“Zhizhi, brother…” Cui Shenghe sighed softly and reached out to hold Zhao Zhi’s hand.
“Zhizhi, you know my ambitions lie elsewhere. I’ve grown accustomed to traveling and trading with you. Since childhood, I’ve longed for the distant lands of the martial world, not the high halls of power. This throne is nothing but a heavy shackle to me. But you are different. You have been intelligent and quick-witted since childhood and have always been groomed to be an empress. You are more suited to be a wise ruler of the Yun Dynasty.”
"You... how did you know..." Zhao Zhi was shocked and utterly astonished.
“Zhizhi, have you ever thought that you are just the legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary, and your father and Prince Rui are sworn enemies, yet your mother persuaded you to marry Prince Rui, thus avoiding having you enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection? Why is that? Because your mother knew all along that you and Zhao Yi are siblings. She and Empress Dowager Zhang arranged tutors for you from a young age, teaching you the art of being an emperor, and she must have known that whether it is the Yun Dynasty or the Great Xuan Dynasty, you will eventually have to choose one to become the empress.”
"Why?" Zhao Zhi felt as if all of this was a path that had been designed from the moment she was born.
"Because your mother knew the secrets of the two emperors of Da Xuan and Yun Chao. She knew that they would not have an heir to the throne in their lifetime."
Cui Shenghe stopped there and didn't continue the topic.
"I'll find an opportunity to tell you the inside story later. Just focus on your pregnancy and childbirth. Once you give birth to your son, I'll announce your identity to the public. Since you're going to be revealed as the legitimate heir of the Emperor and Empress, you'll need a new name. After much thought, I've taken the character '禾' from your name '稚' and named you '云禾'. Do you like this name?"
"Yunhe, Yunhe." Zhao Zhi silently repeated it twice. Thinking of how Cui Shenghe cherished their past relationship and preserved the meaning of her original name, she couldn't help but smile. "I like it very much, thank you, brother."
Cui Shenghe smiled gently, his eyes full of doting and relief. "Zhizhi, we are siblings, why should I thank you? Recently, many ministers have been pressuring me to select concubines. I couldn't bear to see so many young women wasting their youth in the harem because of me, so I put this heavy responsibility on your shoulders. Please don't blame me."
"Oh, brother, you're so mean! You... so that's what you were planning!" Zhao Zhi exclaimed, both amused and exasperated. "No wonder you suddenly brought up the throne with me! Humph, just as I thought, a businessman doesn't do business at a loss!"
Cui Shenghe looked at her with a doting smile: "I thought you would say that merchants don't get up early for nothing! But, Zhizhi, in fact, governing a country is not much different from doing business."
He stood up and said slowly, “Merchants certainly value profit, but this ‘profit’ is not the same as that ‘profit.’ Governing a country, while not directly measured by gold and silver, must be based on the well-being of the people and the long-term plan for the prosperity of the nation. The ‘profit’ here is the stability of the country, the happiness of the people, and the most solid footprints that we can leave in the long river of history.”
Do you know why wise rulers throughout history have always prioritized 'benevolent governance'?
Zhao Zhi hesitated before answering, “Because he can win the hearts of the people. The ruler is the boat, and the hearts of the people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it.”
Cui Shenghe nodded, agreeing with her words.
"The bigger reason is that it conforms to the general trend of the world, achieving the greatest harmony with the least 'sacrifice'. Just as integrity is the foundation of business, so too is the governance of a country, which must be based on the will of the people in order to consolidate its foundation."
"Zhizhi, this world is not only a man's world, but also a world where women can make great achievements."
At this point, Cui Shenghe's eyes became exceptionally firm. He gently patted Zhao Zhi's shoulder and encouraged her, "Zhizhi, you don't need to feel any burden. Remember, no matter how bumpy the road ahead may be, your brother will always be your strongest support. Let's work together for the sake of this country and the well-being of all people."
As Zhao Zhi listened to Cui Shenghe's words, she was deeply moved, a feeling she had never experienced before.
She knew that if she agreed to become the empress of the Yun Dynasty, she and her brother would face far more difficulties than they had imagined.
Compared to her elder brother Zhao Yi, she would rather accept the arrangements made by Cui Shenghe, the new emperor of the Yun Dynasty.
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