Nothing is more important than ascending to the throne, and no ceremony is greater than establishing a new era name.
After the grand enthronement ceremony, a new era name was quickly decided upon.
This year marked the first year of the Aiqi Era.
"Aiqi" was a homophone for "love Qi" - this was Li Shuchen's most solemn declaration of love to Qi Huan.
With the kingdom as a betrothal gift and the sun and moon as matchmakers, their love could be witnessed by heaven and earth.
At the same time the era name was established, Zhuang Daoyuan, Minister of Personnel, was also convicted of a crime.
The charge was conspiring with rebels to assassinate the soon-to-be Empress.
In the Imperial Study, Li Shuchen's eyes flashed coldly as he wrote out the imperial edict with swift, powerful strokes. He affixed the imperial seal, sentencing Zhuang Daoyuan to death!
Zhuang Daoyuan had used Liu Heng as a scapegoat to try to kill Qi Huan. In retaliation, Li Shuchen added the charge of conspiring with rebels, using the excuse that Liu Heng was a descendant of the Marquis of Xuanping.
This allowed him to directly order the execution of Zhuang Daoyuan and the confiscation of all his property!
It was not only because Qi Huan was his Achilles' heel, and anyone who harmed her would die.
It was also because as Minister of Personnel, Zhuang Daoyuan was in charge of evaluating and promoting officials. He had engaged in nepotism and factionalism, which was detrimental to the country.
Liu Heng, the son of the Marquis of Xuanping, was also sentenced to death.
But Consort Dowager Yao, as his older sister, dared not make a sound.
The key was that speaking up would have been useless anyway...
Now she was in a precarious position herself, barely staying afloat.
If not for the Grand Empress Dowager's protection, she likely would have already met a grim fate.
Originally, the Grand Empress Dowager had only wanted to protect Yu, but not wanting to die, Consort Yao employed a small trick.
She said to Yu: "Mother can't bear to leave you, but your imperial brother won't tolerate my presence. If not for the sake of appearances, he probably wouldn't tolerate you either..."
"Now only Yu can help Mother."
"Tonight, my dear, you'll have to endure a cold bath. After you develop a fever, remember to cry out for Mother. Make a fuss until your imperial grandmother's heart softens. Beg your imperial brother to spare my life, so that Mother can stay by your side and plan for your future..."
The Grand Empress Dowager felt she owed a debt to the deposed emperor and wanted to make it up through Yu, so she pleaded with Li Shuchen to spare Consort Yao.
However, Yu's high fever did not subside, and he ultimately passed away.
Li Shuchen then had a perfect excuse to dispose of all his enemies.
On the same day, news of Yan Qinghe's victory also reached the capital.
The young general, bravest of all the troops, had led an elite cavalry unit deep into enemy territory and beheaded the enemy commander...
"Capture the leader to catch the bandits" - this was a military strategy Qi Huan had once taught him.
With their commander suddenly killed, the enemy's morale collapsed.
Afterwards, he reorganized his troops and feigned an attack on Ganzhou. At the same time, he ordered his soldiers to eat dry rations and hide in the nearby hills to avoid revealing their position with cooking smoke.
When the Jin army attacked, they suddenly appeared.
Yan Qinghe charged ahead on horseback, laughing as he called out: "Surprised? Unexpected?"
This was called "crossing the sea by deceiving the sky" and "making a feint to the east while attacking in the west", as well as... trapping the enemy.
When the news reached Qinghuan Court, Qi Huan couldn't help but smile.
Just then, her maid Erya said: "My lady, there's also some bad news..."
"Granaries in cities across the country have mysteriously caught fire almost simultaneously, causing grain prices to skyrocket overnight."
"When officials went to investigate, the managers of the granaries had already fled. These granaries were all formerly properties of the Mansion of Prince Shun."
Qi Huan's smile faded as she pondered for a moment before saying: "Is it Li Yuanxiu?"
Erya nodded.
Before the uprising, Li Yuanshan had sent trusted men to escort Li Yuanxiu to Southern Liang.
Li Yuanxiu had belatedly realized the true mastermind behind everything - Li Shuchen.
Burning the granaries was his act of revenge.
