From cute to empress

Chapter 152 The country is peaceful and the people are safe

Golden sunlight bathed the entire palace, casting a dazzling radiance on the vermilion walls. Standing on a high platform, I gazed down at the jubilant crowd below. Colorful flags fluttered in the wind, their faces brimming with joy at having survived a catastrophe and anticipating the future.

After months of fighting the epidemic, the plague that had devastated most of the country was finally eradicated. I will never forget the days and nights when Dr. Sun tirelessly researched prescriptions, and when Zhen Youcai led soldiers toil day and night to deliver medicine and food to where they were most needed. And then there were the doctors and volunteers fighting on the front lines, disregarding their own safety and risking their lives to protect the health of the people.

"My dear ministers, my people," my voice echoed throughout the square through the amplified instrument. "Today, we gather together to celebrate this hard-earned victory! This victory belongs to everyone who has worked hard to fight the epidemic!"

My eyes swept over the familiar faces in the audience, my heart filled with gratitude. I saw County Magistrate Li. He had lost considerable weight, but he looked energetic, his eyes gleaming with joy. I also saw Divine Doctor Sun. He was still dressed in plain clothes, but his already gray beard seemed to have turned even grayer. However, the smile on his face was brighter than ever.

"Here, I want to especially thank two heroes," I paused, my eyes landing on Zhen Youcai in the crowd. "One is Dr. Sun, who worked tirelessly to develop a medicine to combat the plague. The other is General Zhen, who guarded the border. He orchestrated and ensured the timely supply of medicinal herbs and food."

As soon as I finished speaking, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. I saw Zhen Youcai raise his head, his gaze piercing the crowd and resting on me. At that moment, my heart skipped a beat, and a warm feeling welled up inside me.

"No one is born omnipotent, but there are always people willing to shoulder the burden to protect others," I took a deep breath and continued, "Today's victory is the result of the joint efforts of all of us. I believe that as long as we unite as one, no difficulty can stop us from moving forward!"

My speech ended, and the crowd burst into applause again. I stepped down from the podium and prepared to return to my seat. However, at this moment, the master of ceremonies loudly announced...

The ceremonial officer announced loudly, "General Zhen, please step forward to receive your honor!" My heart couldn't help but tighten as I followed Zhen Youcai's figure. He was dressed in military uniform, walking upright onto the podium to accept the emperor's commendation.

"Zhen Youcai accepted the task at a critical moment and made effective arrangements, ensuring the delivery of anti-epidemic supplies. He is truly a key figure in our dynasty. I hereby designate him as 'Anti-epidemic Hero' and award him with a thousand taels of gold and one hundred acres of fertile farmland!"

The audience erupted in thunderous cheers, and I could almost feel the ground shaking slightly. I looked at him, and he glanced back. His eyes were deep and piercing, as if they reached through the crowd and penetrated my heart. In that moment, everything around us vanished, leaving only the two of us staring at each other. Time seemed to stand still.

My cheeks flushed slightly, and I hastily looked away. Then, Dr. Sun was awarded the title of "Medical Saint" and appointed the chief imperial physician.

"I am old and should be enjoying my retirement," Doctor Sun took the imperial edict tremblingly, but his face was full of a relieved smile, "but if I can do my little bit for the health of the people, I will not refuse even if it means death!"

My heart is also deeply moved. These people who silently contribute to the country and the people are the real heroes.

After the celebration, I kept Zhen Youcai and Dr. Sun to catch up with them.

"This time, thanks to you, General Zhen," I said to Zhen Youcai with a smile, "If you hadn't delivered the herbs in time, the consequences would have been disastrous."

"Everything I have done is for Your Majesty and for the people." Zhen Youcai knelt on one knee, raised his head, and looked at me with a stern gaze. "Your Majesty, I am willing to sacrifice my life for you, even if it means death!"

I was startled by his sudden action and was about to speak when I heard a noise coming from outside the door.

"What's going on?" I frowned and turned to look outside the door.

A guard rushed in and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, Wu Yaoshang is crying out for justice outside the palace, saying..."

After talking for a long time, the guard did not continue. He just lowered his head and stammered.

"What did he say?" I had a bad feeling in my heart.

"He said..." The guard took a deep breath, as if he had finally made up his mind. "He said he has evidence that Divine Doctor Sun and General Zhen are colluding to hoard and inflate drug prices!"

"How dare you!" I slammed the table, seething with rage. "I know exactly what kind of people Divine Doctor Sun and General Zhen are! Pharmacist Wu is clearly framing a loyal and honest person!"

"Your Majesty, calm down," the silent Doctor Sun suddenly spoke up. "A man of integrity has nothing to fear. Since the drug dealer Wu has evidence, let him produce it. I have practiced medicine all my life and have a clear conscience!"

Zhen Youcai also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am also willing to accept any investigation. I am wholeheartedly serving the country and have absolutely no selfish motives!"

"Okay! Someone, call the medicine dealer Wu!"

Soon, the medicine merchant Wu was brought up. He was dressed in brocade, but his eyes couldn't hide the cunning and viciousness in his eyes. Upon seeing me, he immediately knelt and cried, "Your Majesty, please understand! I am wronged! Doctor Sun and General Zhen colluded to hoard medicine and drive up prices. I was forced to do this..."

"That's enough!" I interrupted him sharply. "You keep saying you have evidence, but where is it?"

Drug dealer Wu pulled out a stack of papers from his pocket and held them high above his head. "Here's the evidence! This is the account book of the private transactions between Divine Doctor Sun and General Zhen, as well as the letters they exchanged!"

