After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 52

However, the speed of Jinling's development is jaw-dropping. As the capital and political center, it naturally has to show its own style. Li Qingge stood in front of the window of the CBD building, which was hundreds of feet high, overlooking the entire Jinling City. The modern scene in front of her made her feel as if she had traveled to another world. There were tall buildings, busy traffic, people coming and going, and a prosperous scene. She opened the window and let the strong wind blow on her face, and her hair fluttered in the wind. She said with emotion: "At this rate, we will soon be able to return to modern life!" Her voice was full of longing and expectation for the future.

Although she lived in ancient times, Li Qingge's heart was always concerned about the modern times. She longed for freedom and democracy, but in this feudal land, such a fire seemed difficult to burn. As a royal princess, this was not the identity she wanted. What she really yearned for was the life of the new era, the atmosphere of freedom, equality and democracy. Her struggle was not only to improve the lives of the ancient people, but also to pursue the freedom of her previous life. She knew that this road was difficult, but she was willing to give everything for the ideal in her heart.

Time flies, and it is the new year again. This is the first year of the first year of Mingde. From New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival, there is a festive atmosphere everywhere. Li Qingge hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain the ministers and welcome the arrival of the new year together. This is a great honor for the ministers! They dressed up early and came to the palace. After a while, Her Majesty the Queen also arrived. She was wearing a gorgeous phoenix robe and pearls on her head, dignified and majestic. The ministers came forward to greet her, shouting: "Long live Her Majesty the Queen!"

At the banquet, everyone congratulated each other and laughed continuously. After eating and drinking, traditional opera performances were arranged. In ancient times, there was a story about a princess who came to visit her parents. In order to watch the opera, she spent 30,000 taels of silver to buy twelve actors! You can see the luxury of the opera troupe. Those dignitaries also regarded watching opera as a kind of pleasure to show their status. The opera troupe also had different levels. Those who could perform in front of the emperor were even more noble.

Preparations for the opera performance at the palace banquet began two months ago. Dozens of famous actors competed to perform, and after more than 50 days of rehearsal, they were finally able to appear on stage tonight. Although Li Qingge personally did not like traditional opera very much, she respected cultural traditions very much. She knew that the preferences of leaders often influenced those below them, so she had to set a good example. Therefore, she did not easily cancel the performance, but chose to appreciate it quietly.

The opera began, and the sound of stringed instruments rang out. The opera tunes were melodious and the superb skills of the famous actors were breathtaking. Li Qingge turned around and asked the maid Su Xiaomei beside her: "What play is this?" Xiaomei smiled and replied: "It's "Xue Dingshan's Expedition to the West", a classic! Performed by famous actors..." However, Li Qingge's face darkened after listening to it. She thought of her past life experiences and the heroes who fought for the country and the people. She knew that although the story in the play was wonderful, the struggle in reality was more cruel and difficult.

All the ministers were stunned when they saw this, not knowing what was going on. They all put down their wine glasses and chopsticks and stared at Her Majesty the Queen. Li Qingge slowly stood up, walked to the stage, and said to the famous actors in the audience: "You sang very well, and I am very grateful for your wonderful performance. However, I hope you can remember that although the story in the play is fake, our responsibilities are real. We must fight for the interests of the country and the people, instead of indulging in the illusory world in the play."

After saying this, Li Qingge turned around and returned to her seat. She knew that her words might be a bit harsh, but she also knew that as a leader, she must always remind herself and the people around her to always keep a clear mind and firm faith. Only in this way can she lead the Great Yan Dynasty to a more prosperous and powerful future.

As the opera continued, the atmosphere of the palace banquet gradually returned to joy and peace. Li Qingge looked at the ministers and famous actors in the audience, and a warm current surged in her heart. She knew that she was not fighting alone, she had so many loyal ministers and brave people accompanying her. As long as everyone worked together and fought together, they would be able to overcome all difficulties and realize their ideals.

As the night deepened, the palace banquet was drawing to a close. Li Qingge stood up and said to the ministers in the audience, "Tonight's performance was wonderful, and I am very satisfied. I hope that everyone will continue to work hard in the new year and contribute their own strength to the prosperity and strength of the Great Yan Dynasty." After saying this, she turned and left the banquet hall, leaving the ministers and celebrities cheering there.

