Cangwu City
Imperial Palace
Jin Linlin sat upright on the dragon throne, her posture erect and her manner dignified. She raised her hand slightly, resting her chin lightly on it, her chin resting on her hand, her eyes calmly gazing at the officials below.
In the court, the ministers were arguing fiercely over the selection of the emperor's husband, each expressing their own opinions and refusing to give in. However, Jin Linlin seemed completely uninterested in the heated debate. She simply watched them quietly, a subtle smile occasionally curling her lips.
At this time, Xi Nan stepped forward. Seeing the emperor's indifferent expression, he couldn't help but feel a little indignant. He said loudly, "Your Majesty, choosing an imperial husband is your personal matter, and it should be decided by you. It's useless for us to argue here!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Linlin raised her eyebrows slightly and thought to herself: Could it be that Xinan wants to bring this trouble upon me?
Jin Linlin herself found her relationship with Jiang Zhixu quite challenging. She knew full well that Jiang Zhixu and Cao Jiao had disregarded her safety while she was imprisoned in the capital and had proclaimed themselves emperor. Furthermore, despite knowing her dire situation, none of them had sent troops to rescue her. Even more heartbreaking was the fact that during her captivity, Jiang Zhixu and Cao Jiao had taken concubines. Now, Jiang Zhixu had even taken in beauties sent by numerous vassal states, totaling a harem of three thousand beauties.
Thinking of this, Jin Linlin felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and she couldn't help asking herself: Why should I wait so hard?
Jin Linlin then took a deep breath and spoke aloud, "Since I ascended the throne, the country has enjoyed good weather, the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and their lives are prosperous. Now, petitions have been submitted from all over the country, imploring me to select an imperial consort and two concubines to enrich my harem."
Before he finished speaking, all the officials knelt down and kowtowed, shouting in unison: "Your Majesty is wise."
Jia Liu stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, I have built fifty schools across the country in accordance with your wishes, and now the projects have all been completed." Jialiu reported respectfully.
Jin Linlin sat upright on the dragon throne, her eyes like torches sweeping over the ministers in the court. Her voice was deep and powerful, as if the entire court could sense her majesty:
"Well, very well done. From now on, all children in our Shangjin Kingdom, regardless of gender, must be sent to school from the age of one to seven and receive free education. They must learn three things: arithmetic, literacy, and martial arts."
All the ministers shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise! This is a matter of great benefit to the country and the people!"
Jin Linlin nodded slightly, expressing her approval of the ministers. Her eyes fell on the Minister of Rites and she said slowly:
"Xinan, I'll leave the school affairs to you. You must ensure that every child has books to read, regardless of gender. This is mandatory. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Xinan quickly bowed and accepted the order. He knew that this was a heavy responsibility and he could not be negligent in the slightest:
"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best to live up to your trust!"
At this moment, the Minister of Rites, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stood up with a serious expression:
"Your Majesty, I have another matter to report. The selection of an imperial husband concerns the state system and must be handled with caution. In my opinion, we can recruit talented individuals from all walks of life and, through a series of selections, choose a person of both ability and virtue for Your Majesty."
After hearing this, Jin Linlin nodded slightly, indicating her agreement with the Minister of Rites' suggestion: "This plan is good. The Ministry of Rites should start preparing immediately."
The atmosphere in the court eased slightly, and Jin Linlin continued, "My daughter, Jin Nianchu, has been found. I would like to find a few study companions for her. The ministers are welcome to recommend some. Jialiu, submit the list tomorrow."
Everyone accepted the order and expressed that they would do their best.
After the court was dismissed, Jin Linlin returned to the harem and sat alone in front of the window. The figure of Jiang Zhixu appeared in her mind again.
But she quickly collected her thoughts. She understood that as the king of a country, she shouldered the heavy responsibility of the country and the people, and her romantic feelings had to be put aside for the time being.
Linhai Prefecture
Jiang Zhixu stood quietly by the sea, the sea breeze brushing his face, bringing a hint of saltiness. He stared at the distant horizon, as if he could see Linlin on the other side through the endless blue.
Jiayi stood respectfully behind him, holding a thick stack of letters in his hands. These were letters from Jiang Zhixu to Queen Linlin. Jiayi's voice came with a hint of hesitation:
"Your Majesty, she...she didn't even read any of the letters you wrote to the Empress. She returned them all intact."
Jiang Zhixu slowly turned his head and looked at the pile of returned letters in Jia Yi's hand, feeling an indescribable sense of loss in his heart.
He sighed softly, as if he had expected this outcome. Had Linlin really made up her mind to break off relations with him?
Jia Yi carefully observed Jiang Zhixu's face, only to see that his face was ashen and bloodless. Jia Yi hesitated for a moment and then continued:
"Also, the little prince's surname has been changed. He is now called Jin Nianchu, not Jiang Nianchu."
Jiang Zhixu pursed his lips tightly, saying nothing. His heart ached; his wife and child had left him, leaving him feeling incredibly lonely and helpless.
At this moment, Xia Heng hurried over. Seeing Jiang Zhixu's dejected expression, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart.
Xia Heng walked over to Jiang Zhixu and said softly, "Don't be so depressed. The Queen is now the ruler of a country, so she naturally has her own considerations when doing things."
Jiang Zhixu smiled bitterly and said in a hoarse voice, "I understand. I betrayed her before."
Xia Heng patted Jiang Zhixu's shoulder to comfort him:
"Let bygones be bygones. The problem now is that the Queen is going to choose an Emperor husband. This news has spread throughout the country, and the princes are all gearing up to nominate their sons to take the throne."
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