Chapter 42: The Empress, the Two Kings, a New Era

Taolu 。

Doushitaolu 。

Zhegeshijieshangzuizhangdelu ， Najiushitaolule 。

In the fourth year of Zhi Zheng of the Great Jin, autumn, the 18th day of the ninth month, Chancellor Chen Qingyao, citing the emperor’s frivolity and unsuitability to rule the realm, deposed Emperor Liu Shaobai and named him King of Beiyang; declaring that a nation cannot be without a sovereign for a single day, he enthroned Princess Liu Qingzhi as empress.

She became the second female emperor in history.

The next day, the new empress married, and Chen Qingyao was granted the title of Prince Zheng and appointed regent under the title of imperial consort.

General Yu Yun, commander of the Northern Defense, was released without charge, promoted to Grand General, enfeoffed as Prince of Yan, and appointed regent.

In just three days, a monumental upheaval had settled completely, vanishing without a trace.

This grand drama left Dou Changsheng utterly dazzled.

This young emperor had been completely stripped bare, leaving nothing behind.

Even his most trusted aunt, the Princess Dowager, had long been colluding with Chen Qingyao—they had shared the same bed and become partners in treachery.

Liu Baiyu, the Heavenly Tower General and a powerful member of the imperial clan, was inexplicably far away at San Yang Mountain at the critical moment and could not appear in the capital; similar cases were numerous. By the time Liu Baiyu returned to the capital after everything had settled, his titles had been upgraded, his posts reassigned, his stipend increased, and his relatives promoted—all he could do was sigh deeply and accept the empress’s reign.

Those who always suffer are nothing but the young emperor.

By the way.

My own family also gained benefits.

Dou Changsheng stayed in the capital for three days, precisely waiting for rewards from the new empress.

Taiji Palace.

This sacred palace of the Great Jin issued edicts capable of shaking the entire realm.

After undergoing layer upon layer of inspections, Dou Changsheng stood before this lofty, celestial-like palace.

The Princess Dowager—no, the empress—did not appear in full regalia; instead, she wore a simple green robe, her black hair flowing softly, sleeves rolled up to reveal a pale forearm.

Beside her, Chen Qingyao sat like a musician behind an ancient guqin.

His slender fingers plucked the strings, producing a melodious, lingering tune.

Opposite them sat an ordinary-looking man, repeatedly lifting his wine cup, drinking one after another, his expression melancholy, his eyes shadowed with guilt.

At first glance, Dou Changsheng recognized him as Yu Yun, the current Grand General and Prince of Yan.

These three men were the most powerful figures in the Great Jin.

They represented three major factions.

The empress, representing the imperial clan, encompassing the capital and Liang region.

Yu Yun, representing the northern territories; Chen Qingyao, representing the Zheng region.

Upon seeing Dou Changsheng arrive, the empress raised her head slightly, her gaze falling upon him, and spoke gently: “The northern territories have been thrown into chaos due to the deposed emperor.”

“They harbor resistance toward the court.”

“I do not blame the north—this sentiment is entirely understandable.”

“Now that I have restored order, I must soothe the hearts of the northern people.”

“Regarding military pay, I have already discussed it with my ministers; rather than delay, today I appoint the Captain Who Breaks the Enemy as the official escort to personally deliver the funds to the north.”

“I will also issue a formal decree exempting the northern territories from taxes for three years.”

“I will dismantle all checkpoints between Liang and the north, allowing free flow between the regions, promoting commerce: northern specialties may be traded through Liang and Zheng, and Liang and Zheng goods may be swiftly transported to the north.”

Yu Yun set down his cup and spoke up: “Liang is mostly flatland, open and exposed. If we remove the checkpoints, the north will be defenseless, and Liang will fall too—then the capital will be vulnerable to attack at any moment.”

“There will be no time to fortify defenses; the Great Jin faces imminent collapse.”

The empress waved her hand forcefully: “Precisely so—that is how we win back the hearts of the north. I must tell them—”

“I stand with them.”

“If the barbarians invade and the north falls, then the Great Jin is finished.”

Yuyuntanxiyisheng ， Meiyouzaiququan ， Duanqijiuzhanheleyikou ， Quanbudoushitaolu ， Tadouyijingkanchulaile ， Kebushuobuxing ， Tarenbuzhu ， Zhebujiushiliuqingzhidexiaoxinsima 。

One young emperor was removed, and the replacement isn’t any better.

She’s merely older and more skilled at wielding power.

Sigh.

At least she’s better than an ignorant young emperor.

Dou Changsheng felt nothing—he wasn’t from this world—but he couldn’t show it, so he offered insincere thanks: “Thank Your Majesty.”

Sacrificing an emperor to pacify the exploding discontent in the north.

It was undeniably effective.

Dou Changsheng had no emotional attachment to emperors—he grew up in the future, where emperors had lost their sacredness—but in this world, even powerful martial artists still adhered to the creed: “The sovereign commands, the subject must obey.”

They upheld loyalty to the monarch and devotion to the state...

In just three days, a new emperor had ascended, military pay had been delivered, and the north had been pacified—it felt as if everything had been resolved at once.

It was incredibly surreal.

Normally, an emperor’s coronation, with its auspicious dates and elaborate ceremonies, takes months; the imperial wedding is no different—none of them are quick.

Yet everything was finished.

The phrase “everything simplified,” cloaked in the righteous cause of pacifying the north, proved utterly effective.

When officials protested that simplifying the ceremonies diminished the dignity of the imperial house and invited ridicule from foreign states, they were rebuked with: “Save the money and send it to the north—it will save more lives.”

Looking at this trio, Dou Changsheng realized he and his future self were now on two separate timelines—truly divergent.

In the future timeline, the young emperor likely still ruled.

This time, they acted because Qingyang Daoist’s fake death had failed, exposing the stolen military funds.

In the future timeline, Qingyang Daoist never attempted the fake death—he wouldn’t have dared expose anything; the young emperor remained unexposed and retained public support.

Indeed, as the saying goes: a butterfly flapping its wings can stir a storm across the ocean.

The guqin music continued, and Chen Qingyao remained silent, playing only.

The empress spoke again: “Dou Changsheng.”

“You exposed Qingyang Daoist’s deception of faking his death, and uncovered the true culprit behind the stolen military funds.”

“You have rendered immense service to the court and brought peace to the realm.”

“The court rewards merit and punishes wrongdoing—our generosity will not be lacking.”

“Rare treasures of heaven and earth, divine martial arts, peerless beauties, paradisiacal realms...”

“Whatever your heart desires, if the Great Jin possesses it, it shall be yours.”

Dream on.

Dou Changsheng internally scoffed.

Such vague, grandiose promises—only fools would believe them.

If I were to say, “I also want to be emperor,”

I’d never walk out of this hall alive.

As for what he actually wanted—he lacked the knowledge to say.

So Dou Changsheng replied without hesitation: “Whatever Your Majesty bestows is what this humble subject deserves.”

“This humble subject dares not harbor any improper desires.”

He kicked the ball back—Dou Changsheng knew how to play that game too.

He turned the pressure back onto the empress.

How could a sovereign of a great nation possibly be stingy?