Power Soaring to the Skies

"Professor Wu, just follow my lead." Jade Evans shook her head but offered no explanation.

===

The public revelation of Jade Evans’s true identity, along with the appointment of three female faculty members at the Royal Academy of Mathematics, swept across the nation like wildfire.

Reactions to these events were mixed throughout the country, with every possible opinion voiced.

Jade Evans paid no heed to either praise or criticism; she simply went about her business, as if the opinions of others had no effect on her whatsoever.

Meanwhile, the reputation of the Prince of Qin’s Manor soared to new heights, thanks to the news that Professor Jade Evans was in fact the Princess Consort of Qin.

From the imperial court to the countryside, everyone was talking about the Prince of Qin’s Manor.

The manor’s master, Alexander 'The War God' Hayes, commanded the nation’s military forces; most of the generals in the Jin Dynasty had either served under him or been promoted by him. As for the mistress, Princess Jade Hayes, she was the dean of the country’s highest academic institutions. Her first cohort of students had already entered government service—some dispatched to local posts, some admitted to the Hanlin Academy, and some promoted to capital officials. It was widely said that in less than ten years, most of the civil service would be made up of her protégés.

Historically, civil officials and military officers have always been at odds—scholars found generals uncouth, while generals dismissed scholars as useless. These two factions naturally restrained and balanced each other.

But the Prince of Qin’s Manor had managed to unite both sides, holding sway over the entire civil and military bureaucracy—a truly rare feat, with power reaching the very heavens.

Meanwhile, Emperor Leonard the Enlightened found every excuse to lavish rewards upon Prince of Qin's Manor. The palace gifts arrived in a steady stream, flowing like an endless river.

For a time, the entrance to Prince of Qin's Manor was packed—those seeking favor and those hoping to curry it, all crowding the gates so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.

Yet, in the midst of this dazzling prosperity, Alexander Hayes and Jade Evans wore faint shadows of concern between their brows, seemingly untouched by all the glory.

In the study, Alexander and Jade stood before the desk, still poring over the map of the Jin Kingdom.

On the map, Jade's circles overlapped with Alexander's. Eventually, their marks converged: west to Datong, east to Ning City, north to Qingzhou, south to Guangdong—covering about a quarter of the Jin Dynasty's territory.

"This will be the final territory, then. What do you think, my dear?" Alexander set down his brush after drawing the last circle and looked at Jade.

Jade nodded. "It's perfect. These regions have the minerals, oil, and ports we need—and half of Southland's silk-producing areas, too."

"Then it's settled." Alexander rolled up the map.

Watching him put the map away, Jade's clear eyes met his. "When do you plan to enter the palace, my lord?"

"Tomorrow," Alexander sighed. "The Empress is pregnant, and His Majesty is overjoyed. There's a banquet in the palace to celebrate."

Jade nodded, her fingers tightening around her sleeve. "Then tomorrow it is." She sighed. "Bella Bell is expecting a child. It should be a happy occasion, but..."

Alexander wrapped his arm around Jade's waist, pulling her close. The two held each other tightly, a faint worry lingering between their brows...

Jade returned his embrace, but the shadow of worry remained, unspoken yet understood.

The next day, the Jin Imperial Palace was ablaze with celebration. Nobles from every corner of the realm gathered for the Empress’s pregnancy banquet.

The feast was extravagant, the Emperor’s joy for Empress Bella Bell clear in every detail, from the golden tableware to the rare delicacies.

Alexander and Jade entered the palace, their expressions calm but wary. Though surrounded by splendor, both sensed the undercurrents beneath the surface.

As the festivities reached their peak, the Emperor raised his cup and proclaimed, "Tonight, we celebrate not only the Empress's joy, but the prosperity of the Jin Dynasty!"