The widow becomes a fairy, and the time-traveling girl counterattacks and becomes the queen

The next day, the main hall of the Miao Kingdom's royal palace presented a completely different scene.

All the officials stood solemnly, creating a grand atmosphere.

Emperor Chen Qingfeng of the Miao Kingdom, who sat on the dragon throne, was middle-aged, but his face was heroic and he exuded an aura of authority.

At this moment, he held a child in his left arm, his deep eyes slightly reddened, his gaze fixed on Wang Xinyao beside him, filled with love and guilt.

Empress Wang Muyun, who was standing beside him, was also holding a child, and her eyes were already wet with tears.

She held Wang Xinyao's hand with her other hand, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force, her voice choked with sobs.

"Yao'er... my Yao'er, this is the moment your mother has waited for for fifteen long years! You have suffered so much all these years..."

Wang Xinyao had changed into a custom-made palace dress, elegant yet luxurious, which perfectly highlighted her refined and ethereal temperament.

Feeling the unreserved love from her parents and hearing her mother's tearful call, Wang Xinyao felt a lump in her throat and her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

Before I traveled to this small world, my father in modern society was killed by a drug lord.

The spirit that accompanied her as she grew up sadly dissipated when she was five years old, causing her to suffer the pain of losing her loved ones from a young age.

She once thought that she would never feel that profound fatherly love again in her life.

But unexpectedly, fate treated her so kindly.

Not only did it allow her to see her father, the emperor of the Miao Kingdom, again in this world, but it also allowed her to find her biological mother with whom she shared blood ties!

She fought back the tears that were about to spill from her eyes and put on a bright and warm smile.

She gripped Wang Muyun's hand tightly in return, her voice clear and firm, echoing throughout the entire hall.

"No, Father, Mother. Yao'er has not felt bitter these years. Being able to return to your side is Yao'er's greatest happiness."

Chen Qingfeng was deeply moved upon hearing this.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and his gaze swept over the civil and military officials below the throne. He then announced in a loud and authoritative voice.

"My lords! Today, the Empress and I shall announce to the world!"

Standing before you is Wang Xinyao, my biological daughter who has been separated from the Empress for fifteen years! She is the rightful eldest princess of my Miao Kingdom!

His voice echoed in the hall, carrying an undeniable certainty.

It also carries a heavy, belated declaration of fatherly love, fifteen years overdue.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress! Greetings, Your Highness the Princess! Long live the Princess!"

His Highness's officials, recovering from their shock, immediately knelt down in unison, their thunderous congratulations echoing through the sky for a long time.

Chen Qingfeng raised his right hand slightly and said in a booming voice, "All of you, rise."

His gaze was intense as he surveyed the entire room, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and imperial majesty.

"Today, Heaven has blessed the Miao Kingdom, and I have regained what I lost. I am overjoyed! Therefore, I have another important matter to announce to the world!"

He stood up, and an invisible imperial aura naturally emanated from him.

"Firstly, Wang Xinyao was formally conferred the title of the eldest princess of the Miao Kingdom, with the title 'Yongning,' which means that the Miao Kingdom will be peaceful forever, and also prays that the princess will have a safe and smooth life!"

Furthermore, the princess was granted the special privilege of retaining her mother's surname, 'Wang,' in gratitude for the queen's gift of life!

These words immediately sparked quiet murmurs from the audience.

Retaining one's mother's surname is an extremely rare privilege in the royal family.

Chen Qingfeng paused, his gaze falling on Wang Xinyao's calm and intelligent face, before making an even more shocking decision.

"Secondly, Princess Yongning is granted the right to participate in politics, and can freely enter and leave the entire palace to participate in discussions of state affairs!"

"A princess participating in politics?" This caused an even greater commotion below.

The senior officials looked at each other, clearly feeling that this action violated ancestral rules.

Before anyone could step forward to object, Chen Qingfeng announced his third, and most earth-shattering, decision.

"Thirdly, to celebrate the return of the Princess, I have decided to exempt all the people of the Miao Kingdom from taxes for ten years!"

"Ten years of tax exemption?!"

"Your Majesty, this..."

"How can the national treasury support this?!"

This caused an uproar in the imperial court.

A ten-year tax exemption! This is an unprecedented and immense imperial grace, worthy of being recorded in history!

But this also means that the national treasury's revenue will plummet over the next decade!

An elderly minister with white hair and beard stepped forward shakily, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe this is absolutely unacceptable!"

It is already rare for a princess to participate in politics, let alone be exempt from taxes for ten years.

With the national treasury empty, how can the court function and the borders be defended? Your Majesty, please reconsider!

Following this, several other ministers stood up to second the motion, their words earnest and full of concern for the national treasury.

Chen Qingfeng seemed to have anticipated the reactions of his ministers.

He wasn't angry; instead, he smiled slightly, turned his gaze to Wang Xinyao beside him, and spoke with encouragement and absolute trust.

"Yao'er, the concerns of the ministers are not without merit. Tell me, do you have any good strategies for governing the country and managing finances to reassure the people?"

Wang Xinyao felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she felt her father's support.

She stepped forward, her posture upright and her demeanor composed, and bowed to Chen Qingfeng and Wang Muyun.

Then, turning to his ministers, he spoke in a clear and articulate voice: "Father, Mother, Your Excellencies. I do have a few thoughts on the matter of the national treasury."

She paused slightly, drawing everyone's attention, before continuing, "Firstly, regarding superior breeds."

Several high-yield crops can be introduced and promoted, with yields far exceeding those of rice and wheat currently available in Miao country by several times or even ten times.

