On the ninth day of the eighth month in the first year of Zhiming, the capital’s first comprehensive academy was completed and immediately opened for public enrollment.

On the completion day, the emperor attended in person.

This academy was strongly advocated by the Grand Tutor, and all courses were personally formulated by the Grand Tutor. The curriculum differed from ordinary academies – beyond the necessary Four Books and Five Classics and the Six Arts of a Gentleman, there were also technical courses divided into manufacturing, mathematics, investigation of things and extension of knowledge, medicine, agriculture and forestry, economics, law… with a total of twelve major and minor subjects.

When the Grand Tutor initially proposed establishing this academy, there was much criticism in court. Everyone felt that the capital already had plenty of academies, with three thousand students at the Imperial Academy – why build another academy for miscellaneous studies? However, Tie Ci knew her master’s wishes and knew that her master possessed resources and knowledge that transcended this era. Since her master was willing to share such fresh and vital things with her country, it was naturally a good thing. Therefore, she overcame all opposition, agreed to the academy’s establishment, and even agreed to let it bear the nation’s name.

However, when it came to the academy’s authority, curriculum design, and student selection and management rights, Tie Ci, who had originally planned to grant complete autonomy, hesitated for a moment.

She remembered the concerns that person had mentioned many times, remembered the vigilance he had maintained toward her master from beginning to end.

In the final approved regulations, the academy was placed under the Ministry of Rites’ jurisdiction. Although it had autonomous curriculum design and enrollment rights, all related materials had to be reported to and approved by the court, with the Ministry of Rites keeping records.

Tie Ci also proposed an “exchange learning” concept, requiring that after Da Qian Academy was established, professors from famous academies nationwide would exchange teaching posts, and outstanding students would also rotate to study at various academies.

The Grand Tutor also agreed to her suggestion and indicated that since the national treasury wasn’t abundant now, the money for building the academy need not come from state funds.

This immediately won applause from all officials, who passed it with extreme speed.

To show support, Tie Ci contributed some money herself, essentially investing. Yun Buci didn’t decline either.

Tie Ci knew her master had money, but hadn’t expected her to be so efficient. In just half a year, the vast and magnificent Da Qian Academy rose from the ground.

Tie Ci personally visited and found this academy quite different from other academies. The entrance was simple and spacious, with a large playground immediately upon entering. Buildings were arranged in orderly fashion, divided by academic specialties into various zones. Each zone was equipped with teaching buildings, administrative buildings, libraries, and student dormitories. There were even laboratories. All buildings were three stories or higher, with identical configurations showing no hierarchical distinctions.

Cafeterias were distributed at each college entrance, gathering cuisines from across the nation to accommodate students from all regions of Da Qian.

For sports facilities, besides the large playground at the entrance, there were three indoor venues of various sizes.

One venue prohibited outside visitors, though naturally Tie Ci could enter. This building was entirely pure white with rounded design, made of unknown materials. The exterior walls were snow-white, hard, and faintly sparkled with crystalline light, while the interior floors were soft and smooth, silent underfoot.

Everyone had to change into white coats before entering, wear snow-white caps and masks, and change into special soft shoes.

All rooms used remarkably transparent glass. Through the glass, one could see people also wearing white coats, holding small transparent glass bottles for testing and observation. On the pristine white tables, glass bottles of various shapes contained flowing liquids of strange colors.

Tie Ci said: “This is the chemistry laboratory master mentioned?”

Yun Buci smiled with narrowed eyes: “Right, so many great inventions are born here. Unfortunately, Da Qian still lacks many conditions, otherwise I could make Da Qian soar in no time.”

“You can’t become fat in one bite. No need to rush.”

Yun Buci sighed: “No choice, time waits for no one…”

Tie Ci looked at her questioningly, but Yun Buci pointed ahead: “Come, let me show you something interesting.”

She led Tie Ci into the laboratory, showing her various miraculous reactions she called “chemistry,” then said: “People who master these technologies are the world’s most precious treasures. The court should give them the highest treatment.”

Tie Ci nodded: “Master, rest assured, I won’t let them be wronged or buried.”

“They should also wield power,” Yun Buci said. “You don’t understand the importance of scientific researchers. Where we come from, scientific personnel are often overlooked too, let alone in ancient times where productivity and cognition can’t keep up at all. Unequal knowledge levels create communication barriers and affect progress. To better advance technological development, help Da Qian adapt faster to the coming internal and external changes, and promote reform, letting this elite group quickly grasp discourse power is the most efficient and powerful method.”

