From cute to empress

His hot breath sprayed on my ear, and I heard him growl, like the low roar of an enraged beast. He was surrounded by a golden light, so dazzling that I couldn't look directly at it, but it was also so warm, like a bright lamp lit for me in the endless darkness.

"Talent!" I exclaimed, only to see his eyes closed, his handsome face slightly twisted in pain. I understood that he was burning his life to fight against that evil force.

"Don't be afraid, Mengmeng, look at me." His voice was much weaker, but it still had the power to soothe people.

I held back my tears and stared into his eyes. Those eyes, which were once as clear as spring water, were now bloodshot, but the tenderness and determination in them never disappeared.

"Do you remember what I taught you?" The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "Feel the energy between heaven and earth, feel the connection between you and me..."

His words were like a flash of lightning, instantly splitting the fog in my heart. I closed my eyes, trying to feel the energy he spoke of, to feel the bond between us that transcended life and death, time and space.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. I could feel the powerful force in his body slipping away, and I, like a dried-up sponge, greedily absorbed this power.

"Now, Mengmeng!" His voice exploded in my mind. I suddenly opened my eyes and an unprecedented power gushed out of my body. It was a kind of power that was indescribable, as if everything in the world was under my control.

I saw the terror on the faces of the rebel leader and the imperial teacher, saw the forbidden spells they had jointly cast crumble in the face of our power, and saw the greed and ambition in their eyes eventually turn to ashes.

“No… This is impossible…” The Imperial Master let out a desperate roar, and his entire body was swallowed by a powerful force, disappearing without a trace.

The rebel leader wanted to fight back, but was shot through the heart by Zhen Youcai. He stared with his eyes wide open, and could not believe until his death that he would be defeated by a woman and a dying man.

"Mengmeng, you did it..." Zhen Youcai smiled weakly, his body slowly fell down, I hurried to catch him, and finally couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Don't cry, silly..." He raised his hand and gently wiped away my tears, "I promised you that I would always be with you..."

His voice grew weaker and weaker, and finally, his hands fell down helplessly...

"Master..." I held Zhen Youcai's cold body and looked at the old monk in the crowd who was wearing a cassock and had a kind face.

"Master..." I hugged Zhen Youcai's cold body and knelt in front of the kind-looking old monk, tears blurring my vision.

The old monk slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze seeming to see through everything in the world. He sighed softly, clasped his hands together, and began to recite a scripture in a low voice. A golden light emanated from him, enveloping the entire battlefield. The smell of blood and the aura of slaughter that had previously filled the air gradually dissipated, replaced by a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

I knelt there, listening to his low chanting, feeling the changes around me, and my heart gradually calmed. I understood that death is not the end, but a new beginning. I looked up at the sky and seemed to see Zhen Youcai's handsome smile. There he was, quietly watching over me, protecting me.

"The dead are gone, and the living remain like this. Your Majesty, please accept my condolences and take care of yourself." The old monk's voice brought me back to reality. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and stood up.

"Master, I understand." I looked around with a firm gaze. "This catastrophe is over. Now, it's time for me to shoulder my responsibilities."

I ordered the soldiers to bury the fallen soldiers with honor and to properly settle their families. At the same time, I ordered an investigation of the officials and nobles who participated in the rebellion. I would show no mercy to those who committed the most heinous crimes, but I also gave pardon and a chance to those who were deceived and whose crimes did not deserve the death penalty.

Although Zhen Youcai is gone, I will never forget what he taught me. Following his example, I worked diligently to govern the country, rectify the government, develop the economy, and care for the people's livelihood. I have traveled every inch of this country, witnessed firsthand the suffering of the people, and felt their longing for peace and happiness.

I issued a series of laws that benefited the people, reducing taxes, building water conservancy projects, encouraging agriculture, and developing commerce. I established a disciplined and well-trained army to safeguard the security of our borders. I established schools and promoted education, giving more children the opportunity to learn and change their destinies.

As time passed, the country rebuilt itself from the ruins of the war, and the people's lives gradually returned to peace and tranquility. As time went by, my prestige reached an unprecedented height.

One day, I was walking in the Imperial Garden when I suddenly heard a commotion coming from outside the palace. I stopped and listened, and faintly heard shouts of "Long live the Queen!"

"Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!" Deafening cheers surged in like a tide. Surrounded by maids, I slowly walked out of the palace gates. Before me was a sea of ​​people, their faces brimming with joy and gratitude, their eyes filled with admiration and love.

