Chapter 359: My Realm, I Decide

She came to his side and gently leaned into his arms.

"What about the Wangqi Stone?"

"If possible, lifetimes upon lifetimes would be fine, as long as I can wait for you."

Qiao Mai tapped his heart with a finger, and Yuan Jiaqi immediately felt a warm mass in his chest.

"What is this?"

"Vitality, hidden in your heart, nourishing your five organs and six bowels; you will live to a great age, free of illness and pain."

"Wife, you left Seclusion and gave me such a great gift, yet I have little to give you."

"There is."

"What?"

"Then can I fly?"

"Why create so many? To kill each other? Or to let you form cliques and act selfishly?"

"He, the old man, should also rest for a while."

This imperial edict instantly made those ambitious people stagger; officials of past dynasties all pointed to their own daughters, saying they could fly to the treetops as phoenixes.

The Empress pulled Qiao Mai's hand and complained, "At least the Emperor and Eleven weren't devoured by those old ministers."

Early the next day, before dawn, they hurried back to the Imperial Palace.

They used to be cautious, but since Jia Mei married in, the two have been unrestrained.

After dismissing the court officials, some old, arrogant Princes and royal dukes from the Imperial family emerged; they all opposed Eleven marrying a single woman.

Why not take concubines? Pointing at a woman to bear children—won't the Royal Bloodline gradually fade away?

They have their own words; the Emperor has his own speech.

Qiao Mai led the way onto the airship; she stood at the bow, looking down at the three stunned people below.

Now they're all resting, no outsiders, just the four of us—show me a move, then?

This mother-in-law is truly formidable; Lord Yuan is no slouch either, already able to pilot the airship himself.

"Your Majesty, what if the future Empress cannot bear a Crown Prince?"

The current Emperor, aside from taking Eleven to the Morning Court, ignores everything else.

Qiao Mai glanced at her own Xianggong, "Do you want to fly?"

Thus, in mid‑May, the imperial edict reached the Qiao Family; the Tianshui Princess was granted marriage to the Crown Prince, and the edict stipulated that the Crown Prince would marry only the Tianshui Princess, taking no other concubines.

The others stood on the ship's side, some still fearful.

There are no tall buildings here, and no need to worry about collisions; at this altitude, only birds can land, making it very safe.

"Alright, it's rare that we all share such refined interests, but can we fly so many people at once?"

The Emperor swallowed, "Um, can it fly?"

"Hmm, strength has surged."

She pressed another button, and the ship moved forward at a modest speed, just so they could admire the view.

The three regained their senses, cautiously watching the airship; Qiao Mai had already read the manual, and she was the pilot at the front.

She pressed the central button, and the airship launched, continuously ascending.

"Mother-in-law, this Seclusion seems different this time, doesn't it?"

"I am as well; I haven't even become a Maternal Grandmother yet."

"If Mother-in-law's airship could provide a few ships for the army?"

"In a moment, I will send the Imperial Physician over to check Jia Mei's pulse for safety."

"Wow, look, over there is the Imperial Palace; so that's what our palace looks like."

Qiao Mai gave him a disdainful glance, "At your age, flying up might scare you."

The Emperor watched the calculations in their eyes, thinking to himself, "Is it possible?"

Mother-in-law wouldn't watch her own daughter not bear a son; speaking of that, it seems Mother-in-law has never given birth.

Just as the two were sharing tender moments, a crowd gathered in the courtyard.

The Empress grabbed the Emperor's arm, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid."

But upon hearing the Emperor say that if a Crown Prince cannot be born, they would select one from their descendants, their hearts were stirred.

The two turned and smiled at them, "Sorry for worrying you; I didn't expect it would take so long."

"Then select from the royal grandchildren; my realm, I decide, you just be good subjects."

"Ah, with Mother-in-law saying that, I feel relieved."

"Don't overthink it; she's so low‑key because she doesn't want us to rely on her too much—just having her with us is enough, everything else is unimportant; after all, in a real emergency she wouldn't stay idle."

Thus, the Emperor and Eleven were nearly besieged during the Morning Court.

