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

Chapter 312 Return of the property to its original owner
The imperial palace of Yueyang City, having accumulated five hundred years of history, is generally more magnificent than that of Jiqu.

Mingchen and Xiao Xinyue gazed into the distance from the high platform, taking in the magnificent imperial palace.

The rebellious princess returned to the capital, reshaped the dynasty, and extended the life of Emperor Qian Yuan.

In the eyes of many ministers, returning to the old capital was the completion of the ultimate goal.

But both Mingchen and Xiao Xinyue knew that this was still a long way off!
It's just a comma.

However, this comma carries a lot of emotions, expectations, and entrustments.

Mingchen leaned against the railing, looked at the sky, and asked with a smile, "How does it feel to be back in Yueyang?"

Xiao Xinyue paused for a moment, then said, "Very good..."

She returned with dignity, proving herself to the world.

He proved himself to the deceased.

She fulfilled everyone's expectations.

Xiao Xinyue asked him in return, "And you, how are you feeling?"

Mingchen thought of the storytelling at the restaurant again, and awkwardly forced a smile: "It's alright, it's alright~"

Xiao Xinyue was very clever, and she understood Mingchen well. Judging from his expression, he had probably been through something. She asked curiously, "Hmm?"

Mingchen clearly didn't want to talk about this with Xiao Xinyue, so he pretended to have thought of something and changed the subject, saying, "By the way, here, take this."

A little bird nearby caught my eye.

A palm-sized object appeared in Mingchen's hand, which he handed to Xiao Xinyue: "Everything is on the right track, and this is still necessary."

"Oh?"

Xiao Xinyue was stunned, and when she saw what Mingchen handed her, her eyes widened: "This...this..."

She shuddered, feeling as if the object in her hands weighed a ton, and carefully held it.

A jade seal of moderate size, with symbols indicating the right to rule as kings.

Be careful!!!

Xiao Xinyue had absolutely no suspicion as to why this thing was in Mingchen's hands.

She just glared at him and said in a complaining tone.

"This was given to me by His Highness before I left Yueyang City."

Mingchen paused for a moment, seemingly struggling with how to address Xiao Zhengyang, but ultimately used the one he was most comfortable with.

Xiao Xinyue knew who they were talking about.

Her elder brother's reign was short, but in that short time he laid the groundwork and created the best environment for her.

"I think now is the right time to return it to its rightful owner."

"I guess I haven't let him down."

The person accused of usurping the throne casually produced the Imperial Seal of the State.

Xiao Xinyue held the heavy object in her hands and found it somewhat amusing.

That lazy fellow wouldn't have done this if he had even a little bit of thought.

This thing can be very useful at certain times.

The strange man might as well say that Mingchen is planning to defect to another king, or that Mingchen doesn't like her... That would only make her more agitated.

She calmed herself down, picked up the jade seal, and under the dim moonlight, the words "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous" could be faintly seen engraved on it.

The world is in constant flux, heroes rise up, and warlords fight for power. What they all pursue... is nothing more than these few words.

She stared intently, a mix of emotions swirling within her, her eyes slightly glazed over.

This is proof that she is worthy to be queen.

Dynasties changed hands several times, and Yueyang had changed hands many times. No one would have thought that this thing would end up in Mingchen's hands.

This thing is so tight-lipped; it only took it out now.

"At least you wrapped it in silk cloth, so you wouldn't be afraid of it getting bumped or scratched."

Mingchen said nonchalantly, "So what if it's bumped and bruised?"

"Only the king's jade seal is called the Imperial Seal of the State. It's not that having the jade seal makes one a king."

“If you are sitting on the throne now and point to a stone and say it is the imperial seal, then it is the imperial seal.”

"To be commanded by Heaven... is more like to be commanded by oneself."

What's so special about a small jade seal?
Xiao Zhengyang was too sincere; he never let Mingchen down. This jade seal can be said to represent all his sincerity towards Mingchen.

Now that person is gone.

Mingchen didn't want to break the promise made by the dead, otherwise he would have kept the item for himself.

Xiao Xinyue can just make another one herself.

Does anyone know which Imperial Seal of the State is the real one?
When a king sits on his throne, the world is at peace, and he commands a million soldiers; even without the imperial seal, he is still a king.

He lived in a thatched hut, unknown to anyone; even if he held a real jade seal, he was a fake.

