Chapter 264: I, in Da Wei, Wish You Lasting Peace

Xiao Qing traveled toward Longchuan for half a month, the path growing more and more remote.

"..."

Xiao Qing stared out at a barren wasteland. There were no trees, no cities, no signs of life.

’Where in the world did Dad go?’

Fortunately, after another half day of travel, he entered Longchuan’s territory and finally spotted a city.

’Hmm, how should I put it.’

It was similar enough to Da Wei’s border cities, but as Xiao Qing continued toward the Longchuan capital, Keruo City, he began to feel the disparity.

Da Wei’s Capital City was as prosperous as the Immortal Capital itself. And it wasn’t just the capital; even the surrounding cities were visibly affluent.

The fabrics of people’s clothes were more vibrant, newspapers were distributed throughout the cities, and all sorts of bicycles weaved through the streets and alleys.

Looking beyond the small details, the general atmosphere of thriving prosperity and peaceful contentment was hard to match anywhere else.

Although Longchuan was suffering from war and the threat of annihilation, his father and uncles had only fought against armies, not harmed civilians. Even if the people were frightened, they shouldn’t look so numb and pitiful.

For some reason, an unparalleled sense of pride at being one of the Da Wei people suddenly filled him.

Xiao Kun and his men knew the Empress was sending an envoy, so they had made preparations for a reception well in advance.

To show the importance he placed on the visit, he even took several of his trusted confidants outside the city to greet the envoy.

But when the procession arrived, it was his son who jumped down from the carriage.

"Dad!"

Xiao Kun’s eyes widened in an instant. "What are you doing here?"

A group of his uncles immediately rushed forward enthusiastically. "The young master is back."

"He’s gotten taller! And stronger!"

"Paler, and thinner!"

"Still a bit dark, and so haggard."

Having been sidelined in the Capital City for so long, Xiao Qing was a little overwhelmed by his uncles’ warmth.

"Dad, Uncle, the imperial edict! Her Majesty sent me to deliver it."

Xiao Qing quickly returned to the carriage and brought out the box containing the edict.

When he turned around, Xiao Kun and the others were all kneeling on the ground.

Xiao Qing’s legs went weak. "Dad, what are you all doing?"

Wen Rang soothed him. "Ah Qing, don’t panic. We are kneeling to the Empress. Since you are Her Majesty’s envoy, you must complete the task assigned to you."

The ones who had escorted Xiao Qing were the Black Dragon Guards; they had to show the Empress their loyalty.

Xiao Qing had thought he could just show the edict to his father directly, but seeing this scene, he knew he had no choice but to read it aloud.

Trembling, he opened the sealed box, took out the bright yellow imperial edict embroidered with a five-colored divine dragon, and unrolled it. He took a quick glance at the contents and almost dropped it.

Her Majesty had said she would ennoble his father as the King of Longchuan and have him garrison Longchuan. This was indeed an edict of ennoblement, but this kind of ennoblement seemed different from what he had imagined.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Da Wei Empress proclaims: Xiao Kun, a member of our Xiao Family, is possessed of both civil and military virtues, a man of great vision and statecraft. He is a capable minister in times of peace and a formidable hero in times of chaos. Though he moved to the bitter cold of Mo Chuan, his loyalty never wavered. He has guarded the border without complaint or regret. Today, he has driven out the enemy and expanded our territory, a meritorious subject of this age. The Xiao Royal Family is blessed to have such a capable man, and We are deeply gratified. We now decree Mo Chuan as the border and name Xiao Kun the King of Longchuan, granting him this land to rule autonomously. We hope you will put the people first and walk the path of benevolence. As members of the Xiao bloodline, we shall watch over and aid one another. From Da Wei, We wish you everlasting peace. By Imperial Decree!"

After the edict was read, a long silence followed.

Xiao Qing suddenly felt the edict in his hands become heavy, while Xiao Kun and the others were too shocked to speak.

This was less an edict of ennoblement and more a letter of recognition.

The Empress recognized Xiao Kun’s abilities, his status as a member of the Xiao Royal Family, and his achievements.

