Chapter 263: What’s All This For?

"How could we possibly refuse new territory?"

"If we can conquer the Southern Domain, our dynasty’s borders will extend once again, reaching farther than ever in history. Da Wei will be unprecedented in its greatness."

"But the Southern Domain is full of poison barriers. It’s not a very good place, and it will be difficult to govern."

"What’s the big deal? We can just use the Southern Domain People to govern themselves, can’t we? Her Majesty has established academies. We can just grab a few... I mean, *invite* a few Southern Domain People to study. Once they’ve completed their education and returned, won’t they be able to govern?"

"Right. And we’ll pair them with our own Da Wei officials and military generals. Through integrated governance and cultural exchange, we’ll eventually be able to assimilate them completely into Da Wei. Look, aren’t Xirong and Beimeng doing just fine?"

"A hundred years ago, the Southern Domain was known as the Baihua Country. Flowers bloomed everywhere, it was rich in medicinal herbs, and it had numerous jade mines. Aside from the miasma, it is indeed a rare and fertile land."

All in all, everyone wanted this piece of land. Even though it wasn’t theirs, as courtiers of the greatest nation in the world, they shared in the glory.

Then there was the professional flatterer: "Your Majesty’s fortune is profound, heaven blesses Da Wei, and the ancestors are also watching over Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is destined to become an unprecedented emperor for the ages, reigning for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, your name immortalized forever."

Xiao Yang’s lips twitched into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Fine. You all said it. I’ll remember who shouted the loudest. When trouble brews in the Southern Domain, you’ll be the first ones I send to sort it out."

The entire group fell silent.

Xiao Yang sneered. "Someone, relay My decree. We march on the Southern Domain."

"Yes!"

Just as Xiao Yang had expected, after she agreed, the memorials concerning the Southern Domain piled up into a small mountain, and her workload surged.

Xiao Yang pulled Rong Yin right over and pushed him into a seat. "Write."

Rong Yin, however, was unperturbed. "Is Your Majesty really so trusting?"

Xiao Yang said, "Even if I weren’t, what could you possibly do?"

Rong Yin had no ambition, but his eyes clearly demanded a reward.

Xiao Yang’s lips twitched. "Drink with me tonight," she said.

That meant she had agreed.

To this day, Rong Yin held the title of Regent King and wielded the power of the vermilion brush. Some did worry that he would overstep his authority and seize control of the government.

But in reality, their worries were clearly unfounded.

Rong Yin had no such desire. He wanted power, but only enough; he did not covet Imperial Power.

And Xiao Yang was no fool. Though she found all sorts of ways to cut corners and be lazy, she never let slip the reins she needed to hold.

On the surface, the Regent King was Rong Yin, but Xiao Lv had long possessed the same level of authority, effectively making him a second Regent King.

And while Xu Ling didn’t have as much power, her very presence represented the Xu Family’s stance.

Xiao Yang was not an Emperor who enjoyed playing with schemes and conspiracies, so there were few personal vendettas among the courtiers.

On the surface, things seemed harmonious. In reality, it was like different rivers flowing into the same great stream, their currents not mixing, subtly vying for dominance.

Being an Emperor wasn’t about being strong enough to suppress everyone. It was about everyone being in their proper place, with the Emperor at the unshakable center, the point of balance.

The most crucial point: the Emperor was not ruled by love.

Her four prospective Imperial Consorts represented four different factions. Her Majesty bestowed her favor equally, showing no partiality, and would never let loving one more than the others affect her judgment.

A true heaven-sent Emperor.

Conquering the Southern Domain was not difficult.

Da Wei’s cannons and gunpowder had flattened Xirong and Beimeng; dealing with the Southern Domain was a trivial matter.

As for the Southern Domain’s Poisonous Gu, a countermeasure had long been secured, and the poison barriers could also be broken.

The Southern Domain King was eliminated, the royal palace was occupied, and the Holy Land was bombed. The war was fought with ease.

The grand army marched in, and in less than a month, the entire Southern Domain was reclaimed.

It took another month to stabilize the Southern Domain. Finally, the army returned to the capital in triumph, just in time for the Emperor’s birthday.

Another country conquered, another tribute to the Emperor’s longevity.

Xiao Yang: "..." ’Heh heh! Do I *look* happy to you?’

Xiao Ziling and the others had not yet returned when a battle report, sent by 800-li express, was rushed into the Imperial Palace.

