5. You are so kind

"Shu Xia..."

"Shu Xia...!"

"Wake up ...!"

"Shu Xia.."

Shu Xia opened her eyes slowly. All a float as a a nightmare, torture. It was as if they were pushing and shoving her back over the fire until she shook off her tears and burning skin, then they threw her into the sky and when she fell she was on her lap. The heat of the compressed fire was replaced by the cold of the bones - It was not pleasant at all. Shu He sinks slowly, approaching the bottom of the sea, she breathes and is about to die, an arm she inevitably pulls to carry.

Now it's stable. Uyen Trinh wrapped her in many layers of care and hugged her tightly to every moment. The doctor stood competitively, said something to her father and she saw him smile.

"Father ... mother ... Ruan Zhēn ...!" Shu Xia smiled consolingly when her parents ran to hug her.

"Finally woke up." Jiù Guó said, special voice. And that was the first time he cried.

'Tear ...?! Father, who is always strict...'

"That's good, princess. I was shocked to hear you standing at the shrine!" Qìng Wéi put her hand on her chest and sighed. And Uyen Trinh cried like a sprayer that had been compressed for a long time.

'Aah...that's right. I'm not lonely. I have parents who love me to the point of defaulting to the necessary rules, Qìng Wéi and Ruan Zhēn have been with me since childhood, along with everyone in the family who are worried about me. I have people who will hold my hand when I fall.'

'I don't need her pity. All we need to do is look around. I have realized that I am not completely ignored. '

"Everyone... thanks for listening to me!"

'I want to live more my way.'

'I will live a life free from the constraints of war.'

"You look much better now." Ruan Zhēn said, excitedly placed the fifth cake on the table and forced Thu Ha to eat it all.

"Did you feel better?" Shā Xià asked.

"Yes... I'm so sorry to worry you, ma'am." Shu Xià said when she noticed that her eyes were so outstanding that she sweated.

"Anyway, I'm relieved. But, Shu Xia..."

"Yes ?"

"Can you tell us what happened at the palace?"

"...umm..."

'What can we say...I refused to accept being a child at first, and I was punished by the gods ?'

"When I was in a coma, God gave me the first knowledge. The Four Kingdoms appeared quite chaotic because of this. Because the prophecy gave me a new name.."

'A name given by god. It means...'

Tian Còuqí Jiù Shu Xia.

"And so... The Emperor of the East wants to summon you."

'Oh my God. Is this the present ?'

And then Shu Xia and Jiù Guó left the Northern Kingdom to go to the Eastern Kingdom according to the letter of the Emperor of the East. In front of such a magnificent and magnificent palace building, Shu Xia felt that she was really too small to carry the title of princess. It has been built mainly with orange and red tones.

"The Emperor of the North and the Seven Princesses meet."

"Ah, the emperor and...."

Shu Xia walked along the corridor with the guards watching with enchanting eyes. Shu Xia confidently waved her cherry hair back, her purple eyes shining with the inherent style of a princess. Although only 14 years old, Shu Xia is quite tall for her real age, so she hopes her future husband is not too short when they stand next to each other.

"Hello, I am the emperor of the Northern Kingdom."

"Welcome, old man and princess Insight. I would like to discuss some matters with you."

The Emperor is sitting on the left. On the right is Duke Hán Tiān Tuán, commander of the 1st Knights. And on the left is Duke Màikè Qīng Zhōng, great magistrate.

"People keep talking."

"I feel that there are some people still floating in this Eastern Kingdom empire, so we have to prepare. I was thinking if we should increase some soldiers and soldiers? We need a lot of money, because so maybe raising taxes is the right measure. What do you think?"

"What?" The Duke of Korea hastily bloomed a wreath, "Increasing the number of knights is troublesome enough and raising taxes in this scene ? Your Majesty, why do you want to torment me ? Whenever there is a new order, I am a famous aristocrat. There are many people. And the emperor of the North. He always agrees."

"Didn't I say this is just a possibility ?" The emperor smiled wryly.

"It certainly won't be perfect… But if the speaker is stable it'll be fine" Duke Hán shrugged.

Shu Xia was startled to realize, 'This... is impossible! Increase pressure on people's lives and even lead to riots. Even for the nobles it's nothing...'

Lost in thought, Shu Xia did not realize that the emperor was still looking at the condensed time.

"But... I want to hear what the princess thinks about this job."

"?!"

"I've talked a lot about your intelligence, Princess Insight. So what do you think of the main book?"

Shu Xia felt herself heating up, "I ..."

'So that is ...! They are trying for us to hear! Duke Màikè is a very intelligent man, he certainly saw the problem, but his silence means... The Emperor is testing me. I became outstanding because of the first knowledge. If this story but going to the forum, they will start the title room. But but...'

