From cute to empress

"Youcai, do you think we should start to enhance our country's cultural soft power?" I turned to look at Zhen Youcai, my eyes full of anticipation.

"Your Majesty is wise! This is exactly what I was thinking!" Zhen Youcai said with a bow. "I think we can start with cultural revival to restore our dynasty's former glory."

I nodded approvingly. "This matter cannot be delayed. You must quickly draft a charter and invite learned scholars from around the world to discuss the great cause of cultural revival."

A few days later, within the magnificent palace hall, a unique cultural symposium was underway. Sitting upright on the throne, I surveyed the gathering of cultural luminaries below, my heart brimming with anticipation. There was the venerable Confucian scholar Chen Daru, the bold and unrestrained painter Wu, the master of musical rhythm Li, the poet Zhou, a master of profound poetry, and the devoted Buddhist monk Meng...

"My dear ministers, I have invited you here today to discuss the great cause of cultural revival." I said straight to the point. "Since the founding of our dynasty, although our military prowess has been formidable, our cultural heritage has been somewhat lacking. I hope to revive our culture so that all people can experience its charm."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Chen Daru was the first to stand up. "I believe that to revive culture, we must first start with Confucian classics. Confucianism is profound and extensive, and it is the essence of Chinese culture..."

Mr. Chen spoke eloquently, from the Four Books and Five Classics to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, from self-cultivation and family management to governing the country and pacifying the world. He cited extensively and explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way. I nodded repeatedly as I listened.

"Mr. Chen, what you said is absolutely right," I praised. "I have decided that from today on, we will vigorously promote Confucian classics throughout the country, so that more people can understand and learn about our own culture."

"Your Majesty is wise!" All the ministers echoed.

I looked around and my eyes fell on Painter Wu. "Painter Wu, what about you? What are your thoughts on cultural revival?"

Painter Wu stood up and bowed to me. "Your Majesty, I believe..." He paused, pulled out a scroll from behind him, and slowly opened it. "Art can also convey power."

The scroll that Painter Wu unfolded revealed a magnificent landscape. Majestic peaks soared into the sky, rivers surged with mighty waves, lush pines and cypresses stood proudly, and a soaring eagle spread its wings. The painting was imposing and powerful, stirring the heart.

"What a magnificent landscape painting!" I exclaimed sincerely, "Master Wu's painting skills are becoming more and more exquisite."

Painter Wu smiled modestly and said, "Your Majesty, I appreciate your kind words. I simply wanted to express my love for my country and my nation, as well as my hope for the future, through this painting."

"What a 'hope'!" I exclaimed. "Art can indeed convey strength and inspire people's patriotic enthusiasm."

"Your Majesty, what you said is absolutely true." Music Master Li, who had been silent until then, suddenly stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed deeply to me. "I, your humble servant, am willing to contribute my humble part to the cultural revival."

After speaking, he calmly sat down before the guqin, his slender fingers gently plucking the strings. A wave of melodious music echoed throughout the hall. The sound was sometimes soothing like flowing water, sometimes passionate like a war drum, sometimes low like a whisper, sometimes high-pitched like a shout... Every string seemed to express his hope for the country and the future.

At the end of the song, thunderous applause erupted in the hall. I led the clapping, my eyes filled with admiration. "Excellent! Master Li's skill is truly impressive! This piece, while expressing both a remembrance of the past and a vision of the future, resonates deeply with me."

"Your Majesty, this humble servant..." The poet Zhou, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stood up, wanting to say something but stopping himself...

"My dear Zhou, if you have any ideas, just tell me." I encouraged him with a smile, my eyes full of anticipation.

Poet Zhou took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He stepped forward, bowed, and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I am a humble official, but I wish to compose a poem to express my feelings and contribute my humble part to the revival of culture."

His voice was clear and resonant, echoing throughout the hall. I nodded approvingly and motioned for him to begin.

Poet Zhou closed his eyes, meditated for a moment, then suddenly opened them, a sense of heroism rising spontaneously. He began to chant:

"A prosperous era has begun, and the world is governed by culture.

The world is at peace and all people are happy.

The sound of reading is loud and clear, the fragrance of ink is wafting,

The painter's brilliant brushstrokes depict the beautiful mountains and rivers.

Strings and bamboos linger around the beams, dancing gracefully,

Poems, songs and prose praise the prosperity and splendor of the times.

Cultural renaissance is on the rise.

Shine brightly on the universe, forever and ever!"

His voice, sometimes high and passionate, sometimes low and gentle, expresses the emotions in the poem vividly. The whole poem is magnificent and profound, recalling the glory of the past and looking forward to the prosperity of the future. It makes my blood boil and my heart surge.

"What a wonderful poem! What a wonderful poem!" I couldn't help but applaud. "Zhou Aiqing's poem is magnificent and full of heartfelt emotion. It perfectly demonstrates our dynasty's determination for cultural revival. It's truly rare!"

My praise drew applause from the whole room, and the ministers echoed my sentiments, praising the poet Zhou's talent.

Monk Meng, who had been silent until then, now clasped his hands together and slowly walked to the center of the hall. His face was compassionate and his eyes were peaceful. He bowed slightly to me and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that cultural revival is not only about the inheritance of skills, but also about the reconstruction of the spirit and the purification of the human soul."

He paused, then continued, "Buddhism emphasizes compassion and the salvation of all sentient beings, which aligns perfectly with the ideals of cultural renaissance. Culture can educate people, guide them toward goodness, and build a harmonious society. I believe that under your Majesty's wise leadership, our dynasty's culture will achieve even greater success!"

Monk Meng's words, though plain, were full of power, and I felt a deep resonance with them. Just as I was about to speak, I saw a minister hurried into the hall...

"Your Majesty, express delivery of eight hundred miles!" The minister panted and knelt on the ground, holding a letter in his hands. I frowned slightly and gestured to the maid beside me to take the letter.

"Why the panic?" I took the letter, unfolded it, and my expression suddenly changed. The letter was about the border conflict. While it was a small-scale conflict, it was not to be ignored. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. It seems that the pace of cultural renaissance needs to be more steady and more rapid. Only a strong nation can nurture a brilliant culture.

I put down the letter, looked around, and my eyes fell on the cultural elites. There was a glimmer of expectation in their eyes, and they also felt my solemnity at the moment.

"Everyone," I said in a deep voice, "cultural revival is urgent. Today's grand event is not only a meeting of minds, but also a call to action. I have decided to establish a cultural development fund, allocating one million silver coins from the national treasury to reward outstanding works, support cultural projects, and cultivate cultural talents."

As soon as I finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the hall. I saw tears of excitement gleaming in Poet Zhou's eyes, Painter Wu gripped his brush tightly, and Musician Li's fingertips seemed to have already struck a moving melody.

"I believe," I said firmly, "with the joint efforts of everyone in our dynasty, our culture will usher in an even more glorious future!"

After the meeting, I kept Chen Daru, Wu the painter, Li the musician and others, wanting to further discuss with them specific measures for cultural revival.

"Lord Chen," I said, looking at the venerable Confucian scholar, "Confucianism is profound and extensive, and forms an important part of our dynasty's culture. What are your thoughts on this cultural revival?"

Chen Daru stroked his gray beard and said slowly: "Your Majesty, I think..." There seemed to be a hint of hesitation in his tone.