Chapter 178 Chu Lingyang's Path to Empress 1

When Chu Lingyang was eight years old, she shed her childishness and was no longer the little girl who would only cling to her mother and chase butterflies in the Imperial Garden.

As dawn broke and the sky was still shrouded in a cold, inky darkness, Chu Lingyang was already sitting upright at her desk, studying historical texts and political treatises word by word.

Chu Lingyang carefully studied and memorized the historical events of the rise and fall of dynasties and the gains and losses of order and chaos.

The afternoon sun was at its zenith, and dust filled the training ground of the Ministry of War. Chu Lingyang changed into a smart outfit and listened attentively as the white-haired old general explained the methods of troop deployment. She did not slack off in the slightest.

Although Chu Lingyang is a talkative and cheerful person, she also has a strong, unyielding spirit deep down.

Chu Lingyang worked tirelessly day and night with the Grand Tutor and the General, often so exhausted that her back ached and she barely had the strength to lift her hand to unbutton her clothes when she returned to her bedchamber.

But as soon as she lit the candle on her desk and laid out her strategies for governing the country, Chu Lingyang would become energetic again.

The flickering candlelight cast a long shadow of Chu Lingyang on the palace wall, making her look like a pine tree growing against the wind and snow.

Seeing her daughter working so hard, Lu Zhaoxue felt a pang in her heart. She felt sorry for Chu Lingyang, who had to bear such a heavy burden at such a young age, and worried about whether she was really willing to take on this responsibility.

Lu Zhaoxue held Chu Lingyang's hand more than once, asking her gently, "Zhaozhao, the path to becoming an emperor is not easy. If you are unwilling..."

Each time, Chu Lingyang would grasp Lu Zhaoxue's hand in return, her eyes shining like the stars in the sky, and firmly reply, "Mother, I am willing."

"My daughter is willing to read these books and learn these strategies. In the future, my daughter will definitely govern this Great Zhou Dynasty well and become a good emperor who can make the people live in peace and prosperity."

In recent years, thanks to the new policies that Lu Zhaoxue implemented despite opposition, the women of the Great Zhou Dynasty have long since broken free from the shackles of confinement.

Women who become officials can criticize current affairs in the court; women who become doctors can heal the sick and save lives; women who become merchants can trade throughout the world and become wealthy; and women who become teachers can educate people all over the world.

Women's status is also rising steadily, and now that an empress has emerged, it is no longer a shocking or unusual event for the court and the common people.

Seeing that Chu Lingyang was determined, Lu Zhaoxue gently tidied the stray hairs by her temples and said softly, "Zhaozhao, don't be impatient for quick success. Take things one step at a time. Your mother and your father will always be behind you."

"Mother, I understand." Chu Lingyang raised her eyebrows, her smile clear and firm. "Mother, please rest assured, I will not let you down."

Through the changing seasons, Chu Lingyang excelled in both civil and military affairs without ever faltering.

The tutor Chu Siheng appointed for her was a retired scholar from the previous dynasty, erudite yet somewhat stubborn and pedantic.

When they first met, the Grand Tutor saw that the Crown Prince was a young girl with her hair in double buns, and his eyes showed a hint of disdain. When he gave a private lecture, he only picked out some simple principles to give perfunctory answers.

Until that day when they discussed politics and the major issues concerning people's livelihood, the Grand Tutor quoted classics and argued for the benefits of "emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce." After he finished speaking, all the students in the room nodded in agreement.

Only Chu Lingyang, sitting upright at the lower end, broke the silence with her clear voice: "Grand Tutor, you are mistaken."

Everyone was shocked, and the Grand Tutor's face also darkened.

Chu Lingyang, however, remained calm and composed as she stood up and declared in a clear voice: "Food is the most important thing for the people, and prioritizing agriculture is the right path. However, if we suppress commerce, we will block the flow of goods."

"If the grain grown by farmers and the cloth spun by weavers were not transported by merchants to all corners of the world, how could they benefit the world?"

"Only by developing agriculture and commerce in tandem can we enrich the people, fill the national treasury, and enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

Chu Lingyang's words were insightful and to the point, her remarks resonating deeply and leaving the Grand Tutor speechless for a moment.

The old man stared blankly at the little girl before him, and after a long while, he sighed deeply, stood up and bowed solemnly to Chu Lingyang: "Your Highness has such foresight and wisdom. This old minister was short-sighted before and was disrespectful."

From then on, the Grand Tutor no longer held the slightest contempt for her, and imparted all his knowledge to her, wishing he could teach Chu Lingyang everything he had ever learned.

The old general of the Ministry of War was even more impressed with Chu Lingyang. On the training ground, Chu Lingyang was dressed in silver armor and held a bright silver spear, her posture upright.

The old general originally wanted his deputy to spar with Chu Lingyang, just like children playing around. The deputy thought so too. Seeing that she was young, he only planned to deal with her casually for a few moves and then pretend to lose.

Unexpectedly, the moment the spear tips clashed, Chu Lingyang flicked her wrist, and the silver spear, like a white dragon emerging from the sea, pierced straight for the deputy general's heart. The deputy general was shocked and barely dodged the attack. When he looked up again, Chu Lingyang's spear tip was already at his throat.

In just a few rounds, Chu Lingyang's spear technique became agile and unpredictable, each move aimed directly at vital points, forcing the battle-hardened deputy general to retreat repeatedly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Finally, Chu Lingyang sheathed her spear and stood up, her eyes crinkling with a smile. She raised her voice to the old general and asked, "General, would you say Lingyang's spear technique is passable?"

The old general was taken aback at first, then clapped his hands and laughed, his voice as loud as a bell: "More than just passing! With such courage and skill, the Crown Princess will surely be a blessing to our dynasty in the future!"

Time flies, and fifteen-year-old Chu Lingyang stands tall and graceful, with a beautiful face, yet her brows reveal a composure beyond her years.

She was no longer the child who followed Chu Siheng step by step, calling him "Father Emperor" in a childish voice, but the Crown Princess who could stand on the Golden Palace and debate with the civil and military officials.

The morning assembly was several times noisier than usual.

The plan for settling the 50,000 barbarian prisoners of war has been debated for more than half a month, with many different opinions and no consensus. The imperial palace is in an uproar.

Chu Siheng sat upright on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed, feeling a throbbing sensation in his temples. He raised his hand to rub his temples and gestured for everyone to be quiet.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Chu Siheng's gaze swept over the officials below the steps and landed on Chu Lingyang, who stood silently to the side with her hands at her sides. His voice softened slightly: "Lingyang, you have always had unique insights. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Lingyang slowly stepped forward. Her crimson palace dress accentuated her upright posture. She first bowed to the dragon throne, then raised her eyes, her clear gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

"If we don't kill these 50,000 prisoners of war, do you gentlemen have a foolproof plan for their resettlement?"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Seeing this, Chu Lingyang continued, "These days, you gentlemen argue every day, always talking about using benevolence, righteousness, and propriety to win over the barbarians, but this is by no means a perfect solution!"

She stepped forward, her gaze sharp as a knife: "Barbarians grow up in wild lands and have always revered force; their wildness is ingrained in their very bones!"

"Their defeat and capture are a great humiliation for them! This humiliation will only turn into deep-seated hatred, buried in their hearts, and cannot be resolved by a few years of education."