...Jiang Fan smiled, closing his eyes for a mid-morning nap.
"Me too. Now shh. The Emperor is sleeping."
The room was peaceful. The sun warmed their faces. It felt like the perfect ending to a story.
But the universe—and specifically, the System—hated peaceful endings.
DING!
A sound like a gong shattering inside a cathedral echoed in Jiang Fan's skull. He winced, opening one eye.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE ] [ Tutorial Mode: Finished. ] [ Campaign Rating: SSS ]
"Tutorial?" Jiang Fan whispered, a bad feeling settling in his stomach. "That was just the tutorial?"
[ Initiating Phase 2: Empire Management. ] [ Expansion Pack Loaded: "The War of the Five Continents." ] [ Current Status: The neighboring Empires have noticed your hostile takeover. They are not amused. ] [ Incoming Threat: The Azure Tide Empire (Naval Superpower). ] [ Time until Invasion: 3 Days. ]
Jiang Fan groaned loud enough to startle the Empress.
"What is it?" Zhao Ling asked, looking up from his shoulder. "Is it my father? Did he escape the wheelchair?"
"No," Jiang Fan sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's worse. The game isn't over. It just got harder."
He looked at the peaceful city below.
"Ling, I hope you like sushi. Because I think we're about to fight some fish people."
Chapter 42: The Throne is Hard (Literally)
The Coronation festivities lasted for three days. For the common people, it was a party. For Empress Zhao Ling, it was a marathon of physical endurance.
By the morning of the fourth day, the reality of ruling set in.
"I can't get up," Zhao Ling mumbled into her pillow.
Jiang Fan, who was already dressed (in his 'Royal Consort' robes, which were basically glorified pajamas), sat on the edge of the bed.
"Spasms again?"
"Exhaustion," she corrected. "And... pressure."
She rolled onto her back, wincing. She had spent twelve hours yesterday sitting in the Dragon Throne. Even with the cushions Jiang Fan had added, gravity was a cruel mistress.
"My lower back feels like it's burning. Or at least, the ghost of it does."
Jiang Fan didn't hesitate. He pulled the silk duvet back.
"Roll over," he commanded gently.
He checked her skin. There was a red mark on her sacrum—the beginning of a pressure sore.
"We pushed it too hard yesterday," Jiang Fan said, his voice serious. He reached for the jar of Su Qing's Restoration Salve. "No throne today. You're working from bed."
"I can't!" Zhao Ling protested, trying to push herself up, only to collapse as her arms shook. " The Envoy from the Azure Tide Empire is arriving at noon. If I don't receive him in the Throne Room, they will say the new Empress is weak."
"They will say you are weak if you pass out from autonomic dysreflexia," Jiang Fan countered, applying the cool salve to her skin. "Your blood pressure was spiking last night, Ling. Your body is stressed."
"I have to go," she insisted, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. "I have to look strong. Just... just strap me in tighter."
Jiang Fan looked at her. He saw the stubbornness that had driven a tank through the palace gates.
He sighed.
"Fine. But we are taking breaks. And if I see you sweating, I'm carrying you out, diplomatic incident be damned."
THE BATHROOM SUMMIT
The morning routine was a rush.
"Yun Xi!" Jiang Fan shouted down the hall. "We need the transfer board! And tell Su Qing to brew the strong coffee!"
Yun Xi marched in, looking impeccable in her General's uniform (which was still stylized like a maid outfit because she refused to change it).
"The Envoy is early," Yun Xi reported, handing Jiang Fan a polished wooden board. "He is waiting in the courtyard. He brought sharks."
"Sharks?" The Empress asked, as Jiang Fan slid the board under her hips to help her slide from the bed to her wheelchair.
"Land sharks," Yun Xi clarified. "They have legs. It is very disturbing."
Jiang Fan wheeled the Empress into the bathroom. The palace plumbing had been hastily upgraded by Gu Ling, but it was still a tight fit.
"I can handle the buttons," the Empress said, her hands shaking slightly as she reached for her tunic.
"Let me," Jiang Fan brushed her hands away. "Save your dexterity for signing treaties."
He helped her with the most intimate parts of the morning—the bladder management, the washing, the dressing. It was a silent dance they had perfected. There was no shame in it anymore, only necessity.
As he pulled her heavy ceremonial boots onto her limp feet, she looked at the top of his head.
"You're a good husband," she whispered.
"I'm not your husband yet," Jiang Fan reminded her, checking the straps on her legs. "I'm your Consort. Technically, I'm just a very high-ranking concubine."
"I'll promote you," she grinned.
"Don't. Concubines get more nap time."
THE AZURE ENVOY
The Throne Room was tense.
The Azure Tide Envoy, a man named Lord Gills (Jiang Fan stifled a laugh when he heard the name), stood in the center. He had blue-tinted skin and gills on his neck that flared when he breathed. Behind him stood two massive, walking sharks holding tridents.
Empress Zhao Ling sat on the Dragon Throne. She was strapped in securely, her heavy robes hiding the restraints. She looked regal, terrifying, and immovable.
