From cute to empress

"Xuan."

The Minister of Revenue hurried into the hall, sweating profusely and looking flustered. He knelt and saluted, then hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, this is bad! Construction on the academy has...been halted!"

My heart sank, and a sense of foreboding washed over me. "What's going on? Why is the work suspended?" I unconsciously raised my voice.

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue said tremblingly, "The project funds... have been used up. Moreover, the land chosen for the school... has been sued by the local gentry, claiming it... is ancestral property, and they're demanding... compensation from the court..."

"What?!" I stood up suddenly, seething with anger. "How can this be?! That piece of land was clearly designated wasteland by the government, how could it become their ancestral property?!"

"This..." The Minister of Revenue hesitated and dared not speak.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rage within me. "Youcai, immediately investigate who is behind this! I want to see who's so bold as to obstruct the development of this institution!"

"I obey your order!" Zhen Youcai took the order and left.

My heart, however, remained restless. A sudden disaster had already emptied the national treasury, and now the construction of the school had encountered such obstacles. Was… was I really going to let these children down?

No! I can't give up! I clenched my fists and vowed to myself that no matter what, I would overcome all difficulties and build the school!

Zhen Youcai and I began running around, hoping to find a solution. We visited the city's wealthy merchants and nobles, hoping they would generously donate money to support the school's construction. However, the results were disappointing.

"Your Majesty, the treasury is now empty, and we are powerless to help!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, we also need to run our own business, and we really can't afford to spend any extra money!"

Listening to their high-sounding excuses, my heart sank. Was I really going to watch the university's development stagnate?

Just when I was feeling discouraged, Zhen Youcai suddenly rushed in with a look of excitement on his face. "Your Majesty, look, what is this?" he said as he handed me a letter.

I took the letter with suspicion, opened it, and was stunned... Scribbled across it were a few words: "Your Majesty, we are willing to contribute to the academy!" The signatures were... Mr. Zhao and Princess Zhou? Mr. Zhao? Princess Zhou? These children... A warm feeling welled up in my heart, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Where are they?" I asked anxiously.

"Your Majesty, they are waiting outside the palace." Zhen Youcai replied.

"Hurry up and announce it!" I almost shouted.

A moment later, Mr. Zhao, Princess Zhou, and a few students who looked familiar to me all lowered their heads and stood in front of me somewhat stiffly.

"You..." I looked at them, and all I could say turned into a sigh, "You are all good kids."

Student Zhao raised his head and said with a firm look in his eyes, "Your Majesty, we heard that the university's construction was facing difficulties, so we wanted to do our part. Although we are young, we also want to do something for this country."

Princess Zhou also continued, "Yes, Your Majesty, we cannot stand by and watch the school go unfinished. We have organized a fundraising campaign, and the people in the city are very supportive. I believe we will be able to raise funds soon."

I was deeply moved as I watched them. These children may have limited abilities, but they demonstrated through their actions their thirst for knowledge and their love for this country.

"Okay! Okay!" I said the word "Okay" twice, holding back my tears. "I promise you, I will build the best school so that all children in the world can have the opportunity to study!"

In the days that followed, Zhen Youcai and I became even busier. We actively sought financial support from the court and simultaneously enacted a series of preferential policies to encourage private investment in education. Zhao Xuezi and his colleagues, meanwhile, traveled the streets, promoting the university's philosophy to the public and urging them to donate generously.

One evening, Zhen Youcai rushed into the imperial study with a beaming face and a letter in his hand. "Your Majesty, look!"

I took the letter, opened it, and saw that it read: "I have long heard that Your Majesty has established a school to benefit the people. I deeply admire you..."

I suddenly raised my head and looked at Zhen Youcai, "This is..."

"It's Mr. Li from the Li Company!" Zhen Youcai said excitedly, "He...he is willing..."

"He... he is willing to donate 50,000 taels of gold for the construction of the school!" Zhen Youcai could not hide his excitement, his voice trembling a little.

Fifty thousand taels of gold! The letter in my hand suddenly felt heavy. This huge sum of money is enough to solve all the financial problems the school currently faces!

"Great!" I stood up excitedly and paced back and forth. "Master Li is truly wise! With this money, the construction of the school can proceed smoothly!"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my excitement, and said to Zhen Youcai, "Pass the order down. Tomorrow morning, I will personally meet with Master Li and thank him in person!"

"Yes!" Zhen Youcai took the order and left, his steps as brisk as if he was riding on Hot Wheels.

