Volume 1, Chapter 38: The True Heiress is a Mastermind 38

"Since you know the Emperor is nearing the end of his days and cannot influence the Crown Prince's position, why are you still taking such good care of him?" An Qianqian could not help but ask.

She was worried that the Empress might be "lovestruck" and had fallen for the Emperor. If that were the case, she would have to reconsider whether or not to assist the Empress.

"I’m just afraid he might be reborn. Modern novels are full of this trope: the protagonist realizes the truth only at the moment of death, discovering that the person they loved their whole life was actually waiting for them to die, so they return from rebirth to roll up their sleeves and exact revenge," the Empress said with a hint of mockery, though her eyes held a sharp, shrewd glint. "I cannot afford to give this old man any chance for a comeback."

An Qianqian wanted to laugh but held it back, merely following her lead: "Your Majesty’s considerations are indeed thorough."

"Thorough? It’s nothing more than acting through waves of nausea," the Empress sneered. "What choice do I have? The man has a bottomless private treasury. Today, I’m transferring all his precious trinkets into your name. In the future, even if he wants to leave some inheritance to those little chirping birds and their sons, he’ll have to think twice." A triumphant smile bloomed on her face. "My son is the one who will inherit the throne, so naturally, he should inherit all of his father's assets."

Her tone shifted, and she became suddenly serious, looking at An Qianqian with genuine intensity: "Qianqian, although I am occupying the body of Chengnian’s mother, I must say a few heart-to-heart words, if only because you are willing to help me return home."

"A woman should never treat love as her life-saving straw. Look at the flowers in this palace; no matter how brilliantly they bloom, they are uprooted once the season ends. A man’s love is even shorter-lived than a flower’s bloom."

"Hmm."

"Don't just 'hmm' me; take it to heart." The Empress gave her a sidelong glance, her voice deepening. "When a man loves you, he’ll offer you the stars and the moon; if you asked him to pluck the sun from the sky, he’d build a ladder for you. But the moment he stops loving you, forget about past affections—he’ll pack up everything you’ve touched and throw it out for the dogs. We must be clear-headed: when you love, give your heart fully, but when the love is gone, you must be able to turn around and walk away more gracefully than anyone."

"Remember, love is like icing on a cake. If it’s there, it’s beautiful; if it isn't, the cake itself must still be valuable." She took a sip of tea, her eyes reflecting the wisdom of one who had seen it all. "The power in your hands, the silver in your purse, and the calculations in your mind—these are your true foundation. Men change, but these things do not. They will always stand by you, more reliable than any oath of eternal love."

"Hmm."

"And another thing: don't believe the nonsense about 'I'll take care of you'." The Empress set down her teacup, her voice clear and crisp. "True security is never given by others; it is earned by oneself. What he gives you, he can take back at any moment; but what you hold in your own hands, no one can steal. Even if Si Chengnian changes his heart one day, you can just walk away. Take your money and your skills, and you can live a flourishing life anywhere else—that is how a woman should be."

She looked at An Qianqian and suddenly smiled: "To put it plainly, we aren't living this life to be someone else’s accessory. Love is dessert, not the main course. You must cook the main course yourself—the heat, the flavor, everything should be under your control. That is what it means to live with clarity."

"Hmm."

"Oh, enough about avoiding lovestruck behavior; let me tell you about my progress. I’ve been preparing to open a school for girls. The Emperor kept blocking it, but now that he’s dying, he can no longer dictate my affairs."

"Your Majesty’s efforts are certainly accumulating merit." An Qianqian produced a transparent crystal bottle from her sleeve, already half-filled with golden liquid. She pushed it toward the Empress. The bottle shimmered in the sunlight, the golden liquid flowing slowly like melted sunbeams. "This is a Merit Bottle. For every bit of merit you accumulate, this golden liquid will rise."

*Host, how do you have such a thing?*

"Found it."

*Eh? When did you find it?*

"Forgot. You don't know, maybe because you were napping."

*I... I suppose so. I will be more spirited from now on and make sure you feel my commitment to service, Host.*

"Hmm." An Qianqian ignored the system further.

The Empress picked up the bottle and examined it against the light. It looked as though tiny, crushed stars were hidden within the liquid, rippling whenever they touched the glass.

"Once it is completely full, you only need to open the lid, and you can go straight home. You won't have to worry about anyone’s mood or navigate any more schemes—you’ll be able to walk right through that door."

