The Second World in Ancient Times

Chapter 113 The King’s Support and the Husband and Wife’s Unity

Since becoming Queen, the bond between His Majesty and I has grown ever deeper, like twin lotus flowers blossoming together in the palace pond. Every day, I deeply feel His Majesty's support and trust. It is my unwavering support in this palace and the source of my unwavering motivation.

In the early morning, sunlight gently streamed across the courtyard of Fengyi Palace. I was reviewing the arrangements for harem affairs presented by a palace maid when the king quietly arrived. He was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, his figure erect, his face handsome yet dignified, yet his gaze transformed into an endless tenderness.

"My dear, are you busy so early?" The king's voice was low and magnetic, full of concern.

I stood up and saluted, smiling and responding, "Your Majesty, the harem is full of complicated matters, and arrangements must be made early to keep everything in order."

The king gently helped me up, took my hand and sat down with me. He said, "I have seen all the ways in which my beloved concubine governs the harem. You use both kindness and authority to keep the concubines in the harem obedient, while also maintaining your care and concern. This is truly the behavior of a virtuous queen."

My heart warmed, and I said, "Your Majesty, your praise is unmerited. This is all within my responsibility. Without Your Majesty's support and trust, even if I had a thousand talents, I would find it difficult to display them."

The king held my hand tightly and said, "My beloved concubine, please feel free to speak. I leave all the affairs of the harem to you. You don't need to worry about anything."

During a dispute among the concubines in the harem, one concubine, jealous of another's favor, secretly poisoned her tea. When the deed came to light, I decided to severely punish the poisoner, banishing her to the cold palace and reducing her family's influence in the court. This decision displeased the poisoner's family, who attempted to plead with the king in court, asking him to reverse my decision.

In the court, a minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, isn't the Queen's action too harsh? After all, it's just a minor friction between the women in the harem, and the family should not be implicated."

The king frowned slightly, looked at the minister, and said, "I have handed the affairs of the harem over to the Queen. The Queen's decision is my decision. This concubine poisoned someone with the intention of killing someone. If she is not severely punished, will the harem be in chaos? I trust the Queen's judgment, and there is no need to discuss this matter further."

Seeing that the king was so determined, the ministers lowered their heads and dared not say anything.

Afterwards, the king came to my palace and said to me, "My beloved, I know you have carefully considered this matter. I will always support you and will not allow anyone to shake your position."

I looked at the king gratefully and said, "Your Majesty, with your words, all my hard work is worth it."

I also actively participated in government affairs, offering advice to the king. One day, the king was in his study, worried about the war on the border. Upon learning of this, I came with the information I had compiled on the border's geography, customs, and enemy intelligence.

I walked into the royal study and saw the king with a worried look on his face. I said softly, "Your Majesty, I've heard about the situation on the border and am worried. So I've compiled some information that may be of some help to Your Majesty."

The king raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise. "My beloved, you always appear when I need you most. Come here and tell me what you think."

I walked up to the king and pointed at the information. "Your Majesty, the borderlands are dangerous. Although the enemy is coming in force, they have traveled a long way and have long supply lines. We can set up an ambush along the way to cut off their supplies. At the same time, we can unite with the tribes on the border to fight the foreign enemy together."

The king listened attentively, nodding occasionally. "My beloved concubine, your idea is very insightful. I have considered this before, but we must proceed with caution when uniting tribes, so as not to invite trouble."

After a moment's thought, I said, "Your Majesty, I believe we can select some loyal and reliable envoys, bring them generous gifts, speak frankly to the tribal leaders, express our intention to cooperate, and promise them substantial benefits. This will surely convince them."

The king looked at me, his eyes full of admiration. "My beloved, you are not only thoughtful but also courageous and resourceful. Discussing state affairs with you is like a fish in water."

On a quiet night, moonlight streamed across the Imperial Garden. The King and I strolled hand in hand, surrounded by fragrant blossoms and the occasional firefly fluttering among the blossoms. It was a dreamlike scene.

The king stopped and gently embraced me, saying, "My beloved, I am so glad to have you by my side. With you by my side in this palace, I no longer feel lonely."

I snuggled in the king's arms and whispered, "Your Majesty, I am willing to accompany you for the rest of your life, and together we will protect this palace and this country."

The king lowered his head and looked at me tenderly: "My beloved, I want to make a promise with you. No matter what happens in the future, we must go through it together and never leave each other."

I raised my head, tears glistening in my eyes, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I will abide by the agreement."

As time went on, the country faced a severe drought. The people suffered from hardship, food shortages, and panic. The king and I discussed countermeasures.

In the court, the king said to his ministers, "My dear ministers, the drought is raging now, and the people are suffering. I am deeply worried. Do you have any good suggestions?"

A minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you can open the granaries and release grain to help the people. But doing so will significantly reduce the national treasury reserves."

After a moment's thought, I said, "Your Majesty, I believe that opening the granaries and releasing grain is essential. At the same time, we can encourage wealthy families to donate money and grain, and the court will commend them. Furthermore, we can organize the people to build water conservancy projects and dig wells to prepare for next year's needs."

The king nodded in agreement. "My beloved concubine, your suggestion is excellent. I will immediately order all officials at all levels to fully organize disaster relief efforts. My beloved concubine, you can also mobilize the concubines in the harem to pray for the people and appease their hearts."

