Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: The Twenty-Fourth Day of the Villain as Emperor

The grasslands were vast. Once the Tatar tribes made up their minds to flee, Wen Qingyun found it slightly difficult to give chase.

In May of the 7th year of Tianshou, Wen Qingyun crushed the counter-offensive army organized by the Tatar tribes. She did not halt her northern advance until she reached the Khentii Mountains, at which point she shifted her strategy from a northern expedition to a westward sweep.

Wen Qingyun led her cavalry westward along the Orkhon River until they reached the Altai Mountains. There, she turned south to rendezvous with the Hami Guard, reclaiming the grasslands previously controlled by the Tatars as imperial territory.

Simultaneously, she forced the Tatars further north to compete with the Oirats for more distant pastures, effectively relieving pressure on the northwestern frontier.

Upon hearing that the Emperor of Great Qian had dealt a crushing blow to the Tatars, the Moghulistan Khanate on the northwestern border became instantly submissive. They voluntarily retreated fifty li, creating a larger buffer zone at the border.

Regarding sensible neighbors, Wen Qingyun’s desire for conquest was not overly aggressive. As long as they provided timely tribute, remained peaceful, and didn’t cause trouble, she was willing to allow their regimes to exist.

In August of the 7th year of Tianshou, having completed the task of sweeping the grasslands, Wen Qingyun ordered rewards for the three armies. She officially led her troops back to the capital in September.

Prince Herui personally escorted the Empress back, stopping only when they were a hundred li from the capital. Watching the sovereign’s carriage fade into the distance, Prince Herui pulled her reins and galloped back toward her own territory.

The vast grasslands had been conquered under the Empress’s lead; the governance and development of this land would be her responsibility for years to come. She would not betray the Empress’s trust. Whether it took five, ten, or twenty years, she would tame this land and its tribes until they felt, from the bottom of their hearts, that they were subjects of the Great Qian—subjects of the Empress!

…

Catching the very tail end of late autumn, Wen Qingyun successfully returned to the capital with 150,000 elite troops from the Capital Camp.

The five Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet had long been waiting at the city gate with the civil and military officials. Seeing their Empress appear in golden armor, they knelt in unison.

“Long live the Empress! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”

The roar of “Long live” was immense. It wasn’t just the officials; the commoners had gathered spontaneously at the gates, along with students who had arrived early for the spring imperial examinations.

Wen Qingyun did not stop until her horse was less than five meters from the five Grand Secretaries. She pulled the reins tight and dismounted.

“I have inherited the will of the Great Ancestor,” Wen Qingyun declared. her voice was not loud, but with the help of the wind, it carried clearly to everyone’s ears. “The five great Tatar tribes have been crushed by me; they will not pose a threat for fifty years.”

“As long as I am on the throne, I will protect my millions of subjects. Wherever you are, if foreign tribes invade, come and tell me. I will break their bones and make them flee on their knees.”

“I promise before the officials and the people of the world: Great Qian’s territory will only expand outward; I will never allow others to encroach by even an inch.”

As her voice fell, the officials and commoners grew ecstatic once more, shouting “Long live” and praising the Empress’s wisdom.

Wen Qingyun enjoyed the moment, her lips curling upward. Once the cheering subsided slightly, she reached out to help Chu Xin up and motioned for the crowd to rise.

“Your Majesty…” Chu Xin had so much to say to the person she had longed for, but she didn’t know where to begin.

In front of the officials and the people, Wen Qingyun gave Chu Xin a big hug and whispered in her ear, “I am back. Tonight, I will listen to everything you have to say.”

Chu Xin’s eyes instantly turned red. Had she not possessed excellent self-control, she would have cried like a child.

Wen Qingyun patted Chu Xin’s shoulder and slowly let go, turning her gaze toward her other confidants. “You all have worked hard for me this past year. Tonight, I will host a banquet in the palace. You may bring your families; I shall reward everyone according to their merits.”

Winning hearts—Wen Qingyun had always been doing this, and she did it well. Hearing the Empress recognize their efforts, none of them could hide their smiles.

While everyone was happy about the Empress’s triumphant return, the only one who couldn’t force a smile was Prince Rong.

The Empress’s banquet was a joyous occasion for the officials. Even when Prince Rong claimed poor health, he would usually make an appearance. Now that he had spread news of his recovery and the birth of an heir, he had to go.

