Has it changed back?

Xie Shenhong was utterly unprepared for Dongfang Qinglong’s question, finding himself instantly in a difficult position.

The question itself was far from simple to address.

Initially, there were only four Divine Beast families: Nangong, Dongfang, Ximen, and Beitang.

However, ten years prior, the Duanmu family—originally a branch of the Azure Dragon lineage—rose to become the fifth prominent family.

While the reasons and processes were numerous, a concise summary revealed that the Duanmu family had placed their bets on Nangong Yan and Saintess Hai Zhu, and their gamble had paid off handsomely.

Conversely, within the Dongfang family, only “Dongfang Qing”—who had been fostered by the Duanmu family and largely overlooked—chose to align with Hai Zhu.

The majority of their kin, however, had thrown their support behind the old aristocracy and the Empire.

Fortunately, once the political landscape solidified, the Dongfang family swiftly made the unanimous decision to pledge their full allegiance to Hai Zhu.

Not only did they purge all members of the former Imperial and old noble factions, but they also permitted “Dongfang Qing” to append the character “Long” to his name, simultaneously declaring him the rightful successor as family head.

It was through these decisive actions that the Dongfang family managed to secure its standing within the kingdom.

Nevertheless, the undeniable reality remained: the main family, once preeminent, was now overshadowed by a branch, compelled to follow its lead.

Yet, Dongfang Qinglong, the successor who had ascended “through connections,” proved far from disappointing.

Within the clan, his power was surpassed only by the family head, a mid-tier Martial Marquis, and he had cultivated a sterling reputation beyond their walls.

At least overtly, no one dared to question his capabilities any longer.

Should one compare Dongfang Qinglong to Duanmu Yun, however, he would appear marginally less formidable.

Given that the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, until a mere decade ago, maintained a distinctly patriarchal society, it was undeniable that some individuals secretly mocked Dongfang Qinglong, deeming him inferior to a woman.

Naturally, owing to their bond as close as siblings, Xie Shenhong had always believed Dongfang Qinglong would remain indifferent to such slights.

He had not, however, anticipated Dongfang Qinglong reaching a point of such profound frustration that he sought him out for solace.

With both individuals equally cherished, what course of action could he possibly take?

“I truly believe, Brother Qinglong, there’s no need for you to compare yourself to Sister Yun.”

Typically, such a lukewarm platitude would not be considered an ideal response.

While the speaker might find some ease in uttering such words, for the listener, an answer of that nature would invariably prove disappointing.

Yet, Dongfang Qinglong’s profound affection for Xie Shenhong was such that even disappointment would not mar his expression; instead, he would wait with eager anticipation for Xie Shenhong to elaborate.

Xie Shenhong, naturally, had no intention of dismissing the matter lightly, and promptly continued:

“Indeed, in terms of raw power, Sister Yun is undeniably more formidable; she even has the rank of Duke within her grasp.

Yet, Brother Qinglong, you are still but a student, six years her junior.

The golden age for cultivating magical prowess extends until thirty-five, so it’s entirely possible that you will catch up in the future.

“Regarding matters of state, Sister Yun has admirably assisted Brother Yan in governing the nation.

However, Brother Qinglong, you too have admirably discharged your responsibilities as Vice-Captain of the Azure Dragon Knights.

I have never subscribed to the notion that professions possess inherent superiority or inferiority; as long as one executes their duties with excellence, they are a talented individual, whether a sanitation worker or a king!

“Moreover, Sister Yun has not had the benefit of much formal education, rendering her academic achievements entirely incomparable to yours, Brother Qinglong.

Furthermore, she completely lacks self-sufficiency in daily life, relying on servants for everything at home and on Vice-Captain Li at the Crimson Hawk headquarters.”

At first glance, it might have seemed as though Xie Shenhong, in his earnest attempt to encourage Dongfang Qinglong, had begun to praise one at the expense of the other, interspersed with faint complaints.

However, a closer examination of Xie Shenhong’s expression would reveal that his words were consistently imbued with a deep sense of respect, affection, and genuine concern.

The subtle smile that instinctively graced his lips when he spoke of Duanmu Yun, coupled with his resigned affection for a family member, served as irrefutable evidence.

When referring to Dongfang Qinglong, he refrained from unduly inflating his accomplishments, instead merely cataloging the facts and the distinctions between the two, either highlighting future prospects or offering unwavering affirmation.

Indeed, this approach remained, at its core, one of moderation.

Yet, Xie Shenhong elevated this moderation to an art form, reaching a point where merely observing his earnest effort and dedication would sway, and even profoundly encourage, others.

He spoke for a full ten minutes, and had Dongfang Qinglong not intervened, he would have undoubtedly continued.

