Time flies, years pass like a swift stream…
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. In these two years, Huaxia City has developed at an astonishing pace, with continuous improvements in both agriculture and the living standards of its people.
Not only that, but its territory has now expanded to Songlin County in Guang'an Prefecture. Su Muqing and the others even made a special trip back later.
The once righteous village on Kanzi Mountain is now surrounded by dense trees. The entrance to the mountain cave is also completely hidden by vines and vegetation.
As one rises, another falls! Huaxia City's continuous expansion has absorbed the territory of the Great Yu Dynasty.
The price of one side's prosperity and rise is the rapid decline of the other. After suffering from drought and snow disasters, the Great Yu Dynasty experienced floods in the summer of the following year.
Those who survived the disasters thought that the calamities were over. However, just as they were recovering and preparing to start anew, an unforgiving earthquake struck once more.
The common people were in agony, tormented by the continuous natural disasters and earthquakes. After several upheavals, the national population had decreased by nearly one-third, and the losses of property were immeasurable.
At the same time, rumors began to spread among the populace. It was said that the reason for the continuous disasters in the Great Yu Dynasty was that the current emperor was not benevolent, listened to the slander of villains, and unjustly killed their pillar of national defense – the King of Equal Footing and his family. They had destroyed the protector of the common people and shaken the very foundations of the Great Yu. Huaxia City, which rose and developed rapidly during this time, suddenly became the refuge that the common people of the Great Yu Dynasty yearned for.
It was said that the first batch of refugees who fled there were now living lives that others could not even imagine. Those who joined later were also slowly improving, and even those who had recently gone to seek refuge were finding stability.
What made the common people flock there even more was that while the Great Yu Dynasty was in turmoil and plagued by natural disasters, Huaxia City was experiencing prosperity, stability, and rapid development.
The abandoned and ruined cities that were once left behind by the Great Yu Dynasty were quickly brought back to life and resumed normal operations after being taken over by Huaxia City.
They believed that Huaxia City's good weather was a blessing from heaven, and a path to survival for the suffering people. Thus, they packed their belongings and began to migrate, either as families or entire villages.
As for the other person.
After the incident involving Chu Ruoqiao, Huo Qixiao rushed back to the capital. He could have reached his destination much earlier, but Lu Yuzhi did not want him to have an easy journey, so he made things difficult for him along the way.
There were constant ambushes throughout the journey, until eventually all his subordinates were intercepted, and all his wealth was plundered. When Huo Qixiao was left alone, they disguised themselves as bandits and robbed him. If they couldn't find any money, they would beat him up.
At first, Huo Qixiao thought he was just unlucky, but as he went along, he kept encountering mountain bandits and thieves, and each time, if he couldn't produce money, they would beat him soundly.
Gradually, Huo Qixiao began to notice something. He realized that the people who robbed him seemed to be the same group each time, meaning they had been following him all along.
One day, he couldn't bear it any longer and asked about his suspicions. The bandits exchanged quick glances, and then, skipping the usual procedure of searching for money, they simply proceeded to beat him up. Only then did Huo Qixiao confirm that these people were not mountain bandits or thieves at all, but were clearly targeting him.
As a result, those people would appear like clockwork every two days, without saying much, and would simply beat him up. However, this way, Huo Qixiao was no longer lonely on his journey back to the capital.
Yet, he could never understand who sent these people to target him. They would injure him each time but never took his life, seeming to be more interested in toying with him.
What would have taken only a little over a month to reach the capital with fast horses and continuous night travel, ended up taking Huo Qixiao a full five months, enduring all sorts of hardships, before he finally returned to the capital.
By the time he stood at the city gate of the capital, it was already the New Year. Huo Qixiao was by then in tatters, with unkempt hair and a disheveled appearance.
Not only was he covered in filth and emitting a foul odor, but he was also bruised, with a crooked eye and a limping leg. Even the beggars on the street looked cleaner than him.
If it weren't for his extremely well-hidden personal seal, which helped him prove his identity as the eldest young master of the Huo family, he probably wouldn't have even been able to enter the capital's gate.
