Fu Lingchuan frowned: “We just obtained the Ji artifact. We should return to An Xia territory first and announce this good news to the world…” to boost morale.

Feng Miaojun smiled, saying just four words: “Golden Branch Jade Dew.”

Transportation was inconvenient at this time. If she followed Fu Lingchuan back to the northern border, when would she have another opportunity to go to Yan’s capital? Besides, Fu Lingchuan probably didn’t have enough influence to make Lord Yangshan deliver the Golden Branch Jade Dew from thousands of miles away.

Fu Lingchuan pressed his thin lips tightly together.

He didn’t want to deny the Queen’s wishes on her first day as ruler. After taking a deep breath, he said: “Fine.”

Agreeing to her request would disrupt his original plans.

A handsome young man behind him couldn’t help saying: “My lord, we still need to…”

“Silence.” Fu Lingchuan reprimanded him. “We’ll do as Her Majesty requests.” At this critical juncture, he didn’t want Feng Miaojun to change her mind.

Feng Miaojun smiled at the young man. Her beauty was otherworldly, and her smile was like a hundred flowers blooming at once, making onlookers feel dazed. The young man’s face reddened. Only after he lowered his head did she softly ask: “Who is this?”

“This is Liang Yu, son of Marquis Qinyuan, Liang Shudong.”

She gave a soft “Oh,” then said gently: “I’m a bit thirsty. Would you fetch me a bowl of stone flower honey porridge?”

This was a task normally for servants, but with her tone and appearance, no one could be upset with her. Liang Yu didn’t dare look at her, answered “Yes,” and rushed out. Even after walking several dozen paces away, he could still hear the New Xia Queen’s silver bell-like laughter, his heart pounding, his face burning.

Fu Lingchuan sighed helplessly: “Mischievous.” He had noticed her dissatisfaction, but her methods were exceptionally gentle—even Liang Yu didn’t feel humiliated.

Fu Lingchuan had thought Feng Miaojun would demand more power since she was the supreme Queen of New Xia.

Yet, surprisingly, she didn’t.

Why? Was it because she understood this wasn’t something she could simply ask for?

Feng Miaojun’s smile faded as she asked him a serious question: “After the lightning trial ends, what happens to the people on the island?”

After the trial, the entire Luofu Island would naturally belong to New Xia. But the sea tribe had developed it for over a thousand years, and many beings lived on the island, including not only magical creatures but also a large number of humans.

Fu Lingchuan smiled: “I had originally thought that after the Ji artifact trial succeeded, we would leave immediately.”

Feng Miaojun understood that he hadn’t planned to properly accommodate everyone.

His theft of the conch shell had created a blood feud with the mermen. His plan likely only extended to how to escape unharmed without being caught by the sea tribe, with no consideration for the island’s inhabitants.

“What about now?” she pressed, not letting go. “Circumstances have changed.”

Now that they had the upper hand and the mermen had compromised, shouldn’t this fellow make more long-term plans?

Fu Lingchuan smiled: “My Queen has a compassionate heart, which is their fortune. I’ll give the mermen twelve hours to evacuate their possessions and people from Luofu Island.” As he said this, he lightly tapped the ground with his toe. “Once Luofu transforms into a Ji artifact, it can never change back.”

Feng Miaojun nodded, understanding the special nature of Ji artifacts. Any magical item, once it passed the trial, could transform into a Ji artifact, all taking the shape of a small tripod cauldron. From then on, unless the kingdom fell, it could never return to its original form.

His arrangement was appropriate. “We must guard against the sea tribe’s revenge.”

Fu Lingchuan smiled: “Your Majesty need not worry, I have plans.”

At this moment, Liang Yu indeed returned with a bowl of stone flower honey porridge. Feng Miaojun reached out to take it, lightly stirring it with a silver spoon without drinking, only smiling at everyone.

Fu Lingchuan understood her hint and shooed everyone else out: “What does Your Majesty wish to say?” His gaze inadvertently fell on her hands, seeing her fingers like spring onions and skin like white jade—truly, a beautiful woman was pleasing to the eye no matter what she did.

This fellow was adept at understanding unspoken intentions and was quite a shrewd character who couldn’t be underestimated. Feng Miaojun smiled: “After one trip to Luofu Island, Princess Changle looks completely different. How will you explain this to others?”

The fake Princess Changle had lived in Yan’s capital for several years, and later visited the borders and An Xia. Countless people had seen her. Now Fu Lingchuan was bringing back someone completely transformed—he must have an explanation prepared.

Fu Lingchuan sighed: “There’s no way around it. We can only say that to avoid unnecessary trouble, she always used a shape-shifting parasite.”

Feng Miaojun’s beautiful eyes gleamed with amusement: “What flattery.” Was he complimenting her for being too beautiful to show her true face? The reason was too weak.

Fortunately, all Fu Lingchuan needed was an explanation. Her becoming New Xia’s Queen was already a fact; nothing else mattered.

“In foreign lands, it was best to keep a low profile,” Fu Lingchuan gazed at her beautiful face meaningfully. “From now on, everything will be different.”

After the earlier major tremor, there had been no thunder for a long time. Outside seemed peaceful. Feng Miaojun stood up: “Has the lightning trial ended? Let’s go, New Xia’s Grand State Preceptor should assume his duties.”

The State Preceptor’s appointment ceremony was also held outdoors. She and Fu Lingchuan needed to pass through Luofu’s lower city to return to the surface. The current Feng Miaojun was vastly different from half a day ago—as she moved, she was surrounded by at least a dozen guards. She didn’t like it but knew it was necessary in the current environment.

Passing mermen all looked at them with hateful eyes. These An Xia people had seized their homeland, and the only reason they hadn’t rushed over to tear apart their enemies was due to the Merman King’s effective control.

Though Luofu’s lower city was crowded, most people hurried by, making final preparations for evacuation. Just then, Feng Miaojun sensed an inquiring gaze upon her.

She turned her head and found herself looking directly at Jing Shun.

Behind him were two others, both cultivators from the Wei Kingdom.

Feng Miaojun was slightly surprised to see him but then remembered that with such major changes on Luofu Island, Jing Shun would likely want to gather complete information before returning to Wei Kingdom with first-hand reports.

His shocked expression indicated that Jing Shun had recognized her.

It seemed that these disturbances couldn’t be hidden from Wei people and Yun. Feng Miaojun sighed internally, but her gaze swept past them without lingering.

The State Preceptor’s investiture ceremony was simple, completing all procedures in less than a quarter of an hour.

The first State Preceptor after the kingdom’s founding was directly appointed by the monarch; subsequent replacements would require trials.

The new owners of Luofu Island had given their ultimatum, and the island’s inhabitants had no choice but to move before the deadline. Those who had arrived by ship would leave the same way, while the sea tribe would have to find solutions for the rest. This revealed the Mermen tribe’s considerable wealth, as they casually produced hundreds of passenger vessels like jade boats and jade bowls with massive capacity. The sea tribe also deployed hundreds of giant sea turtles, each over a hundred feet long.