Yanhuang Empire.
Imperial Palace Rear Mountain.
As Zuo Qianhuang knelt, the air seed to freeze instantly.
Everyone was stunned, as if turned to stone.
It took a long mont before they finally ca to their senses.
"The... Great Ancestor Emperor?"
"He's the Great Ancestor Emperor?"
"How is this possible?"
"..."
The crowd gazed at Luo Xiu in utter shock, finding it truly difficult to believe that the legendary Great Ancestor Emperor could be such a young man.
Elder Chen's body trembled as he hastily gathered his robes and knelt in salute. Seeing this, the young n who had been moving rocks also set down their stones and paid their respects.
In an instant, everyone broke into a cold sweat, not daring to even lift their heads. They shivered at the thought of how they had just accused the Great Ancestor Emperor of slacking off and even ordered him to do manual labor. It was as if they had been plunged into an ice cellar.
And yet, no one had the slightest doubt about Luo Xiu's identity as the "Great Ancestor Emperor."
After all, even Captain Zuo had knelt!
In the Yanhuang Empire, Captain Zuo's authority was second only to the Empress herself, placing him above all others. He was one of the founding elders of the Empire! The only people who could make him kneel were Her Majesty the Empress and the Great Ancestor Emperor!
...
"Your... Your Majesty the Great Ancestor Emperor, it was my blindness that led to offend you. My sin is truly unforgivable... I beg Your Majesty to punish !"
The young n spoke in unison, "Please, Your Majesty, punish us!"
Luo Xiu looked at the people kneeling on the ground, montarily at a loss for words.
This was precisely why he never wanted to be an Emperor. He truly didn't understand why Lin Shanshan had to invent the "Great Ancestor Emperor" title in the first place.
Luo Xiu smiled and said, "Rise, everyone. It gratifies to see you all so actively invested in the construction of the Yanhuang Empire. And you, Elder Chen, have been ticulous and constantly striving for perfection. Where is the sin in that?"
"Besides, I didn't even know I was so Great Ancestor Emperor, so it's perfectly normal that you didn't either."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The crowd rose to their feet one after another. Looking at the gentle, smiling, and approachable young man before them, their hearts ward, and they felt a sense of pride in serving such a ruler.
"Alright, brothers, back to work! I'll make sure you all get extra chicken legs tonight!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After the young n departed with renewed vigor, Luo Xiu glanced at Zuo Qianhuang. "Take to Shan Shan."
...
On the way to the Imperial Palace, Luo Xiu learned a few things about Elder Chen. This Elder Chen was no ordinary man. His full na was Chen Suan. While his talent for cultivation was diocre, he had been the most famous feng shui master in his hotown. He had beco a local magnate by telling fortunes and practicing feng shui. Later, after a disaster struck his hotown, Chen Suan was forced to wander the Tianhe region, joining the ranks of the many Tianhe Wanderers. Two years ago, Zuo Qianhuang had gone to great lengths to find Chen Suan and sincerely invite him to reside on Yan Huang Star. Thus, the old man beca a resident of Yan Huang Star. He now held the prestigious position of Director of the Star Observation Institute, primarily responsible for observing celestial phenona to predict fortune and misfortune, determine the nation's destiny, and compile the solar almanac.
「Soon after.」
Luo Xiu and his group of three arrived at the Imperial Palace and t with Lin Shanshan.
When Lin Shanshan saw Luo Xiu, her beautiful eyes widened. She threw her decorum to the wind and ran over, collapsing into his embrace as her little fists hamred against his chest in a playful flurry. The ministers accompanying her on her inspection were still trying to understand what was happening when Zuo Qianhuang and Chen Suan discreetly led them away.
...
"Dad, why did you only co back now? It's been three years. I thought you were..."
Lin Shanshan's eyes were red as she looked at Luo Xiu, her face full of grievance. For these past three years, she had worried about her dad constantly.
With a gentle gaze, Luo Xiu reached out to ruffle her hair, then stepped to one side.
"It's been hard on you these past few years."
Lin Shanshan followed behind him, pouting. "Good, as long as you know."
"Sigh!" she suddenly lanted. "Yan Huang Star is no smaller than Earth, yet we only have a population of a little over one hundred thousand. I must be the most pathetic Empress ever."
Luo Xiu smiled. "Then let offer you so reassurance. With the Pri Minister here, I believe it won't be long before this place becos a powerful and prosperous nation."
Lin Shanshan asked curiously, "Speaking of the Pri Minister, didn't he go looking for you? How co you two aren't together?"
"He has other matters to attend to. He should be back soon."
As they walked, Luo Xiu suddenly stopped, his gaze falling upon the citizens bustling with activity below the high wall. His expression was slightly stunned as a strange feeling welled up inside him.
Those were the people of this newborn nation.
They were drenched in sweat but feared neither hardship nor fatigue. They chanted cheerful work songs as they labored, every one of them full of positive energy, adding their own brick to the foundations of the Empire.
Lin Shanshan stood beside Luo Xiu, smiling. "But when you think about it, it's quite fulfilling. To take a barren land, a place with nothing, and build it into a powerful nation—a ho where everyone can live and work in peace."
Luo Xiu asked, "Where did they all co from?"
Lin Shanshan explained, "They're all Tianhe Wanderers. Captain Zuo is quite famous in those circles, and over the past few years, many have answered his call and chosen to settle on Yan Huang Star."
"And now, we have an average of several thousand people arriving to register every day."
"To these wanderers, what others see as a barren wasteland is their most cherished ho."
Luo Xiu asked, "What are your plans next?"
Lin Shanshan said, "Of course, our main focus is developnt. Centralized managent, developing education, healthcare, agriculture, animal husbandry, and so on. In short, there's an overwhelming amount of work to do."
"But first, we have to encourage childbirth. The population is still far too small."
Luo Xiu nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of childbirth... I was aning to ask, have you ever thought about getting married and giving a little grandchild?"
Hearing this, Lin Shanshan's expression imdiately changed. "Are you rushing to get married?"
Luo Xiu laughed. "You could say that. After all, my little princess is already in her forties."
Lin Shanshan's face frosted over. She said with a pout, "Don't you dare ntion my age! Do you have any idea how to talk to a girl?"
She continued, "I'm not the least bit interested in marriage or having kids, nor do I need anyone by my side. Having the Snow Kirin with is enough. The path I walk is one that pursues the pinnacle of the Great Path!"
Hearing this, Luo Xiu fell silent for a mont before speaking seriously, "Shanshan, if you really don't want to be the Empress and feel that it's holding you back, I can find another way."
"No way!" Lin Shanshan retorted without a second thought, rolling her eyes. "This is the foundation of our Luo family! You already passed it down to , so no take-backs."
"Besides, being the Empress doesn't conflict with my cultivation. On the contrary, as the ruler of a nation, I can consolidate all the cultivation resources for myself. That's far better than being a Loose Cultivator."
"So just relax and enjoy your carefree life, Dad. Mom and I will take care of you."
Moved, Luo Xiu reached out and ruffled her hair. "Such a filial daughter!"
"Of course I am. Now go cook. Your precious princess is hungry."
The smile on Luo Xiu's face instantly froze. "I just called you filial, and in the next breath, you're telling to cook for you?"
"..."
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