Sir, take me to rebel (15): 

The old master of the Si family could not bear being attacked by so many people around him. Kneeling on the ground, he pleaded to Si Qi above, his aged face full of disgrace. Yet the words he spoke were all attempts to remind Si Qi of the blood ties between them.

Si Yi, deeply afraid that Si Qi would be upset by this, and unwilling to let anyone take the chance to use filial piety to criticize his master, immediately called people over to gag those fellows and throw them into prison.

After that, the sorcerers began one after another to confess the evil deeds they had committed for the high-ranking officials present throughout the years. Every single crime made the officials of Si gnash their teeth in rage, wishing they could rush forward and strangle these beasts with their own hands.

In less than half an hour, more than half of the ministers of the Qiu court present were dragged away. Those remaining collapsed to the ground with weak legs. Even if they weren’t dead yet, half their lives had been scared out of them.

This court had already rotted to its roots a hundred years ago. At this moment, only swift and decisive action to cut away the rot and completely eliminate the source of the disease would allow further development.

Over the past few years, Si Qi had trained many capable people in Liang Province. Even if the Qiu court underwent a thorough purge, he was not afraid of having no one to use.

Once the problem was resolved, the next step was the cycle of rewards and recognition.

In the army that followed Si Yi all the way to storm the capital, there had indeed been casualties. Many soldiers had bravely killed the enemy during charges, and had likewise earned great merit.

These contributions could not be overlooked.

After the enemy broke into the imperial palace, the common people of the capital were terrified and restless for a while. They heard that the civil and military officials of the court, simply for having contact with sorcerers, were dragged to the marketplace and beheaded. Everyone was horrified, utterly convinced that the emperor of Si was a cruel and unreasonable man.

Some wealthy great households, fearing they might be killed by the emperor under some pretext just like the ministers, chose to cut their losses. They abandoned their vast industries in the capital, took only gold and silver, and planned to flee this place of trouble with their families.

But among the great households, some bolder young men who had once traveled with trade caravans to Si and seen the local customs there had a different view.

“The emperor of Si is not someone who slaughters the innocent. He didn’t reclaim power from the ministers under false pretenses. It was because those ministers and sorcerers harmed the people, and that was what angered him.”

The elders of the households could not understand, saying, “You’re too young and naive. Do you think an emperor cares about the lives of commoners? He doesn’t even care about the lives of ministers—he kills them at will. And you say he would care about livestock-like peasants? That’s as ridiculous as saying an emperor refrains from eating meat out of pity for animals and goes to scold the butcher. Laughable!”

The youths replied helplessly, “But the emperor of Si said himself, before the law, everyone is equal. Those ministers colluded with sorcerers and caused deaths—they naturally had to pay with their lives.”

The elders now looked at their juniors as if at fools, with expressions almost saying “How did I raise such a stupid child?” They scoffed, “So if he says it, it’s true? These days, especially for a bloodthirsty emperor, what’s so hard about saying some nice words to polish his image? Who doesn’t want a good reputation after death?”

The youths sighed wearily, “But I saw it with my own eyes… if you ever met him up close, you’d understand.”

The family heads dismissed them impatiently, “As if you can just meet an emperor whenever you like!”

The youths protested, “But you really can! I’ve met him several times. He works in the government office building. If you wait in the lobby downstairs, you’ll see him. He even gives public speeches in the People’s Square every so often, to promote the laws and basic regulations of Si. Everyone there knows what their emperor looks like!”

The elders were stunned, “What nonsense are you talking about, silly child?”

The youths said weakly, “You’ll see for yourselves later.”

But the family heads didn’t want to wait. They hurriedly packed up, loading carts full of valuables, worrying they’d be robbed by guards when leaving the city.

The youths looked at their elders fretting about how hard life was and how violent soldiers were, their own faces full of speechless exasperation. Later, when news spread that the emperor of Si was going to publicly reward the soldiers, the youths perked up and said, “If you don’t believe me, just go and see for yourself! I guarantee the emperor of Si will appear in person.”

