SFL Chapter 65

“If we say that investing in children, who can be transformed into future strength, is a worthwhile endeavour, what about the elderly? They are frail and seemingly useless; not only do they fail to enhance national power, but they might even drag it down. Why should we invest in them?”

Feng Yuning unconsciously asked this question, wanting to hear what Mo Ziqing had to say.

Could it be that even an ancient person has the awareness of ‘respecting the elderly and cherishing the young’?

Mo Ziqing replied, “Your Majesty, Princess Ning, everyone will grow old. If we only care for them while they are useful and abandon them when they grow old, even if we treat them well, they won’t be loyal to us for long. Only by addressing all their concerns can we ensure they remain devoted to us through thick and thin.”

“This sounds a bit like recruiting talent,” Feng Yuan said with a smile.

Isn’t the ruler’s approach to taking care of their subordinates’ marriages, funerals, and everything else a way to ensure their loyalty? Otherwise, why would they work so hard for you?

However, now Mo Ziqing is applying this approach to the young and elderly across the land, and no amount of money would be enough.

When Feng Yuan asked if the funds were sufficient, Mo Ziqing smiled and said, “Your Majesty, you underestimate these people. Many of them actually lack only a chance to earn money. Aside from those who are unable to care for themselves and need some silver for their support, most of them are capable of self-sufficiency.”

“Of course, don’t expect much efficiency from children and the elderly.”

Listening to this, Feng Yuning felt that it was similar to charity, except that Mo Ziqing’s position and charitable acts could better win the hearts of the people for the royal family.

She opened her mouth, wanting to follow Mo Ziqing’s lead and do some good deeds. However, at the moment of speaking, she suddenly thought of her own courtyard—those men and future children. Compared to ordinary people who had no direct connection to her, her own people were more important.

Most importantly, she was just a princess, not the empress, and this responsibility for the country was not hers to bear.

Mo Ziqing, as a royal consort, was the male head of the Empire. His actions were justified and aligned with his role. What business did she have in this matter?

Thinking this, Feng Yuning quickly abandoned her plan to distribute money, realizing she shouldn’t blindly follow along.

What she didn’t notice was the meaningful look in Mo Ziqing’s eyes.

Even if Mo Ziqing had not chosen to be with Feng Yuning, she was still a deserving leading lady. If she wished to follow along, she could also gain vast merits through such acts. Although she wouldn’t use these merits, they would ensure a life of luxury, safety, and prosperity for her in her next life.

Unfortunately, Feng Yuning didn’t understand why she had given up, and Mo Ziqing wouldn’t kindly remind her.

After Feng Yuan had seen the clear path, Mo Ziqing began using his share of the money.

Initially, Feng Yuning had invested in technical shares, while Feng Yuan and Mo Ziqing had invested in capital. The three of them held equal shares, with Feng Yuan and Mo Ziqing together controlling 60% of the shares.

However, their finances were kept separate and the accounts were very clean and transparent.

Feng Yuning used her share to supplement her household, elevating the already luxurious lifestyle of her men.

As an Empress, Feng Yuan invested her share into national projects. Building a country required funds everywhere.

Mo Ziqing’s money went to the most vulnerable people in the country—the neglected children and elderly. He gathered them together, assigning tasks to those who were still able to work and providing good care to the immobile elderly. While their meals weren’t luxurious, they had clean surroundings and three meals a day as a basic standard.

The children received education and training, learning basic ethics and culture, slowly transforming the country from its roots.

Feng Yuan and Mo Ziqing used their money for more meaningful purposes, which Feng Yuning noticed. She began to wonder if she was too selfish.

People often say, ‘When one succeeds, one should benefit the world.’ With so much wealth, shouldn’t she contribute something to the country? But thinking of the smiles her men showed her when they saw luxurious clothes, the guilt she initially felt was quickly forgotten.

When the envoys from Long Queendom entered the territory, they were increasingly astonished by the changes in Feng Queendom.

Especially in Feng Queendom’s capital, most of the items sold on the streets were novel to the Long Queendom envoys.

The more they observed, the heavier their hearts became.

Although the two countries still maintained basic etiquette on the surface, everyone knew the real situation between the people of both nations.

The more prosperous Feng Queendom became, the more disadvantageous it was for Long Queendom.

After being settled in the embassy designated for Long Queendom’s envoys, led by the Seventh Princess, the envoys gathered to discuss their matters.

The first task was to investigate the source of Feng Queendom’s significant changes.

“Seventh Sister, I’m going out to explore the streets. I’ll return by evening,” said a young man with a thin veil on his face to the Long Queendom’s Seventh Princess.

The Seventh Princess didn’t pay much attention to this younger prince who was accompanying them to broaden his horizons and waved him off, then continued discussing matters with the others.

As soon as the Long Queendom prince left the embassy, the news was sent to the palace.

Mo Ziqing looked at the news and suddenly smiled, “A young and handsome prince, huh?”

“Where is Princess Ning now?” Mo Ziqing asked.

