The news that Qin Siyao had adopted Qin Lan’er as her daughter spread throughout the entire court.

To the ministers, Your Majesty choosing a child from the imperial clan to adopt was certainly an excellent thing.

Even if the crown prince was not Your Majesty’s blood.

At the very least, Qin finally had a crown prince.

And to be honest, they did not truly expect Your Majesty to leave behind bloodline heirs.

In many people’s eyes,

the moment the Frost King left the world, Your Majesty’s heart had died as well.

But the problem was that this crown prince was still a girl.

It was not that a girl could not shoulder great responsibility.

Your Majesty herself was a woman.

These years, what Your Majesty had done was plain for all under heaven to see.

In the hearts of most people, even the most sage of emperors in the world would be no more than this.

Yet could this little girl truly achieve what Your Majesty had achieved in the future?

And so, quite a few ministers once again submitted remonstrances, wanting Your Majesty to choose another adopted prince instead.

In the face of the court’s remonstrances, Qin Siyao still did not respond.

Since she had made her decision, Qin Siyao would not change her mind.

She personally taught Qin Lan’er to read, to write, and to study.

Qin Lan’er was naturally intelligent, and she learned quickly.

And Qin Siyao was even more surprised to discover that Qin Lan’er’s talent for cultivation was not low.

In Qin Siyao’s eyes, Qin Lan’er’s talent for cultivation was even no worse than her own.

If that was the case, then under the support of rare natural treasures, Qin Lan’er would, at the very least, become an Immortal Realm cultivator in the future.

If Qin Lan’er later obtained certain opportunities, it would not be impossible for her to step into the Ascension Realm.

Even if she did not become an Ascension Realm cultivator,

for Qin Lan’er to live for several thousand years, or even ten thousand years, would not be a problem at all.

And Qin Lan’er also felt Your Majesty’s expectations for her.

Qin Lan’er studied and cultivated {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} with great effort.

She did not want to disappoint Big Sister Sovereign...

Day by day, time passed.

Qin Lan’er liked Big Sister Sovereign more and more.

In Qin Lan’er’s heart, Big Sister Sovereign could do anything, and whatever she did, she did it impressively.

Only, Qin Lan’er noticed that Big Sister Sovereign would sometimes sit in the courtyard and stare blankly into space.

And when there was nothing urgent, Big Sister Sovereign would also leave the palace and go to an estate.

At that estate, Big Sister Sovereign would sit for most of the day.

Qin Lan’er did not know what was special about that estate.

The only thing that left a deep impression on her was that whenever she arrived at the gate and lifted her head, she could see the enormous sign that read “Frost King’s Residence.”

Without realizing it, another ten years passed.

For mortals, there are not many decades in a lifetime.

For cultivators, ten years is merely a small period of seclusion.

Yet for Qin Siyao, these ten years seemed even longer than a hundred.

Qin Lan’er, who had once been a six-year-old little girl, had grown into a young woman at the age of sixteen, and her realm had reached the early Cave-Abode Realm.

In government affairs, Qin Lan’er was still somewhat inexperienced, but she was already doing very well, only lacking tempering.

What made Qin Siyao feel even more relieved was that Qin Lan’er would also proactively read books on agriculture, waterworks, and the like, and she often took the initiative to go among the common people and look around.

As for Qin Lan’er’s marriage, Qin Siyao was not in a hurry, and she did not press her.

It was true that Qin Lan’er had reached the age for marriage, but Qin Lan’er was not a mortal. She had a long lifespan.

However, Qin Lan’er seemed to have a fairly good relationship with a descendant of the Xiao family. The two would sometimes discuss learning together.

The Xiao family was no longer what it had been decades ago.

Now the Xiao family no longer had a “Northern Pacification King,” nor did it have a “Northern Wasteland Army.”

At this time, the Xiao family was simply an ordinary noble house.

But as long as the Xiao family’s descendants did not do anything unlawful, bully men, or seize women, Qin Siyao would naturally look after the Xiao family a bit.

And the Xiao family was, in fact, quite creditable.

After Xiao Mo passed away, Xiao Gui became the head of the Xiao family, with Xiao Yang assisting.

As before, the Xiao family’s children were required from a young age to study and to practice martial arts, and neither could be lacking.

And because the Xiao family’s ancestor, as well as Xiao Shi and Xiao Mo, had set the tone by example, and because after Xiao Gui became head of the family he placed even more emphasis on letting the children understand the deeds of the three ancestors,

every Xiao family descendant cared for the realm and aspired to serve the state.

The Xiao family even produced a top scholar in the civil examinations and a top champion in the martial examinations.

Even though the Xiao Residence no longer held power, no one dared look down on the Xiao family.

