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

On the morning of the fifth day, there was a court assembly.

This was the first full court assembly since Zhang Lin's case came to light. The Zichen Hall was packed with people, former officials of the Six Ministries and newly appointed civil and military officials from various departments, arranged on both sides according to the new rank order. On the left were thirty-six civil officials, wearing newly issued blue official robes, the fabric still stiff from starching; on the right were seventy-two military officials, their armor not yet fully issued, but each wore a newly made bronze badge at their waist, engraved with their rank and number.

Zhao Yan sat on the throne, dressed in a black dragon robe and wearing a crown. This was the first time since his ascension to the throne that he had sat in the main seat wearing the full set of court attire. In the past, he found it too heavy and only wore it on major festivals, but today he had requested to wear it himself, saying, "Today is an important day."

Lin Yanzhou stood to the side of the throne, not wearing official robes, but still in his black coat. But everyone in the hall knew that this was the attire of an immortal, unlike that of mortals. In his hand was a jade seal, a token heavier than any official robe.

When Zhao Yan stood up, the entire hall fell silent.

The young emperor's gaze slowly swept from the civil officials' ranks on the left to the military officials' ranks on the right, and then landed on the rising sunlight outside the palace gates. He spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone in the entire hall heard him clearly:

"This is the first time since I ascended the throne that so many people have stood here. They were chosen by me and the Grand Preceptor according to the needs of our dynasty, not arranged by others."

No one spoke in the hall.

"Today I will only tell you three things. First: From now on, the officials of Xuan Shuo will serve the people of Xuan Shuo. You sit here receiving salaries and wearing official robes not because you can write a few articles or draw a few bows, but because you can ensure that the people have enough to eat, wear warm clothes, and are not bullied by foreign enemies."

"Secondly: Among all my beloved ministers, there should be mutual trust and support. The principle of Xuan Shuo is very simple: everyone for me, and I for everyone. The people trust you, and you must live up to that trust. Throughout the court, regardless of whether you are a civil or military official, or regardless of your background, there is only one goal: to make Xuan Shuo better. If anyone tries to cheat or deceive, if anyone tries to form a faction in secret, or if anyone puts their own interests before the people, then people like Zhang Lin will suffer the same fate."

He paused, his voice rising slightly, carrying the unpolished sharpness characteristic of youth:

"The third thing—not an inch of Xuan Shuo's territory can be lost. Not a single person of Xuan Shuo can be bullied. Domestically, I want you to ensure that within three years, the people of Xuan Shuo will no longer suffer from hunger due to natural disasters, that society will be stable, and that no one will be ruined by corrupt officials. Externally: anyone who disrespects Xuan Shuo will be severely punished; anyone who invades the border will be annihilated; anyone with treacherous intentions will be made to back down."

"Within three years, eliminate all border threats. When conditions permit, I will plant the banners of Xuan Shuo wherever they should be planted."

When he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent for a few seconds. No one spoke. There was something different about that silence—not tension, not fear, but a quiet tremor that was slowly being ignited.

The first to react was Chen Shi in the civil official ranks. Standing at the position of the Agricultural Affairs Department, when he heard the phrase "so that the people will no longer suffer from hunger due to natural disasters," his fingers, hanging at his sides, clenched slightly. Shen Zhou, standing next to him, glanced at him, then stood even straighter.

In the ranks of military officers, Meng Shan stood in the archers' position, his gaze fixed on the young man on the throne. For the first time, a look of being touched appeared on that rough face, honed by years of hunting. Zhao Jiu, standing behind him, didn't look at him, but Zhao Jiu's back was straighter than usual, his limp foot firmly planted on the blue brick floor.

After a short while, all the civil and military officials responded in unison: "Your Majesty is wise, long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhao Yan returned to his throne with satisfaction, turned to Lin Yanzhou, and nodded slightly: "Sir, you can make the arrangements from here on out."

Lin Yanzhou walked into the hall, faced the civil and military officials on both sides, and unfolded the dossier in his hand. His voice was devoid of any unnecessary sentimentality; today was simply an official announcement.

"Thirty-six civil officials will be assigned to six departments. The heads of each department have been selected, and the list will be posted in the East Courtyard of the Imperial Preceptor's Residence for three days."

"Seventy-two military officers are assigned to seven divisions: archers, scouts, cavalry, supplies, city defense, recruit training, and border defense coordination. The heads of each division have been selected and will be on duty within three days, with a six-month probationary period."

