The soldier in front of her suffered fright after fright. He almost bit his tongue. "Your Majesty, this subject... this subject is undeserving!"

Nuo Ying Su's closest servant looked at the Empress in a disapproving manner and helped her up. Where on earth would you see the mother of a nation kowtowing to a mere soldier?

Where had the rules gone to? Where was the sense of propriety?!

This was the same female servant that fetched Mao Zhu. If she knew this would happen, she should have just opted to take the punishment instead of obeying orders.

But Ruo Wen wouldn't understand her master. Nuo Ying Su bowed to show the gratitude by the original owner.

Gui ayi was her only reprieve when her world came shattering down on her. When the cowardly miss thought that Gui ayi died, her world also lost its color.

Now that she was found, her heart stirred with anguish and a sense of obligation. How could the present Nuo Ying Su ignore such feelings?

She lived up to this day because of the body given to her. Whoever hurt Nuo Ying Su before, she exacted revenge upon. Whoever showed kindness, she doubled it.

That was her principle. It was her way to let Nuo Ying Su's soul rest in peace.

Seeing the lieutenant also kowtowing, the Empress knew the fear that covered his being.

She laughed while wiping the lingering tears in her eyes. She remembered her nurse's fearful attitude towards her.

Being at the top of the world was indeed lonely.

"Stand up, lieutenant." She uttered while being assisted to rise too. "My Lord has taken note of your deeds. Not just saving my ayi. Soon, your family will be honored. Ben gong1 hopes you will not lose yourself in the turbulent waters."

These words had multiple meanings and Mao Zhu engraved them in his heart. Serving these masters, he was sure he wouldn't regret it.

Naturally, Mao Zhu didn't tell a soul of what transpired in that old courtyard. The banquet passed him by like a breeze.

Commander Sui said a few phrases to him but he wasn't overpraised so the other soldiers treated it as the commander's courtesy.

In Mao Zhu's mind, he only did what he had to on the battlefield. He took care of his men the way a father cared for his children. He disciplined them and led them to battle after battle.

Many of them were just young peasants who were pulled from toiling in the fields. He did his best to minimize the fatalities. And honed these youths to be worthy soldiers of the empire.

Before, he was loyal to the flag they raised in the war. After meeting the dragon and the phoenix, he knew that these masters weren't so bad.

If they asked him to raise his sword, he would do so for his people and for his lords. What he wasn't aware of: this normal duty for him was precious to the Emperor and Empress.

In the court, finding a loyal subject was the same as finding a needle in a haystack.

---

"How confident are you to ace this exam?"

The siblings were in the main house playing Go2 to pass the time.

Hong Ting was allowed to stay at home for the rest of the week, a small vacation as a reward for working hard in the academy.

The young man rested his chin on his palm while toying with a black chip with his other hand.

"What does jiejie think?"

"Passing, not passing. It's okay whatever the results are. You can still try next time."

The youth frowned. "How heartless! You don't have confidence in me?"

Hong Chun chuckled as her brother's brows furrowed even more.

"In the class, this young master is number one. When this young master had a debate with our respected senior, the teachers were impressed. Your brother's poems are even nodded at by the stingy Grand Tutor. How come Lady Hong's still not confident?"

This was said with an arrogant posture while the older sister only had a smile on her face.

A hand came down and patted his head.

"Xiao Ting is good ah..."

He nodded like a woodpecker. The 18-year-old man didn't avoid her touch in the slightest.

"But, all these academic things are useless when you don't use this..." she tapped his temple thrice. "When dealing with people."

Hong Ting's brows scrunched. "But Father said in order to serve the people, one must feel like the people. That's why this brother is studying the plight of the common people of our Great Han."

Hong Chun lowered her eyes as she moved her stone, effectively hiding what was on her mind.

"Not wrong but also not right."

Tak!

As soon as the white piece touched the board, the game was over. The younger brother stared at his loss.

Not again?

Hong Chun closed her brother's gaping mouth and said, "Before you can truly serve the people, you must work hard to serve the Emperor."

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Serving the Emperor is harder and more fraught with dangers. Knowing who to keep and who to let go in order to be closer to the dragon. Not serving his Majesty well will make you lose your official's hat. That's the way of the official's life. Is that what you really want?"

She didn't doubt her brother's academic excellence. She was also positive that he could top these Spring exams. But in terms of dealing with the beasts in court, she wasn't confident Hong Ting could handle that.

"Father taught this younger brother to serve the people. Therefore, I know that it's the same as serving the Emperor." He said with all seriousness.

Hong Chun couldn't help but snort. She knew that it was the same as Father Hong's idealism.

Lowering her voice even further, her eyes had an ominous glint that Hong Ting couldn't decipher.

"Serving the people means lifting them up from poverty, providing food and shelter no matter the status is, enacting justice to both poor and rich, and convicting oppressors.

While serving the Emperor is protecting his interests, even his transgressions. Attending the court and his banquets, implementing unrealistic taxes unto the people, collecting tributes from smaller nations, and so on. Tell me, Xiao Ting, where are the similarities?"

The more his sister said the bigger his eyes went. At home, he never hesitated to show his innocence but outside, his fellow scholars respected his mature demeanor.

Therefore, nobody knew how he admired his elder sister because she rarely socialized. He never saw her as someone inferior just because she was female.

In fact, he knew that his sister only looked like an idiot sometimes but she was better than him in all aspects.

Often their Father would test them by asking their opinions on hypothetical court problems.

What Hong Ting would say wasn't wrong but what his jiejie would carelessly utter was able to pinpoint all the significant points. She had a habit of targeting the weak links, isolating the root of the problem, and turning it over on the palm of her hand.

Just like chewing it as slow as she could until she arrived at a foolproof solution. Every time that happened, Hong Ting would stare at her in awe.

What great deeds would his sister contribute to their empire if he was a male?

He didn't dare to imagine.

He knew he was inferior to his sister and he surrendered himself to that fact. But he was also aware this sister must be protected because those who knew too much often didn't have good endings.

Just like now, he should stop her from saying such things.

"Jiejie... I think that's a little bit overboard." He scratched his chin.

"Tsk tsk, if you don't use that little head right, that cage will swallow you whole."

Hong Ting sighed. "These words, they're only for those with big ambitions. This brother of yours only wants a comfortable life. One that can fully support my future family and of course... you."

Hong Chun froze.

Looking at her like that, he laughed, showing off his pearly teeth.

"I know you're reluctant to marry so I'll personally tell Father. I'll work hard to support you for the rest of your life. I also can't sit still knowing that blockhead Mao will be your husband."

He pouted. "Where in the world did he get his dog luck to be married to you? Do you think any soldier can have you as a wife?"

By now, he was pounding his fist on the chessboard. "Even if a prince asks your hand in marriage, our family still needs to consider! How can we let you be slighted?!"

Hong Chun listened to his fervent speech with her lips curling upwards. The feeling bubbling in her chest wasn't so bad.

"What?" Xiao Ting noticed her stare and his face turned ugly. "No way! Have you fallen in love with that bloke?!"

His older sister slapped the back of his head.

"It's nothing. I just noticed how fast you've grown up. Big sis is glad you're still cute though."

Hong Ting's cheeks burned in an instant.

Ahh, his sister still had a way with words.

No wonder that surnamed Mao didn't escape her clutches. His jiejie had the power to make any manly man smitten.