Chapter 1002

First Volume, Chapter 1002: Hopes for the Future

Shen Qingci intended to make Jing Ci confront reality: her claim to the throne was illegitimate, and she had set a disastrous precedent by violating the tradition of seniority in succession, seizing the imperial throne through "illegal means."

If the Northern Di King could seize power by cunning and force, why shouldn't others do the same?

Therefore, Qin Feng returning with Jing Qianying to reclaim the throne is entirely justified.

If Jing Ci remains trapped in the glory of the past, she will never face a new future, but will instead rot like decaying dust, swept into the trash heap of history.

Shen Qingci looked at Jing Ci and asked solemnly: "Do you want the people of Northern Di to live well?"

Jing Ci lifted her gaze coldly, staring at this stranger—the Qin Family's eldest daughter. Though she herself was a Princess and the other merely a commoner, Jing Ci already understood that before Shen Qingci, she was as insignificant as a servant girl.

And this is what a woman of the Qin Family is like…

After a long while, Jing Ci nodded slowly: "Yes…"

Shen Qingci spoke without hesitation, bluntly: "If so, you must stride boldly toward the future, not cling to this crumbling, decaying empire and wallow in self-pity."

"If you are willing to work hard, in this new dynasty, you will shine and contribute, truly bringing welfare to the people."

Hearing this, Jing Ci faintly grasped Shen Qingci's deeper meaning and asked softly: "You… want me to assist Jing Qianying? No… Jing Yushu?"

Shen Qingci smiled and nodded: "Whether Jing Qianying or Jing Yushu, what difference does it make? She is both my Qin Family Fourth Miss and Feng'er's future wife."

"With this bond, Northern Di and Shedynasty will truly achieve peace."

"Once Jing Qianying inherits the throne, Feng'er will fully support her, repairing this nation riddled with holes. At that time, the people will no longer fear war or struggle for food and clothing."

"If you don't believe me, go to Beixi County yourself then—see how the people live in prosperity under Feng'er's rule. It's no empty promise."

As a Princess, Jing Qianying naturally had far better access to information than ordinary people.

She had long heard how wealthy Beixi County was: even the poorest commoners earned ten taels of silver annually, nearly ten times the income of people in other regions.

Most astonishingly, because Beixi County had become a commercial and transportation hub, vast quantities of goods flowed in, directly driving down its prices.

Moreover, with Shedynasty's Northern Border being vast and Sangzhou serving as a buffer zone, many people could focus entirely on agriculture. Combined with Qin Feng's policies of "group enrollment into household registration" and "public land leasing," even farmers enjoyed food and clothing security.

This directly meant that one tael of silver in Beixi County could be spent like two taels, further increasing the people's wealth.

All revenues collected by the County Yamen were used to build infrastructure and return surplus wealth to the people.

Just Beixi County alone could sustain the entire Winter War—clearly demonstrating just how wealthy it was!

Even if the people of Northern Di could only achieve one-third the prosperity of Beixi County, it would be enough to make Northern Di a top-tier power, with unprecedented growth in national strength.

Jing Ci's mind began to envision this beautiful future: if she could make the people live well, what did her own suffering matter?

Jing Ci took a deep breath and looked at Shen Qingci, asking softly: "Will Qin Feng truly help us rebuild Great Di?"

Shen Qingci smiled lightly: "Princess, Feng'er is not merely a regional ruler—he is a merchant. Only when Heaven and Earth are at peace can he make money."

"From a purely profit-driven perspective, which is more useful to Feng'er: a Northern Di where everything is desolate and the people suffer, or a Northern Di where the people live in prosperity and hold spare silver?"

Jing Ci pondered, recalling how Qin Feng had laid out trade routes in Wang Du. Though these routes had been suspended due to the Winter War, she now vaguely realized Qin Feng's intentions were not short-term, but long-term.

The suspension of trade routes and halt of commerce appeared to be caused by the Winter War, but even without this war, heavy snows would have blocked the mountains and frozen the land, making trade impossible anyway.

Once Qin Feng takes control of Northern Di and Jing Qianying holds power, these seemingly abandoned trade routes will immediately reopen, offering an even better commercial environment than originally planned.

Qin Feng never does anything without purpose.

Take Changshui County, now turned into a Fortress.

After Jing Qianying inherits the throne, this county can serve as a gatekeeper town for the Jingji, consolidating Jing Qianying's imperial authority, while also functioning as a logistics hub to supply goods to Wang Du.

But one thing puzzled Jing Ci: "If Qin Feng is determined to take it, why give the local people Beixi County Household Registration?"

Shen Qingci smiled faintly, wisely: "Princess, you live in the palace, pampered and sheltered—you cannot be expected to understand human affairs."

"Even if Jing Qianying becomes sovereign, these people of Changshui County can never wash away the stain of treason. Only by relocating them to Beixi County can they live normal lives without discrimination."

Hearing this, Jing Ci's eyes widened in shock: "So that's why Qin Feng moved every single person in the county at such great cost?"

Jing Ci was stunned because relocating an entire county's population consumed enormous funds. In Heaven and Earth, no one else would move an entire county's people for such a "trivial" reason.

Clearly, Qin Feng, though the instigator of this war, cared more for the people than anyone else.

From their perspective, this war could be described as "Chang Tong Bu Ru Duan Tong"—if this final war brings lasting peace, it is worth it.

Jing Ci took a deep breath and asked her final question: "Why me?"

"There are many other Princesses and Princes in the palace—why choose me?"

Shen Qingci's lips curled slightly: "Heaven watches all. What use are those pampered Princesses and Princes? You—you who toil for the people—Feng'er has seen it all."

"You are the one who truly cares for the people."