0163 172 Mountains stop, rivers flow, the wind stirs the grain.

The person opposite him wasn't surprised at all by Zhou Xiye's choice. He simply nodded and said, "That's what he chose too. He chose himself and didn't want you to know."

Zhou Xiye opened her mouth, then lowered her head. No wonder the investigation report from the central government didn't include any severe punishment, only a minor one. She smiled bitterly, looked up, and said, "Then... if I hadn't come, he would have been the one to bear all of this?"

"That's right."

That brat, he really never consults her before doing anything! Zhou Xiye suddenly missed him terribly. She missed Zhou Pei's warmth and scent. How long had it been since she'd seen him? How had he changed? Had he lost weight?

My thoughts are racing.

The person on the other end was also losing patience. Like a cheetah that had just finished eating and was languid but also impatiently flicking its tail, it said, "I have other things to do. You and the person I arranged will handle the follow-up." After saying that, it took out a lighter and burned the documents that Zhou Xiye had given it.

The firelight danced wildly between the two, elongating their shadows and creating an eerie effect.

Zhou Xiye snapped out of his daze. "Okay, I'll be going now. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

The person opposite shook his head and waved his hand, and Zhou Xiye withdrew.

The corridor was full of people, and Zhou Xiye followed them out.

Taking the final step, the sunlight under the eaves was blinding. Zhou Xiye squinted as she descended the steps. People and cars were waiting for her in the courtyard. A group of people, their expressions all perfectly synchronized, remained impassive, their eyes fixed on her.

Zhou Xiye paid no attention to their guard. She opened the car door and sat down.

Ling Xingzhi stood in the crowd, watching helplessly as she got into the car. He frowned, wanting to say something, his fingers rubbing together in his pocket, but all his words became meaningless the moment the car started moving.

Ling Qingyun was sitting in the car, and Zhou Xiye guessed that the person he was supposed to meet was him.

“When I told him that the Ling family had also received gifts from the reformists, he wasn’t surprised,” Zhou Xiye turned to look at the man in front of him. “So you confessed to him long ago, and he forgave you.”

Ling Qingyun's lips twitched, his gaze drifting to the window, his tone dismissive, "Knowing you as I do, you'll only choose this path: destruction before construction. Shift the conflict between the two factions, bring it all to the forefront, and minimize its impact."

Zhou Xiye nodded, "You are a remarkable politician because you see one step ahead of your opponents."

The flattery coming from Zhou Xiye's mouth gave Qingyun an inexplicable sense of unease. She turned to look at her and said, "I'll take you to see Zhou Pei. You can have a good talk with him and choose someone to take responsibility for the follow-up."

Zhou Xiye remained silent and did not speak.

As the car drove into Qincheng Prison, Ling Qingyun got out with Zhou Xiye. They stood away from the crowd, and after thinking for a moment, he gave Zhou Xiye a piece of advice: "If you are one, choose the capable person to go forward. Once you reach a certain point, the other person will naturally be rescued."

Zhou Xiye understood this principle and weighed the pros and cons.

“Committee Member Ling, it’s important to be alive, but how you live is even more important.”

Ling Qingyun asked with a smile, "How do you want to live? Zhou Xiye, the Ling family has faced storms along the way. The rise and fall of a family always involves sacrifices. Family history is a history of blood and tears, a history in itself. A few words can summarize their lives. Your choice this time, once recorded, will only be five or six words. If you want to become a line of text, you should understand how to choose... Besides, you, my non-blood-related brother, understand better than I do how to choose."

He's right. A rational analysis shows that Zhou Pei wasn't Chinese. His bloodline would limit his potential. China has never been a country of immigrants, and it certainly wouldn't allow someone of foreign descent to become a leading figure in the military. Even with General Chiang's protection, how Zhou Pei would proceed and where he could go were all questions.

But Zhou Xiye is different. She's Chinese, has been to the front lines, and worked at the grassroots level. She has the ability and experience. Being young isn't a problem; she can serve as the municipal party secretary for a few years, then work her way up the provincial party committee to qualify for a central government position. However, the biggest limitation Zhou Xiye faces is her gender.

Gender is nothing compared to bloodline.

