As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 244 The common people only need to love themselves.

"Humph~"

"Young master, you're just spouting nonsense to fool people!"

Fuyao glared at him. The innocent bird from back then now exudes charm with just one look!
"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out.

"Fool me? Fuyao, you need evidence to back up your claims! When have I ever fooled you?"

Even when a scumbag is in the wrong, he's still arrogant.

"You've been fooling me quite a bit!"

"Hey, you little devil, it seems it's time to show you what I'm capable of!"

The little bird's eyes gleamed, a hint of a smile playing on its lips, but its face remained impassive as it feigned defiance, saying, "Hmph! Come on then, if you dare!"

The sound of dipping beans gradually rose.

After an unknown amount of time, the beauty nestled contentedly in Mingchen's arms. As if remembering something, she said to him, "Young Master, that Alliance Leader... is somewhat special."

"Ok?"

"How should I put it? He doesn't seem like an ordinary person."

"That's definitely not an ordinary person!"

How can an ordinary person master the art of changing their appearance?

As a monarch, Xiao Xinyue already possesses some special powers, so it's not surprising that Hong Ling Shuang has some tricks up her sleeve.

"No no no."

Fuyao shook her head upon hearing this.

"I'm not saying she's a cultivator with some kind of supernatural power... I feel like she's somewhat like a demon."

Mingchen was taken aback upon hearing this: "Huh?"

The whale shark leaping from the abyss—does that mean she herself is a monster?
Shark monster?
This doesn't look like it at all!

The Human King Seal should be chosen for the Human King!

A demon becoming the ruler of a country and commanding an army? Does that make sense?
Wasn't there a great monk or other spiritual practitioner who came forward and killed her?

"No, no, no... She's not a normal demon. Her demonic aura is very faint... It feels a bit strange."

Fuyao frowned slightly, recalling the woman: "I don't know what she is either, I need to get to know her better."

……

The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle sea breeze was blowing.

The market was bustling, and the casino was lively.

The people on the beach continued to live their lives at their own pace, as always.

At the seaside, the headquarters of the Jinglan Alliance was located on a vast and deserted beach, which was Hong Ling Shuang's territory.

Under normal circumstances, no one is allowed to come.

Today, in addition to Hong Ling Shuang's ministers, there is an unfamiliar guest.

In the height of summer, a cool sea breeze caresses the face, dispelling the heat. The beach glistens under the sunlight, and in the distance, the vast ocean surges with wave after wave.

In this hot weather, a vacation at the beach is a real treat.

When the appointed time arrived, Mingchen met with the alliance leader again.

The purpose of this trip to the Jinglan Alliance has been largely achieved. We have experienced the local customs and culture, and have a general understanding of the Jinglan Alliance's situation, technological level, and the charisma and personality of this mysterious leader.

In a few days, he will head north to Beilie to check on the situation there before ending his trip and returning home.

After all, he has been away on his journey for some time now, and his family must be worried about him. His Majesty must also be feeling some pressure from not being able to return for so long.

With the warm, soft sand beneath his feet, Mingchen's thoughts drifted far away.

He sat on the beach, gazing quietly into the distance.

The beach was deserted, and the vast ocean stretched as far as the eye could see, offering an expansive view that seemed to soothe the soul.

Hong Ling Shuang invited him to meet here, but he has disappeared without a trace.

"Ee-ee-ee"

Suddenly, a long, drawn-out sound, like whistling, came from the sea.

The next instant, under the sunlight, on the shimmering sea, a beautiful figure suddenly emerged from the seabed.

A dolphin, a pure white and beautiful dolphin, leaped out of the water. Its smooth body and streamlined shape were full of beauty. Its tail gently slapped the surface of the sea, splashing up some foamy waves. It raised its head and called out in a long voice.

Perhaps the important thing is not the dolphin, but the person on its back—a beautiful woman sitting there.

The stunningly beautiful woman fully displayed her charm to Mingchen during this meeting, explaining why she was the beauty blessed by the sea.

As the dolphin emerged from the water, she leaped out as well, suddenly tilting her head back and tossing her long hair behind her. The slightly wavy hair swayed as she shook her head, gently flicking away water droplets that shimmered in the bright sunlight. Her eyes were long and narrow, her features delicate and graceful. She wore a tight-fitting outfit, made of an unknown material—probably a swimsuit for this world—that didn't absorb water, outlining her beautiful figure.

When we met before, she was wearing the coarse cloth clothes of a female gambler, and her figure was probably somewhat restricted, so her beauty was not fully displayed.

