From cute to empress

Chapter 368 Blood Moon Crisis: Abnormal Celestial Phenomenon

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. The sky... the sky..." The meteorologist came running over, sweating profusely, his face pale, and he could not speak clearly.

My heart tightened, and a sense of foreboding washed over me. "What's wrong? Speak slowly!"

The meteorologist took a deep breath and pointed tremblingly at the sky, "Your Majesty... look..."

I looked up, and the already gloomy sky took on an even more eerie look. Shocking cracks had appeared in the gray sky, like a giant beast gaping its bloody mouth, ready to devour us.

"This... this is..." I took a breath. Could it be that the disaster is not over yet?

"Your Majesty, based on astrological and seismic observations..." the meteorologist's voice trembled, "I'm afraid... I'm afraid an even greater disaster will befall..."

A bigger disaster? My heart sank. If it happened again, would we be able to survive?

"Zhen Youcai!" I forced myself to calm down. "Pass the order down, all soldiers, immediately engage in rescue and reconstruction work! Make sure the affected people are properly resettled and basic life is restored as quickly as possible!"

"Yes!" Zhen Youcai turned around and went to convey the order without any hesitation.

"Wait!" I called out to him, looking at him firmly. "Tell everyone, don't give up hope. We can definitely overcome all difficulties!"

"Yes!" Zhen Youcai nodded heavily, turned around and strode away.

I suppressed my grief and fear, looking at the devastated land, feeling powerless. But I knew I couldn't fall. I was the empress, their hope, and I had to lead them to victory over this catastrophe!

"Your Majesty, you should go and have some rest. You haven't slept for several days." The monk looked at me worriedly.

I shook my head. “I can’t rest. I still have a lot to do.”

"His Majesty……"

I took a deep breath and pulled myself together. "Master, please help comfort the people and tell them we will do our best to protect them."

"Amitabha, I understand."

I nodded, turned around and looked at the terrifying sky that still looked like the mouth of a giant beast, and prayed silently in my heart: I hope all this will be in time...

The monk's words were like a gentle breeze, but they couldn't dispel the heavy cloud that weighed on my heart. Yes, the disaster has already happened, and grieving will not help. What matters most now is leading my people and rebuilding our homeland.

"Meteorologist, do you have any prediction about what will happen next?" I turned around and stared at him sharply.

The meteorologist's face was filled with sorrow, and he lowered his head in fear. "Your Majesty, this rift in the sky... is unheard of, and I, an old minister, could not have predicted it..."

"Unpredictable?" My heart sank even more. Could I just leave it to fate?

"Your Majesty, I believe the most urgent task is to strengthen astronomical observations throughout the country," Zhen Youcai, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up. "I suggest establishing a comprehensive national meteorological monitoring network. Once an anomaly is detected, timely warnings can be issued to minimize losses."

I glanced at him admiringly. He truly was my longtime partner, always offering practical solutions when I was lost. "Alright! We'll do as you say! Pass the word down, officials everywhere, to fully cooperate and establish a nationwide weather monitoring network as quickly as possible!"

"According to the order!"

New laws were promulgated, and the entire country plunged into intensive reconstruction work. However, with so much to be done, the difficulties were greater than expected.

"Your Majesty, many villages outside the city have been destroyed and the people have been displaced. We are in urgent need of large quantities of tents, food, and medicine..."

"Your Majesty, the city walls have collapsed in many places and need to be reinforced urgently, but we are currently short of manpower and materials..."

Every day I am faced with countless difficult problems, and each one tests my wisdom and determination.

Late at night, I dragged my tired body back to the bedroom. The desk was piled with memorials, each of which carried the expectations and hopes of the people.

"Mengmeng, you haven't had a good rest for several days." Zhen Youcai walked to me with a bowl of porridge, his eyes full of heartache.

"I'm fine." I shook my head and took the porridge, but I had no appetite at all. "I'm just worried..."

"I know what you're worried about," Zhen Youcai held me in his arms, "but you have to believe that we can overcome all difficulties and rebuild our home."

I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and the anxiety and uneasiness in my heart gradually subsided.

"Knock, knock, knock..." A series of rapid knocks on the door suddenly sounded, breaking the brief silence.

"Report! Your Majesty, outside the city..." The man said hurriedly, looking panicked, "found...found..."

I opened my eyes suddenly, and a bad feeling came over me. "What did you find?"

"Found..." The man took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, "Found traces of monsters!"

"Monster traces?!" My heart trembled, and the bowl of porridge in my hand fell to the ground. The crisp sound of shattering was particularly harsh in the silent bedroom.

"Where did you find it? How many are there?" Zhen Youcai grabbed the collar of the man who came, his tone hurried and anxious.

"In the valley southwest of the city. The exact number is still unclear..." The visitor was frightened and incoherent. It was obvious that he was also frightened by the news.

Without bothering to clean up the debris on the ground, I quickly stood up and said decisively, "Youcai, pass the order down and summon all the generals to the conference hall immediately!"

"Yes!" Zhen Youcai turned around and walked away without any hesitation.

In just a few breaths, countless possibilities flashed through my mind. How could these monsters appear here? Could they have been brought here by the last rift in the sky? What was their purpose?

Without time to think about it, I quickly organized my thoughts and hurried to the meeting room.

In the days that followed, we barely rested. During the day, Zhen Youcai and I personally toured the city walls, comforting the people and overseeing reconstruction efforts. At night, we discussed countermeasures and defenses with our generals, never daring to relax for a moment.

Thankfully, the people were not crushed by the disaster. Instead, they demonstrated unprecedented unity and resilience. Under our leadership, they spontaneously organized themselves, helping each other and rebuilding their homes. Watching houses rise from the ground and fields blossom with new life, my heart is filled with hope and strength.

A month later, the city walls were repaired, the houses were rebuilt, and green crops grew in the fields. Life seemed to be back on track.

To celebrate this hard-earned victory and to boost public morale, I decided to hold a grand celebration in the city square.

However, the night before the celebration was about to begin, the meteorological officer hurried over to ask for a meeting.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report!" His face was pale, his forehead was covered with cold sweat, and his eyes were full of fear.

"What happened?" My heart sank, and I had a vague sense of foreboding.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty just observed the celestial phenomena and discovered..." He took a deep breath, as if mustering up immense courage, "The color of the moon... has turned blood red!"

My heart sank, and an unprecedented sense of dread instantly enveloped me. A blood moon... could it be a sign of...

Without time to think, I grabbed the meteorologist's arm and said in a hurried and serious tone: "What else? Is there anything else unusual?"

"And... and..." The weather officer's voice trembled, as if he was extremely scared but had to speak, "The Big Dipper... disappeared..."

My hands dropped limply, my face pale. The Big Dipper had vanished… This was an unprecedented omen… Could an even greater disaster be yet to come?

"Your Majesty..." Zhen Youcai's voice rang in my ears, trembling and uneasy. "What should we do now?"

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Now was not the time to panic. I had to come up with a plan as soon as possible!

"Pass the order..." I raised my head, my eyes determined, "Call the troops immediately..."