Looking at the calm Zhou Xiye, Ling Qingyun raised his hand and patted her shoulder, "Taking Wu does not require me to do it myself, but after it is pacified, Your Majesty will have to worry about it."

After he finished speaking, he walked forward, while Zhou Xiye stood still and took a deep breath.

Inside the prison, a group of men escorted Zhou Pei out. He was neatly dressed and unrestrained. Zhou Xiye sat behind an iron table, looking Zhou Pei up and down, scrutinizing him closely, wanting to know what had changed about him.

Zhou Pei walked to the table, and the people behind him dispersed. One by one, the bright lights in the room turned on, brighter than daytime. Every detail of the two men was displayed on the surveillance camera; the entire room was filled with cameras.

Their every move was being monitored.

Zhou Pei sat down, placed her hands on the table, looked at Zhou Xiye, her Adam's apple bobbed, and after a few seconds she smiled, "Sister, it's been a long time."

Zhou Xiye opened her mouth to speak, but a sob escaped her lips first, and she couldn't utter a word. She turned her head away, took a deep breath, and only after calming down did she turn back to meet his gaze.

"...Long time no see, how have you been?"

Zhou Pei nodded. "Sister, I'm doing well. How about you? I heard you..."

Zhou Xiye looked at him, as if he had suddenly remembered something, "Zhou Pei, you mobilized fighter jets and military tanks without authorization. What punishment did General Jiang give you?"

After thinking for three seconds, Zhou Pei said, "It's just like what you see now, sister."

Zhou Xiye frowned. "So you're taking my crimes on me too?" Zhou Pei's actions not only made people think that turmoil had occurred, but also sparked rumors—rumors circulated that there was a list of people who were rebelling, but in fact it was all fabricated. He must bear the consequences of his mistakes.

As for why the army was mobilized without authorization to rescue people? What level of person is this? Does he deserve military assistance? It doesn't make logical sense.

Since he's going to take responsibility anyway, he might as well take it all—Zhou Pei's rebellion implicated many disloyal people and dragged others down with him, and Zhou Pei will pay the price for it. This kills three birds with one stone: the Emperor can quell the unrest, denying reformers a chance to rise to power; eliminate dissidents within the army; and prepare for a military unification.

Sacrificing the Zhou siblings is the best deal imaginable.

Zhou Pei nodded and said resolutely, "We only need one of us to sacrifice. Sister, my life was originally yours, and this time I'll give it back to you."

"If I saved you for this day, I'd rather not have you at all."

She straightened her expression and said, "I will take responsibility for my own actions. You also mobilized the army because of me. I will bear the consequences of all of this."

Zhou Pei chuckled lightly, "Mobilizing the army was my decision, it has nothing to do with you." He leaned back, shook his head, and said distantly, as if Zhou Xiye had no right to make any decisions for him or make any demands on him. "This matter is up to me."

Zhou Xiye straightened her back, intending to adopt the demeanor of an older sister to discipline him. Just like before, when he first arrived in China and didn't know the rules, Zhou Xiye had disciplined and educated him.

But Zhou Pei didn't give her a chance; he stood up and walked away.

The door clicked and then stopped. Zhou Xiye sat in the chair, her back still straight. She looked around, squeezing out the last bit of freedom in the enclosed space. "Secretary Zhou, please come out."

Someone reminded Zhou Xiye, and she slowly stood up and walked out numbly. The sky inside the cubicle was square, and the political prisoners came out for fresh air. Zhou Xiye looked at them through the fence, and they looked back at her, their eyes filled with vicissitudes.

For a moment, she had a strange feeling.

The whole of Beijing, the place she longed for so much, became dim and lifeless because of one person.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Zhou Xiye turned around to look. The person smiled and said, "I still want to congratulate you on getting out of this mess unscathed. But as I said before, winning the war is only the first stage. Whether it can be translated into political achievements is the most important thing."

Ling Qingyun walked to her side. Zhou Xiye looked up at the sky, her voice filled with despair, "Committee Member Ling, I can write a confession and take all the blame upon myself..."

“Zhou Pei has already done that,” Ling Qingyun interrupted Zhou Xiye. “Since that’s the case, don’t look back, just move forward.”

He walked down the steps, got into his car, and left.

Ling Qingyun drove directly to the hunting grounds. The pine forest was dense, and guided by the guards, he found the host who was hunting.

