After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

"I don't know the reason either, nor do the two Daoist masters." Xiang Xin chuckled. "However, I'm certain that I really heard Xiao Jiu's voice just now."

"Ling Xiaozi said that it was because I mentioned alchemy that I was able to hear her. If I could hear her before even taking the medicine, wouldn't I be able to see Xiao Jiu immediately after taking it? Wouldn't that allow Xiao Jiu to return to my side?"

"Your Majesty's brotherly love is as heavy as a mountain, and the bond between siblings is even more enviable. Princess Miankang is gentle and charming, but it's a pity she made a grave mistake at such a young age—"

"Shut up!" Xiang Xin roared.

"Killing one's father and lord—"

"I said shut up!!"

The punch landed squarely on Fu Qingbai's left cheek, causing his head to tilt heavily to one side. His fair and smooth cheek instantly became red and swollen. The punch was very powerful, but thanks to his years of martial arts training, he stood firmly in place without wavering.

Then punch after punch came flying, hitting his mouth, eyes, abdomen, and finally a kick to his shin. Fu Qingbai's steady stance collapsed, and he knelt heavily on the ground. He pursed his lips, neither dodging nor flinching, quietly enduring the little emperor's punches and kicks.

"If word gets out that Your Majesty is trying to find Princess Miankang, how will the people view Your Majesty?" Fu Qingbai, despite the pain, spoke each word firmly.

People govern the country and their families with filial piety, regard the emperor as heaven, and the common people are extremely afraid of the emperor and extremely contemptuous of unfilial people. From the top to the bottom, from beggars to the dead, they are most afraid of provoking officials and are most disgusted by their children and grandchildren being unfilial.

Xiang An personally murdered the emperor, and in the hearts of the people, she was already branded as a 'rebellious and unfilial daughter'. If the people were to learn that the current emperor was cultivating immortality for the sake of an unfilial daughter, their resentment would likely escalate.

Fu Qingbai, who only wanted to stabilize the country and ensure peace and prosperity for the people, did not want to cause any more trouble. Even though his selfish desires clamored a hundred times a day to "do as the young emperor says," his personal selfishness seemed so insignificant in the face of the greater good of the country.

With countless lives at stake, how could we allow selfish desires to run rampant?

Xiang An was ashamed: "Is this kid a masochist? He's been beaten like this and he doesn't even know how to dodge."

Despite Xiang Xin's impressive punches, the truth is that while the royal children receive specialized martial arts instruction and rigorous training, they are ultimately delicate and pampered princes and princesses. The training can't be too strict; at most, they only have basic self-defense skills.

With Fu Qingbai's skill of taking on ten men single-handedly, he could knock him to the ground with a single punch.

Sitting in the chair, Xiang An watched in astonishment as he was beaten, watching his fists clench tightly and the veins on the back of his hands bulging from the pain. He was very curious about how long he could endure it, but he overlooked the deeply ingrained ideology of this era that revered the "emperor as heaven."

After a cup of tea, Xiang Xin finally stopped, panting heavily. His sweaty nose and slightly trembling fingers betrayed his exhaustion. Fu Qingbai bowed with his back straight and said, "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty."

Thunder and rain are both blessings from Heaven.

Whether right or wrong, the subject will accept it all.

"You're sick." Xiang An glared at Fu Qingbai and cursed, "If you're not sick, you'd definitely know how to fight back."

After his chest heaved a few times and calmed down slightly, Xiang Xin slowly bent down, gently helped him up, and said, "Fu Qingbai, I know your loyalty. Princess Miankang did make a mistake, but she also received the corresponding punishment. Princess Miankang is dead. Now I am looking for my sister."

Fu Qingbai's dark pupils showed a hint of struggle, but finally returned to calm. He heard himself say, "Your Majesty, no."

Xiang Xin's relaxed arm stiffened, and the smile on his lips also froze. After a long while, his brows slowly furrowed, and he muttered, "Indeed, it won't work. Doing so will ruin Xiao Jiu's reputation, lest those damned lowly people, with their foul mouths and fearlessness, label Xiao Jiu as a vixen who brings disaster to the country and the people."

Hearing this, Xiang An couldn't help but roll her eyes: "I thank you for remembering me when you were a pervert."

No wonder this kid said he wanted her to take him out to play; it turns out he wasn't just saying it, he could think of her for everything, good or bad.

Xiang Xin reluctantly pushed them away, and said in compromise, "Alright, I'll back down. I won't summon Xiao Jiu to appear in the mortal world, but you have to do something for me."

Fu Qingbai cupped his hands and said, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders and am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, even unto death."

"Very good." Xiang Xin was very satisfied with Fu Qingbai's sensibility. "I don't need you to die. Find me a hundred pregnant women."

With his eyelids lowered, Fu Qingbai's eyes were cold: "Your Majesty, I agree with what Imperial Censor Bai said."

"How dare you!" Xiang Xin roared. "Do you even know that I've already backed down?!"

"Ling Xiaozi said: Princess Miankang's spirit needs the blood and flesh of one hundred unborn children to manifest in the world. Just now Your Majesty said to take a step back, and now Your Majesty says you need one hundred pregnant women. I dare to ask, where is Your Majesty's step back?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Xin laughed: "Minister Fu is really stupid. When I said I would take a step back, I did. I want a hundred pregnant women just so they can live to be a hundred years old, not for Xiao Jiu's sake."

"Are you crazy!?"

Even though he had seen so much of Xiang Xin's perverted behavior, Xiang An still couldn't help but curse him now.

What he meant was that he wouldn't use her title as princess to do things, but instead use his title as emperor to arrest people, kill people, refine elixirs, and summon her spirit to appear.

The reasons have changed, but the goal remains the same.

This is a classic case of false advertising.

Looking at Xiang Xin's smug and refined face, Xiang An felt a deep disgust and couldn't help but curse him. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a deep regret. Looking at the situation today, Xiang Xin was a resourceful and intelligent person. If he had been a little more merciful, he would have been very suitable to be the emperor.

"Why waste so much effort on such a perverted thing? Do smart people like to waste their intelligence like this?" Xiang An said regretfully, not forgetting to call it perverted at the end.

Even someone as intelligent as Fu Qingbai could understand Xiang Xin's meaning.

He immediately knelt down deeply: "Your Majesty! Hundreds of women have lost their lives, one with their unborn child! Behind each woman are countless families. This is undoubtedly tearing blood from their hearts! This is truly against the will of Heaven! Your Majesty, have pity on your people. The snow outside has been falling for a month and a half. They are cold, they have no food, and they don't even have clothes to cover their bodies. They are suffering."

"Hmph." Xiang Xin snorted. "Minister Fu, speak frankly. Can you actually do what I ask you to do?"

"Your subject cannot."

"very good."

Xiang Xin took a step back and shouted to the outside world, "Guards! Marquis Anwu cares deeply for the people, is broad-minded for the world, and dedicates himself to serving the people. Starting today, he requests to enter the Star Pavilion, fast daily, and pray for the well-being of the people."

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of guards with swords entered. Fu Qingbai, who was kneeling, suddenly raised his head and stared straight at Xiang Xin, but his face was expressionless and his eyes seemed to contain no hope.

Xiang Xin naturally saw it. He raised an eyebrow nonchalantly and chuckled, "Marquis Anwu, you don't need to worry about me. I've already found the other half of the military tally in your mother's inner bodice."