After returning to the palace, Li Qingge sat in front of the window, looking at the night sky outside. Her heart was full of expectations and longings for the future. She knew that the road ahead was still long and difficult, but she believed that as long as she and the people worked together, they would be able to move towards a better tomorrow. So, she gently closed her eyes and made a wish: May the Great Yan Dynasty be prosperous and strong forever, and may the people be happy and healthy forever.

Liu Yong frowned in confusion and asked softly: "Your Majesty, this play 'Xue Dingshan's Western Expedition' tells the story of General Xue Dingshan of the Tang Dynasty who conquered the West and expressed his sincere loyalty to the emperor and his patriotism. How come Your Majesty thinks this play is not good?" There was some confusion in his words and a searching gleam in his eyes.

Li Qingge smiled slightly, but there was a hint of bitterness hidden in that smile. "Loyalty to the emperor and the country is naturally good, but this play makes me feel uncomfortable." Her voice was soft but firm, as if every word was carefully considered.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire banquet hall fell into silence, and all the guests were shocked. The actors and actresses who were performing on the stage were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they knelt on the ground in panic, their bodies trembling slightly, like a fallen leaf swaying in the autumn wind.

Everyone was worried, fearing that if the news got out, no one would dare to invite them to perform, or even bring trouble to the entire troupe. After all, in this palace, a word from His Majesty could determine a person's life or death, honor or disgrace.

Su Xiaomei saw it and was anxious. She mustered up her courage, stood up, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please tell me what is wrong with this play, so that they can correct it." She also knew that a word from your Majesty could make or break a person or a thing. She was very clear about the ways of the world.

Li Qingge's eyes swept over the trembling actors and slowly said, "It's not that their singing skills are bad, but there's something wrong with the plot. In the play, Xue Dingshan always loses battles, but he can still win the hearts of so many women. Is this reasonable? The female general Fan Lihua is extremely brave and has made great military achievements, but in the end all the credit goes to Xue Dingshan, and in the end she even becomes his wife. This is simply illogical!"

She sneered, her voice filled with disdain and anger: "The person who wrote this play only knew how to put himself in the role of the male protagonist, his head was full of fantasies, and he even wanted to steal the credit from his wife. How shameless! How can such a 'Phoenix Man' be worthy of being praised by generations of famous actors and actresses?"

Her words were so powerful that everyone in the room gasped for breath. The famous actors were so frightened that they lay on the ground, not knowing what to do, like a group of lambs to be slaughtered.

Li Qingge has always advocated gender equality and hates discrimination against women. This play undoubtedly touched her bottom line. How could she not be angry? But she also knew that as a queen, she could not lose her temper easily, let alone destroy traditional culture. So she took a deep breath and tried to calm her anger.

She looked at the terrified actors and felt a little pity in her heart. She knew that they were innocent and were just acting according to the script. So she said slowly: "I know you are innocent, but there is indeed something wrong with the plot of this play. I don't want you to be implicated because of a play."

After hearing this, the actors breathed a sigh of relief, but they were still uneasy. They knew that His Majesty's temper was always unpredictable, and if they were not careful, they might get into trouble.

Li Qingge looked at them, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart. She thought that tonight was New Year's Eve, and she didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, so she asked, "Are there any other performances?"

Amelia Su quickly replied: “We have prepared more than a dozen plays tonight, your majesty can order whatever you want.”

"Bring the script here." Li Qingge said calmly.

Su Xiaomei immediately asked someone to present the script. Li Qingge took the script and flipped through it page by page. Her eyes wandered between the lines, as if she was looking for something. Finally, she pointed to a play and said, "Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism are not limited to men, women, old or young. First, perform "The Empty City Scheme", then "The Female Generals of the Yang Family", and finally end the banquet tonight with "Eternal Reunion."

"The Empty City Plan" praises Zhuge Liang's wisdom and courage, while "The Female Generals of the Yang Family" highlights the bravery and talent of women. Li Qingge chose these two plays to tell everyone that men can serve the country, and so can women. She hopes that through these two plays, she can change people's prejudice and discrimination against women.

"Forever Reunion" is a play about joy and reunion, which is used to welcome the New Year and bring the banquet to a perfect end. She hopes that this play can bring joy and blessings to everyone present.

