Chapter 202 The End of the Main Text

Chapter 202: Final Chapter

Cui Xuan stayed in Qiantang for another month and a half before returning.

When Wang Mo took office as the magistrate of Renhe County in Qiantang after arriving from Lingnan, Cui Xuan was still the Qiantang Governor, with the next governor trailing meekly behind him.

Wang Mo: "..."

Fortunately, Wang Mo had once worked under Cui Xuan, so he was quite familiar with acting meekly, just like the incoming Qiantang Governor.

Cui Xuan also noticed that, upon meeting Wang Mo again this time, he had matured considerably—no longer the scion of a prestigious family he once was, but now carrying himself like a proper official.

Wang Mo handed over the rice he had brought from Lingnan to Cui Xuan.

He said, "This is a rice seed brought to Lingnan by foreign traders. They call it 'Early Zhan.' Over the past two years, I had it cultivated in Lingnan. Though its taste is inferior to Jiangnan rice, it can produce three crops a year in Lingnan, with remarkably high output."

During these two years, Wang Mo had been demoted to serve as a county magistrate in Lingnan. As a scion of a prestigious family, he finally came to understand the lives of ordinary people.

Far from the prosperity and tranquility of the capital, he, as a magistrate in Lingnan, had spent his days worrying about basic survival—especially during summers plagued by hurricanes. The winds tore away his thatched hut, leaving his bed and home flooded. In those moments, he completely forgot the days of his privileged past, where he had sipped wine, brewed tea, and written poetry. All he cared about was getting decent sleep and how to fill his stomach.

So when foreign traders came selling rice seeds, Wang Mo snatched them up on the spot, regardless of their quality.

Later, he experimented with planting them on a few acres of land. When the high-yield rice actually sprouted, he was as giddy as a child, eager to present the seeds to the emperor.

To his surprise, the emperor had the same idea. Before he could even offer the seeds, she had already transferred him to Qiantang.

"Please take these back and present them to Her Majesty."

Wang Mo turned a little red at the thought that the emperor was actually a woman. He dropped his voice and asked, "Governor Cui, have you ever seen Her Majesty in a silk dress?"

Cui Xuan, who had been about to praise him, immediately stiffened and snapped, "What does that have to do with the rice seeds?"

Wang Mo: "..." Was it his imagination, or had he just sensed a wave of hostility from Cui Xuan?

Cui Xuan took the new Qiantang Governor on a thorough tour of Qiantang, making sure all duties were transferred before resigning and returning to the capital.

When he departed, Wang Mo had intended to see him off, only to learn that Cui Xuan had left overnight to catch the steamship, which ran only once every five days.

Wang Mo was a little disappointed and joked with the new Qiantang Governor, "Premier Cui’s rush makes it seem like someone is waiting for him in the capital."

The two shared a smirk before falling into brief silence.

Wang Mo suddenly recalled the years past when he had once shared drinks and laughter with Her Majesty at Piaoxiang Residence. Back then, the atmosphere had been warm and harmonious, and the emperor had even invited him to sit beside her as an equal.

Gathering his nerve, he asked the Qiantang Governor, "If Premier Cui and I were to court the same woman, who do you think would win?"

The Qiantang Governor coughed. "Time to get to work."

Five days later, Cui Xuan arrived in the capital. After returning to the Cui residence, he bathed thoroughly and changed into clean robes before entering the palace to see Su Yu.

Su Yu looked the same as ever, wearing a round-collared robe with her hair tied in a ponytail.

Cui Xuan understood—Her Majesty must have found this attire more convenient. Yet when they met, he suddenly realized that it had been a full 212 days since he last saw Su Yu. His pent-up longing, thick and unyielding, had etched itself deeply into his heart.

His gaze grew bold, lingering on her a beat too long. Only when Su Yu inadvertently glanced up did he rein in his emotions and greet her as usual: "Your Majesty."

Su Yu smiled and called to him, "Xing Jian, you’re here."

She looked him over for a moment before murmuring, "Half a year apart, and you’ve lost weight."

It was merely an ordinary exchange of pleasantries, yet Cui Xuan felt that if the Emperor could notice he had lost weight, she must hold some regard for him in her heart. The chill between his brows instantly melted like springtime peach blossoms.

Only when Su Yu looked at him again did he give a reserved nod, handing over the rice seeds Wang Mo had entrusted to him. He explained, "These are rice seeds brought back by Magistrate Wang from Lingnan, said to produce three crops a year."

Su Yu paused, then hurried to Cui Xuan’s side. Without waiting for formal presentation, she took the seeds herself. "Accompany me to Premier Yao’s place."

Since concurrently serving as the Minister of Works, Yao Feiming had thrived. Behind the Ministry of Works’ offices lay several acres of fertile land, where he spent his days pulling his staff into research—especially after the steam-powered ships emerged in Jiangnan. He even asked if the steam engine could be adapted for irrigation waterwheels.

