The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 286 The Coronation Ceremony of Wind, Flowers, and Snow

After slaying several people in succession, Kazama Koyuki's hand holding the longsword trembled slightly.

This was the first time she had killed someone with her own hands, even though the person was a vengeful enemy who deserved to die.

The immense impact left her frozen in place, staring blankly at the corpse on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Xiaoxue, you did a great job!"

Uchiha Mitsumine gently grasped her still trembling hand, gradually clearing her confused thoughts.

Feng Hua Xiaoxue slowly turned her head, her eyes filled with confusion: "It's over... But I..."

She wanted to say that she didn't know... what to do next.

But the words stuck in her throat, and she instinctively moved closer to him, seeking a bit of support.

Uchiha Mitsunori saw confusion and helplessness in her eyes: the transformation from an exiled princess to personally slaying her enemy in just a few days was too heavy for her.

He raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek, saying calmly, "Now is not the time for you to be confused. You are the daughter of Kazahana Sayasu, the daimyo of the Land of Snow, and the rightful heir to this country. Ascending the throne to become the new daimyo is what you should be doing right now."

Feng Hua Xiaoxue paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes: "Ascend the throne? But I've never learned how to govern a country, I don't know..."

"I will teach you, and San Taifu will help you too."

"The first step is to deal with the surrendered soldiers and officials. Have San Taifu gather them together for imprisonment and thorough interrogation. Those who previously followed Feng Hua Nu Tao in committing evil deeds and whose hands are stained with the blood of the people, should be imprisoned or executed as appropriate. There must be no leniency. Only by severely punishing the wicked can the people see your determination and establish your authority."

"The second step is to wait until the situation stabilizes, then choose an auspicious day, and with your trusted confidants, activate the geothermal generator left by your father. When the people see the snow melting and the grass growing, it will be an auspicious sign for you as the new ruler. Adding a touch of mystery will make your rule more secure."

"The third step is to formulate an appropriate advancement plan based on the current situation of the Snow Country, allowing it to quickly recover its strength!"

Feng Hua Xiaoxue listened attentively, and the confusion in her eyes gradually faded.

She nodded gently, gripping the bronze key in her hand. It was her father's keepsake, and also the hope for the future of the Snow Kingdom.

"Sanfeng, thank you, I know what to do now."

Uchiha Mitsunori smiled and ruffled her hair: "No need to thank me. This is something you, as the ruler of the Land of Snow, must learn. From now on, it's up to you."

Just as the two were talking, the sound of orderly footsteps came from afar.

Asama Santayu was leading more than two hundred rebels, taking control of the palace soldiers one by one.

Most of these soldiers were civilians forcibly conscripted by Feng Hua Nu Tao. Seeing that Feng Hua Nu Tao was dead and that the resistance army was numerous, most of them did not resist and surrendered without putting down their weapons.

Asama Santayu bowed deeply to Fuuka Koyuki, his face filled with excitement: "Your Highness! The palace soldiers are all under control, and over three hundred have been captured. Among them are more than fifty of Fuuka Nutao's confidants, all of whom have been imprisoned and await your judgment!"

Feng Hua Xiaoxue took a deep breath and straightened her back: "Thank you for your hard work. First, separate the ordinary soldiers from their cronies for interrogation, especially those who participated in the slaughter of loyal officials and the oppression of the people; they must be severely punished!"

A look of surprise appeared on Asama Santayu's face. After meeting Uchiha Mitsunori, the princess seemed to have become a different person.

She was no longer the cowardly exile she once was, but had truly acquired the majesty of a monarch.

He quickly bowed and replied, "This old minister obeys! I will certainly not fail Your Highness's orders!"

After saying this, San Taifu turned and left to continue directing the resistance forces in handling the aftermath.

In the square, the rebels escorted the surrendered soldiers away in an orderly fashion, and the sounds of footsteps and shouts gradually faded into the distance.

Seeing what Fuuka Koyuki had done, Uchiha Mitsunori felt somewhat gratified.

"Let's go inside the palace. This is your palace now, but it needs a thorough cleaning."

Feng Hua Xiaoxue nodded, took his right hand, and walked into the palace together.

The decorations and murals on the palace walls exude an air of antiquity, seemingly unchanged for the past decade.

Upon seeing the familiar objects, Feng Hua Xiaoxue stopped in her tracks.

Childhood memories flooded back. She was only eight years old that year, wearing a blue cotton-padded jacket, playing in the palace, with her father standing not far away.

Suddenly, her uncle, Feng Hua Nu Tao, led Xue Ren into the palace. She hid behind the artificial hill and witnessed her father lying in a pool of blood.

From that day on, she became an exiled princess and never returned to the palace.

Seeing the tears glistening in her eyes, Uchiha Mitsunori gently comforted her, "Xue, let bygones be bygones. You should start anew, because you are the new hope of the people of the Land of Snow."

The following day, a light snow fell as the emperor ascended the throne.

There was no grand drumming or elaborate ceremonial procession. Feng Hua Xiao Xue, dressed in a red court robe, sat regally on the throne in the main hall.

Asama Santayu stood to the side, his voice tinged with apology: "Your Highness, the national treasury is currently empty, and we can only ask that you..."

Fuuka Koyuki gently shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the simple furnishings of the hall: "It's alright. The people of the Land of Snow are still suffering; an extravagant ceremony is meaningless. Enabling everyone to live a good life is what I, as the daimyo, should do."

Last night, when she was checking the crime records with Santayu, she learned about the plight of the Snow Country.

The tyrannical regime not only slaughtered loyal officials but also squandered the national treasury's reserves, even relying on the forced requisition of grain from the people to pay soldiers' wages.

The idea of ​​holding a grand coronation ceremony was simply a pipe dream.

Fortunately, Asama Santau had someone print simple newspapers on oiled paper in advance and posted them in various villages and markets.

The inscription reads: "The traitor Fuka Nutao has been executed. The rightful princess of the Snow Country, Fuka Koyuki, will ascend the throne as the new daimyo tomorrow. At the same time, the more than twenty officials who bullied the people will all be executed."

At this moment, the square outside the palace, though without an honor guard, was crowded with people who had come after hearing the news.

Most of them were wearing tattered cotton-padded clothes, clutching crumpled newspapers in their hands, and craning their necks to look towards the main hall, their eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.

More than twenty heinous criminals were forced to kneel in the snow in the center of the square.

Feng Hua Xiao Xue took a deep breath, rose, walked to the palace gate, and shouted loudly to the people in the square: "Fellow countrymen, I, Feng Hua Xiao Xue, am today enthroned as the new daimyo of the Snow Kingdom. Feng Hua Nu Tao has wreaked havoc on the country and harmed the people, and his cronies have aided and abetted his evil deeds, their crimes are unforgivable! Today, I pronounce the following judgment: those who participated in the oppression of the people to death, and those who committed serious corruption, shall all be executed immediately!"

At her command, the heads of more than twenty criminals fell to the ground.

Blood splattered on the snow, and the people excitedly raised their hands: "Well done... the Snow Kingdom is finally saved!"