Jiang Fan stood to her right, fanning himself. Gu Ling sat in her wheelchair to her left, cleaning her fingernails with a laser cutter.
"Empress Zhao Ling," Lord Gills spoke. His voice was wet and gurgling. "The Ocean King sends his... congratulations. He was surprised to hear that a cripple had taken the throne of the Earth."
The court went silent.
The Empress didn't flinch. Her face was a mask of stone.
"The Ocean King is kind," she said smoothly. "I was surprised to hear he sent a fish to do a man's job."
Lord Gills' eyes narrowed.
"We are here to discuss the tribute," Gills said. "The previous Emperor paid us 20% of the crystal mines to keep our fleets away. We expect the same."
"The previous Emperor is currently staring at a brick wall in the North Tower," the Empress replied. "The tribute is canceled."
"Then it is war," Gills hissed. "Do you think your land-machines can stop the tide? Our ships can flood this city in an hour."
He took a step forward. The land sharks growled.
"Perhaps," Gills sneered, looking at the Empress's legs. "I should drag you off that throne and see if you float."
[ System Alert: Insult Detected. ] [ Jiang Fan Rage Level: 100% ]
Jiang Fan stepped forward.
"Hey, Sushi," Jiang Fan said.
Gills looked at him. "The Concubine speaks? Know your place, human."
"My place," Jiang Fan yawned, "is usually in bed. But you're making my wife tense. And when she gets tense, her legs spasm. And when her legs spasm, I have to massage them. And I really don't want to do extra work today."
Jiang Fan snapped his fan shut.
"Yun Xi. Is the tank ready?"
"The War-Lotus Mark II is parked in the courtyard," Yun Xi replied from the shadows.
"Good." Jiang Fan looked at Gills. "You like water? Let's go for a swim."
THE DEMONSTRATION
Ten minutes later, they were in the Royal Gardens (which Gu Ling was currently rebuilding into a testing ground).
In the center was a massive new pond Gu Ling had dug.
"This is your demonstration?" Gills laughed. "A puddle?"
"It's a hydro-dynamic testing facility," Gu Ling corrected.
The Empress was loaded into the War-Lotus Mark II. This version was amphibious. The treads had retractable paddles, and the main cannon had been replaced with a Spirit-Torpedo Launcher.
"Get in the water, Gills," the Empress commanded from the cockpit.
"You jest."
"Get. In."
Gills signaled his land sharks. They jumped into the pond, thrashing around.
"Attack the machine!" Gills ordered.
The sharks charged the tank, which was floating ominously in the water.
The Empress grinned. She bit down on her mouthguard.
Neural Link: Engage. Weapon: Depth Charge.
THUMP-THUMP.
Two canisters shot from the tank. They sank into the water.
BOOM.
A massive geyser of water erupted. The land sharks were launched into the air, flopping comically onto the grass, stunned and dizzy.
The War-Lotus surged forward, mounting the bank. It didn't stop. It drove straight at Lord Gills.
Gills stumbled back, tripping over his robes.
The massive tank stopped inches from his face. The barrel of the torpedo launcher smoked.
The cockpit opened.
Jiang Fan walked over and lifted the Empress out. She was panting, her face flushed with victory (and the exertion of the interface).
"Tell the Ocean King," the Empress said, leaning heavily on Jiang Fan, "that if his ships come within ten miles of my coast, I will turn his ocean into a hot tub."
Lord Gills scrambled backward, bowing furiously.
"I... I will convey the message! Glory to the Iron Phoenix!"
He ran. He grabbed his stunned sharks and ran.
THE CRASH
As soon as the Envoy was gone, the Empress collapsed.
Her knees buckled. Jiang Fan caught her instantly, scooping her up before she hit the grass.
"Ling?"
"Too much," she whispered, her face pale. "My head is pounding. The interface... it draws too much mental energy."
"I got you," Jiang Fan said. "Meeting adjourned."
He carried her back through the palace. Servants bowed as they passed, but Jiang Fan didn't acknowledge them. He was focused on the woman in his arms.
He brought her back to the bedroom. He stripped off her heavy ceremonial armor and the tight boots.
Her legs were shaking violently again—post-adrenaline tremors.
"I'm sorry," she cried softly, hitting the mattress. "I wanted to be strong. But I'm just tired."
"You scared a fish-man with a tank," Jiang Fan said, climbing into bed beside her and pulling her trembling body against his chest. "That's pretty strong."
He rubbed her back, feeling the tension slowly leave her spine.
"But now," Jiang Fan commanded, pulling the duvet over their heads to block out the world. "We are instituting a new Imperial Decree."
"What is it?" she mumbled into his chest.
"Mandatory Siesta. 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. No Envoys. No tanks. Just us."
The Empress smiled, closing her eyes. She couldn't feel her legs, but she could feel his heartbeat.
"Approved," she whispered.
[ System Alert: Empire Management - Day 1 Complete. ] [ Rating: A (Diplomacy was aggressive, but effective). ] [ Next Challenge: The Economy (and finding a caterer for the wedding). ]