“Zhou Pei takes full responsibility, so… Zhou Xiye, what are your thoughts?”

Ling Qingyun briefly explained the whole story and their conversation. After listening, the Emperor nodded, holding his gun, and looked around at the scenery.

What are her plans?

"Back to Kunming this afternoon."

Several birds flew out in the distance. The Emperor saw them, raised his gun, and aimed at the birds. "She doesn't rely on any faction?" He chuckled softly, moving his body in the direction of the birds. "A lone bird doesn't live long..."

"Smack—"

The bullet left the barrel, and the bird fell to the ground.

At the airport, airplanes soared into the blue sky.

Three hours later, Beijing received information that the plane flying from Beijing to Kunming had crashed over Fuxian Lake. The seasoned captain, in a moment of crisis, saved all the passengers on board; however, part of the Fuxian Tower collapsed.

What gave the airline the biggest headache was that Zhou Xiye, the Party Secretary of Kunming, was on that plane.

According to rescuers at the scene, Zhou Xiye became disoriented and delirious after being rescued.

When the news reached Ling Qingyun's ears, he was momentarily dazed, then smiled. Her political future was ruined, her family destroyed, and the two pillars of Zhou Xiye's life were shattered. The plane crash… Heaven still favored her, sparing her life.

It is fate, it is fate.

Ling Qingyun felt regretful; if Zhou Xiye had been on his team earlier, things might have been very different. To him, this was just something to talk about after dinner, but to Ling Xingzhi, it was like a thunderbolt striking him directly.

“Zhou Xiye is finished. The position of Party Secretary of Kunming is yours…” Ling Qingyun paused, “But you should go back after a while. Your relationship with Zhou Xiye is too close, lest it arouse the Emperor’s suspicion. During the reformist era, the Emperor already lost trust in the Ling family… After staying in Kunming for a few years, I will help you get promoted to the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee. A position in the central government is not far away.”

Ling Xingzhi ignored Ling Qingyun's words. His hands and feet were ice-cold. A vibrant life was decaying. The turbid energy trapped in his heart kept him awake at night and unable to wake up during the day.

“I won’t go,” Ling Xingzhi stood up. “Dad, I will not serve as the Party Secretary of Kunming. As long as Zhou Xiye is alive, she will be the Party Secretary.”

"Bullshit! She's mentally ill now. Even if you don't take her place, someone else will!"

"Ling Qingyun!" Ling Xingzhi suddenly roared. A fleeting image flashed before his eyes: Zhou Xiye's lonely yet resolute back. She slowly walked in, and the door closed. He assumed that, as always, she would come out smiling, ready to outwit him.

But deep down he felt he was wrong, that he should have gone in and stayed with Zhou Xiye.

He was wrong.

He should firmly choose her.

"Ling Xingzhi!" Ling Qingyun picked up a teacup from the table and threw it at him. Ling Xingzhi didn't react quickly; the cup hit his face, then fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. Scalding tea splashed onto his face and body. Ling Xingzhi felt that the tea had come at just the right time. He had thought things through and understood.

That weak, hesitant, and indecisive leader needs to wake up.

"Wake up, Ling Xingzhi. Zhou Xiye has nothing. She's all alone. Her life and death are not up to her. Put away your ridiculous sympathy. When Kong Lingqi left, weren't you heartbroken for a long time, only to forget her as soon as you turned around? What made you forget? It was reality, the privileges and wealth you possess."

Ling Xingzhi didn't listen to Ling Qingyun's words before turning around and walking out.

"Where are you going?!" Ling Qingyun roared.

Ling Xingzhi pushed open the door. "I'm going to find her," he said, turning his head to look at her. "It's because of her that I want to stand with her."

"Idiot! You dare go?!"

Ling Xingzhi gave a mocking laugh, and said rationally and calmly, "Yes, I'm going. I'm not only going, but I'm going to follow her. You can't stop me, or... you can send someone to shoot down my plane."

"Follow her? She's a hopeless case, destined to linger on for a pittance. What are you going to do there?! Without my orders, you're not allowed to leave Beijing!"

Ling Xingzhi ignored Ling Qingyun's rebuke; he wanted to leave Beijing, even if he had to crawl out.