Chapter 323: The Perspective is Too Small
Ever since that day when Huo Ningxue slapped her younger brother, she’s been feeling guilty and constantly wanted to check in on Huo Ming.
However, for the first few days, Huo Ming completely locked himself away, not even attending school.
Huo Ningxue thought he was upset with her, and several times she tried to visit his room but never got to see him.
A few days later, he finally went back to school.
But his classmates reported that Huo Ming’s recent behavior was quite unusual.
He often sat alone in a corner of the classroom, hugging a book and zoning out, not responding to anyone. Even when Young Master Cao and Xiang Zimo called him to play his favorite game, “Original Immortal,” he showed no interest.
He had become melancholic and deep, often sighing for no reason, with a troubled gaze.
Nobody knew what was wrong with the young prince.
Huo Ningxue was especially worried. She feared that her slap had left a profound psychological scar on her brother’s young mind.
They all say childhood traumas are the hardest to heal, and thinking about this made Huo Ningxue unable to eat.
Finally, one day after school, she couldn’t help but stop Huo Ming, who was walking alone in the courtyard.
“Huo Ming, you haven’t talked to your sister in a long time.”
Huo Ningxue apologetically said, “If you’re still mad at me, I’m really sorry. It was my fault.”
After a long silence, Huo Ming suddenly bowed deeply and spoke gravely:
“Sister, you were indeed wrong.”
“Yes, yes! I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hit you. If you forgive me, I can buy you—”
“As a ruler of a kingdom, you shouldn’t indulge in luxuries or stay aloof. You should immerse yourself among the people and understand their struggles.”
Huo Ningxue: “…Huh?”
“Sister, look at the current Holy Kingdom.”
Huo Ming’s eyes were clear, his voice powerful: “Class distinctions are sharp, and conflicts are increasingly prominent. Nobles and officials own almost all the land, while commoners can only survive by relying on cultivators.”
“Nobles feast on rich foods all day, while common folk barely have plain meals. The production resources are slow to reach the common people, while cultivators are lost in their pleasure-seeking, ignoring production.”
“If this continues, the Holy Kingdom will lead to a life of despair for the people, and risks being overthrown!”
Huo Ningxue certainly didn’t understand what Huo Ming was talking about.
He seemed to be discussing some new form of governance.
But since she usually just listened to Young Master Sang and Li Shanyan about such matters, she could only stare at her brother in silence.
“Uh, Huo Ming, you didn’t… get your heart broken and lose your mind, did you?”
“Of course not.” Huo Ming shook his head. “I’ve never been clearer than I am today.”
“I was previously focused on romance, but that was just my narrow view.”
“Now, not only in the Holy Kingdom and Tianlang City, but there are so many oppressed commoners globally, waiting for rescue and unity. How can I be entangled in trivial love and indulge in pleasure?”
“I have made up my mind.” He bowed deeply, “From now on, I will switch my studies to manual labor, personally experiencing the life of the common people and witnessing the root problems of the Holy Kingdom.”
“One day, I will ensure that the citizens of the Holy Kingdom live happy and abundant lives!”
Huo Ningxue was stunned.
He was speaking in coherent sentences, so why couldn’t she grasp the meaning?
But at least she understood the last part.
“By the time you grow up and take the throne, if you really have such ambitions, why not start preparing now and transform the Holy Kingdom into your ideal?”
“I will remember!” Huo Ming nodded earnestly.
“Alright, then I’m off to study.”
After bidding Huo Ningxue farewell, Huo Ming took out that thick book and began to read while walking, deeply engrossed as if he were isolated from the world around him.
Huo Ningxue stared at his retreating figure, murmuring to herself:
“Maybe… this isn’t so bad?”
As she turned, Huo Ningxue suddenly noticed Young Master Sang peeking around the corner, eavesdropping on everything.
“…National Master.”
Huo Ningxue narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Sang Zhe, “Is this your promised explanation to me?”
Sang Zhe: “…Ahem.”
“At least from the outcome, hasn’t the young prince reconciled with Her Majesty? I haven’t let Her Majesty down.”
Huo Ningxue shot Sang Zhe another glance, but she couldn’t bring herself to criticize him too harshly, only sighing in resignation.
“Sigh. National Master.”
“Do you really think this is a good direction for Huo Ming to go?”
Sang Zhe thought for a moment and said seriously, “Perhaps in the short term, it might not seem like a good thing for the young prince.”
“But in the long run, it will certainly be beneficial.”
“I believe the young prince will become the wise ruler that Her Majesty envisions.”
For some reason.
Perhaps it was Sang Zhe’s words that carried a magical quality.
After hearing his assurance, Huo Ningxue suddenly felt much calmer.
She even started to fantasize about Huo Ming’s future after taking the throne.
“As long as Huo Ming grows up and inherits the throne…”
Huo Ningxue’s gaze softened suddenly: “My wish will be fulfilled.”
Sang Zhe suddenly remembered something and asked, “Your Majesty, if you plan to pass the throne to the young prince in the future, what do you plan to do?”
“Me?”
Huo Ningxue was taken aback.
She had never really thought about it.
For Huo Ningxue, her past life was mainly about surviving.
How to protect her brother.
How to gradually take the throne so no one dares to bully them.
She wasn’t clever enough. Just figuring out how to survive and play the role of an empress was already exhausting.
But after Huo Ming ascended, what was she supposed to do?
She didn’t know.
Even just thinking about this question suddenly filled Huo Ningxue with a sense of inexplicable emptiness and loneliness.
After a long silence, Huo Ningxue finally whispered, “I… don’t know.”
“What should I do?”
Sang Zhe thought for a moment and said, “Does Your Majesty have no desires? Dreams from the past, things you wished for but couldn’t have?”
Huo Ningxue tried to think hard.
Dreams from the past… she hadn’t considered that.
But her thoughts strangely drifted elsewhere.
Huo Ningxue suddenly recalled what her mother had told her.
…When you meet the person who can amaze you for a lifetime.
…You will understand.
She was a bit curious.
What would it feel like to make her mother express such happiness?
Even someone as clumsy as me.
Could I meet someone who would amaze me for a lifetime?
“I want…”
She lowered her beautiful eyes, speaking in a shy tone that Sang Zhe had never heard before:
“I want to try dating.”
Sang Zhe: “…?”
Why do I feel like I’ve heard that line somewhere before?
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