Chapter 33 033 The Emperor's Great Filial Piety.
Knowing in private that one's own descendants and relatives are incompetent is one thing; having it brought up in court is quite another. Despite having many colleagues around, the court officials felt an unbearable unease, like a thousand ants gnawing at their hearts. Even without hearing their innermost thoughts, they dared not voice any objections. Didn't you see even the remonstrating officials of the Censorate fell silent?
The court officials, all concerned with their reputation, no longer cared much about advising His Majesty to reconsider. Instead, they began to consider where to find a suitable spiked club to beat their unfilial son to death!
That's so embarrassing.
Therefore, Zhao Jialing naturally sent his court officials to discuss how to correct the corrupt practices at the Imperial Academy.
She didn't say anything, and the system didn't mention it either. The ministers didn't know what they would face next. It was just a few minor changes, like kneading dough. If there was no water, add water; if there was no flour, add flour. They were the most experienced at making these additions and subtractions.
Inside the bathhouse hall.
Zhao Jialing looked at the thin book, somewhat puzzled. The system mentioned "soap," but after flipping through it a few times, she saw many strange and unusual recipes. She recognized some of the spices; they mostly came from Lingnan or were purchased from foreign merchants. Wouldn't the resulting product be priceless?
[This is the deluxe, money-grabbing edition, aimed at those with some spare cash. Turn the pages further, and you'll find the version for ordinary people.] The Wise Ruler System explained.
[Can it really prevent diseases?] Zhao Jialing wondered.
"It's better than being all dirty, host, be patient. Keep doing the tasks, and one day you'll get some medical-related materials," the Wise Ruler System said again.
Zhao Jialing was quick to accept new things; perhaps she truly was born of a dragon, considering her ancestors. She gave the booklet to Yin'e, asking her to have a female official copy it again, and then had Xie Lanzhao invited to the palace. She didn't intend to let the Imperial Treasury or the Imperial Household Department manage anything that could generate wealth; anything related to "officialdom" was no longer something she could freely access.
[I suspect that future tasks might involve some earth-shattering events, requiring me to personally fund them. The left and right treasuries under the Imperial Treasury are a given; access will be controlled. Even the Inner Treasury, managed by the Inner Attendants and not under the Ministry of Revenue, must be informed so that they can expedite the retrieval of supplies. This way, the Censors and remonstrance officials will also be informed.]
Therefore, she needed to find merchants outside the palace to do this business. However, a new problem arose: she spent most of her time in the palace, so where could she find suitable candidates? After much thought, she decided to consult Xie Lanzhao.
When Xie Lanzhao came to pay her respects, Zhao Jialing immediately told her about the "soap". As for the origin of the recipe, Zhao Jialing made up a random excuse, saying that it was a good product developed by the Imperial Medical Bureau based on bath beans.
Xie Lanzhao had already heard his thoughts and understood perfectly well, so of course she wouldn't expose the emperor's lie. After pondering for a moment, she asked, "Your Majesty wants someone else to manage it? Why not send an eunuch?"
Zhao Jialing blinked: "Eunuchs are also close to the emperor. What if they abuse their power and bully others? I wouldn't know while I'm deep in the palace, wouldn't that ruin everything?" Fearing Xie Lanzhao would nag her, Zhao Jialing came up with another reason that she thought was reasonable. She said, "Reform requires money, and it can't be taken lightly. I know many people disagree, and I'm afraid they might outwardly comply but inwardly resist, thus delaying the important matter."
Xie Lanzhao was not pedantic. While it was indeed inappropriate for the emperor to send merchants, money was an undeniable necessity. Repairs required money, building schools required money, hiring people required money… all of these things involved money. Although the Xie household had few members, Xie Lanzhao was the head of the household. After a moment's thought, he said, “I do have a few candidates.”
Just as he was about to blurt out "You decide," a documentary he had been watching recently suddenly popped into his head. Zhao Jialing cut him off in time, adopting the majesty of an emperor: "Then send me their information, and I will carefully select it."
A look of surprise flashed in Xie Lanzhao's eyes, and then she lowered her head and said "Yes".
[Third Sister, will Xie Lanzhao feel that I don't trust her?] Zhao Jialing's heart was overflowing with thoughts.
[Sigh, I wasn't targeting her specifically this time; I was just handling official business.]
Xie Lanzhao didn't seem alarmed by being targeted; instead, she was surprised and somewhat intrigued.
Six months ago, the thought of His Majesty regaining his strength was something she dared not even imagine.
Zhao Jialing gazed intently at Xie Lanzhao, then casually asked, "How is the reform of the Imperial Academy progressing? Are there any regulations in place?"
Xie Lanzhao said, "The Imperial Academy's assessment of academic subjects is not strict enough; the system must be revised."
It's not that the powerful and wealthy were lax in educating their children, nor that the Imperial Academy's professors were incompetent, or that there were major flaws in the system itself. The Imperial Academy in previous dynasties rose and fell, and the problems were essentially the same; any reforms would likely only have a temporary effect. This might not even meet systemic standards.
Zhao Jialing sighed dramatically, "I am unfortunate that my empire is in such a state; I fear I have no face to face my ancestors. Should I go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay my respects?"
Xie Lanzhao: "..."
She saw through Zhao Jialing's feigned composure at a glance, and even without hearing his inner thoughts, she probably knew what was about to happen.
Did that all-powerful system really carry out His Majesty's original plan and forcefully stuff the "Curriculum Reform Guide" into the wall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, thus staging a "legacy instruction from our ancestors"?
What exactly is it that can bring out the "ancestors" like this?
Well then, let's just get ready for this "big surprise".
