Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

By the time the interview ended, it was already dusk. Zhou Yan and Shen Qing also came out of their respective halls, and the three of them met under the eaves in the backyard of the Imperial Preceptor's residence, each holding a thick stack of answer sheets.

Zhou Yan opened his notebook: "I recorded eleven people today. There was an accountant who could calculate grain consumption, an old craftsman who had built beacon towers on the frontier, and a scholar who had written legal documents for people for three years—the Imperial Preceptor. If these people were in the past, they wouldn't even have a chance to pass the provincial examination."

Shen Qing's side also had a few special cases: "The Medical Administration Department recruited two itinerant doctors. They had spent their entire lives traveling the world and had treated more illnesses than the people in the Imperial Medical Academy had ever seen. One of them had even practiced medicine in Lingnan and treated malaria."

Just then, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate. Zhao Yan walked in, followed by Zhao Lingxi. The young emperor, dressed in casual clothes, held a stack of copies of the answer sheets Zhou Yan had sent over, which he had already flipped through more than half of. He didn't sit on the veranda to read them, but walked directly to Lin Yanzhou and stood there.

Zhao Lingxi stood a few steps away, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar, as if listening in.

Zhao Yan skipped the pleasantries and began, "Sir, there's something I want to tell you. Before I came to Xuanshuo, I was trapped in this palace, surrounded by Zhang Lin's men. I thought I'd have to wait until I was at least twenty-five before I could do something I truly wanted to do. After you arrived, grain prices stabilized, powerful ministers fell, the 300,000-strong army retreated, and the people of Jizhou erected a monument. Without you, my sister, Xuanshuo, and I might not have existed at all."

Lin Yanzhou looked at him without interrupting.

"Your Excellency always consults me before making any decisions—saying, 'What does Your Majesty think?' or 'What is Your Majesty's opinion?' Your Excellency is afraid that I will feel like I'm being sidelined. But I've figured it out today. Your Excellency is afraid that I will feel like I'm being sidelined, but I'm afraid that your Excellency will feel constrained. Rather than having your Excellency wait for my approval every time, I'd rather hand over the power of approval directly to your Excellency."

He took out a jade seal from his sleeve, made of bluish-white jade, with a crouching dragon-tiger carved on the seal knob. He held the jade seal up with both hands and handed it to Lin Yanzhou: "This is the secondary seal passed down from the founding of Xuan Shuo, made of the same material and craftsmanship as the imperial seal. From now on, your orders are my orders. All newly appointed officials will be personally reviewed and approved by you, without needing to go through the cabinet's draft. All reform matters will be decided by you alone, and I will not interfere."

Lin Yanzhou looked down at the jade seal and remained silent for a moment: "Your Majesty, I will accept this seal. But I have one condition: I will tell you about important matters. After listening, nod if you agree, and say you disagree if you disagree. I don't want you to feel that I have done everything for you, and that this Xuan Shuo world will forever belong to your Zhao family."

Zhao Yan paused for a moment, then nodded: "I promise you, sir. Everything will be based on your decisions, and I will also study hard to be a good emperor."

"Good. History has proven that good emperors love their people like their own children, and those who win the hearts of the people win the world. You must remember this."

Lin Yanzhou reached out and accepted the jade seal. The pale blue jade surface landed in his palms, slightly cool to the touch and heavier than it appeared. He glanced down at it under the lantern; four seal characters were engraved on the seal. He didn't examine the content closely, but he could sense the weight of several generations contained within those strokes.

Zhao Lingxi stood by the pillar and finally spoke: "Now that you even have the imperial seal in your possession, will the people of the Six Ministries have to kowtow to you when they see you?"

"One is enough," Lin Yanzhou said. "I'll save the other one for you."

After the selection of civil officials came to an end, Lin Yanzhou turned his attention to another equally thorny issue: military officers.

Within the newly established framework of the Six Departments, the Department of Public Works was responsible for arms manufacturing, the Department of Finance for military expenditures, and the Department of National Defense for border defense and troop deployment. While the framework was new, it was short-staffed. The Department of National Defense needed someone capable of commanding troops: not only must they be knowledgeable in warfare, but they must also be loyal and reliable. Currently, a large portion of the former generals in the court had dealings with Zhang Lin, and while the rest hadn't been implicated, most had chosen to protect themselves during Zhang Lin's reign; whether they would dare to fight bravely in battle was uncertain.

Zhao Yan didn't have much to say about this; he never really got involved in matters of military power. It was Zhao Lingxi who spoke first.

That evening, she came to the Imperial Preceptor's residence on her own initiative. After entering, she didn't exchange pleasantries, but sat down directly across from him at the table, slamming the list of military officers she had been flipping through all day onto the table: "I've sifted through the list of old generals. There are less than ten who are usable, and the rest are either too old or have unclear relationships with Zhang Lin. You have to choose again."

Lin Yanzhou picked up the roster and flipped through it: "What are your thoughts?"

"I've looked at your methods for interviewing civil officials," Zhao Lingxi said. "I think it's worth referring to, but not copying entirely. For civil officials, you need to test their intelligence; for military officials, you need to test other things: strength, archery and horsemanship, courage, and loyalty to Xuan Shuo. The last one is the most difficult because you can't tell just by looking at it."

"I can tell," Lin Yanzhou said.

Zhao Lingxi looked at him: "What do you think?"

"I have a way." Lin Yanzhou didn't explain in detail. "Just help me call the people over. Post a notice to recruit talented people, regardless of background or social status. But there's one condition: I want to talk to each person who applies in person."

Zhao Lingxi looked at him for a moment, then didn't press further: "Alright. I'll help you post the list. I'll also personally oversee one of the examination halls to test their archery, horsemanship, and martial arts skills. Only those who pass my test will be qualified to see you."

"Well, then I'll have to trouble you, Princess," Lin Yanzhou said.

"I understand," Zhao Lingxi replied happily, waving her hand before turning and leaving. The princess thought to herself, "I'll have to dress up nicely tomorrow."

Zhao Yan watched his sister leave, then turned back to Lin Yanzhou and said, "My sister hasn't been this happy in many years. Thank you, sir."

A night breeze swept through the corridor, causing the lanterns beneath to sway slightly. Lin Yanzhou stood in that light, glanced down at the jade seal in his palm, then put it back in his robes and turned to walk toward the side hall—unfinished answer sheets lay spread out on the table, and the new organizational structure to be announced at tomorrow's morning court session had to be finalized overnight.

A pale white jade seal rested beside a brush holder on the corner of the desk, its surface illuminated by candlelight, resembling a newly opened eye. The distant sound of drums drifted in, one after another, like a new rhythm being hammered into the very bones of this ancient city.