Upon returning to the Huo family, Huo Qixiao immediately sent people out of the city to chase after those who had impersonated bandits. However, the night before he was to enter the city, after giving him a farewell beating, those people had vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, Huo Qixiao, recuperating at home from his injuries, was somewhat uneasy, apart from wanting to catch the fake bandits.
Chu Ruoqiao, the only daughter of the Chu family, had gone to the no-man's-land with him, and had tragically died there in confusion.
He had initially thought that the Chu family would come looking for trouble with him. However, after two days, news of his return to the capital had spread throughout the city, yet there was no movement from the Chu family. They hadn't even sent someone to inquire.
A few days later, Huo Qixiao dared to send someone to the Chu family to inquire. Only then did he learn that the Chu family's old general had left on a long journey after the New Year, but he hadn't said where he was going.
Meanwhile.
Today was another Lunar New Year's Eve, and Huaxia City was bustling with prosperity. The people on the streets wore smiles of happiness. Despite the heavy snowfall, it did not dampen the festive atmosphere at all.
The city was decorated everywhere with lanterns and colorful decorations, red silk lanterns, potted plants, and fresh flowers adorned every street and corner. Not only had the scenery been completely transformed, but the state of mind of the people had also changed significantly.
From today onwards, Huaxia City would usher in a new chapter. Because tomorrow, the first day of the New Year, Huaxia City would become a thing of the past and officially change its name to Huaxia Kingdom!
And the capital of the future Huaxia Kingdom, as well as its original birthplace – the no-man's-land, would officially be renamed the capital city Yaotian, on the same day tomorrow.
A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Once a nation is established, it must have a ruler. There was a lot of debate among them regarding the selection of the ruler.
Su Muqing and Lu Yuzhi were both unwilling to be the ruler. During the election, they nominated each other, and those around them expressed that as long as it wasn't someone else on the throne, either of them would be acceptable.
Thus, the matter fell into a stalemate.
Finally, the two discussed it privately and made a decision. Su Muqing would temporarily assume the throne, and Lu Yuzhi would be appointed as the Regent.
His important task from now on would be to fully train Su Muxuan, who was now three years old, and to cultivate more capable individuals during this period.
This was because they had agreed that in ten years, Su Muqing would abdicate the throne to Su Muxuan. Then, the two of them could retire to the martial world, travel the world together, and enjoy the beautiful rivers and mountains and boundless scenery.
While Su Muqing, the future empress, was handling official business with Lu Yuzhi in the study, a familiar female voice was heard from outside the door.
The two quickly put down their pens. Lu Yuzhi pinched his nose and then glanced at the green plants in the room to relieve the dryness in his eyes. Su Muqing stood up to greet the visitor.
"Qing'er, come quickly and help me choose a phoenix coronet for your enthronement ceremony tomorrow. I've been asking your father for half a day, but he's just been humoring me, saying every set looks good. But he clearly only has mahjong in his eyes, and never really looks at what I'm wearing or what jewelry to match it with!"
The woman spoke as she walked, followed by a long line of palace maids, each holding various phoenix coronets and jewelry. From afar, it gleamed golden.
Su Muqing walked up to the line of palace maids and carefully helped her make a selection. That's right! This person was her mother, who was thousands of miles away, Empress Qin of the Tianzhao Kingdom.
Since Su Muqing and the others had left, and later paid attention to the growing development of Huaxia City, Ke Biyou had predicted that Su Muqing's future plans would not stop at the position of City Lord.
Therefore, he dismissed his harem and began to gradually hand over his responsibilities to the Regent. When the time was ripe, he would abdicate.
It wasn't until a month ago that they suddenly appeared in the waters of Huaxia City with a fleet of ships. They were eventually spotted by the patrol fleet and reported to Su Muqing.
When Su Muqing saw them, she realized that the emperor had already passed the throne to Regent Ke Biyite in the first half of the year.
Then Ke Biyou, along with the Empress, who should now be called Madam Qin, and all their wealth, under the protection of a squad of personal guards, crossed the vast sea to find their daughter.
