Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

The third day after the wedding.

At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Today marks the first formal grand court assembly held by the two emperors.

The officials arrived earlier than usual, but no one dared to whisper to each other; they merely exchanged subtle glances.

Because everyone knows—today, the real test will begin.

"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!!!!"

The eunuchs' shouts were louder than usual.

A figure in bright yellow and a figure in deep red walked out of the side hall side by side.

Nangong Ye, dressed in a black dragon robe, and Shen Qingci, in a crimson phoenix robe, ascended the imperial steps in unison and took their seats.

It's not one in front of the other.

Instead, they stood side by side.

Two chairs were placed side by side.

Generally high, generally wide.

The pupils of all the officials contracted slightly.

This is the first time in history.

"All of you, rise."

Nangong Ye spoke.

The officials rose, but still kept their heads bowed.

"The first thing to do today," Shen Qingci's voice rang out, clear and steady, "is to establish an office."

She paused, then slowly uttered three words:

Jixian Academy.

Jixian Academy?

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

"The Jixian Academy is a place that welcomes talented people from all over the world, regardless of their background or gender, and only selects those with talent."

"Those who enter the Jixian Academy may participate in the discussion of state affairs, submit memorials to the emperor, and be summoned to the palace to discuss national matters with the emperor and empress."

"The Jixian Academy has positions such as academicians, lecturers, and bibliographers, with salaries paid according to rank."

These words caused an uproar in the imperial court!

"Regardless of background"

That's about breaking down class barriers!

"Regardless of gender"

That was to allow women to serve as officials in the imperial court!

"Discussing state affairs with the Emperor and Empress"

Is that to establish a deliberative body that transcends the Six Ministries?!

"Your Majesty the Empress!"

Someone immediately stepped forward and knelt down; it was Zhou Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of Rites—a leading figure of the conservative faction.

"Your Majesty, I dare to be bold! The establishment of the Jixian Academy is unprecedented! Women interfering in politics is a violation of ancestral rules! Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider!"

Shen Qingci looked at him, her expression unchanged.

"Lord Zhou," she said calmly, "I ask you, what has enabled your Zhou family to hold official positions for three generations?"

Zhou Wenyuan was taken aback: "Of course... of course I entered officialdom through the imperial examinations, to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country..."

"Entering officialdom through the imperial examinations?" Shen Qingci laughed. "Then let me ask you again, how many of your Zhou family's disciples and associates come from humble backgrounds? How many are from aristocratic families?"

Zhou Wenyuan was speechless.

"I will answer for you," Shen Qingci said. "Your Zhou family has been established for three generations, with disciples and friends all over the court, eight or nine out of ten of whom are from aristocratic families. Among scholars from humble backgrounds, only one in a hundred can enter your Zhou family."

"Is this what you call 'entering officialdom through the imperial examination'?"

Zhou Wenyuan's face flushed red.

Shen Qingci surveyed the hall, his voice ringing out:

"My lords, you keep talking about 'ancestral rules,' so let me ask you—"

"When Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty, how many of his followers were from aristocratic families?"

"When Emperor Taizong pacified the four directions, how many of his generals were from powerful families?"

"When Empress Dowager Duanhui turned the tide and saved His Majesty's throne, how many of those standing by her side were from so-called 'powerful clans'?"

He asked three questions in a row, which silenced the entire hall.

"No," Shen Qingci answered herself. "When the founding emperor raised his army, his men were peasants, butchers, and cloth merchants."

"When Emperor Taizong was conquering all directions, his subordinates were sons from humble backgrounds, heroes from the grassroots, and soldiers from the frontier."

"When the late Empress Dowager protected His Majesty, she was surrounded by loyal ministers like the Shen family, eunuchs like Eunuch Li, and countless ordinary people of humble origins who possessed unwavering loyalty!"

She stood up, walked down the steps, and approached Zhou Wenyuan step by step.

She looked down at him.

"Lord Zhou, you keep talking about 'ancestral rules'—"

"Then let me ask you, if the founding emperor were alive, what would he think of this court today, filled with scions of noble families, with no way out for those from humble backgrounds, and no way out for women—"

"Will he hit you, or will he hit me?"

Zhou Wenyuan's face turned deathly pale, and he lay prostrate on the ground, trembling all over.

Shen Qingci straightened up and looked around the hall.

"I have made up my mind about the Jixian Academy."

"Who's in favor, and who's opposed?"

Dead silence.

No one dared to answer.

"Alright." Shen Qingci nodded. "Since no one objects—"

"After the court session, the regulations of the Jixian Academy will be sent to the desks of all the officials."

