Shen Xingmian also agreed with this point.

Throughout history, how many people have truly been eager to risk their lives on the battlefield to secure a future? Most people are simply directed by those in power and involuntarily rush to the battlefield.

Some of them were even only children in their families, and they were conscripted into the army amidst the cries of their elderly parents.

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. The blood and tears of ordinary people, the bones left on the battlefield, are never seen by anyone except their comrades.

Just like the saying "beautiful women often have tragic fates," it wasn't until many years later that people offered different interpretations.

It's not that beautiful women are destined for a short life, but rather that no one cares whether an unattractive person lives a long or short life.

"What kind of future does Mother want? Is it that no one will die on the battlefield anymore?" Shen Xingmian asked curiously.

Shen Yunting smiled and tapped her daughter's nose, then shook her head and said, "I'm not a child anymore, I'm not that naive. Where there are people, there will be conflict, it's hard to avoid."

"I don't ask for much. Just protect our family, and make sure you're all healthy and happy. That's enough for me."

"Of course, if conditions permit, Mother will do her best to help those in need, such as the men trapped in the Princess's residence."

In the face of power, both men and women can become the weak, oppressed, and exploited. Mother only hopes that such injustices can be reduced.

Shen Xingmian thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Then Mianmian will accompany Mother on her journey through the world, upholding justice and chivalry! Hehe."

Looking at her daughter's innocent and lovely smiling face, Shen Yunting felt a warmth in her heart, and even the resentment and frustration in her heart dissipated a lot.

She is not afraid of anything as long as her family is by her side.

"Mother, please stay here for now. I'll go out and check. We'll meet up again when we reach a safe place." After receiving permission, Shen Xingmian left the space.

It was still on top of that cabinet, but everyone inside was gone; they had probably seen the emperor off.

Shen Xingmian quickly made her way around the room, stuffing all the valuable items into her spatial storage, before heading to another palace.

After ransacking the entire harem, it was already dark, and the palace was in complete chaos.

The emperor was furious. He had only been away from the inner palace for a short time when someone came to report that, just like the Imperial Hospital, many things had been stolen from the inner palace in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the trembling palace servants kneeling below, the emperor couldn't help but recall the rumors circulating outside, saying that he was incompetent and had harmed virtuous officials, which was why he had suffered such divine retribution.

Could it be... divine retribution?

Otherwise, how could such a bizarre thing happen?

There was no sign of them being moved; those things simply vanished into thin air, including some heavy objects that would have required four people to lift them.

The emperor slowly retreated, eventually collapsing onto the dragon throne.

What happened today must not be spread, otherwise, he may find it difficult to sit firmly on the dragon throne.

"Issue my decree to keep the news under wraps and for everyone to remain silent. Treat today's theft as if it never happened. I... will compensate them myself."

Shen Xingmian was completely unaware of the emperor's current distress and even his growing despair. If she had known, she would have laughed heartily and said, "What goes around comes around, and retribution is inevitable."

She had already left the palace and was now waiting on the only road leading to the Gao family.

She could forgo the assets of others for now, but she had to find out the location of that iron mine and find a way to take it for herself.

It can both cut off others' path to rebellion and help one's own people build a new emperor, achieving two goals at once.

She's such a little genius.

As for whether or not to send a family member to sit on the dragon throne, she hadn't given that possibility much thought. It wasn't that she lacked the ability, but rather that she didn't understand the point of being an emperor.

To be a wise ruler, one must go to court early in the morning, review memorials all day, and deal with problems all day long. It's exhausting, if not incredibly frustrating.

To be truly happy, one would have to be a tyrant, but she's not that kind of person and definitely can't do it.

Thinking about it this way, it would be better to give the throne to a reliable person.

She'll just live a carefree life and enjoy her retirement.

As for the rest of the family, my maternal grandfather is too old to be eligible, and judging from his character, even if he were twenty years younger, he might not be willing.

Her eldest uncle seemed a bit dim-witted, but of course she only dared to think that to herself and would never say it out loud.

My cousin is brave but impatient, so he's not suitable either.

As for the Empress, neither my mother nor my cousin ever had such a thought...

After much thought, it seems that the most suitable person is only my father!

Wow, that's interesting. If she heard about a son-in-law living with his wife's family in modern times, her first reaction would be all sorts of news headlines about "eating up the family's wealth."

But when it came to her own memories, searching through the past twelve years, all she saw was her father's unconditional love for her mother, and she couldn't possibly doubt it.

That kind of loving gaze, whether in public or in private, is hard to fake, let alone to maintain for over ten years.

She got a little bored while waiting, so she called her mother out to talk and discuss the possibility.

"Mother, do you want to be an empress or a female emperor?"

"Huh? Daughter, why are you suddenly asking this?" Shen Yunting was startled; this was truly a rather disrespectful question.

“Oh Mother, think about it, if the current emperor is definitely not good, does that mean the next emperor will definitely be good? No, what if he is another scourge, wouldn’t the people continue to suffer along with him?”

If it were someone from our own family, like you or your father, that would be much more reliable. Don't you think that makes sense?

Shen Yunting continued to think along with her daughter's words, but after a while she suddenly woke up and realized that her train of thought had been led astray.

She never imagined such an outrageous possibility in her life.

"Impossible, impossible. Your father's greatest life goal was for me to go to war and for him to accompany me to the front lines, to be my strategist for life."

If one day there's no more war, take me traveling and sightseeing, let's see all this beautiful land. Who wants to be confined in the palace for their entire life?

Very good, her mother actually used the word "circle," which is very apt.

It seems they are genuinely opposed to this idea.

"Alright then, I won't consider that option," Shen Xingmian said with a hint of regret.

"No, honey, are you really seriously considering this?"

Shen Yunting was utterly astonished. Their Shen family was known for its loyalty and integrity, yet they had produced such a daring child, and a girl at that.

Wow, that's amazing!

"It's just a thought, I'm afraid that if I put Xiao Yanyue on the throne, someone in my family might not agree."

Just as Shen Yunting was about to refute her daughter's words, she saw a carriage driving out from around the corner and immediately perked up, saying, "It's here!"