Tie Ci was silent for a while, then said: “Master, this is a weighty matter. Please allow me to discuss it with the cabinet first.”

Yun Buci nodded: “Those old men in court are hidebound and not easy to persuade. You’re already a nation’s ruler – naturally you should accept advice when appropriate, but you needn’t be too constrained.”

“Master is right,” Tie Ci smiled. “Wasn’t there supposed to be a ribbon-cutting? The time should be up, right?”

Yun Buci stopped talking, rolled up her sleeve to check her wrist. Tie Ci noticed that under her wide sleeve, she wore what appeared to be a very complex and intricate watch.

She had naturally seen watches at her master’s place, but they were all simple styles. This kind with countless gears was the first she’d seen.

Her master had some things that were not for sale, unseen by the world. There were probably many she hadn’t seen.

Yun Buci walked briskly outside, and Tie Ci glanced once more through the glass window at those white-coated laboratory personnel before following.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was grand, after all with the emperor personally attending. The entire court, except those busy with official duties, basically all came.

As for the common people and students watching the excitement, they formed a sea of humanity. Listening to Yun Buci explain this national academy that was completely new in both educational model and methods, they all looked curious. The scholars were especially delighted upon hearing that outstanding graduates of the academy, after passing relevant examinations, could be directly appointed to office without taking the imperial examinations, with assignments based on their studies.

This joy could still be heard as city-wide cheers even after Tie Ci returned to the palace in her imperial carriage.

After alighting from the carriage in front of Chongming Palace, Dan Shuang suddenly approached her, bowing silently without a word.

Tie Ci gazed at Dan Shuang. Since the Chongming incident, this girl had become even more silent, as if she’d locked herself back in an ice box with a click.

Having visited the academy today, she probably had some thoughts.

“Do you want to go to the academy?” she asked gently.

Dan Shuang’s raised eyes showed guilt: “Your Majesty, years ago you and I both heard master speak of the universities in their place.”

“Yes, we both yearned for them.”

“Now I’ve seen it appear,” Dan Shuang said. “Your Majesty, I want to go there.”

Tie Ci looked at her silently.

“Staying here, I keep thinking about that night, about the despair when the mask was removed… Your Majesty, I’ve thought many times that you were countless times more desperate and pained than I was, yet you endured it and must continue enduring here for a lifetime. I thought I should accompany you, but then I wondered, what am I doing here? For detailed matters you have Chi Xue, for court affairs you have Jian Xi, for protection you have Princess Pingzong… Suddenly, I couldn’t find the necessity of my existence.”

Tie Ci was quiet for a moment, then said softly: “Dan Shuang, you, Chi Xue, and even the palace attendants from Ruixiang Hall who grew up with me since childhood – in my view, do you exist because you’re useful or useless?”

Chi Xue frowned slightly. Jian Xi wanted to say something, but Chi Xue gently shook her head.

Dan Shuang lowered her eyes: “Yes, Your Majesty, I spoke wrongly. Perhaps I’m too useless myself and want to escape.”

“I allow you to take an extended leave to relax,” Tie Ci said. “Go, attend the university you’ve always wanted, live the life you want. To me, everyone being happy is more important than anything.”

Dan Shuang raised her eyes, already containing tears: “Your Majesty, I’m willing to use my lifetime’s fortune to exchange for your latter half of life being carefree and worry-free.”

Tie Ci raised her hand to stop her: “Don’t say such things.”

The last person who said this was Xiao Wenliu.

Tie Ci then said to Chi Xue: “My palace doesn’t need too many servants. Later, a batch of palace attendants will be released. If anyone from Ruixiang Hall or my personal attendants wants to attend the university, they can also submit their names, and I’ll speak to master.”

Chi Xue acknowledged.

Tie Ci smiled at Dan Shuang: “Go. There must be many fine young men at the academy. When you’re in the mood, remember to fall in love.”

Without waiting for Dan Shuang’s reply, she waved her hand and entered the hall.

Jian Xi followed behind her, saying softly: “Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor asked me earlier whether you could spare time to occasionally serve as a lecturer or something.”

Tie Ci laughed: “With my little learning, what kind of lecturer could I be? This grand banner of mine has already been waved enough for the Grand Tutor today. For the rest, let the academy develop slowly on its own.”

