Chapter 69 (Part 2) [VIP]
In ten months, Jian Yue almost burned her life to transform Fuerlan into the person she had dreamed of.
Fortunately, her efforts paid off.
Slavery was abolished. Although some conservative nobles strenuously opposed it, no one dared to disobey Jian Yue, who had won the hearts of the people. To balance the conflict between the nobles and the common people, she devised a "labor-in-lieu-of-rent" system: commoners would cultivate the nobles' lands, and the harvest would be split 70% to 20%. The nobles would take 20%, and the rest could be freely traded at the market.
When the market opened for the first month, Jian Yue stood on the street corner and watched Aunt Martha, who was born a slave, sell a basket of potatoes to the bakery owner. There was dirt in the wrinkles of her smile as she counted the money. Suddenly, she felt that all her efforts were worth it.
The sheriff had worriedly reported people wandering around at night, but Jian Yue had lanterns hung in the square. These days, Furlan City is even more lively at night than during the day: the clanging of blacksmiths, the singing of taverns, the laughter of children chasing fireflies, and the aroma of baking bread fill the streets.
A young flower girl passing by told her, "I used to hide at home as soon as it got dark, but now I can set up my stall until the moon is overhead!"
The biggest changes have been among women.
The day Ella led a group of girls into City Hall, Jian Yue was reviewing official documents. They wore the same gray cloth skirts and clutched petitions for "Women's Employment Rights." Ella, the leader, had tears welling in her eyes. "We want to learn horseback riding and archery, become doctors, and..."
"Approved," Jian Yue interrupted her, affixing the royal seal to the petition. "Starting tomorrow, women will be able to work and receive the same pay as men for equal work."
Women are no longer inferior to others; they have the right to stand on their own feet and to liberate themselves.
Due to the awakening of self-awareness, the chance of sexually transmitted diseases has been reduced to almost zero with the popularization of Ella.
Later, Ella also naturally established the Women's Alliance and became the leader. On the day in the Alliance City, Jian Yue was invited to go as the regent.
The sunlight shone on Ella through the foaming glass. She had shed her gaudy looks and was dressed simply, with her brown-red hair tied up. She was teaching the girls below the stage to read.
Sitting in the audience were former maids, washerwomen, and even young ladies from noble families. The quill pens in their hands made rustling sounds as they scratched on the paper, writing the new history of Furlan.
Controlling common infectious diseases benefited from the modern knowledge Jian Yue brought to the table. Jian Yue had guards distribute epidemic prevention manuals door to door, with instructions like "drink boiled water" and "disinfect wounds with strong liquor." An old doctor lamented, "In the past, a flu outbreak could kill half the population, but now even fewer people have a fever."
All of this was done by Jian Yue herself, trying her best.
Changing the world is difficult, and perhaps foolish in the eyes of some nobles, but those who don't do it can never judge those who do.
On the last day before leaving, Jian Yue went to two places.
The first one is Fifth Avenue where the Whisper is located.
The once muddy dirt roads were paved with stone slabs, the dilapidated wooden houses were all renovated, and the children's voices were melodious as they studied in the newly built schools.
The second is the dark room under the church.
Amra still slept soundly in the crystal coffin. Jian Yue placed the cross on the coffin lid and watched it gradually melt into the crystal, leaving behind a faint mark—her final blessing to the world.
The second is Opesha's home.
No one lives here anymore. Opesa's family moved to the city a long time ago, and the house was bought anonymously by Jian Yue. However, she has been hesitant to come to this place full of memories.
She went up the spiral staircase and came to the room where Sinderel used to live.
The table was covered with a layer of newspaper. When it was opened, there were still deep and shallow marks on it, engraved with: YUE.
That was the sentiment that Sindriel proclaimed to the public.
The next day, Jian Yue was standing on the terrace of the imperial palace, gazing into the distance.
Under the terrace, people are still sleeping soundly.
Furlan finally went through spring, summer and autumn.
But she never had the chance to survive another winter.
"Your Majesty, Miss Ella requests an audience." The guard's voice came from behind.
Jian Yue turned around and saw Ella standing at the terrace entrance, holding a gray cloak. Her hair was cropped short, revealing a smooth forehead. Her face was tired from staying up late, but she smiled brightly. "I just came from the textile factory. The workers said they wanted to make you a cloak before you... leave."
The lining of the cloak was embroidered with tiny roses. When Jian Yue took it, her fingertips touched the residual body temperature on the fabric. She suddenly remembered the day when the underground palace collapsed. Sinderel wrapped her in his arms in the same way. The blood stained her collar red, but it was so warm that it seemed to burn through her skin.
"Thank them for me." She draped her cloak over her shoulders, letting it fall just below her ankles. "The textile mill is now..."
"Don't worry at all, everything is running smoothly now!" Ella interrupted her, her eyes sparkling. "Merchants from neighboring countries heard that our cloth is good and cheap, so they're coming here to sign contracts! Oh, and the school arrangements are almost done. Yesterday, a washerwoman learned to write her own name and cried for half the night out of excitement."
