After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

"Black hair, likes to drink, and always carries a sword on his back..." Duan Li paused for a moment after saying this.

The sword... I think I gave it to him.

"This... what this young hero is saying, they're everywhere on the street." Que'er scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed.

"He also had a sachet on him, and the scent was quite unique..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw that Sparrow had a look on her face that said, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"Alright, since that's the case, let's wait until Elder Qi returns before discussing it further," Xiao Ran said, trying to smooth things over.

"Can our eldest brother come back?" Que'er asked, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"Yes," Xiao Ran said firmly.

When she first came to the capital, she disliked the rules of the mansion and always preferred the outside world. Therefore, she often disguised herself as a man, which is how she met Nangong Ming, the playboy prince, and... Master Qi.

At that time, she disguised herself as a beggar in order to participate in the Hundred Talents Gathering. Little did she expect that Master Qi would recognize her. The two became friends after a fight.

"From now on, Xiao Ran's affairs are my affairs, Qi Hong's affairs. We can be considered to be in cahoots as officials and bandits, and we'll be friends in the underworld from now on."

In his previous life, because of the matter concerning the son of the Minister of Works, Lord Qi was indeed arrested, but he was released after only a few days.

But later, Master Qi came to hate the government and eventually drifted further and further away from her.

But she doesn't intend to lose this friend in this life. After all, she does need a lot of information on her path of revenge, and she also wants to know why Master Qi was released.

-

One day, the sky was overcast and a fierce wind was blowing. The wind howled and made the ginkgo tree next to the palace tremble, and its leaves fluttered and flew everywhere.

One of the leaves, like a fluttering butterfly, twirled in the air and finally landed squarely on an official's hat.

Xiao Mu, dressed in solemn court robes, stood quietly before the hall. He looked up at the sky not far away, where lightning flashed and thunder roared. The streaks of lightning, like slender silver snakes, snaked and weaved among the dark clouds, as if trying to tear the gloomy sky apart.

He brushed the ginkgo leaves off his official hat and put it on.

……

"I have made myself perfectly clear! How can I not be grieved that the son of the Zeng family actually murdered the son of a high-ranking official in the court? I have already shown leniency by not exterminating his entire family. Now, is even an exchange of lives for one life not enough? Why does the Empress Dowager always oppose me at every turn?"

"What is most important for an emperor? It is to have the world in his heart and to be compassionate! How will the world view you if you treat ordinary people like Zeng Jitian like this? They will only think you are a heartless emperor!"

Although the emperor was discussing things "in a low voice" with the empress dowager behind a curtain, everyone kneeling on the ground in the entire hall could hear it.

Xiao Mu looked up.

In his youth, he fought alongside emperors on all fronts, and his words were filled with youthful passion and aspirations for his country.

But now the emperor has a few strands of white hair at his temples, and he is no longer the spirited young general he once was.

Time has etched its marks on their faces, and their former ambitions have gradually settled into the past.

"Xiao Mu! You speak!" At this moment, Emperor Jingyang called out his name aggressively.

Xiao Mu stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"In my opinion, Zeng Jitian should pay with his life for the murder he committed; this is a matter of course."

"But... what the Empress Dowager said is not without reason: he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."