Douluo: Goddess Life Simulator, Qian Renxue Is Addicted

Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace—

Emperor Xue Ye furrowed his brows as he read through the memorial submitted by Zhou Sheng'an regarding the Edict of Grace. What should have taken him only a minute to read, instead left him in silent contemplation for nearly half an hour.

Below the platform, Zhou Sheng'an and Qian Renxue stood quietly, waiting.

After a long while, Emperor Xue Ye finally spoke in a measured tone:

"Zhou Sheng'an, I have seen your proposal. I must admit, you are truly a genius—turning danger into something almost imperceptible."

"However, I cannot rely solely on your perspective. The implementation of this will surely face resistance."

"Do you have confidence in persuading the nobility?"

His sharp gaze locked onto Zhou Sheng'an.

"I am willing to try," Zhou Sheng'an replied.

Emperor Xue Ye gave a slight nod and turned his gaze toward Prince Xue Xing. With a subtle smile, he asked,

"Very well. Xue Xing, you are a prince. I have never granted you a fiefdom. Do you resent me for that? Now that you have heard of this Edict of Grace, what are your thoughts?"

Prince Xue Xing straightened his expression and bowed, replying,

"Royal Brother, I lack the capability to govern a territory. However, regarding this decree, I believe it is unacceptable—it defies the ancestral laws."

"Royal Brother, the laws of our ancestors must not be abolished!"

His expression was earnest as he pointed at Zhou Sheng'an, speaking urgently:

"This man has proposed a venomous scheme, attempting to shake the very foundations of our empire! His intentions are treacherous—I implore Your Majesty to execute him!"

Emperor Xue Ye merely smiled faintly and looked at Zhou Sheng'an.

Faced with Prince Xue Xing's accusations, Zhou Sheng'an remained calm, showing no fluctuation in emotion.

He met Prince Xue Xing's gaze and asked in return,

"What is the purpose of ancestral laws?"

Prince Xue Xing scoffed and waved his sleeve dismissively, refusing to answer—as if Zhou Sheng'an wasn't even worth engaging with.

Qian Renxue stepped in to smooth the situation, replying,

"The ancestral laws exist to ensure the lasting prosperity of our lineage and to uphold the stability of the empire. Each prince governs a region, forming a defensive line against Star Luo. They naturally have more vested interest in the empire's well-being. Moreover, it is also a matter of familial bonds..."

Zhou Sheng'an nodded slightly, pondering for a moment before continuing,

"If I may ask, Prince Xue Xing—our descendants will continue multiplying without end, but the land of Heaven Dou is finite. If we continue the practice of enfeoffment, there will inevitably come a day when there is no more land to divide. When that time arrives, will it not also be a violation of the ancestral laws?"

"If we keep fragmenting the empire, will Heaven Dou eventually shrink to just one-tenth, or even one percent of its original size?"

"And when that day comes, how will the empire maintain its legitimacy?"

"Can we truly expect those separated by generations, by dozens of generations, to remain wholeheartedly loyal to Heaven Dou?"

Step by step, Zhou Sheng'an pressed forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Prince Xue Xing.

Prince Xue Xing's pupils constricted as he clenched his teeth.

This damned brat was forcing him into a corner—if he wanted to prove his loyalty, he would have no choice but to refuse a fiefdom altogether.

And Emperor Xue Ye was certainly not going to show him any mercy; he would seize the opportunity to simply leave him without land!

Yes, to this day, he still hadn't been granted a fiefdom.

Emperor Xue Ye had kept him in Heaven Dou City under the pretext of valuing his presence, effectively preventing him from ruling a domain.

In reality, Emperor Xue Ye's stance was already aligned with the Edict of Grace!

His true intention in having Zhou Sheng'an debate Prince Xue Xing was to observe the reaction of the nobility!

Prince Xue Xing took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Emperor Xue Ye.