“I never realized I possessed so many virtues in your estimation,” Dongfang Qinglong remarked, visibly pleased.

“No one is without flaws, and truthfully, Brother Qinglong, you possess a fair share of shortcomings yourself,” Xie Shenhong declared, his eager demeanor suggesting he was poised to launch into another ten-minute discourse.

“Enough, Shenhong, I was in the wrong,” Dongfang Qinglong interjected, swiftly raising both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“My apologies.”

“Honestly… Brother Qinglong, do you have any idea how deeply concerned I was just now?”

“My apologies, I merely wished to prolong our conversation.”

Indeed, the moment he was cut short, Xie Shenhong had gleaned the truth from Dongfang Qinglong’s contented expression.

This was not born of unbearable frustration or envy; rather, it was a transparent pretext to simply spend more time chatting with him.

To be cherished so deeply by a childhood friend, one akin to family, inevitably sparked a mischievous impulse in Xie Shenhong to playfully retaliate.

Yet, before he could even put his plan into motion, Dongfang Qinglong had already conceded defeat.

The sensation was akin to a child brandishing a toy gun, playfully “shooting” their father, who was cast as a monster, fully expecting a spirited resistance or the deployment of some dramatic special move.

Instead, the father would simply exclaim, “How formidable!” and theatrically collapse to the ground.

Mindful of the true purpose of his visit, Xie Shenhong took a delightful sip of the freshly brewed, otherworldly Darjeeling black tea that Dongfang Qinglong had prepared, and promptly offered his forgiveness.

“In that case, Brother Qinglong, please enlighten me with the truth.”

Dongfang Qinglong reluctantly set aside his desire to prolong their pleasant interlude, and, adopting a serious demeanor, stated:

“Shenhong, you must be quite familiar with the origins and repercussions of the Eastern Expedition, correct?”

“Naturally.”

The Eastern Expedition had, in fact, commenced six years prior, enduring for a full year, which led to its alternate moniker: the “One-Year War.”

Its genesis lay in the aftermath of the Holy United Empire’s collapse.

Though officially defunct, the Empire, through clandestine support, ensured its lingering influence.

Nobles from various duchies and marquisates either feigned surrender or absconded to the Sakura Kingdom, where they routinely instigated disturbances across the land, affording the Vermillion Bird Kingdom no respite.

Meanwhile, the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, taking into account the recent promotion of numerous officers from commoner backgrounds and the imperative to bolster national cohesion and identity among its populace, proactively initiated a war to subjugate the Sakura Kingdom.

Given that this conflict bore strategic parallels to the “Shu Kingdom’s Pacification of the Southern Barbarians,” Saintess Hai Zhu, rather than directly obliterating the Sakura Kingdom’s forces, opted to allow her armies to advance with deliberate slowness.

The initial phase of the war, however, proved anything but smooth.

Officers and soldiers alike lacked experience, and the citizens of the Sakura Kingdom harbored profound distrust toward the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, refusing to cooperate.

It took a grueling nine months for the Vermillion Bird forces, even with their absolute superiority, to secure just one-tenth of the Sakura Kingdom’s borderlands.

The arrival of the Crimson Hawk, however, irrevocably altered the tide of events.

Beyond his inherent combat prowess, the aspect of the Crimson Hawk most revered within the army was his mastery of military administration, his innovative training methodologies, and a strategic combat philosophy that vastly outstripped the conventions of the old era.

Following a mere month of restructuring and intensive training, the Kingdom’s army transformed, delivering a decisive, one-sided rout to the Sakura Kingdom’s soldiers.

In just over a month, they stood at the very gates of the Sakura Kingdom’s capital city.

Ultimately, the Shogun fell by the hand of the Crimson Hawk, the Sakura Kingdom was formally annexed into the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, and the conflict drew to a close, effectively dispelling the Kingdom’s anxieties regarding its rear.

“Then you must be aware that, beyond the Shogun, the Sakura Kingdom actually possessed another supreme leader, referred to as the ‘Heavenly King,’ correct?”

“I am aware, but I recall him also being slain by the Crimson Hawk, was he not?”

The Sakura Kingdom bore a striking resemblance to ancient Japan in Xie Shenhong’s original world, where the nation was governed by a Shogun-like prime minister, rendering the king a mere figurehead.

The key distinction lay in their prior status as merely one of the Holy United Empire’s constituent states, compelling their supreme leader to adopt the lesser title of ‘Heavenly King’ instead of ‘Emperor.’

“Precisely,” Dongfang Qinglong affirmed, casting a searching glance at the outwardly impassive Xie Shenhong.

“However, the Heavenly King still has descendants, and they reside right here in the royal capital.”