Iron Dynasty Chapter 2: This Scene is Too Beautiful

“We need to talk about this more thoroughly. Come, take a seat here.” Xiao Ming tapped the bed's edge, smiling like a sly old man tempting a young girl with sweets.

“Your Highness!” Lu Luo retreated quickly, her tone quivering with unshed tears. “This servant holds a humble position; how could I possibly sit on Your Highness’s precious bed? Should Chief Steward Pang discover it, I would face punishment once more.”

“Pang Changshi.”

At the mention of the name, Xiao Ming's brow furrowed.

Pang Changshi's complete name was Pang Yukun. He served as the Chief Steward in the Grand Governor’s Office of Qingzhou—basically functioning as a military consultant and administrative aide.

Upon Xiao Ming's banishment to his territory, Pang Yukun had been directly chosen by the Emperor to accompany him.

His role was straightforward: on the surface, to instruct and advise him; in truth, to monitor and relay information back to the Emperor.

From the memories he inherited, Xiao Ming harbored intense resentment toward this Pang Yukun.

Individuals of that sort shared a key trait: unyielding rigidity paired with utter obliviousness to social norms.

Whenever Pang Yukun observed something he considered improper, he would promptly inform the Emperor, prompting a stern letter of rebuke toward Xiao Ming.

Although Pang Yukun had initially aimed his scrutiny at the previous Xiao Ming, the current Xiao Ming still needed to navigate around him. The very idea of the man diminished his earlier enthusiasm.

He looked over at Lu Luo, who fidgeted with the edge of her gown anxiously, resembling a child caught in wrongdoing.

Ah.

She had intentionally invoked Pang Yukun as a way to slip away.

Upon self-reflection, Xiao Ming acknowledged his earlier haste had likely frightened her. It was understandable—despite his own plea for these attendants from Consort Zhen, the content of her correspondence implied that Lu Luo and Ziyuan had pleaded with her against dispatching them.

Yet Consort Zhen, moved by compassion for her boy, had still sent them off with reluctance, urging him to care for them properly.

Evidently, their arrival was against their wishes.

Nevertheless, once secured, the opportunity wouldn't escape.

Xiao Ming wasn't precisely virtuous, yet neither was he wicked. Forcing himself on women didn't align with his nature.

Given the circumstances, he resolved to proceed patiently.

“You can go now,” he instructed. “I’ll step out for some air.”

Lu Luo exhaled a quiet breath of relief, oblivious to how Xiao Ming had already pierced her minor ploy.

In reality, her apprehension was well-founded.

Prior to his exile, Xiao Ming had earned a scandalous reputation as a libertine in Chang’an, reveling in all manner of indulgences.

Even within his domain, his conduct had remained far from proper.

This explained Pang Yukun's persistent reports, probably enough to supply the Da Yu palace's needs for an entire day.

Having attended Consort Zhen, Lu Luo must have known full well of Xiao Ming’s tarnished name.

Hence, she dreaded him intensely.

As Xiao Ming readied himself to depart, Lu Luo fetched his attire and offered, “Your Highness, let this servant help you dress.”

He nearly declined.

After all, being an engineering enthusiast, he was accustomed to handling his own laundry and preparing his own food. His practical abilities excelled.

But right as the refusal nearly escaped his mouth, he reconsidered.

Now that he dwelled in this realm, adaptation was essential. Any odd behavior could lead Pang Yukun to submit yet another “His Highness has lost his senses” dispatch.

Should that occur, Xiao Wenxuan—the cunning elder—might swiftly confiscate his lands.

Nevertheless, the entire system of feudalism baffled Xiao Ming.

Although this world's history branched off after the Three Kingdoms period, the perils of enfeoffing lords remained evident from the Han era's lessons.

No wise ruler would allow formidable feudal kings to persist.

However, in Da Yu, bestowing territories upon princes was standard practice.

Delving into his inherited recollections, Xiao Ming at last uncovered the explanation.

Following the Three Kingdoms, noble houses rose to immense influence.

These affluent, asset-laden patrician lineages wielded vital power across subsequent eras.

As regimes ascended and collapsed, these elites operated as a hidden force, perpetually shaping events.

For more than a millennium, the Zhou, Chu, and Dai regimes all sought to curb these noble houses.

Yet rulers who endeavored to diminish their sway either met early ends or dragged the realm into turmoil.

During the Dai Dynasty's decline, the nation fragmented into over twenty conflicting domains—each supported by aristocratic houses.

Then arose the Da Yu Dynasty.

The founding emperor, Xiao Yuanzhi, depended on the Five Great Clans to claim the throne.

But in the process, he committed a grave error—he vowed to govern jointly with the Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Families.

As a result, upon Da Yu's formation, Xiao Yuanzhi enfeoffed six mighty nobles:

• The Cui Family of Yan → King of Yan

• The Li Family of Chu → King of Chu

• The Zheng Family of Liang → King of Liang

• The Qinghe Cui Family → King of Huainan

• The Zhao Family → King of Zhao

• The Nanyang Xiao Family → King of Runan

Despite bearing the imperial surname, the Nanyang Xiao lineage held no blood ties to the royals.

At that juncture, Xiao Yuanzhi deemed his choice ingenious.

For his heirs, however, it became a curse.

The Five Great Clans and Seven Noble Families had long dominated lands and wealth, but this bolstered their dominance further.

By the time the issue dawned on him, age had caught up.

To offset these noble enfeoffed lords, he enacted a bold countermeasure:

“The realm spans wide. We shall create royal domains—to oversee the state from on high and shield the populace beneath. My sons have matured; each shall gain rank and rule their domains. This stems not from favoritism but from foresight for enduring peace.”

Thus commenced the widespread enfeoffment of imperial sons.

“Quenching thirst with poison.”

That summed up Xiao Ming’s assessment of Xiao Yuanzhi’s choice.

The intent was plain—to have royal princes curb the noble lords and thwart their uprisings.

Astonishingly, the approach had succeeded thus far.

Da Yu maintained an odd equilibrium, where rival groups perpetually checked one another.

Yet this rivalry had also hindered advancement, trapping the realm at a Tang-Song technological stage.

The specter of the nobles loomed over every imperial kin, and Xiao Ming’s domain proved no outlier.

Local elite houses gripped all vital assets, rendering true authority elusive.

“Thriving in this realm will prove challenging.” Xiao Ming murmured.

Clad in a purple robe adorned with embroidery and a circular collar, he positioned himself before a bronze looking glass.

Tall and lithe, possessing strikingly attractive traits—this marked his fresh identity.

Exiting the chamber, the morning rays enveloped him in soothing heat.

The breeze carried a sharp, invigorating purity, sharpening his thoughts.

The heavens displayed a stunning azure hue, so vivid it enraptured.

A gravel walkway descended the stairs toward a stone archway, bordered by bottle-gourd pools. Willows danced, bamboos shimmered, forming an idyllic landscape.

Beyond the water rose structures with dark shingles and crimson barriers, their roofs cascading in graceful tiers, upheld by lines of polished columns.

Witnessing it directly surpassed mere mental images.

In that instant, Xiao Ming genuinely sensed it—he had crossed over.

“I’ve arrived, Da Yu.”

This territory now served as his base. And his initial hurdle? The regional nobles.