Throughout dynasties, emperors began selecting sites and constructing imperial mausoleums from the moment of their ascension—this was a fixed rule. Bai Qingyan was also Great Zhou’s founding emperor, so according to protocol, this was Great Zhou’s top priority.

“The imperial mausoleum relates to the nation’s future fortune, naturally, it is the top priority,” Wei Bugong said solemnly.

“If imperial mausoleums could truly bring future prosperity to the nation, why did Jin ultimately decline in the end?” Bai Qingyan rolled up the bamboo scroll Wei Bugong had submitted and set it aside. “What can truly make a nation’s fortune prosper is not the imperial mausoleum… but people—people-the young talents who are about to mature.”

Bai Qingyan had once seen such content in the books and writings left by Empress Ji that Xiao Rongyan had sent…

Empress Ji had written thus: When the youth are strong, the nation is strong. To make the youth strong requires more young people to develop wisdom, more young people to study diligently, and to broaden their horizons and thoughts. From the essence left by the various schools of thought, take the best and discard the dross, comprehend what they considered the way to strengthen the nation, then pool wisdom through collective discussion and test through practice to find methods of national development suitable for one’s Kingdom. Through such cycles, talented individuals with ambition are nurtured generation after generation, and a nation can adapt to changes in circumstances and eras, thriving endlessly.

Bai Qingyan deeply agreed, so she believed… establishing schools, having young people study, enlightening and developing their wisdom, broadening their horizons and thoughts—this was Great Zhou’s top priority.

Wei Bugong had never heard an emperor speak such words. He couldn’t help but look up at the Great Zhou Empress sitting at her desk, her expression bearing a smile.

“Great Zhou has just been established… we thirst for worthy talent. Why? Because talented individuals are scarce! Talent and great talent—does Master Wei say they’re unimportant? If they’re unimportant, why did various nations in the past offer high positions to scholars from other countries to retain talent? Establishing schools is to enlighten the people’s wisdom, to have more Great Zhou youth learn the character of ancient sages, thereby establishing their hearts and aspirations, studying the scrolls and writings left by sages, mastering methods of governance that benefit the nation and people!” Bai Qingyan raised the bamboo scroll Wei Bugong had submitted regarding school establishment costs. “This is to cultivate talented individuals for Great Zhou’s future—this is cultivating the future for Great Zhou. This is national fortune, not… the imperial mausoleum!”

Bai Qingyan’s words left Wei Bugong stunned, yet somehow, his heart seemed to surge with towering waves, like an enlightening revelation, as if opening up a new perspective and mindset.

Yes, to build a nation strong requires talented people. Rather than recruiting talent, better to address the root cause… cultivate talent for one’s own Kingdom.

She set down the bamboo scroll in her hand: “Imagine if everyone in our Great Zhou could read, if everyone were talented, all greatly talented—how prosperous would Great Zhou become? The foundation of a nation lies in its people! When the people are strong… the nation is strong! When every Great Zhou citizen has the understanding to establish hearts for heaven and earth, establish lives for the people, continue the lost teachings of past sages, and create peace for all generations, why worry about not achieving world unification? So tell me, Master Wei, between establishing schools and building the imperial mausoleum—which is truly the top priority?”

This was also the first time Bai Jinse had heard her elder sister speak of the significance of establishing schools. She was moved to excitement, as if already seeing a future Great Zhou that was powerful and prosperous.

Everyone literate, everyone talented…

Reading the books of sages, inheriting the character of sages, establishing aspirations and hearts, people no longer quibbling over trivial matters, no longer caring only about their small plots of land, united in heart, contributing to national prosperity—this Great Zhou would be an entirely different world, an entirely different appearance.

Wei Bugong pressed his lips tightly together and bowed sincerely to Bai Qingyan. Somehow, his eyes reddened as he said solemnly: “Your Majesty’s far-reaching vision is beyond this minister’s reach. Hearing Your Majesty’s words today is like an enlightening revelation. I will certainly handle the matter of establishing schools properly, striving for perfection without omission.”

“Then I trouble Master Wei…” Bai Qingyan handed the bamboo scroll to Wei Zhong, having Wei Zhong delivered it to Wei Bugong.

“But Your Majesty, regarding the construction of the imperial mausoleum, according to precedent…”

“I’m still living well. Rather than spend that silver on building an imperial mausoleum, better to use it to establish more schools. When the day comes that I’m truly gone, being buried in the Bai family ancestral graves will suffice.” Bai Qingyan’s pace of speech was gentle and measured. “I’m not being noble, much less virtuous. Living in this mortal world, we’re all ordinary people. Whoever sits in this position cannot possibly be completely indifferent to imperial mausoleum construction. It’s just that compared to a luxurious imperial mausoleum, I’d rather be together with my family.”

“But Your Majesty…” Wei Bugong looked up, still wanting to persuade, but remembering this Empress’s decisive character, he finally kowtowed, took the bamboo scroll Wei Zhong handed him, and respectfully withdrew.

Coming out of the great hall, Wei Bugong’s eyes were moist and red. He truly had not expected… to encounter a female emperor in this lifetime. This female emperor was not as he had imagined—someone who only knew warfare. This Empress’s thoughts and vision were far more grand and advanced than he had imagined.

Bai Jinse knelt beside Bai Qingyan, pouring her a cup of tea: “It seems elder sister has found the way to govern Great Zhou.”

Bai Qingyan shook her head and reached out to ruffle Bai Jinse’s hair: “How could it be so easy!”

“Elder sister intends to enlighten the people’s wisdom, establish hearts and aspirations for the people, cultivate worthy talent… doesn’t this count?” Bai Jinse asked.

“We’ve read so many treatises on governing nations and the world left by various schools of thought—some say… weaken the people to strengthen the nation, others say… govern with benevolence and virtue. Yet looking through them all, we haven’t found what we want, and don’t even know which of these inherited essence thoughts and concepts from the hundred schools are most suitable for the Great Zhou.” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinse, her voice carrying fatigue, far from her usual confident composure. “Even now, elder sister isn’t clear—governing Great Zhou… requires us and the capable ministers in court to slowly explore as time progresses.”

“But… only in establishing schools to cultivate future talent does elder sister dare to be certain this is right! With enough talented people, Great Zhou will always have talent and great talent who can keenly perceive when history advances or changes, quickly adjust Great Zhou’s national policies, and know how and in what direction Great Zhou’s policies should change. Only thus can the Great Zhou achieve everlasting prosperity!”

This world constantly changes—the only constant is change itself. So Bai Qingyan constantly examined herself with vigilance, not daring the slightest negligence.

Grandfather and Father had once taught all Bai family descendants that when they guarded the people at the frontier… they could not retreat even an inch, not only because they protected these mountains and rivers, but because tens of thousands of people stood behind them. If they retreated, no one would protect those tens of thousands of people.

And now, behind Bai Qingyan stood all the people of Great Zhou—she dared not be negligent.

Because she was far from as confident as she appeared. She was afraid… of disappointing Grandfather, of disappointing Father, of disappointing her brothers and sisters.