"Everyone receives a salary according to their rank, paid monthly. Those with outstanding performance will be assessed annually, and promotions will be based on merit, not seniority. All rules have been written into the 'Regulations of the Imperial Preceptor's Office,' and handwritten copies will be distributed to all departments starting today."

After he finished reading, he closed the file and glanced at the civil and military officials on either side: "The new framework will take time to take effect. You have six months to prove that you are worthy of this official robe. After six months, those who should stay will stay, and those who should leave will leave. His Majesty has made plans for you and given you new opportunities and room for development. The rest is up to you."

"Now, each of you, proceed according to your duties! Court adjourned!"

Chen Shi bowed first, and the others followed suit. In the military officer ranks, Meng Shan bowed deeply, and Zhao Jiu beside him also bent down. Liu Qing, standing behind Cao Mo, kept his head down, but his back remained as straight as ever.

After the court session ended, the crowd slowly dispersed along the steps, and sunlight gradually filled the blue brick floor between the pillars on both sides of the court.

Lin Yanzhou was the last to leave the main hall, stopping on the steps to watch the backs of the new officials who were crossing the courtyard and dispersing in their respective departments. Someone was standing under the eaves, whispering something to someone next to them, their tone carrying a solemn "from now on" tone.

Zhao Yan walked up to him at some point, stood beside him, and watched the departing figures.

The young emperor suddenly spoke up, "Sir, when I told them to 'eliminate all hidden dangers within three years' as you instructed, did you truly believe it was achievable, or were you merely encouraging them?"

Lin Yanzhou turned his head and glanced at him. Sunlight fell on Zhao Yan's profile, revealing a seriousness on his young face that he hadn't yet learned to conceal.

"If I say I can do it, I mean I can do it," Lin Yanzhou said. "It's just that some things take time. Three years, if you do as I say, is more than enough."

Zhao Yan simply stood there quietly, watching the backs of the new officials walk further and further away, and suddenly said in a low voice, "These many people today were chosen by you, sir. I remember each and every one of their names."

Lin Yanzhou didn't answer. He stood beside Zhao Yan, the sunlight casting their shadows, one tall and one short, onto the blue brick steps. In the distance, Meng Shan and Zhao Jiu walked side by side; Zhao Jiu's limp made their pace slightly uneven, but their shoulders were almost level. Further away, Chen Shi and Shen Zhou stopped under the eaves, said something to each other, and then went their separate ways.

Lin Yanzhou watched the departing figures, then reached into his sleeve and touched the cool edge of the bluish-white jade seal. He didn't take the seal out, but simply gently stroked the outline of the seal knob with his fingertips.

Then he withdrew his hand and turned to walk towards the Imperial Preceptor's residence. He still had many things to do—the first batch of news should have arrived at the Crane Cry Tea House, the movements of Zhou Huaiyuan, Zhao Shoucheng, and Zheng Dehou still needed to be monitored, and someone should also check on the progress of the reservoir excavation in Jizhou.

Today, this city is breathing with a new rhythm. Those new breaths pass through the pillars, over the courtyard walls, and unfold step by step along the bluestone steps, quietly inscribing Lin Yanzhou's order into the soil of Xuanshuo.

Heming Teahouse is tucked away deep in an inconspicuous alley in the south of the city. The storefront is narrow, and the two old wooden doors are often ajar. A faded sign hangs above the door, the lettering so blurred that it is almost illegible. Most passersby would not give it a second glance, assuming it is just an old teahouse with little business.

But pushing open the wooden door revealed a completely different world inside. The front hall contained only three old tea tables, and the window facing the street was half-closed by bamboo blinds, filtering sunlight into dappled stripes that fell onto the tabletops. Behind the counter sat an elderly man in a gray robe, the same one who had led the four women to the Imperial Preceptor's residence that day. His surname was Chen; nominally the teahouse owner, he was actually a seasoned veteran secretly planted by Lin Yanzhou. He was currently wiping a celadon teapot, his movements unhurried and deliberate, as if he had been doing it his entire life.

Su Wanqing sat by the left-hand window, holding a cup of now-cold tea, her gaze fixed on the flow of people below. Her alluring eyes held no trace of seduction; her gaze was calm and meticulous, like a net slowly closing in.

Liu Ruyan sat on the low couch opposite her, having changed her dark green dress into a plain gray shirt. A thin layer of yellow powder covered her face, darkening her originally fair complexion, making her look like a typical common woman—the kind of face that wouldn't attract much attention. But in her hand, she was flipping through a slip of paper containing news she had received that morning.

Perhaps they themselves did not know that this secluded location would later become an information hub that stirred up neighboring small countries.