A Scummy Alpha Emperor Transmigrated and Marked the Powerful Prime Minister - Chapter 12

As the listening session concluded, Lin Jiayue was assigned a statecraft essay based on her reflections.

A standard essay on statecraft usually ran between three to five thousand words, and long ones could reach nearly ten thousand. And this was merely her afternoon homework—it didn’t just need to meet a word count; it had to be substantial and insightful.

Seeing the deliberation end and everyone preparing to leave, Lin Jiayue immediately spoke up. “Grand Chancellor, I have a point of confusion. I ask for your answer.”

The other Grand Secretaries understood her intent, bowed, and took their leave. Lu Siling, however, did not refuse her in front of so many people. She simply looked at her with quiet eyes.

Lin Jiayue felt a bit guilty under that gaze but had to push forward. “Teacher Lu, I still have to practice calligraphy in the afternoon. There isn’t enough time to write an essay too. For the sake of my injured hand, could you waive it?”

She extended her injured “paw”—coincidentally her left hand, which didn’t interfere with her writing.

Looking at the injured hand, Lu Siling’s gaze flickered slightly. “The reflection essay after a deliberation does not need to be as strict as a Palace Examination essay.” She paused before adding, “Until Your Majesty’s injury heals, you may dictate it to someone else.”

Meaning she didn’t have to write it herself, and it didn’t have to be five thousand words?

“Hehe, Teacher Lu is the best.”

Lin Jiayue’s current expression was exactly like the local Song dog (Chinese Spitz) that Meng Wushang had brought back—a yellow dog with a white face, the most likable kind, both clumsy and spirited. For some reason, that little dog adored her and would huddle close whenever it saw her. Under Meng Wushang’s encouragement, she had named the little guy Bai Heng—pure, gentle, and unique.

As for the young Emperor, her surface-level clumsiness was surely a deliberate performance to deceive her. Yet, Lu Siling found herself actually believing this “clumsiness” and reduced Lin Jiayue’s workload.

“I heard today that Your Majesty asked the Hanlin Lecturer a question.”

Lin Jiayue nodded. “Yes.”

“Today’s morning lesson covered the Rites of Zhou, but they skipped that specific passage. I asked out of curiosity.”

Lu Siling gave her a deep look. “The Sage said: The Son of Heaven and the sons of feudal lords are capped at nineteen; upon being capped, they govern, for their education is complete.“

Great. Lu Siling first stated that the Son of Heaven is capped at nineteen, then implied that those who govern after being capped do so because their virtue, etiquette, and ability have reached a competent level. This was a clear insinuation that she wasn’t qualified yet.

Normally, no one would dare say this, but it was fine coming from Lu Siling. She was the Imperial Preceptor, the Grand Chancellor, and the regent appointed by the late Emperor; she had more right to say these things than even the Empress Dowager.

Lin Jiayue decided to stop pretending and laid her cards on the table. “Teacher Lu, those people tell me to follow the Rites every day, yet they cannot do it themselves. Should a teacher not lead by example?”

They used the “Ancestral Systems” and “Rites” to constrain the Emperor and their political enemies every single day. Lu Siling herself had suffered much from this during her reforms. Lin Jiayue naturally wanted to think what Lu Siling thought and feel what she felt to find common ground—only then could they cooperate further.

Lu Siling didn’t answer that directly, but she could hear that Lin Jiayue didn’t want to attend classes.

“Does Your Majesty not wish to rise early?”

The corners of Lin Jiayue’s mouth twitched. Ah, she saw through me. “5:00 AM is indeed a bit too early.”

Lu Siling nodded. “In that case…”

As she paused, Lin Jiayue’s expectant look became more obvious—much like when she used jerky to tease little Bai Heng.

“Then Your Majesty shall attend the daily court deliberations. On days without a formal Grand Assembly, Your Majesty will still have lessons.”

“Huh?”

Lin Jiayue was stunned. The Great Zhou held three formal assemblies per decade (every ten days), starting at 5:00 AM. Even living in the palace, she’d have to wake up at 4:00 AM. The timing of deliberations wasn’t fixed; sometimes they followed the assembly, and on days without one, it depended on the Grand Chancellor’s schedule. Lu Siling was diligent; she made time to hear reports on matters large and small.

So, she still couldn’t escape the fate of a 4:00 AM wake-up call, even if the world outside was storming or snow was falling. Lin Jiayue’s eyes dimmed, her heart filled with endless melancholy.

Watching her eyes change with such spirit, Lu Siling felt an odd sense of satisfaction. “Since Your Majesty wishes for personal rule, then listen to what is discussed in court daily. Your daily essays shall be based on what you hear.”

Lin Jiayue: “…”

Evil woman.

“Hmm?” Lu Siling didn’t catch what she said and tilted her head slightly.

So beautiful, so cute! An exclamation flared in Lin Jiayue’s mind. Wait, no, she’s actually very wicked! I hate every 8:00 AM… no, every 5:00 AM.

“I said… Teacher Lu works so hard.”

Lin Jiayue’s obedient look earned her another glance from Lu Siling. She looked more like the white Song dog than ever.

Next, the two headed to Wenhua Hall for lessons. Lin Jiayue’s daily schedule was updated today:

Court Assembly/Lectures, Deliberations, Lu Siling’s personal lesson, Noon lecture, Statecraft essay, Review, Martial arts, Calligraphy and Etiquette.