The houses lining the streets were festooned with colorful flags, and a festive atmosphere permeated the air. I saw the dragon and lion dances spontaneously organized by the locals, and heard the children's clear laughter. All of this filled me with immense joy and satisfaction.

An elderly man trembled as he stepped forward from the crowd, holding a silk banner in both hands. Embroidered with the glittering golden characters, "Heroines, Pillars of the Nation," he said excitedly, "Empress, you and General Zhen are divine soldiers sent from heaven to save the people from dire straits. We are eternally grateful!"

As I accepted the banner, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I saw the people's longing for peace, their admiration for heroes, and their expectations of me. I knew this honor belonged not only to me, but also to all the soldiers who fought bravely for our country and our people, and to all the people who dedicated themselves silently to rebuilding our homeland.

As night fell, Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side at the highest point of the palace, overlooking the capital, ablaze with lights. Having survived the ravages of war, the city seemed reborn, brimming with life and energy.

"Youcai, look, this is the country we are fighting to protect, and these are the people we are fighting for." I pointed into the distance and said softly.

Zhen Youcai held my hand and said firmly, "Mengmeng, we did it. Together we protected this country and created miracles. But this is just the beginning. We still have a long way to go, and the responsibility we shoulder is even greater."

I nodded, my heart filled with hope and longing. I know the road ahead is full of challenges, but I believe that as long as we work together, we will be able to overcome all difficulties and create a better future.

However, just as we were about to celebrate our victory, a guard rushed in, holding a letter in his hand, his face pale and his expression panicked...

"Empress, this is bad!" The guard knelt on one knee, his voice trembling, "Urgent news from the border!"

My smile froze, and my heart sank. Zhen Youcai also put away his relaxed expression and quickly stepped forward to take the letter.

He unfolded the letter, his brow furrowed ever deeper. Those few short lines weighed on my heart like a huge rock.

"What's wrong?" I tried to make my voice sound calm.

Zhen Youcai took a deep breath and handed me the letter, "Read it yourself."

On the letter paper, the bright red seal hurt my eyes. It was written on it:

"The North Desert has evil ambitions, gathering an army of 100,000 to invade our borders, killing our people, burning, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities! The border is in danger, send troops to support us immediately!"

Those few words, like a bucket of cold water, shook me from the joy of victory. The Northern Desert, that barbaric tribe separated from us by a chasm, had chosen this very moment to launch an attack!

The letter in my hand was almost crushed. Anger, worry, fear, all kinds of emotions intertwined together and almost overwhelmed me.

"How dare they?!" I gritted my teeth and tried hard to control my emotions.

"The people of Beimo have always been eyeing us covetously. Now that our civil unrest has just been quelled, it's a perfect opportunity for them to take advantage of the situation." Zhen Youcai's voice was terrifyingly calm, but it made me even more frightened.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. "Send the order, summon all ministers, and hold a meeting tonight!"

Although my voice was not loud, it was full of unquestionable majesty.

The atmosphere in the palace, shrouded in darkness, was oppressive and suffocating. Ministers hurried in, their faces etched with weariness and anxiety.

"My dear ministers," I glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "The Northern Desert is invading, and the border is in danger. What are your thoughts?"

"This..." The ministers looked at each other and talked a lot.

"Empress, the people of Northern Desert are brave and good at fighting. We have just experienced civil unrest, and I am afraid..." An old minister hesitated to speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty, our treasury is empty and our troops are insufficient. How can we resist the cavalry of the Northern Desert?" Another minister followed suit.

I listened to their discussions, and a chill ran down my spine. I knew what they said was true, and our current situation was indeed not optimistic.

"Enough!" I slammed the table, and the hall fell silent. "Are we just going to sit there and wait for death? Are we going to watch helplessly as the Northern Desert people trample on our homes and slaughter our people?"

My gaze swept across the crowd like a sharp sword, "We will not surrender! We will fight! We will use our flesh and blood to protect our homeland!"

"But……"

"No buts!" I interrupted the minister who was about to speak. "I have made up my mind. Tomorrow, I will personally lead the army and fight a decisive battle with the people of Northern Desert!"

My words were firm and powerful, echoing throughout the hall. I knew this was a huge gamble, one that concerned the fate of our nation, but I had no choice.

"Three days later, it will be the coronation ceremony..." Zhen Youcai walked to my side and whispered, his eyes full of worry.

I took a deep breath, lowered my voice, and said firmly, "Pass the order down. The coronation ceremony will proceed as scheduled!"