Chapter 139: Do You Want to Be Emperor?

When Yao first became emperor, the tribal alliance was loose and crumbling, like a pile of scattered sand, and governing it was especially arduous.

Later, after he had scraped and struggled enough to gather experience, he smacked his forehead and said: We need to set some rules!

So he waved his hand grandly and assigned people by task—whoever excelled at farming handled agriculture, whoever could calculate dates handled the calendar…

For example, he sent Xi Shu to live in Bright Capital to observe the sun's movement from north to south, taking the day with the longest daylight as the summer solstice, and calibrating it using Mars's position;

He dispatched Xi Zhong to reside in Yu Yi Yang Valley, observing sunrise, noon, and the seven Vermilion Bird constellations to determine the spring equinox, facilitating spring sowing.

He sent He Zhong to the western Obscure Valley to watch sunsets, using the day when day and night are equal as the autumn equinox;

He assigned He Shu to the northern Secluded Capital to observe the sun's movement from south to north, taking the day with the shortest daylight as the winter solstice.

These four were also called the Four Peaks, each overseeing a quadrant, recommending virtuous talent, ultimately achieving orderly governance of all officials and flourishing achievements.

After the Second Division and Second Zenith were fixed, Yao decided on a 366‑day year, inserting an intercalary month every three years to adjust the calendar and the seasons, ensuring each year's agricultural timing was correct without error.

For the first time in Chinese history, there was a proper civil servant division of labor, giving the tribal alliance the semblance of a state and laying the foundation for a slave‑state.

So.

Now.

After Yao and Yu Lin finished their casual chat, Yao suddenly turned to him with a smiling query:

"Kid, tell me, how should this state be governed?"

"Uncle Chong Hua has been so busy lately he's lost his mind.........."

Yu Lin: "........."

"Well… I think governing this state could ##****##￥."

"That's all for now."

"Hmm?" His lengthy discourse left Yao and Emperor Shun both puzzled, as if they couldn't understand him, and they asked:

"Kid, what did you just say?"

"I said ###**......... can't you hear what I'm saying?"

"........." Yao and Emperor Shun exchanged a glance and instantly understood something.

Especially Yao.

He stroked his long beard and laughed: "It seems we've overstepped."

"Never mind, never mind, Chong Hua, just keep having that headache!"

"Hahaha."

He laughed heartily, patting Emperor Shun's shoulder with a look of schadenfreude.

Emperor Shun looked at him helplessly, as if accustomed to his behavior, then fixed his gaze on Yu Lin:

"Yu Lin, where did your mortal body go?"

"Was it destroyed?"

Yu Lin shook his head: "No, it's just placed with the Chong Clan."

"I originally wanted to catch a glimpse of Uncle Chong Hua's true face and then leave, but a guy made me get a bit closer.........."

He glanced at the corner, where the Dragon Elder was perched on a qilin's head, watching nose with eyes, nose with heart.

"What? What did he say?"

"Who? Unclear, unknown, uninformed."

The Dragon Elder closed his eyes, feigning sleep.

Emperor Shun, intrigued, examined it: "Human holy artifact… who forged it?"

"Hmm, never mind, I suppose it's unspeakable; even if we said it, we couldn't bear it."

He shook his head and did not pursue further.

Yu Lin, seeing their demeanor, guessed something.

If that knowledge from later ages were brought to the present, it would be like pressing fast‑forward, breaking the spiral‑upward progression of human civilization.

It might bring better development for future generations, or… outright destruction!

Perhaps that's why, once he leaves the mission, his contributions and existence are weakened.

It must be a restriction set by the Myth Book.

Yu Lin stopped pondering, because Emperor Shun looked at him and said:

"Yu Lin, do you want to be emperor?"

"Huh?"

"Do you want to be emperor?"

"We've only just met, and I'm not a diligent type; if I can lie down I won't sit...."

"So I'm not asking you to become emperor now." Emperor Shun smiled faintly, extending two fingers:

"Twenty years later, with your strength, you becoming emperor I completely.........."

Bang.

His words hadn't finished when Yao slapped his hand down, glaring at him:

"Even the kid says he doesn't want to be emperor; can't you hear that? Don't force others."

"You don't want to be emperor, right? If you don't, let the Four Peaks nominate another."

"There are plenty who want to be emperor if you don't!"

"........" Emperor Shun, seeing his anger, smiled and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, don't be angry."

"I won't bring it up, I won't bring it up, still not okay."

"Come, come, have a drink."

He lifted the ceramic jar on the table and poured a glass of water for Yao.

Almost turned Saint Yu Lin into Emperor Yu Lin.

Yu Lin, as a Saint, acts at will; when he meets someone he helps them. If he were an Emperor… that would be miserable, exhausting to death, better than going to prison.

Let Da Yu handle this then.

Yao, seeing that Emperor Shun no longer mentioned it, did not continue the topic, and noticing it was getting late, smiled at Yu Lin and said:

"Kid, you go back and rest."

"If anyone gives you trouble, come find me and your Uncle Chonghua; we'll stand up for you."

"Oh, right, come, come, here's a gift for you."

He grabbed Yu Lin's hand and slipped in a yellow jade ring that looked unrefined, even a bit rough.

It had no special aura; if one had to point out something special… perhaps only the pictograph on it, which resembles the staff Yao holds.

Yu Lin didn't refuse, because given the situation, if he declined, Yao wouldn't let go.

He put the yellow jade ring into his pocket, stood up and bowed to Yao: "Thank you, Lord Yi Qi, for the treasure!"

"Ah, it's getting formal, you've already called me 'Lord', what else will you say?" Yao stroked his long beard, smiled and waved his hand.

"Go then, have a good rest."

"If you're bored, you can come to Tao Tang to chat; I have a few granddaughters and such.........."

"It's getting late, I'll leave now, farewell."

Yu Lin turned and walked toward Dragon Lord, gave his head a pat:

"Stop pretending to sleep, let's go back."

"Oh."

Dragon Lord opened his eyes, showing no hint of embarrassment, and flew into the sky with Yu Lin.

Watching their backs recede into the distance.

Yao stroked his long beard and laughed:

"Chonghua, this kid's not bad, I like him."

Emperor Shun set down the Clay Bowl, nodded and said, "If you, old man, like it, that's fine."

"By the way, what is that thing you gave?"

Curiosity flashed in his eyes; evidently he hadn't expected Yao to give a gift to Yu Lin.

Yao's gaze fell on the star chart on the table, and he casually said, "Nothing much, just a bit of Human Race luck."

"Placed on him, no matter when, my Human Race will always have a spark… it won't lead to extinction."

"......" Emperor Shun, hearing this, looked at the elder who had devoted most of his life to the Human Race, even after abdicating still scheming for them, and fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly:

"I understand."