The purple-robed elder of the Longhu Temple stroked his thick hair, looking utterly bewildered: “What’s going on? How did Daoist Li end up leading the Shenxiao Sect away? Where is Daoist Fang? We must have Daoist Fang return and explain this properly.”

Another blue-robed Daoist shook his head: “Explain? By the time he returns, it’ll be too late. The Longhu Temple will likely be hollowed out! I say we expel the Shenxiao Sect and warn everyone that any Daoist who dares to defect to Da Xia will never be allowed back into the Longhu Temple.”

At these words, the others hesitated. The reason the Longhu Temple had become a sacred pilgrimage site for Daoists from four nations was precisely because it had no barriers to entry. Anyone who wished to learn the Dao could come.

A yellow-robed Daoist frowned: “That doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“Make an example of them. If we don’t act, the Longhu Temple will end up serving as a stepping stone for the National Preceptor of Da Xia,” the blue-robed Daoist snorted coldly. “We also need to inform the National Preceptor of Chu as soon as possible. He must personally go to Da Xia and completely strip them of their eligibility to hold the Spring Sacrifice as a countermeasure.”

The other Daoists remained silent.

The purple-robed elder shook his head: “I recall that the Empress Dowager of Da Xia often listened to Daoist Yun’s teachings at Mount Wutai. Let me write a letter to the Empress Dowager. If she can provide a proper solution, we’ll let this matter rest. If not, we’ll follow Daoist Zhao’s suggestion.”

The blue-robed Daoist Zhao quickly stood up and acknowledged the order.

…

Mount Wutai

In the hot springs of the back mountain, where Buddhist chants lingered in the air.

A black-robed eunuch respectfully handed three bamboo scrolls to the figure in the hot spring.

Slender yet bony fingers took the scrolls.

After a while, a low, magnetic voice chuckled faintly: “I’ve only been away from the palace for a few months, and yet Da Xia has already become so lively. A National Preceptor less than a year old has managed to make the Longhu Temple wary. Interesting, truly interesting. Little Xi.”

The black-robed eunuch suddenly appeared and bowed: “Your servant is here.”

The Empress Dowager said: “General Wu Yi is about to return to the capital. Send someone to accompany him with a congratulatory gift for the Little National Preceptor.”

The black-robed eunuch was startled and whispered: “Your Majesty, the Second Princess has sent an invitation to her wedding. Shouldn’t we…”

“No,” the person in the hot spring chuckled, her voice slightly hoarse. “My matters here are more important.”

The black-robed eunuch suddenly thought of the Imperial Consort’s appearance and dared not say another word.

…
Da Xia, Capital

Kunning Palace

At the hour of Chen, Yuan Ruan was lifted out of her bed by a pair of large hands.

Yuan Ruan, her eyes still closed, shivered from the cold: 【New maid? Her efficiency at dressing me is terrible!】

The person holding her paused.

The next second, Yuan Ruan felt herself buried in fur, her nostrils filled with the scent of animal hide.

She struggled to open her eyes and lifted her head from the fluffy fur, only to see the Emperor looking down at her.

Yuan Ruan: 【I must be dreaming. Did I just dream of the Emperor? Close eyes.】

The Emperor: …

He was both annoyed and amused as he pinched the tip of her nose and said softly, “Time to get up, Ah Ruan.”

“Yiya yiya! No… court,” Yuan Ruan struggled to utter a few words.

The Emperor naturally responded: “No court session. We’re going to attend morning lessons.”

In truth, compared to gunpowder, the Emperor was more concerned about the paper and imperial examination system that Yuan Ruan had rejected.

He had a keen suspicion that the imperial examination and paper could, to some extent, break the monopoly of knowledge by the aristocratic families and fulfill his desire for a large number of talented individuals from non-noble backgrounds.

The Emperor remembered that Yuan Ruan had rejected paper because she disliked studying.

The Emperor couldn’t understand this. How could anyone dislike studying?

If you get tired of reading Mencius, you can take a break with The Book of Rites. If The Great Learning frustrates you, you can have fun with The Art of War. If The Book of Documents bores you, you can relax with The Spring and Autumn Annals…

With such a cycle, every moment is relaxed and joyful! How could it be tiring?

It must be that Ninth Princess’s previous method of studying was wrong.

So the Emperor decided to personally guide her in studying, to make her love and enjoy it, and then eagerly produce paper and implement the imperial examination system.

At this moment, the Empress also walked over and patted Yuan Ruan’s head, yawning: “Your Majesty, isn’t Ninth Princess a bit too young for morning lessons? Perhaps we should wait a few more years.”

