She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Among the acquaintances around me, there is no shortage of people who are so infatuated that they have no bottom line. It's one thing for them not to understand the calculations and manipulations of their loved ones, but they also say that they would give their lives for the other person without any regrets, and they take it for granted that the people around them should also make unconditional sacrifices like them.

If those around them disagree, they will snatch, humiliate, or even physically assault the person regardless of the situation!

Intelligence unknown.

His character is questionable.

He has always looked down on it.

The reason I was able to befriend Shao Yunting is because we share the same values, are equally talented, and are both willing to rely on ourselves to forge a different path!

I never imagined that one day I would hear such humble and irrational words from Shao Yunting.

It truly terrified him!

His expression darkened, and a frown of disapproval appeared between his brows: "You went to all that trouble just to let her know you have feelings for her? Shao Yunting, are you crazy? Don't you know what you should be doing right now?"

Shao Yunting closed the box, smiled, and regained his usual clear and composed expression: "I know what I'm doing, and it won't delay important matters."

Xie Lanheng said sternly, "Although you are a Duke, you have no elders to help or support you. You must build your own path and the reputation of the Shao family step by step. One wrong step could undo all your years of hard work!"

"If you truly love her, once your master's important matters are settled, ask him to grant you a marriage! Once she's your wife and you have children, why worry about whether she'll trust you or not, or whether she won't fall in love with you!"

"Jiang Ruining is no ordinary young lady. She's too clever, her eyes are too sharp. If you let your emotions get the better of you and cause your master's important affairs to go wrong at a crucial moment... you know the consequences!"

Shao Yunting certainly knew.

Although Your Majesty is young, your methods and cunning are extremely formidable.

His Majesty's strength has accumulated to a point where it can be revealed, but it is also enough to deal with anyone who ruins his plans!

He was capable, but the rest of the Shao family were not.

His family cannot withstand the anger and reprimands of those in power!

But Jiang Ruining... for some reason, the more he was rejected, the more he couldn't let go. Her decisiveness, her wisdom, and even her bad temper were like a curse, rooted in his blood, making him unable to ignore her. He would think of her all the time, and his heart would always flutter.

Not wanting to worry his friend, he controlled his emotions well, his handsome face showing no sign of it: "Getting close to her is indeed because I want to see her, and also because I want to take the opportunity to observe what kind of people are around her and the Regent, and whether there are any two-faced individuals among them."

"I like her, but not to the point of losing my mind. I know very well which is more important: my family's future or my personal love!"

Xie Lanheng carefully observed his expression and, confirming that he remained as composed as before, did not offer any further advice: "Yun Ting, I still hope that you will not go to see her again until you have achieved great success!"

"Although Master allows you to continue getting close to Jiang Ruining, I'm worried that Master doesn't actually trust you as much anymore. Saying he allows it is a test!"

Shao Yunting shook his head firmly: "No! If I can make Ningning fall in love with me, then, given Elder Jiang's favor towards her, the Jiang family's support will also come to your side, Master."

"Besides, how could a narrow-minded man like the Regent tolerate a minister who covets his woman? After all, he has countless capable ministers around him, and there's absolutely no need for him to pretend to be magnanimous just to win me over!"

"There aren't many capable ministers around the master these days. If he suspects I might betray him, he will definitely issue a clear warning and forbid me from getting close to Ningning again. Only if I insist on disobeying will he abandon me!"

Xie Lanheng found his analysis reasonable, but did not feel relieved for him.

He only saw that the Regent would never accept him, but he didn't see that he himself... might disregard everything and take the initiative to submit to Jiang Ruining.

If he doesn't gain his master's trust, he probably won't be given important responsibilities when his master succeeds in his endeavors!

"Regardless of the circumstances, we must be cautious in front of Jiang Ruining. It's best to avoid getting close if possible. We'll discuss not eating until our master has succeeded!"

Shao Yunting nodded: "I know, don't worry!"

rest assured?

Jiang Ruining had seen through everything long ago!

What he's worried about now is whether Ningning has already told the Regent everything she knows? Is it just that the Regent is keeping quiet in order to wipe them all out, while secretly investigating and confirming things?

If so.

It's all over for him now, no matter what he does.

If Ningning really hasn't told him yet, what can he do to prevent her from revealing the secret?

He then recalled something Jiang Ruining had once told him.

Step outside the game and look at it from a different perspective.

When she said this, there was a look of desolate sigh and deep disgust in her eyes.

Sigh for him.

