In the evening, the setting sun shines on the streets of Calimport in the south of Faerûn, casting a golden veil over this ancient city with a long history.
The bustling crowds in the streets and markets, the shouts of vendors, the voices of merchants bargaining, and the laughter and curses of guests in pubs, hotels, restaurants and other places all together form a picture of prosperity.
As the second largest city in the West Coast Empire and a cultural, educational and political center, its importance is self-evident.
If the capital Ascaltra is the heart, continuously supplying blood to the empire through economy, finance, trade and manufacturing, then Port Calim is equivalent to the brain center.
All policy formulation, financial budgeting, appointment and dismissal of officials, rewards and punishments, abolition and promulgation of laws, and deployment of the army are all completed here without exception.
Although during the large-scale expansion and reconstruction process, many landmark buildings in Calimport that can be called "cultural relics" for thousands of years have been extensively damaged and forcibly demolished, the overall style has not changed.
Especially the splendid Royal Palace, which was rebuilt and transformed after the restoration of Shah En VII, is almost the same as it was during the Shah En Dynasty.
This made countless Kalingshan people involuntarily recall their glorious history and civilization in the past when they almost ruled the entire west coast of Faerûn, and then became full of a sense of identity and belonging to the empire that now has the blood of the Shann royal family through marriage.
feel.
After all, the current huge territory of the West Coast Empire is exactly what they have always longed for but failed to achieve.
This alone makes the vast majority of the proud Kalingshan people sincerely support the legal right to rule of the current emperor Zuo Si and his descendants.
Not to mention the continuous improvement in income and living standards brought about by a strong centralized government, an efficient and clean bureaucracy and judicial system, and the widespread popularization of knowledge, technology, and magic.
Some scholars even declare to the outside world that the existing governance and various systems of the West Coast Empire are the most ideal and perfect, and are truly the "end of history". There will never be anything that can surpass it.
The age of giants and dragons, the civilization established by the elves in ancient times, the Netheril Empire, and the High Imaskar Empire all had to stand aside in front of the newly rising West Coast Empire.
As for Mulhorand and the Unther Empire under the rule of theocracy, they are not even worthy of carrying their shoes.
To this end, they also compiled several books, and sparked heated discussions and debates in the academic world of Faerûn.
Facts have once again proved that being strong is human nature and instinct.
When you are strong enough, no matter what you do, it is right.
Even if you have a problem, someone will find reasons and excuses for you, and give you reasonable explanations and various legal basis.
This trend of thought just caters to the subtle sense of pride and superiority of the people in the Kalingshan region and even the entire West Coast Empire, allowing them to gradually begin to develop identity and cultural identity.
Recently, it was reported that Queen Aisha gave birth to a child with divine power, which made everyone even more excited.
Both commoners and nobles are anxiously waiting for the official announcement from the royal family, as well as the gender and name of the heir.
Some cities have even made preparations in advance. As soon as the information is announced to the public, they will hold grand celebrations and invite artists to make sculptures to commemorate this great moment.
But what puzzled everyone was that so much time had passed, but there was still no movement from the royal family, as if the prince or princess had never been born at all.
There were even rumors that the heir died due to some accident.
But soon some scholars came forward to refute the rumors.
After all, it was a powerful god-like power, so how could it die prematurely?
In short, outside speculation has already evolved into dozens of versions, making it difficult for people to tell whether it is true or false.
Under normal circumstances, at this time, the cabinet or Queen Ayesha should have stepped forward and issued an official announcement to refute the rumors.
But they obviously have their own reasons.
The reason why no official announcement has been made yet is mainly because the little Annie that everyone saw at first was an energy ball that could not be touched, and then continued to transform into human, devil, dragon and other forms.
Before her gender could be confirmed, she was taken away by the goddess of magic Midnight.
Even Aisha, as a mother, did not know whether the child she gave birth to was a son or a daughter, or even what it was.
This leaves the outside world to guess how she will announce the specific information about the heir to the empire.
At the moment, the queen was lying lazily on a rocking chair, tasting fresh fruits flown from the North, while flipping through the account books and profit reports in her hands. After several minutes, she asked without raising her head.
: "What is the total revenue from the Crown Estate this quarter?"
"Excluding all expenses, the total amount exceeds 30 million gold coins, Your Majesty. Among them, interdimensional transactions and magic-related operations account for almost more than 60%."