The Empress mentioned bringing family. Prince Rong was unwilling to let his only child take any risks, so he released the long-neglected Princess Consort from her courtyard, had the servants dress her properly, and brought her to the palace.

Wen Qingyun had no imperial concubines, and the Empress Dowager didn’t want a separate banquet, so they all sat together in a harmonious atmosphere. Officials sat on the left, while family members sat on the right, maintaining a degree of propriety.

Wen Qingyun followed through on her promise of rewards. Officials with outstanding performance were either granted honorary ranks one level higher or their mothers and wives were granted titles of “Lady of Mandate” (Gaoming Furen). For older officials, Wen Qingyun permitted their descendants to inherit a rank one level higher, allowing them to retire peacefully and vacate positions for younger people.

After three rounds of wine, Wen Qingyun allowed ministers who lived far from the palace to take their families home early. Only the imperial relatives, high-ranking officials, and Wen Qingyun’s core confidants remained in the inner hall.

“Princess Consort Rong, why are you so thin? Are you feeling unwell?” Wen Qingyun asked with a face full of concern.

Princess Consort Rong forced a smile. “Replying to Your Majesty, my body has always been like this; I don’t put on weight easily.”

“Has the Imperial Physician seen you? Prince Rong’s health is already poor; if the Consort is like this as well, I am quite worried,” Wen Qingyun frowned. “Someone, summon the best physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to examine the Consort.”

Princess Consort Rong’s lips moved as if she wanted to decline, but she ultimately accepted the Empress’s arrangement.

However, Prince Rong couldn’t sit still and tried to intervene. “Your Majesty, there is no need to trouble the physicians. I have had them examine her privately several times. The Consort’s body needs slow recuperation, much like my own. It cannot be fixed overnight.”

“Is that so? But I seem to remember that before my northern expedition, the Consort’s health was quite good?” Wen Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

The smile on Prince Rong’s face became increasingly strained. How could he answer that? Should he say he had a “wife-cursing” constitution, or blame it on childbirth?

Since the Empress did not withdraw her order, her subordinates naturally wouldn’t stop. Before long, the physicians arrived with their medicine chests. They escorted the Consort to an inner room for an examination.

The one leading the pulse check was the newly appointed Judicial Officer of the Imperial Academy of Medicine—the most skilled among the female physicians. Two male physicians assisted with the general diagnosis.

Soon, the three physicians emerged. The leader’s expression was somewhat grim.

“Your Majesty, I have examined her thoroughly. The Consort has many issues. Some are due to improper care after childbirth, some are due to pent-up emotional distress, and some are because of lack of exercise, insufficient sunlight, and improper diet.”

The Judicial Officer had heard rumors from her colleagues and had visited the Prince Rong Mansion once earlier that year. Disgusted by Prince Rong’s conduct, she reported everything in meticulous detail.

Hearing the physician’s words, most officials remaining at the banquet frowned instinctively, and the way they looked at Prince Rong changed. Every issue mentioned seemed to be caused by human neglect rather than the Consort’s natural constitution.

Prince Rong clenched his fists hidden inside his wide sleeves. In his heart, he cursed Wen Qingyun and the physician for meddling, but he feigned an expression of shock.

“How could this be? After the Consort gave birth, I hired the most experienced nannies to care for her. How could there be improper care? Could it be that those nannies were being deceitful!”

Prince Rong’s acting was decent; his emotional tone actually fooled a few uninformed ministers. Unfortunately, most people left at the banquet knew his true face and had no intention of playing along.

“Such a poor child. Stay in the palace for a few days and let me personally help you recover,” the Empress Dowager, who had been quiet, finally spoke.

Prince Rong’s eyes twitched. If the Empress had spoken, he might have used his status as an Imperial Uncle to argue, but since it was the Empress Dowager…

“I thank the Empress Dowager on behalf of the Consort.” Prince Rong could only rise and bow in gratitude.

This small episode didn’t dampen Wen Qingyun’s spirits. Seeing it was late, she dismissed the banquet and let the ministers return home. As for Si Yu, Si Wen, and other confidants, she let them stay overnight in the palace to save them the travel.

Princess Consort Rong was taken away by the Empress Dowager. Wen Qingyun held Chu Xin’s hand, fingers intertwined, and led her onto the palanquin toward the East Warming Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in full view of everyone.

Chu Xin was still thinking about the Prince Rong matter. “Your Majesty, Princess Consort Rong’s situation in the mansion seems very poor.”

