From cute to empress

Golden sunlight bathed the imperial study. As I flipped through the memorials submitted from various regions, a heavy weight weighed on my heart. The imperial examinations had concluded successfully, and new talents had taken up their posts. Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction, but I knew the real challenge was only just beginning.

"Your Majesty, you have been reviewing memorials for the entire morning. Please take a break." General Zhen walked over to me with a bowl of ginseng tea, a hint of worry in his tone.

I rubbed my brows, put down the memorial in my hand, took a sip of the ginseng tea, and sighed deeply, "General Zhen, tell me, can these new policies of mine really be implemented?"

General Zhen was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "The new policies implemented by the Emperor, such as tax reductions and commerce rectification, are all for the benefit of the people. I believe the people will eventually understand the Emperor's painstaking efforts."

I understand this truth, but the reforms have affected the interests of certain people, so how could they let it go? Behind all the flowery rhetoric in the memorials, there was nothing but a cry for justice for the wealthy businessmen, and even a hint of threat in the words.

"Report! Mr. Liu wants to see you!"

I sneered. Speak of the devil and he will appear.

"Xuan!"

Rich businessman Liu walked into the imperial study, surrounded by a group of businessmen. He was wearing a plain robe today, but his face was full of hypocritical smiles. "I, the humble man, pay my respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor!"

"Mr. Liu, why don't you stay at home and do your business instead of coming to me?" I put down the teacup in my hand and said indifferently.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the court wants to rectify the business order, and I am very frightened. I have come to ask for your permission!" As Liu Fushang said this, he and a group of businessmen knelt down in unison.

"Oh? Why are you so scared?" I raised my eyebrows and glanced sharply at the people kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty, we common people have been doing business for generations, paying a lot of taxes to the court and providing a lot of convenience for the people. Now the court wants to rectify the business order, which will undoubtedly cut off the livelihood of common people!" Liu Fushang cried and spoke as if I were an unforgivable tyrant.

"Liu Fushang, are you threatening me?" I stood up suddenly, my tone icy, "I tell you, everything I do is for the people of the world, for our beautiful country! Anyone who dares to stop me will become a sinner in history!"

Mr. Liu was intimidated by my aura. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was stopped by my sharp look.

"Everyone, get out of here!"

Watching Liu Fushang and the others leave in disgrace, my heart felt no joy of victory, but instead a heavy burden. I knew this was only the calm before the storm, and greater challenges lay ahead...

"General Zhen, pass the order down to strengthen the palace guards. Also..." I paused, a cold glint in my eyes, "Send someone to secretly investigate and find out who is behind this rumor and inciting the people..."

After Liu Fushang and the others left, the air in the imperial study seemed to freeze. I slumped in my chair, a sense of powerlessness washing over me. The road to reform was even more difficult than I had imagined.

"Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much." General Zhen's voice brought me back to reality. "People like Liu Fushang are just clowns. They will never amount to anything."

"I hope so." I sighed and rubbed my temples. "But I'm worried that there's a bigger force behind this that's manipulating all this."

My fears were quickly confirmed. A few days later, news arrived from all over the country that some scoundrels were spreading rumors among the people, inciting them to oppose the reforms. They claimed that the court's new policies were increasing the burden on the people and exploiting them.

"People from the underworld?" I stood up suddenly, anger rising in my heart. "Investigate! Find out who is behind these people!"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go and investigate!" General Zhen knelt on one knee with a firm tone.

"Okay, I order you to set off immediately and find out the truth!"

General Zhen took his orders and left, but I was restless. To better understand the situation among the people, I decided to go on a private visit in disguise to see for myself what the people really thought.

After changing into simple clothes, General Zhen and I disguised ourselves and left the palace. We visited several villages along the way and had long conversations with the people to understand their living conditions and their views on the new policies.

I am pleased to find that most people support the New Deal. They say that since its implementation, their taxes have been reduced and their lives are much better than before.

"Your Majesty, look, the people support you!" General Zhen pointed to the people working in the fields in the distance, a gratified smile on his face.

I nodded, but I still felt uneasy. I knew those who spread rumors would not give up and would definitely find ways to obstruct reform.

At this moment, a farmer ran over in a panic, gasping for breath and saying, "Oh no! The police are here and they want to arrest the person who spread the rumor!"

I was startled, looked at General Zhen, and immediately rushed to the scene of the incident.

I saw a group of officers surrounding a man in black. The man was holding a long sword and fighting fiercely with the officers.

"Stop!" I shouted and walked over.

When the man in black heard my voice, he paused for a moment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the officers rushed forward and subdued him to the ground.

I walked forward and took a closer look, and found that the man in black was none other than the famous knight in the martial arts world - Zhao Xiake!

"Knight Zhao, why do you spread rumors and incite the people?" I asked coldly.

Zhao Xiake raised his head and looked at me, a sneer on his face: "Humph, I'm just doing justice for the heavens!"

