I'll Help You Become Emperor

Spring had arrived. All things stirred back to life, and the annual mating season had come around again.

Qian Renxue lay gently against Jiang Mingyang's chest, listening to him breathe.

Suddenly, she raised her head to look at his sage-like expression.

Looking at how adorable and breathtakingly beautiful she was, Jiang Mingyang couldn't help marveling. Now this was heaven on earth...

Faced with that adorable, breathtakingly beautiful face, he could only sigh: What fortune I must have earned over two lifetimes!

That perfect figure, and those voluptuous...

All he could say was that if his life was ever cut short, it would surely be from overwork—attending to a thousand affairs every day.

Time flew. Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Mingyang's hands began to wander again, and Qian Renxue's face rapidly reddened.

Her skin, smooth as white jade, quickly grew hot, and her breathing turned heavy.

But she did not stop his wandering hands.

Seeing this, Jiang Mingyang was overjoyed. Strength surged through him in an instant.

Half an hour later, the battle slowly came to an end.

Qian Renxue panted softly and shot Jiang Mingyang a fierce glare, as if to say, Stay all day if you dare.

After resting for a while, Jiang Mingyang asked, "Qianqian, what do you think of the Heaven Dou Empire's rule?"

Still a little breathless, Qian Renxue looked puzzled and replied:

"Hmm... in what respect? If you mean national strength, the Heaven Dou Empire certainly can't compare with the Star Luo Empire!"

As she spoke, Jiang Mingyang patted her lovely back, and his hand slowly began to wander again.

Qian Renxue's ears turned bright red.

But she wasn't afraid. She knew what he was capable of!

She would bet Jiang Mingyang had absolutely no strength left now!

After hearing her answer, Jiang Mingyang thought for a moment, then said slowly:

"The people of the Empire produce so much that even a small portion of it would be enough to feed everyone under heaven.

But during my travels, I found that most people can't even get enough to eat.

The Empire's taxes are far too high!"

Qian Renxue tipped her head back to look at his deeply furrowed brow, then answered, "Hmm... the Heaven Dou Empire's taxes actually aren't that high. They're only fifty percent.

The problem is that local officials generally levy taxes of their own on top of that.

The Empire takes fifty percent, but local officials might raise the total to seventy."

Jiang Mingyang frowned. "Is that so? Has the Empire never considered how to change this?

Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The Empire won't last forever. If its rulers do nothing, resentment will build across the land."

Qian Renxue smiled at his anger. "Hmm... you've grown quite a bit since you went out this time.

But it isn't that old Xue Ye has done nothing.

When Xue Ye was young, he lacked prestige and had little control over the court, so he couldn't put new policies into effect.

By the time he had enough prestige and power, he was old and had lost the courage to change 'the laws of our ancestors.'

In fact, every emperor ends up much like Xue Ye. It goes around in circles, and nothing ever changes."

Jiang Mingyang nodded silently.

Qian Renxue smiled again. "I'm the Crown Prince now. Once that old Xue Ye is gone, spring will come again for the people under heaven."

Jiang Mingyang looked at her with conviction. "You truly have the bearing of a wise ruler. I'm sure you'll bring happiness to the people."

Qian Renxue smiled. "Of course!"

Then she seemed to remember something. She fixed her gaze on Jiang Mingyang and ventured, "The Heaven Dou Empire didn't always exist.

According to historical research, other empires preceded it. The ancestors of the Heaven Dou Empire overthrew their tyrannical rule and then founded this empire."

She then pretended not to care, while secretly watching his expression and reaction with close attention.

Jiang Mingyang didn't know why she had brought up something so unrelated, but he nodded in agreement.

"That's true. The rise and fall of empires is like a cycle. Each new empire is founded by overthrowing the one before it."

Seeing his reaction, Qian Renxue smiled—a genuinely delighted smile—and thought to herself:

He isn't repulsed. That means he sees the fall of an empire as natural.

Little Mingyang, tsk, tsk. Your ambition simply hasn't been awakened yet!

Who says the Empire has to be the Heaven Dou Empire? Why couldn't Xiao Yang and I be the founders of a new one?

Qian Renxue tapped Jiang Mingyang on the head, then tested him again. "Then, Xiao Yang, do you think the Heaven Dou Empire will fall?"

Jiang Mingyang nodded without hesitation. "No empire lasts forever. It's only a matter of how long it takes.

A long reign breeds corruption among the rulers. Bit by bit, resentment grows among the people, and the empire is eventually overthrown.

The Heaven Dou Empire is going through that right now.

But Qianqian, why are you asking?"

Qian Renxue smiled happily. Instead of answering, she lay against his chest without a word and closed her eyes, as though she was about to sleep.

But inwardly she thought, Hmm... once I become emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, I'll rule with cruelty and stir up the people's resentment, then wait for Xiao Yang to rise up and overthrow me.

Then Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Empire's new emperor, will take his own life, and Qian Renxue will become empress of the new empire! Hmm... not bad, not bad!

As she thought it over, Qian Renxue opened her eyes again. Watching Jiang Mingyang's restless hands, she said with a touch of playful sweetness:

"You little rascal, why are your hands still wandering? You can't even keep going, yet you're still so bold!"

Jiang Mingyang looked at her earnestly. "There's something you should know: I'm actually not little.

And you're not me. How would you know I can't keep going?"

Jiang Mingyang promptly rolled over...

Qianqian worked so hard as Crown Prince. He simply had to help ease her fatigue.

In years past, the Grand Ancestor wept. Empress Gao asked him why, and he replied, "I grieve for the suffering of the people. I only wish I could bear it in their stead."

Empress Gao rebuked him: "A true man should dine from five great cauldrons in life and be boiled in five cauldrons in death. Why put on the airs of a tearful maiden for no reason?"

Thus the Grand Ancestor rose in rebellion on behalf of all the people under heaven, bringing about the peace and prosperity of today.

Her Majesty the Empress should follow Empress Gao's example and set the world straight.

"Ten Remonstrances to the Empress" (Wei Yuanzheng)