Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Spring of the fifteenth year of Jinghe.

Ten years have passed since the Emperor and Empress's wedding.

It has been exactly eleven years since the new policy was promulgated.

That year, a small incident occurred—

A poor student named Zhou Nian became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

This is not unusual.

What's unusual is that Zhou Nian is a woman.

-

The capital city, the Jixian Academy.

Zhou Nian knelt before Shen Qingci, holding the list of successful candidates in her hands, her eyes red with tears.

"Your Majesty...this humble woman..."

She didn't know how to address herself.

Can a woman refer to herself as "臣" (chen, meaning subject/subject)?

Shen Qingci looked at her and smiled slightly.

"Zhou Zhuangyuan, rise."

Zhou Nian was startled.

Zhou Zhuangyuan.

It is neither "the commoner" nor "that woman".

It is "Zhou Zhuangyuan".

She kowtowed deeply, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Your subject... Zhou Nian, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great kindness!"

-

Zhou Nian's story spread throughout the land.

Some say this is an unprecedented event in a thousand years.

Some say this is the best proof of a prosperous and peaceful era.

Some people even dug up new policies from eleven years ago and read them aloud to their children and grandchildren:

"Women can attend school, take the imperial examinations, become officials, engage in commerce, establish female households, and inherit family property..."

"How many people cursed this as 'the collapse of morality and social order' back then?"

"And now?"

The old man, pointing to the female merchants, ladies, and officials walking by on the street, asked with a smile:

Has the world collapsed?

The children and grandchildren shook their heads.

"So, is the world better or worse?"

The children and grandchildren thought for a moment, then said in unison:

"alright."

The old man stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

-

In the fifteenth year of Jinghe, things truly improved.

The Ministry of Personnel's triennial performance evaluation became the most dreaded day for all officials.

The greedy are dismissed, the mediocre are removed from office, the capable are promoted, and the honest are rewarded.

After eleven years, the atmosphere in the imperial court has been completely transformed.

No one dared to be greedy.

Because of his corruption, he not only lost his official position, but his family property was also confiscated.

No one dares to be lazy.

Because of laziness, the evaluation result was "mediocre," and he was directly dismissed.

No one dared to bully the common people.

Because ordinary people can sue officials—if they win, the officials lose their positions; if they lose, they don't have to bear any responsibility.

A prefect was dismissed and exiled after being reported for accepting an extra three coins as "tribute" from the people.

As he left, he cried out, "Three coins! Just three coins!"

The guards sneered, "Three coins is a small matter, but breaking the rules is a big deal."

The prefect was speechless.

-

The national treasury was so full that the Minister of Revenue was always frowning.

"I have too much silver, and nowhere to put it!"

This is the most Versailles-like line from the fifteenth year of Jinghe.

Upon hearing this, Qian Sihai burst out laughing.

"Sir, you are unaware of your good fortune. Back when Jinxiufang first opened, I wished I could split every penny in half to spend."

The Minister of Revenue sighed, "That's you. I'm truly worried—so much silver can't just sit idle in the treasury, can it?"

Shen Qingci listened and said calmly:

"Then cut taxes."

The Minister of Revenue was taken aback: "Tax reduction?"

"Only when the people are wealthy can the nation truly be wealthy. What's the use of silver piled up in the treasury if the people are struggling to make ends meet?"

Therefore, in the autumn of the fifteenth year of Jinghe, the imperial court issued a tax reduction decree—

Agricultural taxes were reduced by 30%, commercial taxes by 20%, and corvée labor by half.

When the news spread, the people cheered wildly.

Someone erected a monument at the village entrance, with only four characters inscribed on it:

"A Prosperous and Harmonious Era"

-

Cultural prosperity is also one of the biggest changes of the past decade.

Jixian Academy admits a large number of students from impoverished families every year, regardless of gender.

With more readers, there are also more people writing books.

Some write poetry, some write history, some write plays, and some write... storybooks.

Someone even wrote a book called "The Annals of the Emperor and Empress", which described the story of Nangong Ye and Shen Qingci as dramatic and poignant.

When Shen Qingci saw this storybook, he remained silent for a long time.

"What's wrong?" Nangong Ye leaned closer to look. "Is it poorly written?"

Shen Qingci pointed to one of the passages: "It says here that you crippled me back then because you were bewitched by a love potion."

Nangong Ye: "...Is that so?"

"And here it is, saying that when I was in the Cold Palace, I would call your name to the moon every night."

Nangong Ye's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Shen Qingci glanced at him: "What do you think?"

Nangong Ye said awkwardly, "Then...then it must be fake."

Shen Qingci tossed the storybook aside: "Boring."

After a moment, she picked it up again and continued flipping through it.

Nangong Ye chuckled to himself.

-

The improvement in women's status is the most profound change of the past decade.

The daughter of the private tutor who knelt at the entrance of Jixian Academy and tremblingly wrote the three characters "Zhou Yunniang" is now a compiler at the Hanlin Academy and the chief editor of the national history.

Wang Dashu, the farmer who dared to sign up for the "Jixian Academy" despite being illiterate, is now an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue, in charge of land measurement.

Women who were beaten to death by their husbands' families and had nowhere to seek justice back then can now file complaints with the government, get divorced, establish their own households, and live as upright individuals.

The most popular teahouse in Beijing is run by a female owner.

The largest cloth shop in Jiangnan was run by a female merchant.

Even the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy was a female physician named Jinshu.

Yes, it's that little palace maid who protected Shen Qingci in the cold palace back then.

Today, she is the first female physician in the Imperial Medical Academy, in charge of women and children in the palace.

"Aunt Jinshu is so amazing!" Bao'er—who should now call her His Highness the Crown Prince—would praise Jinshu every time he saw her.

