthronement, but even they only got titles of count, marquis, and up to duke at most.

Then this is the first principality assigned for the new dynasty here that he’s holding right now.

The character ‘Qi’ is especially sensitive here… This is the name for the previous dynasty! It’s viewed quite differently from the rest in the eyes of the public.

The sixth prince is originally an imperial prince from the last dynasty, and now with the ‘Qi’ character, what is the emperor trying to do?

While there have been historical examples of new emperors showing their mercy after the new dynasty is enthroned, where they would treat the dethroned emperor well. But one, it’s the dethroned emperor, and not the dethroned imperial prince; two, it’s already enough to give them a dukedom or an earldom , and they usually also get a character for the name of it that is at best mediocre in its implication. There’s nobody that would reuse the name of the previous dynasty.

Hui Jifu looks at Bai Lianhua who is also stunned, and can’t help but remark in his mind how special his former master is. He’s completely dominating his current master.

Bai Lianhua furrows his brows after his brain reactivates, saying “this is highly inappropriate.” And the imperial court will throw a fit.

Meng Yanbai tries to smoothen his creases, “why? You need a proper identity, then I’ll give you one.”

“You’re Prince Qi of my Chu dynasty, so of course you must reside in a suitably luxurious residence. Before the residence is complete, however, the only place that is worthy of your identity is the imperial palace.”

Bai Lianhua “…” What an excuse. It’s all fake… I’ll watch by the sidelines quietly to see when that residence you’re granting me will finally be completed.

Don’t spend 5, 10 years on it, alright?

…

As expected, with the proclamation of the decree, both the civil and military faction of the court are shocked.

Nobody knows how the former sixth prince of the previous dynasty that’s supposed to be dead popped up, nor can they react calmly to him suddenly being granted the title of Prince Qi.

Everybody knows that if it were not for him passing away early, with him as the son of the Guifei of the last dynasty, he was supposed to be the one that has the best claim to the imperial throne then… If he were here all along, who knows if the emperor of the last dynasty would have written ‘abdicate to the sixth prince’ on his will when he died more than a month ago.

He’s not just any imperial prince of the previous dynasty, and his identity is clearly contentious. He’s a risk to the new dynasty.

But Meng Yanbai has just been enthroned, and with his reputation gained from all his battles on the battlefield, he is currently right when his prestige is the highest. Things that he has openly announced in a royal decree has no room for negotiation, and so the officers can only accept it as it is.

The system shares its shock with Bai Lianhua in secret, “you know, with Meng Yanbai’s iron-fist attitude that makes his court not dare object to anything… Today it’s the granting of titles for you that nobody dares utter a sound throughout the courts. What if he goes mad and tries to push through some even more fatuous decree. Then would anyone be able to stop him?”

“Also, it’s lucky you’re the one he’s fixated on granting an honourable title of Prince. If it were a shady character, they’d definitely be a threat to the people and society with their position, wouldn’t they?”

“So in other words, host, you’ve got a great responsibility on your shoulders. Now, with only you as the white moonlight of the antagonist, can stop him from becoming a tyrant.”

Bai Lianhua says, “… no. I shouldn’t. I’m just a little white flower.”

System “???”

Bai Lianhua sighs, “I’m kidding. I think it was pretty reasonable for you to have sought me out in the first place after all. I’m probably quite suited for the white lotus role——Since I really do wish that situation you just said would never appear. Since I’m back then, I’ll do my best to be a fitting white moonlight.”

…

Enthronement of a new emperor would usually be followed by the enlistment of beauties for the imperial harem. This is also a good method of strengthening the bonds between the emperor and the officers, and also calming the hearts of the rich and powerful. Meng Yanbai rejected everyone, however.

When he’s free, instead he likes to go to Bai Lianhua’s place.

Even if Bai Lianhua would always be talking about righteous principles and persuading him to perhaps rethink some of his policies when he sees him every single time.

It’s already been eight years since Bai Lianhua ‘passed away,’ and Meng Yanbai has long since changed from that patient young man; his years of leading his men have made him decisive and ruthless. When it comes to Bai Lianhua lecturing him, however, he is never out of patience.

“As you wish. Since it’s your hope that I would be a good emperor, then I’ll do my best to be one… I know you’re kind and doesn’t want the common populace to suffer.”

Bai Lianhua “…” Oof. That you, the antagonist, is so self-aware and is also piling your achievements onto my sake is making me a bit awkward over here.

At the same time, Hui Jifu, the leader of the servants in the imperial palace, the head manager by the emperor’s side, also has to vague his way out of wave after wave of people trying to coerce information out of him.

He’s smooth and would use all this vague news that would stupefy the people, while thinking you should just give up… There’s already someone on the emperor’s mind.

——You know why the emperor has yet to grace anyone with his presence ? That’s because of my former master. He’s managed to do it for eight years, so how would he ever have accidentally broken his vow when he’s finally got his beauty back in such a touching reunion?

——You know why the emperor wouldn’t give the time of day to anyone? That’s because of my former master. He’s given all his patience to one person, so of course he has no time for all your BS.

——You know… know why the emperor is slightly exhausted the next day at the imperial court assembly after the enthronement? That’s still because of my former master. Cough. This is not for discussion though… In any case, my former master is the person one must not cross at all costs in this entire imperial palace.

The saying goes that one shouldn’t try to slap the buttocks of a tiger, but my master would dare to even upon the dragon ‘s buttocks… No no no, I can’t talk about that.

Anyway, our Prince is super beautiful, so the emperor would never be interested in anyone else, ok?

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