Chapter 18: A Royal Predicament and a Simple Solution

A Wise man once said,

"Power is not held by those who wear the crown, but by those who understand the weight of the game. A wise ruler does not silence their enemies—they let them destroy each other."

The moment Lin Yun and the Empress steadied themselves, I could feel the shift in the air.

Serious expressions. Measured breathing. That look in their eyes—the kind that signaled the beginning of a conversation far more significant than just idle chatter.

I leaned back slightly, observing them both. Yeah, they wanted something.

Lin Yun was the first to speak.

"Mr. Li, I need your wisdom on a matter of great importance."

I raised an eyebrow. "I’m listening."

She took a deep breath.

"As you know, I am the princess of this dynasty, and like my parents, I am a cultivator. Our focus has always been on cultivation rather than worldly affairs. However, after the founding of the new dynasty, while we were immersed in our training, the ministers' influence grew immensely. Now, they seek to solidify their power by attempting to arrange marriages between me and their sons, all under the pretext of maintaining stability within the court."

She clenched her fists, frustration evident in her voice.

"They claim it is for the dynasty’s peace, but I know it is just a ploy to seize control over the royal family. I do not wish to become a pawn in their games."

I blinked.

For a second, my mind drifted elsewhere.

A princess being forced into a political marriage by scheming ministers? A court filled with treacherous plots? The looming struggle between power and freedom?

I had seen this before.

No, I had read this before.

A lot of times.

This was classic xianxia novel cliche #47—The Noble Princess's Struggle Against Political Shackles™.

And, if following the usual trope, this was where some underdog protagonist would step in. He’d break into the wedding, fight off a dozen arrogant young masters, and declare his undying love for the princess while revealing that he was secretly the long-lost heir to an ancient power.

I couldn't help it. I got a little excited.

My mind was already playing out various dramatic scenarios. Would she have a secret lover who’d come to her rescue? Was there a hidden power backing one of the minister’s sons? Would the protagonist arrive at the last second to stop the wedding and slap some arrogant young master into oblivion?

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I struggled to keep my face straight.

But I must not have done a great job.

Because Lin Yun and the Empress suddenly looked… terrified.

Lin Yun thought in her mind seeing me smile,

Why… Why is he smiling like that?

His gaze seemed far away, as if he were reminiscing about something beyond mortal comprehension.

And then he muttered under his breath, "Ah, classic…"

Classic?

Did he say classic?

"I see " he said,

Her heartbeat quickened.

Did that mean he had seen this situation before? Did he witness the rise and fall of other dynasties? Was he… foreseeing something even more terrifying?

While the empress stared at me thinking as if,

Her instincts screamed at her. This man—no, this expert—was thinking on a completely different level.

That expression... was that amusement? Did he find our predicament entertaining?

Had he seen this same scenario countless times before? Had he witnessed countless dynasties crumble under the weight of similar mistakes?

Just how old was he?

She forced herself to remain calm, but her heart pounded. This was dangerous. This was incredibly dangerous.

"We must never make an enemy of this man" she thought to herself.

The way they were staring at me, I suddenly realized I might have let my thoughts show a bit too much.

I cleared my throat, quickly wiping the grin off my face.

"Ahem. I can help you with this," I said, regaining my composure. "And the solution is quite simple."

Lin Yun leaned forward, eyes filled with desperate hope. The Empress, however, remained stiff, as if bracing herself for divine judgment.

I crossed my arms.

"While it’s important to maintain the stability of the dynasty, the problem here isn’t the ministers’ ambitions. It’s that they see you as an easy target."

Lin Yun’s expression darkened.

"So, what do you suggest?"

"You need to turn them against each other," I said simply.

The Empress blinked. Lin Yun tilted her head in confusion.

"I don’t understand."

"It’s simple. You have multiple suitors, right? The ministers are backing different factions. Instead of fighting them directly, you provoke them into fighting each other. Make them believe that the other faction is trying to win you over first."

Lin Yun’s eyes widened.

"You mean…"

"Yes," I smirked. "Fan the flames. Whisper carefully placed words to each faction. Make sure they believe that the opposing group is trying to gain favor with you. Once they start seeing each other as threats, they’ll tear each other apart."

The room fell silent.

Lin Yun was staring at me like she had just been handed a golden ticket to salvation.

The Empress…

Well, her face looked like she had just swallowed something bitter.

"Scary…" she muttered under her breath.

I raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"N-Nothing, Mr. Li!" she said quickly, forcing a stiff smile.

From the empress’s point of view she thought to her mind hearing my words,

This… this was terrifying.

With just a few words, he had come up with a plan that could dictate the fate of the entire dynasty.

This expart (Claimed himself a mortal) had effortlessly devised a strategy that could crush the power struggles in the royal court.

And he said it so casually.

This man is not normal.

No—he is an entity beyond comprehension.

She clenched her hands tightly under the table.

"We must never become enemies with this man," she told herself. "If we do, we are doomed."

Lin Yun suddenly straightened, her voice firm.

"Mr. Li, I will follow your instructions exactly."

I gave her a nod. "Good. But the most important part of this plan is your determination. If you hesitate, they’ll see through it."

Lin Yun’s expression turned serious. "I understand. I won’t falter."

The Empress exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples.

"To think that such a simple yet effective strategy could solve such a dangerous political issue…" she muttered. "Scary. This expert is truly scary."

I coughed.

"I’m really just an ordinary tavern owner, you know."

Silence.

They both stared at me.

Neither of them believed it.

Well, whatever.

I clapped my hands together.

"Now that this matter is settled, how about we stop thinking about politics for a moment? You both came all the way up the mountain, after all. I might as well cook you a meal."

Lin Yun’s face brightened instantly.

"That would be wonderful!"

The Empress sighed but nodded.

And just like that, another crisis was averted.

For now.

Because if my past experiences had taught me anything, it was that this was only the beginning.

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