They never built a steam-powered waterwheel.

However, the Ministry was not short of talent. They adapted the gear system from the steam engine to improve the efficiency of irrigation waterwheels.

When Su Yu arrived, Yao Feiming was harvesting wheat. Spotting the Emperor, he stiffened as if under siege, leaving Su Yu feeling like an intruding child.

She beckoned to him, "Come quickly—I have new seeds for you."

Yao Feiming’s eyes lit up. Still with his pant legs rolled up, he strode toward her, his muddy hands reaching out.

"Premier Yao," Cui Xuan called out as a reminder.

Only then did Yao Feiming notice him. "Premier Cui, when did you return?"

He wiped his hands hastily on his pants before reaching toward Su Yu again.

She handed him the seeds. "Premier Cui brought these. Let him explain."

Cui Xuan did not claim credit, reiterating that the seeds were from Wang Mo in Lingnan and that Wang had already tested them there, confirming they produced three crops a year with far higher yields than ordinary rice.

Yao Feiming froze for a moment before clapping Cui Xuan’s shoulder, laughing. "Excellent! I’ll plant them myself and see how many harvests we can get in the capital compared to Lingnan!"

Cui Xuan glanced sideways at the muddy handprint now staining his robe. A muscle ticked in his jaw, but he maintained his composure and continued the conversation.

As they left the Ministry, Su Yu caught sight of the mud on his shoulder and couldn’t help doubling over laughing against the carriage.

Cui Xuan shot her a long-suffering glance before lowering his gaze. "Your Majesty’s boots are muddy. You can borrow these for now."

When Su Yu changed her shoes without hesitation right in front of him, his ears turned pink faintly.

She cast him a casual glance, smiling. "Wasn’t I always this way?"

Reaching out, she patted his shoulder lightly, her eyes crinkling. "I’m still the same me. Even when I couldn’t reveal I was a woman, I never hid my true nature from you, Xing Jian."

Where her hand had been felt scalding. He turned his head away, his throat working. "I know."

She was herself—both the sovereign he wished to follow for a lifetime and the beloved he longed to protect forever.

When he turned back to look at her, Su Yu sat comfortably in the carriage, filling him with quiet joy.

He called softly, "Your Majesty—"

She looked at him in confusion, her radiant expression dazing him. The words on the tip of his tongue almost escaped.

"Your Majesty—ah? Premier Cui’s back in the capital? What a coincidence!"

Xie Yiguan’s voice abruptly broke the moment between Su Yu and Cui Xuan.

Cui Xuan turned to see Xie Yiguan seated beside the coachman. Before the carriage fully halted, Xie leaped down and hurried toward them.

Though his attire was immaculate, a light sweat glistened on his brow on this cool late-autumn day—not exactly the picture of coincidence.

Upon reaching Su Yu, Xie Yiguan slowed his pace and said with a composed smile, "Premier Cui's return couldn’t have come at a better time. I've been overseeing both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel these days. Now that Premier Cui is back, it’s the perfect time to hand the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel back to him."

Since Cui Xuan had been temporarily reassigned to Qiantang, Su Yu hadn't appointed a new Minister of Personnel, leaving Xie Yiguan to manage both ministries.

Xie Yiguan had been so busy during this period that he'd been reduced to camping out between the two ministries. Despite remaining in the capital, he'd had little time alone with Su Yu. On the day of her coronation, he'd finally managed to exchange a few words with her, only to be interrupted by Liu Wushi.

The question he'd wanted to ask remained unspoken, and of course, he hadn't let Liu Wushi voice whatever he'd intended to say either.

Earlier, upon hearing that Cui Xuan had returned to the capital and immediately entered the palace, Xie Yiguan rushed there, only to be told by the guards that Her Majesty and Cui Xuan had gone to the Ministry of Works. He promptly turned his horse around and headed straight there.

Though he didn’t know whether Cui Xuan would confess to Su Yu today, he wasn’t about to give him the chance to speak first.

Xie Yiguan thought with a smile.

Cui Xuan: "...," dryly. The sweeter Xie Zhiwei’s smile, the more ill-intentioned he was.

Compared to Xie Yiguan’s enthusiasm, Premier Cui appeared rather indifferent. "Premier Xie, I’ve just returned to the capital and have yet to be reinstated. I don’t deserve the Premier title yet."

Xie Yiguan’s smile grew even brighter. "How could that be? The imperial decree was drafted by me just a few days ago, and Her Majesty’s already stamped it."

He then turned to Su Yu and said, "Is Your Majesty finished here? The Ministry of Personnel has accumulated quite a backlog of matters. Since I’ve run into Premier Cui, might as well go with him to ensure everything is properly handed over?"

Both Su Yu and Cui Xuan could tell Xie Yiguan was pulling this stunt deliberately, but Su Yu was sharp. She turned to Cui Xuan with a smile.

Cui Xuan had no choice but to bow. "Then I shall accompany Premier Xie to the Ministry of Personnel first."