The elders were bewildered, “Rewards? Isn’t that something decided in court? You mean rewarding common soldiers instead of the generals who lead them?”

The youths: “Yes! Soldiers!”

The elders’ jaws almost dropped.

Soldiers—lowly men from peasant families, with no background at all.

Why should such people need rewards? Isn’t a meal enough for them?

And the emperor would appear in person??

“You must have misheard. It’s probably the ministers who will hand out rewards. Hah, Si really knows how to put on a show to win hearts.”

The youths sighed, “But Si really isn’t the same as Qiu was… Please, just believe me this once!”

Nagged by the youths, the elders reluctantly went along after carefully confirming it was safe.

This time the ceremony wasn’t held in the usual open square for celebrations, but inside the imperial palace itself! A vast space that could easily hold tens of thousands, a place officials used daily to reach the audience hall, but that ordinary folk would never in their lifetimes be able to enter.

Many citizens of the capital, intimidated by the emperor’s reputation, hadn’t dared attend. But hearing that the palace gates would be open to all, their curiosity overcame their fear, and they came to the site when the gates were opened.

The grandeur of the palace was beyond their imagination. Many felt that seeing this alone meant no regrets in life. At the same time, they were surprised that the emperor of Si didn’t seem to mind ordinary people entering such a sacred place, which made him feel just a bit closer to them.

Even nobles who weren’t court officials had never been allowed inside before. Now, standing on the smooth bluestone paving before the dazzlingly ornate palace, they felt the trip worthwhile.

The youths who had followed their elders sneered at the sight, unimpressed. They said bluntly, “The houses of Si’s citizens are more luxurious than this. Their windows are made of glass, their floors are smooth concrete covered with carpets or tiles.”

The elders gaped. Looking again at the palace’s brick and stone, it still seemed splendid, but suddenly felt one step lower in comparison.

Following the soldiers’ directions, they soon reached the award site.

A tall platform had been erected, decorated with red-and-gold cloth, solemn and magnificent.

A youth pointed to the red flags flying above. “That’s Si’s national flag. People there often hang it on government buildings, schools, even their homes. Wherever it flies, they know it marks their people, their protection.”

“Once when I visited a small town in Si, I saw a child pick up a dirty fallen flag, carefully wipe it clean, and rehang it on a roadside tree… I realized then that every person in that country loves their land deeply. They can’t even bear to see their flag dirty. If their emperor called, each of them would stand up for their nation. Isn’t that far greater and stronger than how Qiu used to rely on exploiting the people to sustain its fortune?”

The family heads, hearing this, felt their prejudice waver. They sighed, “No wonder Si has grown so fast. If everyone works together for the nation, how could it not rise?”

Even if poor and backward at the start, even if once bullied and oppressed, they could still rise in the shortest time, growing into a force no one could ignore.

The youths added, “And you’ll see—Si’s officials and emperor are nothing like the ones we used to know.”

Just then, music sounded from behind the platform.

It was loud and stirring, full of inspiration. The murmuring crowd fell silent, their attention fixed ahead. Soon, an official in uniform stepped onto the platform, holding a strange object before him. His voice, amplified, was astonishingly loud.

A youth whispered, “That’s a loudspeaker. In remote areas, officials use it to address crowds. In the capital, they already have better sound systems, but here the infrastructure isn’t as advanced, so they use this…”

At the phrase “infrastructure not advanced,” the elders felt a pang of complicated emotions.

This was the imperial palace, built with all the best of Qiu, yet it was only on par with the rural level of Si.

The official’s speech carried no pompous tone, nothing intimidating, and was clear enough for even the less educated to understand. He seemed like a kind, approachable uncle from next door.

When he finally revealed his high-ranking position, the people gasped in shock. They could hardly believe such a legendary figure was patiently speaking to them here.

And… he truly didn’t seem frightening at all, but rather someone you wanted to talk to.

After his introduction, he began recounting the soldiers’ deeds in the war. First, he read the names of the fallen.

The soldiers standing on either side of the platform kept solemn faces as they listened. The common folk dared not utter a sound out of place.

Each name was read, with details of where and how they died, and what contribution they made to the nation.

