Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1406 - 16: Imperial Family’s Shadow_2

"If you can’t understand something, there’s no point in thinking about it." Qin Qianbai stood up, "It might be quicker to ask His Highness."

As she said that, she floated out of the window. Qiluo rubbed her hands with envy, "The ultimate realm is so wonderful~ If you want to go to the palace, you go to the palace; if you want to ask the Crown Prince, you ask the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, some people who claim to be free spend their days lounging around at home..."

"Big sister is busy refining the second power and doesn’t have time for trivial matters." Shiyu Ling pouted. She had been busy writing her own fairy tale these days, as deciphering secrets, no matter how many, couldn’t be transformed into actual combat power. In the current situation, having an additional grand skill was more reliable than any shocking secret.

Alandia had been silent since the start, holding the brim of her deerstalker cap. Shiyu Ling reached over to poke her face, "How come the great detective is so unusually quiet? That’s not like you."

"I am contemplating your discovery," she said. "If even the most ordinary transmigrator is considered a disorder factor, then could their stepping into the Grotto Heaven really just be a simple coincidence?"

Shiyu Ling’s expression changed, "Hey, hey, isn’t that a bit of a stretch..."

"What are you talking about?" Qiluo couldn’t keep up with the train of thought.

"In ’Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, there’s a well-known evaluation saying that Cao Cao was ’a capable minister in a time of peace, and a treacherous hero in a time of chaos.’ This means a person’s accomplishments are closely tied to the era they live in. A hero like Cao Cao, born in chaotic times, had the opportunity to rise and become an outstanding figure." Alandia explained, "But what if Cao Cao had been born in a time of peace? If he had never experienced war, would he still be known as the famous hero?"

"You mean..." Qiluo’s mouth slowly gaped open, "Fan Ding Realm would send potentially threatening individuals to another era?"

"Mr. Liu repeatedly emphasized that the core of Fan Ding Realm is stability, and the best way to ensure stability is prevention." Alandia replied, "In a stable world, there shouldn’t be pure accidents; past incidents might have been some kind of ’arrangement.’ Shiyu Ling just said the most secure plan is to kill the disorder factors, but from the higher-ups’ perspective, there’s another choice..."

Qiluo pondered the previous example, thinking that if people went to another era, they might not be who they are now. If Shiyu Ling and Alandia had been born before the secret wars, without the chance to learn the Impermanence Skill, they would probably become ordinary women; without superpowers, she herself would probably never enter the entertainment industry, and Gongsun Ce might become a mundane bureaucrat...

Thinking about this, Qiluo suddenly felt a chill climbing up her spine. She realized these absurd imaginings had been played out on this land for two millennia; Yan Qi, Qin Ming, Liu Zhongwu, and even Situ Yi could have had completely different lives. Yet, the lives they should have had were abandoned under superior will, and the Empire chose a new path for them.

"Should we inform Gongsun Ce about this?" Qiluo felt a bit uneasy, "Previously, he mentioned that the Divine Capital City has an ’information manipulation mechanism.’ After investigating, I feel that it’s quite a terrible thing... I don’t think we should keep this from him..."

"No need." Alandia shook her head, "I used the True World to analyze virtual history. After seeing the analysis result, I believe Mr. Liu’s strategy is correct, and it’s better for Ce to know as little as possible now."

"So you guys do plan to use this virtual history, don’t you? What exactly do you intend for him to do?" Shiyu Ling frowned. She hated this feeling, when these people, who thought they knew best for Gongsun Ce, planned to conceal something from him again, much like how they induced him to believe in himself back in February.

Alandia contemplated for a moment and said something none of them understood.

"Buy time." She said, "The longer Ce is in the Imperial Academy Supervisor’s inner chamber, the greater our chances of success."

·

"Inform the Minister of Rites not to let me see any more nonsense about ’outsiders interfering with politics,’ and let any fools who can’t see the situation clearly leave the Capital gracefully."

"As you command." The white-bearded grand scholar Hong Ruhai wrote swiftly.

"Liu, you take full charge of the Yiji Hall affair; there’s no need to consult me on it." Chi Zijing tossed aside another memorial, "And don’t show me anything about foreign affairs either. In the current situation, there’s no such thing as diplomacy. The whole world shares a common enemy; if we can’t get through this, we’ll all die together." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Finding the desk clear of documents, Grand Scholar Hong took out another file from his sleeve, and softly spoke, "Your Highness, you previously expressed your care for this year’s lantern festival. The mayor and a few historiographers have drawn up this plan. I’ve also dared to add a few notes."

"Great, this is most important!" Chi Zijing’s eyes brightened, "Mr. Hong, you’ve been considerate. Let me take a look..."

Chi Zijing took the plan, and after reading it for half a minute, smiled, "Historical achievements, the Empire’s grand vision... Mr. Hong’s suggestions hit the nail on the head; it’s clear that the historical and cultural promotion is the event’s focus. In my opinion, it could be even more lively. Why not make the images of past emperors into lanterns and place them throughout the city, ensuring that during the festival, every citizen who looks up will see an emperor from the Empire’s history."

This idea was so unconventional and almost absurd that if the Crown Prince’s tutors were here, they would likely exclaim, "This is scandalous," "Your Highness, you must not." Grand Scholar Hong pondered for a moment. He didn’t disagree but cautiously asked, "Should we add plaques with inscriptions under the lanterns for each past emperor?"

"Yes, put up everything as it’s written in the history books."

"I understand." Grand Scholar Hong tidied up the documents and took his leave. He needed to quickly turn the oral decrees filled with ’damn,’ ’pigs and dogs,’ and ’nonsense’ into a beautifully crafted imperial edict.

Chi Zijing relaxed a bit. He pulled a notebook from his desk drawer and flipped through a few pages, then turned to see Qin Qianbai sitting on the window of the Imperial Study Room.

"I wonder what you intend to ask me again, Qin Qianbai?" Chi Zijing waved his hand, "Whatever I know, I’ll surely tell you."

"Your Highness, I have two questions." Qin Qianbai said, "Are the students in the Imperial Academy Supervisor’s inner chamber all disorder factors?"

"They are the most dangerous disorder factors," Chi Zijing responded straightforwardly, "Back then, my father had to use his authority to protect them; otherwise, Fan Ding Realm would revolt because of their presence and would employ Master Jing for extermination."

Qin Qianbai nodded and asked further, "What’s going on in His Majesty’s mind?"

Chi Zijing shrugged and smiled wryly, "How could I possibly know what’s in my father’s mind? I only know that with his character, his choices must all prioritize the ’big picture.’ But the ’big picture’ in his eyes might not be the same as in ours... Even as the Crown Prince, I can’t fathom the emperor’s vision."

"I see, thank you." Qin Qianbai didn’t trouble him further, "You’re back in the Divine Capital and still organizing events."

"Organizing events is good. While those above are worried sick, we can’t let those below worry too, right?"

Chi Zijing stood up, gazing thoughtfully at the festively decorated Divine Capital City.

"By now, Gongsun Ce should have already joined the lantern festival over there," he said, "I remember back then, you still called Yan Qi, Uncle Yan. When did that change?"

"Yan Qi isn’t always the way he usually is." Qin Qianbai said, "Sometimes his demeanor changes... and it’s intimidating."