From cute to empress

In the Golden Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed to have frozen.

My gaze swept over the anxious faces at the foot of the stairs, a mixture of emotions welling up in my chest. The demonic energy mixed with the rain as it fell; this wasn't just any natural disaster, but another challenge to our painstaking efforts to rebuild our home.

"My dear ministers, I'm sure you've all sensed that today's vision is truly extraordinary." I spoke slowly. Though my voice was quiet, it carried clearly to every corner. "As long as the evil spirit remains unquenched, our homeland will never find peace. However, we cannot give up hope, nor our pursuit of a better life."

The people in the audience looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and expectation.

I took a deep breath and continued, "After discussing with General Zhen, we have decided that, starting today, we will launch a nationwide cultural revival movement!"

"Cultural Renaissance?" A white-haired old scholar murmured to himself, with a glimmer of light in his turbid eyes.

"That's right! We must use the light of the cultural soul to dispel the haze that shrouds people's hearts!" I said firmly, "I have invited all cultural scholars and artists to gather together to pool our wisdom and discuss major plans!"

As soon as I finished speaking, a buzz of discussion broke out in the hall. People were whispering to each other, and expressions of hope and excitement gradually appeared on their faces.

"Your Majesty is wise!" The old scholar stood up first and bowed deeply to me. "I am willing to contribute my humble efforts to the revival of culture!"

"We are willing to serve Your Majesty!" Other scholars and artists also stood up to express their opinions.

Looking at the enthusiastic faces before me, the corners of my mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. Zhen Youcai and I exchanged a firm look, our hearts filled with hope.

A cultural feast sweeping across the country is about to begin...

Once the clarion call for cultural renaissance was sounded, the entire planet seemed to burst into new life. Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side, overlooking this ancient yet youthful city below, our hearts surging with boundless hope.

"Look, our city is awakening." Zhen Youcai pointed to the magnificent buildings rising from the ground in the distance, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's the library we built with our own hands, which will house the essence of human civilization; that's the museum, which will showcase the wisdom and creativity of our ancestors; that's the art center, which will give birth to more spiritual lights that will illuminate the future..."

I smiled and nodded, my heart filled with pride and relief. To ensure the seeds of cultural renaissance take root and sprout in every corner, I've ordered the construction of numerous cultural facilities across the country. I know full well that only by providing people with a platform for free creation and exchange can cultural vitality be truly unleashed.

Facts have proven that my decision was the right one. Within just a few years, Earth's cultural and artistic endeavors experienced an unprecedented boom. Numerous talented artists and scholars emerged from around the world, creating countless outstanding works across a wide range of fields, including literature, painting, music, and drama.

I still remember the first time Zhen Youcai and I enjoyed the opera "Rebirth" at the newly built National Centre for the Performing Arts. The magnificent music, the moving vocals, and the deeply moving plot deeply moved me. After the performance, I excitedly shook the young composer's hand, tears in my eyes, and said, "Your work has given me hope and a vision of the future!"

Culture is the light that illuminates the world. Amidst the wave of cultural renaissance, people's spirits have been revitalized. No longer dwelling on the pain of the past, they are filled with hope and longing for the future.

However, just as I was immersed in this joy, Zhen Youcai suddenly handed me a letter with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, please take a look at this..."

I took the letter, opened it, and my face darkened. The letter was about some places resisting the cultural revival. They considered the new culture "heretical" and a "disaster," and even began inciting the public to resist it.

The crooked handwriting on the letter felt like sharp stones, making me nervous. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my anger, and asked, "What's the situation everywhere? Have any measures been taken?"

Zhen Youcai frowned and said in a deep voice, "The situation is more complicated than we expected. In some places, conservative forces are deeply entrenched. They refuse to accept anything new and even incite the people to resist the new culture and destroy newly built cultural facilities. Some scholars have taken the new culture out of context and misinterpreted it as a scourge..."

"How ridiculous!" I slammed the table and stood up. "Cultural renaissance is a major event concerning the future of the Earth. How can it be obstructed by these ignorant people?"

Zhen Youcai held my shoulder, signaling me to calm down. "Your Majesty, I know you're anxious, but times like these require us to remain calm. Harsh repression will only exacerbate the conflict. We need to find a more effective solution."

