Chapter Five: Perhaps, I Should Call You the Empress of Great Qi

Inside the carriage, master and servant faced each other in silence, the air thick with awkwardness. After a long pause, Yang Chuan finally broke the silence.

“Your Great Qi... have you really come this far just to recruit me?”

The maid paused, momentarily stunned, her eyes wide with surprise. Then, as if realizing something, she quickly smiled and said, “I have served by your side for three whole years, attending to your daily needs. How could I possibly be from Great Qi?”

Yang Chuan offered no reply. Instead, he casually pulled a scroll from the bookcase and began leafing through it while lying back in the carriage.

“Rumor has it that since ascending the throne, the Empress of Great Qi has been obsessed with the pursuit of immortality. For the past three years, she has secluded herself completely, leaving state affairs in the hands of Grand Marshal Cao Ding.”

“Perhaps no one would have imagined that the Empress, secluded and unreachable, would be here by my side, willingly serving as a humble maid for three years.”

His gaze never left the scroll, yet his words caused the maid’s expression to change dramatically.

Silence fell once more, thick and heavy.

As dusk began to settle, Yang Chuan finally set the scroll aside. Stretching lazily, he looked at the maid with a teasing glint.

“Should I call you Little Yue, or Your Majesty, Empress Tian Yueying of Great Qi?”

A soft, melancholic sigh filled the carriage.

“It seems you have long known my true identity. It’s laughable that I thought I could keep it hidden by staying by your side these three years.”

At last, she admitted who she was.

“I—three years ago, I witnessed with my own eyes how you supported Yan Wugou step by step, helping her become Empress of Da Kang and master the court. From that moment, a hope took root in my heart.”

“That is why I abandoned the affairs of state and came to serve as your maid by any means necessary, just to learn a fragment of your skill.”

“But those three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and I have come to realize your talents cannot be learned. I invite you sincerely—since Yan Wugou has been blind to your worth, come with me to Great Qi. Whatever Yan Wugou can offer, I can offer the same!”

Tian Yueying’s eyes shone with urgency, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading.

Yang Chuan laughed.

“Your Majesty speaks in jest... Since your ascension, you have been lost in the quest for immortality, neglecting the nation and its people. Though we have shared three years as master and servant, do you really think I would serve you?”

Her face darkened.

“The pursuit of immortality is nonsense. Even a three-year-old child knows that. How could I not understand this?”

“But what choice do I have? The Grand Marshal holds all power in the court. If I don’t indulge in these immortality pursuits, my reign would have ended the day I ascended.”

A wave of sorrow washed over Tian Yueying.

---

Her journey had been fraught with fear and uncertainty.

Alas, she had no one like Yang Chuan by her side to strategize; she could only rely on herself.

Yang Chuan remained silent for a long time before speaking.

“You know I’m tired of the endless scheming in the court. Yan Wugou’s betrayal has left me disillusioned. I’m afraid I must decline.”

After today’s events, Yang Chuan no longer held any hope of official service in the government.

He longed only to immerse himself in nature and live a carefree life.

Yet, despite his refusal, Tian Yueying did not lose heart.

“After three years together, I know you better than Yan Wugou does! Even if Yan Wugou has betrayed you, how could the people of the world have done so? You still carry the welfare of the common people in your heart—why pretend otherwise?”

Yang Chuan’s resolve wavered.

He was no unfeeling figure detached from the world.

Over these three years, he had lived among the villagers and understood their hardships deeply.

Now that the Da Kang reforms had been abruptly halted and he had lost his power as Grand Minister, no matter his talents, without a platform to exercise them, even the most skilled cook cannot prepare a meal without ingredients.

Watching his inner struggle, for reasons unknown, Tian Yueying’s heart ached.

Three years of closeness, day and night together—when had his changing emotions begun to tug at her soul?

Though she could not fully see through him, she had long admired his brilliance.

“If you do not betray me, I swear I will not betray you! I am willing to swear a blood oath! If it means bringing peace to the people, I would gladly surrender the Great Qi Empire itself.”

[Notification! The host is facing a life-changing choice. The system offers the following options:]

[1. You bare your heart; I capture you as an offering. Capture Tian Yueying alive and present her to Yan Wugou for forgiveness. Reward…]

Before the system finished listing the options, Yang Chuan spoke.

“Drive on. We are going to Great Qi.”

Having said this, he turned toward the carriage wall and lay down.

Tian Yueying was stunned for a moment before a radiant smile blossomed on her face, as captivating as the spring.

At the same time Yang Chuan made his final choice, the system’s reward was delivered.

[Host has chosen the path of a true man with lofty ambitions and unwavering promises! Assist Tian Yueying to benefit the people and secure the heavenly mandate. Reward: Potato tubers!]

---

“Are you all truly useless? Does the Da Kang court grind to a halt without Yang Chuan?”

“Salt and iron were once strictly state-controlled. Why, when Yang Chuan was here, were there no rampant private salt traders? Yet, within three days of your assumption, private salt floods the market and the treasury runs dry!”

In the Da Kang court, Yan Wugou’s fury blazed as she glared at the assembled officials, her anger barely contained.

Since Yang Chuan’s departure, she had struggled to maintain order, but the court’s situation only worsened.

The first to bear the brunt of her wrath was Grand Tutor Jiang Ziqi.

All eyes turned to him in the hall.

Jiang Ziqi felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

Though experienced, he was hardly a capable statesman.

Being tasked with cleaning up the mess left by the reforms was a burden beyond his abilities.

After deep thought, he gritted his teeth and said,

“Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should invite Yang Chuan back. After all he’s been through, he might be more restrained now. It would be the perfect time to employ him in your service.”

Hearing this, a flicker of hesitation crossed Yan Wugou’s face.

But if she summoned Yang Chuan now, would the ministers mock her incompetence?

As these doubts swirled within her, a sharp voice sounded outside the hall.

“Your Majesty! A grave matter—urgent and dire!”

A man in embroidered robes, pale-faced and clean-shaven, hurried into the hall.

He was Wei Wuji, head of the Eastern Depot—a secret service once established by Yang Chuan himself for Yan Wugou.

“Why such urgency?” Yan Wugou frowned, displeased.

Catching his breath, Wei Wuji said,

“Your Majesty, Yang Chuan... Yang Chuan has defected to the Qi Kingdom!”