Xu Zifan transmigrated and completed his mission within a year, finally able to enjoy life. In his previous life on the Beastman Continent, aside from riding mounts through the sky, he had absolutely no entertainment. Now, as emperor, he enjoys luxurious clothes, a comfortable bed, and gourmet food prepared by imperial chefs—he is extremely satisfied with this life.
Upon ascending the throne, he began to lavishly reward his meritorious officials. Those who followed him and served him were all promoted to varying degrees, and De'an was also granted the title of Grand General for his military achievements on the battlefield. Xiao Shunzi became the chief eunuch in the palace, serving by Xu Zifan's side. After the officials were surprised, they praised Xu Zifan for his tolerance of people, even trusting to use Xiao Shunzi. Little did they know that Xiao Shunzi was Xu Zifan's most trusted confidant in the palace.
Xu Zifan's younger sister, Xu Ziyun, was bestowed the title of Grand Princess and granted a princess's residence, enjoying immense prestige. Her husband's family valued her even more, and her children's status rose accordingly, with suitors practically breaking down their door. The legendary, mysterious Yu Lan was also formally recognized as Xu Zifan's sworn sister, bestowed the title of Princess, granted a princess's residence, and allowed to choose her own husband.
The officials, initially surprised, began to take Yu Lan more seriously. No woman in the capital dared to look down on Yu Lan's background anymore, and they all vied for her favor. Yu Lan was not only favored by the emperor, but she was also young, beautiful, and skilled in business, possessing considerable wealth. Who wouldn't want such a wife? However, ordinary men simply couldn't win Yu Lan's heart. She wasn't in a hurry to marry; she only wanted to earn more money.
Xu Zifan bestowed the title of Princess Chang'an upon his daughter, Xu Shiyue. Since Xu Shiyue was only fifteen, he had a palace built for her according to her wishes. She was his only daughter, truly the apple of his eye. Initially, he had announced that his choice of husband must be solely his daughter, with no concubines allowed, and that he must love Xu Shiyue for life. Many people hesitated, feeling it was inappropriate. Some even mocked her behind her back, saying she had been ruined by her father, seeing that Xu Shiyue remained unmarried for a year. Who would have thought that Xu Shiyue would suddenly become a high-ranking princess? This made those families who had considered marrying her regret their decision immensely, urging their sons to prove themselves, as marrying a princess would bring glory to the entire family. However, Xu Zifan also agreed that her marriage would be decided by her.
Since Xu Zifan returned to the capital, Mo Yun resumed her role as a bodyguard, staying by his side daily. The two were practically inseparable, and their feelings for each other grew stronger with each passing day. Although there wasn't a passionate romance, their tacit understanding was unparalleled. They could often understand each other with just a glance, leaving Xiao Shunzi, who was closest to them, utterly astonished. He realized that he had always been under the command of his mistress, and being the confidant of both the male and female masters—his position was incredibly secure!
As things gradually calmed down in the court, Xu Zifan felt more relaxed. After reviewing the memorials that day, he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Mo Yun appeared in a flash, poured him a cup of hot tea, and handed it to him. Seeing this, Xiao Shunzi withdrew his leg that was about to step out, gestured to the palace servants inside the room, and they all withdrew.
Xu Zifan took the tea and took a sip. He then pulled Mo Yun's hand and hugged her tightly, opening a memorial to show her. "Today in court, these ministers raised the matter of establishing an empress."
Mo Yun froze for a moment upon hearing this, but quickly recovered, though Xu Zifan still noticed. He hugged her tighter, rested his chin on her shoulder, and chuckled, "I also think it's time to establish an empress. Mo Yun, how about becoming my empress?"
Mo Yun turned around in disbelief, "Your Majesty, you...you mean me?"
Xu Zifan watched her shocked expression with amusement, "Who else did you think it was? All these years, haven't I only had you by my side?"
"I... I thought it would be the Prime Minister's daughter; he'd hinted at it three times. And the General of the Nation; he'd hinted at it four times..."
Xu Zifan suddenly realized, "So you remember that so clearly, are you jealous?"
Mo Yun gave him a push, embarrassed. "I'm not! Who's jealous!"
Xu Zifan smiled and asked her, "Then will you agree? To be my empress?"