Jinshu would laugh and rub his head: "Your Highness is the real expert. If it weren't for your warning back then, Jiangnan would have been flooded long ago."

Bao'er would puff out her little chest and say, "That's right! Bao'er is the best!"

Heng'er and Yao'er, who were standing nearby, would then call out:

"My brother is the best!"

"My brother is the best!"

Bao'er was even more pleased with herself.

-

Nangong Ye's reputation as a "wise ruler" spread far and wide.

Some say he was the best emperor of the Nangong clan in three hundred years.

Some say that although he had his faults in his early years, he later worked hard to govern the country and readily accepted good advice, making him a truly wise and capable ruler.

Some say that his greatest achievement was marrying Shen Qingci.

Nangong Ye was not angry when he heard this.

"Yes," he said. "The best thing I ever did in my life was not letting the Empress die in the Cold Palace."

"Although it wasn't my doing back then, it was the Empress who survived on her own."

"But I was lucky and got a bargain."

Everyone laughed.

Shen Qingci smiled too.

-

Shen Qingci's reputation as a "virtuous empress" also spread far and wide.

Some say she is the most extraordinary woman in history—from deposed empress to empress, from merchant to regent, from assassin to saint.

Some say she is a blessing to women—if it weren't for her, how many more years would women in the world have been oppressed?

Some say she was the emperor's good fortune—if it weren't for her, Nangong Ye might have already...

The words were left unsaid, but everyone understood.

Shen Qingci simply smiled faintly upon hearing this.

"A virtuous empress?" She shook her head. "I am not virtuous."

"I just did what I wanted to do."

"Coincidentally, these things are beneficial to the people."

That's all.

-

June 18th, the fifteenth year of Jinghe.

The fifteenth anniversary of the Emperor and Empress's wedding.

There was no grand banquet for the officials, and no extravagance or waste.

A family of five had a family dinner in the courtyard of Kunning Palace.

Bao'er is thirteen years old and has grown into a handsome young man.

Heng'er and Yao'er are nine years old, which is the most boisterous age.

Shen Qingci sat in the courtyard, watching the three children run around.

Nangong Ye sat next to her, holding a cup of tea in his hand, but his eyes were always on her.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Qingci asked without turning his head.

"Looking at you," Nangong Ye said matter-of-factly. "I've been looking at you for fifteen years, and I haven't had enough."

Shen Qingci glanced at him.

"Glib-tongued."

Nangong Ye smiled, leaned closer, and whispered in her ear:

"Qingci, thank you."

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for coming from that world back then."

Thank you for staying.

"Thank you for giving me such a wonderful child."

"Thank you..." he paused, "for letting me live a human life."

Shen Qingci looked at him.

Looking at the gray hairs that had quietly appeared at his temples, at the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and at the unchanging gentleness in his eyes.

fifteen years.

This man transformed from a tyrant into a wise ruler.

From enemies to lovers.

From strangers to family.

She reached out and gently stroked his face.

"Ah Ye".

"Um?"

"Thank you too."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Shen Qingci did not answer.

I simply leaned on his shoulder, watching this scene unfold before me—

Bao'er was teaching Heng'er to practice swordsmanship, but Heng'er was clumsy and could never learn it, so she stomped her feet in frustration.

Yao'er laughed beside her, laughing so hard she almost fell over. She tripped and fell, but got up and continued laughing.

Jinshu came out carrying a plate of fruit, and Yao'er bumped into her, causing the fruit to roll all over the ground.

Grandpa Li, with his back hunched, slowly came over to help pick them up, muttering, "Slow down, slow down."

The sun is shining brightly.

The laughter was just right.

Everything is just right.

Shen Qingci said softly:

"Thank you for making all of this possible for me."

Nangong Ye remained silent.

He simply held her even tighter.

-

In the distance, outside the palace gates.

An elderly man with white hair and beard stood in the sun by the wall.

A young eunuch passed by and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, Grandpa Li!"

The old man waved his hand and continued to bask in the sun with a smile.

His name is Li Dequan.

Three-dynasty old servant.

Now, he doesn't have to do anything. He just sunbathes, plays with cats, and occasionally visits His Highness the Crown Prince and his children.

He is old.

I'm really getting old.

But his eyes were still so bright.

Because of the land he looked upon, and the people he protected—

Everything is fine.

-

Further north, in the north.

Xiao Jue stood on the city wall, gazing south.

He also has gray hair at his temples.

But his posture remained as upright as a pine tree.

The lieutenant approached and said softly, "General, a letter has arrived from the capital."

Xiao Jue took the letter and unfolded it.

The letter contained only a few words, written in Shen Qingci's own handwriting:

General Xiao:

"The children have all grown up and often talk about you."

"Bao'er said she wants to have a sword fight with you when you come back."

"Heng'er said he wants one too."

"Yao'er said she's cheering you on."

Take care of yourself.

"Qingci"

Xiao Jue looked at the letter, a slight smile curving his lips.

He put the letter away and kept it close to his body.

Then, continue looking south.

Look in that direction.

That direction he would always protect, but which would never belong to him.

The lieutenant said softly, "General, perhaps... you should go back and take a look?"

Xiao Jue shook his head.

"No need," he said. "Knowing they're good is enough."

He turned around and walked down the city wall.

Behind me, the north wind howled.

Banner hunting.

-

The fifteenth year of Jinghe passed just like that.

The golden age continues.

The story is almost over.

[End of this episode]

Next episode preview: The final chapter of the book. The Emperor and Empress stand hand in hand atop the palace walls, overlooking the myriad lights of the city. Nangong Ye asks: Qingci, if there is an afterlife, would you still want to meet me? Shen Qingci is silent for a moment, then smiles softly: That depends on whether you can find me.