Xiao Xinyue rolled her eyes at the man, carefully holding the jade seal: "I can't reason with you!"

She knew Mingchen's psychology and personality.

But even if that's the case, how many people in this world can be so clear-headed?
This is the underlying nature of our times, and you need to follow it.

The two stood together for a while. Mingchen looked at the full moon in the sky, then smiled and said, "Alright, Your Majesty, I've handed the things over to you. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now!"

I'm just here to confirm what happened during the day.

It was already late, and he was planning to go back and spank his sister's bottom!
Xiao Xinyue was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Oh... okay!"

The two were close and didn't stand on ceremony when they were together.

"Let's go~"

Mingchen waved with a smile and then disappeared into the night.

Xiao Xinyue held the jade seal in her hands and quietly watched the person leave.

Everything returned to calm.

She raised the jade seal in her hand, gazing at it somewhat absentmindedly. The silvery moonlight shone down, making the jade seal gleam. She murmured softly, "Brother, I love him."

"I've now completed more than half of it, and Qian Yuan is on the right track."

"I will be a good emperor, I will protect the country and the people, and I will fulfill my responsibilities as emperor."

"So, I can marry him, right?"

"The emperor is the emperor, and Xinyue is Xinyue. It's my own life, and I can make my own decisions..."

Suddenly a gust of wind arose, blowing down a few leaves from the palace's green plants.

It seems to have also carried the longing of those who can never return.

Xiao Xinyue lowered her eyes.

For all these years, she has been acting as the emperor, handing over the persona of Xiao Xinyue to the emperor.

Now we're back in Yueyang, having accomplished one phase of our goals.

She wanted to set aside a day for herself and for Xiao Xinyue.

……

"My husband, you're back!"

The night is long, but the full moon shines brightly.

The man who had been secretly meeting with the Empress returned hastily from the palace.

A gentle and beautiful female general was waiting for him at the door.

Seeing him return, she unconsciously revealed a faint smile, though this smile might have contained a hint of flattery.

Sister Dai only calls him "husband" under specific emotional circumstances.

There's always a place to stay when you return, and all of these things were arranged before returning to Beijing.

The residence of Mingchen's family is still the mansion that the old emperor originally assigned to him.

Mingchen said with a smile, "Sister, I'm back."

The two have been married for a long time, but they are still incredibly affectionate.

"Have you got a meal yet?"

Ling Yu asked with some concern, "Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?"

Mingchen smiled as usual and replied simply, "I didn't eat, I'm fine."

"You haven't eaten yet! How about I have someone make you something?"

"Let me tell you, the grand ceremony to worship Heaven will be held in three days."

"I've also heard that many cities and territories in the south have already been recovered..."

Ling Yu is usually not very talkative.

However, today, she pulled Mingchen into the house and, unusually, began to chatter on and on about a whole bunch of random topics.

"Oh?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by what she was saying: "Really?"

"Correct!"

Ling Yu nodded, just about to say something.

"ah!"

However, the next moment, the world spun around them.

She trembled and involuntarily gasped.

She was suddenly lifted up by Mingchen and placed on his shoulder in a somewhat embarrassing position, arching her back.

He was, after all, a great general who commanded thousands of troops and a marquis with a very high national status.

Ling Yu felt a little embarrassed.

"do what?!"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow: "What are you doing, Madam? Isn't that a rhetorical question?"

"We can talk about the rest later. Tonight, I have some important business to attend to!"

Ling Yu pursed her lips, a little shy, but her eyes were glistening with tears: "Let's eat first~ Let's eat first and then talk~"

She didn't know how she felt.

To say I don't want to... is actually a bit of anticipation. "Hmph, I'm not eating!"

Mingchen snorted and said to Fuyao, "Fuyao, your sister is being a bit too naughty today! Do me a favor!"

"what?"

Fuyao spent the day studying magic with Long Lian and didn't go out with Mingchen and Lingyu, so she didn't know what had happened.

Seeing Ling Yu's somewhat unusual behavior was rather strange.

"Okay~"

However, she still really enjoys the topic of dipping soybeans.

It was rare for the situation to be so tense, and she, always eager for a good show, readily agreed.

"No !!!!"

However, Ling Yu's eyes widened: "Fuyao, don't help him, help me!"

"If you help me, I'll tell you what happened today."

