There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Princess of a Weak Nation in a Peace Marriage X Barbarian General

Impeach the current ruler, enthrone a new Emperor!

The entire golden hall fell silent. The dancers stopped their performance, and the officials dropped their wine cups, all looking toward the people in the center of the hall.

Empress Dowager Chu was so angry she laughed: “A bold Cheng Zhibi! What evidence do you have to impeach His Majesty? Don’t you know this is a great disrespect, an act punishable by death?”

Cheng Zhibi’s expression was composed: “This humble official naturally has evidence.”

He waved his hand, and several Imperial Guards in light armor led a small eunuch onto the golden hall.

The little eunuch was clearly intimidated by such a grand setting. Cheng Zhibi faced him and said: “You don’t have to be afraid. Just state the facts.”

“This servant is… an attendant who feeds the horses at the Jingzhou temporary palace,” the little eunuch swallowed his saliva and knelt on the ground. “Two months ago, the temporary palace received an imperial decree from the late Emperor, saying the Golden Di had attacked and the late Emperor needed to take refuge at the temporary palace… Several of us were led by the Chief Eunuch to receive the carriage.”

His trembling voice was not loud, but it was clear enough to convey the critical information: “…The situation was extremely chaotic at the time, but this servant witnessed it firsthand. The person who stabbed the late Emperor by the city wall… someone beside him, beside him called him ‘His Highness the Crown Prince’…. The Chief Eunuch knew he had seen something he shouldn’t, and only managed to tell us to keep silent and run quickly. He… he never came back… This servant luckily met a noble person and was able to escape.”

“Nonsense!” Empress Dowager Chu slammed the phoenix seat heavily. “His Majesty was the Crown Prince! No one could shake his position! He revered the late Emperor since childhood. How could he do such a thing! I think this obscure little eunuch is speaking utter rubbish! Guards—”

“Your Ladyship!” The person who interrupted her this time was Ruan Jiyun. From the little eunuch’s words, she heard there seemed to be a major hidden truth regarding the late Emperor’s death. She stood up immediately to stop her: “This matter is of great importance. We must hear him out.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s eyes swept over her coldly: “Of great importance? My son is the Son of Heaven! How can he be insulted so casually by this thing? His Majesty would never commit regicide! Are you all confused? Don’t just stand there, drag this defaming creature away!”

Ruan Jiyun simply stood in front of the little eunuch: “If one has a clear conscience, one should listen to the end.”

“Jiyun! Are you perhaps trying to… usurp the throne?” Empress Dowager Chu covered her mouth, seemingly startled by Ruan Jiyun’s action. “So that’s it… Did you arrange these people? You want to use this opportunity to force the palace and defame His Majesty!”

“Clang—”

A gold-sculpted wine cup flew across the air, smashing right in front of the phoenix seat. Wine splashed all over Empress Dowager Chu.

She shrieked, staggering backward a few steps as she accused: “What? Do you intend to kill me too, and then frame His Majesty? What a vicious plot!”

“Your Ladyship,” Jiang Peifeng interrupted her. “Whether your son murdered his father to seize the throne is a matter for your Jing Dynasty to resolve. But if you speak ill of the Princess again, the next time it won’t just be a cup.”

Following her words, a large contingent of Imperial Guards appeared outside the hall. The person leading them announced loudly: “Report—Imperial Guard Captain Xu Cheng has been executed. Secret letters and a quantity of gold and silver were found in his home!”

“Prince Kangping’s Consort has confessed, admitting she secretly discussed with His Majesty using the pretense of taking refuge in the temporary palace to eliminate the late Emperor!”

“Report—”

One announcement after another, gradually unveiled a cruel truth before everyone. Ruan Jiyun’s face was as still as water. She looked at Empress Dowager Chu in disbelief: “Empress Dowager, my Imperial Father cherished you… Your son was the Crown Prince from birth. Why would you still do such a thing?”

“The world would eventually belong to His Majesty. What difference does a day make?” Empress Dowager Chu knew the tide had turned. She supported her shaking body, then suddenly looked at Ruan Jiyun with bloodshot eyes: “My son is the one mandated by heaven! How dare the daughter of a lowly concubine lecture…”

“Clang—”

Jiang Peifeng didn’t bother with words this time. She drew the Embroidered Golden Rainbow Saber. The brilliant flash of the blade reflected her phoenix eyes: “I told you, stop speaking ill of the Princess. Since Your Ladyship feels the Princess’s status is not high enough, I beg to differ.”

Her gaze was clear as she looked at Ruan Jiyun: “Although this is a matter for you Jing people, at this moment, I must interrupt you and first do one thing for Her Highness.”

