Mother, The Demon King Has Returned, Save Me! (2)

As for the matters afterwards, without needing Li Hong Yuan to instruct, these people should also know what to do. Li Hong Yuan just needs to send someone to appropriately keep an eye on them. And these people were the scholars Jing Wan sent over not long ago. In the end, scholars still need scholars to come deal with.

These people were mostly youngsters, and a little under half were all the recent successful candidates of the imperial exam. Because there was a need for people, this year’s imperial exam, Jing Wan directly raised the number of acceptances, from the original three hundred directly raising to five hundred. Towards the latter two hundred, don’t know how many people said they had hell of a luck. Even if in the end becoming an equal candidate[1], under the circumstances where Yuan Qi has triumphed over Southern Qi, having Southern Qi taken into its territory, there’s no need to worry about not having any opportunity. As long as one performs well, in addition to a certain amount of luck, one’s future prospects won’t necessarily be narrow.

Among them, Jiang Wan Li stood at the forefront. Two years ago, Jiang Wan Li got appointed by Jing Wan as an imperial envoy, heading to the various regions to secretly survey the water conservancy construction. Fortunately, perhaps because Jing Wan implemented severe punishment, no one dared to slight the things she placed extreme importance on, for the most part all doing their utmost. Even those that dared to collude with the people that the Ministry of Revenue sent down, after getting discovered by Jiang Wan Li, they immediately got sacked and investigated. For the sake of killing the chicken to warn the monkey, Jing Wan wasn’t lenient in the slightest.

And later on when facing large scale water disaster, Qi Yuan for the most part wasn’t affected, and even if hit by disaster, it was also receiving assistance first thing. Never mind starving people all over the lands, even very few were forced to leave their homeland. Moreover, after the disaster, they were also able to return home very quickly.

Because of this matter, Jing Wan was praised inside and outside of the court, getting sung songs of praise. The construction for the water conservancy, although consumed quite a bit of wealth, but it was all worth it.

Jiang Wan Li originally was just a low sixth rank in the Hanlin Academy, but because this matter was handled beautifully, he directly got promoted a rank. And this time, because people were needed on former Southern Qi’s side, not minding the labor, he voluntarily volunteered for the assignment. And Jing Wan, after learning from Li Hong Yuan of his abilities, immediately consented, and moreover promoted him once more, ranking in the fifth rank. One has to know, he has only been in officialdom for merely three to four years. This promotion rate truly was shocking. However, others can’t deny his abilities either.

In this matter, there was another person worth mentioning, and that was Jing Wan’s second tang brother Luo Jing Ming.

He didn’t come from the first branch, and unlike Luo Jing Bo, he wasn’t Jing Wan’s di-related brother either. Moreover, he was also a shu-born, his own father still paralyzed on the bed. That’s why, comparatively speaking, he further needed to rely on himself to strive. However, he didn’t fail to live up to expectations either. Just in terms of officialdom, compared to Luo Jing De and Luo Jing Bo, he was able to adapt even better.

Originally, two years ago, Luo Old Madam had passed away. Jing Wan didn’t personally go again, instead letting Gong mama take the little crown prince to the Luo Manor.

Afterwards, the Luo family members that were in officialdom all submitted a memorandum to return to the ancestral home to observe mourning. Jing Wan had them all granted.

As the grandchildren generation, they just need to observe mourning for one year. That’s why, her brothers had all returned to the capital a year ago. Towards the empress’s older brothers, the others naturally didn’t dare to slight. The Ministry of Appointments immediately arranged for them first thing. Because their original positions already got taken over by someone else, the Ministry of Appointments didn’t arrange for them to be sent to the outer regions anymore, instead leaving in the capital, entering the six ministries.

And Luo Jing Ming also at this time gradually revealed his own ambitions. Of course, this ambition was good. To put it more pleasantly it was just striving to improve himself, worth praising.

Speaking of which, Li Hong Yuan’s deeds and conduct in former Southern Qi also got passed back to the capital. Jing Wan held the letter, her expression somewhat hard to guess.

Should say, as expected of the living Enma’s style?

‘Burning the classics and burying alive the scholars[2]‘, just based on her understanding from her past life, that was also merely just a portion, the goal being to unify people’s ideology, yet he actually dared to be even more ruthless. If it really were to get implemented, then it won’t just be confining thought, distorting culture, blocking society, bringing bad influences to the scholars, severely restricting knowledge and creativity that simple. The entire civilization will all reverse by several thousands of years. When time comes, regardless of what he does, how much he does, a ‘tyrant’ label will forever be stuck on him.

Fortunately, those great scholars were tactful in the end, else Jing Wan was certain that a certain someone really would do as he said he would.

However, this matter, as long as it hasn’t happened, then it can just be pressed down and won’t cause any influences.

TN: All

And after Southern Qi’s imperial family got more or less cleaned up, Li Hong Yuan lost the patience to stay any longer, taking a portion of the people to return home. However, the great majority of the soldiers were all left in former Southern Qi and won’t be recalled any time soon. And the people of former Southern Qi that got taken away by Li Hong Yuan also weren’t few. Adding up together, there was over ten thousand, involving upon outstanding talented individuals of various fields. These people will get arranged elsewhere. Regardless of whether they were willing or not, they all need to continue shining brightly. After all, Southern Qi has indeed fallen already, and Qi Yuan didn’t have them reduced to slaves either. Even if not considering for oneself, they should still consider for their family.