I replied, "I obey your command. Your Majesty, rest assured that I will make the best arrangements in the harem."

Returning to the harem, I summoned the concubines and said, "Sisters, the country is suffering from a drought and the people are having a hard time. I hope you can pray for the people, save money from the palace, donate money and property, share His Majesty's worries, and help the people solve their problems."

The concubines responded one after another: "Your Majesty, we are willing to obey your orders."

During the disaster relief efforts, I closely monitored the progress. I told the officials in charge, "You must ensure that food and supplies are distributed fairly and impartially to every citizen. Those found guilty of corruption and fraud will be severely punished."

The officials replied respectfully, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will do our best."

The king personally visited the disaster area, and I accompanied him. Seeing the hardship of the people in the disaster area, the king's eyes were filled with pain.

The king said to the people, "The queen and I have come to visit you. I have ordered all-out disaster relief efforts and will ensure that everyone overcomes this difficult time."

The people knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise and wise, and the Queen is merciful."

In responding to this drought, I worked closely with the King, and with the Queen, we ensured that disaster relief efforts proceeded smoothly and that public sentiment gradually stabilized. Thanks to our joint efforts, the country is slowly recovering.

In our daily interactions at the palace, the king and I often discussed state affairs by candlelight. We discussed various aspects of the country's politics, economy, and culture, sharing our insights and ideas.

Once, we discussed the nation's cultural and educational issues. I said, "Your Majesty, culture is the foundation of our nation. I believe we should establish institutions of higher learning across the country, recruit students, and cultivate talent. At the same time, we should encourage the creative work of scholars and writers to pass on and promote the culture of our dynasty."

The king pondered for a moment and said, "My beloved concubine, your idea is good. I can order funding to support the establishment of a school. However, the selection of teaching staff must be strictly controlled."

I nodded and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. We can select some knowledgeable and virtuous ministers from the court to teach in various places, and we can also invite scholars from the public to join us."

Thanks to our discussions and decisions, our nation's cultural and educational endeavors have gradually flourished. Universities have sprung up across the country, providing more and more students with access to education and enriching the cultural atmosphere.

Within the palace, our bond deepened through these shared experiences. The king would tell me stories of his childhood in his spare time, and I would play melodious music for him to soothe his fatigue.

At a palace banquet, the king specially arranged a dance performance for me. The dancers were dressed in gorgeous costumes and danced gracefully to the accompaniment of music.

The king looked at me, his eyes full of love. "My beloved, this is a surprise I have prepared for you. You have given so much to this palace and this country. I hope you will be happy."

I was moved and said, "Your Majesty, I am very happy. With Your Majesty by my side, I am the happiest woman in the world."

The harmonious relationship between the King and Queen is a powerful force, not only filling the palace with warmth and harmony but also injecting a continuous impetus into the stability and prosperity of the entire nation. Through our joint efforts, the state is at peace, the people are content, and a picture of prosperity slowly unfolds before our eyes. Your Majesty and I will continue to forge ahead hand in hand, writing our own glorious chapter.

As the nation gradually stabilizes and prospers, foreign affairs become increasingly important. The King and I have discussed how to establish good diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, establishing friendly relations with neighboring countries will promote trade and cultural exchange, which will benefit the long-term development of our country. I suggest hosting a banquet for envoys from various countries to showcase our national strength and culture, while also discussing cooperation with them."

The king thought for a moment and said, "My dear wife, this is a very good plan. However, the preparations for this feast must be carefully planned, and not the slightest mistake can be made."

I said confidently, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will work with the Ministry of Rites and other relevant departments to make preparations and ensure that the banquet is a complete success."

During the preparations for the banquet, I meticulously discussed every detail with officials from the Ministry of Rites. From the venue layout and the selection of dishes to the arrangement of the performances, everything went through repeated consideration.

I said to the Minister of Rites, "Your Excellency, the banquet venue should reflect the grandeur and luxury of our dynasty. The dishes should incorporate local specialties. The performances should encompass the essence of our dynasty's song, dance, opera, and acrobatics, so that the envoys from various countries can fully appreciate the charm of our dynasty."

The Minister of Rites responded respectfully: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will do our best."

On the day of the banquet, envoys from various countries arrived one after another. The palace was brightly lit and richly decorated. The envoys were stunned by the sight before them.

During the banquet, the king and I met with envoys from various countries. The king discussed state affairs with the envoys, and I added a few words at the right time, showing the elegance and wisdom of the queen of our dynasty.

A foreign envoy said to the king, "Your Majesty, your queen is truly admirable. Today's banquet is a testament to your country's strength and prosperity."

The king smiled and replied, "It is truly a blessing for me to have such a virtuous queen. The queen and I both hope to achieve friendly relations and common development with all nations."

Through this feast, my country has established good diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and signed a number of trade and cultural exchange agreements. China has made significant breakthroughs in the field of diplomacy and its international status has continued to rise.

Throughout this series of events, the King and I have always supported and understood each other. Our bond, like a towering tree, has grown stronger and stronger with the passage of time. And under our joint governance, the country is striding towards an even brighter future. Peace reigns within and outside the palace, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, each sharing the story of the harmonious relationship between the King and Queen.