The air in the council chamber was thick with an unspoken tension, heavier even than the scent of burnt incense that lingered in the room. Despite the recent victory, despite the silence that now ruled the halls where the echoes of war cries had once thundered, Luo Wen knew that the real battle had only just begun. The war had ended, but the challenge of ruling a fractured empire loomed over him like an ominous shadow, one that no sword could cut through.
Before him, the imperial throne remained unoccupied—an emblem of authority, yet paradoxically, a symbol of emptiness. He could not tear his gaze away from it. His mind drifted to a time not long ago, when he had been nothing more than a soldier under the guidance of a man who had known precisely what to do with the fate of an empire. Yuan Guo, his mentor, had been a beacon of wisdom amidst the storm.
"Strength does not lie in the hand that wields the sword, but in the mind that knows when to sheathe it."
The words of Yuan Guo echoed in his mind like a ghostly refrain, a lesson ingrained in him through years of hardship. His master, the man who had led him through the unforgiving tides of war, had never fought for personal ambition, but for the restoration of order. To Yuan Guo, the emperor was not merely an inexperienced child, but the symbol of the dynasty's continuity.
"We are swords to protect, not hands that grasp for the crown."
And yet… was that very belief condemning the empire to another cycle of chaos?
A soft shuffle of footsteps disrupted his thoughts. Jiang Yu entered the chamber, his movements measured, his presence respectful. There was no trace of arrogance this time, no impatience. His usual sharp wit was subdued, replaced by the quiet demeanor of a man who knew he was treading on delicate ground.
"My lord…" Jiang Yu bowed slightly before speaking further. "I know this decision is not an easy one. But time will not wait for us."
Luo Wen did not respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the throne, but his thoughts wandered elsewhere.
"You know me, Jiang Yu," he said at last, his voice low but resolute. "I did not fight for power. I did not kill and bleed for years only to become another tyrant."
Jiang Yu lowered his head in acknowledgment.
"I know, my lord. It is not ambition that brought us here. But… is it truly ambition to ensure the empire has a real chance at survival?"
Luo Wen's fists clenched slightly, his inner turmoil more visible than ever.
"If we seize power by force, how are we any different from the Four Families?"
Jiang Yu took a step closer, his tone careful, almost pleading—but never overstepping.
"With all due respect, my lord, there is a world of difference," he said calmly. "They ruled for greed. We fight out of necessity. You do not seek a throne, you seek stability. But the emperor… he is not a leader. He has no will to protect this land. His Majesty is just a boy who has spent his life in a gilded cage, controlled by others. Can we truly entrust the fate of the empire to him?"
Luo Wen closed his eyes for a moment. Inside him, two forces clashed—his master's teachings, which had instilled in him a reverence for order, and his own instincts, which saw with painful clarity how fragile that order had become.
"Yuan Guo believed in this emperor," Luo Wen murmured, almost to himself. "He thought he could still grow, that he could become the pillar the empire needs."
Jiang Yu did not rush to respond. He knew he had to choose his words with surgical precision.
"Yuan Guo is a man of great wisdom, my lord," Jiang Yu said carefully. "But even he knew that war changes things. The emperor may have potential, but potential does not rule an empire. Not when the land is still bleeding. The empire does not have the luxury of waiting for a child to grow into a ruler. It needs a guiding hand. And that hand cannot belong to someone too afraid to grasp it."
Luo Wen exhaled slowly. At last, his gaze moved from the throne to Jiang Yu.
"And you believe that should be me."
Jiang Yu lowered his head in deference.
"Not out of ambition, my lord. But because there is no one else who can. You have led us through fire and steel to this moment. You cannot turn away now."
The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken weight. Luo Wen felt the burden of the decision pressing down on him like a mountain.
"I need time," he whispered, almost more to himself than to Jiang Yu.
The strategist nodded solemnly.
"Time is a luxury we do not have, my lord," Jiang Yu said, his voice steady. "But whatever you decide… I will follow you."
Jiang Yu stepped back with a final bow, leaving Luo Wen alone with his thoughts.
Though the emperor technically sat upon the throne, true power lay elsewhere. Luo Wen controlled the military and the governance of the capital and its surrounding provinces. The choice before him was monumental: to relinquish that power and trust that the young emperor would rule wisely, or to retain control and establish a government that could truly rebuild the empire—even if it meant reducing the emperor to a mere figurehead.
Slowly, Luo Wen stepped toward the throne, his footsteps echoing in the vast, silent chamber. Reaching out, he let his fingers brush against the cold metal of the seat, feeling the weight of history pressing against his palm. He knew, with unwavering certainty, that no matter what he decided, his choice would shape the course of the empire for generations to come.
Returning power to the emperor would honor Yuan Guo's ideals and preserve the legitimacy of the dynasty. But was that enough? Could he afford to entrust the future of a war-torn empire to an unproven ruler? The empire was wounded, splintered by years of betrayal and war. It needed a steady hand, someone who could unify the fractured factions and mend what had been broken.
Luo Wen turned away from the throne and walked toward the window. From there, he could see the city he had liberated. The streets, once filled with chaos, now lay quiet, but he knew the peace was fragile. Beneath the surface, tensions still simmered. The Four Families had been defeated, but their influence had not been completely eradicated. Their supporters lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike back.
"What would you do, Master?" Luo Wen murmured, staring at the horizon.
But Yuan Guo was not there to answer.
The decision was his, and his alone.