Chapter 35

“As the ruler of all under heaven, if Your Majesty cannot follow the rules, how can you expect the people to be convinced?”

“Twenty pages of calligraphy, not a single page less. Words once spoken are like a decree; the penalty must be carried out.”

“These twenty pages are not a punishment from this official, but a way for Your Majesty to cultivate your character and lead by example.”

Hearing Lu Siling’s firm tone, Lin Jiayue hesitated before slowly holding up one finger. “Teacher Lu, I only said one sentence.”

Today was the first day of the New Year. Having finally finished all the ceremonial activities, she had summoned Lu Siling to negotiate the matter of the twenty pages of calligraphy. Who would have thought that after just one sentence from her, Lu Siling would have an entire lecture waiting, as if she had prepared a script specifically for this moment?

Lin Jiayue’s face showed a weariness she couldn’t hide. The activities on the first day of the New Year were no fewer than those on New Year’s Eve. As the Emperor, her etiquette could not falter even slightly.

Many of the Emperor’s activities were designed to display imperial power. Although she hadn’t taken full command yet, it didn’t mean she was powerless. She intended to use the power she held reasonably and effectively to achieve her goals, slowly accumulating more authority.

As the nominal holder of supreme power, she represented absolute authority. Many things, once spoken by her, wouldn’t be opposed by the ministers as long as they weren’t excessive. In fact, to maintain the dignity of the monarch, the scholar-officials would often go out of their way to facilitate her requests.

The original owner of this body hadn’t understood how to use this power; she had tried to become the true supreme ruler of Great Zhou overnight. This led the ministers to doubt whether she could truly sustain the state and hold the throne permanently.

Recently, however, Lin Jiayue’s performance was completely different, showing the civil and military officials that she was ready to rule personally. After two major ceremonies, everyone saw a different Emperor, and a clear message was sstolen contentent: the Emperor’s personal rule was an unstoppable trend.

Lin Jiayue knew well that even as the Emperor, people wouldn’t follow her if she didn’t act like a qualified ruler. But once a monarch shows they are worthy, those willing to die for them will come forward in waves. This was the power of legitimate imperial authority and the hundreds of years of recognition the people had for the Lin imperial clan.

Just like Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han), who was controlled his whole life; even without real power, many still followed him. Her situation was far better than Liu Xie’s—there were no local warlords splitting the country. She was the absolute core of legitimacy and ritual, with limited but functional practical power.

Comparatively, her situation was one of “temporary proxy” of power; once she ruled personally, power would coalesce around her.

During today’s ceremony, the officials bowed deeper than ever before. Lin Jiayue stood on the high platform, watching the holders of Great Zhou’s peak power prostrating at her feet. It felt as if a fire was burning in her chest, making her blood boil.

As the officials knelt and shouted “Long live the Emperor,” she understood for the first time the weight of the word “Sovereign” and the power she could wield. Unlike the arrogance the original owner felt last year, Lin Jiayue felt a surge of heroic ambition, followed by a heavy sense of responsibility. As a monarch, every decision—even a personal preference—affected the lives of countless citizens. Imperial power could not be willful; on the contrary, it had to be more restrained.

Thus, Lin Jiayue quickly summoned Lu Siling. Listening to the Grand Chancellor’s stern criticism, she actually felt much better. It took the Grand Chancellor’s few words to calm her down.

Lu Siling likely didn’t know the upheaval in her heart; she only saw the smile on the Emperor’s face and viewed it as a provocation.

Lu Siling frowned. “Your Majesty, are my words a joke?”

“Of course not.” Lin Jiayue showed her cute canine teeth. “Teacher Lu, twenty pages of calligraphy… truly not a single page less?”

“Not a single page.” Thinking of those pages full of flattery stolen content and acting spoiled, Lu Siling added, “I will give Your Majesty a copybook for you to copy from.”

With the things the young Emperor was writing, if anyone else saw them, the relationship between them would immediately shift from sovereign-subject to romance. This could not be allowed.

After the New Year, she was another year older. Today, the gifts sent to her manor were even more numerous than previous years. Despite her warning that she would kill anyone sent to her, they wouldn’t stop. To these people, the loss of one lady weighed far less than the potential favor of the Grand Chancellor.

