Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

The lively atmosphere of the palace celebrations had barely faded when Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan plunged back into the hustle and bustle of state affairs. Although the country had achieved remarkable success in reconstruction, they knew that beneath the surface of calm, many undercurrents were quietly surging, ready to stir up new waves at any moment.

Although corruption has been curbed in China following recent crackdowns, the social problems left over from the long war remain complex. In some areas, the fighting has led to confusion over land ownership and frequent disputes among farmers. Li Lingyuan personally traveled to these areas to resolve these disputes, gaining a thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding each case and fairly dividing the land based on existing land records and the testimony of local residents. However, some powerful landowners, unwilling to relinquish land illegally seized during the war, secretly bribed local officials in an attempt to thwart Li's actions.

Sensing these hidden obstacles, Li Lingyuan decided to crack down on these landlords and corrupt officials. She established a temporary court in the local area to openly try these illegal cases. This move caused an uproar, and the landlords and officials began to fight back, spreading rumors among the people, claiming that the queen's actions were disrupting local order and harming the interests of the people. Suddenly, local public opinion turned extremely unfavorable to Li Lingyuan, and some people, unaware of the truth, began to doubt the court's actions.

Faced with this situation, Li Lingyuan did not back down. She held a large public rally in the area, where she detailed the court's rationale and objectives for handling land disputes and presented evidence of illegal activities by landlords and officials. "Fellow villagers, everything the court does is for fairness, to ensure that everyone can live and work in peace on their own land. These people, driven by selfish interests, have destroyed our peace. We cannot be deceived by their lies." Li Lingyuan's voice was firm and powerful, her eyes revealing unquestionable determination.

Thanks to Li Lingyuan's efforts, local people gradually came to understand the truth and began to support the court's actions. The illegal landlords and officials were duly punished, and the land dispute was properly resolved. However, this incident also made Li Lingyuan realize that restoring postwar social order would not happen overnight; it would require long-term effort and patience.

While fortifications in border areas grew stronger, foreign harassment became more sophisticated. Instead of simple, small-scale raids, they began employing strategies of division and infiltration. Some foreign spies, disguised as merchants or refugees, infiltrated border towns, attempting to gather intelligence and incite civil unrest.

Xiao Yi strengthened the intelligence network along the border, ordering border guards to keep a close eye on suspicious individuals. He also implemented a strict household registration system in the border area, requiring detailed registration and scrutiny of all outsiders. However, the foreign spies were highly skilled, forging identities and cleverly evading initial scrutiny.

Once upon a time, a series of bizarre fires broke out in a border town. While seemingly accidental, these fires were concentrated around key locations like granaries and armories. Suspecting the work of foreign spies, Xiao Yi personally led the investigation. After days of effort, they finally discovered a clue in a hidden basement: a secret stash of foreign communication tokens and unfinished sabotage plans.

Xiao Yi, realizing the seriousness of the problem, immediately ordered a large-scale investigation in the border areas. This operation caused some panic among the people living along the border, and their lives were affected to a certain extent. Some people expressed dissatisfaction with the court's strict measures, believing that they were disturbing the people. Xiao Yi was well aware that the people's dissatisfaction could be exploited by foreign forces. While speeding up the investigation, he also sent officials to explain the situation to the people and calm their emotions.

In terms of diplomacy, while the alliance nations reached a consensus on jointly resisting foreign forces, numerous disagreements arose in actual cooperation. Some nations struggled with military coordination, operating independently and failing to effectively unite against foreign harassment. Other nations, driven by selfish interests in the distribution of supplies and intelligence sharing, were unwilling to fully participate in the alliance's operations.

After discussing with Xiao Yi, Li Lingyuan decided to establish a closer coordination mechanism among the alliance nations. They invited representatives from each nation to the palace for a grand alliance meeting. During the meeting, Li Lingyuan proposed a series of cooperation plans, including the establishment of a joint military command center, unified material allocation, and a shared intelligence network. However, these plans were opposed by representatives from some nations, who feared that such plans would undermine their own sovereignty and interests.