When the famous actors heard this, they knew it was a good opportunity to save the situation, so they performed with all their might. Especially in "The Female Generals of the Yang Family", they performed the heroic and valiant female generals with great passion and emotion, fully demonstrating the spirit of women being as brave as men. The passionate singing and vigorous posture seemed to bring people back to that war-torn era, and let them feel the bravery and tenacity of the female generals.

Although Li Qingge didn't understand all the lyrics, she couldn't help but applaud: "Well sung! Enjoy!" Her voice was full of admiration and joy.

The famous actors were overjoyed, knowing that they had been praised by His Majesty and that their reputations would be even greater from then on. They all knelt on the ground to thank His Majesty for his gift.

As the banquet was about to end, Li Qingge suddenly requested another play, "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix". "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" tells the story of Sima Xiangru's pursuit of Zhuo Wenjun. Although it violates traditional ethics, Li Qingge wants to use this play to advocate freedom of marriage and let lovers finally get married. She hopes that this play can bring some inspiration and thinking to people.

All the ministers understood His Majesty's intentions and how to please His Majesty in the future. They all nodded in praise, expressing their support for His Majesty's decision.

Thus, the palace banquet on New Year's Eve ended successfully with the laughter and joy of "Forever Reunion". The guests left one after another, and the palace returned to peace.

Li Qingge sat alone on the Nine Dragon Chair, playing with a white jade rhinoceros pendant in her hand. This was a gift given to her by her adoptive parents when they adopted her, and it was also the only clue to her life experience. She gently stroked the smooth surface, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart.

On New Year's Eve, every family is reunited and enjoying the joy of family life. But she can only sit here alone, missing her distant relatives. But she is not in a hurry to find out the mystery of her life, because she knows that now is not the right time. She has her own plans and considerations. She wants to change the world in her own way and create an era of true gender equality.

She looked at the bright starry sky outside the window, her heart full of hope and longing. She knew that the road ahead was still long, but she would go on firmly until her dream came true.

First of all, we have to savor the warmth and coldness of human feelings in this world. The matter of family is really not something that can be simply determined by blood. Look at Li Qingge, a soul that traveled through time and space, landed in the Great Yan Dynasty, and formed an indissoluble bond with her adoptive parents. Although there is no blood relationship between them, the family affection is even stronger than blood relationship. Her adoptive parents treated her like a pearl in their palms, caring for her meticulously, fearing that she would be hurt in the slightest. This is the most real and simple form of family affection. There is no need for the fetters of blood ties. Just because there is love in the heart, it can be better than family.

Now let's talk about Qianlong's successor. Her story is always full of mystery and regret in the mouths of those who traveled back in time. Why did she resolutely cut her hair? History, this old man, always likes to play some games of concealment, making it difficult for people to see the full picture of the truth. Some people say that she was deposed by Qianlong in a rage because she did something bad that could not be told; others say that Qianlong was fascinated by the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River, and she could not persuade him, so she cut her black and beautiful hair in a rage. Anyway, there are so many versions, each with its own reasons, and no one can tell which one is the truth.

Li Qingge values ​​kinship, but she values ​​sincerity even more. In the ancient society where men are superior to women, a married daughter is like spilled water, and often has to endure countless grievances and helplessness. The princesses in the palace are often victims of marriages, and their fate is often not up to them. Li Qingge is clear in her mind. She knows clearly that if she rashly recognizes her relatives, what if the queen consort is a woman who only loves her son and wants to use her momentum to fight for the throne, wouldn’t she become a brother-supporting demon? What’s more terrifying is that if the biological mother is greedy and not only wants to grab the throne, but also wants to swallow up the Great Yan Dynasty for her son, then it will be a tragedy on top of tragedy!
Li Qingge is a person with an ancient body and a modern soul. Her thoughts have long surpassed this era. She believes that everyone is an independent individual, not the continuation of anyone, nor the appendage of anyone. She must first ensure that she lives a good life before caring about others. If there is only exploitation and indifference in family affection, then she would rather be an orphan, free and unrestrained, living freely in this world.

Therefore, she would not easily acknowledge her relatives before she knew the details of the successor. But she would definitely do it. As the monarch of the Great Yan Dynasty, she had to put the interests of the country first. Acknowledging her relatives would not only strengthen the relationship with the Qing Dynasty, but she might also be able to use the blood relationship to gain some benefits, and even annex the north, which would be really wonderful. However, she kept these thoughts deep in her heart and did not easily reveal them to anyone.