Even the former Qiu citizens felt moved, thinking, “If Si values even its soldiers’ deaths so much, then surely its emperor treats his people with great care.” They felt a faint envy.

When the names were finished, the official announced that these soldiers’ deeds would be honored, their remains collected and buried in a national cemetery where all could pay respects. Their families would receive pensions, their children education, their relatives jobs—every aspect of their lives cared for. The crowd wasn’t just envious now, but stunned.

Imagine—a soldier on the battlefield, alive or dead, never needing to worry about his family. If he survived, he’d be admired by all. If he died, he’d be honored forever. His wife and children forever protected by the state, never bullied, his parents never left uncared for.

How could such an army not be strong? Even people from the fallen Qiu Dynasty wanted to join the Si Kingdom’s army and serve it.

The Si Kingdom was truly too benevolent toward its own people.

After the solemn ceremony honoring the fallen, came the most thrilling part—the awarding of merits.

One by one, soldiers in mighty armor walked onto the stage, their backs straight, their steps firm, their heads held high. They looked particularly dashing, carrying a visible air of discipline.

Their faces were flushed with excitement, but not a single one spoke out of turn on stage. When the uniform-clad emperor appeared, the people below gasped. None of them had expected this young ruler to truly appear in person, and their nervous yet joyful gazes locked tightly onto him.

If even the former Qiu citizens below were this moved, how much more so were the soldiers standing proudly before everyone’s eyes, waiting for their reward?

As they saw the most exalted man in the Si Kingdom step forward, personally pinning the medals to their chests, these warriors—who had bled without shedding tears on the battlefield—suddenly felt their eyes sting with heat. They tilted their heads back desperately so the tears wouldn’t fall.

Some soldiers, who hadn’t earned glory on the battlefield or hadn’t given their all, looked on with envious red eyes. For this one small medal carried such enormous meaning.

Whether for the practical benefits of promotions or for the honor it symbolized, it was enough for them to boast about for a lifetime.

As round after round of awarding continued, sharp-eyed civilians noticed that some of the recipients were women, and they could not help but cry out in disbelief.

How could women be soldiers? How could women fight in battles? This was…

The crowd stirred noisily, but the soldiers of the Si Kingdom showed no reaction at all.

So what if they were women? Women were people too, and of course they could serve their country, earn honor, and achieve merit. They could charge into battle to kill the enemy, or fall back to heal the wounded; they could take part in strategic discussions or deliver intelligence. There were plenty of ways for them to contribute.

It was only that women in the Qiu Dynasty had been restricted from even auxiliary roles, and the Si Kingdom had no practice of conscripting women, so the number of female soldiers here appeared relatively small.

When the officials calmly recited the deeds of these heroines, the eyes of the women hidden among the crowd below glittered as they looked up at the confident, heroic figures above, their hearts pounding faster without realizing it.

The Si Kingdom treated women the same as men. Not only did it allow them to join the military, but also to study, to work in government offices. Wasn’t this far more convincing than any speech could be? Some clever women of the former Qiu, no less capable than men, were moved. They no longer wanted to spend their lives locked in deep courtyards, wasting their youth. They wanted to live a life that belonged to themselves…

The Si Kingdom… was truly good. It treated its citizens well, down to its very bones—not only with words, but with actions.

To become one of its people must surely be happiness itself…

The grand and stirring ceremony lasted the entire morning. Even though the crowd had stood there for nearly two hours, not a single person felt tired. As they slowly left the palace, they no longer lingered on the scenery, but excitedly discussed everything they had just seen and heard, full of envy for the soldiers and growing admiration for the Si Kingdom.

Walking beside his elders, a young man cautiously asked, “Grandfather, are we still leaving tomorrow?”

The elders paused mid-step, then slowly replied, “I recall you said that in the Si Kingdom, discipline is strict, and soldiers are forbidden from plundering others’ property?”

“Yes,” the youth nodded, “so you don’t have to worry about being robbed when we leave the city. They would never do such a thing. If caught, they would be dismissed, and anything taken would be returned.”