“Oh? Why do you think so?” Wen Qingyun asked. She remembered she hadn’t told Weiyu to leak those details to Chu Xin.

“I noticed the way she looked at Prince Rong. It wasn’t affection or love, but… resistance and fear,” Chu Xin whispered. She knew very well what a look of love was supposed to be; during the Empress’s absence, every time she looked in the mirror, she saw eyes full of longing.

Wen Qingyun rubbed her thumb against her finger, forming a plan. “Good. I will have Mother Empress ask her subtly. If she is truly suffering, I will decree their divorce.”

…

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Upon reaching the bedchamber, Wen Qingyun pulled Chu Xin directly into the bath. Intending to skip the morning court session the next day, she began to materialize a year’s worth of longing.

Chu Xin responded with equal passion. Though her face remained red, it didn’t hinder her movements. The rules of sovereign and subject were briefly tossed aside as accumulated yearning turned into impulsive desire.

She had diligently attended court for so many days; skipping one day was harmless. For the sake of the Empress, skipping two days wouldn’t be out of the question either.

…

Princess Consort Rong stayed in the palace for less than three days before she told the Empress Dowager everything she knew.

The Empress Dowager, having seen many such schemes, knew exactly what the Consort needed most: a powerful backer. The Empress Dowager could be that backer, but she knew the Consort would feel even safer if there were a more permanent change.

“Mother means I should simply issue a decree for their divorce?” Wen Qingyun asked.

The Empress Dowager nodded. “Essentially. If a couple is incompatible, a divorce is better for both.”

Wen Qingyun pondered for a moment. “Mother, I need to know how she feels about that child. This is very important to me.”

The Empress Dowager answered quickly. “She hasn’t seen the child once. She has no feelings for it; if she could, she would rather the child didn’t exist.”

Wen Qingyun’s lips curled up. “Mother, a divorce won’t be necessary. I have other arrangements.”

“Hmm?” The Empress Dowager sensed something. “Has Prince Rong done something in secret?”

“He has been in contact with some members of the imperial clan recently. I intend for him to ‘succumb to illness,'” Wen Qingyun didn’t hide it. “The child as well. I won’t leave him behind; I’ll let father and son reunite in the underworld.”

The Empress Dowager paused her movements, then took a sip of hot tea. “You have just returned in victory. Let the people of the capital enjoy these happy days for a while longer.”

Wen Qingyun smiled and nodded. “I understand. I’ll have the physicians keep him alive with medicine for now and ‘arrange’ things at the end of October.”

With that settled, the Empress Dowager skipped the topic of Prince Rong and pivoted to Prince Herui. Prince Lian only had Herui as a child, and he was getting old. If he didn’t see his daughter all year, he would inevitably feel lonely.

“There are still matters to handle in the grasslands. She might not return this year, but starting next year, if the north is peaceful, Herui can spend winters in the capital or even stay long-term.”

“Herui’s former husband and the beauties she kept are still in the capital. This is her home; she can come back whenever she wants. I wanted to give her a bigger stage, not exile her,” Wen Qingyun said with a smile. “Mother, have any of my sisters used the excuse of paying respects to you to fish for information?”

“Yes, though most aren’t as capable as Herui. They came to test the waters to see if they could get a minor official post to practice with,” the Empress Dowager said honestly.

If Herui, whose bloodline wasn’t even that close, could become a Prince with real power, the princesses raised in the palace naturally developed some ambition.

Wen Qingyun: “Does Mother think I should give them a chance?”

The Empress Dowager: “Leaders lead by example. If the princesses are willing to change proactively, the other commandery and county princesses in the clan might follow suit.”

“Then in a few days, I’ll arrange some honorary posts for them and let them learn in the Six Ministries for a while. If they truly have the resolve and perseverance, I’ll let them fill suitable vacancies.”

…

After the second snowfall in the capital, news of Prince Rong’s critical illness began to spread.

As a junior, Wen Qingyun not only visited in person but also ordered the Head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine to stay at the Prince Rong Mansion. Large quantities of precious medicinal herbs were sent to the house.

Sadly, despite the massive resources spent by the Empress, Prince Rong passed away on October 25th. That same night, the infant heir, who wasn’t even a year old, developed a high fever and died the following day.

Wen Qingyun expressed deep sorrow and ordered the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial to offer condolences and assist the widowed Consort with the funeral.