"Report! The Beimeng King is fighting the Longchuan army at Taiyin Mountain! We request reinforcements from Your Majesty!"

Xiao Yang fell silent for a moment. ’Taiyin Mountain seems to be on the edge of Mo Chuan, which is indeed next to Longchuan.’

’But why would Xiao Kun start a fight with the Longchuan people?’

The battle report was presented. Xiao Yang took one look and understood.

The original Beimeng people, the ones who had been driven out earlier, had fought dozens of skirmishes with Xiao Kun. Unable to win, they fled to Longchuan to seek an alliance.

Whether the King Longchuan was willing or not was irrelevant. What mattered was that his uncle, who held significant military power, was more than willing. So, he collaborated with the Beimeng people and started another fight with Xiao Kun at Taiyin Mountain.

Xiao Kun had sent an urgent message requesting artillery support, as his previous supply was clearly insufficient.

Xiao Yang summoned Li Wei, Prince Jing, and Mu Yunlian. Prince Jing expedited the dispatch of cannons, Li Wei arranged for soldiers to relay orders, and Mu Yunlian sent people to investigate covertly.

Every detail had to be calculated.

With everything arranged, Xiao Yang thought nothing major would happen.

As it turned out, on the very day of her birthday, a victory report arrived.

The good news: Xiao Kun and his forces had won.

The bad news: they had "accidentally" fought their way into Longchuan and captured one of their cities.

Xiao Yang smiled. ’It’s fine, just one city.’

’As long as Longchuan offers up some treasures, we can let them ransom it back.’

But obviously, that wasn’t going to happen.

Longchuan and Xiao Kun were now at war.

They had originally intended to recapture the occupied city, but they lost.

Just then, Xiao Kun received news that the Empress had conquered the Southern Domain. Seizing the momentum, he charged straight toward Longchuan.

His gunpowder and personnel were fully supplied, and morale was high. What was there to wait for? ’Charge!’

Every day after that, victory reports flooded in.

They arrived as punctually as a scheduled alarm clock.

This continued for a full half-month until, finally, a red-bordered victory dispatch was delivered to Jinluan Palace.

"Report! The Beimeng King has stormed the Longchuan royal palace and conquered Longchuan in one fell swoop!"

The entire court, both civil and military officials, was overjoyed, but they maintained restrained smiles.

After so many days of victory reports, this outcome was only to be expected. There was no need to make a fuss.

They were courtiers who had seen the world now. ’Stay calm!’

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Yang glanced at them, then said to Xiao Lan, "Go and find Xiao Qing."

Xiao Qing was very excited when he was summoned.

’His father had achieved great merit. Surely Her Majesty would see their loyalty this time, right? Could they get some better treatment?’

’But why is Her Majesty meeting me at the training grounds?’

Seeing the Emperor dressed in training clothes and holding a wooden staff, Xiao Qing was bewildered. "Your Majesty?"

Xiao Yang casually tossed the wooden staff in her hand. "I’ll give you a chance. We’ll use this small space as our ring. If you don’t fall off within two quarters of an hour, I’ll send you to Longchuan to be the Prince Longchuan."

Xiao Qing said, "What Prince Longchuan? This subject does not understand Your Majesty’s meaning."

Xiao Yang looked at him darkly. "Your father conquered Longchuan. I am preparing to name him the King Longchuan. If you go there, wouldn’t that make you the Prince Longchuan?"

Xiao Qing’s mouth twitched. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to be speechless at his father’s casually bestowed title or this whole "Prince Longchuan" business.

But he did understand one thing: the Emperor wanted to beat him up.

’Because his father won a war?’

It was utterly baffling, but he still obediently picked up a staff and prepared to fight.

His experience of getting beaten up in the Capital City over the past year had taught him one thing: when the Emperor picks up a staff to hit you, it’s best to give it your all.

’If the Emperor is willing to spar with you, it means things aren’t too bad.’

’Because when the Emperor truly wants you dead, no one will ever know how you died.’

Xiao Qing took a beating, but he stubbornly refused to fall off the platform.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to fall; it was that every time he was about to, the Emperor would grab him, pull him back, and continue the beating.

He swore this was the most vicious beating he had received since coming to the Capital City.

In the end, bruised and swollen, he received the imperial edict ennobling his father as king and was told to deliver it personally.

’Telling him to deliver the edict? Letting him reunite with his parents?’

’She was... just letting him go like that?’