Mo Yun paused, her expression immediately falling. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I know Your Majesty's feelings for me, but I... my status is too lowly..." She paused, as if making a decision, and looked up at Xu Zifan earnestly, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a request. I don't want to enter the harem. Just let me be your personal bodyguard for the rest of my life, and stay by your side forever, okay?"
Xu Zifan looked into her expectant eyes, eyes that held a deep fear of loss. With three thousand beauties in the harem, she had made this decision because she didn't want to wait alone in one palace, or even lose sight of the person she longed to see after falling out of favor. Xu Zifan leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers, whispering, "Fool, you have no idea what I truly feel. I'm not asking you to enter the harem and become one of my concubines; I'm asking you to be my wife, my only woman. I will be the emperor, and you will be the empress. I will never take another woman in my life. Do you believe me?"
Mo Yun's red lips parted slightly as she stared at him in shock. The phrase "the only woman" kept echoing in her mind, striking the softest part of her heart. She asked incredulously, "Are you serious? But why...you're the emperor...I...I'm not a lady from a noble family..."
Xu Zifan laughed and said, "Do these things matter? I do what I want, simply because I want to and I like it. When I was the regent, didn't I never take a wife or concubine? Because I didn't need to. Now, apart from you, I still don't need anyone else. Of course, I must meet the standards I set for the princess's choice of husband; otherwise, what right do I have to demand them to do so?"
Mo Yun suddenly realized, "So that's why you recognized Miss Yu Lan as your sworn sister..." She looked at Xu Zifan, and for the first time, she reached out and hugged his neck, a smile blooming on her face, "I believe you, Zhong Qian, you..."
I believe everything you say.
This was the first time Xu Zifan had heard her call him so intimately, which meant that Mo Yun had finally let go of the constraints of this era and completely trusted him. He hugged Mo Yun tightly and kissed her red lips, domineeringly invading her territory and feeling her sweetness until Mo Yun was breathless before letting her go, "This empire, you and I will share it."
These words, seemingly impossible to fulfill like a mirage, were Xu Zifan's most genuine promise to Mo Yun. Mo Yun was no ordinary woman; she was a powerful figure who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. He would not confine her to the harem after marrying her as his empress, but rather stand with her in the world, working together to govern this land!
When Xu Zifan was regent, his word was law; now that he was emperor, no one could sway his decisions. He suddenly issued an edict making Mo Yun empress, leaving the entire court bewildered as they investigated who Mo Yun was, but found absolutely nothing—no one knew who she was or whose daughter she was. They did raise objections, but Xu Zifan rejected them all, even explicitly telling them that no more women would be added to the harem, the imperial concubine selection was abolished, and he would not bestow marriages upon anyone, leaving each family to arrange their own marriages.
Xu Zifan was not restrained by any court officials, and their opinions had no influence on him. They dared not have any ulterior motives, as Xu Zifan's temper was not something anyone dared to provoke. The matter was settled smoothly. The Ministry of Rites also made every effort to prepare the empress's investiture ceremony, which was larger in scale than any other empress's investiture ceremony in history. The whole country was happy, and taxes were reduced for another year. Even the common people cheered and said auspicious words, wishing the emperor and empress to be forever united.
Some ministers were stunned when they saw the Empress's true face at the coronation ceremony. Wasn't this the same person who held power during the Emperor's military campaigns? Except that he was a man, a man who had disappeared after the Emperor returned to the capital. Upon seeing the Empress, they vaguely understood something: that man was actually the Empress in disguise! Whether it was true or not, they couldn't care less; they simply dared not harbor the slightest contempt for the Empress any longer.
A few ladies recognized Mo Yun as possibly being the Empress Dowager's head maid, but Mo Yun, radiant in her phoenix robe, was too dazzling for them to believe, and they dismissed the idea. As for the palace maids and eunuchs who knew Mo Yun, they had already been granted permission to leave the palace when Xu Zifan ascended the throne. No rumors circulated about Mo Yun becoming Empress, but her background remained a mystery, and no one knew her origins, which only added to her mystique and sparked much discussion among the common people.
After spending a few moments with Mo Yun, Xu Shiyue was impressed by her abilities and insisted on learning from her. Mo Yun was also happy to gain her stepdaughter's approval and taught her everything she knew. While Xu Zifan was busy handling state affairs, Xu Shiyue unknowingly became more and more like Mo Yun. In the hunting grounds, she even outperformed a group of talented young men, winning first place and stealing the spotlight.