After the funeral, Wen Qingyun had Weiyu personally select sensible people from the palace to replace all the officials and stewards in the Prince Rong Mansion. Those replaced were told they were “retiring to their hometowns,” but in reality, only those who did the deed knew where they were buried.

After dealing with the Prince Rong matter, Wen Qingyun heard the long-awaited system prompt.

【Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission. Do you wish to leave this world?】

“No. My journey has just begun,” Wen Qingyun refused without hesitation. The world was at peace and the treasury was full; it was the perfect time to flex her wings. If she left now, wouldn’t all her hard work be for nothing?

The system was not surprising. It confirmed the choice and returned to standby mode to “slacker” around.

…

In the 8th year of Tianshou, the spring imperial examinations arrived once more.

With Wen Qingyun’s tacit approval, two princesses and five commandery princesses who were confident in themselves participated. In the end, out of seven royal women, four successfully made it onto the list.

Wen Qingyun was quite surprised by the result. One must know that the total number of candidates this year was five thousand, and female candidates barely accounted for one-tenth. The list of successful graduates (Jinshi) still only had three hundred names—105 were women, and 195 were men.

Wen Qingyun did not treat them differently. The Palace Examination questions focused on pressing national affairs to test their ability to govern locally. Among the top ten papers presented to Wen Qingyun, the gender split was exactly five and five.

For candidates capable of reaching this stage, Wen Qingyun naturally showed favoritism. She left only the “Second Place” (Bangyan) for a truly skilled male candidate; the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth places were all given to female candidates.

As an Emperor, within the scope of power, one does what makes them happy. Wen Qingyun would not proactively cater to anyone.

The successive appearance of female “Top Scholars” (Zhuangyuan) made the preferences of the Empress clear to both the officials and the people. If you were a woman, you had an extra chance to be seen favorably by the sovereign.

Practical interests caused many people’s perspectives to shift. Whether it was the surviving noble families or the newly rising wealthy households, they all hoped for their families to endure. When it became relatively easier for women to become officials through the examinations, those with foresight quietly began to cultivate talented and knowledgeable female juniors.

When the Minister of Rites requested for the third time that the Empress hold a selection for the harem to continue the bloodline, Wen Qingyun spoke indifferently.

“I have no interest in the harem. During my reign, there will be no selections, no Empresses, and no concubines.”

“As for the issue of heirs, starting today, any girl from the imperial clan between the ages of six and ten may register with Chu Xin. Those who pass the exam will reside in the South Three Residences. I will arrange for the Hanlin Academy to personally instruct them.”

Hearing it was “girls from the imperial clan,” the officials exchanged looks. Though they had expected something like this, they were still shocked. The Empress was determined to establish a Crown Princess, not a Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty is wise!” The officials knelt and shouted. No matter how shocked they were, they had no power to object. No one would dare discuss the next successor in front of a young, powerful Empress.

However, this decree gave the officials a clearer understanding of Chu Xin’s status, which was effectively that of an Empress. Since the imperial girls had to register with Chu Xin, it meant the next Emperor would have to call Chu Xin “Teacher”! They might even have to suck up to her.

…

In the 12th year of Tianshou, the Ministry of Works was expanded, and a Maritime Bureau was created as an independent body outside the Six Ministries. It was specifically responsible for researching overseas nations and systems, and it managed all novel research.

In the 15th year of Tianshou, Chu Xin was promoted to Junior Preceptor (Shaoshi), Si Yu to Junior Tutor (Shaofu), and Si Wen to Junior Guardian (Shaobao). Wang Yuejiao served as Marshal once again, leading a brand-new navy on overseas expeditions, continuously expanding the borders of Great Qian.

In the same year, Bai Siyang reached the position of Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial and entered the Inner Cabinet to replace the retiring Minister of Revenue, becoming a Grand Secretary of the East Gallery. Chu Xin requested a first-rank title for her mother, fulfilling her original promise.

In the 17th year of Tianshou, Wang Yuejiao requested merit for her capable subordinate Shao Lian, who was titled Marquis of Dingbo. Xiang Han was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel, holding a rank significantly higher than her husband. Their daughter passed the examinations in the same year and entered the Hanlin Academy as a Bachelor (Shujishi).

In the same year, Jiang Ling became the Prefect of Huzhou. He obsessed over striking down powerful local clans and became famous as the “Devoted Prefect” for writing a poem every three days expressing his longing for his wife, the Marquis of Dingbo.