This time, however, she unabashedly displayed herself in the vast ocean, with a hot and curvaceous figure.

This leader is truly capable.

She's more popular than Dai Jiejie and Fuyao'er.

Hmm... Mingchen belongs to the Great Holy Cult.

Dolphins are free spirits of the sea, and on their backs is a beautiful woman blessed by the sea. With a few leaps, they bring her to the sea.

With her feet planted on the boundary between the sea and the sand, her cunning gaze locked onto a person on the empty beach, and she swayed toward that person.

The mermaid emerged from the water. Hong Ling Shuang's skin wasn't the fair type. Unlike Xiao Xin Yue, who was naturally noble and fair-skinned, her skin was more wheat-colored from years spent at the seaside. However, perhaps due to her good physique, it wasn't too dark. Her temperament was free and wild, and unpredictable.

She raised her head, her long legs swaying as she walked towards Mingchen, confident and proud, as if making one want to kneel down at her feet.

"Mingchen!"

"How am I? Do I look good?"

"How does he compare to your Emperor Qianlong?"

Perhaps it's due to different cultures, or perhaps it's just that this woman's personality is naturally like that—outspoken and confident.

Knowing she was beautiful, she came up to Mingchen without any restraint, opening her arms to freely display her beauty, and asked with a smile.

She had previously inquired about the details of the mission from the envoy.

This interesting person asked about her beauty and compared her to Xiao Xinyue. She was a competitive person who would compete in everything, and she would not allow anyone to be more beautiful than her.

"Beautiful, the Alliance Leader is naturally stunningly beautiful, unparalleled in the world."

"The Alliance Leader and my Emperor each possess their own unique beauty, incomparable to any beauty of our time."

"Hey!"

Hong Ling Shuang chuckled softly upon hearing this, and winked at Ming Chen with a sly look: "It's just the two of us here. If you're sweet-talking and say nice things to me, and make me happy, I won't tell anyone about this. There's no need to treat everyone equally."

"Alliance Leader, Chen is not a sycophant. Every word Chen said is true and comes from the bottom of his heart!"

You'd be a fool to believe you!

They were all pretty much the same kind of people. Although they hadn't known each other for long, Hong Ling Shuang had already figured out what kind of person Ming Chen was. She rolled her eyes and ignored his nonsense.

She didn't mind that the beach was covered in sand and casually sat down next to Mingchen.

He turned to Mingchen and said, "Mingchen, you live inland, right? Have you ever seen the sea?"

Whether it's Yueyang City, Jiqu, or Mingchen's hometown Qingchi... they are all cities far from the coast.

If we only consider this lifetime, apart from his last mission to the north and his journey along the coast, Mingchen has really seen the ocean very few times in this world.

but……

In his previous life, he lived in a coastal city.

So I wasn't surprised to see the vast ocean.

He honestly replied, "I met him once when I was on a mission to the Northern Lie."

"Really? Then it's rare?"

Hong Ling Shuang asked with a smile, "Would you like to come swimming in the sea with me?"

She stood in front of Mingchen, the bright sunlight illuminating her delicate silhouette.

She was a bold and beautiful woman, freely displaying her graceful figure in front of Mingchen.

Hong Ling Shuang generously showed it to Ming Chen, who also admired it without any reservation: "Since the Alliance Leader has invited me, I dare not refuse."

Even without her status as the leader of the alliance, she is still a beauty who outshines all others.

Playing in the water with beautiful girls.

Mingchen would not refuse.

When traveling, Mingchen doesn't like to talk about work.

Hong Ling Shuang chuckled lightly: "Hey, I've heard you're quite unrestrained and arrogant, so don't give me these sentimental and flowery words!"

Three meetings were enough for them to see each other clearly, and they got along quite well.

"Nonsense! Nonsense! Alliance Leader, don't listen to those rumors, they're all slander against Chen!"

"bring it on!"

Hong Ling Shuang rolled her eyes at this pretentious person, beckoned to him, and led him to the seaside.

The sea breeze is slightly salty, and the waves are rolling.

She clapped her hands gently, as if calling for something.

Seagulls circled in the sky, their cries echoing, while shadows gradually enlarged beneath the seawater.

The sight of that pure white dolphin leading countless other dolphins leaping out of the water was a rare and spectacular event.

"You may have swum, but you've never ridden one!"

Hong Ling Shuang stood in the sea and gently patted the white dolphin's body, then looked at Ming Chen with great interest.

Men like to look at beautiful women, and women like to look at handsome men too.

