National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

"Since they want to hold a meeting,

then let’s grant them their wish. Let the meeting proceed as scheduled."

Chu He’s expression was as calm as still water, not a single ripple of emotion in his deep eyes.

It was as if he had anticipated all of this,

and he showed not even the slightest hint of surprise.

He tilted his head slightly and asked softly, "Who will be attending this meeting?"

"All four of the Great Xia Empire’s great families will be there."

Lu Yinxing gently pulled her gaze away from the distant wilderness, where she had been lost in the scenery.

She turned to look at the young, dapper man beside her—Chu He, arguably the strongest person on Blue Star—

her eyes filled with a trace of trust and expectation.

"The four great families?" Chu He raised a slight eyebrow,

a flicker of curiosity and confusion in his eyes.

This was the first time he had ever heard of such powerful family factions within the Great Xia Empire.

Although he had been back in the Great Xia Empire for some time now,

he had never delved deep into the nation’s intricate and deeply rooted network of power.

It was like trying to see flowers in a fog; he could never quite grasp the inner workings.

"Actually, there used to be five great families. But one of them, the Ruan Family,

was completely eliminated by you single-handedly.

Since then, the power map of the Great Xia Empire’s five great families was completely redrawn.

If you include our royal family, it was a system of six great families.

The ancestors of these six families,

every single one of them, were heroes who fought side-by-side through the smoke and flames of war,

risking life and limb to build this vast nation.

They supported each other on the battlefield, sharing weal and woe, and forged the Great Xia Empire of today with their blood and lives.

Unfortunately, time is ruthless.

The descendants of those heroes failed to uphold their ancestors’ original aspirations and unity.

Some gradually lost their way and went astray.

Initially, the bond between the six ancestors was stronger than gold.

Their relationship was seamless, their friendship as deep and unshakable as a towering mountain.

After the realm was pacified,

positions were assigned based on the glorious merits each had achieved in founding the nation.

My ancestor, as was natural, became the Emperor,

while the other five ancestors upheld their loyalty and righteousness,

advising and assisting him wholeheartedly and tirelessly.

Only then was this nascent empire able to find its footing amid the storms

and move toward stability and prosperity.

However, as time went on, people’s hearts changed.

Their descendants gradually grew discontented and ambitious.

They secretly wondered why the Lu Family should be the ones to hold the reins of the Empire for so long.

Some went even further, spouting nonsense behind our backs,

claiming that our Lu Family had occupied the throne for far too long

and that it was time to abdicate and hand over this supreme power to someone else.

Among these families,

the most arrogant and boisterous was the Ruan Family, one of the five.

However, I could see their intentions as clear as day.

While the other families weren’t as brazen or outspoken as the Ruan Family,

deep down they were all secretly scheming for their own benefit,

like an undercurrent beneath a calm sea, ready to whip up monstrous waves at any moment."

Lu Yinxing sighed softly.

Her sigh was filled with the emotion and helplessness of witnessing her family’s fluctuating fortunes.

She slowly recounted this history, long buried by the years, her voice tinged with weariness and gravity.

"I’ve been thinking,

this dispute probably isn’t just because the establishment of the Jinyi Guard

and the emergence of the Shadow Guard have threatened their foundational interests.

They should know that I was the one who pushed for this,

and now it’s an unstoppable tide, a foregone conclusion.

So, it’s highly likely they’re just pretending to resist with all their might,

only to look for an opportunity to de-escalate the situation later,

hoping to get a piece of the pie from the Jinyi Guard’s creation and reap the benefits."

Chu He furrowed his brow slightly,

his eyes, revealing a deep and perceptive wisdom, calmly analyzing the situation.

"I’ve considered what you’re thinking as well.

For this upcoming meeting,

I sincerely hope you can attend in person.

I’m afraid my power alone won’t be enough to suppress their arrogance and rampant ambition.

Back then, if I hadn’t gone against everyone’s advice and invited you here from the Great Jing Empire,

I’m afraid the royal authority I hold would have long been overthrown by their secret plots.

At that time,

the four great families were still unsure just how close our relationship was.

They were fumbling in the dark, filled with uncertainty and doubt.

So they didn’t dare to act rashly, only daring to plot and scheme quietly behind the scenes,

restlessly stirring, like vipers hidden in the shadows,

ready to strike at any opportunity.

During that period,

my highly trained Shadow Guard, who specialize in intelligence gathering, uncovered a crucial piece of information.

They were planning to release some rumors

to test and determine the true nature of the relationship between you and me—

whether you were steadfastly on my side,

or merely on the side of the throne, with no particular loyalty to me personally.

Later, when the Ruan Family had that direct and intense conflict with you,

you acted without mercy, uprooting them and wiping them out completely.

Based on that incident, their analysis was

that you and I had become close allies who share a common destiny, as inseparable as lips and teeth,

like two grasshoppers tied to the same string—neither could get away from the other.