The Empress’s fingertips tightened, the cold touch of the bottle unable to dampen the heat in her palms. She looked down at the half-filled gold and smiled, a sense of relief in her laughter. "I will work hard to save up for my ticket home."

She tucked the bottle into a sachet close to her body, patting the bulging pocket as if she held the reins to her own life. "It seems I must work even harder. I won't just teach them to read; I’ll teach them accounting and how to distinguish right from wrong, so they can support themselves. That is how merit is truly earned."

"Your Majesty can look to the whole world; there will be much more you can do. Of course, I will help you."

From the moment An Qianqian first saw the Empress, she knew she was a person of great merit. More importantly, her soul was a "living soul"—meaning she was still alive in the other world. Since that was the case, why not help her?

The two discussed the girls' school further. The Empress was truly a brilliant mind, and her decade as Empress had allowed her to master the art of management. If not for the fear of revealing too much of her identity, she would have experimented with all sorts of things.

As they talked, the day turned to dusk. Reluctantly, the Empress sent An Qianqian back to the Eastern Palace. She couldn't disturb the newlyweds, after all.

Three days later, Si Chengnian’s leave ended. The Empress summoned the ministers to the Imperial Study.

Inside, the scent of dragon incense mingled with the medicinal odor of the dying, pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe. The Emperor lay slumped on the dragon couch, his chest rising and falling weakly, his eyes half-closed, his life force hanging by a mere thread. The Grand Secretariat and the heads of the three departments stood in their court robes, hands clasped, solemn and silent.

The Empress rose from the side of the couch, holding the prepared edict of succession, and slowly unfurled it. On the bright yellow scroll, the nine vermilion characters "Succession to the Crown Prince, Si Chengnian" radiated an unquestionable authority under the candlelight.

"My lords, please look," the Empress said, her voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone. "This is the edict drafted while His Majesty was of sound mind. It bears the national seal and conforms to all rites."

The Chief Minister stepped forward tremblingly, adjusted his reading glasses to examine it carefully, and verified the cinnabar seal at the bottom of the scroll. He bowed and reported: "It is indeed His Majesty’s own hand, and the national seal is authentic."

The other ministers nodded in succession. It was already common knowledge that the Emperor was incapacitated and the Crown Prince had been presiding over the state; seeing the definitive edict, there was no dissent.

The Empress looked toward Si Chengnian, signaling for him to step forward. He walked slowly to the couch and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows to the dying Emperor, his movements heavy with ritual. When he rose, he accepted the Imperial Jade Seal from the Empress.

"According to the founding rites of the Yan Dynasty, as the Emperor is in his final moments, the Crown Prince must accept the seal and the last testament," the Empress announced clearly. "Today, in the presence of all you lords, Crown Prince Si Chengnian accepts the Jade Seal and the edict. From this moment on, he shall oversee the affairs of state. Once His Majesty has passed, he shall ascend the throne."

Si Chengnian held the Jade Seal high and turned to the ministers, his voice as steady as a rock: "I, Si Chengnian, obey the decree."

As the words left his lips, the Emperor on the couch moved his throat, as if struggling to say something, but ultimately let out a long, lingering sigh, and his eyes closed forever. After several checks by the imperial physicians, the Emperor's death was confirmed.

"His Majesty... has passed."

"Your Majesty—!"

The Empress let out a timely sob, tears instantly flooding her eyes, yet she did not forget to instruct the ministers: "My lords, proceed immediately with the state funeral according to the rites. The Crown Prince shall temporarily reside in the Wude Palace to handle military and state affairs. After the mourning period, the enthronement ceremony will be held."

The ministers bowed in unison: "We obey the decree!"

An Qianqian was waiting outside the hall. Seeing Si Chengnian emerge, she silently handed him a handkerchief. He took it, but instead of wiping sweat, he simply gripped it tightly in his hand and said quietly, "Father is gone."

"Hmm," An Qianqian looked at him. "Now, it is time to move forward."

He looked down at the Jade Seal in his palm, then at her, and suddenly smiled. That smile held relief, heaviness, but most of all, a sense of certainty that the dust had finally settled.

"Yes, move forward."

In the distance, a bell tolled—the knell of mourning. It struck against the palace walls, and it struck the heart of every person in the Yan Dynasty. The old era fell with the sound of the bell, and the chapter belonging to the new Emperor began to unfold from those solemn chimes.