Whether in her past life or this one, she never intended to marry. The path she walked—the path of reform—was full of danger. She wouldn’t marry someone she didn’t love, and why should someone she did love share in her danger? Lu Siling was destined for a solitary life. She would focus on the reforms and fulfill her promise to the late Emperor. The things the young Emperor wrote were simply… outrageous.

To prevent the young Emperor from continuing her nonsense, she had to provide a copybook.

“Teacher Lu, Sister, don’t be like this,” Lin Jiayue whined. “Twenty pages! One page takes fifteen minutes; twenty pages will take two or three hours. My hand hurts so much.” She flexed her wrist to show her pain.

Lu Siling considered it. The young Emperor’s daily curriculum was packed, and after these past two days of intense ceremonies and banquets, she was likely exhausted physically and mentally. Adding twenty pages of calligraphy daily might keep her up until midnight. Because of this, Lu Siling hadn’t been genuinely angry at the “one or two sentences” the Emperor had been sending her.

“Once the court resumes, Your Majesty’s calligraphy may be reduced by ten pages a day.” Once official lessons started, twenty pages would indeed be too much.

Lin Jiayue’s eyes lit up; the haggling was a success! She chuckled and shook Lu Siling’s sleeve. “Teacher Lu, you’re the best.”

Seeing a person a head taller than her acting spoiled was a bit… strange? No, it was actually quite harmonious.

“Your Majesty, where is your decorum?”

Lu Siling used this phrase a lot lately. Her sleeves were constantly wrinkled—either from the dog or the Emperor’s yanking. This person and her dog should pay for her new clothes.

Lin Jiayue grinned, entirely unbothered. “There are no outsiders anyway.”

Lu Siling snorted. She suddenly thought of the “blind boxes” from yesterday. The name was apt—not knowing the contents until opening it made one’s curiosity intensify. However, the items inside were clearly the dog Emperor teasing her.

“Your Majesty, am I truly that fierce?”

“What?” Lin Jiayue froze, then remembered the cartoon book and gave a sheepish smile. “Teacher Lu, I drew well, didn’t I?”

Who’s talking about the drawing? I’m talking about the content.

Lu Siling stared at her coldly for a long while. “More homework!”

“Huh?” Lin Jiayue’s eyes went wide. “Again?”

Just then, Wei Jinming entered. “Your Majesty, Grand Chancellor, the banquet is about to begin.”

Today’s banquet was for officials of the third rank and above. It was a New Year gesture to win over the civil and military ranks. Lin Jiayue secretly gave Wei ​stolen content​Jinming a thumbs-up. This small gesture was caught by Lu Siling, but she said nothing. She was only using “more homework” to tease the young Emperor; she didn’t actually intend to increase it. A hint of a smile touched Lu Siling’s lips; she had suddenly found a certain kind of amusement.

Lin Jiayue cleared her throat. “Would Teacher Lu like to ride with me?” She acted as if her “passenger seat” was forever reserved for her, but it was like casting pearls before swine.

Lu Siling didn’t understand the concept of a passenger seat. She performed a formal bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I shall go on foot.” Since they were within Daming Palace, it wouldn’t take long to walk.

Lin Jiayue’s brow twitched as she had an idea. “Then I shall accompany Teacher Lu on foot.”

Lu Siling: “…” The young Emperor follows even closer than Bai Heng.

It had started to snow again on New Year’s Eve. Though the palace roads had been swept, the snow on the sides remained—pristine and white. Under the moonlight, the snow-covered grounds sparkled, making the night brighter than usual.

Lu Siling was in no mood to appreciate the snow, mostly because the young Emperor was mimicking her gait, insisting on walking in sync with her. When the young Emperor didn’t talk or cause a ruckus, it was even more unsettling.

After a moment of thought, Lu Siling took the initiative to speak. “Has Your Majesty read the memorials regarding the snow disaster near the Yanshan Mountains in Yanbei? The most severe is Huai’an Prefecture. Does Your Majesty have any views on this?”

