The Way of the Empress

Zhuo Yang was rendered speechless when he considered the behavior of these so-called aristocratic sentinel cancers. “At most, this is like the type of contact humans exchanged in ancient earth – holding hands and lifting a shoulder. As the future of humanity, do you think we should be like those in the ignorant and uncivilized people during those olden times where men and women were not even allowed to have contact, and not let sentinels and guides have contact? Can it count as if two people in contact don’t even have physical contact?”

To be honest, he has always felt that the reason why Osphia as a whole could not make progress, and was even going backwards, was because of this group of so-called unruly nobles.

“Yes, whether a guide is clean or dirty is by no means based on who they spiritually touch. It’s not even physical, but based on their soul. Although guides are weak, and in many respects don’t have as strong of an ability as sentinels, guides have their own ability. That is something that can help many sentinels survive, and they shouldn’t just become an accessory and object of a single sentinel.” After Zhuo Yang stood up and spoke, Allen was the first to stand up and support him.

Changdi Qing Dean also immediately came out to second him. “The crown princess and little Duke Allen are right. Osphia’s guide population is already small, and should not be monopolized by a single sentinel. Their spiritual guidance should not be wasted. As a guide, I think we should stand up with the crown princess and contribute to our country, so that more sentinels can continue their lives… instead of being kept at home as an accessory to a superior sentinel, and raise children.”

“I support the views of His Highness, His Highness Changdi Qing, and Little Duke Allen.” After several leading figures came out to speak, Gu Xia, who was the third princess, also immediately stood up and stated his position.

After several high-ranking guides with notable family backgrounds spoke up, the whispers in the room gradually quieted.

However, there are still a few guides who stubbornly adhere to being ‘chaste’, whispering their dissent. “It all sounds good. They are all persuading us to go out and help other sentinels channel their spiritual power, and throw out the rules like those untouchables who help sentinels channel spiritual power now. Why don’t they go out themselves and help sentinels other than their spouses?”

“Yes, aren’t a few of them considered the highest-level guides in the entire empire?”

“Sure enough, born from a poor, civilian familiar, even thinking like those commoners. Letting us precious guides help channel the spiritual power of those sentinels. Isn’t this self-deprecating? How can they even think of it?”

“He looks pretty good, but doesn’t know how to act or behave, and is able to think of such an idea. Just like a commoner.”

“Who cares about the life and death of those untouchables? Their spiritual power is low, and if their family background can’t afford a guide, then so be it! They deserve to die. Living is just a waste of resources!”

“Survival of the fittest, don’t you understand?”

…

There were all kinds of whispers, showcasing their own loftiness from being accustomed to a life of dignity and grandeur. It revealed their contempt for those civilian lives who can’t find a guide, and thoughts on how those sentinels’ deaths are simply survival of the fittest.

Such voices are not too loud or disruptive, making it impossible to tell who is talking.

If Zhuo Yang was a mentally weak person, facing such sarcasm from the aristocratic circle, his mentality would have collapsed, and he would not be able to continue being the host.

Fortunately, his psychological endurance is fairly good. He came in knowing that there would be a fierce battle against this group of stubborn, self-proclaimed nobles.

“Your Highness, you see how these guides are not willing to spiritually counsel all but their own sentinels? I’m afraid such reluctance is not good. Our Osphia pays attention to human rights, especially to the rarest group, the rights of guides… Forcing guides… forcing guides to do what they’re unwilling, I’m afraid it’s not easy.” An old and respected sentinel jumped out as the first one to argue against Zhuo Yang. “Furthermore, when mentally disordered sentinels encounter a guide’s mental guidance, it can often trigger sexual impulses… With such a big gap in physical strength between guides and sentinels, when helping an unfamiliar sentinel guide their spiritual power, if a rape case breaks out, it will endanger the life and safety of the guide.”

This old gentleman’s family birthed many guides, and the whole family was very respected and sought after as marriage partners.

He said so many words that it convinced people, and they responded.

As soon as he came out to speak, many sentinel cancers jumped out and seconded him. “Yes, respected crown princess, just now seemed to be a call for all guides, including unmarried ones, to guide sentinels who can’t find guides outside. There are sentinels waiting to die in the courtyard. Most of them are inferior sentinels. They have low mental power and have little ability. Otherwise, they will not be able to find a guide… What if there are accidents during spiritual counseling, and these unmarried guides are accidentally forced to combine with by these lower-ranking sentinels?”

“Making such a call, can Your Highness afford the responsibility, lives, and chastity of all these guides?” Someone else questioned.

Some sentinels were even more fierce. “The birth rate of sentinels is much higher than that of guides. Putting aside commoners, the highest rate is sentinels, while guides are quite rare. It is difficult to give birth to a guide without pure blood… Now they are almost exclusively born to the royal family and us nobles. This is also the meaning for Osphia’s royal family and us noble’s to exist. Making this call now, if one uses precious guides to rescue those low-level sentinels, if something happens and us high-level sentinels fall into mental disorder, where will we find a guide to help?”