But what he didn't know was that grain was the last thing Qi Huan lacked.
Thanks to the agricultural god and modern machinery, grain prices in her past life weren't high.
She could use just a few hundred points to repurchase 100 jin of rice, stabilize grain prices, and pacify the people.
While earning money, she could also increase her points.
Returning to the present, Qi Huan expertly changed into the outfit of a young eunuch and had her guards take her to see Li Shuchen.
"Shuchen, although the grain in the imperial granaries needs to supply the front lines and can't be released to stabilize market prices, I can provide a large amount of grain to sell at normal prices, bringing the inflated grain prices back down."
"Moreover, my farms have planted the new crop varieties I provided, greatly increasing yields. After allocating portions to the tenant farmers and submitting the required amount to the government, I still have a lot of corn and wheat stored in my space that can be sold now."
"Additionally, I want Xiuyuan to select high-quality seeds to open seed shops in various regions."
"By harvest season, grain production across the Li kingdom will surely increase significantly!"
As she spoke, Qi Huan stood on tiptoe and reached up to smooth out the furrow between Li Shuchen's brows:
"Shuchen, no matter what storms lie ahead, I will always be by your side. Don't furrow your brow, don't worry."
"I will help you protect the realm and care for the people, so that all subjects can live and work in peace and contentment, with ample food and clothing. We'll ensure no one in the world ever goes hungry or cold again!"
For such small matters, Li Shuchen could have easily resolved them himself.
But he loved seeing her concern for him.
"Thank you, Qi Huan."
Qi Huan smiled sweetly, then pulled two large pills from the pouch at her waist.
"Here, my love, take your medicine."
"This is the antidote for the cold poison developed by the Misty Rain Pavilion's pharmacist. Although I witnessed him test it myself, I'm still not completely at ease. So I had him make it into these super supplement pills... no, I mean super antidote pills. You only need to take half of each pill."
"As for the other halves, first give them to condemned prisoners to test."
Li Shuchen took the pills, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
He had long since uncovered Ximen Ye's background and naturally knew he was the leader of the Misty Rain Pavilion.
But why would Ximen Ye be so kind?
He lowered his voice and asked, "Qi Huan, what was his condition for giving you these pills?"
Qi Huan pouted: "One thousand taels of gold."
Her heart was bleeding...
According to the pharmacist, he only received 102 taels.
Ximen Ye had pocketed the rest...
Ximen Ye had righteously told her: "Even close siblings keep clear accounts. Besides, we're not even real siblings..."
"However, I've added 100 boxes of dowry items for you."
"As Song Jingche's sister, you must have a grand wedding!"
By the time he said this, his secret had already been exposed.
A few days earlier, Elder Master Song had brought a jar of wine, intending to get him drunk and ask for the truth.
His alcohol tolerance was poor, so he really did get drunk...
After learning the truth, Elder Master Song only asked him one thing: "Where is Jingche buried?"
In his drunken state, he replied: "Under your feet."
In that instant, Elder Master Song leapt up.
He didn't want to step on Jingche...
In the end, Song Jingche was exhumed and reburied in the Song family ancestral tomb.
After a long while, Elder Master Song patted his shoulder and said: "Thank you for accompanying Jingche through his lonely life."
The Song family didn't blame him for concealing the truth, after all, it had been Jingche's idea.
During those years when Jingche was afflicted with tuberculosis, Ximen Ye was his only friend... He was very important to Jingche.
When the truth came out, Old Master Song seemed to age several years in an instant. He said to Ximen Ye in a tone heavy with emotion:
"Thank you for being willing to stay secluded in the back courtyard for ten years for our Jingche."
"From now on, you're free. Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it... The Song mansion will always be your home."
Ximen Ye planned to open a "Forget Worries" teahouse at the foot of the mountain where the Song family ancestral tomb was located.
It would specialize in simple meals, assassination services, and... storytelling.
When saying goodbye to Qi Huan, his face wore a relieved smile, with points of starlight dancing in his eyes.
"If Li Shuchen ever mistreats you in the future, send word to the Forget Worries Teahouse, and your big brother will definitely stand up for you."
"Or if you ever get tired of the scheming in the palace, come to the teahouse and I'll cook for you."