"Doing justice for Heaven?" I laughed in anger. "So what you call doing justice for Heaven means spreading rumors and disturbing people's hearts?!"

"I..." Zhao Xiake wanted to say something, but was interrupted by me.

"Come here, take Zhao Xiake away and interrogate him strictly!"

Watching Zhao Xiake being taken away, I was filled with anger and confusion. Zhao Xiake was a well-known chivalrous man in the martial arts world, so why would he do such a thing? Could he also have been instructed by someone else?

"General Zhen..." I took a deep breath, a hint of determination flashing in my eyes, "It seems that we must take some tough measures..."

General Zhen clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, please give your instructions!"

"Pass the order down and thoroughly investigate those who spread rumors everywhere. Once verified, they will be severely punished! In addition, strengthen propaganda and education for the people so that more people can understand the benefits of the new policy." My tone was firm and no one could question it.

"I obey your command!" General Zhen accepted the order and left with a hint of admiration on his face. He knew that this seemingly weak young empress had great strength deep within her heart.

In order to better explain the new policy to the people, I decided to hold a public debate in the capital. When the news spread, the people talked a lot, and they all wanted to know how the empress would respond to the opposition.

On the day of the debate, Beijing Square was packed. Standing on the podium, dressed in plain clothes, I scanned the faces filled with anticipation and doubt, feeling a sense of peace.

"My fellow citizens, I have convened this debate today to hear your opinions on the new policies. I know that any reform will affect the interests of some, but everything I do is for the people and for the long-term peace and stability of the world!"

My opening remarks won applause from many people, but some people looked disdainful, obviously misled by the rumors.

A middle-aged man dressed as a wealthy businessman stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, you say the new policies are for the benefit of the people, but the taxes on us merchants have increased. Isn't this competing with the people for profit?"

"That's wrong, boss," I explained calmly. "While the new policy has increased taxes on merchants, it has also reduced the burden on farmers, allowing more people to participate in business activities. In the long run, this is beneficial to the development of business."

My explanation was so logical and reasonable that the wealthy businessman was speechless. Several others then raised questions, but I addressed them one by one.

An old man in the crowd stood up tremblingly and asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that the new policy is to abolish the imperial examination system. Is this true?"

This issue is particularly acute because the imperial examination system has been in place for hundreds of years and is the only way for many poor students to change their fate. If it is abolished, it will inevitably cause huge social unrest.

I took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Old man, I can tell you clearly that the new policy will not abolish the imperial examination system, but it will reform it. We will establish more professional disciplines so that more talented young people, regardless of their background, will have the opportunity to serve the country."

My words were powerful and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. I knew that I had successfully won the debate and the hearts of the people.

However, just as I was about to declare the debate over, a sudden commotion erupted from the crowd... Amidst the deafening applause, I sensed a distinct chill, as if a pair of eyes lurking in the shadows were staring back at me with resentment. I glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source of that strange feeling. The audience was cheering jubilantly, jubilant over the New Deal's victory, oblivious to any signs of a disturbance.

General Zhen rode up to the stage, his face filled with unconcealed joy. "Your Majesty, I admire your eloquence! The people all support the new policies, and those scoundrels no longer dare to stir up trouble."

I shook my head slightly. The uneasiness in my heart didn't dissipate, but instead grew stronger. "General, don't let your guard down. Even though we won this debate, those forces secretly obstructing us haven't disappeared. They will definitely make a comeback."

General Zhen's expression froze, and he said sternly, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will strengthen our defenses and will not allow these scoundrels to take advantage of us!"

After the debate, I returned to the Imperial Study, feeling a strange sense of exhaustion. The road to reform was even harder than I'd imagined. Those deeply entrenched forces would never compromise easily.

I rubbed my brows and was about to review the memorials when I heard hurried footsteps outside the door. "Your Majesty, Mr. Liu and Mr. Zhao request an audience!" Little Li rushed in, his tone a little panicked.

I was struck by this. One of these two men was a wealthy businessman, the other a renowned knight-errant. They rarely interacted with each other on weekdays, so why were they here together today? "Announce!" I put down the memorial in my hand, with a vague premonition that something was about to happen.

As soon as Liu Fushang and Zhao Xiake entered the room, they both knelt on the ground, their faces panicked and their words incoherent: "Your Majesty... something terrible has happened... urgent news from the border..."

My heart tightened, and a sense of foreboding arose: "Border? What happened? Tell me slowly!"

Liu Fushang nervously pulled out a blood-stained letter from his pocket and handed it over with trembling hands: "Your Majesty...you...you can read it yourself..."

I took the letter, unfolded it, and my face turned pale. The letter contained only a few short lines, but it was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in my heart:

"Enemy envoys are approaching with their troops, demanding...territory and compensation..."

My eyes fell on the last few words, and my mind went blank. Envoys from an enemy nation? Troops? Cede territory and pay compensation? How could this be possible...