"Within three days, submit the list of self-recommendations or recommendations to the Ministry of Personnel for compilation."

She turned around, walked back to the steps, and sat down again.

Nangong Ye looked at her, his eyes full of smiles and pride.

He coughed lightly and began to speak:

"I grant all that the Empress has said."

"Dismiss the court."

-

After the court session ended.

The Imperial Study.

Shen Qingci leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.

Nangong Ye brought over a cup of tea and placed it beside her.

"Are you tired?" He sat down beside her. "Your first grand assembly is like this. It'll get better with time."

Shen Qingci took the tea and sipped it.

"That Zhou Wenyuan," she said, "has someone backing him."

Nangong Ye nodded: "His father-in-law is a man of Prince Su. Although Prince Su knelt down last time, he is still not convinced."

"Not convinced?" Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow. "Then make him submit."

"What do you want to do?"

Shen Qingci put down her teacup and looked out the window.

"I will personally decide on the first batch of candidates for the Jixian Academy."

"Those from humble backgrounds must enter, women must enter, and young people from Prince Su's side must also enter."

Nangong Ye was taken aback: "You're taking in Prince Su's protégés too?"

"Accept them." Shen Qingci smiled. "Not only accept them, but also make good use of them."

"Let them see that following me will lead to a brighter future than following Prince Su."

Nangong Ye looked at her profile and suddenly smiled.

"Qingci."

"Um?"

Do you know what you look like right now?

"Like what?"

"Like..." Nangong Ye thought for a moment, "Like a master chess player. Not capturing pieces, but turning the opponent's pieces into your own."

Shen Qingci turned to look at him, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

"So," she said, "aren't you afraid that one day I'll turn you into my pawn too?"

Nangong Ye took her hand and kissed it.

"I've been that way for a long time," he said, "willingly."

-

The first day after Jixian Academy was officially opened.

A long queue formed at the entrance.

There were poor scholars wearing faded robes, peasant girls with headscarves, old scholars with weathered faces, and bright-eyed young women.

"Make way! Make way!" A gruff-voiced man squeezed through the crowd. "I'm here to register! I'm a farmer, can I get in?"

The official in charge of registration looked up at him: "A farmer? Have you ever been to school?"

"I attended a private school for a few years! My father said that only those who study can rise above others! But my family is poor, so we can't afford to take the imperial examinations!"

The official paused, then handed over a piece of paper: "Fill this out."

The man took the paper, awkwardly held the pen, and carefully wrote his name, stroke by stroke:

"Wang...Da...Niu"

The characters are crooked, but they are clearly legible.

Beside them, a young woman wearing a headscarf asked softly, "Sir, I...I'm also a woman, can I register?"

The official looked up at her.

The woman was about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in coarse cloth, her hands were covered in calluses, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.

"Have you been to school?"

"My father was a private tutor who taught me from a young age. I've read all the Four Books and Five Classics." The woman bit her lip. "But...but women can't take the imperial examinations, I..."

The official remained silent for a moment.

Then, he handed over a piece of paper.

"Fill it out."

The woman froze, and tears welled up instantly.

She took the paper, her hands trembling, and wrote her name:

"Zhou...yun...mother"

Each stroke is precise and neat.

-

The Imperial Study.

A thick stack of registration forms lay in front of Shen Qingci.

She flipped through the pages one by one, occasionally making a few notes on a particular page.

Jinshu, who was grinding ink beside her, couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are all these people safe to use?"

Shen Qingci shook his head: "Not all of them are usable. But there are quite a few with genuine talent and skills."

She flipped to a page and paused.

"Wang Dashu, born into a farming family, attended a private school for three years. In his spare time from farming, he taught himself mathematics and once helped the villagers measure fields with perfect accuracy..."

She smiled.

"This can be sent to the Ministry of Revenue."

Turn to another page.

"Zhou Yunniang, the daughter of a private tutor, was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and skilled in poetry and prose. Because she was a woman, she was not eligible for the imperial examinations, so she stayed home to teach her younger brother..."

She smiled again.

"This person would be perfect for editing books at the Hanlin Academy."

Jinshu looked at the light in her mistress's eyes and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

"Your Majesty," she said softly, "you've changed."

Shen Qingci looked up: "What's changed?"

"Before..." Jinshu said carefully, "Although Your Majesty was formidable before, your eyes were always cold. Now... now they're much warmer."

Shen Qingci was taken aback.

Then, he looked down at the registration form in his hand.

Look at those names, those backgrounds, those neat or crooked handwriting.

