Female supremacy: blasphemy of imperial power [Yuri/GL]

Chapter 98: Waiting

****

Zhao Yang was dead. For Zhao Huang, this was nothing short of a deception; she absolutely could not believe that Zhao Yang was truly gone. Even if all the imperial doctors declared that Zhao Yang was definitely dead—without a pulse, without breath, her body cold and stiff…

Zhao Huang ignored everyone's warnings and obstacles, spending the majority of the national treasury to construct an ice chamber. Unlike a regular ice chamber meant for storing food, this one was crafted from the rare millennium ice, capable of preserving a body from decay. However, spending so much millennium ice to preserve a corpse was unprecedented; not to mention how difficult it was to gather enough millennium ice. Even if she had the resources to build it, it was certainly not merely for the purpose of preserving a body.

They all thought Zhao Huang had gone mad!

Spending the majority of the national treasury? This could shake the very foundation of Yun Qi!

Zhao Huang paid no mind to those who had been kneeling outside Xi Palace or Chuanluan Palace. No matter how many of them might fall down and bleed to death, what did it have to do with her? If they were looking for death, did they expect her to feel guilty?

Carefully, she embraced Zhao Yang and stepped into the ice chamber. Zhao Huang felt no chill as she steadily walked to the central, prominent ice coffin. In accordance with Zhao Huang’s wishes, the coffin was quite spacious, allowing Zhao Yang to lie comfortably inside.

Zhao Yang’s body bore no warmth, yet Zhao Huang was reluctant to let go. Her eyes were swollen; even tears could not flow out. It felt hot and sore, but she still wanted to embrace Zhao Yang and cry.

Wasn’t she insisting that Ah Yang was not dead, that she was still alive? What was the point of crying like this? Zhao Huang mentally chastised herself once more, trying to adjust her mindset. Zhao Yang had not died; she would never leave her. She would surely awaken.

In the end, Zhao Huang convinced herself to place Zhao Yang in the ice coffin, leaving without daring to look back even once.

The person in the coffin had a complexion almost blending with the pure white of the ice chamber. That beautiful face and figure looked nothing like someone who had ceased to breathe; rather, she resembled a sleeping goddess, her long eyelashes poised as if ready to flutter open at any moment, revealing those enchanting eyes that could captivate anyone.

————

The Empress was busier than ever, and her ambitions seemed frighteningly vast.

First, she had subdued Zhao Yang’s subordinate, Shuwen, taking control of the power Zhao Yang had held in life, along with the enormous wealth known only to a few. Then, she began slowly elevating the shops and merchant caravans that had thrived under Zhao Yang's name to official royal businesses, granting them green lights across the board, allowing their operations to flow smoothly through all the typically tedious procedures. More so, Zhao Huang personally wrote many effective operational plans that began to be implemented in the stores, creating foods, beverages, and entertainment facilities that existed on Earth but not in this dynasty.

Although what was initially introduced were merely small items, like recipes for multi-flavored ice cream, playing cards, and Mahjong, the resulting effects exceeded expectations, creating a sensation.

The first batch of these innovations belonged to Zhao Yang's enterprises. While items like playing cards and Mahjong could be easily replicated—albeit with some unique tweaks in detail—it was more challenging to replicate foods like ice cream, as their recipes and processes were not so easily deduced.