Ten years later, Emperor Deyuan abdicated, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. He granted a general amnesty, changed the era name to Ruinan, and appointed Crown Princess Jian Ruonan as Empress.
The balance of power at court underwent a major shift.
Veteran ministers stepped down, rising talents came to the fore, and Jian Huateng, Wang Defa, and Hou Lixie became unstoppable pillars of the court.
Under Dantai Mo's leadership, Great Xia vigorously developed its economy. After briquette coal became widespread, Jian Ruonan invented the steam engine, ushering in Great Xia's first industrial revolution. Stomping Little Japan underfoot and pummeling the United States was no longer just a slogan.
As Great Xia's economy and population grew, expanding its territory became inevitable.
Empress Jian Ruonan occasionally attended afternoon court, and the ministers respected her even more than they did the emperor.
The Empress was the only woman in the entire Imperial Harem. At first, some courtiers still courted death by urging the emperor to fill his harem. After enough of those ministers had their estates confiscated, no one dared offer that advice anymore.
Great Xia's seas were calm and its rivers clear, its mountains and waterways magnificent.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Jian Ruonan rose bright and early. Though "bright and early" was already almost the end of Chen Hour.
Dantai Mo had gone to the Golden Hall early that morning. After washing and dressing, Jian Ruonan had breakfast with their three children.
"Mother, you're up so early today." Though Second Child was only five, he handled his chopsticks very well and could already serve Jian Ruonan food.
Jian Ruonan said, "Second Child, eat your own food. Mother knows how to help herself."
Second Child said, "Mother, Imperial Father said that even when he isn't here,