I recall that same, astonishingly bright light in the eyes of those people.

She suddenly understood something.

"Jinshu," she said, "do you know what these people want most?"

Jinshu thought for a moment: "You want to make a name for yourself?"

"No," Shen Qingci shook her head, "What they want is an opportunity."

"An opportunity for them to prove themselves, to change their destiny, to... to live as human beings."

"Just like I was back then."

Jinshu was stunned.

Shen Qingci continued flipping through the application form, her voice soft:

"I want to live in the cold palace."

"When I was in Jiangnan, I wanted to win."

"Now..." she paused, "I want more people to be able to live and to win."

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

The sunlight shone on her, making her feel warm and cozy.

-

at the same time.

On the other side of the Imperial Study.

In front of Nangong Ye was another stack of folded paper.

Some were in charge of military equipment, others of reconciling the imperial clan, still others of inventorying the armory, and still others of patrolling the borders...

He flipped through the books one by one, occasionally adding a few words in his annotations.

"The Ministry of War's memorial states that the military pay in the northern border region is still short by 300,000 taels."

He looked up at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci didn't even look up: "As for the Ministry of Revenue, once this month's commercial tax revenue comes in, allocate 200,000 taels first. The rest will come from the Imperial Treasury."

"it is good."

He flipped through another book.

Prince Su submitted a memorial, saying that twenty guards had been cut from his residence, and asked if it was possible to make an exception.

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow: "Guard quota? His mansion already has two hundred guards, which is already over the limit. Cutting twenty will still be plenty."

"Let him handle it himself," she said. "If he feels wronged, he can come to Jixian Academy and see how those poor scholars fight tooth and nail to get in."

Nangong Ye smiled.

He picked up his pen and wrote four characters on the folded paper:

"Act in accordance with the rules."

I flipped through another book.

"The Ministry of Rites has submitted a memorial stating that the expenses for the Princess's residence have been reduced by 30% compared to previous years, and asking if it is possible to..."

"No." Shen Qingci interrupted directly, "The princess's residence has ten times more servants than the Cold Palace back then. Reducing it by 30% is just right."

Nangong Ye smiled and shook his head, commenting:

"Do as the Empress says."

And so the two of them took turns managing the new policies and the old ones.

Each performs its own duties without interfering with the others.

They would occasionally look up, exchange a glance, and then continue with their own tasks.

In the imperial study, there was only the rustling of turning pages and the occasional brief conversation.

Yet there was a strange tranquility.

-

evening.

The sun is setting in the west.

Jinshu came in and lit the lamp. Seeing the two still buried in their papers, she couldn't help but smile.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, it's time for dinner."

Nangong Ye looked up and rubbed his sore shoulders.

"It's getting dark already?"

Shen Qingci also put down his pen and looked out the window.

The sunset painted the sky with a breathtakingly red hue.

"Let's go," she stood up, "to pick up Bao'er."

Nangong Ye's eyes lit up: "What did Bao'er learn at school today?"

"I heard from Eunuch Li that he is studying the Analects of Confucius."

"The Analects?" Nangong Ye became interested. "He's so young, can he understand it?"

"Why don't you go and see for yourself?"

The two walked out of the imperial study side by side.

The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow upon them.

In the distance, from the direction of the school, came Bao'er's sweet, childlike voice reciting her lessons:

"To learn and then practice what you have learned is a pleasure, isn't it?"

Nangong Ye smiled.

Shen Qingci smiled too.

The two exchanged a glance, intertwined their fingers, and walked in that direction.

-

late at night.

The lights in the Imperial Study were turned on again.

Shen Qingci was still looking at the list of candidates for the Jixian Academy.

Nangong Ye was flipping through the border defense map sent by the Ministry of War.

"Qingci," he suddenly said.

"Um?"

"There's been some activity over in Xiling lately."

Shen Qingci paused, his pen poised.

"What's that noise?"

"A secret report says that the old king of Xiling is seriously ill, and several princes are vying for the throne, which may lead to a fight."

Shen Qingci remained silent for a moment.

"What did Xiao Jue say?"

"Xiao Jue's secret report is similar to this. He said that he has already increased troops at the border, and that we can rest assured."

Shen Qingci nodded and said nothing more.

But the pen in his hand stopped in mid-air.

Nangong Ye looked up at her.

"What are you thinking about?"

Shen Qingci shook her head and smiled.

"It's nothing," she said. "Keep going."

The candlelight flickered.

The shadows of the two people were cast on the wall.

They are closely intertwined.

Outside the window, the moon is bright and the stars are few.

The night was deep.