Officials in the Dayong Dynasty, following in the footsteps of their predecessors, emphasized a slow and meticulous approach to work. However, after that efficient work manual circulated in the Hall of State Affairs and the Six Ministries, efficiency improved considerably. This couldn't be ignored; daily summary reports were required, and a prescribed format was given, leaving them no opportunity for lengthy elaborations or classical allusions.
If you did it, you did it; if you didn't, you didn't.
If you slack off too much, your performance evaluation will be downgraded.
With an invisible whip urging them on, and also fearing that the emperor would print those nonsensical articles and spread their "bad reputation" throughout the world, the officials were quite enthusiastic about the Imperial Academy's reform of its rules.
But news of the collapse of the walls of the Imperial Ancestral Temple came before their plans.
The way of Heaven has always been connected with the way of humanity. If there is a problem with the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it is an extremely ominous sign! The sage should pay homage to Heaven and Earth, and the ministers should also take responsibility for the celestial phenomena and resign! The officials, who were shocked, immediately put aside such trivial matters as the reform of the Imperial Academy and began to speak passionately for the country, the people and the nation.
Emperor Zhao Jialing immediately led his senior officials to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to apologize.
Immediately afterwards, a book titled "Guide to Curriculum Reform" was taken out.
What is it?
The high-ranking officials, both civil and military, looked at each other, not daring to speak, communicating only with their eyes.
“The Yellow River produced the Map, the Luo River produced the Book, and the ancient texts are enshrined in the walls of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. There must be a real meaning behind them,” Xie Lanzhao said.
The courtiers were shocked by Xie Lanzhao's words and looked at her with strange eyes.
Seriously? A prime minister of such high moral character and integrity could say something like that?
Something seems off!
Where is the system deity? Where is the voice of the heart? Why isn't it appearing?!
Zhao Jialing knew perfectly well what the "Curriculum Reform Guide" was all about. She'd only casually mentioned that absurd idea; it was too "filial," and she felt a slight unease. But the system had fully encouraged her, even claiming it could be done without leaving a trace. Since the system had demonstrated its miraculous power, Zhao Jialing let go of her burden.
She glanced at a few pages, then said with a stern face, “The students’ studies have deteriorated, severing the very foundation of our ability to nurture scholars. Our ancestors in heaven are deeply ashamed. Therefore, they have sent down this ‘heavenly book’ to show all the world.”
The courtier's eyelids twitched violently.
Who can still use "yin and yang" as an excuse now? All the blame lies with the Imperial Academy.
Zheng Shiyan's face turned pale. He hadn't expected things to get any worse. He knelt down with a thud, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
"My great-grandfather founded the nation with the intention of continuing the lost learning of the sages, but his descendants are unworthy, restraining the study of literature and indulging in leisure, thus bringing shame upon our ancestors." Zhao Jialing showed a shameful expression, his eyes secretly drifting towards Xie Lanzhao.
Xie Lanzhao understood immediately. Not only was His Majesty giving her a signal, but her colleagues were also all looking at her, probably hoping that she would make a breakthrough.
What's happening now is unprecedented. They can't find any old traditions, so how are they supposed to deal with it? At first, they were full of the principles of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, but now they probably have to bring back their "ancestral teachings."
"The ancestral system has been adapted to the times and has changed in the past, but the system has been inconsistent. This is because the ancient and modern systems are different and each has its own system, making it difficult to determine the definitive one, which leads to many disputes. Now that the ancestors have sent down the 'heavenly book,' I believe that we should abandon the conservative and incomplete way and reform the system according to the ancestral instructions."
"What Xie Zhongshu said is very true!" the Vice Minister of the Secretariat echoed loudly.
"A heavenly book has descended from the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I believe it should be welcomed back with proper rites," the Minister of Rites said solemnly.
...
Zhao Jialing said, "There's no need to welcome the Heavenly Book. Its emergence is only meant to benefit the Imperial Academy." She handed the "Guide to Curriculum Reform" to the eunuch, indicating that the book should be given to Xie Lanzhao, and added, "May all the ministers ponder its profound meaning together."
Apart from Xie Lanzhao, who remained composed, the expressions of the other ministers in charge of state affairs were more or less subtle.
The first word that comes to mind is "conspiracy." It's likely a scheme His Majesty devised to push for the reform of the Imperial Academy. But was Xie Zhongshu involved? Just as most people wouldn't point out that auspicious omens are man-made, no one dares to say that the current emperor broke down the walls of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Ignoring ancestral spirits is a grave act of filial impiety; going back several dynasties, there were instances where emperors were deposed on this grounds!
This is a huge accusation; if it incurs the wrath of the authorities, no one can bear the consequences.
Those who could attend the ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple were all high-ranking officials; how many hotheads could they possibly be? In reality, the only one they could truly rely on was the Grand Secretary—
However, her stance remained unwavering.
The high-ranking official's heart was churning with emotions, like surging waves. He suppressed his resentment and could only accept the order with trepidation.
While the trembling courtiers took the hot potato back, Zhao Jialing, who remained in the palace, was listening to the system's nagging.
The Wise Ruler System had been holding back in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, fearing that Zhao Jialing might falter at a crucial moment, and looking at Xie Lanzao's face, it began to have some inappropriate thoughts.
However, it was too narrow-minded; the host did not have any wild thoughts.
"No achievements?" Zhao Jialing was very concerned.
Although the court officials took the divine book back with them, changing the system wouldn't be so easy. Their own interests were at stake, and even their ancestors weren't an option. They could easily use their distorted words and their pens to erase their ancestors from the family genealogy.
This is against reason and the will of Heaven!
[The host has still accomplished something: "Changes in the heavens are nothing to fear."]
Zhao Jialing's eyes lit up: [A reward! A reward!]
Wise Ruler System: [Simplified Telescope Crafting Kit.]
A telescope? What's that?
Zhao Jialing was bewildered.
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