And the disgust seemed to be directed at the person behind him, namely His Majesty!

If someone else had said that, he would have assumed it was a provocation. But when everyone thought he had sided with Grand Tutor Cui, she noticed that they could have faked their stance. This meant that she might indeed have discovered another side of His Majesty that he hadn't seen!

What kind of other side of her could make her reject his advances without hesitation and even side with the ruthless regent?

But it's also possible that she saw too little of the darkness, or that she only saw the surface of an event without seeing the truth behind it, and thus misunderstood His Majesty.

After all, the court is full of dark and treacherous methods. Sometimes, in order to eradicate deeply rooted treacherous officials and protect more people, it is necessary to sacrifice some innocent, good, and loyal but incompetent ministers.

She was a woman with a soft heart, so it's possible that she mistook such ruthlessness for cruelty that disregarded the common people.

In a short time.

He both hoped that her observations and guesses were right and that she was wrong.

A tangled mess is swirling in my heart and mind, and I've lost my former steadfastness and composure.

……

The next day.

The hunt is about to begin.

According to custom, the first prey must be hunted by an emperor.

The young emperor, carrying a quiver and a bow, personally went down to the field and shot the first arrow.

He was a skilled rider, but he deliberately released slow-moving prey to ensure he could hit the target. However, due to his hesitation, he almost missed the target.

Jiang Ruining knew perfectly well that the young emperor was faking it!

In order to lull the Empress Dowager's faction into a false sense of security and to deceive the Regent.

In the book, after he ascended to the throne, the regent was executed and his ashes were scattered. Some of his ministers who supported him, even those who could have been killed, were also killed. The only two instances of the extermination of nine generations of a family in the history of the Great Zhou were ordered by him, euphemistically called "deterrence."

While that's not wrong, the ruthlessness with which the Regent purged half the court back then pales in comparison to his actions.

The Empress Dowager was pleased with her son's cowardice and praised him, saying, "The Emperor is benevolent, which is a blessing for the Great Zhou."

The Empress Dowager's faction all echoed her sentiments.

The young emperor smiled and handed the bow and arrows to the guards. He stepped forward and bowed to the Empress Dowager, looking just like a carefree young master from an ordinary family who doesn't compete for anything: "Your Majesty is tolerant and kind to the people, and you have won the support of your subjects. I have been taught by you and will learn from you and be of one heart with you."

A highly respected member of the imperial clan stroked his long beard, speaking with a pointed remark: "Now that the Great Zhou is at peace and prosperous, what it needs most is a benevolent ruler. A warlike and valiant ruler will only annoy his subjects!"

Zongzheng's deep, leisurely tone rose slightly: "It is precisely because the country is peaceful and the people are safe that a ruler must be benevolent, but even more so, possess the ruthlessness to deter those covetous neighbors from daring to invade!"

"If the emperor is only benevolent but lacks a fighting spirit, how can the people be assured that the sky above them can hold them up? If the people are uneasy, how can the country be at peace?"

The clan members wanted to refute this.

Zongzheng continued, "It's understandable that one's spirit isn't as vigorous as it was in youth when one reaches an age of enjoying wealth and comfort. But to flaunt one's cowardice before officials and noblewomen, and even feel smug about it, is simply making oneself a laughingstock!"

The relative, mocked, flew into a rage again: "You!"

Zongzheng chuckled softly and patted the other man's shoulder: "Why are you angry again? Getting angry is bad for your health! His Majesty has already fired the first shot of the autumn hunt, and the young men are all eager to get out and play. They don't have time to listen to two old men arguing back and forth here. It's just annoying!"

Jiang Ruining wanted to applaud.

Lord Zongzheng's mouth is truly sharp!

Lord Zongzheng turned to the young emperor with a gentle expression: "Your Majesty, may we announce this year's prize? That would give the young princes even more motivation!"

The young emperor said, "A wild boar with a white tail tip has been released into the hunting grounds this time. Whoever hunts it will receive a reward for several years, and I will appoint him as a fourth-rank Imperial Guard Vice Commander, a hereditary position!"

"If the hunter has a hereditary position or title, it can be accumulated and passed on to the second son."

A hereditary official position is far more enticing than any prize like a jade pendant or a ruyi scepter.

After all, a father can be a first-rank official today, but his son may not be as successful. With this hereditary official position, one can inherit a fourth-rank official position. As long as one works steadily, one can eventually earn a third-rank position through seniority.

The vast majority of people in the imperial court will never reach this rank in their entire lives!