In the 19th year of Tianshou, Prince Herui seized the opportunity to strike, pushing the defensive line forward another three hundred li, forcing the remnants of the Oirats and Tatars to flee westward. The Empress was delighted and changed her title from a three-generation princedom to a perpetual one, allowing her to come to the South Three Residences to personally pick an imperial girl to adopt as her heir.

In the 25th year of Tianshou, Wen Qingyun assigned the well-trained and versatile imperial girls to various local posts, letting them understand the lives of the commoners and testing their governance experience in the field.

…

In the 30th year of Tianshou, the nearly fifty-year-old Wen Qingyun bid farewell to her Mother Empress. Following her mother’s wish, she was not buried with the late Emperor but was laid to rest in a place she personally liked. Wen Qingyun observed a three-month mourning period, abstaining from meat, alcohol, and pleasure. She didn’t even attend court, losing ten pounds of weight.

In the 31st year of Tianshou, Wen Qingyun recalled the imperial girls and selected the three most outstanding ones to be registered under her name as legitimate Imperial Daughters.

In the 35th year of Tianshou, Prince Herui passed away. Wen Qingyun personally helped carry the coffin, watching the Minister of Personnel, Bai Siyang, cry like a child at the grave. In the same year, the sixty-something Bai Siyang retired. With the Empress’s permission, she went to the north to assist the inexperienced second-generation Prince Herui.

In the 41st year of Tianshou, seeing that over 60% of the officials were women, Wen Qingyun felt she should rest. She summoned the three well-rounded Imperial Daughters to test their abilities individually. She selected the one who was most forward-thinking, decisive, and—most importantly—the most “heartless,” and established her as the Crown Princess.

As an Emperor, being decisive and heartless wasn’t a flaw; it was a virtue. It ensured the dragon throne stayed secure. After the successor was confirmed, one of the other daughters stayed behind to assist, while the other was granted an overseas fief to expand on her own.

In the 45th year of Tianshou, realizing she was in her sixties, Wen Qingyun began to resist attending court and handling memorials. She felt her old age should be focused on pleasure. Thus, at the end of the 46th year, during her 65th birthday celebration, Wen Qingyun announced her abdication to the Crown Princess.

Once the power transition was stable, Wen Qingyun took the equally grey-haired Grand Preceptor Chu Xin and left the capital to begin a tour of the country. Weiyu and Choumu, as martial artists, were still in great health even in their seventies. They volunteered to be the carriage drivers, continuing to clear the path for their Empress.

Wen Qingyun did not refuse. Holding Chu Xin’s hand, under the envious gazes of Si Yu and Si Wen, she boarded the carriage and faded into the distance.

…

Leaving a lover behind to be a “pitiful survivor” was an experience Wen Qingyun disliked from the bottom of her heart. Therefore, when she noticed Chu Xin’s health declining, she closed her eyes one step ahead of her.

Not only did she “pat her butt” and leave the world, but she also left a decree as the Retired Empress, telling Chu Xin to live well for her. She left a lock of her hair, telling Chu Xin to continue seeing the sights they had never reached.

…

【Space-time jump complete. Congratulations, Host, on a successful mission!】 The voice of the Villain Roleplay System appeared.

【Detection shows the Host’s mental and physical health are good. Do you wish to continue accepting missions?】

Wen Qingyun didn’t hurry to answer. She closed her eyes to review her actions in the previous world. Once she was sure she left no regrets, she asked the system.

“What is my current performance ranking?”

【Congratulations, Host! In this department and across all departments, your performance is miles ahead. You are the undisputed number…】 The system stopped mid-sentence. After three seconds of silence, it continued. 【Data has refreshed. Across all departments, the Host is currently tied for first place with an employee from the Protagonist Department.】

“Still tied for first?” Wen Qingyun narrowed her eyes, instinctively thinking of a certain someone who loved to compete for rankings with her back in university.

【Yes. However, the Host was briefly the sole number one before being caught up to.】

Wen Qingyun gave a soft huff of dissatisfaction. If she could crush everyone in university to be number one, she could do it here too! No one was allowed to steal her top spot!

“Keep giving me missions. Pick the ones with high performance rewards. I don’t care if the roleplay difficulty is higher,” Wen Qingyun specifically instructed.

【Instructions received. Searching for high-performance worlds… Space-time coordinates selecting… Target world selected. Host, please prepare for space-time jump…】