Getting into the sea made things easier, so Mingchen took off his shirt, revealing a tall and well-proportioned figure that was quite eye-catching.

No wonder this Marquis of Jing'an was able to achieve such a record on the Xiongnu grasslands; he's quite handsome, isn't he?
Mingchen nodded: "I have never ridden it before."

Dolphin Rider?

How many normal people have ever done this?
This monarch clearly possessed some remarkable abilities, and Fuyao'er sensed her extraordinary nature. One of these abilities was probably her ability to control the creatures of the ocean.

"It's called Wave Rider, come on, give it a try!"

The white dolphin was exceptionally intelligent, as if it could understand Hong Ling Shuang's words. It swam over to Ming Chen and gently nuzzled against him.

Mingchen wasn't afraid. He gently stroked its head and then rolled over onto its back.

He's had a ton of experiences in his life: he's ridden horses, phoenixes, and white wolves, and now he's going to ride a dolphin.

"Good treader, don't make me lose face."

Mingchen patted the back of the obedient white dolphin and said in a consultative tone.

Hearing this, Hong Ling Shuang, who was standing beside her, couldn't help but smile.

A sly glint flashed in his eyes.

His eyes flashed, as if he had given some kind of order.

"Ee-ee-ee"

The wave-riding creature shuddered, raised its head, and cried out loudly before carrying Mingchen away.

"Forehead……"

Before Mingchen could react, he was jolted and instinctively hugged the dolphin's back tightly.

Like wild horses unleashed, the dolphins carried Mingchen as they swam freely in the vast ocean.

Sometimes it dives into the seabed, and sometimes it suddenly leaps upwards and bursts out of the water.

Everything happened too suddenly; Mingchen wasn't prepared.

I swallowed two mouthfuls of seawater.

The world before my eyes spun and spun, constantly changing between the sea and the sky.

Without realizing it, we had gradually drifted away from the beach.

"Riding the waves! Riding the waves!"

"Slow down!"

Mingchen tightened his grip on the dolphin's chest and abdomen, and whispered.

The dolphins, which had been swimming freely, then slowed down.

"Hahahaha~"

Suddenly, a hearty laugh rang in my ears, and two figures seemed particularly conspicuous in the vast ocean.

Beside Mingchen, Hong Ling Shuang sat on another dolphin, seemingly having seen something interesting, laughing freely.

"Ling Shuang, you schemed against me!"

Mingchen turned his head and glared fiercely at the woman.

"Mingchen, don't talk nonsense. Talang is just being mischievous."

Whether it was because her prank had succeeded or because Mingchen had called her Ling Shuang, Hong Ling Shuang's smile became even more unrestrained.

……

In the ocean, waves splashed against my face.

Mingchen wasn't good at riding, but thankfully the white dolphin was gradually returning to normal.

Swimming in the ocean with the two of them was a unique experience.

Now Mingchen has ridden all the mounts on land, sea, and air.

Amidst the rolling waves and howling sea wind, a voice suddenly rang in my ears: "Mingchen, you've been here for quite some time now, haven't you?"

"How is it? How is White Spirit City under my rule?"

The two had met three times, and in a sense, this was their first formal meeting. Yet, she went straight to the point and asked Mingchen about this inappropriate topic.

That's just her personality.

She would only invite Mingchen to meet with her every now and then, because she wanted him to take a closer look at the country she was governing.

Despite some minor issues, Bai Lingcheng generally met her expectations.

"how?"

"Alliance Leader, Chen doesn't seem to have the qualifications to judge these matters!"

Mingchen, who was focused on riding the dolphin, was taken aback. He never expected that this dangerous mermaid would ask about official business at this time.

He shook his head.

It's best to comment on such matters privately; you can't say it to someone's face.

How to evaluate it?

There's not much to say about it!
Existence is its own justification.

The city of Bailing under their rule is much stronger than the one under Qian Yuan's rule.

Hong Ling Shuang waved her hand dismissively, saying, "No need to be so long-winded, just say whatever comes to mind!"

"Tell me, what do you think of the Jinglan Alliance?"

It's rare to meet such an interesting person, someone she can treat as an equal, someone who is intelligent and has a broad perspective. Hong Ling Shuang has been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Mingchen thought for a moment, looking at the vast and boundless sea in the distance, but did not answer. Instead, he asked another question: "Does the Alliance Leader not care about the people under his rule?"

Whether a ruler loves his people or not is evident.

Xiao Xinyue loved the people, the deceased crown prince loved the people, Wang Huai loved the people, and the Northern Emperor also loved the people.

