Chapter 495: Starting Point

Jiang Qingli’s medal ceremony was on a Monday.

Even so, the crowd of onlookers outside the Divine Palace had packed the square to the brim.

The moment the live stream started, a massive influx of viewers threatened to crash it. Countless comments flooded the top of the screen—

[Did Jiang Qingli really save the Ninth District? Don’t tell me the Jiang Family is just paving the way for her by giving her credit for Xie Youchen’s achievements.]

[Use your brain. This is the Crown Medal! It carries a rank equivalent to a Prince! The last time it was awarded was a century ago. With this medal, she’s guaranteed to be at least the City Lord of the Upper City District! Is it so hard to acknowledge her accomplishments?]

[I was her junior in high school. My queen was someone we all looked up to, okay? She just got blinded by some guy for a while. She’s innocent!]

[I’m done. I can’t stand these toxic solo stans.]

[If you can’t stand it, go die! As long as my Queen Qingli is happy, I don’t care who dies! [Heart][Heart][Heart]]

[Say what you will, but Jiang Qingli’s life has been pretty legendary.]

[Starts with the wicked female getting her engagement annulled, ends with her defending a city and gaining a rank equal to a Prince! The three-year agreement is up! Never underestimate the underdog!]

[She’s so incredible. Can we name today ’Jiang Qingli Day’ and get it as a holiday every year? An achievement like this deserves to be remembered for centuries!]

[Seconded! @Office of Imperial Affairs]x100

[A prodigal woman’s return is more precious than gold. I should try to have a good talk with my own female master...]

[Want to know if your female master has potential? Click [link] for a fortune-telling session. Free if it’s not accurate!]

[Can the mods please clean up the chat? Kick all the advertisers! This is my queen’s day, you get me?]

[Is she only *your* queen? I think she’s my queen, too. Why can guys have a crush on her but other girls can’t?]

[There are still four Beast Husband spots left. No harm in taking a shot, right?]

[It’s three.]

A comment from a user with a red profile picture offered a serious correction, but it was dismissed as a delusional fanboy’s rambling and quickly buried. No one paid it any mind.

Que Feiling, who was sitting in the front row, snorted in dissatisfaction and looked up at the dazzling lights.

...

After banning a few accounts for posting inappropriate ads, Lin Xiyue took off her headset and looked at the person beside her. "Mr. Secretary-General, I’m going to check on Qingli."

Yuan Shiyao leaned against the monitor, his eyes fixed on the comments. He nodded and banned another abusive account.

Beside him, the head of the Propaganda Department chuckled. "Shiyao, when you first showed up, I thought you were just playing around. I didn’t expect you to take this so seriously."

Ai Li said, "Of course. Our Secretary-General and Qingli are on very good terms."

The department head didn’t catch the teasing undertone and laughed. "Well, that’s his sister-in-law for you!"

Ai Bin quickly kicked the department head. "Bro, can you just do your job!"

’Our Secretary-General can’t stand hearing that...’

He glanced at Yuan Shiyao’s face, only to see him curve his lips into a smile. "Well, he’s not wrong."

A gentle, sweet warmth lingered in his jade-green eyes.

...

When Lin Xiyue arrived backstage, she saw a tall figure holding Jiang Qingli by the shoulders as she trembled slightly.

"Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous," Xie Qizhen said. "Remember what Dad taught you? Take a deep breath. The people down there are just a bunch of heads of lettuce. Nothing to be nervous about."

Jiang Qingli gave him a helpless look. "Dad, I’m not nervous. You’re the one who needs to stop shaking..."

Only then did Xie Qizhen realize he was the one whose hands had been shaking the whole time.

Xie Qizhen, whose word was law in the military district, now felt his hands grow cold.

Under the slightly disapproving gazes of Jiang Yi and Qingli’s other two fathers, he pulled his hands back, rubbed them together, and chuckled nervously. "Good, good. As long as you’re not nervous."

"Yi Nuo," Zhou Yanli said, patting Jiang Qingli’s back gently. "Get her some water to soothe her throat."

Yi Nuo handed her a bottle of water. Jiang Qingli took it and gave him a smile.

"The ceremony is about to begin. If you would please follow me to the viewing platform," a protocol officer said, approaching Jiang Yi and the others respectfully.

Jiang Yi caressed her daughter’s face, offered a few words of reassurance, and then left with the others. Yi Nuo followed them.

She had smudged her lipstick while drinking water, so Jiang Qingli decided to head to the dressing room to touch it up.

But in the hallway, she ran into Xie Youchen.

"Ah Li."

The young man stepped forward, bent down, and placed an incredibly light, reverent kiss on the back of her hand.

He looked as if he had a thousand things to say, but in the end, he simply let go of her hand and stepped back into the shadows.

He didn’t say a word, but Jiang Qingli knew. Just as he always had, her brother would be standing in the front row with her family, watching her moment of glory.