And now, she was willing to let him establish himself as a king in Longchuan.

’As members of the Xiao bloodline, we shall watch over and aid one another. From Da Wei, We wish you everlasting peace!’

The words were enough to make these grizzled old men’s eyes well up with tears.

Wen Rang sighed with emotion. "The Empress... her magnanimity and benevolence are truly admirable."

Xiao Kun kowtowed deeply, with a piety he had never felt before. "Your subject, Xiao Kun, accepts this decree! My deepest thanks to the Empress!"

Xiao Kun took the edict and held it himself. Xiao Qing was surrounded by his uncles, all curious about what his life in Da Wei had been like.

They had been curious after the letter Xiao Qing had written, but now, seeing the Empress’s impeccable character, their curiosity grew even stronger.

After reading the edict, Xiao Qing’s own feelings were too complicated for words. As they pulled him aside and started asking questions, he didn’t have the mind to choose his words carefully and simply spoke from the heart.

"Ah Qing, what kind of person is Her Majesty?"

"Her Majesty is... very special." So special he couldn’t describe her with a single adjective.

"Then what does she look like?"

"Her Majesty is handsome and valiant, and also very beautiful, but in a cool and commanding way." Xiao Qing felt his own description was a jumble.

"Ah Qing, what’s the Capital City like?"

"Ah Qing, is the Imperial Palace fun?"

"Ah Qing, how does Her Majesty treat you?"

"I heard there’s a contraption in the Capital City called a bicycle, that it can move on its own without a horse or an ox, and it’s really fast, is that true?"

The group peppered him with questions from all sides. Seeing Xiao Qing was about to faint, Wen Rang stepped in and shooed them away. "Don’t crowd him! Let Ah Qing catch his breath. How can he answer so many questions at once with just one mouth?"

Only then did the crowd back off a little.

Xiao Qing took a long moment to recover before he began to speak slowly.

"The Capital City is massive. Her Majesty established the Research Institute to study agriculture, engineering, and medicine, as well as various academies so that children from common families, both boys and girls, can get an education."

"The Ministry of Industry has developed cannons, grenades, and firearms, as well as farm tools, carts, waterwheels, bicycles, tricycles..."

"Her Majesty encourages production and learning. She has opened academies and invested heavily in them. The map of the Capital City has doubled in size. The streets are bustling, drawing merchants from all over the world. Treasures are piled like mountains, and goods are dazzling to behold. It’s like the Immortal Capital."

"Her Majesty treats me very well. My food, clothing, and lodging have never been lacking. She had me study under Grand Tutor Xu and train in martial arts with Great General Li. I’ve benefited greatly."

"Her Majesty can also be quite temperamental. She’ll go out and have fun on a whim, and she’ll even beat people up when she’s in a bad mood. Her martial arts are superb, her intellect is without equal, she is worldly and far-sighted, magnanimous and tolerant..."

Xiao Qing didn’t even realize he could use so many positive words to describe the Empress.

He had been in the Capital City for so long, and the Empress had never treated him with any special favor.

Even in the Rainbow Group, he was at the bottom of the pack. Other than mocking him for being a rookie when Li Wei was beating him up, the Empress barely paid him any mind.

The two times she had summoned him for a private audience were, on one occasion, mental torture, and on the other, physical torture.

But even so, when he thought back on it, he could only remember Her Majesty’s good qualities.

A woman on the throne, wielding Imperial Power, purging the corrupt, sweeping away rebel armies, and expanding the borders.

In her hands, a nation became incomparably strong. The imperial court became an impregnable fortress. Under her rule, the people grew more prosperous, living and working in peace and contentment.

She is willful but has principles, reckless but rational, passionate but not promiscuous.

Noble, powerful, beautiful. She works for the good of the nation and its people, possessing a unique vision, unparalleled intellect, and a broad mind. Most importantly, she looks down upon the world with an imposing and domineering aura.

A person like that is too dazzling. So dazzling that no one who sees her can help but be captivated.

Awe and adoration bloomed spontaneously from the bottom of his heart.