After saying this, she held the golden saber, which she never parted with, horizontally in front of her chest. Facing Ruan Jiyun, she placed her hand over her heart. The usually proud Royal Daughter of Xiji bowed her head before the Jing Princess in front of all the officials:

“Peifeng, Royal Daughter of Xiji, hereby vows to forever stand by Her Highness, to become the sword in her hand, pointing in any direction that is her enemy. Xiji shall be Her Highness’s eternal ally. As long as Her Highness remains, the conflicts between our two nations shall cease forever.”

She spoke every word of the vow, then seemed to recall something: “I also hold a letter written by the Golden Di Prince. He is in a hurry to return home to succeed to the throne and cannot come in person for now—the Golden Di are also willing to ally with Her Highness and become Her Highness’s friend.”

“This subject also requests the reopening of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the impeachment of the current Emperor. This subject is willing to enthrone Her Highness Jiyun as the new Emperor! Her Highness is profoundly wise, has repeatedly saved Great Jing from peril, cares for the people, and possesses lofty virtue,” Cheng Zhibi followed closely, raising his arm and proclaiming loudly. “We request the enthronement of Her Highness as the new Monarch!”

Following his call, all the young officials standing behind him bowed down: “We request the enthronement of Her Highness as the new Monarch!”

The tumultuous shouts, like mountains and seas, echoed long in the golden hall.

Ruan Jiyun looked blankly at the people before her. They were all supporting her. Jiang Peifeng, who stood closest to her, was the first to feel her gaze. She looked up and smiled at her.

“My Princess, you can do anything you want. I will always be by your side,” she said softly.

Ruan Jiyun’s eyes suddenly felt warm. Amidst the cheers, the elderly officials of the Empress Dowager’s faction were seized one by one by the Imperial Guards, their faces ashen, bowing their heads in the overwhelming wave of voices.

The 20th year of Jinghe was a turbulent, yet ultimately peaceful year for the people of the Jing Dynasty.

“His Majesty hadn’t been on the throne long, and now there’s a new Emperor again…” The cloth shop owner shook his head and sighed, pasting fresh Spring Festival couplets on his doorway. “I didn’t expect it to be a female Emperor.”

“What’s wrong with a female Emperor?” His daughter, a charming girl of thirteen or fourteen, pouted when she heard this. “Her Majesty is no less capable than a man! When the Golden Di army besieged the city earlier this year, she entered the enemy camp alone to negotiate with them! Among all the civil and military officials, and the hundred thousand troops, who was braver than this woman?”

The cloth shop owner couldn’t argue with his daughter, so he soothed her with a chuckle: “I didn’t say she wasn’t good. Her Majesty considers the people’s livelihoods and exempted our shop from three months of taxes, allowing us time to recover. Of course I support Her Majesty.”

He seemed to recall something: “I hear we’re opening trade markets with Xiji and the Golden Di. I’ll discuss it with my third brother when spring comes. Maybe we should try our luck.”

“Daddy, take me too!” The girl immediately brightened up, pulling her father’s arm and acting spoiled.

“You’re just a young girl… Never mind, never mind. I don’t expect you to become a female scholar in the future. Just travel a bit to broaden your horizons.”

The girl’s clear, bell-like laughter rang out.

A few small palace maids tiptoed past the golden hall. Ruan Jiyun drew her gaze back from outside the door, looking at the person before her.

“I must return to Xiji,” Jiang Peifeng smiled at her. “Please take care, Your Majesty.”

Ruan Jiyun pursed her lips, seemingly surprised that she was leaving so soon: “Didn’t you say you’d stay a few more days?”

“When spring arrives, we need to arrange for border settlers to cultivate land. Xiji is a nation on horseback, not very familiar with farming. I’ll feel more assured if I supervise,” Jiang Peifeng said. “What, are you reluctant to see me go?”

This made a blush creep up Ruan Jiyun’s pale, jade-like cheeks. Her eyes flickered. She deliberately turned her head: “I am very busy, too. The agricultural taxes need to be re-evaluated, and the border people in North You Province need to be appeased… and, and…”

She shuffled her fingers aimlessly through the memorials on the table, trying to rack her brains for more trivial chatter, but her hand was gently held.

“If you miss me, just have Snowball send me a letter,” Jiang Peifeng caught the restless small hand and whispered. “I will come back to see you once I’m done with these matters.”

Ruan Jiyun looked up. The long pearl tassels hanging from the dazzling golden dragon and phoenix crown swayed slightly along her beautiful face, illuminating her entire face with a warm, moving glow. She gently parted her cherry lips and smiled: “No, this time, I will come to see you first.”

In the spring of the 21st year of Jinghe, Great Jing welcomed its first female Emperor. Princess Jiyun changed the reign title to Fengzhi. She boldly promoted young officials, reformed the long-corrupt system, and dedicated herself to developing production and strengthening national power. She was intelligent and capable. With the assistance of her officials, she swept away the illusory extravagance of the past, and the national strength grew stronger day by day.

