Chapter 2.002 I will not learn.

Inside the bathhouse, Zhao Jialing sat upright and solemnly.

When summoning close ministers, Zhao Jialing would be very casual, but in front of Xie Lanzao, she had to try her best to maintain the dignity of a monarch.

Of course not.

Who made Xie Lanzhao such a powerful minister who disregarded the emperor?

Zhao Jialing wailed inwardly.

The Wise Ruler System seizes the opportunity: [Host, once you become a wise ruler, you will be able to control your ministers.]

Zhao Jialing scoffed inwardly.

Was she angered by Xie Lanzhao to the point of illness? Her hysteria is getting worse. Even the late emperor, with his devout faith, couldn't see the immortals, so how could she?

While she was lost in thought, Xie Lanzhao was led into the hall by her attendants.

As Zhao Jialing always did when she saw Xie Lanzhao, she showed utmost respect, as if the person standing in front of her was not a peer but the emperor's tutor; on the other hand, she secretly rehearsed in her mind how to intimidate Xie Lanzhao, so that Xie Lanzhao would kneel in front of her in fear and write a hundred or eight splendid articles praising her achievements to please her.

Even if she became an autocratic monarch, it wouldn't be possible, would it?

Zhao Jialing gazed intently at Xie Lanzao.

It is the emerald bamboo that stands tall and unyielding amidst frost and snow, and the clear moon that slowly rises from the distant mountains and passes.

Xie Lanzao was graceful and otherworldly, and there was no way she could become servile and obsequious.

Zhao Jialing sighed inwardly.

She recalled some old memories; back then, she had been quite fond of Xie Lanzhao's face. She had asked her father, the emperor, for Xie Lanzhao to be her lady-in-waiting, but Xie Lanzhao had ruthlessly refused.

Xie Lanzhao resolutely chose her second sister, who had already entered politics—even though Xie Lanzhao was only two years older than her, the other sister had already moved up several years and disdained to associate with her.

"Your Majesty?" Xie Lanzhao looked up at the dazed Zhao Jialing, her brows furrowing slightly involuntarily. The idea of ​​not being able to look directly at the Emperor's face or offending His Majesty was nonexistent to her. Her clear, snow-white gaze, carrying a hint of scrutiny, swept over Zhao Jialing without restraint, making no attempt to conceal her sharp edge.

Her voice pulled Zhao Jialing back from his wandering thoughts.

Zhao Jialing was still lamenting Xie Lanzao's ruthlessness when she looked up and was chilled to the bone by the real prime minister standing before her. She began to wonder if she had done something inappropriate. After a moment of silence, she made up a dry excuse: "I caught a chill last night and have a bit of a headache."

"Has His Majesty had someone examine it?" Xie Lanzhao asked.

"Not yet," Zhao Jialing said, looking expectantly at Xie Lanzhao, hoping she would be sensible enough to summon the imperial physician and free her from that cold, oppressive atmosphere. But Xie Lanzhao clearly did not grant Zhao Jialing's wish.

She took out a memorial and presented it to His Majesty, asking, "Your Majesty previously canceled the spring lectures. Will the autumn lectures proceed as scheduled? And who will be the attendant reader?"

Zhao Jialing: "..." The so-called autumn lectures refer to the classical studies lectures held in autumn, where learned and knowledgeable lecturers explained the classics and historical books to the emperor. Dividing the year into spring and autumn was a custom of the Dayong Dynasty.

There were reasons for stopping the Spring Lectures.

Zhao Jialing couldn't remember the lecturer's name anymore, only that he was impeached by censors for frequently telling her stories in history about emperors killing ministers and ministers executing minor officials for disobeying imperial edicts. The censors accused him of being unkind, spreading heresies, sowing discord among family members, and causing suspicion between the emperor and his ministers. Censors were another formidable group of court officials. While the absurd battle between "both civil and military" officials outside Chunming Gate, as in previous dynasties, hadn't yet occurred, their flying spittle was enough to make one wish they could retreat back to their mother's womb.

Several other lecturers were also attacked by the censors. These lecturers were known throughout the court for their "integrity" and "erudition." They paid close attention to every aspect of her life, from reading and calligraphy to appreciating paintings and even her daily routine, believing that her every move should be known to the lecturers. While the historians could bring Zhao Jialing a moment of secret joy, these loyal and righteous men were like annoying buzzing flies.

But Zhao Jialing knew that the "ancestral laws" could not be changed.

The hardest to remove are these morally upright gentlemen.

But Xie Lanzhao eventually dealt with this group of "virtuous men".

After this incident, the daily lectures and discussions were suspended.

This can be considered a triumphant moment for Zhao Jialing after his ascension to the throne.

But now Xie Lanzhao has put the autumn lectures on the agenda again, and Zhao Jialing is starting to feel distressed.

"Does Your Majesty have someone in mind?" Xie Lanzhao asked again.

Zhao Jialing rubbed her forehead, and with some difficulty, she named a few scholars—all of whom had passed away last year or the year before. As she finished speaking, Zhao Jialing secretly glanced at Xie Lanzhao, trying to find a look of anger on her face, but Xie Lanzhao caught her red-handed.

Zhao Jialing's heart skipped a beat.

Her eyes darted away, then she straightened her back and boldly looked at Xie Lanzhao.

I am the emperor, what's wrong with me glancing at her?!

[Host, the lecture cannot be delayed. Your mission includes a self-cultivation aspect, and holding a lecture can enhance your personal refinement.] The Wise Ruler System's voice rang in Zhao Jialing's mind.

"Will my self-restraint prevent Xie Lanzhao from looking down on me?" Zhao Jialing snorted, dismissing the system's task with disdain.

Below the steps.

Xie Lanzhao felt a chill run down her spine.