“Your Highness, Princess Ning is out shopping.”

“Alone?”

“Yes, Princess Ning is alone.”

With so many handsome men in Feng Yuning’s courtyard, she naturally had no shortage of companions for shopping.

But here’s the issue: With so many beautiful men, how many times would she need to go shopping to accompany each one? The ones left behind would certainly feel jealous, and in the end, it would be her who would face difficulties if conflicts arose.

So, after some consideration, Feng Yuning chose to go out alone.

Since her business had expanded and she earned more money, Feng Yuning’s financial situation was no longer as tight as it had been at the beginning. With more spare money, her naturally lively and active mind was even more engaged.

Going out alone meant she didn’t have to consider anyone else, so Feng Yuning’s eyes wandered everywhere. She wasn’t really looking at the items but was instead scanning the bustling crowd for the appearance of new handsome men.

To be honest, she was well-loved by people, and in this life, she had only experienced unrequited desire with Mo Ziqing. Thus, Feng Yuning unconsciously didn’t want to miss any new handsome men she encountered.

As long as Feng Yuan didn’t interfere and compete with her, there was basically no one in the country who could challenge her.

In the palace, Feng Yuan looked at the real-time news in Mo Ziqing’s hands, frowning, “How did Yuning end up with the Long Queendom prince?”

“Perhaps it’s because the prince is exceptionally handsome. After all, Princess Ning’s judgement of men has always been accurate,” Mo Ziqing said with a smile.

Feng Yuan wanted to disagree with Mo Ziqing’s comment, thinking it was another way of suggesting Feng Yuning was overly interested in men. However, after some thought, Feng Yuan couldn’t come up with a counterargument. After all, Mo Ziqing’s words weren’t entirely unfounded.

“It was one thing before when those men were from our Feng Queendom, but what about this Long Queendom prince? I will not agree to any marriage between them,” Feng Yuan said coldly.

Although Feng Yuning and the Long Queendom prince had just started to interact, it seemed as though he already foresaw them developing feelings for each other.

Feng Yuan’s confidence in Feng Yuning’s prowess in the romantic field was so strong that even the normally composed Empress began to believe it.

“So, what are your thoughts on the Long Queendom?” Mo Ziqing asked Feng Yuan.

Feng Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned in close to Mo Ziqing’s ear, her voice barely a whisper, “Naturally, I have the ambition for unification.”

In front of Mo Ziqing, she didn’t hide her ambitions at all. After all, even if this ambition wasn’t explicitly stated, many people were already well aware of it.

Being in Feng Queendom, Mo Ziqing naturally had to act from Feng Queendom’s perspective. “Your Majesty’s wishes will certainly be fulfilled.”

“What if I have a plan that can help you achieve your goal more quickly?”

“What plan?” Feng Yuan asked curiously.

“This plan’s key lies with Princess Ning,” Mo Ziqing replied with a smile.

In the original story, the Long Queendom used Feng Yuning to break through Feng Queendom’s defenses.

Now, they could naturally turn this to their advantage.

At the same time, the Long Queendom envoys were discussing Empress Feng Yuan and Princess Ning.

“Princess Ning is the Empress’ closest sister. Unlike the well-known Prince Ning, breaking through with the Empress is challenging,” one of the Long Queendom envoys said.

The Seventh Princess disagreed, saying, “We came here to find out why the Feng Queendom has undergone such significant changes, not to become enemies with Feng Queendom. It’s not appropriate to target the Empress and her consort.”

The key point was that the defenses around the Empress and her consort were top-notch. Their own manpower was simply insufficient, and any misstep could result in their being caught in Feng Queendom.

The Long Queendom sent them, which indicated they weren’t highly valued, but they valued their own lives greatly. If they wanted to return alive, they shouldn’t make any major moves in Feng Kingdom.

As they discussed, Princess Ning of Feng Queendom became the focal point for the Long Queendom envoys.

“This Princess Ning reportedly has no other interests and is exclusively fond of handsome men. It is said that her harem is almost full, so she should be relatively easy to approach,” the Long Queendom envoys remarked.

Considering their own group configuration, which was mostly women with only a few men, and given Princess Ning’s fondness for handsome men, the envoys turned their attention to the Long Queendom’s Seventh Princess and asked her to decide.

The Seventh Princess gave a barely perceptible nod and instructed her servants to invite Princess Ning to meet her once her younger brother returned.

The higher-ups might have intended for them to use the beauty strategy, given they had sent a pampered prince along.

Unaware of the schemes from both sides, Feng Yuning and the Long Queendom prince continued their activities.

Hearing that the Long Queendom prince was only visiting Feng Queendom and not here for a marriage alliance, Feng Yuning’s eyes revealed a trace of subtle disappointment, which dampened her enthusiasm for shopping.

“I wonder who made these items? They’re really impressive. We don’t have anything like this in the Long Queendom,” the Long Queendom prince said, admiring a palm-sized mirror in his hand.