She plucked up the courage to sit up straight and said:

"This policy should not be enacted, Your Majesty."

"Why ?"

"Because... the Four Kingdoms will soon experience a great drought." Shu Xia said as she glanced at Duke Màikè , who was listening attentively.

Sweat trickled down her cheeks, she continued:

"The Four Kingdoms experience drought every 30 to 40 years, and the production volume has been lower than average for the past few years that's a sign!"

'If that policy is enacted, people will be without food for many years. I know if this happens there will be huge consequences, so I must stop it at all costs.'

The emperor pondered for a moment, then turned to Duke Màikè and asked, "What do you think ?"

"...What this princess just said is very accurate, Your Majesty. The signs of the drought started about 3 years ago and are getting worse and worse!"

"Hmm... even so, it's still necessary to increase the empire's defense force. So what should we do now?"

The exchange made Shu Xia even more worried, "I've said too much, I can't stop anymore. I thought of this plan but I was quite scared when it was implemented, but since the people are poor, I can't ignore it...'

"There is still... a measure. By taxing luxury items. The luxury tax is not so important as it only applies to the aristocracy. Merchants will sell high-end goods for an inclusive price. including taxes, and in return the royal family collects taxes from them."

Shu Xia tried to look calm, but her hands kept shaking.

"Hmm, I get it." The Emperor smiled.

Duke Màikè also replied, "Princess Revelation's suggestion is very good, Your Majesty. The luxury tax is also a way for them to show off the expensiveness of the goods, and we can collect the tax without paying it. No one can object."

"Very good. Let's design a blueprint and enact this policy."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Shu Xia sighed in relief when the story was over. But the emperor went on to say:

"I'm really surprised to see how smart you really are!"

"I'll take it as an honor!"

"...Princess Insight, I wonder why you didn't say your full name earlier?"

"!!"

"You know what that name means. Did you decide not to say it because everyone is here?"

"...I don't understand..."

"No, that's not true. You're a very intelligent princess. So you dare say you don't know that it's a middle name given by god... is the legal right to succeed the throne?"

"..."

Shu Xia feels scared. This... wasn't the person she knew.

'The emperor no longer sees the person standing in front of him as his son's future wife... but his own rival, or prince... That's the scrutiny of an 'emperor' to those who threaten his throne.

Eyes filled with hatred... very similar to someone from the past.'

"You know that I'm testing you, so why don't you ignore it? If you pretended to be innocent and stupid, you might have avoided my suspicions!"

"...That's... it's because I can't afford to worry about my safety when I know, the people of the empire are in danger!"

The Emperor silently pondered and pondered.

Regarding the appearance of a potential heir to the throne,

A person who is not royalty.

'...Remove me, even the Northern Kingdom...!'

Her whole body trembled at the thought of that traumatic situation, if it had happened earlier than in the past.

"Hmph...? Oh no, looks like I scared the princess! Don't worry, I don't consider you as a prince's rival!"

Shu Xia was surprised, "Yes!?"

"This throne is not something that is easy to take over just because of a name. I did not raise my son to be such a soft person, if there were to be a threat to his throne!"

"Wha... Your Majesty!!! How can you make such a tense face when you have no intention of doing anything!!!!!"

Duke Hán was annoyed, and Shu Xia's father also sighed in frustration.

Unconcerned, the emperor continued to say:

"You don't qualify as ruler, princess. If I were human, I would pretend I don't know anything and talk about drought in a confusing way... Your heart is so gentle and kind. to become the ruler!"

'I... am a benevolent person? I've never heard of this, people always say that I'm a cold and emotionless person...'

"An emperor must know how to fend for himself in order to lead the empire, so someone who is always ready to take risks like that can't do it. However,..."

"...However ?"

Emperor Xiansheng sighed softly, "Your kind heart and intelligence, always thinking about the people of the empire... Perfect to be an empress. And that also makes me very sad, when everyone knows, that child is born as the only one who can inherit my throne, that makes him the center of attention!"

He glanced at Shu Xia, "You are an outstanding person and named after Athena. If you were to be praised, I wonder how that arrogant child would react!"

Meanwhile in the lobby...

"Your Highness! Hail, Your Highness, the future sun of the empire!" Two horsemen stood in front of the door when the Astronomy arrived.

"I want to see the emperor!"

"Excuse me, Your Highness, Your Majesty has an order forbidding no one to enter the audience room at this time!"

"...Who's in there?"

"Duke Máikè, Duke Pān, Emperor and Princess of Northern Kingdom!"

"..."

'They were discussing something so important that no one else was allowed to interfere. So why are children allowed to participate, and we are not...? '

"...Tsk tsk"

The prince turned angrily away, clasping his hands.

'Yes. This is not a first time! Dad always dealt with our overcoming, but with the kids back then, it was also gentle.