Qin Zheng glared at Qin Zhao, "Is that medicine good for the body? Can I not feel it myself? Do you think I'm stupid?
It is you who dared to eat the poisonous medicine and made yourself look like a ghost. That is truly foolish!"
After listening to him, Qin Zheng's breathing became short and it seemed he would faint at any moment!
Qin Zhao turned to Zhou Quande, "Why are you still standing there blankly? Quickly help him into the bedchamber and call the imperial physician to treat him!
If anything happens to him, I will hold you accountable."
Of course Zhou Quande would not be so foolish as to think Qin Zhao was caring about Qin Zheng.
She must have had other motives for doing this.
He respectfully answered: "Yes, Your Majesty."
After everyone left, the empty Heaven and Earth Hall only had Qin Zhao alone.
She sat on the dragon throne, looking down below.
Recalling the people and events she encountered since transmigrating here, she felt very lucky.
There was the loyal maid Ling Long taking care of the inner palace.
The kind mentor and senior apprentice sister who gave her a second life.
The tall, handsome and capable elder sister who accumulated power for her and cleared obstacles on the path of seizing the throne.
And her playful, contrary and lecherous girlfriend...
And so on. People of various personalities made her life in this other world full of joy.
Ending her complicated thoughts, Qin Zhao returned to Jingyang Palace.
The people in her palace who had been released by Zhou Yuan after Qin Zhao took over the capital, were now kneeling neatly in a row with Ling Long at the front when they heard the horse hooves.
After Qin Zhao got off her horse, they shouted in unison: "Welcome back, Your Majesty!"
Looking up at the plaque of Jingyang Palace, Qin Zhao thought this would be the last time staying here.
She helped Ling Long up and said, "Thank you for your hard work while I was away."
Lately Ling Long's mood was like a roller coaster, first being taken away for no reason, then used as a bargaining chip to threaten the princess on the city wall, almost dying.
Seeing Qin Zhao who had now been crowned emperor in front of her eyes felt like a world away.
But the stone hanging in her heart was finally let down.
Ling Long's eyes welled up with hot tears as she answered, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Qin Zhao walked inside and said along the way, "I'm moving into the palace tomorrow, the aftermath in the palace will be handled by you."
"Yes!"
Entering the main courtyard, Cong Han and Shen Xue were still guarding inside.
When the two of them saw Qin Zhao come closer, they greeted her, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
Qin Zhao said, "No need to be overly courteous."
She then asked again, "Is Qi Yan Su Luo inside?"
Cong Han said, "Miss Qi came back once, saying she had something to do and went out again, perhaps she'll be back very soon."
Qin Zhao looked displeased but didn’t say anything, only replying, "I want to bathe."
Shen Xue said: "This subordinate will go prepare hot water now."
Half an hour later, Qin Zhao stepped into the pool, her body wrapped in the hot steam.
The flowing hot spring carried away her exhaustion from the past days bit by bit.
Drowsiness came over her and she fell asleep in the pool.
When Qi Yan Su Luo entered the spring pool palace, Qin Zhao was already fast asleep.
She gently pushed her and said: "Qin Zhao, wake up...sleeping naked will easily catch a cold."
Of course Qin Zhao couldn't hear her.
Qi Yan Su Luo sighed and fished Qin Zhao out of the water. She held her halfway and dried the water off her body for her. Then she dressed her in a white gauze skirt.
Carrying her in her arms, she returned to the bedchamber.
Qin Zhao vaguely felt someone moving her but didn't feel uncomfortable so she let that person be.
The next time she woke up, her sight was already covered in darkness.
She called out, "Qi Yan Su Luo, are you there?"
Qi Yan Su Luo hugged her and said: "I'm here."
Qin Zhao paused for a moment then asked: "Where did you go today? Did you go see that wild woman again?"
"She's not a wild woman."
"Answer my first question."
"That's my private business, you don't need to know."
Qin Zhao pushed Qi Yan Su Luo away, "I see, you never let me get involved in your private affairs or tell me what you're thinking!
Previously when I didn't have power yet, you did that to protect yourself, I can understand.
But now? I'm already the emperor of Chu, I can easily help fulfill any wishes for you. You should trust me more!
Why are you still so evasive?"
Qi Yan Su Luo hugged Qin Zhao again and whispered in her ear, "If you observe carefully, you'll find I'm a simple person.
As an exiled princess carrying deep-rooted hatred, everything I've done is to serve my identity and vengeance.
Like a programmed zombie, with no life completely my own.
A me like that is detestable. It also makes me disgusted with myself.
So when I can go against that ingrained instinct and break free, to do something of my own, I want to protect it well.
Isolate it in my safe zone.
Even you, the person who pulled me out of the mire, cannot get close."
The system exclaimed: "Because the host has obtained self-awareness prematurely!"
Qin Zhao asked: "What will happen when Qi Yan Su Luo gains self-awareness?"
"It means the host's mission has succeeded.
She can finally live the life she wants.
Even without you, she won't make a convoluted detour back to the original storyline."
"Does this mean I can now leave this world?"
"In principle, yes.
Just in case the host still has regrets herself, it's best to settle things well before leaving.
But you can also choose to live in this world until old age."
"Let me think about it."
Bringing her attention back to reality, Qin Zhao said earnestly: "Qi Yan Su Luo, if your ideal life includes me, I hope we can be happy together.
If there is no place for me, then I will bless you in advance to live your life happily."
When Qin Zhao spoke the second half of her words, her heart ached slightly.
But every word came from the bottom of her heart.
From the original NPC to gaining self-awareness, it was equivalent to an extra new life being born into this world.
It was worth Qin Zhao's blessings.
Qi Yan Su Luo tightened her arms and said: "Thank you."
The next day, Qin Zhao entered the palace and moved into Jingyang Palace. She made Yun Guang Hall her main office.
The original occupant of Jingyang Palace was driven to Shi Wei Palace.
Everything Qin Zheng had used was burned and replaced with new items.
At noon, Qin Zhao was in Yun Guang Hall looking over memorials.
Various departments had been preparing for Qin Zhao’s ascension ceremony these days.
Most of the memorial contents were about the expenses of the grand ceremony.
After looking through the memorials one by one, Qin Zhao was shocked to discover there were less than six million taels of silver left in the national treasury!
The originally abundant national treasury became depleted to this extent after the epidemic in Minzhou, flooding in Chaozhou, and the war at the northwest border.
As soon as Qin Zhao ascended the throne, the first problem she had to solve turned out to be the empty treasury!
With new changes happening, money was most needed at this time. This sudden situation left Qin Zhao quite troubled.
Just as she was thinking about how to handle it, seven people walked in!
Nangong Ling, Mo Qianqiu, Wei Chen, Liu Yu, Xiao Ang Ming, Yin Xuan and Huo Jun stood at the steps below, bowed to Qin Zhao, and said in unison: “Your subordinates pay our respects, Master.”
Seeing her seven pillars of support, Qin Zhao's mind suddenly cleared up!
When the lord encounters difficulties, shouldn't she seek help from her capable assistants?
"Rise. You’ve come at just the right time. Zhen was just about to discuss a matter with all of you.”
Nangong Ling said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"Zhen has received a memorial from the Ministry of Revenue mentioning that not much silver remains in the national treasury. I'm afraid it won't be enough to support crossing the starting stage of the new dynasty.
Do you have any good strategies to deal with this?"
