Isolated town in northern border region

"Arrogant? When have I ever been arrogant?"

"From the day His Highness Prince Ning left the capital, he was already doomed."

Zhou Xun stood up from the pile of books, tilted his chin up, and retorted, his arrogance evident in his eyes.

Xiao Lie smiled and patted the empty seat next to him.

"Come, please sit down."

"I'd like to hear your opinion."

Zhou Xun glanced at Xiao Lie, a smirk playing on his lips. He took a few steps forward and stacked books to make a seat in front of Xiao Lie.

"I am not used to speaking with my head turned, please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Out of consideration for Your Highness's hard work for the people of the Northern Frontier, I will speak frankly and without reservation today."

Zhou Xun straightened his robes, bowed slightly to Xiao Lie, and performed a student's salute.

"If Your Highness does not leave the capital, His Majesty will never dare to take action openly."

"As for the underhanded tricks behind the scenes, as long as we deal with them carefully, we may be able to turn danger into safety."

"To be honest, when I heard that Your Highness had recaptured Cangzhou, I wondered if Your Highness still had a backup plan in court..."

"But when the Northern barbarians' terms for peace arrived, I concluded that Your Highness has absolutely no influence or support in the court!"

"To be honest, I really want to ask you this in person—"

"Your Highness, did your mind only become sharp after arriving in the Northern Frontier?"

"How dare you! Keep talking!"

Zhou Xun pointed at Xiao Lie's forehead with a puzzled look. Zhou Shi'an, who was standing next to him, changed his expression drastically, hurriedly stepped forward, slapped Zhou Xun's hand away, and turned to apologize to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, please forgive us! Your Highness, please forgive us!"

"My nephew has been mentally ill since childhood, and he talks nonsense all the time!"

"Your Highness, please don't take it to heart!"

While apologizing, Zhou Shi'an clasped his hands in a gesture of respect. If Xiao Lie hadn't been quick-witted and nimble-fingered, the old man would probably have knelt down and kowtowed.

"Enough, Elder Zhou, do not be afraid. It is not that I cannot tolerate honest advice, but that Youzhou has been restored today. How could I arbitrarily kill a meritorious official?"

"Alright then, let everyone speak freely within this thatched hut today, without fear of reprisal!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Your Highness's magnanimity puts this old man to shame!"

"In that case, the people in the city have been oppressed by the Tartars for a long time and haven't had a full meal. Today, Your Highness has recaptured Youzhou City, so of course we must hold a banquet to celebrate!"

"This old man will go prepare the meal right away, Your Highness, please continue your conversation..."

Zhou Shi'an wisely left, giving Zhou Xun a light tap as he went to remind him not to talk nonsense.

Looking at Zhou Xun again, he shrank back, but the arrogance in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

After Zhou Shi'an left, Xiao Lie kicked Zhou Xun's shin with a nonchalant look on his face.

"You've got a sharp eye, kid!"

"Indeed, I only gained this insight after the late Emperor appeared to me in a dream."

"However, why do you say that I only have one path left—death?"

Zhou Xun narrowed his eyes and looked Xiao Lie up and down, then burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Funny! Funny!"

"I thought Your Highness might be courteous and respectful, or dignified and solemn, but I never expected that Prince Ning, who had manipulated the Northern Barbarians so easily, would be of such character."

Xiao Lie shrugged with a wry smile.

"I'm already tired enough of keeping up appearances all the time, and now that I've finally met a smart person, I might as well stop pretending."

"Come on, tell me, in your opinion, is there still a glimmer of hope for this king?"

After a moment's thought, Zhou Xun's tone suddenly became serious.

"Your Highness went to the northern frontier alone to drive out the northern barbarians and bring peace to the people. You should not have ended up like this, but this world is full of filthy things, and it is Your Highness, a hero, who has no place to stand."

"Alas, in my humble opinion, Your Highness's only way out is to fake your death on the battlefield and then live a carefree life in seclusion."

"Otherwise, we will surely perish in the northern frontier, just like the late emperor!"

Xiao Lie listened and nodded affirmatively. Zhou Xun was about to explain in detail when Xiao Lie interrupted him with a gesture.

"Once the news of my victory in recapturing Youzhou reaches the capital, my good uncle will certainly not stand idly by."

"If I were to sit on that throne, I would certainly mobilize the entire nation to conquer the Northern Barbarians, and appoint me, this meritorious subject, as the vanguard!"