I knew he was right, so I suppressed my anger, paced back and forth, and after a moment's thought, I said, "You're right. We can't act recklessly. Pass the order on. A cultural symposium will be held tomorrow. I want to personally speak with these conservatives!"

On the second day, the atmosphere in the magnificent hall was unusually solemn. Zhen Youcai and I sat side by side on the podium, while scholars, artists, and conservative representatives from around the world sat below.

"Everyone," I looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Culture is the soul of a nation and the foundation of a civilization. The earth has experienced a catastrophe and is in need of reconstruction. More than ever, we need a cultural revival to unite people and rebuild civilization..."

My opening remarks were like a pebble that stirred ripples on the surface of a tranquil lake. The audience erupted in discussion, some supporting, others questioning and opposing.

I motioned for silence and continued, "I know some people are skeptical of the new culture, believing it to be heretical and gimmicky. But what I want to say is that culture is never static; it needs innovation through inheritance and development through innovation. Everything we do today is to make the light of Earth's culture shine even brighter!"

As soon as I finished speaking, an elderly man in the audience stood up. He was a highly respected historian and a representative of the conservative faction. He asked tremblingly, "Your Majesty, we admire your contributions to Earth, but with all due respect, can the New Culture truly shoulder the responsibility of reviving Earth's civilization? Will it, as you say, ultimately become a catastrophic disaster, completely destroying the cultural essence we have inherited for thousands of years?"

Faced with the old man's question, I did not evade it, but answered frankly: "Your concerns are not without reason, but new culture does not mean to overthrow tradition, but to innovate on the basis of inheritance. We encourage artists to interpret classics with new forms and new techniques, so that traditional culture can be revitalized. At the same time, we also encourage the creation of new works that reflect the spirit of the times, so that culture can keep pace with the times and continue to develop..."

Over the next few days, Zhen Youcai and I continued to communicate and exchange ideas with conservative representatives. We patiently listened to their opinions and suggestions, and explained and addressed their concerns. We invited them to visit museums, libraries, and art centers, allowing them to experience the charm of new culture firsthand. We also organized scholars to compile accessible cultural textbooks to popularize new cultural knowledge among the public.

Our efforts were not in vain. More and more people began to understand and accept the new culture. A year later, at a grand cultural celebration, Zhen Youcai and I jointly announced that the world's cultural renaissance had achieved a phased victory. But we also understood... Our efforts were not in vain. More and more people began to understand and accept the new culture. A year later, at a grand cultural celebration, Zhen Youcai and I stood together on a high platform. Colorful lights intertwined into a gorgeous stage, cheerful music drifted in the air, and everyone's faces were filled with happy smiles.

I took the microphone and looked out at the sea of ​​people in the audience, feeling a surge of emotion. "Fellow citizens of Earth," I said, my voice trembling with excitement. "Today, we gather here to celebrate the milestone achievement of Earth's cultural renaissance!"

The audience erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for a long time. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai beside me. He smiled and nodded gently, indicating that I should continue.

I took a deep breath and continued, "Looking back a year ago, we faced enormous challenges. The collision of conservatism and innovation, the interweaving of tradition and modernity, made the cultural path of the earth full of thorns."

"But," I said, my tone becoming firm, "we haven't given up! We've communicated with sincerity and patience, and proved with our actions and achievements that the new culture isn't a scourge, but a stepping stone to civilizational progress!"

"Today, we are delighted to see that more and more people are picking up their brushes, writing poems, and singing the music of the new era! Ancient culture is revitalized in new forms, and the ideas of the new era are sublimated through inheritance!"

"This is a new beginning, a beginning full of hope!" I looked around with a determined gaze. "But I understand even more that cultural inheritance and innovation is an endless process. We still have a long way to go and many challenges to face!"

At this point, I paused, my gaze gazing into the distance, a place seemingly filled with endless possibilities. "Next, we'll..." Before I could finish my words, I felt Zhen Youcai hold my hand, and a warm current instantly spread through my body. He whispered in my ear, a voice only the two of us could hear: "Mengmeng, look over there..."

I followed his gaze, and my pupils suddenly shrank...