After Qin Yi’s power was completely uprooted, the first thing Qin Yu considered was how to fill those vacant official positions.
The other positions were easy to handle.
Although many were empty, they were not vital roles.
Qin Yu ordered the Ministry of Personnel to promote talented and virtuous individuals from lower ranks to fill the gaps.
While these minor positions were filled, Xu Feng’s former post as the Director of the Department of State Affairs remained vacant.
Xu Feng was not only the Director of the Department of State Affairs but also the Senior Grand Secretary, making him the head of the Emperor’s secretarial team.
He had been responsible for processing a massive amount of paperwork for the Emperor.
Qin Yu had to choose someone she could trust for this role.
After much consideration, Qin Yu finally decided to have Yin An act as the Director of the Department of State Affairs and as the Senior Grand Secretary.
The Director of the Secretariat was Shangguan Rong.
As an official who had been newly appointed a few years ago, she was highly watched.
However, she had not participated in the incident involving Qin Yi.
Qin Yu believed that she was also someone who could be trusted, so she did not change her position.
With this, the ranks of the court officials were refreshed, though the guards in the Imperial Palace were still Qin Yi’s men.
Qin Yu had not yet found the right opportunity to strike at Qin Yi, and since she was surrounded by the East Palace guards — her own confidants — she was in no hurry.
Now that the court environment was renewed, Qin Yu could finally take the reins and govern directly.
The Chengji Empire was riddled with holes after the absurd reign of Qin Ling.
Although it looked decent on the surface, it was actually rotten to the core.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu looked at the swaying Empire and were somewhat at a loss for where to begin.
“Right now, the people of the Chengji Empire are exhausted, and the officials are corrupt. It will be difficult to get the Empire back on track,” Luo Shangyu said, her expression full of worry.
“It’s fine,” Qin Yu replied, full of confidence, “While our situation is a bit poor right now, the foundation is still there. As long as we govern properly, we can definitely make Chengji great again.”
“Don’t be too naive!” Luo Shangyu poked Qin Yu and said, “Our situation is at its worst. The previous administration’s failed policies have left the border armies’ equipment in disarray. If a slightly stronger enemy attacks, they will quickly break through our defensive lines.”
“What about the inland armies? Every province, county, and district has garrisoned troops, right?”
“Those forces are scattered, and their quality is extremely poor. It is hard for them to form an effective fighting force.” Luo Shangyu shook her head.
“Then what about the Central Army Group? Three hundred thousand troops with the most advanced magic tools for weapons, mixed with the Ace Mage Regiment… surely that’s not bad?”
“Only those 300,000 troops are barely presentable. If we face an enemy attacking with the strength of their entire nation, I’m afraid we will find it hard to resist.”
Qin Yu was stunned.
She only now realized how fragile the Chengji Empire seemed to be.
To make the Empire great again, she would have to put in immense effort and rule with diligence.
***
Days passed.
After his partisans were purged, Qin Yi remained unusually quiet, showing no movement.
Although Qin Ling’s illness had not improved, it showed no signs of worsening for the time being.
With Yin An guarding Qin Ling, Qin Yi dared not easily force the Emperor to abdicate, even though he controlled the Forbidden Army and had the help of Zhao Zhuang, a Level 9 pseudo-god.
Han Youcheng led 150,000 troops of the Central Army Group in a triumphant advance, pushing straight toward the Yiyong Capital.
Upon hearing the news, Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu couldn’t help but smile.
Over the last few days, the two of them had been tidying up the court bit by bit, and everything was progressing in a positive direction.
However, the price was that Qin Yu could no longer slack off as she once had.
Currently acting as Regent, Qin Yu was essentially the Emperor, and her tasks were heavy.
Although the Grand Secretariat ministers helped her process memorials, she still had to personally formulate the reform plans.
One morning, after waking up, Qin Yu sat on the bed for a long time without moving.
Even when Luo Shangyu had finished getting dressed, she remained sitting there in a daze.
“What’s wrong?” Luo Shangyu sat on the edge of the bed and asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“No, I just feel a bit tired,” Qin Yu said in a low voice.
“A bit tired?” Luo Shangyu was taken aback, but then she realized that although Qin Yu had taken over the responsibility of ruling the Chengji Empire, she was still only a 16-year-old girl.
It was only natural that she would feel tired facing such heavy work.
“Then let’s go out and relax,” Luo Shangyu suggested.
“But…” Qin Yu hesitated, worried she might neglect state affairs.
“It’s fine. Don’t we have the Grand Secretariat? Just let them handle those things.” Luo Shangyu dispelled Qin Yu’s doubts.
“You can work better if you relax more!”
Qin Yu was already tired, and hearing Luo Shangyu say this, she found it very reasonable.
She no longer wanted to stay in the Capital City dealing with government affairs.
“When do we leave?” Qin Yu asked excitedly.
“We’ll go after breakfast.”
After the two of them had finished breakfast, a maid packed the clothes they might wear over the next few days.
Although it was autumn, the weather recently had the characteristics of an Indian summer, and the temperature was surprisingly hot.
Qin Yu felt warm wearing just a white short-sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts, so she simply rolled up her pant legs to the tops of her thighs.
“You should put on a pair of comfortable sneakers because we’re going hunting this time,” Luo Shangyu reminded her.
“Hunting?”
‘But regardless, this has to be more interesting than squatting in the Imperial Palace handling state affairs, right?’
Qin Yu took Luo Shangyu’s advice and changed into a pair of mesh sneakers.
She wore a pair of slightly long, milky-white thin cotton socks that covered her ankles, ensuring comfort while absorbing sweat.
“Where are we going hunting?” Qin Yu asked as she finished preparing her gear and followed Luo Shangyu out of the East Palace.
“To Salem Forest,” Luo Shangyu said, “A Monster Dragon appeared there recently. It has a Dragon Crystal inside it that is rich in space magic, which is quite valuable.”
“How do you know that?” Qin Yu was surprised.
They had been together these past few days, seeing and hearing the same things.
If she didn’t know, how did Luo Shangyu?
“It was written in the travel column of the newspaper. How could you see it with the way you just skim ten lines at a glance?”
Qin Yu’s face flushed with embarrassment.
She really couldn’t stand looking at newspapers that were densely packed with text.
“Hold my hand tight!” Luo Shangyu suddenly grabbed Qin Yu’s right hand.
In the blink of an eye, the two had reached the street.
People were coming and going, and Luo Shangyu held onto Qin Yu firmly, afraid of losing her.
Only the two of them went out for the trip.
Qin Yu was worried that bringing servants and guards would overwhelm the post stations along the way.
She did not want to affect the regular work of the stations because of her own presence; that would be more trouble than it was worth.