My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 1302 - 1224: Human Emperor, Reinstated

The news of the Water God Temple in Yuhang being divinely punished spread everywhere, and many people who witnessed the gruesome scene vomited. They rushed to tell others, and before they could decide to do something for the Water God, a rumor quietly spread that the temple was punished because the Water God was not worthy of their position.

As soon as Qin Liuxi finished her task, she ran away.

Si Luo looked at the filth below, feeling the stagnation of Qi Fortune, laughed angrily, and said, "No wonder she can commit such world-ending deeds, truly defiant, she’s so clever."

A god cannot be beheaded, but they can be desecrated. Although there will be retribution, the punishment, for her, is truly insignificant.

However, how could she come up with such a despicable and obscene trick?

Summoning lightning was one thing, but dousing herself with filth before getting struck, that’s too revolting for a god.

Si Luo couldn’t help but perform several Purification Techniques, and even someone as composed as him truly felt a stench on himself.

The person standing behind him heard these words without saying a word, appearing as if they were invisible.

Si Luo seemed used to it, not minding, as it’s impolite not to reciprocate; she desecrated a god, and he could only kidnap someone. A god ascending to heaven always needs some people to hold back those unwelcome, and too many ants can be troublesome.

Qin Liuxi first plundered Feng Xiu’s treasury without telling anyone and went straight to the Kunlun Mountain ruins, where she continued her cultivation and perfected her God Trapping Array.

As for her origins in a past life, she didn’t bother to verify with anyone, as it was meaningless.

While Qin Liuxi was in seclusion in Kunlun, Fan Kong from Tianshan also paid homage before the Buddha a few times, then entered the Heavenly Pond’s tower. Master Jing Ci from Yufu Temple sighed slightly, almost blending with the White Tower behind him. Buddhist Scriptures chanted from his mouth turned into golden light and submerged under the White Tower, suppressing the restless Evil Bone.

Nine Buddha Bones have returned eight; this is the last one.

It cannot move.

...

Emperor Kangwu passed away on the last night of his thirty-second year of reign. Although there were minor disturbances during the transition, due to preparations, it didn’t cause significant chaos; the transition was relatively smooth.

The Eldest Prince and his maternal Zhou Family were executed and had their properties confiscated for conspiring to murder the previous Emperor, while Prince Zhao was executed for attempting to rebel with the army. His family members were demoted to commoners. After forty-nine days from the previous Emperor’s death, the late Emperor’s coffin was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum for burial.

After the national mourning, the officials argued that the country cannot be without a sovereign for a day and petitioned for the Crown Prince’s ascension.

After two petitions, Prince Rui Qi Qian ascended the throne in March, changing the era to Kangping, symbolizing peace and tranquility.

After Qi Qian’s ascension, he honored Empress Mu as the Empress Dowager, posthumously honored his legitimate wife as Empress Yimin, appointed his eldest son as Crown Prince, and titled Empress Dowager Mu’s father as Duke Cheng’en.

Indeed, upon ascending the throne, Emperor Kangping first established the Crown Prince. Besides this, citing deep mourning for the previous Emperor and Empress Yimin, he declared that there would be no selection of new concubines for five years, thwarting the powerful officials’ ambitions to join the royal family.

Currently, the Crown Prince is five years old, and in five years, he will be ten. At that time, even if there is a selection of new concubines and another Prince is born, it won’t pose much of a threat.

To this end, Qi Qian also appointed Yu Miao, the Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, as the Crown Prince’s tutor.

Not selecting new concubines for five years left those eyeing the positions of Queen Consort and Concubine naturally dissatisfied, resulting in many petitions citing the emptiness of the harem as a violation of ancestral precepts and advocating for the acceptance of more talents for the prosperity of the Imperial Family.

Qi Qian blocked these petitions by stating that with the Crown Prince established and a Young Prince already present, the royal lineage was not at risk of ending. Besides this, he also had two concubines, so the harem was not empty.

Currently, with the new dynasty just established and several years of consecutive disasters, the national treasury was empty. After the previous Emperor’s passing and the new Emperor’s ascension, the treasury was even more impoverished, who would pay for the selection of new concubines?

The previous Emperor’s concubines with children left the palace to live with them, sharing family happiness. Those without children moved to another palace to be well-provided for, all requiring silver. If the harem were further filled, would the payment come from them?

It was the unafraid Qian Chuanzi of the Ministry of Revenue who privately proposed a bad idea to his superior: selecting concubines wasn’t impossible. Any family that could contribute a million taels could find a way into the palace.

This was just short of suggesting Qi Qian sell himself.

He had no choice, just as the new Emperor said, the treasury was desperately poor, and after natural disasters, where wasn’t silver needed for rebuilding?

And those concubines’ positions for money were also fine; whoever contributed more would have a higher position, no fault there.

This proposal almost made the Minister of Revenue faint on the spot; if he was so capable, he should go up himself, but he wanted to live a few more years.

With the new Emperor’s ascension, a series of policies for the people’s welfare were introduced, such as a general amnesty for the world, reducing taxes, and opening grace examinations to widely attract talents. More importantly, he made assignments at court to eliminate bandits and quell the rebel army, bringing peace to the world.

As the new Emperor’s edicts flew out of the palace like snow, everyone truly felt that the dynasty had indeed changed.

But it was too fast.

Who would have thought that just a few years ago, the current Emperor was just a Commandery Prince, not yet a Dragon Son, and in just two or three years, he transformed into an Emperor.

It was as if heaven had dropped a huge pie, which just happened to fall on him; although the pie was a bit burnt, it was still a pie!

Even Qi Qian himself felt somewhat dreamlike.

It had been less than three years since Qin Liuxi sought him out to offer him such immense wealth and power, and now he sat on the dragon throne; it all happened too quickly and smoothly, almost surreal.

But in reality, he truly had become Emperor.

Qi Qian, clad in his dragon robe, looked at Yu Changkong opposite him and said, "Are you really going to leave? If you are willing to stay, the position of Imperial Tutor is yours."

Yu Changkong smiled faintly: "My task is completed. The path of an Emperor is long; your real test is just beginning. How to become a Bright Monarch and live up to her hopes as a successor depends on you."

"So, you can’t stay?" Qi Qian said: "Changkong, I still have many things I want to ask you, and besides, today’s world is not the peaceful harmony she wished for. Could you possibly stay a little longer?"

Yu Changkong shook his head: "You have the support of all officials. How to govern them, I’ve already taught you since I came to your side. You’ve begun to show the majesty of an emperor."

There was no need to mention the true nature of Qi Qian’s heritage. He was the progeny of dragons and phoenixes, which was indeed true, so his poise and demeanor were naturally regal.

He truly became an emperor quickly, but these years, he also grew rapidly through trials. Now, donned in a dragon robe, the majesty of an emperor had already emerged.

Seeing that Yu Changkong was determined to leave, Qi Qian said, "Where are you going?"

Yu Changkong replied, "To where I belong."

He turned around, boarded a carriage, waved a hand to him, and left without any hesitation.

Qi Qian pursed his lips, ascended the high city wall, and the March wind remained chilly, causing his robe to flutter.

It’s lonely at the top.

He truly became solitary.

As night gradually darkened, the Ziwei Star shone brightly.

Si Luo stood on the peak’s highest point, gazing at that star with excitement in his eyes.

The Human Emperor, has returned to his rightful place.