I took the "evidence" presented by the guard and carefully read it. The account records were detailed, and the contents of the letters seemed intimate. If I didn't know Dr. Sun and Zhen Youcai well, I would probably have believed the lies of Wu the medicine merchant.

I threw the "evidence" in front of Wu Yaoshang and said, "Do you think you can frame a loyal and honest person with just these fabricated evidence?"

Wu Yaoshang's expression changed. "Your Majesty, everything I said is true. This evidence is absolutely solid!"

"Really?" I sneered, "Come here, call the coroner Zhao!"

A moment later, Zhao, the coroner, hurried over carrying a box. I pointed at the "evidence" on the ground and ordered, "Take a good look at these things for me. Are they real or fake?"

After a careful inspection, the coroner Zhao said with certainty, "Your Majesty, these papers have been recently processed, and the writing on them is written with a special ink that disappears when exposed to water. They are forgeries!"

Wu Yaoshang's face suddenly turned pale and he collapsed to the ground.

I looked at him coldly and said word by word, "Wu, the drug dealer, you are blinded by greed, fabricating evidence, and framing a loyal and honest person. Your crime is unforgivable! Come, take him to prison and punish him according to the law! All his illegal gains must be confiscated and used to build medical facilities and help the poor!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Doctor Sun and Zhen Youcai said in unison.

I nodded and looked at the silent County Magistrate Li. "Sir Li, you have made great contributions to this epidemic. I have decided to promote you to the position of Chief Executive of the Capital Region. Are you willing?"

County Magistrate Li knelt down excitedly to express his gratitude. "I thank you for your grace! I will live up to your Majesty's expectations and work for the well-being of the people!"

I nodded in satisfaction, but my eyes stumbled upon a sachet that had fallen to the ground when Wu Yaoshang was dragged away by the guards. That sachet's design...why did it look so familiar?

"Wait," I called to the guard, "bring that sachet over here for me to see."

The guard presented the sachet to me, and I took it. A faint plum blossom fragrance filled my nostrils. This fragrance, this embroidery... it was clearly the sachet Taoist Zhou often used!

Could it be that the person behind Medicine Merchant Wu is actually Taoist Zhou?!

I immediately ordered Taoist Zhou to be escorted to the palace.

When Taoist Zhou was brought up, his face was pale, but he couldn't hide the panic in his eyes. When he saw the sachet in my hand, his face turned ashen, knowing that everything he had done was exposed.

"Master Zhou, why are you doing this?" I asked in a deep voice.

Taoist Zhou knelt down dejectedly, "Your Majesty, I was confused for a moment and was bewitched by others, which is why I made such a big mistake..."

I stared into his eyes. "Bewitched? Who is bewitching you?"

Taoist Zhou hesitated for a moment, but finally said a name. I was shocked when I heard it. I didn't expect it to be him!

I suppressed my anger and continued to interrogate Taoist Zhou, eventually learning the full story of how he spread rumors and framed loyal officials. It turned out that he wasn't the mastermind, but merely a pawn being used.

I took a deep breath and ordered Taoist Zhou to be taken away and kept under strict supervision.

This farce finally came to an end.

The celebration banquet was held as scheduled, and the entire capital was immersed in a sea of ​​joy. The people sang and danced, celebrating their survival and praising the achievements of me and those heroes who fought against the epidemic.

I stood on the high platform, overlooking the jubilant crowd, my heart filled with joy and emotion.

Zhen Youcai was standing next to me, with a faint smile on his face, but there seemed to be a hint of imperceptible worry hidden in that smile.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked softly.

Zhen Youcai came back to his senses and shook his head. "Nothing, I just feel... all this has been too difficult."

"Yes," I sighed, "Only after going through the ups and downs can we cherish the beauty in front of us more."

After the celebration banquet, Zhen Youcai and I strolled hand in hand through the streets of Beijing. The moonlight cast our shadows very long.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" I asked suddenly.

"Of course I remember," Zhen Youcai said with a smile, "At that time..."

He paused and looked at me with burning eyes.

"You were a reckless little girl at that time, and you ran into my arms." Zhen Youcai laughed heartily, and his star-like eyes were filled with my reflection.

"No, it's obviously you..." My retort was drowned in his gentle gaze. Yes, from our initial encounter, to our battles together, to our current understanding and companionship, every scene unfolded in my mind like a picture scroll.

We walked in silence, no one spoke, but the tacit understanding between us was worth more than a thousand words. The moonlight gently sprinkled on us, as if covering us with a veil.

Before we knew it, we were at the lakeside of the Imperial Garden. The night breeze blew, rippling the surface of the lake, reflecting the stars in the sky and our figures leaning against each other.

"Mengmeng," Zhen Youcai suddenly stopped and looked at me affectionately, "I love you. From the first time I saw you, my heart has been completely occupied by you. Are you willing to..."

His voice was trembling, his eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety. My heart was beating wildly, almost as if it was about to burst out of my throat.

"I do." I answered without hesitation, my voice soft but firm.

Hearing my answer, Zhen Youcai smiled with relief. He gently held me in his arms. I snuggled against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, my heart filled with happiness and peace.

"Mengmeng, I will spend my whole life protecting you, protecting this country, and protecting our people." Zhen Youcai whispered in my ear.

"I believe in you." I raised my head and looked at him firmly. "Let's work together to create a better future."

After the celebrations, the night in Beijing was exceptionally peaceful, its stars twinkling as if witnessing the couple's happiness and steadfastness. Their story will become a legend in this country's history, inspiring future generations to pursue justice and love.

"Report——"

At this moment, a hurried voice broke the tranquility of the night...