Li Qingge knew what was going on. She knew that if she wanted to gain a foothold in the palace, she had to become stronger first. When Dayan became stronger, she would have nothing to worry about. By then, even if Qianlong wanted to do something, he would have to consider the consequences. She was not the kind of woman who could be manipulated by others. She had her own ideas and opinions, and she had enough strength and wisdom to deal with all challenges.

On New Year's Eve, the four plays selected by Li Qingge were extremely popular in the opera world. "The Female Generals of the Yang Family" was particularly popular. The dignitaries all scrambled to watch it, as if they could see those brave female generals fighting bravely on the battlefield. And "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" set off a trend of freedom of marriage. People began to oppose arranged marriages and advocated free love and civil marriage certificates. Weddings also became more and more fashionable. They were no longer the kind of cumbersome ceremonies, but were full of modern atmosphere and romantic mood.

After the Lantern Festival, all walks of life have regained their vitality. Factories and construction sites have become bustling, and everyone is full of hope for the future and full of energy. The advancement of industrialization has made manufacturing technology more and more advanced, and even the military has benefited from it. Minister Chen Baorong was ordered to recruit soldiers, and he trained artillery, infantry, cavalry and other arms with strong combat effectiveness. Those soldiers were all in high spirits, as if they could go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make merit at any time.

But Li Qingge felt that it was not enough. She believed that in order to make the Great Yan Dynasty truly powerful, it must have the navy, army and air force. In this way, the country can be protected in all directions without dead ends, leaving no opportunity for the enemy. No matter how strong the army is, it can only guard the doorstep. If you want to stand firm on the world stage, the navy and air force must keep up. So she began to prepare for the construction of the navy and air force. She wanted to make the military strength of the Great Yan Dynasty reach an unprecedented height. Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it was the second year of Mingde, that is, the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong. This year, the Great Yan Dynasty has made great progress in science and technology, industry, and agriculture. The new city was built beautifully, and the public facilities were also brand new. The ancient land in the south has also been rejuvenated under Li Qingge's governance. She was busy with development, infrastructure, and technological change all day long. But her life was particularly fulfilling, because she knew that everything she did was for the future of the Great Yan Dynasty.

On the other hand, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in the north was immersed in the beautiful dream of Jiangnan all day long and did not want to wake up. Since the Jingkang Incident in the Song Dynasty, the economic center of gravity has moved south. In the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, most of the taxes came from the south, especially from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Now, these places have been returned to the Great Yan, and Qianlong's wallet has been emptied, and even his bank account has been cancelled. He can no longer spend money like water and enjoy a luxurious life like before.

Qianlong was a man who liked to show off and save face. Seeing that his 50th birthday was approaching, he wanted to show off and let the whole world know his majesty and dignity. But the national treasury was empty, and the private treasury of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also empty. In a hurry, he held the financial officials accountable. Those officials also said with embarrassment: "Your Majesty, the taxes from the south have been cut off. We are now living beyond our means and have no money at all!"

When Qianlong heard this, he was furious! The loss of land in the south not only deprived him of the capital for luxury, but also affected his daily life. Those four treasures of the study, seal stones, exquisite porcelain, and silk fabrics, which used to be tributes from the south, are now all gone. He claimed to be a wise ruler in the prosperous Kangxi and Qianlong eras, and all the wealth in the world should belong to him. Who would have thought that there would be such a frustrating time today! He sat on the dragon throne, looking at the empty treasury, his heart full of helplessness and anger. He knew that the future of the Qing Dynasty was already in jeopardy.

Alas, there is really no way to deal with this matter. Who can make his Eight Banners elite soldiers unable to defeat the White Horse Army of the Great Yan Dynasty? Emperor Qianlong sat in the magnificent Forbidden City, but his heart was as cold as the wind. His unwillingness was like the icicles in winter, piercing and deep. He was wearing a dragon robe, and the dragon pattern shone brightly under the candlelight, but it could not hide the clouds of worry between his brows. His fingers gently tapped the armrest, and every tap seemed to be telling of his inner helplessness and anger.

Qianlong's level of enjoyment was indeed only slightly inferior to that of the old lady Cixi, who brought disaster to the country and the people. His palace was filled with countless treasures and delicacies, but he was not satisfied in his heart. The emptiness was like thirst in the desert, which was difficult to fill. He was anxious like an ant on a hot pot, pacing back and forth, and every step seemed to step on his heart, heavy and painful.