"Royal brother, the nobles all share the imperial bloodline, and even the non-royal nobles with fiefdoms have sworn that only members of the Xue family may claim kingship."

"Our alliances, our familial bonds—these ensure our loyalty. At least for myself, I swear upon my life that my devotion to Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon!"

"I believe the other nobles feel the same..."

His words were full of conviction.

Emperor Xue Ye smiled meaningfully before turning back to Zhou Sheng'an.

"And what do you have to say?"

Zhou Sheng'an, maintaining his composure, replied evenly,

"Time reveals the true nature of a person."

"You insolent brat! What do you mean by that?! Are you questioning my loyalty?!" Prince Xue Xing shot up from his seat like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Zhou Sheng'an in fury.

Zhou Sheng'an remained unfazed. He knew very well—his presence here was not about mere debate.

The Edict of Grace was an open and obvious strategy. Anyone with intelligence could see the implications, and its implementation would face resistance far beyond what Zhou Sheng'an alone could resolve.

Of course, in his memorial, Zhou Sheng'an had included countermeasures.

With those in place, there was no way Emperor Xue Ye wouldn't be tempted—this decree would greatly strengthen the imperial authority. The fact that Emperor Xue Ye hadn't allowed Prince Xue Xing to govern a fiefdom in the first place already showed his awareness of the issue.

No matter how the debate played out, Emperor Xue Ye would ultimately support the decree.

Sure enough, in the next moment, Emperor Xue Ye spoke coldly,

"Enough, Xue Xing. What is the meaning of this outburst in my court? Do you think I am unaware of your loyalty? Leave now."

Prince Xue Xing stiffened, his face paling. He shot a deep, resentful glance at Zhou Sheng'an before bowing and taking his leave.

Now, only four people remained in the grand hall, making the silence all the more profound.

Emperor Xue Ye studied Zhou Sheng'an for a long moment before finally speaking,

"You are a talented man. This Edict of Grace will be a great blessing to the empire. If we can successfully implement it, you will have performed a meritorious service. Tell me—what reward do you seek?"

There was now a clear look of admiration in his eyes.

Just as Zhou Sheng'an had anticipated, Emperor Xue Ye had long been aware of the dangers of enfeoffment. That was precisely why he had stopped granting fiefdoms altogether.

Now, Zhou Sheng'an had given him the perfect solution.

This was a man worth fostering!

"I only ask for resources to cultivate my soul power," Zhou Sheng'an responded.

Qian Renxue smiled and interjected,

"Your Majesty, do you recall the Martial Soul Supplementation Theory that has been making waves in Heaven Dou City? The one who proposed it is none other than Sheng'an! He is not only a brilliant strategist but also a true scholar of soul master theory."

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

The Martial Soul Supplementation Theory was a groundbreaking concept that had shaken the soul master world—even he had heard of it.

Now, realizing Zhou Sheng'an was its creator, his satisfaction grew even deeper.

"Excellent! Truly excellent!" Emperor Xue Ye beamed. "Qinghe, you have brought a remarkable talent into the empire! A reward is in order!"

[Emperor Xue Ye was immensely pleased. That very day, he appointed Zhou Sheng'an to the Imperial Academy of Heaven Dou, granted him the title of Viscount, bestowed him 300,000 gold soul coins, countless treasures, and even gifted him three beautiful attendants.]

[The Edict of Grace began its deliberation, stirring widespread unrest among the nobility.]

[Zhou Sheng'an's name resounded throughout the noble class, making him a thorn in the side of many.]

...

Seeing this, Zhou Sheng'an had a bad premonition. Given the way things were progressing, those nobles wouldn't dare retaliate against Emperor Xue Ye—but they would definitely take their anger out on him!

"Should I step outside now and get caught in an avalanche of trouble?"

"But if I stay put, I might just avoid this fate altogether..."

Zhou Sheng'an nodded to himself and continued watching the simulation.

The scene shifted.

Three breathtakingly beautiful women now stood before him.