When she reached the dressing room, Jiang Qingli pushed the door open but didn’t see a makeup artist inside.

The young man in front of the mirror turned around, his eyes smiling. "Sister~ I already have the lipstick ready for you!"

"Why aren’t you in the viewing stands?" Unsurprised, Jiang Qingli pinched Gu Nian’s cheek.

"I wanted to see you," Gu Nian said, stepping closer. "Besides, I’m not the only one here."

Jiang Qingli sat down, allowing him to meticulously outline her lips with a lip liner.

Gu Nian looked down at his handiwork and curled his lips. "I really want to give that a kiss..."

Before he could finish, she flicked him on the forehead. He stuck out his tongue. "Just kidding! Today is a very important day!"

Gu Nian leaned forward and placed a light kiss on the hem of her dress. "I’ll be watching you, Sister."

Pushing the door open, Jiang Qingli was unsurprised to find Yuan Shimo waiting for her.

For the first time in a long while, the young man was wearing a crisp suit, dressed formally for her medal ceremony.

He bowed slightly, extending his open palm to Jiang Qingli.

"Cat Teacher, you look very handsome in a suit."

Jiang Qingli placed her hand in his, praising him with a smile.

"I’m glad my female master likes it."

Yuan Shimo pinched the tip of his ear, his voice remaining calm. But at his feet, his shadow had long since sprouted a cat’s tail, which was now raised high in excitement.

Yuan Shimo led Jiang Qingli by the hand to the edge of the lounge area.

Qin Muye was leaning against the wall, looking down at his watch. "So slow," he tutted.

"Hey, I didn’t ask you to wait," Jiang Qingli retorted, his cocky tone making her want to reach out and tug his ear.

Qin Muye had been about to tell off Yuan Shimo, but after Jiang Qingli’s remark, he immediately dropped the act. His voice softened. "This Prince chose to wait on his own accord, all right?"

"That’s more like it," Jiang Qingli laughed.

Qin Muye held out his hand. "Come on, this way."

"You guys really have this all planned out, escorting me in shifts," Jiang Qingli muttered, though she secretly loved the feeling.

She placed her hand in Qin Muye’s, and together they walked down the long corridor.

Her field of vision gradually narrowed.

She was getting closer and closer to the stage.

The cheers and music grew louder and clearer.

Finally, they stopped walking.

In front of the curtain, Baili Jing, dressed in a pure white suit, had been waiting for some time.

"Xiao Li," Baili Jing said, reaching a hand toward her, his eyes soft with a gentle smile. "Go on. Unveil it yourself."

He stepped back, giving her space to pull aside the curtain.

Jiang Qingli asked, "Is that everyone? I don’t see Ye Linyuan. He’s not waiting for me on stage, is he?"

Baili Jing smiled. "His status makes it inconvenient for him to be here in person. But look down..."

Jiang Qingli looked down and saw a faint black mist swirling around her feet. As she noticed it, the mist gently rose and gave her a light push on the back.

Jiang Qingli pulled open the heavy curtain.

After passing through the darkness, a light so brilliant it was almost blinding flooded the space before her.

Her face was magnified to an immense size on the projection screen.

For a moment, the hall fell silent.

Then came the unending, excited screams and the madly scrolling live comments.

Jiang Qingli walked to the center of the stage, knelt on one knee, and lowered her head slightly.

The Emperor descended the steps, pinned the medal to her chest, and then personally helped her to her feet. His eyes were full of hope and commendation. "Qingli, it is an honor to know the future of the Empire rests in the hands of young people like you."

The Great Divine Servant, clad in a long red robe, strode forward. With a slender index finger, he gently traced a sacred totem of blessing on her forehead.

The Crown Medal, a symbol of supreme honor, was now pinned to Jiang Qingli’s chest.

A symphony began to play, its melody as majestic as mountains and rivers.

Jiang Qingli turned to face the audience and the cameras.

A million cheers rose from all directions, washing over her like a tidal wave, rising from her ankles to engulf her completely.

Jiang Qingli suddenly recalled a time from long ago, at her middle school graduation. It was her first time as the student representative, delivering a naive speech in front of hundreds of faces.

It was just like this back then—

Family, friends, loved ones.

The most important people were by her side.

Honor, flowers, applause.

Love and power, held tightly in her grasp.

-

As if sensing something, Jiang Qingli looked up.

The auditorium’s magnificent dome opened, and sunlight poured down without reservation, enveloping her in a brilliant, golden warmth.

Jiang Qingli vaguely recalled that the day she had returned to this world had also been a bright, splendid, sunny day just like this one.

BANG—

In that instant, balloons overhead burst, sending a shower of confetti dancing through the air.

Waves of cheers erupted from the crowd. Happiness and ambition swelled within her, growing under the watchful eyes of the masses.

Jiang Qingli knew this was not her destination, but rather the starting point of her conquest of an even greater world.

Jiang Qingli’s story was forever to be continued.

[End of Main Story]