Su Yu nodded immediately. "Do your best, Xing Jian. Later, I’ll host a welcome banquet for you at Piaoxiang Residence."

Unfortunately, Cui Xuan remained busy until the end of the year and never got to attend that banquet.

As the New Year approached, Yu Chiyi finally returned to the capital from Weizhou.

After the Military Governor of Huaixi was executed, a general in Youzhou, Hebei, had attempted to secretly rally troops, but Yu Chiyi nipped that in the bud.

The regional commands across the land grew as quiet as mice.

When Yu Chiyi returned to the capital, he still had misgivings and left a portion of his army stationed in Weizhou.

Accompanying him back was Wei Jiong.

Wei Jiong, more than others, had taken in stride Su Yu’s identity as a woman. He even said to Yu Chiyi, "I told you—the one I fell for had to be a woman."

Yu Chiyi exposed him bluntly. "General Wei, didn’t you also claim to have fallen for the Treasury Minister at first sight?"

Wei Jiong cleared his throat loudly and shamelessly asked, "What if I go confess my feelings to Her Majesty now? Perhaps she’ll give me the time of day."

Yu Chiyi cracked his knuckles and grinned. "It’s been a while since I sparred with General Wei. Come, let’s go."

Wei Jiong: "?"

Without holding back, Yu Chiyi punched Wei Jiong, leaving him with a shiner on each eye.

Yu Chiyi said with fake sympathy. "General Wei, your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. Best to recover properly before seeing Her Majesty."

Wei Jiong: "...," His injuries were all from Yuchi Zhongyun’s beating!

Yu Chiyi entered the palace alone to see Su Yu. However, before he could utter the words, "Your Majesty, I’ve missed you," Cui Xuan, Xie Yiguan, and Liu Wushi arrived one after another like bloodhounds on a trail.

Yu Chiyi ground his teeth. Well, he and Her Majesty had forever. He might as well treat these men as just part of the furniture!

Another New Year's Eve banquet came around.

Su Yu finally donned a flowing skirt in public once more.

Even bare-faced on ordinary days, she was striking enough, but now, with just a touch of eyebrow pencil and a dab of lip color, she made the harsh winter feel like spring.

Not only were the gazes of Cui Xuan, Xie Yiguan, Yu Chiyi, and Liu Wushi burning as they looked at Su Yu, but all the young, unmarried men were also eager to impress. Some even braved the snowy chill in near-transparent gauze robes to dance before her.

Cui Xuan frowned and said, "Pathetic."

Xie Yiguan chuckled, his hand unconsciously resting on the dagger at his belt.

Yu Chiyi shot Su Yu a sidelong glance—what was the big deal? They might as well admire the fierce tiger tattoo on his back.

Liu Wushi sulked. If Her Majesty wanted, he’d dance in gauze too.

Su Yu, though, watched in delight. Marking the first year of the Tian-ding era, celebrating her successful return to womanhood, she was oddly generous this year. Before the banquet ended, she led her ministers to the city walls to watch fireworks.

A lone firework burst into the sky, illuminating the entire city in the dark, snowy night.

The fading glow lit up Su Yu’s face, as if the stars of the heavens adorned her brows and eyes.

The ministers held their breath, waiting for the next firework—but as the cold wind blew, no second burst came.

Su Yu smiled and said, "This year’s banquet ends here. You may all return."

The ministers: "…" They should have known. The emperor was as tightfisted as ever, never willing to splurge on a whole night of fireworks!

As the crowd dispersed, Su Yu remained on the city wall, gazing into the distance. Far beyond, the common folk celebrated the New Year, their countless lights outshining any firework.

This was the festive atmosphere she loved.

Su Yu chuckled softly. She wasn’t what you’d call kind-hearted—when faced with life and death, her first thought was always to ensure her own survival. Only by living well could she protect the people and things she cherished.

This was a lesson the old Taoist had taught her long ago: "When poor, tend to yourself; when powerful, tend to the world."

"Your Majesty, the night is cold. Be careful not to catch a chill," Yuan Ran, at her side, said worriedly.

Su Yu tugged her fox-fur cloak tighter and smiled. "Let’s go back."

As she descended from the city wall, the palace lanterns illuminated the four men who’d stayed behind, still waiting.

"Your Majesty—"

"So, mahjong anyone?" Su Yu asked them cheerfully. Even one firework wasn’t cheap, after all.

"Host, which of the four male leads will you choose?" The system, still hung up on the unanswered question, piped up again.

Su Yu eyed the four men and said cheerfully, "All of them."

The system: "…"

After a long pause, it struggled to speak again. "Host, I’ve asked the Main God. He said no harems allowed…"

Su Yu smiled. "I won’t. They’re too good for a harem."

As the four of them looked at her again, her peach blossom eyes crinkled, and she said, "There’s still so much work to be done. They’ll all pull their weight—not a single one can slack off."

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