Imperial Reform and Innovation, Boiling a Frog in Warm Water

Time flowed differently in the Land of the Divine Remains than in the outside world. Qiu Yan's Heart Demon Body had remained there for over twenty years, then lingered for a time within the fissures of spacetime. Donghua had naturally experienced a considerable stretch of time as well.

Yet during those two and a half years, Qiu Yan's Fleshly Body and Divine Spirit Body had not stopped their respective work. On one hand, they served as support for the Heart Demon Body; on the other, each had pursued its own undertakings.

Of the two, the Fleshly Body's achievements were the most apparent. To a god, two years were but the flick of a finger—perhaps a single council of gods could consume two years. But to mortals, two years were enough to change a lifetime.

Qiu Yan had left the capital bearing the imperial tally, acting under the Emperor's command to oversee Jiannan. He held authority to restrain both military and civil affairs and was responsible for negotiations with the Marshfolk. Yet his true mission lay in reforming the military system.

This move implicated too many interests. Not only did the military resist it, but the great aristocratic clans were entangled in it as well. Countless bureaucratic networks of personal connections were involved, causing several academies to grow displeased.

Moreover, Tian Youqing had joined forces with the New and Old Parties to obstruct him from the side. Everyone believed Qiu Yan's journey would yield no results. The best outcome would merely be to use a Marshfolk invasion to unite the soldiers and civilians. But one misstep might instead let the Marshfolk gain the advantage—losing both the lady and the army. Who knew how many people had once waited to see him make a fool of himself?

But that had only been