Chapter 192: The Queen
The emperor chuckled: "Since I have made you my queen, I will naturally protect you. Don't worry."
"I am just a commoner, barely versed in writing and ignorant of etiquette. How can I be worthy enough to be the mother of the world?"
The fifth one taunted lightly.
"Even if you dare to offer me this queen position, I wouldn't dare accept it."
The emperor said calmly, "The grace of saving my life is worth any knowledge and etiquette. No one is more qualified to be my queen than you."
The fifth one lowered his eyes slightly.
"But I feel guilty."
"For the past 25 years, I have regretted the mistakes I made all the time. Even though practicing medicine would expose my whereabouts, I still practiced medicine."
"But even if I had saved thousands of people, it would not have alleviated the guilt in my heart at all."
"How can I have the dignity to accept this empress's phoenix crown?"
The emperor's face darkened instantly.
"I don't know why you want to make me your queen."
The fifth one continued gently.
"Perhaps it's to fulfill a long-held wish and end the obsession you've had for years. Perhaps it's to avenge me for leaving you, and to show off your current power to me."
"Or maybe you want to drag me down with you into the abyss of sin."
"I hope it's the last one."
"That means you still have a little conscience and feel guilty about your evil deeds."
The emperor pursed his lips.
The fifth one glanced at him lightly and continued speaking.
"If that's the case, why not use the power in your hands to do more good deeds?"
"Doing good can't eliminate evil, but it's better than going down the same path all the time, isn't it?"
"You haven't done nothing. You've done some practical things, such as opening orphanages, investigating corruption, and allowing the establishment of women's households... But this is far from enough."
"You know better than I do that Daxi has been declining in recent years. The tax system has become rigid, land annexation has intensified, the treasury is becoming increasingly empty, and natural and man-made disasters are frequent... The dynasty appears stable, but in fact it is terminally ill."
"You see the problem, but you only dare to confiscate the property, not reform it. Rather than taking risks to create a prosperous era, you would rather sit back and enjoy a peaceful death."
"You used all means and schemed to ascend the throne, just to be a mediocre ruler who only cares about the status quo?"
"Back in the mountains, who was it that told me to live up to my lofty ambitions and never let the common people shed tears?"
The emperor's face turned pale.
The fifth one looked out the window gently.
"It's not too late to enjoy your sunset, is it?"
The emperor was silent for a long time before he spoke slowly, "Reform cannot be achieved overnight. Rushing for quick success and instant benefits will only lead to unrest. I seek progress while maintaining stability."
"I made you my queen because I wanted to work with you to create a prosperous world. There's no other reason."
The fifth one said softly, "If you promise me one thing, I will believe what you say."
"What is it?"
"Immediately promote vaccination against smallpox."
“…”
The emperor clenched his fists and said, "Except for this matter, I can handle everything else."
The Fifth laughed sarcastically, "Hundreds of thousands of people die from smallpox every year. During major epidemics, nine out of ten babies die, killing more than half. Just spending a little money and manpower to promote vaccination could save countless lives. If you're not willing to do that, how can I trust you?"
"You know why, so don't mention it again."
The emperor's face turned pale.
The fifth sighed softly.
"No one in the world knows your faults, it's just you who's guilty. Just because of this guilty conscience, you have the heart to sit back and watch the people die tragically?"
"You are the emperor, who dares to criticize you?"
The emperor remained silent.
After a moment of silence, he said, "You should make preparations. The coronation ceremony will be held in a few days," and then turned and left.
Even though he had guessed this result, Diwu Qingqing still couldn't hide his disappointment on his face.
"If I had met him for the first time, I would have seen how selfish and cold-hearted he is."
She muttered to herself.
“How wonderful it would be.”
Unfortunately, life cannot be repeated.
The court officials disagreed.
You can do it again in the morning.
Your Majesty, who just said in the court a few days ago that "the people are suffering, I am uneasy, and the matter of appointing a queen should be postponed", and praised Ji Changqing for caring about the people and saying that he is the pillar of the country, seemed to have lost his memory and announced that he would appoint a queen.
The person who set up the agency was a middle-aged woman who was found from somewhere by the Pursuit Division.
All of them were sent flying at once.
"Your Majesty had previously instructed to delay appointing a queen 'for the sake of the people'. Now, suddenly appointing an unknown woman as queen, I am afraid it will hurt people's expectations."
"A queen should be virtuous, well-spoken, and accomplished. This woman's origins are unknown. How could she possibly be so virtuous and qualified to hold the position of queen?"
"The establishment of a queen is related to the establishment of a crown prince. Your Majesty has established this woman as queen. How will you establish a crown prince? Your Majesty, please think twice!"
…
The emperor said in a deep voice, "I owe my present situation to the Fifth Clan's rescue. Do you think I should be ungrateful if I fail to repay their kindness? I have made up my mind. Do not try to persuade me any further."
The ministers: “…”
Only storybooks have such a thing as "a life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body". As a king, there are thousands of ways to repay a favor. Why must you repay it with your body?
Have you been bewitched?
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
They all knelt down and begged.
The emperor looked at Ji Changqing, the only one who did not kneel, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Ji Qing is still understanding."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Ji Changqing also knelt down with a plop.
emperor:"……"
His face instantly darkened.
The ministers were overjoyed.
It seems that Ji Changqing is not just going against them, but can still distinguish right from wrong.
If Your Majesty does not listen to them, you should at least listen to your loyal ministers, right?
The emperor said coldly, "Ji Qing, are you also going to oppose me making my savior my queen?"
Ji Changqing shook his head.
"No, I want to ask for the title of Imperial Consort for my eldest sister-in-law. My eldest brother was a third-rank general when he was alive, and my eldest sister-in-law should have received a third-rank imperial title. However, because she entered the family after my eldest brother's death, she never received one."
"The Empress's coronation ceremony is a grand national event, and my eldest sister-in-law is eager to attend it. However, those without imperial decrees cannot enter the palace to participate in the ceremony."
"Therefore, I wish to ask Your Majesty to grant me an imperial edict."
All the ministers were shocked.
If His Majesty had not been right in front of them, they would have pointed at Ji Changqing's nose and cursed him.
There's a limit to how much you can flatter a dragon, okay?
He wants to make a big fuss about everything, is he trying to piss off all the civil and military officials in the court so that he can take control of the government?
Symptoms!
The most treacherous minister ever seen!
The emperor was very pleased.
"My dear elder brother died on the battlefield and rendered great service to the state. His widow deserves to be granted an imperial decree. I will now order the imperial decree to confer upon her the title of Third Rank Lady."
Ji Changqing bowed to the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
The ministers: “…”
A willful and foolish ruler coupled with flattering ministers, isn't this a sign of the country's demise?
Daxi is finished.
After the court was dismissed, all the civil and military officials looked at Ji Changqing as a scoundrel who brought disaster to the country.
Ji Changqing didn't care at all and walked on his own way without looking around.
Shangguan Mu stepped forward, put his arm around his shoulders, and said jokingly, "Our Lord Ji is truly receptive to change his ways. He's fallen in love with someone else so quickly."
Ji Changqing bent his knees and kicked him.
"What nonsense."
Shangguan Mu hissed and took a breath of cold air.
"You haven't fallen in love with someone else, so why are you asking for her a title? Do you think it's not difficult enough, so you want to make the pursuit of your wife even more difficult?"
Ji Changqing: "It has nothing to do with you."
How could she attend the ceremony of becoming queen without the imperial edict?
How could she meet her master if she didn't attend the coronation ceremony?
If she can't see her master, who knows what she will do?
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