Daphne asked with a smile, "Why?"

"I think your great-uncle didn't ask you to record, you just want to get some leverage over me," Yang Ming laughed, "Now we can talk openly."

Daphne stretched out her hands, "Aren't you going to search me?"

"No need, I have confidence in my little gadgets."

Yang Ming tapped a few times on the dial of his watch, and a shield enveloped the two of them.

Yang Ming said, "At the time, not many thoughts crossed my mind. Yes, I respect my parents immensely, but compared to my responsibilities, I was indeed willing to sacrifice them."

Daphne's eyebrows twitched slightly, but she remained polite, not interrupting Yang Ming.

Yang Ming sighed,

"What I was thinking then was, if I chose His Majesty's reputation and sacrificed my parents, it would cause my credibility with the public to crumble.

"I care more about how the people perceive me, and this is also the fundamental reason why His Majesty values me so highly.

"The Empire can create more powerful supermodified people at any time, but those who can be recognized by the people and possess their own powerful deterrent force in combat are rare.

"Public opinion and trust are my political foundation, the Emperor's patronage and rewards are just branches extending from this foundation. If it were you, would you protect your foundation or this outcome?"

"The foundation," Daphne said softly, "but I might take another approach, like making the people feel that your parents should be sacrificed."

"My parents are also citizens of the Empire. In a certain specific environment, they are represented as part of this group called 'citizens,'" Yang Ming said, "This actually implies an equivalent problem, when the Empire is in crisis, as a hero, should I save the people or save the nobles?"

Daphne seemed to be pondering.

Yang Ming said, "Currently, the situation is just that His Majesty doesn't like me anymore, if I'm not mistaken, my territory and rewards will still be issued as usual, and His Majesty will give me these benefits in a grand manner."

Daphne asked, "Have you not thought that my father can take these back at any time?"

"Yes, he could do that," Yang Ming said, "but as long as my public appeal remains intact, he won't."

Daphne quickly said, "The Emperor of the Empire actually doesn't need to care about the feelings of the people. The stable military power and technological barriers make the possibility of rebellion almost zero."

"This isn't the Emperor's intention; His Majesty has been on the throne for decades, and what he wants now is little: historical positioning, public recognition.

Yang Ming leaned forward, staring at Daphne,

"Every emperor who wants to be a wise ruler and leave a lasting name in history will see reputation as more important than practical benefits.

"Material desire is the lowest level of pursuit; spiritual fulfillment is the greatest desire. Have you truly understood what the Emperor desires?"

Daphne paused for a few seconds and then smiled, "So, you made a decision after considering everything comprehensively?"

"In fact, those trash robbers were the ones who cursed the Emperor."

"But this has already become the most serious event in the Empire's modern history in terms of damage to imperial deterrence."

"Perhaps that was the greatest goal of the plotter," Yang Ming said softly, "From this perspective, when the Empire's imperial deterrence declines, who benefits the most?"

Daphne said softly, "The Great Nobles? The New Federation?"

Yang Ming said, "I don't know, but I have been thinking about one question: that batch of warships requires industrial capabilities, who can meet it?"

Daphne nodded slightly, "I will relay your answer verbatim to Uncle-grandfather."

"Thank you."

"Why thank me?"

Yang Ming smiled bitterly, "You can still act as a messenger, so Director Eno won't completely give up on me."

"Uncle-grandfather also has to consider my father's perception, so he didn't come to see you directly," Daphne said, "Can you enlighten me? Why are you urgently in need of this power?"

Yang Ming gently uttered two words, "Secret."

Daphne lightly furrowed her brows, but remained restrained, reserved, and elegant.

She said, "Now you can be assured, father temporarily has no intention of having me marry you."

Yang Ming breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."

Good then!

Daphne pursed her lips and glared, a facial expression that seemed angry.

Yang Ming spread his hands, "I have a girlfriend, and I love Catherine deeply."

"Alright, Earl Hanton!" Daphne stood up and gracefully curtsied, "I enjoyed our conversation today. I hope next time we can have the opportunity to discuss these topics in greater depth!"

Having spoken, she took off the buttons and hairpins, placed them on the table, and turned towards the iron door.

"Take care, Princess."

Yang Ming craned his neck to look and saw Daphne huffily lifting her skirt as she hastily walked away, unable to suppress a laugh.

Is that it?

Competing with him?

She couldn't even last two rounds.

But really, thinking about it, would Han Yin and Han Xiang be implicated by him?

The Old Emperor better not take it out on the two of them.

...

"This isn't fair!"

Inside the Imperial Palace of the Wind Empire, Emilia paced back and forth, clutching her long metal sword.

"This is absolutely unfair! The Emperor asked him to speak, and after he did, the Emperor still wants to punish him! Does an Emperor act this way? Brother, can't you be tougher, and directly protest diplomatically?"

"Revealing our relationship with him will only leave him more passive."

Edwan sighed helplessly,

"Just be at ease, he absolutely won't be harmed, rulers of an empire with that kind of system care the most about public opinion and media.

"The ideological erosion from the New Federation and other countries has made everyone aware of the concepts of democracy and freedom, while the Empire's network remains a unified structure.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.