Jian Xi said: “I just felt the academy’s atmosphere was quite good, relaxing and pleasant…”

Tie Ci sat down at her desk, slowly opening a memorial. Hearing this, her hand paused, and she smiled: “Is that so?”

Jian Xi looked at her uncomprehendingly.

She too was from a proper major academy, but Celu Academy didn’t have Da Qian Academy’s relaxed, free, and lively atmosphere. Even the buildings had a grand, simple style, and the rare white color was brilliant in sunlight, making one happy just to see it.

She had also been to Yueli Academy and didn’t feel Yueli could surpass Da Qian Academy.

“Perhaps it truly is wonderful there, perhaps Da Qian Academy truly represents the greatest freedom, the freshest theories, the most outstanding students, the most powerful professors. But in my heart, there has always been only one academy,” Tie Ci said slowly. “Everything about that academy, the events and people there, all the time I spent there – unique, irreplaceable, and forever unreachable.”

…

In the tenth month of the first year of Zhiming, a pigeon flew into Chongming Palace.

Jian Xi read the letter as usual, having just read the first sentence: “Da Feng Palace’s Dowager Consort hosted a lotus appreciation banquet to select consorts for the emperor. Most originally intended candidates failed, only the daughter of the Director of the Bureau of Communications, Xi Yun…”

Tie Ci raised her hand.

Jian Xi immediately stopped reading, carefully placed the paper scroll on the desk, bowed, and withdrew.

Tie Ci slowly unfolded the densely written note.

“…The Da Feng Emperor then dismissed all the women, but afterward secretly summoned Xi Yun inside. What they discussed is unknown. Afterward, when sisters from the inner chambers asked Xi Yun about this matter, Xi Yun frankly answered: The emperor asked if I was willing to become empress.”

Tie Ci’s gaze lingered on those last few words for a while.

“…Xi Yun gradually gained the emperor’s favor, exceptionally receiving the privilege to enter and leave the imperial palace without summons.”

“…Xi Yun accompanied the emperor to the traveling palace for hot springs.”

“Xi Yun cooked for the Da Feng Emperor and was mocked by the emperor, who personally taught Xi Yun culinary skills.”

“One night in September, Xi Yun entered the palace prohibition to accompany the emperor, not returning all night. The Da Feng Ministry of Rites is already preparing the investiture ceremony. They’ve repeatedly advised the emperor, who remains noncommittal.”

“The Director of Communications’ residence has a steady stream of carriages and horses, with endless visitors.”

Tie Ci slowly finished reading.

Between the lines, she saw a young woman who, though newly favored, remained neither humble nor arrogant, fearless, and unconcerned with gossip and rumors.

Such a young woman… Murong Yi should like her, shouldn’t he?

Tie Ci slowly picked up the note and threw it into the brazier.

Though it was only early October and elsewhere people still wore single layers, Chongming Palace already had braziers lit.

…

On the eighth day of the twelfth month in the first year of Zhiming, the emperor led ministers to Jingshan to commemorate the first anniversary of the late emperor’s death, simultaneously issuing an edict denouncing Da Feng for betraying their original oath, calling them treacherous rebels who broke faith and divided the nation’s territory, declaring Da Qian and Da Feng irreconcilable.

This was Tie Ci’s first statement regarding Da Feng’s independence since ascending the throne, and the first time designating Da Feng as rebellious subjects and traitors, expressing hostile attitude. When this proclamation to the realm was issued, subjects and people all rejoiced. Civil officials launched literary attacks while military generals requested to lead campaigns, wishing they could immediately march to Ruzhou, crush the regicidal and treacherous Da Feng, capture the Da Feng ruler who had wronged and harmed Da Qian’s emperor, and bring him to the capital as a trampled slave.

However, after issuing the clear edict, the emperor seemed to have no further plans. Moreover, the Grand Tutor in court strongly opposed it, stating that Da Qian had just repelled Dayan and couldn’t rashly take up arms again. Petitions for war were withheld, and after a period of verbal and written attacks, the war fervor also faded.

The clear edict was proclaimed throughout the realm, so Da Feng naturally learned of it too. The Da Feng court couldn’t avoid a period of great upheaval, though at that time in the hall, everyone watching their emperor on the throne read the edict cursing himself with apparent relish left them speechless.

Looking at their emperor’s expression, he seemed to want to extract sweetness from an edict cursing himself?