Because of having traveled a bit too far, the return trip needed some time. Besides, quite a few people were brought along, so the speed will once again be slowed down.

By the time Li Hong Yuan returned to the capital, it already entered the wintry twelfth month. On the day he reached the capital, the sky just so happened to be filled with goose feather snow.

Jing Wan gave the order to welcome ten li outside of the capital. In reality, if possible, she was willing to personally go ten, a hundred, or even a thousand li beyond the capital.

As the grandiose procession approached closer and closer, the den weng drums already sounded. Because of the heavy snow, Jing Wan was unable to see clearly, but her tears still gathered in her eyes. However, she forcibly endured, not letting the tears fall. In these three years, she was already used to remaining calm in the face of events, calmly dealing with all kinds of matters. She straightened her back, dignified and imposing.

“Imperial mother.” The little crown prince got held a bit too tightly by his imperial mother, so had no choice but to call out.

“En?” Jing Wan turned her head, and shortly after, finally came to realization, hurriedly releasing a little.

“Imperial mother, how come you’re crying?”

The little crown prince innocently spoke, yet it made Jing Wan a bit awkward. However, the court officials behind her all lowered their heads, pretending not to hear. The emperor and empress had deep feelings, having separated for more than three years. Now that his Majesty has finally returned, her Highness ultimately was a woman, so momentarily becoming emotional was also natural and expected.

“Imperial mother’s eyes merely blurred for a moment, it’s nothing.” Jing Wan pressed the corner of her eyes.

The other side was getting increasingly close.

The troops in front divided up to the two sides. Li Hong Yuan rode up on horseback from the middle, and in a place a few feet from Jing Wan, he lifted his leg and slid down from the horse, his movements like flowing water.

Four eyes met, just like when they parted, the entire world all sinking into silence, their entire heart and soul just containing one another.

Until….

“We subjects respectfully welcome your Majesty’s return in triumph, long live your Majesty for thousands and thousands of years.” All kneeling onto the ground.

Jing Wan got startled back to her senses, also wanting to bow down, yet got stopped by Li Hong Yuan who quickly stepped forward to support her. However, Jing Wan’s words still poured out, “This wife respectfully welcome your Majesty’s return in triumph, long live your Majesty for thousands and thousands of years.” Her eyes were filled with endless warmth and longing.

At this time, Jing Wan wasn’t that powerful and wise Empress, but purely just a wife that misses her husband, her heart just filled with gentle feelings.

Li Hong Yuan’s hand softly caressed her hair, his eyes also completely filled with tender affection, “I’ve come back. In the future, I’ll only stay by your side.”

“En.” Jing Wan softly responded.

“This subject son respectfully welcomes imperial father’s return in triumph, long live imperial father for thousands and thousands of years.” A tender yet crisp voice sounded.

The couples’ wonderful atmosphere once again got shattered. Previously, when it was the court officials, Li Hong Yuan was already annoyed, but because there were too many people, he was also too lazy to bicker. As for this little rascal now……Li Hong Yuan turned his head, the emotions in his eyes all retracting, just left with a sheet of ice, as well as that menacing air brought back from the battlefield, looking down from above, “Right now, you’re still just a son, not a subject.”

The little crown prince actually didn’t have distinct fear in his eyes, but his little body still cowered a little. It couldn’t be helped, Li Hong Yuan’s aura was too frightening. “This son was wrong.” He was quite swift in acknowledging his mistake, also appearing very obedient. In front of Jing Wan, no matter how well-behaved, it still didn’t get in the way of him acting spoiled and shameless. As for now, he was really just like a little kitten that lost its claws, not daring to act up in the slightest.

However, if one were to more accurately describe the little crown prince’s thoughts, it was probably just: ‘Mother, the demon king has returned, save me!’

As for the court officials behind them, there were those that couldn’t help but twitch their mouth. One has to know, the little crown prince’s pranks weren’t just limited to the inner palace. They were also victims. Although it wasn’t anything major, it still would make one endlessly headache. Yet in the end, after meeting his Majesty, he was just like a mouse seeing a cat. Sure enough, it really did depend on who he faced.

Li Hong Yuan’s line of sight momentarily lingered on the little crown prince. The little crown prince had his head lowered the whole time, so unable to make out anything. However, Li Hong Yuan can sense that this little rascal absolutely won’t be a docile one. Moreover, his guts afraid were also very big.

[1] Equal Candidate (同进士) refers to someone who didn’t pass the imperial exam but will receive the same treatment as a successful candidate.

[2] The full line is actually ‘burning the Confucian classics and burying alive the Confucian scholars’. The line came about due to the acts supposedly committed by the First Emperor and Founder of the Qin dynasty in 213BC. It’s said that he burned all books, essays, poems that weren’t Qin history books, and killed by burying alive more than four hundred and sixty scholars that violated the law.

T/N: The author actually misspelled Jing Wan’s second brother’s name this whole chapter. The author wrote it as Luo Jing Ping, but it’s actually Luo Jing Ming. His father’s name is Luo Rong Ping, which is probably why the author confused the two names. I don’t know how to feel about remembering these minor details better than the author.

Also Jiang Wan Li, he’s the disciple/student of Jing Wan’s great-uncle, Luo Pei Shan’s younger brother, Luo Pei Song.