Facing the questions raised by representatives from various countries, Xiao Yi stood up and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now facing a common enemy. Only by uniting as one can we defend our homeland. If we fight alone, we will all become prey to foreign races. The coordination mechanism we have established is not to infringe on the sovereignty of various countries, but to fight the enemy more effectively." Xiao Yi's words made some representatives fall into deep thought.

Over the next few days, after repeated consultations and discussions, representatives from various countries finally reached a partial consensus. While a fully unified coordination mechanism was still some distance away, an important step had been taken. To strengthen trust among the countries, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan decided to open some of their military facilities and intelligence data to the alliance members as a gesture of good faith.

During this process, Li Lingyuan and Xiao Yi also faced pressure from within the palace. Some conservative ministers questioned their reconstruction and foreign policy, believing that these measures were too radical and could bring more trouble to the country. They had a heated debate with Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan in the court.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your reforms and alliances are on such a large scale. If they fail, the country will be in an irretrievable situation!" said an old minister with great sorrow.

"My dear, we have no way out now. If we don't take positive measures, the threat from foreign races will never end, and the country will never be able to truly restore its prosperity." Xiao Yi responded firmly.

While managing domestic, border, diplomatic, and internal court affairs, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan also paid close attention to the lives of the common people. They continued to promote agricultural and commercial development, building more water conservancy projects across the country to increase agricultural production. Furthermore, to foster commercial prosperity, they constructed new markets and trade centers in major cities, attracting more merchants to the area.

In the cultural field, Li Lingyuan organized scholars to compile a series of books and poems reflecting national reconstruction and the spirit of the nation. These works were widely circulated among the people, inspiring patriotism and national pride. Xiao Yi, in turn, organized various cultural activities at court, inviting folk artists to perform, promoting the exchange and integration of court and folk culture.

However, just when everything seemed to be heading in the right direction, a sudden natural disaster struck the country, dealing a heavy blow. A rare flood swept across multiple regions, submerging vast tracts of farmland, destroying homes, and displacing many people. This flood not only brought great devastation to the lives of the people but also severely damaged the country's reconstruction efforts.

Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan quickly organized a disaster relief operation. They mobilized a large amount of supplies and manpower and headed to the disaster-stricken areas. Xiao Yi personally commanded the rescue team, rescuing trapped civilians and evacuating residents from dangerous areas. Li Lingyuan oversaw the distribution of supplies and the resettlement of the victims. She established several temporary shelters throughout the disaster area and provided food, clothing, and medical assistance.

During the relief efforts, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan witnessed the resilience and mutual support of the local people in the face of disaster. Many people spontaneously organized themselves to help each other and fight the floods together. These scenes deeply moved them and strengthened their resolve to rebuild their homes.

After weeks of painstaking efforts, the floodwaters finally receded, but the affected areas lay in ruins. Undeterred, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan began a new phase of reconstruction. This time, the task was even more challenging due to limited resources and the need to balance the development of other areas. But they refused to give up, rallying the people of the country to unite and overcome this difficult time.

During this difficult time, the alliance countries also extended a helping hand. Some countries provided material aid, while others sent craftsmen and technicians to help rebuild the affected areas. This made Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan feel the warmth of international cooperation and further strengthened the alliance's relationship.

As time went by, the affected areas gradually regained their vitality. New houses were built, farmland was reclaimed, and smiles appeared on the faces of the people again. Although this natural disaster brought huge losses to the country, it also made the country and the people stronger in the face of difficulties.

After navigating this series of challenges, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan have come to understand that the road to national development is full of twists and turns, but as long as they support each other and work together with the people and allies from all over the world, nothing can stop them from moving forward. Their love, like the fate of their nation, has grown stronger through the storms. They will continue to work for the prosperity and peace of their country, writing their own legend.

On a quiet evening in the palace, Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan once again found themselves in the garden. Moonlight shone upon them, illuminating their exhausted yet resolute figures. "Lingyuan, this has been truly difficult," Xiao Yi whispered softly. "Your Majesty, it's true, but we've made it through. As long as we don't give up, there's hope for our country." Li Lingyuan squeezed Xiao Yi's hand tightly, a glint of hope in his eyes. They knew that more challenges lay ahead, but they were ready to face all the unknowns.