I gazed out the window at the gradually darkening sky, my heart filled with hope. I believe that as long as we persevere, we will overcome all difficulties and achieve our goal of revitalizing our nation through education!

For the next few days, the entire palace was immersed in a joyous atmosphere. Construction on the academy had resumed, and the work on the site had returned to its former bustling state. Zhen Youcai and I frequently visited the site, watching each magnificent building rise from the ground, and we felt a sense of accomplishment.

However, just when I thought everything was moving in the right direction, a sense of unease quietly spread.

That night, I was reviewing memorials when I suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside.

"Your Majesty! This is bad!" Zhen Youcai rushed into the imperial study with a pale face and said in a hurried tone, "A large number of unidentified suspicious persons have been found in the city. It is suspected that..."

"What do you suspect?" My heart tightened, and an ominous premonition came to my mind.

"Suspected... spies from the enemy country!" Zhen Youcai gritted his teeth and said, "Also, their target seems to be..."

He paused, his voice lowered, "It's... the academy!"

My heart sank. Enemy spies? Their target was the academy? What on earth was going on? Could it be...

"Come here!" I stood up suddenly and shouted sternly, "Pass on my order. Seal the city gates and search the entire city for suspicious persons! Also, immediately strengthen the guards of the academy and ensure its safety!"

"Yes!" The guard took the order and left, leaving only Zhen Youcai and I in the imperial study.

"What do you think?" I turned to look at Zhen Youcai with a frown.

Zhen Youcai pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I'm afraid..."

Before he finished speaking, suddenly, a dark shadow flashed past the window.

"Who is it?!" I shouted, drawing the sword from my waist. Zhen Youcai reacted incredibly quickly, leaping to his feet and chasing the shadowy figure. I followed closely, alarm bells ringing in my heart. We reached the Imperial Garden, but there was no trace of the shadowy figure. Only a few withered lotus leaves in the lotus pond swayed in the night breeze, adding a touch of eeriness to the scene.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Zhen Youcai suddenly stepped in front of me, brandishing his sword. A flash of cold light forced back a man in black who had darted from behind a rockery. The man's face was masked, revealing only a pair of murderous eyes. Each strike was ruthless, aiming for vital points. Outnumbered, Zhen Youcai gradually lost ground.

"Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor!" Shouts rang out, and the Imperial Guards rushed over, surrounding Zhen Youcai and me, and engaging in a fierce battle with the men in black. Although I had learned some swordsmanship, facing such a dangerous situation, I could only protect myself and was unable to intervene.

"Zhen Youcai, protect His Majesty. Leave these people to me!" A familiar voice called out, and then Princess Zhou, clad in military uniform, descended from the sky with a dashing presence to join the fray. With her exceptional martial arts skills and savage swordplay, she dispatched several men in black in just a few rounds.

"Sister Zhou, why are you here?" I was surprised and happy.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I've made preparations." Princess Zhou said as she fended off the attacks of the men in black. "I received word that someone was planning to harm the academy, so I brought people into the palace to protect you overnight."

"I see, thanks to you!" I looked at her gratefully.

The fierce battle lasted for about half an hour, and finally ended with all the men in black captured. I looked at the bodies scattered on the ground, my heart filled with confusion and anxiety.

"Tell me, who sent you here? What is your purpose?" Zhen Youcai shouted sternly at the captured men in black.

The men in black clenched their teeth and said nothing.

"Don't want to tell? Then don't blame me for being rude!" Zhen Youcai said, drawing the sword from his waist, and pointing the blade directly at the throat of one of the men in black.

"Wait!" I stopped him, walked up to the man in black, and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know where you are attacking? Who are you going to assassinate?"

The man in black sneered, "Humph, of course we know. One of you is a foolish emperor, and the other is..."

Before he could finish his words, he suddenly foamed at the mouth and fell to the ground dead.

"Oh no, he committed suicide by taking poison!" Zhen Youcai's face changed.

My heart sank. It seemed that these people came here with the determination to die, and the person behind the scenes had made them commit suicide by taking poison in order to keep the secret.

Who, then, was so intent on sabotaging the university's development? Was their goal simply to obstruct educational reform, or was there something more to their agenda? I gazed into the black-clad figure's eyes, their eyes still open, and an unprecedented surge of anger and unease welled up within me. My clenched fists trembled slightly.

"Pass the order down, burn all these bodies..." I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, "Don't leave a single one alive!"