WBSGVS Chapter 213 V2

After surviving that flood, the group of citizens who had once lived along the city moat came to revere the Imperial Advisor as a deity. Many even set up small shrines in their homes to worship her day and night.

And time proved they were right.

Ever since the Advisor took power, everyone’s lives have steadily improved. If she said a war could be won, then it could be. If it couldn’t be, she’d personally take the field and create peace and prosperity for the people with her own hands.

But what made the lantern shopkeeper admire her beyond words was something else entirely—three years into her tenure, the Advisor fought against fierce opposition to pass a Marriage Law that allowed women to establish their own households. From then on, marriage was no longer a prison for women.

At sixteen, the shopkeeper had married her childhood sweetheart. The first two years of marriage went well, except for one issue—she couldn’t get pregnant.

Her mother-in-law gave her all kinds of bizarre food remedies that made her seriously ill. After a long recovery and a temporary break from the “treatments,” she finally conceived.

But the baby was a girl—Tiantian.

Her in-laws weren’t pleased. Even her husband seemed disappointed that she hadn’t borne him a son.

Two more years passed, and she still wasn’t pregnant again.

Technically, commoners weren’t allowed to take concubines, so her in-laws couldn’t force her out. All they could do was make snide remarks.

One day, her in-laws went to the Imperial Advisor’s residence to request a reading of her fate, hoping to find out when she’d have a son.

The Advisor told them bluntly: the couple was not destined to have a child.

Her in-laws were devastated. After that, they looked at her strangely. But as they left, the Advisor quietly told her, “If you ever need help, you can come to me.”

She hadn’t understood what that meant at the time. But later, she realized that her in-laws were trying to replace her. Since her husband couldn’t legally take a concubine, their only option was to pressure her into initiating a divorce.

The old laws once allowed a man to dismiss his wife for seven listed reasons—but the Advisor had abolished that rule. So the only thing they could do was make her life miserable until she agreed to leave.

That period of her life was the hardest she had ever endured. But she remembered the Advisor’s words—and asked for help.

Sure enough, one of the Advisor’s attendants came to her aid.

First, they arranged the divorce. Then they helped her establish her household. Finally, they taught her how to make a living.

It was during that time—out of fear and desperation—that she found the courage to start her lantern shop. Now, not only could she support herself and her daughter, but they were doing fairly well.

Three years ago, her ex-husband went to the Advisor’s estate with a son in his arms, trying to “prove” that her original reading had been wrong. But the Advisor took one look at the child and declared it wasn’t his.

The shock left his entire family speechless. They never dared bring up the child again.

All of this—every part of her new life—was thanks to the Imperial Advisor.

So now, as the Advisor led Jin to a great military victory and expanded its territory, how could she not feel happy as one of her most devoted followers?

Even if she lost money tonight, she didn’t care—she was thrilled.

That night, no one wanted to sleep. The Emperor lifted the curfew, and fireworks lit up the palace. The people carried lanterns, watched free street performances, and bought discounted fruit. Under the warm glow of lights and celebration, they passed a night to remember.

Qingli’s Legacy

In this lifetime, Qingli single-handedly redefined the role and stature of the Imperial Advisor. She could argue policy with scholars in court and command armies on the battlefield. She could even read fortunes for the common folk.

Her contributions to the Jin dynasty were so numerous and significant that, in the words of future generations, “Her name will go down in history—and the records won’t even be able to hold all her deeds.”

Even the Emperor’s biography wouldn’t be as long as hers.

But every life has its end.

When Qingli grew old and her body could no longer keep up, she quietly retired. One day, without warning, she passed away in peace.

And when she opened her eyes again—

There was a furious man in front of her, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat, choking her so hard she couldn’t breathe.

In her mind, images flashed—

A woman holding a phone, making call after call until finally someone answered. A man’s annoyed voice came through:
“I’m at a business dinner with investors. Stop calling. I’ll come home when I’m done.”

He hung up before she could even say a word.

She stared at the phone, then turned to the lotus-root pork rib soup she had been simmering—he’d said earlier in the week he wanted to drink it.

After hesitating, she got up, put on her clothes and mask, and left the house.

The next moment, she was in a smoky, neon-lit nightclub.

The woman boldly opened private room after private room, enduring angry curses along the way, until she finally found her husband in the fifth room. A young woman in her twenties was sitting on his lap.

The air inside reeked of alcohol, cigarettes, and perfume. The woman’s mind went blank with rage. She stormed in, dragged the other woman off, and started shouting at her husband.

The man, embarrassed and furious, snapped back at her, insisting it was nothing—just part of business. He claimed he’d never betrayed her all these years and accused her of overreacting.

The woman didn’t believe a word. She turned her camera on the young woman and began recording, demanding to know if she knew this man was married and why she was on his lap.

Her husband, thoroughly fed up, slapped her across the face to shut her up.

Stunned by the hit, she struck back in anger. That’s when he lost it and grabbed her by the neck.

And at that moment, Qingli arrived.

This was the act of a man who, after crossing the line in what he thought was harmless fun, flew into a rage when confronted and tried to silence the woman before she could expose him.

And it worked. The original host had been terrified—and that’s when Qingli was summoned.

Though Qingli found the situation strange, she wasted no time. Once she got her bearings, she immediately raised her leg and kicked him hard between the legs.

“AHH!” The man screamed, releasing her as he doubled over in pain.
“You crazy bitch!” he yelled.

Qingli ignored him, her face icy. She adjusted her stance, ready to go in for another blow—her first strike hadn’t been nearly strong enough.

But just then, the door burst open.

A young man with a crazed look on his face charged in, holding a fruit knife.

“Which one of you is He Tianzhu?!” he shouted.

It wasn’t hard to tell—he immediately locked eyes on the man Qingli had just kicked.

“F**k you!” he snarled. “You dare sleep with my girl?!”