Su Muqing was very happy about their arrival, as it would give her more time to spend with her parents. Moreover, she had many modern items that would allow her parents to live even better lives.
Su Muqing held up the most luxurious and dazzling phoenix coronet and presented it to the Empress. "Wear this one! It looks more noble."
Qin Shi took the coronet and asked somewhat uncertainly, "Wouldn't wearing this be too ostentatious? Is it appropriate for me to be so grand at your enthronement ceremony!"
Su Muqing placed the coronet on Qin Shi's head. "What's wrong with that? You are the most respected Empress Dowager! Whatever you wear is appropriate, just listen to me and you won't go wrong."
Hearing this, Qin Shi, who was still a little uncertain, immediately led the group of palace maids away happily. Since her daughter had said so, she would wear this one tomorrow!
Lu Yuzhi poured two cups of tea and invited Su Muqing to sit down and rest for a while.
"Now, the old madam only listens to you."
"I've also noticed that her temperament seems to have changed a lot since she came. By the way, how is the situation in Si'an Prefecture?"
"Leng Ren and the others have made arrangements. When the time is right, they will take it down in one fell swoop."
Huaxia City's territory had already expanded into Si'an Prefecture. For several months, Leng Ren and a few others had been leading a hundred thousand troops, stationed five kilometers outside the prefectural city.
"Good! After tomorrow's event, we can also set off as soon as possible."
The next day, the first day of the new calendar year.
At four-thirty in the morning, Su Muqing got up and began to get ready. Her hair was styled in a single bun, adorned with a golden double-dragon crown, with a pearl chain hanging down her forehead. Her bright yellow dragon robe was also specially made.
To appear more solemn, the dragon robe's waist was not tailored to be form-fitting. The golden sash at her waist was adorned with mutton-fat jade and green dragon jade.
At six-thirty in the morning, Su Muqing, surrounded by a group of people, went to the ancestral temple for worship. She lit a fragrant incense stick shaped like a dragon's head to inform heaven and earth, bowed to the ancestral tablets, and invited the souls to return to their positions to protect all living beings.
At eight o'clock, the group majestically proceeded to the Golden Palace. Civil and military officials, dressed in morning robes of green, red, green, and purple, stood on both sides of the road.
Su Muqing, clad in her dragon robe, walked towards the palace with determined steps. When she ascended the dragon throne, the civil and military officials present all knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times.
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
After the bowing of the officials, there was a brief pause. Su Muqing slowly raised her right hand and said in a calm tone.
"All my officials, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the officials stood up, Xu Fu stepped forward, holding an imperial decree with both hands, and proclaimed loudly. "By imperial decree, the Emperor decrees! Huaxia has a name, and it is also its destiny. From today onwards, Huaxia City will officially be renamed Huaxia Kingdom, and the capital will be renamed Yaotian. The world is united, all people are of one heart, the great fortune is achieved, and the merits are countless."
"The world is united, all people are of one heart. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
…
It wasn't until ten o'clock in the morning that the enthronement ceremony concluded. By the time she returned to the imperial chambers, Su Muqing felt utterly exhausted.
No wonder they say that he who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight. Su Muqing now belatedly felt somewhat tricked.
She shouldn't have listened to Lu Yuzhi and taken on the job of emperor like this. She used to be the least inclined to worry. She remembered when she was young, she had imagined what she would do when she grew up.
At that time, she envied the owner of the small convenience store outside the school. She thought it was great to receive money every day and have people working for her. But later, she felt that being a boss was too much trouble, requiring stock management and minding the shop. It seemed quite tiring, so she changed her target.
She didn't even want to be a boss who managed one or two employees, let alone an emperor! This was not a matter of managing one or two people!
Currently, Huaxia Kingdom had over three million registered people. How could the livelihoods of the common people become better and better? How could the country's development continue to advance steadily?
Su Muqing took off the heavy crown from her head, ran her fingers through her hair with some anxiety, and then collapsed on the bed in a spread-eagle posture. She wondered if it was too late to regret it now. Or perhaps she should call those people back and let Lu Yuzhi ascend the throne again?