This was a big deal. All the ministers in the court and the concubines in the harem suffered. Some had their homes raided because of a wrong word; some were dismissed from their posts because of a messed up thing. The entire palace seemed to be shrouded in an invisible haze. Everyone was worried that they would be the next one to be affected.

Even the once glorious Concubine Ling, who accidentally angered the emperor, was demoted to Concubine Ling. She wore gorgeous palace clothes, but could not hide the loneliness and sadness in her eyes. She was once Qianlong's favorite concubine, but now she has ended up like this. How can it not make people sigh?
In the harem, everyone is in danger. Only the Queen, Nara, is happy in her heart. She sat on the phoenix chair with a sneer on her lips, which was full of irony and pride. She sneered and said, "Huh, that enchantress Wei has finally met her day? It is true that the Emperor is wise and powerful, but she insisted on being clever and used that green-faced woman as an excuse. Now she has tasted the bitter fruit, right?" As she spoke, she laughed so hard that the hairpins on her head swayed, and the red jade beads sparkled in the sun, as if cheering for her victory.

Rong Mama beside her was also grinning from ear to ear, and her wrinkled face became even more distorted because of her smile. She clapped her hands and said, "This is just shooting herself in the foot! She usually relies on her talent and always likes to curry favor with others. Now, her flattery has hit the horse's hoof, and it would be strange if she doesn't get kicked! I can imagine her ugly face, let's see if she dares to be complacent in the future!"

The queen smiled like a flower, and her eyes sparkled with pride and cruelty. She said, "You are right. This green-faced woman is really my lucky star. Back then, the Wei family and the Fucha family joined forces to frame me, and as a result, Fuheng and his son lost their lives, and Fucha Mingrui was also implicated. Now, Concubine Ling wants to take advantage of the emperor's 50th birthday to be promoted to a noble concubine, but because of that green-faced woman, her dream of becoming a noble concubine was shattered, and she can't even keep her position as a concubine."

When Rong Mama heard this, she was so scared that she quickly ran to the window to check. After confirming that no one was eavesdropping, she whispered, "Oh, Madam, you can't mention that green-faced woman so easily! The emperor is very sensitive about it. If he hears it, it will be terrible!"

The queen smiled bitterly and shook her head. Her smile was filled with bitterness and helplessness. She said, "What am I afraid of? I am still beautiful but my favor has ended. Even if I say something rebellious, the emperor won't hear it. Besides, my position as queen was established by the emperor at the order of the queen mother. Without the queen mother's approval, who can depose me?"

Rong Mama nodded, her eyes full of loyalty and awe for the queen. She said, "The queen mother wants to balance the harem and doesn't want any one family to dominate, so your majesty can sit firmly in the harem."

The queen sighed, her eyes became deep and complicated. She said, "Yes, during the time of the late emperor, the harem was in a mess. The queen mother went through so many ups and downs before she took the throne of the Cining Palace. What she feared most was the imbalance of the harem."

At this point, the queen's eyes softened, as if she was lost in memories. She said, "When Empress Xiaoxian passed away, the concubines fought for her favor and were beaten to a pulp. The queen mother was indifferent to me, but she supported me to be the queen. I was stupid at that time and thought it was because I was a Manchu. Now I understand that the queen mother didn't want to hurt their relationship, so she pushed me out to suffer the emperor's anger. By the time I realized it, I had become a jealous woman in the eyes of the emperor."

Rong Mama comforted her softly, "My queen, a little impatience can ruin a great plan. The women in the palace all need to be tempered. When the twelfth prince grows up and you take the position of queen mother, you won't have to worry about anything."

After hearing this, the queen's eyes flashed with determination and expectation. She said, "Yes, for myself, for Yongji, and for my children who died young, I have to rely on the protection of the queen mother..." At this point, the queen thought of her eldest daughter and youngest son who died young, and the hatred in her heart became stronger.

Back then, when the Fifth Princess was born, it happened that the Seventh Prince Yongcong of Empress Xiaoxian was seriously ill and died. It was a stormy night, and the Fifth Princess's cry was intertwined with the thunder outside, as if foreshadowing her ill-fated fate. That evil woman, Wei, secretly spread rumors, saying that the Fifth Princess had killed the legitimate son. Those rumors were like poisonous arrows, shooting at the innocent Fifth Princess and the Empress' heart.