Regardless of their actions or what they sacrificed in their pursuit of hegemony, at their core, they still love the people to some extent, and part of their ambition is to enable their people to live a better life.

However, the population is large and diverse, and some people will always have to be sacrificed for ambition or other interests.

However, Hong Ling Shuang is different.

This is quite similar to Yun Zheng, who is currently enacting laws in Ji Qu.

"Love the people?"

Hong Ling Shuang was taken aback, then waved her hand: "They can love themselves, they don't need me to love them."

That's right, Mingchen wasn't wrong at all.

It gets to the heart of the matter in a single sentence.

The overly lenient and arbitrary legal and management system, along with Hong Ling Shuang's own romantic and free-spirited nature, all illustrate this problem.

She was very similar to Mingchen. Mingchen was also lazy, didn't like to manage affairs, was unwilling to take responsibility, and didn't care about the people. However, Mingchen had one good point: he was self-aware. He knew his own character and knew he didn't want to be emperor.

Although it ensured that the people of Bailing City had enough to eat and wear, changed the impoverished environment here, established rules for equality among people from different regions, and implemented many policies to improve people's livelihoods.

But in essence, Hong Ling Shuang was a cold-hearted person; she didn't love the people under her rule. She did these things simply to maintain her power.

Her ambition to unify the world had nothing to do with the people under her rule.

To unify the world, to be known by all, to be known by history, to be free and unrestrained by anyone, to have no one stand above her and spread her governing philosophy throughout the world—this was her ambition.

This does not include making people happy.

But these things can also be achieved indirectly, by doing things conveniently. She created a relatively fair and free environment where hardworking people could naturally find happiness. Ordinary people don't need others to love them; loving themselves is enough.

She did not believe that a monarch needed to love his people that much.

It's enough to just put on a show and shout slogans.

This might be a plus, but it's not a trait that a monarch must possess.

In some cases, even sacrificing a vast empire for a bloated populace can cloud a monarch's judgment.

"Yeah~"

Not all monarchs love their people.

Although the result is regrettable, that's reality, and that's normal.

The emperor, high above all others, only cared about his own rule and authority, the imperial lineage, and engaged in power struggles with his ministers.

There are actually not many emperors who truly love their people.

However... in Mingchen's view, this trait determines the upper limit of a monarch's potential.

The potential of a person with great love is higher than that of a person driven by ambition, especially in a chaotic and fragmented era like today.

Hong Ling Shuang is perfect. She is excellent in terms of ability, methods, wisdom, vision, and so on.

But... something is still missing.

Mingchen now believes that she cannot compare to his own emperor.

Mingchen thought for a moment and then asked, "If the Alliance Leader were to unify the world, how would you govern it?"

How to manage it?

Hong Ling Shuang paused for a moment: "Just like Bai Ling Cheng!"

Hong Ling Shuang is quite satisfied with Bai Ling Cheng's current appearance.

"Like Bailing City?"

Mingchen smiled upon hearing this: "Alliance Leader, this continent is far too vast. Compared to the entire continent, Bailing City is merely a small part of it."

"What works for White Spirit City cannot work for the entire continent. Loose laws and management systems will breed huge problems."

Theft, fighting, and deception are petty squabbles that won't shake a country, but a country far from the emperor's reach and with a free and relaxed leadership style can easily create separatist forces and cause chaos.

The governing philosophy of small countries with few people and laissez-faire governance has significant problems.

Hong Ling Shuang shook her head: "Wouldn't it be enough if I just divided the entire continent into individual 'White Spirit Cities'?"

Alliance, alliance, why is it called an alliance?
Because the archipelago, separated by the sea, operates under this management model, it is divided into numerous 'White Spirit Cities,' each governed by appointed officials who allow them to govern autonomously and form an alliance. Hong Ling Shuang, ruling the entire realm, is therefore the leader of this alliance.

"Alliance Leader, the mainland is not an island; there are no such clear dividing lines."

"The cost of attacking each other is too low."

"Within a few years, the world will surely be torn apart, and unification will not last long."

Hong Ling Shuang frowned upon hearing this.

Looking at the vast ocean, Mingchen said calmly, "Alliance Leader, the continent has existed for thousands of years. It has its own rules, forged by the blood and wisdom of countless people. Please abide by them. You can change a little, but if you change too much, you will inevitably be submerged by the torrent of time."

If you want to be an emperor, then be an emperor honestly and establish a solid foundation; don't indulge in romantic ideas.

(End of this chapter)