Xu Zifan indulged her, and sometimes when she came to his study, he would review memorials without hiding it from her, and even teach her carefully. However, Xu Shiyue had no interest in the complicated political affairs, but was extremely passionate about martial arts and military strategy. Xu Zifan watched as his originally ladylike daughter became more and more like a tomboy, and he had a rare moment of self-reflection. Then he felt that there was nothing wrong with it, so he simply supported her by hiring several generals to teach her, and when he had time, he taught her some Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations and life-saving medicine-making methods.
Xu Shiyue had lost even more interest in marriage and having children. The ladies and young women in the capital couldn't understand what Xu Zifan was doing. Who would dare marry his daughter if she was raised like this? It was spoiling her rotten. Many ministers shook their heads when they mentioned it, thinking the emperor was willful. But the emperor was only willful in this aspect; in court, he was still wise and powerful. They couldn't say anything, and even if they did, it would be useless. Naturally, no one dared to cause trouble for Xu Zifan.
Two years later, one winter, a rebellion broke out among the nomadic tribes of the grasslands, who plundered the women and grain supplies of the border regions. Xu Shiyue volunteered to lead the army into battle, causing an uproar among the court officials. Xu Zifan, however, overruled the objections and appointed Xu Shiyue as Grand General, sending her to lead the army into battle. When the news spread, the entire world was shocked. They only knew that the princess was favored, never imagining that the emperor would even appoint a princess as Grand General. The people at the border were filled with despair; some even said that the emperor had lost his mind and was no longer the wise regent he once was.
But to everyone's surprise, Xu Shiyue proved to be incredibly brave and skilled in battle, not only winning victory after victory but also conquering the entire grassland, proving herself no less formidable than Xu Zifan in his prime. The nation went from disbelief to shock to awe; Princess Chang'an had become a new generation's war goddess, enjoying immense prestige. This event indirectly led to a subtle shift in public perception of women.
Afterwards, Yu Lan's business grew bigger and bigger, with banks and shops all over the country. Whenever there were natural disasters or man-made calamities, Yu Lan would donate a lot of supplies, and her reputation as a female bodhisattva was deeply rooted in people's hearts.
Mo Yun and Xu Zifan jointly governed the country. Although she did not attend court, she was always present whenever ministers sought an audience with the Emperor in the Imperial Study, participating in discussions and reviewing memorials. The ministers went from opposition to acceptance, and finally to submission, in a short time; this Empress, deeply trusted by the Emperor, deserved their devotion. Mo Yun established girls' schools, revised laws, and prohibited the buying and selling of people… Gradually, she became a role model for women throughout the land, inspiring ambitious women to emulate her and become self-reliant.
The important women around Xu Zifan set an example for the whole world, found a way out for women everywhere, greatly improved women's status, and changed people's perceptions. All of this was done at Xu Zifan's behest, and they all did it very well. Even Xu Ziyun gradually changed her feudal ideas, following in her sister-in-law's footsteps as the Empress, initiating charity work among the ladies, establishing nursing homes and orphanages in various towns to take in the poor elderly and orphans.
With his experience in the beastman world from his previous life, Xu Zifan carried out reforms steadily and efficiently. Road construction, farming, housing construction, medicine, scientific research, and other aspects were all developed in a way that best suited the world, truly achieving national prosperity and peace, and he became increasingly loved by the people.
After Mo Yun gave birth to a son, he devoted himself to teaching his son the ways of being a ruler, teaching him...
He cultivated his diverse knowledge and trained his successor, enjoying a life of comfort and ease. Although he was in the royal family, he still had the warmth of an ordinary family. The courtiers had witnessed Xu Zifan's gentle and kind nature towards his family several times, and they could hardly believe that he was the same person as the decisive and efficient emperor in the court. This proved that his vows were never empty words, and he could fulfill them all.
Following such a compassionate and righteous ruler might be difficult at first, but over time one only feels incredibly at ease. In addition, Xu Zifan is always coming up with new ideas, keeping them busy with many things. They simply don't have time to fight amongst themselves; they are all focused on showcasing their political achievements to the emperor, which has actually created a healthy competition that has led to the country's continuous improvement.
Xu Zifan ascended the throne at the age of thirty-seven. When he was forty-two, Xu Shiyue married the son of the General Who Protects the Nation. The two had fought side by side, one as the Grand General and the other as the Deputy General, and had fallen in love during the war. When their relationship was stable, Xu Shiyue believed that he would love her for the rest of her life before deciding to marry him.
