With the cannon fodder script in hand, it is easy for the king to change his fate

"From what I can see, she does have some ability, but her appetite is too big, and many of her ideas are unrealistic. There is a difference between governing a large country and governing only a small Yunzhou," Yuan Cheng continued. "Her ideas are truly fanciful and absurd!"

"Just wait and see. If this continues, she'll realize the consequences. Being a monarch is no easy task."

Dou Yuexin sighed inwardly as she looked at the anger and jealousy on Yuan Cheng's face.

What kind of woman could conquer the chaotic land of Yunzhou and win the hearts of the people? Throughout history, how many people have been able to do that? It's normal for her to be envied.

"Could you tell me about the situation in Yunzhou? It sounds quite unusual," Dou Yuexin said casually, as if she were genuinely curious.

Yuan Cheng's face flashed with disdain, but he still sized up Dou Yuexin. Seeing that she was indeed curious and just wanted to hear some amusement, he immediately perked up. Recently, his relationship with his mother had become closer again. After going through so much, only his mother would always stand behind him.

Those concubines all had their own agendas.

Those ministers are already doing well by not opposing him; they're so obedient now because they know that if they don't find a way out, none of them will have a good ending.

Yuan Cheng was quite patient this time, selectively recounting the news brought back by the envoy. His tone was dismissive and indifferent, even doubting that this approach would manage Yunzhou well, believing it would inevitably lead to problems sooner or later. While speaking, he would occasionally interject with his own opinions, sometimes inexplicably becoming angry and launching into scathing criticisms.

Seeing that Dou Yuexin was only listening and not interrupting, he became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke, as if he needed to vent his emotions to feel better.

Dou Yuexin lowered her eyes slightly, her face expressionless, but a strange light flickered in her eyes that were looking down.

Is there really a place like Yunzhou in the world?

It's a miracle.

If King Canglan hadn't wanted to annex the State of Chu, she really would have wanted to go and see for herself.

No wonder, no wonder the people of the border town were willing to open their gates and let the Canglan army into the city, and willingly become subjects of the Canglan King.

To be valued and respected by the monarch, to be well-fed and clothed, and even to be treated as an equal by officials—who else in the world could achieve such a thing?

In just a few years, Yunzhou has achieved such results in governance. Once more and more people know about the situation, they will probably all look forward to such days.

Of course, this excludes those who are usually high and mighty.

"Mother, isn't this ridiculous? Women are supposed to obey their husbands, yet the King of Canglan sets rules even for such a small matter. If a woman is unhappy with her husband taking a concubine and is beaten by him, she can go to the government office to file for divorce. There's even a new rule that taking a concubine requires the wife's consent... Could there be some terrible punishment over there that makes all those men agree to such a rule?" Yuan Cheng imagined, "It's really too absurd."

"If this continues, won't the women over there turn the world upside down and start riding on the heads of the men?"

"I don't know why the people over there would support King Canglan. It's impossible that the women over there would also participate in the war, right?"

"Mother?" Yuan Cheng called out again when he noticed that Dou Yuexin did not answer.

Dou Yuexin finally came to her senses and said, "I never expected such a miraculous thing to happen. So, Cheng'er, didn't you ask the envoys sent there if there were any women serving as officials or participating in the war?"

Yuan Cheng was taken aback, but seeing that Dou Yuexin still looked curious, he said, "That wasn't mentioned. The envoy had important business to attend to and didn't stay for more than two days. Besides, Yunzhou probably wouldn't allow the envoy to inquire about these things casually."

"It's really strange that no one is making a fuss over there, even after all this," Dou Yuexin said, still looking somewhat surprised. Yuan Cheng didn't notice anything and continued to offer his opinions.

Dou Yuexin's mind wandered again.

Unlike the states of Chu and Liang, Yunzhou was not home to countless powerful families whose connections were like a spider web. While seemingly orderly, this was actually the most difficult situation for a monarch to manage.

They were governed by the monarch, yet they also constrained the monarch. Throughout the centuries, there have been a few monarchs who considered eliminating these powerful families. They succeeded, but it is impossible to completely eradicate these families. When the old ones are gone, new ones will appear; no, it should be said that they always find a way to secure their own future.

The situation in Yunzhou was different; people from all walks of life fled there.

Apart from a few bullies, most of them were people who couldn't survive in their current location.

Once some of the malignant tumors are eradicated, and the remaining people are well-fed, clothed, and live a stable life, why would they resist being controlled?
This King Canglan is truly an extraordinary person.

Unfortunately, she was an enemy of the State of Chu.

"Is Mother tired?" Seeing Dou Yuexin propping her head up as if she was about to fall asleep, Yuan Cheng finally stopped talking.

There was nothing new to report from Yuan Cheng, so Dou Yuexin nodded and watched him leave.

"Do you think the Canglan King can win?" Dou Yuexin asked Lan Hua beside her.

Orchid dared not answer, but kept her head down and said some words that were beneficial to the State of Chu and to appease people.

Dou Yuexin smiled and said nothing more.

She knew, of course, that Lan Hua was afraid.

We should also be afraid, because if we say the wrong thing, we could lose our lives.

In truth, as the Empress Dowager, she had to be careful with her words, especially at this time. Yes, she was the high and mighty Empress Dowager, holding the lives and deaths of countless people in the harem in her hands. She had once thought herself invincible, a winner.

She didn't know when it started, but she suddenly felt like a joke.

It seems that it was when she heard that the King of Canglan in Yunzhou was a woman that she began to think a lot. As more and more information came in, she realized that it was really ridiculous for her to be so fixated on this small matter.

Both being women, yet King Canglan was able to conquer Yunzhou and seize cities from the Chu and Liang kingdoms. Just what kind of person was she?

Her long-suppressed emotions erupted at that moment, filling her with resentment, but she knew there was nothing she could do.

Meanwhile, in Yunzhou, not long after the Chu envoy left, the Liang envoy arrived.

She treated the Liang envoy the same way as before, and the Liang envoy was so angry that he turned red in the face and had no choice but to leave.

She dares to make such a statement now because she is fully prepared and not afraid of being attacked from both Liang and Chu.

"Your Majesty, this King Canglan is far too arrogant!"

"Since the Chu Kingdom is willing to cooperate, why not take this opportunity to teach King Canglan a lesson and make her understand that women should stay at home to have children and not show their faces in public and embarrass themselves?"

After the courtiers finished speaking in a cacophony, they looked up and saw that Li Gufang was actually dozing off. They were furious, but dared not actually curse him.

"His Majesty!"

What happened to you?
You weren't like this before!

At this moment, they would much rather His Majesty stand up and oppose them than let them do as they pleased. (End of Chapter)