"Furthermore, after this incident, the Northern Barbarians already harbor deep hatred for me. All they need to do is withdraw their reinforcements during the great battle, leaving me isolated deep in enemy territory, and even send men to cut off my retreat..."

"At that time, I will have no choice but to die in battle, is that right?"

Xiao Lie spoke fluently and casually, as if he were discussing someone else's life or death.

Zhou Xun became increasingly alarmed as he listened, and finally stood up abruptly.

"Since Your Highness is aware of this, why did you still take such a risky move and rush to recapture Youzhou?"

"Does Your Highness know that you only need to manage Cangzhou well, and even do some trade with the Northern Barbarians, to be able to advance and retreat freely?"

"Your Highness, knowing the consequences yet still clinging to glory, has acted quite unwisely!"

Zhou Xun's tone grew increasingly urgent, as if he were the one whose life hung by a thread. But just as he was getting more and more anxious, Xiao Lie's words silenced him completely.

"What about the people of northern Xinjiang?"

Zhou Xun's voice abruptly stopped!

An unprecedented silence fell over the thatched hut, with only Zhou Xun's heavy breathing remaining.

Xiao Lie smiled and stood up, gently pressing Zhou Xun's shoulder.

"Do you believe that I came to the northern frontier for self-preservation, and that I am using the late emperor's name to cultivate my own power there?"

"Or perhaps with even greater ambition, he might collude with the northern barbarians, launch a military campaign south, and reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to me?"

"Am I so worthless in your eyes?"

Xiao Lie reached out and peeled back the tattered window paper, watching the people on the street rushing about, their faces glowing with happiness as they prepared a celebratory banquet for the restoration of Youzhou.

"Look, take a good look..."

"Imperial power? Hegemony? In the end, it's all just a dream."

"When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer."

"Dynastic changes are nothing new on this land, but how many people's blood and flesh were sacrificed to achieve those hegemonic feats and accomplishments?"

Xiao Lie turned to look at Zhou Xun.

"You are very clever, but what I like most is not your cleverness."

Zhou Xun was slightly taken aback, his eyes filled with surprise.

"What is that? Surely Your Highness isn't interested in men?"

"Although I am of handsome appearance..."

"Get lost!"

Xiao Lie pretended to kick Zhou Xun, who laughed heartily, put away his arrogance, and respectfully bowed to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, I, Zhou Xun, humbly request your guidance."

Xiao Lie returned the greeting solemnly, showing no trace of his usual nonchalant attitude.

"What I value is your anger!"

"You may seem rebellious, but you're really just cynical."

"You have these people in your heart, which is why you offer advice and strategies to Zhou Shi'an."

"But you look down on the so-called powerful and wealthy, which is why you're hiding in this study when I entered the city."

"In your opinion, a prince wouldn't care about these common people."

Is that correct?

Zhou Xun nodded silently.

"good!"

"Before the prince arrived, I wrote a letter to Tug, the son of the Northern Barbarian Khan."

"In my letter, I stated that if the Northern Barbarians wish to truly establish themselves in the Northern Frontier, they cannot wantonly slaughter the people of the Northern Frontier!"

"Only by treating the people of the northern frontier well can we win their hearts. Only when the people are won over can the five prefectures of the northern frontier truly be in the hands of the northern barbarians."

"I originally thought it would be futile, but this Northern Barbarian Ye Hu was surprisingly reasonable. Not only did he immediately forbid the Northern Barbarian Tartars from killing for pleasure, but he also distributed porridge in the city for three days!"

"Before meeting Your Highness, I thought..."

Xiao Lie felt that the world was full of wonders, and interrupted Zhou Xun with a smile.

"So you believe this Northern Barbarian Ye Hu has the makings of a ruler, and wants the entire king to fake his death and go into hiding, so that the northern frontier will be forever at peace?"

Zhou Xun nodded with a wry smile.

"I consider myself quick-witted, but compared to Your Highness, I am but a small fry compared to a great wizard."

"If Your Highness wishes to punish me, I am willing to die."

Xiao Lie waved his hand and pushed open the wooden door.

In an instant, rays of sunlight streamed into the room, causing Zhou Xun to instinctively squint.

Zhou Xun shielded his eyes from the sunlight as he looked at Xiao Lie's back, but he heard an incredibly confident voice.

"That Ye Hu you mentioned, I just chopped off his ear!"