The Empress was as happy as a child; the Emperor stroked his beard, also excited, and Yuan Jiaqi stood beside Qiao Mai.

"Mother, have you left Seclusion?"

So, the two, having nothing else to do, went back to Jixiang Yuan.

"Then quickly issue the edict to grant the marriage, okay?"

Qiao Mai smiled, "No need to fear, this ship is very safe."

"Wife, is it hard to open this?"

"Not difficult."

The weather was hot, and the courtyard of Yuexian Pavilion displayed a beautiful Tea Table; the couple would drink together whenever they were free.

"Father Emperor once told me he wanted to come and stay for a while."

"By the way, you and Lord Yuan have been married for so many years, why don't you have a child of your own?"

Can.

Sure, we have so many houses at home.

They refuse decent official positions, hoping to take shortcuts through marriage alliances.

I didn't dare let it rise higher, otherwise I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it.

The Emperor and the Empress learned quickly about Qiao Mai's emergence, and that night they came over. Lately they've become more and more diligent, leaving the palace several times a month to drop by the Qiao Family for food and drink.

Not afraid, we have the mother-in-law.

Maybe it's just not fate. I don't care about that; as long as I have Chuan'er and Ling'er, it's enough. Raising children to support us in old age—if they can inherit the family business in the future and take care of me and Xianggong in our old age, that's all that matters. Whether they're related by blood or not isn't very significant.

You haven't even spent a year with us; you owe us compensation, right?

Oh, the house has become so small.

Haha.

Alright, then let's have a proper meal together.

No one knows about the two pairs of in‑laws meeting over the night sky of Jingcheng; after the airship landed, the Emperor's legs went weak.

The Emperor isn't afraid of them; he only fears military authority, and with such an impressive mother‑in‑law, who could he be scared of?

He is constantly stuck in the Empress's palace, saying, "I truly fear the airship developing a fault and dropping down."

Fine.

From now on, this will be handed over to my husband.

Over there, the couple enjoys Jingcheng's night view; over here, they're teaching the airship piloting, and Yuan Jiaqi quickly gets the hang of it.

She waves her hand, and the airship appears in the courtyard, its hull even equipped with a ladder.

Mother‑in‑law, have you emerged?

No, we need to find an opportunity and let the Empress chat with the mother‑in‑law.

Finally, the ship rose to a certain altitude and stopped; the three of them looked down cautiously.

At worst, just one word: go!

You are indeed open‑minded about such a huge family business.

For the first unprecedented time, they requested to stay in Jixiang Yuan; since they brought no guards, they were placed in a side room of Yuexian Pavilion.

Heard it, no need to worry; after the marriage, my daughter will also give Eleven a few sons.

Come, it's not too late now; we can watch the myriad lights of ten thousand families and the star‑filled sky.

So, I am eager to ally with his family through marriage, hoping the mother‑in‑law can look after the royal house more, since the realm conquered by the Li Family was not easy to obtain.

Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, have you emerged?

When the Emperor and Empress saw Qiao Mai, something seemed off at first glance.

I share that sentiment.

Using the excuse of visiting the mother‑in‑law, they come over every few days, and Jia Mei often rolls her eyes.

The Wangqi Stone is your gift.

Qiao Mai leads them to the courtyard, closes her eyes, and purchases a small airship from the spatial market.

I think Father Emperor no longer wishes to be Emperor, idling as a hands‑off shopkeeper; Eleven, the imperial brother, was just made Crown Prince, and he handed the state affairs to him—utterly absurd.

Isn't that fine? Must I have a son, only to let him share the inheritance with your daughter's family?

Isn't that exactly what should happen?

Thinking like that is best; a person shouldn't be too greedy, contentment brings happiness, that is the path of health. Many people, because of fatigue and anger, become ill; they should have lived to seventy or eighty, yet they die in their fifties. One must be generous, then you and the Emperor can have grandchildren at the knee.

The mother‑in‑law is right; the Emperor already has grandchildren at his knees, but I have none yet. I have only this one daughter, and even after marriage her womb hasn't shown any sign.

(End of chapter)