She looked up, puzzled.

She heard voices, but was it a hallucination?

[Doesn't the host even glance at the rewards? As long as the host achieves something, there's a chance to get some rewards. Even if the host isn't interested in the tech tree, there are still ways to improve oneself, like growing taller.] The Wise Ruler System continued to tempt Zhao Jialing.

Zhao Jialing, his eyes vacant, continued rambling to the system: "How tall will I be? How strong will I be? Will I be able to wrap my arm around Xie Lanzhao's waist and do a whirling dance with her?"

Xie Lanzhao: "?"

She heard the conversation again, but the source of one of the voices, whose meaning was unclear, was still unknown.

But the other voice was clearly His Majesty's.

But His Majesty did not speak.

Could it be that there are other people lying in ambush in the palace, and this is a new way His Majesty has come up with to play a trick on her?

The Wise Ruler System decided to go along with Zhao Jialing's words. It was a well-read system that knew many stories about "the Emperor and the Prime Minister going to bed together".

So it said: "Host, as long as you become a wise ruler, a great emperor for all time, it wouldn't be unreasonable to make Xie Lanzao your empress. Of course, if you despise her and only want to humiliate her, you can still keep her confined to the harem. However, according to the system's analysis, the probability of successfully humiliating Xie Lanzao is extremely low. Given Xie Lanzao's fierce nature, there's an eight or nine out of ten chance she'll choose to perish with you, that is, commit regicide. Although this could be considered a form of 'dying for love,' I advise you not to try it lightly."

Zhao Jialing screamed inwardly: "Making Xie Lanzao empress?! Are you crazy, or am I? Oh, I'm the one who's crazy. Is this really my delusion? I simply like Xie Lanzao's face."

A vein throbbed on Xie Lanzhao's forehead. She remained calm, trying to remain composed amidst the chaos, but the voices reaching her ears grew increasingly absurd. She shouted sharply, "Your Majesty!"

Zhao Jialing: "Huh?" She was startled by Xie Lanzhao's sudden change in expression.

What's wrong with Xie Lanzhao?

Could it be because of the name she gave earlier?

Zhao Jialing pondered for a moment, then chuckled and said, "This is a trivial matter; the Prime Minister can decide."

[Host, you've decided to accept the mission? A wise ruler cultivates himself, manages his family, governs the state, and brings peace to the world. Please complete "Main Mission: Self-Cultivation I: Lecture on Classical Studies" to make the court officials believe that you are still salvageable.] The Wise Ruler System's voice became sweet with delight.

Zhao Jialing remained silent.

"Am I beyond saving? You're talking nonsense. I ascended the throne at fourteen and reigned for five years. Although I haven't achieved anything, I haven't indiscriminately beheaded anyone either. If I have, it was all Xie Lanzhao's doing. She used any means necessary to eliminate dissidents and kill the regent ministers left to me by the late emperor in order to gain absolute power. Nineteen years old, the perfect age to retire comfortably. As long as I eat and drink well, let the ministers worry about politics. I'll ignore everything else and focus on living to ninety-nine." After a few breaths of silence, Zhao Jialing launched a series of intense attacks on the system.

The Wise Ruler system is stuck, as quiet as a chicken.

Xie Lanzhao's ears were bombarded with criticism, and her face turned ashen.

Her eyes were cold and sharp as knives, trying to discern the emperor's true intentions from his string of words.

Is His Majesty dissatisfied with the prime minister's control of state affairs?

Her Majesty is indeed well past the age of ruling in her own right, but look at what she has done since ascending the throne! First, she tried to simplify things by changing the location and time of sacrificial rites; then she appointed treacherous and sycophantic officials, attempting to use eunuchs to divide the power of court officials; and she even presumptuously initiated "reforms." With Her Majesty's sudden inspiration, the court officials are left to clean up the mess. In this case, it would be better to let the sage rule by doing nothing.

A blockhead, a sign of national ruin.

This is what the late emperor said.

There were no servants in the bathhouse.

Xie Lanzhao's gaze swept across the screen, but she couldn't discern the slightest clue.

After all, it was the palace, and she couldn't be so presumptuous as to start a large-scale search in front of His Majesty, so she could only pretend to be unaware.

It's just a farce.

This has happened at least nine times in the past five years.

At least Zhao Jialing didn't spout nonsense in court.

Xie Lanzhao endured it again and again, but Zhao Jialing's sentiments caused her great mental distress.

How did that cuddly little princess grow up to be like this?!

It's a complete mess!

I can't stay here a moment longer.

Xie Lanzhao bowed to Zhao Jialing, and before leaving, she coldly said, "Your Majesty, please do not become obsessed with the art of illusion."

Zhao Jialing was bewildered.

Huh? What does Xie Lanzhao mean by that?

After Xie Lanzhao left the bathhouse, the anger on her face disappeared, and she returned to her calm and composed demeanor, never showing her emotions.

She summoned the eunuch and inquired in detail about Zhao Jialing's daily life.

When the late emperor was alive, eunuchs were not allowed to divulge matters within the palace, but the situation is different now. Xie Lanzhao holds great power and has the Empress Dowager's backing, so the eunuchs dare not conceal anything from her.

"His Majesty has never indulged in entertainment and has rarely enjoyed himself these days. There are also no idle people hiding in the bathhouse."

Xie Lanzhao frowned.

If it's not a trick by His Majesty, where did that voice come from?

Was she just too tired? But even if she was exhausted, she couldn't possibly have imagined those things!

Inside the main hall.

Zhao Jialing was unaware of Xie Lanzhao's distress. She lay down sprawled out, asking in anguish, "I'm already nineteen, do I still have to study?!"

The Wise Ruler System said quietly, "Host, one should never stop learning."