"what?"

The little bird was very confused.

"Snapped!"

At that moment, a clear, crisp sound rang out.

Mingchen said fiercely, "What are you saying?!"

The fasting caused waves of sharp pain, but Ling Yu's pretty face was flushed. She decided to just go for it and raised an eyebrow, shouting, "Hey!"

He deliberately imitated the storyteller's tone: "Then we saw Lord Marquis, the Divine Marquis, seated on his horse, his bearing as imposing as a mountain! He roared, and then his hand moved swiftly in front of his chest, forming a mysterious and unfathomable hand seal, with flashes of lightning appearing between his fingers..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh.

Mingchen's face was flushed.

Little bird: ?
Mingchen carried her and tossed her onto the bed, but Ling Yu still kept saying to the little bird, "Fuyao, you must come with me to Xiangmanlou to listen to storytelling in the future. You'll know when you get there... Hahahaha."

Mingchen: ...

"Listen to storytelling, I'll let you listen to storytelling!"

"I'll let you listen to a storyteller properly today!"

"Yeah~"

The moonlight was like a ribbon, and the desert was like frost! On one side was a handsome and valiant general, his golden armor reflecting the cold stars, his spear wielding the power to pierce mountains and rivers! On the other was a stunningly beautiful general, her red tassel framing her jade-like face, her sword pointing towards the sun and moon! When these two met on the battlefield—it was like a thunderbolt striking a raging fire! Before the blades were even drawn, their exchange of glances was enough to send thunderclaps through the sky and stars trembling!

A handsome prince and a beautiful star.

A fierce battle raged in the dead of night, a tit-for-tat confrontation.

The Divine Marquis, majestic and imposing, charged forward on horseback, spear in hand, an unstoppable force.

The general was also fearless, her eyebrows raised, her eyes sparkling with light, bursting with youthful brilliance, she shouted and cursed, her voice gentle and melodious.

The two were evenly matched, and for a time it was difficult to determine who was better.

Unexpectedly, the Divine Marquis received divine assistance, with a colorful phoenix joining the battlefield and fiercely attacking the General's vital points.

General Xing was furious. He made a hand gesture with his fingers, sweating profusely as he roared.

Instantly, thunder roared and the earth surged with power! This caused the water to fall from the sky with unstoppable force.

A mesmerizing voice emanated from its mouth, tempting the divine phoenix to rebel.

Good lord, even so, you are still brave and fearless, charging straight ahead despite the pressure. The two sides fought back and forth, with flashing swords and shadows, until dawn. The masts were broken and the oars were destroyed, leaving a scene of devastation.

The beautiful woman, transformed from a bird, leaned lazily against Mingchen's chest and said with a smile, "Hehe, young master, I also want to go to Xiangmanlou to see what's going on~"

Mingchen: ...

……

The interludes in storytelling are merely personal matters.

Time flies, and two days have passed quickly. Finally, it's time.

"Hurry up!"

"Hurry to the rooftop."

"Today is the new emperor's sacrificial ceremony to Heaven."

"I've heard that many cities in the south have already been captured by the Qian Yuan!"

"The world has finally been settled."

"It still has to be Qian Yuan!"

"However, it seems His Majesty has no intention of moving the capital back!"

"Huh? How can Ji Qu compare to our Yueyang?"

……

Today is a special day. The people of Yueyang City have all come out, and the streets are bustling with people, all looking in the same direction and talking amongst themselves.

The previous panic and dejection vanished, replaced by hope for the future.

One by one, rivals were swallowed up by the river of history and disappeared without a trace.

In the end, only the radiant woman remained, standing atop the high mountain.

In the end, Qian Yuan won.

After experiencing the Chen Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom...

The people realized that the Qian Yuan era was better; the chaos of the past few years could not erase the spiritual imprint left by five hundred years.

We are all from the Qian Yuan era.

Today, the new emperor offered sacrifices to Heaven at the Yueyang Altar, proclaiming this to the world.

Xiao Xinyue had previously ascended the throne during the reign of Ji Qu. Due to the circumstances, if she did not ascend the throne and announce it to the world, she would not be able to leverage the advantages brought by her identity and bloodline.

Now we have returned to Yueyang, the place where the ancestors of the Xiao dynasty have made offerings.

In a sense, it is also a supplementary enthronement ceremony.

