The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 700: Chapter 700: Willing to Be the Gentleman’s Sword

People always change, and Cui Changxiao dares not guarantee that he will never change in his lifetime. When he’s older, his way of seeing things and landscapes, and his thoughts will certainly be different from now, owing to more experience and the insights accumulated over time.

Just like now, he feels that he’s become less impulsive compared to when he was a teenager.

So he actually quite understands the changes in Song Zhiyuan’s temperament—it’s simply due to more experience, seeing more things, having heavier burdens, and thus approaching matters with more calmness and handling them more smoothly. After all, a slight move can affect the whole, and one cannot act rashly.

Impulsiveness is left for the inexperienced youth.

One more thing he hasn’t mentioned is that because Song Zhiyuan has been an official for a long time, he has turned into a seasoned veteran who knows very well what it means to be close to the Emperor like being close to a tiger.

What, the two of them were once close friends who went through hardships together, so there won’t be problems of suspicion between sovereign and minister?

Ridiculous! The excessive suspicion of an Emperor is an eternal truth, unchanging since ancient times. As an Emperor’s reign lengthens, he becomes increasingly suspicious and unpredictable.

Especially when years pass and the Princes grow up, he becomes more vigilant, wondering if they harbor thoughts of conspiring to dethrone him.

So never fully trust any so-called friendship between sovereign and minister; it’s quite superficial.

Although currently, Emperor Chu regards Song Zhiyuan as his top confidant and key minister, he still doesn’t entrust everything to Song Zhiyuan, and correspondingly, Song Zhiyuan doesn’t discuss everything with Emperor Chu either.

This is a kind of appropriate distance and tacit understanding between the sovereign and his ministers.

Even now, Emperor Chu is inclined to promote new ministers to dilute Prime Minister Song’s power. This is not about anything specific. Firstly, having a single powerful minister is not beneficial, and secondly, it’s necessary to refresh the imperial team with new blood, like that Princely Heir of Jingan, or perhaps himself?

Cui Changxiao is slightly surprised, wondering if his position as an editor is going to change.

”Does Chang Feng have any ambitions?”

Cui Changxiao remained silent for a while before responding, ”Having not yet entered into service, I wish to be the most unconstrained and romantic man of letters; after entering service, I have thought about being a national hero, leaving a name that endures through ages.”

There was a gleam of appreciation in Emperor Chu’s eyes; a person without ambitions is no different from a salted fish drying on the beach.

If our old lady Song Ci were here, she would surely say: My ambition is to be that salted fish.

A kind of salted fish lying on a beach chair holding a high-footed glass, looking at the sea.

Emperor Chu said, ”I too have ambitions. My grand wish in this life is for my Great Qing to be prosperous and peaceful, with nations sending tributes, allowing my Great Qing’s illustrious reputation to resound across the land, entering an everlasting prosperous era.”

”However, on this path, there are always obstacles hindering my progress.” Emperor Chu looked at him, ”Prime Minister Song is my sword, which can secretly harbor sharpness and point to the country. What about Chang Feng, would you be willing to become my other gentleman’s sword, the kind that boldly cuts through all obstacles?”

Cui Changxiao bowed deeply and said, ”I am willing to exert my utmost strength for Your Majesty, to bow to my duties until my last breath.”

”Good! I appoint you as an imperial envoy to purge the pirates in Quanzhou’s two river routes. That is the first thing, and the second...” Emperor Chu moved closer, signaling him to listen more closely.

Cui Changxiao slightly tilted his head, and upon hearing the words delivered to his ears, there was a trace of astonishment in his eyes.

”Does Editor Cui dare to go?”

Cui Changxiao lifted his robe and knelt down, ”I will definitely live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”

Emperor Chu smiled.

Cui Changxiao stood up and watched as Emperor Chu made his way to the Harem while he himself prepared to head home.

Standing in front of the Imperial Study hall, he didn’t move for a long time. He just stood there looking at the sky, and suddenly, the weather changed.

The wind rose, and the clouds moved.