The Xiao family descendant who was close with Qin Lan’er was named Xiao Jing.

This scholar’s attainments in Confucian learning were indeed not low. At the age of twenty, he had already placed first in the civil examinations.

As for his character, it was acceptable as well.

So when Qin Lan’er associated with him, Qin Siyao simply kept one eye open and one eye closed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But gradually, Qin Siyao felt she might have misunderstood.

Because Qin Lan’er and Xiao Jing seemed to truly be discussing scholarship and nothing more.

Another three years passed.

On this day, Lian Li came to the Imperial Study to see Qin Siyao and asked to resign her post.

“Miss Lian is leaving?” Qin Siyao asked.

“Yes.”

Lian Li nodded.

“Now that Qin is settled, all under heaven is Qin land. Within the borders, all are Qin subjects. The people live and work in peace, and the realm has gone long without war. If I stay in Qin, I have no real use anymore.

“In this court, having one more of me makes no difference, having one less of me makes no difference. And some of the court rules bind me until I cannot breathe.

“Rather than that, I might as well enter the rivers-and-lakes. At least then, I can live freely.”

“So... that is fine...”

A trace of loss flickered through Qin Siyao’s eyes. “If Miss Lian wishes to come back and visit, you can do so at any time.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lian Li nodded, her expression complicated as she looked at Qin Siyao. “In truth, compared to me, Your Majesty is the one who should ‘go out.’”

“The Frost King...”

Lian Li lightly bit her thin lip, hesitated, but still said it.

“He... is already gone...”

With that, Lian Li said no more. She clasped her fists in salute, then turned and left the Imperial Study.

In the Imperial Study, Qin Siyao lifted her head and looked out the window, silent for a long time.

Another five years passed.

At twenty-four, Qin Lan’er was thoroughly familiar with most of Qin’s affairs.

Qin Siyao began to let Qin Lan’er handle some matters of court to temper her.

And Qin Lan’er did, indeed, do extremely well.

Every task Qin Siyao gave her, Qin Lan’er completed perfectly, without the slightest mishap.

Only...

Qin Lan’er did not know if it was her imagination.

She always felt that Big Sister Sovereign seemed to want to hand all state affairs over to her as quickly as possible.

It was not only Qin Lan’er. Other ministers had the same sense.

It was true that the current crown prince was outstanding. Training her with various matters of state was not inappropriate.

But Your Majesty seemed to be delegating a bit too much.

This did not feel like slow cultivation. It felt more like Your Majesty’s days were numbered and she wanted Qin Lan’er to shoulder everything as soon as possible.

Yet because Qin was flourishing, and because Crown Prince Qin Lan’er had never once made a mistake, the ministers did not say anything.

Five years later,

at twenty-nine, Qin Lan’er could fully shoulder great responsibility.

The court ministers praised Qin Lan’er without restraint.

In Qin Siyao’s eyes, even if she handed all of Qin to Qin Lan’er, there would be no real problem.

Another three years.

In that year, Li Ge, Baili Xi, and Jian Shu passed away one after another.

Qin Siyao saw them off on their final road.

These three ministers had never gone to the battlefield to kill enemies.

But from the unification of the realm to today’s flourishing age,

Li Ge and the other two stabilized the court, labored diligently in government, and set the foundation for all of Qin.

Two years later,

Qin Siyao was going to build a Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform.

This Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform would use Mount Tai as the formation’s core anchor, a thousand-mile radius as the formation, gather thirty thousand formation cultivators, and would take fifty years to construct.

This platform would be enough to gather all of the realm’s dynastic fortune of the world of myriad arts.

When the Qin court officials heard this news, they were all stunned.

They did not know what Your Majesty intended to do with so vast a formation array.

But at this time, Qin Siyao’s prestige was so great that for anything she decided, the ministers’ remonstrances were useless so long as she wanted to do it.

And when the matter of building the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform reached the common people,

even though they did not understand, they all supported it.

They believed their sovereign would not be wrong.

Moreover, of the rare natural treasures Qin Siyao requisitioned, sixty percent came from the mountain sects, and forty percent came from the dynasty.

And Qin’s national strength was incomparably robust.

So even building such a platform would not exhaust the people or drain wealth. It had almost no impact on the common people.

And so, the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform began construction with little obstruction.

Ten years, twenty years, thirty years...

Gradually, as time passed for too long, aside from the mountain cultivators who watched the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform closely, the mortal populace nearly forgot this greatest project the human race dynasty had ever undertaken.

Fifty years passed.

When the last high-grade spirit stone was set in place, the last rune carved, and the last formation flag buried into the mountain,

in an instant, mountains and rivers shook, and great waters churned.

The entire world of myriad arts underwent a violent change of wind and cloud.

