Since ancient times, there have been women regents, but there has never been a female emperor!

"...After the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, perhaps the first female emperor in Huaxia may soon appear in the Dayuan Dynasty!"

Feng Shou knew his days were numbered.

Having finally uncovered Lady He’s scheme, he didn’t know whether to feel relieved or regretful.

Relieved, because he would soon die; after his death, whether Lady He would continue to be regent or become emperor herself, he would not witness.

Thus, he would not be violating the promise he made to the late Emperor.

Regretful, because he would not see the birth of the first female emperor in history, nor witness what reforms and prosperity Lady He’s change of dynasty would bring!

"Mistress, no matter what decisions you make in the future, please leave a trace of the Zhao family bloodline!"

Feng Shou, with a complex emotion, on his deathbed, seeing Empress Dowager He visiting him, made a deal using his last remaining influence.

He Tiantian, looking at the skeleton-like Feng Shou, leaned to his ear and whispered: "Zhao Gui isn’t dead; he became an emperor on the island in the East Sea."

Indeed, she wouldn’t devote herself to Zhao Gui, that ungrateful son, unconditionally like the original owner.

But she wouldn’t be so heartless as to "kill her own child."

Apart from "mother and son bloodline," Zhao Gui is also the original male lead of this Small World.

He Tiantian’s usual principle is to never annihilate unless the male and female leads are true villains. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Even the sordid male lead from the last world, who made He Tiantian feel sick, she still left him with a path.

This life’s Zhao Gui, brazen enough to chill one’s heart, but when all is said and done, he’s just a troublesome kid.

Not truly villainous, at most lacking virtue for his status.

Thus, He Tiantian exiled him, letting him venture overseas by himself.

If he has the ability, then let him call himself king on some island and help Huaxia expand its territory.

If he fails, either buried in sea or killed by natives or pirates, then that is his choice.

Fortunately, after experiencing the rise and fall of regency and dethronement, Zhao Gui truly grew.

He endured many hardships at sea and faced numerous dangers, ultimately occupying several large islands and becoming an emperor of the sea.

Last time, receiving his letter, he mentioned being interested in Japan’s silver mines and wanting to battle against these Japanese slaves.

If Zhao Gui truly conquered Japan, future history would indeed be rewritten!

Upon hearing He Tiantian’s words, Feng Shou’s eyes widened sharply, "Zhao Gui, he, he—"

"He is not only the late Emperor’s son, but also my own flesh and blood. He can wrong me, but I will not annihilate him!"

He Tiantian smiled faintly, without any concealment towards Feng Shou.

She even took out Zhao Gui’s personally written letter, displayed it to Feng Shou.

Feng Shou stared closely at the words on the letter; yes, it was the familiar handwriting of Zhao Gui!

Zhao Gui isn’t dead; he expands territories overseas and even became an emperor!

The late Emperor’s bloodline won’t be severed, and his descendants still lord over, truly noble progeny.

Feng Shou was completely at ease; he felt that even in the afterlife, meeting the late Emperor would leave him with no guilt or regrets.

Free of obsessions and concerns, Feng Shou contentedly closed his eyes.

He Tiantian held a grand funeral for Feng Shou and, according to the late Emperor’s last wishes, buried him in the Imperial Mausoleum.

Of the Three Great Ministers, two were already gone; the last Prince Han was executed by Lady He for treason last year.

Thus, the Three Great Ministers became history, and new and old changes began among the big shots in the Political Affairs Hall.

Not only the Political Affairs Hall, but also fresh blood was integrated throughout the Imperial court.

The noble families began to decline while the poor families quietly emerged.

Like the late Emperor, He Tiantian implemented a small-scale examination-based official selection system.

Gradually eroding, boiling the frog in warm water.

When the noble families began to wake up, the Imperial court already had footholds for the poor households.

And these "new nobles," were mostly promoted by He Tiantian, undoubtedly part of the "Holy Empress Party."

Therefore, when the twenty-five-year-old Zhao Qing, with no intention of personal regency, voluntarily decreed to cede the throne to Empress Dowager He, the court was shaken indeed.

Yet, it was not as unacceptable as imagined!

Oppose what?

The Three Great Ministers were long gone, and the Political Affairs Hall had already become Empress Dowager He’s domain.

One-third of the civil and military officials were Lady He’s people.

The most crucial point being Lady He holding 200,000 troops, while the Guardian Generals of the Southern Border and Northwest also leaned towards Lady He!