“Princess Zhaohua, please speak freely,” Jun Molin said.
“His Highness the King of Beihan protected me as I ascended the throne. As long as I remain on the throne and Beiyin does not launch an attack, then Xiyan and Beiyin will always be friends,” Yan Shuangshuang said.
Although the Emperor of Yan doted on her, she was, after all, a woman, and the court officials did not support her. She needed to find a powerful ally.
Yun Qingran looked up, eating as she watched Jun Molin, wondering if he would agree.
She should agree, Yan Shuangshuang's words have already put Xi Yan in a rather humble position.
"Whether Princess Zhaohua is truly unaware or feigning ignorance, Bei Yin doesn't have that much need for friends." Jun Molin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, exuding an aura of domineering kingship.
Princess Zhaohua's expression remained unchanged. The Northern Yin was now militarily strong and prosperous, and its people were at peace. It was completely self-sufficient and did not need allies.
“Your Highness, the King of Northern Cold, please consider it. This princess can wait,” Princess Zhaohua said.
Jun Molin nodded, then stood up. Yun Qingran quickly followed suit and left Princess Zhaohua's tent behind him.
"Are you full?" Jun Molin asked her after they came out.
"I'm full." Yun Qingran nodded.
"Then let's go back to Beijing."
"Oh." Yun Qingran nodded.
A large group of people set off in a grand procession back to Beijing.
Yun Qingran knew how to ride a horse, so she rode one herself and followed the group.
"Cough cough..." She happened to be next to Luo Xiang's carriage and heard Luo Xiang coughing from inside the carriage from time to time.
"Prime Minister Luo, how are you? Are you alright?" Yun Qingran asked with concern upon hearing Prime Minister Luo's cough.
Luo Xiang is a man of exceptional character and talent, and also a politician who supports peace. Such a person deserves respect!
"It's nothing, just a cough I've had for years," Luo Xiang replied, coughing as he spoke.
"Lord Luo, my daughter has some medical knowledge. If you don't mind, I can take a look at her." Judging from the sound of his cough, there must be something wrong with his lungs.
"Sure, thank you for your trouble," Luo Xiang agreed with a smile.
The carriage stopped, and Yun Qingran dismounted and got into the carriage.
"Young lady, you're not that old!" Luo Xiang was a little surprised when he saw Yun Qingran. Are there doctors this young?
“My daughter is twenty-one,” Yun Qingran said.
"He's still young." Prime Minister Luo smiled gently and continued, "I'll trouble you to treat this old man."
“Isn’t it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar? It’s what I should do,” Yun Qingran replied with a smile.
Luo Xiang exudes a gentle and refined aura; being around him, one unconsciously feels a sense of peace.
"Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar? That's a really good saying. How many years of schooling have you had? What books have you read?" Luo Xiang's eyes lit up when he heard Yun Qingran's words.
"I've never been to school, I've only read some books for leisure." Yun Qingran touched her nose, then said, "Please extend your hand, Prime Minister Luo."
Luo Xiang extended his hand, and Yun Qingran gently pressed her index and middle fingers on his wrist to begin taking his pulse.
"Lord Luo, your cough is caused by insufficient lung qi, it's a bit serious, but not a big problem. I'll prescribe some medicine for you, and taking it for ten days should stop your cough. However, the root cause of your illness is spleen deficiency due to overwork, which leads to lung qi deficiency. So you should pay attention to rest in the future, especially in winter, and go to bed earlier at night." Yun Qingran said as she picked up a pen and paper and began to write down the prescription.
"Okay, I understand." Luo Xiang nodded with a smile, then asked, "Whose child are you?"
"I am Yun Qingran, the legitimate daughter of Yunxiao of the Zhen'an Marquisate of Beiyin," Yun Qingran replied obediently.
“You are Yunxiao’s daughter. No wonder I felt you looked familiar just now.” After saying that, Luo Xiang explained, “I had some friendship with Yunxiao when we were young. Unfortunately, he later turned to martial arts, while I turned to literature.”
"No wonder Father has been in a good mood these past few days; it's all because of you," Yun Qingran said.
"Yunxiao is blessed to have a daughter like you." Prime Minister Luo looked at Yun Qingran and nodded with satisfaction.
I've heard that Yunxiao's daughter is a scoundrel; she not only indulges in drinking, gambling, and whoring, but also jeopardizes her father and brothers' careers. But today, it seems the rumors are unreliable.
"Prime Minister Luo, you flatter me." Yun Qingran scratched the back of her head a little embarrassedly.
"Call me Uncle Luo," Luo Xiang said, looking at Yun Qingran with affection.
He had no children in his life, and when he saw this girl, he felt a sense of closeness and affection for her.
"Uncle Luo," Yun Qingran called out sweetly to Prime Minister Luo.
Yun Qingran also liked him very much. He was truly a kind and comforting elder.
The two started chatting. Luo Xiang had always been very interested in education, and he asked Yun Qingran about her views on educational philosophy just to pass the time.
"Education, I believe, should be accessible to all, and everyone should have the right to education." Yun Qingran had always felt that it was unfair that girls were not allowed to study in ancient times, and she was implying that women could also be educated.
"Education for all is an excellent idea, very good. I also believe that everyone has the right to education." Luo Xiang nodded in agreement.
Nowadays, most scholars come from families of officials, nobles, or wealthy merchants, making it extremely difficult for children from poor families to have the opportunity to study.
"Furthermore, in educational practice, teachers should be tireless in their teaching, patiently guide students, and tailor their instruction to individual needs. They should not be overly demanding," Yun Qingran said.
"Teaching without weariness, guiding patiently, and teaching according to aptitude—that's excellent! Is there anything else?" Luo Xiang's eyes lit up.
“I think students shouldn’t just memorize things by rote; they also need some skills. For example, they should learn to ‘draw inferences from one instance’ and ‘learn new things by reviewing the old.’ While learning, they should also learn to think for themselves. ‘Learning without thinking is futile; thinking without learning is dangerous.’ At the same time, they should be humble and eager to ask questions. ‘Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.’” Yun Qingran continued.
"Learn by analogy, review the old to learn the new, learning without thinking is futile, thinking without learning is dangerous, and there is always something to learn from others. Students should be like this." Prime Minister Luo stroked his beard. "Ranran, you should become a teacher."
"Uncle Luo, you flatter me. I am not fit to be a teacher," Yun Qingran quickly waved her hand.
As a teacher, one has to get up early to accompany students in their morning reading; she can't get up that way!
"I will write down what you have said and pass it on to my students." Prime Minister Luo took out paper and pen and wrote down Yun Qingran's words.
"Ranran, what do you think it takes to be a wise ruler?" After reciting the educational philosophy, Prime Minister Luo started a new topic and asked her.
"How to be a wise ruler, is that something that can be said?" Yun Qingran was a little hesitant to speak.
"Don't worry, you can speak freely. The students will discuss this topic." Luo Xiang waved his hand, encouraging her to speak boldly.
“I believe that a wise ruler should first and foremost implement benevolent governance…” Yun Qingran began to share her insights.
Along the way, an old man and a young boy, an ancient man and a modern man, had countless clashes of ideas.
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