Ji Qu Xindu, in terms of its heritage, still cannot compare to Yueyang, which has a history of five hundred years.

The great bells and drums resounded together on the altar for worshipping Heaven, as burning firewood emitted smoke, and dark wine and jade tablets were displayed on the altar.

The civil and military officials on the platform were dressed appropriately, their faces solemn, staring intently at the towering staircase in front of them.

Under the gaze of everyone, the peerless empress ascended step by step to the highest position.

The crown with its tassels hanging down, the black robe and crimson skirt, and the green wooden hairpin in his hair seemed somewhat out of place.

The sky was clear and the sun shone brightly.

When the time came, Xiao Xinyue raised the sacrificial wine and said loudly, "In the 525th year of Qian Yuan, Xiao Xinyue, the 23rd generation descendant of the Xiao family, hereby kowtows to Heaven and Earth, mountains and rivers, sun and moon... and the spirits of all our ancestors."

"In the past, the moral order collapsed, treacherous officials usurped the throne, wolves and jackals held sway, the mountains and rivers wept blood, and the people suffered terribly. Ancestral temples were destroyed by war, and rites and music crumbled in the smoke of barbarism. Though I am of meager virtue, how could I not rise up in battle? I drew my three-foot sword, led a loyal and righteous army, swept away the villains from the land, and cleansed the filth from the eight directions. Now the state is restored, and ancestral temples are re-established. Those who tore their crowns have been executed, and those whose blades were stained with blood have all been slaughtered. May Heaven and Earth bless my people, grant them favorable weather and abundant harvests, secure my territory, and ensure the eternal stability of our nation. May good be rewarded and evil punished; Heaven's way is glorious. If I were to neglect virtuous governance, I would be failing Heaven..."

May lightning strike you down, and may you be condemned to eternal damnation!

Xiao Xinyue stood tall and proud, her voice clear and resonant, her presence powerful and commanding.

Having said that, he poured out the libation wine in his hand.

Although she did not write these eulogies herself, every word came from her heart.

At this moment, her mind was completely empty; she had nothing and wanted nothing.

Even the ambiguous feelings between her and Mingchen were temporarily put aside.

She now focuses on only one identity: the emperor. As a queen, she cares only about her country and her people.

To revitalize the nation, protect the people, maintain strict order, strengthen the country and enrich the people, and dominate the world.

The officials below all looked up at him, regardless of gender, and none of them were amazed by his appearance.

They are destined to be high above, destined to be revered, and should not think about such trivial matters.

She is the queen.

Ordinary people were not allowed to enter the altar for the worship of Heaven; they could only gather in the city and look at the direction of the altar from afar.

Those close to the altar might be able to barely hear a few chimes, but as for other sounds, even if Xiao Xinyue shouted herself hoarse, she wouldn't hear them.

But for some reason, at this moment, the people of Yueyang City trembled all over.

An invisible aura emanated from the altar, gradually spreading outwards.

Born into nobility, their superior status constantly assaulted their minds.

A clear female voice suddenly rang in my ears, seemingly very close, yet also seemingly very far away.

High and mighty, yet kind and gentle.

"Xiao Xinyue, the twenty-third generation descendant of the Xiao family, hereby kowtows to Heaven and Earth, mountains and rivers, sun and moon..."

Xiao Xinyue's words on the sacrificial altar, amplified by an invisible force, reached everyone's ears.

Her emotions seemed to be amplified, affecting everyone's feelings.

Everyone could hear her passionate words, as if they could feel her hard work day and night over the years, her persistent wishes, hear what was in her heart, and hear her full of ambition and passion.

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

Unconsciously, the people knelt down on the ground, all looking towards the altar of heaven with reverence and hope in their eyes, shouting loudly.

They respected this emperor who overcame countless hardships and ultimately restored his country.

They hoped that this emperor could lead the country well, and that she could protect them, her people, in the future, bringing peace and tranquility, and giving them a prosperous and healthy life.

The shouts of countless people seemed to converge, carrying an invisible spirit that coalesced into a powerful force.

It was as if the earth was shaking and mountains were distorted.

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

Xiao Xinyue's senses remained very clear.

She can hear many things that ordinary people can hear.

She can hear many things that ordinary people cannot.

For example, right now, she can feel the prayers of the people, an overwhelming force, as powerful as a dragon.

(End of this chapter)