The young couple were indeed a perfect match, their relationship grew stronger and stronger, and they were so loving and happy that the women who had once thought Xu Shiyue would never get married were left speechless.
Yu Lan, however, was always focused on making money and hadn't met anyone she liked. After all, she had once had the chance to enter Xu Zifan's harem, and such an outstanding man had appeared in her life; everyone else seemed to lack something. When Xu Zifan was forty-five, Yu Lan was already thirty, and everyone thought she would never marry. Unexpectedly, she traveled across the ocean and brought back a duke as her husband!
Yu Lan heard from Xu Zifan that she could earn more money by trading with foreign countries, so she went there out of curiosity. The duke fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her passionately, bringing Yu Lan many novel experiences and surprises. In such an unfamiliar environment in a foreign land, the duke's enthusiasm and protection touched her heart, and she willingly married him and became the duke.
The Duke was a nobleman with kinship ties to foreign royalty, giving him considerable influence. He married Princess Yulan, and the two countries formally established diplomatic relations, initiating friendly trade and mutually beneficial cooperation that promoted the development of both nations.
Xu Zifan lived to be eighty-eight years old in this world. At his sixtieth birthday banquet, he passed the throne to the twenty-year-old crown prince. The crown prince, whom he had carefully nurtured, steadily took over the court, requiring no further attention from him. From then on, he laid down his burdens and enjoyed life, traveling hand in hand with Mo Yun across mountains and rivers to see the beautiful scenery of the world.
Occasionally, they would intervene when they encountered injustice among the common people, and on several occasions, they revealed their identities, further enhancing their reputation. In the home of the wealthiest man in the prosperous Jiangnan region, Furong listened intently to the maids' casual conversation about their exploits, lost in thought. The god-like regent seemed still vivid in her mind's eye, yet now he had abdicated the throne and was traveling among the common people; more than twenty years had unknowingly passed.
Her past, when she won the emperor's favor and was made an imperial concubine, seemed like a dream. She chose the right path and sided with Xu Zifan, luckily surviving the coup. In recent years, she has stayed away from the capital, married the richest man in the wealthiest part of Jiangnan as a concubine, then gained favor by adopting another man's son, overthrowing the first wife, outliving her husband, and securing the position of head of the family for her son. She became the absolute matriarch, living a carefree and comfortable life. Her son and daughter-in-law were all very filial to her and obedient to her. In fact, no one knew that her son was not her biological son at all.
All of this was the result of her clear-headed rationality and ruthlessness, but no one knew that she had only ever truly loved once in her life—to the regent who had manipulated her like a pawn. She was simply rational enough to suppress her feelings after Xu Zifan rejected her and obediently distance herself from that man.
She had specifically researched Mo Yun, and in terms of resourcefulness, she considered herself no less intelligent than Mo Yun; in terms of talent and beauty, she far surpassed Mo Yun. It was just a pity she hadn't been lucky enough to meet Xu Zifan earlier. Her life in the brothel, her deception of the emperor's feelings, her betrayal of the emperor and siding with Xu Zifan—everything she did was disliked by Xu Zifan. She knew this, so she had absolutely no desire to compete. Only in the dead of night, in her dreams, would she feel regret: why hadn't she become Xu Zifan's bodyguard like Mo Yun? Why hadn't she even had the chance to meet Xu Zifan?
"Madam, Madam? Are you tired? Did I disturb you with these matters?"
Furong snapped out of her reverie upon hearing the maid's words and smiled slightly. "No, I'm listening. Tell me more about the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager."
"Yes."
Furong gave a self-deprecating smile. She had always been dishonest, and even if she had met Xu Zifan earlier, she still couldn't compare to Mo Yun. She knew this, so regret was just regret; there was nothing to regret. Sometimes she truly hated her own clear-headedness, which prevented her from even confessing her one and only moment of attraction, only able to hear about that person's deeds from others.
Xu Zifan and Mo Yun's journey continues, their story spreads far and wide, and they truly become the most revered emperor and empress in history. Even after their deaths, statues were erected in their honor, and stories and plays were written to ensure their legend lives on.
Their political achievements and their love story have gradually become legendary. Xu Zifan will be remembered for generations to come, which makes his life worthwhile.