There thoughts are are extremely noble and extremely selfish—

Every thought is their own benefit, and completely disregards the life and death of others.

Zhuo Yang took in a deep breath. Unsurprised by the situation, he quietly listened until they finished talking and expressing their opinions.

“First of all, I want to make it clear to everyone that I am calling on us to act, not forcing us. His Royal Highness and I will not force any guide, or anyone, to do things that they do not want to do. We fully respect each person’s wishes. Second, regarding those mentally disordered sentinels rioting, raping, or other safety problems when guides are helping… We have carefully consulted the medical team and designed a complete plan. Those guides who are willing to volunteer will be inspected, analyzed, and assigned to mentally disordered sentinels according to one’s level. The mentally disordered sentinel will be controlled, and the corresponding or even higher-level guide will be in a designed medical cabin. With the protection and help of medical staff, we can help mentally disordered sentinels carry out mental counseling… and can completely guarantee and prevent the occurrence of rape and endangering a guide’s life.” He looked at the crowd, neither humble nor overbearing, without any stage fright, and boldly spoke.

After hearing that Zhuo Yang made it clear that this was only a call, not a compulsion, the voices doubting and opposing the idea decreased. Although there were still people who still continued complaining. “Why do you think us honorable and noble guides should do such laborious things and help them?”

“As long as it is not mandatory, whoever loves to go, call on them. Anyway, I won’t go…”

But the voices opposing the idea was far less intense than before.

Taking another deep breath, Zhuo Yang watched them as he said word for word: “Third, as the initiator of this call to action and the most spiritual guide in Osphia, I will be the first to volunteer to help lower-level sentinels relieve their spiritual power, and make my my own insignificant contribution to this country and all the people in it.”

As soon as his voice fell, the audience was silent. Everyone was incredulous, and stared at him in disbelief.

“Your Highness…”

“…Your Highness…”

It was as if he had done a terrible thing that shocked the world.

Who is Zhuo Yang? The current crown princess of Osphia, the future queen… the empire’s most venerated guide.

It’s fine if he gives speeches and calls on others to take action to help commoners, but how can he do something like this himself? Doesn’t he feel sick using using his mental power to enter the spiritual seas of those low-level sentinels? He’s a member of the royal family. How can he do such a thing?

Does the crown prince agree?

These so-called nobles all have hard bones and are stubbornly conservative and their minds are stuck in the feudal era. Zhuo Yang saying such a thing is too much of a shock.

Many people even started to dislike him in their hearts. Doing such things with those untouchables; he is worthy of being a child born to an untouchable. The crown prince is a sentinel of the royal family, but has such a shameless, unchaste crown princess. Sooner or later, he will dump him, and even if he doesn’t, he will find other ‘clean’ lowers in the future.

Others secretly thought in their hearts: no wonder everyone said that nobles cannot marry common people. How can the crown princess say such a terrifying thing?

None of them dared show it on the surface though.

Therefore, the scene was suddenly silent, and no one spoke.

“Papa–”

Lieutenant General Chu Lie took the lead and clapped his hands. As a sentinel, he took the lead in supporting Zhuo Yang’s practice.

Chu Lie is Allen’s adopted brother. Because of the excellent relationship between Zhuo Yang and Allen, he has met Lieutenant General Chu Lie, commander of the Wild Lion Legion, several times. The other party has always been expressionless and bitter, and doesn’t care about people very much. It’s as if nothing can be seen in his cold and frosty eyes. Only when he sees Allen, will there be a bit of unnoticeable warmth.

He doesn’t know why, but although Zhuo Yang and Chu Lie have only met a few times and haven’t exchanged many words, perhaps it was Allen’s influence, Zhuo Yang not only doesn’t hate him, but also has a very good impression and admires the other party as a sentinel very much.

Seeing Chu Lie applaud, Zhuo Yang immediately gave him a grateful look.

Chu Lie was expressionless, and didn’t look at him one second longer.

But with this legion commander taking the lead, everyone seemed to know how to respond.No matter what they thought in their hearts, they followed Chu Lie’s applause and praised the greatness of the crown princess.

Applause sounded one after another, and the venue became enthusiastic.

“Like HIs Highness, I will also go help those mentally disordered sentinel for free, help them extend their lives, and make my own contribution to society.” Allen immediately followed Zhuo Yang and announced his position.

Changdi Qing chuckled, and joined in. “Count me, your Highness… Although I am older, as a member of the royal family, I have been pampered for so many years, and have always wanted to give back to my country.”

With their leadership, some guides and wives of the crown prince’s party immediately responded, echoing Zhuo Yang’s decision. Whether they themselves agreed, they all expressed their family’s willingness to help guide those sentinels who were mentally disordered, and use their own meager power for the country.

Regardless of the process, the banquet initiated by Zhuo Yang for aristocratic guides to help channel the spiritual sea of mentally disordered sentinels and prolong their lives, calling on them to make their contribution to society, finally came to a successful conclusion.