At the same time, people are encouraged to reclaim wasteland, build water conservancy projects, expand the cultivated area, and ensure abundant granaries and a solid foundation.

Secondly, regarding taxation.

Although agricultural taxes are waived, commerce can be vigorously developed, trade encouraged, and the market regulated.

While elevating the status of merchants, the focus can be on collecting commercial taxes, a move that merchants would certainly not oppose.

When commerce prospers, commercial taxes naturally become plentiful, enough to make up for the shortfall in agricultural taxes.

Thirdly, regarding the expenses of the royal family and the court.

Your Majesty, I would like to offer you an improved papermaking technique, which can not only meet domestic demand but also be exported for profit.

There are also more efficient methods for refining well salt, which are far more profitable than crude salt.

With the addition of commercial tax revenue, and by taking several measures together, I believe that not only can the problem of an empty treasury be solved, but the Miao Kingdom's financial strength can even surpass that of the past.

Her voice was not loud, but each word clearly reached the ears of every minister.

However, the information contained in each word was like a thunderclap, exploding in the Golden Palace, shaking the minds of all the officials, who looked at each other in disbelief!

"Improved varieties? Ten times the yield?"

"Papermaking? Salt well method?"

"Could it be...could it be that those magical artifacts that have suddenly become popular in the Xia Kingdom in recent years were actually made by the eldest princess?"

The officials below were completely unsettled.

They had long heard of the Xia Kingdom's booming national strength because of these things, and were extremely envious.

Those high-yield, high-quality seeds were the key to solving the famine;

That pure white and supple paper is the cornerstone of a flourishing education and culture.

That snow-white fine salt is a luxury item that dignitaries from all over the world are vying to buy!

If all of this was truly brought about by the newly returned princess, then her words about strengthening the country and enriching the people are by no means empty talk!

Standing beside Chen Qingfeng, Crown Prince Chen Jingyuan couldn't help but straighten his back and add with a smug look on his face.

"Of course! I can testify that these achievements were already made by my elder sister when she was in Xia Kingdom! If it weren't for my elder sister, would Xia Kingdom have achieved its current status?"

Chen Qingfeng was overjoyed, clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his voice echoing throughout the palace.

"Ha...haha! Do you, my lords, now think it is appropriate for me to grant the Princess the power to participate in politics? And is it feasible to exempt the people from taxes for ten years to show the grace of Heaven, in order to bring such an auspicious omen to our Miao Kingdom?"

"It's appropriate! It's absolutely appropriate!"

"It works! It works perfectly!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Heaven blesses the Miao Kingdom, bestowing upon us such a wise and virtuous princess!"

At this moment, the ministers had no further objections, and they all knelt down, sincerely praising and congratulating each other.

The gaze directed at Wang Xinyao was filled with admiration and eagerness.

This eldest princess is not only a descendant of His Majesty and the Empress, but also an auspicious omen that brings real hope for the prosperity of the Miao Kingdom!

However, amidst the celebrations, there are always those "sober" individuals who are responsible for pouring cold water on the celebrations.

An official in charge of rites stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the princess's return is indeed a joyous occasion for all."

However, I have heard that the Princess and Crown Prince Zhao Haoxuan of Xia Kingdom are already engaged.

The princess is now twenty years old, well past the age of marriage, while the Crown Prince of Xia…

As far as I know, he has already married another woman in the Xia Kingdom as his Crown Princess.

My noble eldest princess of the Miao Kingdom is utterly unacceptable to be married off as a concubine to another country! How should this matter be handled?

His suggestion was immediately echoed by other officials.

"Yes, Your Majesty! The Princess is beautiful and talented, and possesses the ability to govern the country. Why must she be married off to the Xia Kingdom?"

"Our Miao Kingdom has many talented young men, surely we can find a husband worthy of the Princess?"

Chen Qingfeng and Wang Muyun exchanged a glance, but a meaningful smile appeared on their faces.

Zhao Haoxuan, standing below, remained silent throughout.

"Ha...!" Chen Qingfeng laughed again, his laughter filled with joy and a hint of mockery.

"You need not worry about this matter, my lords."

I won't hide it from you. In fact, my Yao'er is the first wife that Crown Prince Zhao Haoxuan of the Xia Kingdom married in a formal ceremony in the Xia Kingdom!

They are already husband and wife, and even have a child! The child I and the Empress hold in our arms is the fruit of their love, my little grandson!

"what?!"

"This……"

This news was more shocking than all the previous news combined, leaving the officials speechless and unable to react.

Chen Qingfeng looked at the surprised expressions of his ministers with satisfaction, stroked his short beard, and smiled, "I have already reached an agreement with the Emperor of Xia through a letter of state."

After the princess's investiture ceremony, the Xia Kingdom's wedding procession will arrive in my Miao Kingdom.

At that time, Yao'er will return to Xia Kingdom in glory as the eldest princess of Miao Kingdom, and formally perform the ceremony of being made crown princess with Crown Prince Zhao Haoxuan!

This is a joyous occasion for both countries and a significant event in consolidating diplomatic relations between Miao and Xia!

His gaze swept over the assembled officials, his tone shifting to one of unwavering resolve: "This matter is settled; there is no need for further discussion. Gentlemen, prepare for the grand ceremony!"

After a brief silence, the court erupted in enthusiastic congratulations once again upon hearing this.

It turns out there was such a twist in the story: the eldest princess and the crown prince of Xia were actually husband and wife.

Now she is returning to her homeland with offspring, unparalleled glory, and the talent to govern the country, and then marrying back in the most noble status. This is a legendary story that can only be found in folk tales!