Nathan Ye became a hero overnight, revered by thousands. Meanwhile, Duke Liu remained a target of public hatred, forced to hide in the shadows. Though he felt the sting of public scorn, he remained unfazed. For Duke Liu had long abandoned his reputation to serve a greater cause—reviving the Zhou Dynasty. In this way, he bore the title of traitor, sacrificing his good name for the nation.
"Indeed," Emperor Zhou sighed, "the death of Gavin Tsai He, though unintended, will undoubtedly provoke the Yuhua Sect. Once they learn of the news, they won't rest until Nathan Ye is dead."
Duke Liu's eyes gleamed, his mind racing with possible solutions. "Your Majesty, I have thought of two possible ways to save his life."
"What are they?" Emperor Zhou's face lit up with hope.
"First, Nathan Ye could tarnish his own reputation, joining the so-called 'traitors' and openly aligning himself with the Immortal Sect as their subordinate. In doing so, he may have a slim chance of survival."
Emperor Zhou shook his head, smiling wryly. "Knowing his character, that seems impossible. His conduct today in the Golden Throne Hall showed him to be a man of fierce principles and deep-seated resentment toward the Immortal Sect. How could he ever submit to them?"
"I agree," Duke Liu replied, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "His soul is forged of steel. To the likes of Nathan Ye, submission is worse than death."
Emperor Zhou, impressed with his assessment, leaned forward. "What, then, is the other option?"
"If submission is impossible, then he must become powerful enough that even the Immortal Sect cannot easily kill him."
Emperor Zhou's brows furrowed, sensing Duke Liu's implication. "You don't mean... the Sacred Academy?"
Duke Liu nodded, reverence filling his voice. "Indeed. The Sacred Academy, hallowed ground of the Confucians, still brimming with a wealth of righteousness. To this day, its aura remains unbroken, awaiting one worthy of carrying the legacy of virtue and knowledge. The Academy Head once said, 'So long as righteous energy remains in this world, the Sacred Academy will never fall.' He foretold that one day, a figure of wisdom and strength would arise, someone who embodies compassion and selflessness and who dares to face death."
"Such a person would not just survive but thrive within the Academy. And the power of the Academy would then flow through him, sustaining and strengthening him beyond mortal limits."
"Yet," Emperor Zhou noted, "the Sacred Academy is not easily opened."
"True," Duke Liu continued. "Since its sealing, it requires a great sacrifice of national fortune to gain entry. Only one man per dynasty can be granted access, and the cost is steep. Your Majesty, do you feel that Nathan Ye is worthy of such an investment?"
Emperor Zhou pondered this, finally nodding resolutely. "For a national hero, I am willing to pay any price. Had it not been for him, the Immortal Sect might have forced a seventh kingdom upon us. The national fortune lost from that would be far greater."
His mind made up, Emperor Zhou considered the risks ahead. "Still, the Academy has been sealed for so long... no one knows what awaits within."
Duke Liu's expression softened, speaking to the emperor as an elder might to his younger self. "Your Majesty, the unknown has always been the realm of greatness. Those who will guide the future must embrace it. If we are to entrust Nathan Ye with this responsibility, he must be tempered by fire, not shielded from it."
Emperor Zhou nodded, the gravity of his duty settling within him. "You're right, Duke Liu."
Duke Liu inclined his head. "The Yuhua Sect will be busy with their founder's birthday celebrations for some time, giving us a window. In the meantime, I would like to test Nathan Ye's character."
The emperor raised a brow. "You doubt his loyalty?"
"Not his loyalty, but his endurance," Duke Liu clarified. "Young men are often brave yet untested. Throughout my years, I've seen many bold young men like Nathan Ye, unwavering in spirit, only to waver under temptation."
Emperor Zhou, impressed by the logic, asked, "How do you plan to test him?"
Duke Liu smirked knowingly. "The simplest test of a man's spirit is his reaction to temptation."
"Temptation?" The emperor's face colored slightly. "Do you mean...?"
"Precisely," Duke Liu replied with a knowing smile. "A beauty such as Clara Xiao, a woman of formidable cultivation and unparalleled charm, will serve as a perfect test. If Nathan Ye can resist, he will prove himself worthy."
"But if he cannot..." Duke Liu's voice held a hint of sorrow, "then the Sacred Academy may not be for him. We must hold to our standards, Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhou agreed solemnly. "Then it shall be as you say."
As they concluded their plan, Duke Liu departed. Emperor Zhou, returning to her chambers, dismissed her attendants. She removed her imperial robes, standing alone before a bronze mirror in a simple, moon-white garment. From the shadows, a veiled woman approached, carefully removing the jade pendant around Emperor Zhou's neck.
The instant the jade left her body, the emperor's form subtly shifted. Her features softened, her figure now radiant with feminine grace. Snowy skin, slender waist, a figure embodying beauty and strength. She gazed into the mirror, seeing not an emperor but a woman who had sacrificed her true self for the empire's survival.
"Your Majesty," the veiled woman murmured, "you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
Emperor Zhou did not answer, silently staring at the reflection of a beauty whose existence could never be known. Only in the dead of night could she dare to reveal her true self.
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