The Emperor waved his hand: “It’s not a formal lesson. Today, we’re just going to listen to The Spring and Autumn Annals. I’ll accompany her. She’ll definitely like it.”

The Empress choked: …

Your Majesty, are you listening to yourself? Who would enjoy getting up early for lessons?

Yuan Ruan’s pupils dilated: ???

Like what? The Spring and Autumn Annals?

Heavens!

I’m not even a year old! I can only occasionally blurt out single words!

Is it really appropriate to start teaching me the Four Books and Five Classics now?!

You’re pushing me too hard.

Half an hour later, in the Great Hall of Learning.

Yuan Ruan thought it was inappropriate, the teacher in the Great Hall of Learning thought it was inappropriate, and the Crown Prince and Third Prince sitting in the hall also thought it was inappropriate. But it didn’t matter, because the Emperor thought it was appropriate.

While the other princes knelt in front of their desks, Yuan Ruan lay on her desk, dozing off.

Her face pressed against the desk, occasionally twitching.

A soft chuckle suddenly sounded nearby, but it was quickly followed by a hiss of pain.

Yuan Ruan didn’t need to look to know that her brother had probably disciplined whoever had laughed at her.

At this moment, the teacher on the podium noticed that since the little princess had arrived, the Crown Prince and Third Prince had been somewhat distracted. So he didn’t continue with The Spring and Autumn Annals.

The teacher said that learning also requires reviewing the old to understand the new, and then he began to lecture on The Analects: “The Master said: Since you’ve come, settle down here…”

Yuan Ruan complained to the system: 【This is really the ancient version of passive listening! But ever since I saw the online collection of The Analects of Violence, I can’t remember the real meaning of The Analects anymore.】

The system: 【Oh? What’s The Analects of Violence? Tell me more!】

The Emperor was curious. It was usually the system feeding Yuan Ruan gossip, but now it seemed the system was the one lacking knowledge.

The Crown Prince first gestured to the Third Prince to remain quiet, and the Third Prince nodded solemnly.

The Crown Prince nodded inwardly: Third Brother has improved. He’s much calmer now than he was as a child.

Yuan Ruan: 【For example, the explanation of this line in The Analects of Violence: Confucius said, ‘Since you’ve come, you’ll be buried here.’】

The Emperor: !!!

The Crown Prince: !!!

“Pfft! Cough, cough…” The Third Prince’s face turned red as he coughed violently, as if his lungs were about to burst.

The Crown Prince quickly leaned over to pat his back, whispering: “Third Brother, be careful when drinking tea.” He thought to himself, Third Brother still needs more training. He should exercise more to help share the burden of taking the blame.

Yuan Ruan turned her head in confusion: 【Is that the Third Prince? Why is he coughing so badly?】

The system: 【No idea, haven’t interacted with him, not interested. Oh, what you just said was so funny! Do you have more?】

At this moment, the teacher on the podium was saying: “The Master said: ‘If you hear the Way in the morning, you can die content in the evening.'”

Yuan Ruan: 【If you know the way to my house in the morning, you’re dead by evening.】

The teacher continued: “The Master said: ‘The one who started it has no descendants.'”

The three of them were stunned: !!!

What? How does that mean no descendants?

Yuan Ruan: 【The one who started this will be beaten so badly they’ll have no descendants.】

“Cough, cough!” The Emperor finally couldn’t help but cough twice.

The Crown Prince nearly laughed himself under the desk, desperately pulling at his cheeks to avoid laughing too obviously.

The Third Prince buried his head in his arms, shaking uncontrollably.

The teacher on the podium, a master of the Five Classics and an eighth-rank official, was utterly confused. He couldn’t help but come down and ask softly: “Your Majesty, are you…”

“Cough, it’s nothing. I choked,” the Emperor said, looking down at Yuan Ruan’s soft, round face. For the first time, he felt both amused and helpless.

Seeing that the Crown Prince and Third Prince were still struggling to adapt, the Emperor didn’t insist on leaving Yuan Ruan to continue the lesson. Instead, he carried her to the morning court session.

Yuan Ruan had no energy left and sang in her heart: 【…I want to sleep, my skin will be great, ow ow ow! I want to sleep, my spirit will be great! Ow ow… ow!】

The system howled: 【Ow!】

The Emperor nearly stumbled, and the next sentence made his face darken.

Yuan Ruan: 【Ah! It’s the male mommy! It’s been so long since I’ve seen him!】

The system: 【…Yes, let’s snuggle up to his big chest muscles. He’s lost weight, his double doors are almost single doors now. Poor thing, let’s see if there’s any gossip about him being mistreated!】

The court officials: !!!

They didn’t know if there was any gossip about him being mistreated.

But hearing your words, his heart must be suffering.