She chattered about everything from the textile factory to the school, and listened quietly until the sky turned pale, then she whispered, "Ella, after I leave,
In fact, she knew that after she left,
This is just her
"Don't worry." Ella suddenly knelt down, resting her forehead on the top of her boots. "I will protect everything you brought me, and these lights that will forever shine in freedom." Her voice was bitter and tearful, but she was incredibly firm. "I won't forget you. I will definitely remember the light you brought me. It gave me a sense of belonging I've never felt before."
Jian Yue wanted to bend down to help her up, but found that her fingertips were trembling, regardless of her trembling body.
She wanted to say something.
For example, I'm sorry, or I'll come back to see you, but when the words come to my lips, they just turn into a hug.
She can't be a person who doesn't keep her word.
It's time for her to go.
The laws have been restored and the world no longer needs her.
They needed their king to rule.
Jian Yue lowered her head.
The cross on her palm gradually lost its glow, and she could feel the aura of Henry and Sinderel slowly dissipating.
She knew this was the final farewell.
Her hand gradually became transparent and her shadow faded.
"Goodbye?" she whispered. "This time, protect your country."
In the palace square, busy people just passed by.
On the palace terrace, Ella was the only one left, her army in disarray.
"Goodbye...Jian Yue..."
People didn't know that the girl who brought them freedom had disappeared in the morning sun.
Only the portrait of Schindler hanging in the main hall of the palace and the statue of Henry standing in the center of the square silently tell a story about sacrifice and farewell.
In another world, Jian Yue opened her eyes.
She lay on the sofa in that familiar and spacious home, her face covered in tears.
She reached out and touched her chest. There was no cross there, only a beating heart.
The screen of the mobile phone next to him was still on, and only one day had passed - because one day in Furlan was only equal to one day in the real world.
She picked up her phone and swiped it open. It was the novel she'd traveled through time in. The main page of the novel reappeared, even with an update.
She quickly stood up and clicked on the next chapter to read. As she read, her tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
But she was not forgotten.
Many years later, the people of Furland still spread a legend: there once was a girl in a blood-red dress who single-handedly reformed Furland and freed all the slaves. Some said she was a messenger of God, others said she was just an ordinary human. But regardless, every morning, people would light candles in the square to commemorate the girl who brought them light.
She covered her face, crying and laughing - all the sacrifices were not in vain, all the farewells were not the end, she lived in people's hearts.
This is the beginning of all the stories.
But that was her end.
She wiped with tissue after tissue, still in a daze, feeling that Furlan's experience was like a dream, and the more she thought about it, the more vague it became.
She picked up her phone again, but the novel disappeared again like before, leaving only a prompt that the page did not exist.
Perhaps God locked her last memory in order to prevent her from having other thoughts.
The feeling of reluctance immediately overwhelmed her. In this empty room, she knelt on the carpet and cried loudly.
When she was in Furlan, she was the king above everyone else, the one who led them. No matter how much she was reluctant to leave, she could not show it.
But now, she is not Opesa, not the Regent, but just Jian Yue, just herself.
After crying enough, Jian Yue fell asleep on the coffee table.
Outside the window, Lucifer was floating in the air, the light in his eyes obscured by his lowered eyelids.
"It's still not enough..."
He murmured softly, raised his hand, and a dark light appeared in the palm of his hand.
"Is this the strength you've been absorbing for so many years?" He seemed to be speaking to the light spot, but also to himself. "If this is what you've been working for, then don't even think about replacing me, Kidd."
Suddenly, he felt a faint stream passing by his ears.
A beam of light shot from the side and back. He didn't turn around, let alone fight back. Instead, he slowly tilted his body and sighed, "Every time you find me, I get attacked."
The arrow of light vanished as it struck the wall. Lucifer tilted his head and casually displayed the point of light on his palm to the newcomer. "You came here by leveraging his remaining divine power, right, Michael?"
The six-winged angel with holy light was silent, his face solemn and cold, he just raised his bow and arrow, aiming at Lucifer's heart.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Hey, we don't need to draw swords right away, do we?" As he spoke, black magic power condensed between his fingers. "If that happens, I can't guarantee that his consciousness will remain intact."
"Give him to me - and then, tell me where the Son of Eve is." Michael stretched out his hand, his narrow golden pupils narrowed, and a gloomy look appeared on them.
Lucifer smiled faintly and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't grant your request." He spread his wings and immersed himself in the soft moonlight. His eyes, one red and one gold, were bright enough to be almost blinding. "As for the Child of Eve, she remains safe and sound in my mansion. You have no chance of taking her away."
"Lucifer." Michael's voice was resounding. "Do you really think we can't enter Hell?"
"Then wait until you fall into hell, then try to negotiate with me." Lucifer's mouth curled up with a teasing arc, and the huge black wings suddenly folded like the night, wrapped in a biting gust of wind, and instantly dissipated under the blood-red moonlight above the city, leaving only the aftermath of mockery echoing in the empty night wind.
On the spot, Michael snorted.
He turned to look at the open windowsill. In the living room, the girl chosen by fate was still sleeping soundly, unaware of what was happening outside the window.
He had come to take her away.
However, she no longer bears the mark of destiny—she has been abandoned by fate, and can no longer become an angel, nor can she replace their "Eve" and fight against the hell headed by the seven deadly sins.
The plan failed.
Michael's eyes darkened and he disappeared into the night.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