Snow occurred every year around the New Year, and people freezing to death was common in every dynasty. But for it to be called a “disaster” meant it was severe. Furthermore, if local authorities could handle it by opening granaries, it wouldn’t reach the central government. Reaching the center meant the locals were powerless.

Lin Jiayue didn’t have much concept of ancient disaster descriptions, and the memorials lacked data, only saying “Huai’an Snow Disaster.”

“I read it.”

Her flat tone made Lu Siling frown. No matter how capable a monarch was, if they lacked mercy—even just a little—it would be hard for the people. If the young Emperor lacked a benevolent heart, life for the citizens would be difficult.

Lin Jiayue’s eyes were bright as she asked several unexpected questions. “Teacher Lu, in the Huai’an disaster, what is the exact number of affected counties and towns? Has it spread to other prefectures?”

“Also, what are the numbers for deaths and frostbite? How many are homeless or trapped? Which area has the highest concentration of the elderly, women, and children? What is the percentage of collapsed or damaged houses? What is the count of destroyed crops and dead livestock? Are the roads to Huai’an County blocked?”

“How much grain is in the Yanbei granaries, and how much can be used for relief? How much relief grain does the court need to transport, and what about winter clothing and medicine? Should the army be mobilized? If food is insufficient, how much silver is needed for purchasing?”

Lin Jiayue recalled the memorial and spoke with helplessness, “The memorial had none of this. How can I have any ‘views’?” Without specific data, how could one act?

The more Lu Siling listened, the more surprised she became. Exactly as the young Emperor said, to provide relief, these things had to be known. Yet those local officials didn’t dare report specific numbers, instead sending vague memorials. The news traveled from Huai’an to Yanbei, then to the center. Yanbei was being remarkably perfunctory. And given that Cui Yuan was the Governor-General of You-Ying, was there a connection?

Lu Siling turned and asked, “If there were specific numbers, what would Your Majesty do?”

Lin Jiayue’s history was decent. As a medical graduate and a law student, she was good at creating proposals—and her reference material was history.

“I believe we should deploy the local garrison to prioritize clearing grain transport routes. Regardless of other supplies, food must be the first priority to ensure people don’t starve. Establish temporary shelters at post stations, and send Imperial physicians while recruiting local doctors to treat the injured and prevent plagues. Most importantly, register every disaster victim in a ledger.”

“Finally, and most importantly, suspend local taxes and labor service. Strictly forbid Yanbei [bailiantales.com]from imposing any additional taxes on Huai’an.” Lin Jiayue thought for a moment. “This is just for the early stage. The mid-to-late stage involves recovery, stabilization, and a post-mortem of the disaster… reflecting and preparing for future events.”

Lu Siling stopped walking and watched her in silence for a moment. “Could Your Majesty write the above down?”

“Of course.” Lin Jiayue remembered she already owed Lu Siling one proposal; now she owed another. But economic development could wait; the disaster relief required overtime tonight.

As they continued walking, Lu Siling added more context to refine the plan: “Yanbei has four core border towns to resist external enemies, especially the Xuanfu region. As the most important border town of Great Zhou, if Huai’an remains paralyzed, the border defense line will collapse. The Beidi tribes are watching us like tigers, and recently they even threatened our borders. We must be on guard.”

Lin Jiayue frowned. “The border towns don’t exist in isolation; every three towns support each other. As long as Huai’an clears its roads quickly, there won’t be a massive impact. If the Beidi attack now and breach Xuanfu, they’ll be stopped by the snow in Huai’an. If I were the Beidi, I’d choose the two neighboring towns.”

“I’d time the attack for when Huai’an’s relief is halfway through. At that point, Xuanfu’s supplies would be struggling and have to come from the other two towns or detour. Before attacking, the Beidi would surely find a way to use the snow disaster to cut off the border towns’ supplies. This relief mission… likely won’t be easy.”

Just as the Hidden Pavilion had eyes on the Beidi, the Beidi surely had spies in Great Zhou. Those spies would do everything possible to use the snow to cut off the border grain.

Lu Siling nodded. Even if Great Zhou wasn’t currently wealthy, providing relief for one prefecture was more than manageable. Her concern was exactly as the Emperor said: the Beidi’s movements. However, she was impressed by the young Emperor’s insight. Many officials knew of the Huai’an disaster and had discussed it, but none had thought this deeply.