The days settled into stability.

Great Jing established diplomatic relations with neighboring countries like Xiji and the Golden Di, setting up trade markets in various places for mutual exchange. Fruits, livestock meat, and fine wines from the Western Regions and the Northern Frontier circulated on the tables of the Jing people, while Great Jing’s grain, cloth, porcelain, and other specialties were continuously exported to other nations.

In the fifth year of Fengzhi, the Wolf King of Xiji died. Royal Daughter Peifeng inherited the throne, becoming the new Queen of Xiji.

The relationship between the two female Emperors was profound. It was often seen in the palace that a snow-white falcon circled in the sky, flying like a shooting star toward the golden hall.

That was the letter from the Queen of Xiji to their Majesty. Every time the falcon appeared, Her Majesty would be in an exceptionally good mood, even managing to eat a few more bites at lunch.

In the tenth year of Fengzhi, a young woman named Gu Quanping impersonated her twin brother to take the imperial examination, achieving the top rank of Jieyuan. She was later reported, becoming a major piece of news that shocked the entire nation.

The matter reached Her Majesty’s imperial desk. Ruan Jiyun simply instructed the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy to jointly discuss whether the examination system could be reformed to allow women to compete alongside men. This issue faced much opposition but also much support. The debate lasted for fifteen full days, known historically as the “Quanping Dispute.”

Finally, in the fourteenth year of Fengzhi, the system allowing men and women to sit the imperial examination together was formally implemented. Excellent female scholars could also be granted official positions to serve the country.

The two Queens met every summer. Either Jiang Peifeng would come to Great Jing to take Ruan Jiyun hunting, or Ruan Jiyun would visit Xiji to participate in the Sacred Music Festival. Regardless of who came, the people of both nations showed great welcome to their Queen.

In the summer of the sixteenth year of Fengzhi, it was Jiang Peifeng’s turn to visit Great Jing. The little white flower, who should now be called Her Majesty, had already planned the itinerary, intending to spend a few days with her at the Fengming Mountain Summer Palace.

The environment of Fengming Mountain was serene. The area around the temporary palace was filled with bamboo trees. When the wind blew, it resembled a green sea rippling, making the residence particularly cool. They spent their days walking in the mountains and their nights lying on a cool couch, watching the magnificent stars scattered across the summer night sky while sipping the wine Jiang Peifeng had brought.

“I sometimes truly wish that when we wake up again, we will have already lived out our entire lives just like this,” Ruan Jiyun still referred to herself as “I” in front of Jiang Peifeng. Compared to when she was seventeen, the little white flower was much more mature now. The noble brocade robe draped over her body flowed like water, tracing her curves with a unique elegance.

Jiang Peifeng listened to her quietly. Ruan Jiyun’s voice was gentle and pleasant, sounding as if it came from a distant place. She closed her eyes and smiled in response: “How can one lifetime be enough? I want to be with you forever and ever.”

She always felt as if she had forgotten something important, but the night wind blew too passionately. The lover beside her leaned down, her long hair falling across her face like a piece of silk, tickling and stirring her heartstrings.

“Then you must always remember that sentence,” a hint of light flashed in Ruan Jiyun’s eyes. “Peifeng, you must promise me that until this lifetime is over, you cannot leave me.”

Jiang Peifeng smelled a floral fragrance on her breath. She looked up, reaching out to embrace Ruan Jiyun’s slender waist: “I promise you.”

In the spring of the 36th year of Fengzhi, Empress Jiyun contracted a severe illness and passed away peacefully on a beautifully moonlit night. Jiang Peifeng stayed by her side, quietly accompanying her through her final moments.

She held the little white flower’s hand, hearing the tolling of the bell symbolizing the national mourning, echoing closer and closer in her ears. Simultaneously, the long-lost, almost unfamiliar system voice rang out.

Ding~ The main storyline of World Number Two has been corrected. The Corrector will soon depart this world

A swath of white fluorescence, like glittering star clusters, gradually brightened, illuminating a space of about a few dozen square meters. Aside from the white screens, only a tall figure stood quietly in the space.

Jiang Peifeng watched the blank screen silently for a long time. She always felt as if she had forgotten certain things, but there also seemed to be a voice in her mind, urging her to continue quickly.

“Is the next world still her?” she asked.

The system’s emotionless electronic voice replied: “Do you wish for it to be her?”

Hearing this, Jiang Peifeng looked up: “Judging by your tone, I believe it is most likely her. Then let’s not waste time. Let’s load the next world immediately.”

Even if she was just a character existing within the system world, she wanted to return to her side as quickly as possible.

In the empty room, a faint electrical buzzing sound was heard. All the screens flashed, slowly pulling out a pulsating line.

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