What was the result? The responsibility for Empress Xiaoxian's early death was also pushed onto the Fifth Princess. What about the Emperor? He hated the Fifth Princess as if she were a piece of rag when he heard this. He looked at the Fifth Princess with eyes full of indifference and disgust, as if she was an ominous thing. People in the palace also followed suit and neglected her. She was no longer the pampered princess, but a forgotten corner.

Finally one day, the fifth princess died of choking while eating. Her death was as silent as a fallen leaf, but it left the queen with endless pain and regret. What about the youngest son Yongjing? He also died unexpectedly. His death was like a bolt from the blue, breaking the queen's heart and plunging her into endless darkness.

The queen knew it very well in her heart. This was not an accident at all! But she just couldn't find any evidence! So she put the blame on Concubine Ling! She thought, if Wei hadn't spread those rumors, how could the emperor hate his daughter so much? How could the people in the palace be so slack about her? How could she lose her beloved daughter?
The queen's eyes flashed with a cold light, which was as piercing as the ice in winter. She said: "Wei and I are irreconcilable! Either she or I! Either I or she! I must make her pay me back double for the pain of losing her daughter!"

But the Queen didn't know that the Fifth Princess had just fainted because of choking on food! What about the imperial physician? He misjudged her death! It was a heartbreaking mistake, an irreversible tragedy. The royal etiquette was very strict, and children who died young were considered unlucky and could not be buried in the imperial mausoleum!

The only exception was Kangxi's eighteenth prince Yinzhen, who died at the age of six! But he was buried in the concubine's mausoleum of Jingling Mausoleum! This is a special case among the princes! This special case occurred when the prince was deposed and appointed twice. At that time, the old emperor was afraid of his adult sons, but he loved this youngest son deeply, so he gave him such special treatment.

Not long after the fifth princess was buried, she woke up in the coffin! She opened her eyes and it was pitch black all around. She didn't know where she was or what she had experienced. She only remembered that she choked while eating and then lost consciousness. Now she woke up, but found herself lying in a small space, surrounded by the smell of soil and rotten wood.

She lost all her memory because she was suffocated for too long! She didn't know who she was or why she was here. She only remembered that a strong instinct for survival drove her to struggle and shout. Fortunately, the lid of the coffin was not closed tightly, and she struggled to climb out with her instinct for survival.

When she climbed out of the coffin, it was drizzling. She looked up at the sky, the rain hitting her face, and she felt an unprecedented freshness and freedom. She didn't know where she was going or what her future would be like, but she knew that she had to live.

Later, she was able to survive because she met her adoptive parents. They were a kind couple who took her in and gave her a warm home. They didn't know her identity or her past, but they were willing to give her a future. Under their care, she gradually forgot the pain and fear of the past and started a new life.

The twists and turns in this are not something that ordinary people can predict! What about the queen? She heard that the fifth princess's tomb had been dug up and her body was gone! She thought someone was taking revenge on her and wanted to dismember her daughter! She searched and searched but couldn't find it! Her heart was filled with anxiety and fear, she was afraid that her daughter had really met with misfortune.

What happened in the end? She blamed Lingpin for this! She swore to take revenge! She wanted Lingpin to pay the price and let her know the consequences of offending the queen. So she began to suppress and exclude Lingpin, causing Lingpin's status in the harem to plummet.

Over the past decade, the Empress and Concubine Ling have been fighting like black-eyed chickens, neither of them giving in! But what about Empress Dowager Niuhulu in the Cining Palace? She sits on the Diaoyutai, watching the fight with cold eyes, and firmly controls the power of the harem.

Qianlong's 50th birthday ended in loneliness and frustration! To relax, he took the princes, ministers, and guards to hunt in the West Mountain Paddock! It was a bright and clear autumn day, the sun was shining on the earth, and everything seemed full of vitality. Qianlong rode a horse and galloped on the vast grassland. His mood seemed to become relaxed with this free running.

However, in his heart, the resentment and anger still lingered like a shadow.
Unexpectedly, this hunting activity turned out to be like a drama, leading to a romantic story about an illegitimate daughter recognizing her father and a true and false princess. It was really unexpected. In this ancient land, every gust of wind seems to carry the dust of history and the mystery of the future, interweaving into a complex and ever-changing picture scroll.