In the Secretariat meetings, Sun Xiuyuan and Zhang Wuwei thought about how to use the disaster to strike at rivals; Sun Hanzhang was calculating the silver needed for reconstruction. Only Zhou Shouzheng saw the possibility of Beidi action behind the snow and warned her. Upon returning home, she had discussed it with her retainers. Yet the young Emperor had laid it all out with just a small hint.

Before entering Taiji Hall for the banquet, Lu Siling asked calmly, “Does Your Majesty have a counter-strategy?”

“Since Teacher Lu spoke of it, you must already have [Read on BaiLianTales]one.” Lin Jiayue smiled, throwing the test back at her.

Clever dog Emperor. Lu Siling lowered her eyes. She naturally had a plan; talking to the young Emperor about it was to see her attitude. “I wish to deploy fifty thousand troops from the Capital Camps. What is Your Majesty’s intent?”

One reason was relief, the second was prevention. Great Zhou’s spies might not be enough to stop the Beidi, so she had sent her own. Before a war starts, spies are irreplaceable; once it starts, it comes down to the army. Huai’an’s disaster shouldn’t technically require the Capital Camps, and many would oppose it. But Lu Siling wasn’t guarding against potential rioting victims; she was guarding against external enemies. Once the border town was breached, the Beidi would drive straight to the foot of the capital.

Some things Lu Siling couldn’t explain plainly before the crowd. Many strategies relied on hidden information; to speak of them openly would be to lose the initiative.

“What does Teacher Lu want me to do?” Given Lu Siling’s personality, she wouldn’t talk this much to her unless she had a task for her. Lin Jiayue’s curiosity was nearly overflowing.

Lu Siling’s tone was steady. “I ask Your Majesty, for the sake of the world, to support my deployment of the Capital Camps.”

“But does Teacher Lu not know? Between you, the Cuis, and the nobles—whoever moves the Capital Camps becomes the target of public criticism.” Lin Jiayue’s concern wasn’t fake. Originally, Lu Siling was the mediator between the two houses; moving the army would lead to a concerted attack on her.

Yet Lu Siling didn’t care at all. “What have I to fear?”

“Teacher Lu, if I hadn’t insisted on walking with you, what would you have done?” Lin Jiayue was curious. Lu Siling likely hadn’t intended to tell her this.

Lu Siling truly hadn’t intended to tell her at first. But during the walk, looking at the snowy scenery and the Emperor’s recent performance, she suddenly felt that perhaps the young Emperor would support her.

“I do not regret.”

The three-word answer seemed unrelated to the question, but in fact, Lu Siling was being very clear: Regardless of the consequences, I will bear them alone.

Lin Jiayue smiled softly. “Teacher Lu telling me this means you trust me. For the sake of that trust, I will support you unconditionally and with my greatest effort.”

What a major step forward! Lu Siling was taking the initiative to speak of such things with her. Regardless of anything else, it proved her hard work lately wasn’t in vain.

Lu Siling fell silent. Unconditional support? As a minister, to have a monarch who offered unconditional support… how fortunate. But between her and the young Emperor, mutual trust was destined to be impossible. Cooperation was one thing; absolute trust was likely off the table.

“My thanks to Your Majesty.” Lu Siling didn’t say how she wanted the support. But Lin Jiayue wasn’t stupid—as soon as Lu Siling started the “raid,” she would follow immediately.

Lin Jiayue tugged Lu Siling’s sleeve. “Teacher Lu, since I’m being so good, can we reduce the calligraphy by ten pages? No—five?”

Lu Siling: “…”

“No.”

“Tsk. Sister Teacher Lu, you truly break my heart.” Lin Jiayue feigned a sad, heartbroken look before striding into the banquet hall, her face already shifted into a smile. It looked like a smile, but it was majestic—the true air of a monarch. For a Spring Festival banquet, one couldn’t have a stiff face; her perfectly measured smile left no room for criticism.

The crowd bowed in unison. “Long live Your Majesty, peace be upon you.”