The elder said nothing. The youth pressed on, “You really still want to leave? Wasn’t today’s ceremony convincing enough?”

After a moment of silence, the elder suddenly raised a hand to knock the boy on the head. “You rascal, your heart’s already leaning toward the Si Kingdom, isn’t it?”

The youth chuckled sheepishly, saying nothing.

The elder sighed deeply. “In the end, this family’s future will be in your generation’s hands. You may be flighty, but your judgment isn’t bad.”

The boy’s eyes lit up, but before he could speak, the elder cut him off. “We’ll discuss the details when we return. As for tomorrow… we’re not leaving.”

The boy let out a cheer of joy.

Scenes like this played out across the capital. What seemed like a simple awards ceremony made many of the Qiu citizens see clearly the character of the Si Kingdom, and even of its emperor.

Although some could not understand the emperor’s eradication of the sorcerers, as the Si Kingdom’s ways took root on this land—when people grew accustomed to relying on their own ability instead of fate, when children in schools learned the true meaning of fate and the dangers it brought, when history revealed its harm—slowly, they began to understand the emperor’s foresight. They were grateful that his decision had saved every person on this land and countless future generations.

…

Si Qi arrived during the latter half of the ceremony, quietly finding a corner from which to observe.

The young figure on stage stood tall. Even dressed in the same uniform as the others, his presence could not be ignored.

Looking at him from behind, Si Qi could see that even though the man’s bone structure and physique were entirely unfamiliar, the aura was identical to Chu Feng’s—there was not a single difference.

How had he ever believed this was just some substitute he had trained, even feeling a pang of guilt over it?

His instincts had already recognized who this person truly was.

When the ceremony ended, the emperor stepped down. Spotting Si Qi nearby, the youth’s face lit up in a radiant smile, hurrying over with none of the cold majesty he had worn on stage.

“Sir!”

Bathed in that beautiful smile, Si Qi couldn’t help raising a hand to brush back the hair on the youth’s forehead. Seeing the faint red on his ears, he chuckled, “Why are you calling me ‘sir’ again? Just call me by my name.”

The youth bit his lip shyly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the nearby officials, who were pretending not to look though they were dying of curiosity, and murmured, “I’m used to it, I forgot…”

“Then you’d better get used to it quickly. We still have a whole lifetime ahead of us.” Si Qi’s words made the boy’s breath quicken. “When I take back everything the Qiu emperor stole from you, you’ll return to your true form. Your life won’t end in just a mere twenty or thirty years.”

Seeing the joy shining in Si Qi’s eyes, the boy couldn’t help asking softly, “But what if I don’t change back? Would you still like me?”

He remembered how long ago, when he had asked Si Qi what he liked about Chu Feng, Si Qi had teasingly said he liked his good looks.

Si Qi smirked mischievously. “If I said I only liked your face, would you refuse to change back?”

“…Not exactly,” the boy muttered. “It’s just… I’ve worn this mask so long, maybe I’ll keep it on forever.”

“Oh? So you’re threatening me now?” Si Qi pinched his ear, making his face flush bright red. He wanted to dodge but couldn’t bear to pull away, letting himself be teased.

“You know how deeply I long for you… it’s not just your face I like,” the boy murmured.

Si Qi leaned closer and whispered, “There you go again, saying ‘sir.’”

The youth looked up at him. “Then will you punish me?”

“I’ve only just found you. How could I bear to do anything harsh to you…” Si Qi’s fingers slid from his ear down his cheek, tracing his lips.

The air around them grew warmer.

Turning his back to the passersby, the youth extended his tongue, lightly brushing Si Qi’s fingertip, gazing at him with tender eyes full of unspoken meaning. “Then give me a reward… all those soldiers got rewards, I want one too…”

Si Qi chuckled softly. “What do you want? A star? The moon? Whatever you wish, I’ll bring it to you.”

“I know you can,” the youth’s gaze burned into him. “But I only want the best thing in the world.”

“The best in the world?”

The boy clasped Si Qi’s hand tightly within his own, his eyes blazing as though they could set him aflame.

“Of course—it’s you…”