At that time, Li Qingge, a woman from another world, had not yet fully adapted to this strange and unreasonable world. Her heart was filled with the exploration of the unknown and the longing for the future, but she had no time to care about those troublesome and trivial things. For her, building a strong country and letting the people live and work in peace and contentment was the most firm belief in her heart.

Starting in the spring of the 24th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, Jinling City fell into a state of bustle. Massive construction, reconstruction and expansion were carried out, and every place was filled with the breath of new life. By August of the 25th year, when the emperor celebrated his birthday, the ancient city had taken on a new look, as if it had put on a gorgeous dress to welcome the arrival of a new era.

Walking on the main road of Jinling City, Li Qingge was shocked by the scene in front of her. The wide road was enough to accommodate ten cars running side by side, and there was no end in sight. The street lights on both sides of the road were dazzling, illuminating the night like day. The green belt stretched endlessly, with green trees and fragrant flowers, as if she was in a modern city. Such a scene reminded her of the prosperous city in her previous life, and she felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy in her heart.

Originally, Li Qingge planned to pave the road with asphalt to improve traffic conditions. However, with the system's reward, she unexpectedly obtained a super large oil field. Asphalt, as a byproduct of petroleum, is of better quality than asphalt and has a longer lifespan. So, she resolutely decided to upgrade all of them and turn waste into treasure. This move not only improved the quality of the road, but also added a touch of modern urban style to Jinling City.

In the modernization of the capital, asphalt roads are only a decoration, and the central business district (CBD) of each district is the real highlight. The CBD of each district integrates finance, commerce, hotels, shopping, and entertainment, forming a spectacular complex. High-rise buildings rise from the ground, and the glass curtain walls shine in the sun. Residents shuttle between them, enjoying the convenience and fun of modern shopping. Such a scene makes Li Qingge feel extremely gratified and proud.

However, the biggest beneficiaries were not the residents or the tax authorities, but the meritorious officials who helped Li Qingge expand the territory and establish the Great Yan Kingdom. In ancient times, the founding heroes were often granted the titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl, and even posthumously granted the title of King and were honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. However, "when the birds are gone, the good bows are hidden; when the cunning rabbits die, the running dogs are cooked", and those who are too meritorious to be respected by their masters often do not have a good end. Like Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Taizu of Ming, they almost killed all the meritorious officials of the past.

Li Qingge was well aware of this historical lesson, so after establishing the country, she implemented a constitutional monarchy. Although she did not abolish the nobility system, she strictly controlled the number of nobility titles to prevent the power of large landowners and nobles from becoming too large and leaving troubles for future generations. Except for a few people such as Liu Yong and Su Xiaomei who were conferred the titles of marquis and earl, no one else was promoted. However, Li Qingge was not an ungrateful person. Although she rarely granted nobility titles, she did not reduce the wealth and honor given to the meritorious officials.

The lands that these meritorious officials were given were all of the best quality, fertile and vast, enough to ensure that their descendants would have no worries about food and clothing. Moreover, they were also granted shares in commercial real estate in core areas, which could be passed down from generation to generation. Such rewards were fair and generous, making people praise Li Qingge for his generosity and wisdom. The meritorious officials were also very happy, thinking that such rewards were the best, so as not to arouse jealousy.

In addition to roads and CBD, the renovation of houses and the laying of water, electricity and gas are also being carried out in full swing. While state-owned enterprises are booming, private enterprises are also springing up like mushrooms after rain. Most of the first batch of private enterprises in Da Yan were transformed from old landlords. Li Qingge confiscated their land and eradicated the power of landlords and gentry, but for those landlords with good reputations, who did not oppress the people and actively cooperated with the reform, she only took back the land but retained their wealth.

Most of these landlords were educated, knowledgeable, and good at research. Seeing the great changes in the Great Yan Kingdom, they knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so they responded to the reform with money, built factories, and raised taxes. Their participation injected new vitality into the economic development of the Great Yan Kingdom.

Li Qingge also reformed the official system and established year-end bonuses to motivate officials for their achievements. She knew that officials' enthusiasm and creativity were important driving forces for national development. Therefore, she encouraged officials to work hard and contribute to the prosperity of the country by establishing year-end bonuses. This move received a warm response and active support from officials.

(End of this chapter)