“RROOOAAARRR!”

Dragon roars rang out again and again!

All the realm’s dynastic fortune of the world of myriad arts surged and gathered toward the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform.

All the sect masters across the realm lifted their heads and looked toward the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform.

Even in the demon-race world, quite a few great demons climbed high and gazed out, sensing that unimaginably dense dynastic fortune.

“It should be enough.”

Within the Qin imperial palace, Qin Siyao looked toward the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform, felt the dynastic fortune it had gathered, and murmured to herself.

In the third year after the Sacrifice-to-Heaven Platform was completed,

Qin was still blessed with favorable winds and timely rains, and this peaceful age had continued for nearly a hundred years.

One day,

as Qin Lan’er was handling state affairs in the Eastern Palace, Qin Siyao walked into her study.

“Your Majesty.”

Seeing Qin Siyao, Qin Lan’er quickly rose and bowed.

“You and I do not need so many formalities.”

Qin Siyao looked at Lan’er with a smile. “Lan’er, are you free today?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Qin Lan’er nodded quickly. “Does Your Majesty want Lan’er to do something?”

“Not that.”

Qin Siyao shook her head.

“I just want you to walk with me for a bit. How about it? Do you want to go outside the palace for a stroll?”

“Of course.”

Hearing Your Majesty invite her for a walk, Qin Lan’er’s eyes brightened and she immediately agreed.

Even though she had grown up, she still liked being alone with Your Majesty.

“But Your Majesty, where are we going?” Qin Lan’er asked.

“Just follow me.”

Qin Siyao turned around and took one step, about to walk out of the palace.

Qin Lan’er quickly circulated her divine ability and followed at Qin Siyao’s side.

The two used Shrink-the-Earth Step. With every step, they crossed hundreds of miles.

Very soon, they had already left the imperial capital.

Qin Lan’er turned her head and glanced at Your Majesty beside her.

All these years, Qin Lan’er had actually been worried about her sovereign.

Because Your Majesty’s mood was low every day.

Even when Your Majesty smiled lightly at times, that faint smile only made people’s hearts ache more.

Qin Lan’er did not know what to do to make Your Majesty truly happy.

After she learned the story of Your Majesty and the Frost King, Qin Lan’er knew even less what she could do.

Books said that time could smooth away many things in the world.

But for Your Majesty, was time truly useful...

“Lan’er.”

Just as Qin Lan’er lowered her head in silence, Qin Siyao slowly spoke.

“Now you can handle court affairs with ease. You are very smart, and your cultivation talent is excellent. In the future, if you manage Qin, you will not do worse than I did.”

“Lan’er will never be as good as Your Majesty!”

Qin Lan’er blurted out at once.

“Why are you so nervous? I was even worried you might usurp the throne.”

Qin Siyao smiled.

“And there is something I have never told you.

“I actually prefer you to call me Big Sister Sovereign, like you did when you were little, instead of only calling me ‘Your Majesty.’”

“Big Sister Sovereign...”

Qin Lan’er’s cheeks reddened as she softly called out.

“Mhm.”

Qin Siyao nodded with a smile.

“That really does sound better.”

Qin Siyao reached out, just like the first time they met, and patted Qin Lan’er’s long hair.

“Next, what big sister tells you, you must keep in your heart. You must not forget it.”

“The first matter is Li Wen, Liang Xue, Liu Dajin, and Shang Li. All four are capable ministers for governing in prosperous times. In the past, they were valued by Chancellor Li and the others, but I deliberately found reasons to demote them and send them out of the capital. One reason is that they were too young and needed to be tempered. The other is to leave them for you to use in the future.

“After I am gone, bring them back to the capital and bring them into the Grand Secretariat. You can safely put them in important posts.

“They will also be wholeheartedly loyal to you.”

“The second matter concerns the demon-race world. Although our world of myriad arts has no war anymore, the demon-race world still watches us like a tiger eyeing prey.

“Not to mention, the border between the two worlds is inherently blurred, and friction often occurs.

“But soon, there will be a boundary set between the two worlds. When the time comes, you must not only have the great generals lead armies to guard it, you must also have disciples of the other sects go up to temper themselves.”

“The third matter is that after you handle state affairs, you must not neglect cultivation. Cultivate as far as you can. From this day onward, you will be the longest-lived sovereign in the world. This peace the world of myriad arts struggled so hard to obtain—you must guard it well.”

“Big Sister Sovereign... you...”

Qin Lan’er’s eyes trembled.

She felt as if Big Sister Sovereign was leaving final instructions.

Qin Siyao smiled faintly, pinched Qin Lan’er’s cheek, and said softly,

“Big sister wants to be selfish once.”

The end of the chapter.