“Rise, my ministers. Today is the Spring Festival banquet; sovereign and subject should drink to our hearts’ content.”

In previous years, the young Emperor could barely speak two sentences in such a setting without stuttering. Her composure today suggested the landscape of the Great Zhou court truly was about to change.

When the officials saw the Grand Chancellor following behind the young Emperor, many eyes were full of jealousy. The Grand Chancellor truly was the Grand Chancellor, always one step ahead. While everyone was deciding between the Cuis and the nobles, the Grand Chancellor had already built a relationship with the Emperor.

Lu Siling swept her gaze over the crowd and went straight to her seat—the head of the officials, naturally the first seat to the Emperor’s right. Opposite her sat Prince Cheng, followed by the Imperial Clan and the nobility. Once again, Prince Jing hadn’t come; well, no illness heals that quickly.

“The Empress Dowager has arrived!”

A loud announcement raised the curtain for the banquet. The Dowager insisted on appearing only after the Emperor had arrived—her intent was obvious.

Lin Jiayue held her wine cup, watching Empress Dowager Cui enter. The two locked eyes from across the room, sparks invisibly clashing in the air. She rose with a smile and cupped her hands. “Empress Dowager Ci’an.”

At the title, the ministers stiffened. The Empress Dowager was the Empress Dowager, but to add the name “Ci’an”… everyone knew that above Empress Dowager Ci’an was the late Emperor’s biological mother and Emperor Ying’s first wife, Empress Dowager Cining. But Cining was gone, her posthumous titles spanning dozens of characters. She was the most honorable of all. By calling her “Ci’an,” Lin Jiayue was reminding everyone that Empress Dowager Cui was not Emperor Ying’s first wife, nor the late Emperor’s mother, nor the current Emperor’s biological mother. No matter how you spun it, she was just a stepmother.

Why was the young Emperor suddenly so bold? It was effectively a direct break with the Dowager. Some felt she was being too hasty; others felt she was in the wrong. Only Lu Siling knew that Lin Jiayue was drawing the fire for her. Lin Jiayue knew Lu Siling’s next move would be targeted, so she proactively fixed everyone’s eyes on herself.

Lu Siling looked at her, her emotions deeply complex. The young Emperor was doing exactly what she said: stolen content supporting her unconditionally with her greatest effort.

Empress Dowager Cui’s gaze was like a knife; if looks could kill, Lin Jiayue would have been pierced by ten thousand swords. “Your Majesty.” The Dowager gritted her teeth, forcing the words out from between them.

The Dowager’s mental strength was quite formidable. After two cases linked to her, losing two head eunuchs, and losing the City Guard, then losing face in the assembly—she still acted as though nothing had happened.

“My ministers, for the sake of the Great Zhou’s foundation of ten million years, I toast with you all.”

The Cui faction immediately raised their cups, but most of the room glanced at each other. The Emperor hadn’t spoken yet; it wasn’t the Dowager’s place. In previous years, this was indeed the process, but given the Emperor’s recent performance and the plots for her personal rule—Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parent, Teacher—even the Dowager had to rank behind the Emperor. The Emperor had not yet raised her cup.

Lin Jiayue was satisfied with this change. It proved her recent hard work wasn’t in vain, especially showing zero errors in the major ceremonies, which displayed imperial dignity. Seeing so many ministers not raising their cups, Empress Dowager Cui felt her face losing ground. She turned to Lin Jiayue, took a deep breath, and compromised. “Will Your Majesty not toast with the ministers as well?”

With the Dowager yielding first, Lin Jiayue raised her cup. “I drink with my ministers.”

“REPORT!”

A desperate cry shattered the sword-shadows hidden beneath the heat of the banquet.

“A 600-mile-urgent dispatch from Yanbei! Near the Yanshan Mountains, Huai’an Prefecture has suffered consecutive heavy snows and is now in a state of disaster! Over ten thousand deaths!”

Lin Jiayue’s hand tightened around her cup. This was the first time she had unauthorized copyheard specific data regarding the disaster area. She looked at Lu Siling: Teacher Lu, did you arrange this?

Lu Siling gave her a “behave yourself” look.

Tsk. What a fierce woman!