Etiquette class didn’t just teach the Emperor what to do on certain occasions; someone would also play instruments for her to appreciate, or she’d play chess. The Emperor could request to learn an instrument; otherwise, it was just about cultivating her musical taste.

After the Secretariat meeting, Lu Siling taught the lesson herself. Her curriculum didn’t use books, but “events”—what had happened in court recently, the various solutions proposed, and asking the young Emperor for her opinion. This was grooming the Emperor’s administrative ability, paving the way for her personal rule.

Who knew she was raising a “white-eyed wolf” (ingrate)?

Lu Siling had to return to the Secretariat briefly, so Lin Jiayue waited in Wenhua Hall. There was incense, charcoal fires, and two eunuchs waiting on her—mainly for pouring tea and turning pages. Wei Jinming stepped forward eagerly, dismissing the junior eunuch.

“Let her stay.”

Lin Jiayue spoke, and Wei Jinming hurriedly bowed in agreement, though her heart was in a state of panic. Does the Emperor dislike me now? Or did I do something wrong?

Wei Jinming reflected. Since the Emperor’s coronation, she had indeed become a bit arrogant. Even though reality had dealt her a heavy blow—showing her that even if her master was on the throne, she didn’t call the shots in the palace—she had still changed. Because the sovereign hadn’t taken power, and there was the Empress Dowager inside and the Grand Chancellor outside, Wei Jinming had to bow and scrape whenever she left Daming Palace.

Gradually, her mindset shifted. Since so many outsiders infantilized the sovereign and ignored her as well, she began to focus on accumulating wealth and fooling the Emperor. If she could manipulate the young Emperor, Daming Palace would be her kingdom. She deceived those below and hid things from those above, often exaggerating facts to the Emperor—painting the outside world as full of wolves and tigers, claiming only her small frame could shield the sovereign. This indirectly led the young Emperor to believe that, besides Wei Jinming, everyone wanted her dead.

The Empress Dowager wanted to support her son, the Grand Chancellor wanted to be regent, and every minister wanted to usurp imperial power. In the struggle between sovereign and subject, the subject’s desire for power naturally squeezed the Emperor’s. Wei Jinming couldn’t get power elsewhere, so she “exercised imperial power by proxy.” Though limited to the palace, she had filled her pockets to the brim.

These past two days, the Emperor was different—wiser, and much colder toward her. Usually, when she served by her side, the Emperor never refused. What happened today? Wei Jinming was terrified, her mind spinning to figure out her mistake. Finally, one thought remained: the Emperor found out what she’d been doing. She wanted to explain, but those were facts. Should she beg for mercy?

She looked up and saw the cold Grand Chancellor entering. She immediately stood straight. “The Imperial Preceptor has arrived!”

In this setting, Lu Siling was the Preceptor. Even if the Emperor didn’t have to stand, she had to return a “student’s salute” after the Preceptor performed the subject’s salute. Once the formalities were over, the lesson began.

The topic: the upcoming New Year’s Eve. There were many rituals for the Spring Festival. Lu Siling’s question was: Before the New Year’s banquet, to whom should you bestow dishes, and what kind?

The recipients were divided into ranks based on status and closeness. Usually, Wei Jinming would arrange this, and the Emperor might ask a question or add/remove a dish. To put it bluntly, if the head eunuch couldn’t even handle this, it was time for a replacement. The point was in the adding and removing—balancing to show favor.

Who got more or fewer dishes revealed their standing in the Emperor’s heart, which could spark a chain of events. If an Emperor wanted to target someone, she’d bestow fewer dishes; others would catch the hint and attack that person, and the Emperor would follow the momentum.

Seeing a thoughtful look on Lin Jiayue’s face, Lu Siling’s cold voice rang out, “Your Majesty, it is time to answer.”

Lin Jiayue felt like she was in a math class, looking at a textbook written in an alien language, only to be called on by the teacher. “I believe… they should be categorized by official rank, seniority, and age.” For example, if both were Princes of the Blood, but one was eighty and the other eighteen, one must respect the elder. “Do not show personal bias or give exceptions to favorites. It must be open and transparent.”

Lin Jiayue rattled off her thoughts. Lu Siling said nothing, as if she hadn’t hit the mark. In reality, Lu Siling was shocked. The young Emperor’s change was immense; in the past, she would have stuttered through the first sentence and been unable to say anything more.

The Emperor had changed. It was completely different from her previous life. Is it a mask, or…

Could the young Emperor have been reborn too? Or had she had some prophetic dream? If so, her changes were understandable—she was acting to survive and keep the throne. If that were true, the first thing Lin Jiayue would do after taking power would be to deal with her. It seemed even if Lin Jiayue took the throne, she couldn’t be allowed to hold real power.

Lin Jiayue felt a sudden chill and looked at Lu Siling in confusion. She could sense the other’s cold emotions. This won’t do. Who knows what’s going on in Lu Siling’s head? Especially since she could teach a class so normally after their falling out. If Lu Siling could be this patient, her eventual strike would be the death of her! Besides, if they kept overthinking, their mental health would suffer.

“Teacher Lu and I are truly a match made in heaven. With your teaching, I could probably sit for the Spring Examinations next year!”

Lu Siling: “…”

The young Emperor is babbling flattery… but is “match made in heaven” even used that way?