The young maid with long black hair and wearing a sexy translucent gauze skirt proudly reported a number that would shock and envy the rulers of most countries in Faerûn.
Because this is not the overall financial income of the West Coast Empire, but only the income of the royal family, there is no problem even if it is completely used for squandering and enjoyment.
Being able to participate in the management of such a huge industry is an honor and something worthy of bragging in the eyes of most people.
Of course, women who are qualified to enter the harem to serve the queen are basically from noble families.
Since the Kalingshan region is not monogamous, men can not only marry multiple wives, but also raise hundreds of concubines, so the number of children is also quite astonishing.
Some rich and powerful middle-aged and elderly men can even have more than three digits of children, as well as more grandchildren and granddaughters.
In order to follow the ancient tradition and to close the relationship between their family and the royal family, many important ministers and nobles will find ways to send the youngest and most beautiful family women to the palace.
These well-educated, fair-skinned and beautiful young aristocratic women have two identities at the same time.
One of them is the role played by the maid in front of her, which is to assist the royal family in managing the huge property, and occasionally she may need to sacrifice her beauty to engage in espionage activities.
The other is to fulfill the emperor's personal desires while serving as a secretary or document processor.
They are not beautiful vases in the traditional sense. They gain power entirely by selling their bodies and beauty.
Quite the opposite!
These women are aristocratic elites in the true sense, possessing professional knowledge and skills. They are also one of the few women who have the opportunity to touch power in the male-dominated society of Kalinshi for thousands of years.
The residents of Calimport even gave them a very appropriate nickname - "Vipers".
Although it looks beautiful and poses little threat, an accidental bite can be fatal.
These women also readily accepted the title of "Viper" and even customized snake-shaped amulets to wear on their bodies to highlight their unique identities.
As a queen who likes reading and has been personally trained by Shah En VII, it is natural that Ayesha does not know the history and origin of the "Viper". She also knows that this is one of the few forces that she can control.
So she used some means to win over these young women to consolidate her position in the harem.
Although Zuo Si has not met other women in the palace so far, Ayesha, who is used to the wives and concubines of powerful men, has already begun to prepare for a rainy day.
And thoroughly grasping the royal family's financial revenue is one of the most direct and effective means.
After all, although Her Majesty the Queen looks gentle, quiet and bookish, she is not stupid and sweet, and knows how to control power to the maximum extent within the scope of her husband's permission.
Although she will not interfere with the cabinet, administrative and judicial systems, she has firmly held the power of the harem in her own hands.
"As usual, two-thirds of the money will be sent to the education department, and the rest will be saved to pay the salaries of servants, the maintenance and repair of the palace and the purchase of daily necessities. In addition, remember to prepare some infants and young children
Supplies may be needed in the future." Ayesha ordered without thinking.
"Baby products? What do you mean..."
The maid clearly noticed something, with a very expectant expression on her face.
After all, she was present during the birth and was one of the very few people who knew the truth.
Ayesha smiled bitterly and shook her head: "Don't think blindly. I didn't get any precise information. I just wanted to fulfill my duties as a mother."
The maid nodded thoughtfully: "Okay, I understand. But according to tradition, whether it is a prince or a princess, after birth, he must recruit attendants of the right age from the nobles to cultivate their relationship at an early age. Look at this
Should this matter also be put on the agenda?"
"No, don't worry yet. After all, I don't even know whether the baby I gave birth to is a boy or a girl. What's more, I don't think the little guy needs any attendants to protect his safety. I'd rather leave things like this to Soth.
Deal with it."
Ayesha rejected the other party's proposal very simply.
"As you wish!"
The maid put one hand on her chest and bowed deeply, then turned around and disappeared at the end of the corridor behind her with graceful steps.
Ayesha was sitting alone on the balcony, looking at the distant scenery and sighing.
Obviously, out of maternal instinct, she now misses her child very much and is eager to see her as soon as possible.
At this moment, a portal suddenly opened out of thin air.
Zuo Si's figure appeared out of thin air right after him, holding in his arms a girl who looked to be about three years old, wearing a purple princess dress, knee-length socks and small leather boots.
"This...is this?!!"
Ayesha stood up from the chair in a flash, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and stepped on the cold marble floor with her bare feet, her face full of excitement and excitement.
"Her name is Annie, and she is our daughter. Annie, this is your mother."
After that, Zuo Si handed the little one in his arms to his nominal wife.
To be continued...