From cute to empress

Night fell, the stars twinkled, but the imperial study remained brightly lit. I gently put down the memorial in my hand and rubbed my sore eyes.

"Your Majesty, it's late, it's time to rest." Zhen Youcai walked over with a cup of steaming ginseng tea, his eyes full of concern.

"Hmm." I took the teacup and took a sip. The warm tea flowed down my throat and into my stomach, dispelling any trace of fatigue. "Youcai, tell me, how can we pass on this culture and make it last forever?"

"Your Majesty, are you worried about what happened in the court today?" Zhen Youcai asked.

"Yes," I sighed. "What the ministers said makes sense, but finding a balance between preserving tradition and introducing new things is the real challenge."

"Your Majesty," Zhen Youcai pondered for a moment and said, "I do have an idea, but I'm not sure if I should share it."

"But it doesn't matter."

"I believe that rather than dwelling on superficial arguments, we should address the problem from its root." Zhen Youcai paused and continued, "We can follow the example of our predecessors and establish cultural schools across the country to teach Confucian classics, art, music, and other subjects. This will help popularize cultural knowledge and allow more people to experience the essence of culture. In this way, cultural heritage will no longer be empty talk."

My eyes lit up. Zhen Youcai's suggestion was exactly what I wanted! "Okay! I'll do as you say! I'll announce this at court tomorrow morning!"

The next morning, at court, I shared my idea of ​​establishing a cultural school with the courtiers. As expected, this proposal sparked another heated debate. Some supported it, while others opposed it. The interplay of voices made the entire Golden Throne Hall buzz with activity.

I listened patiently, not rushing to express my opinion. Once everyone quieted down, I slowly spoke, "I have made up my mind. We will establish cultural schools throughout the country, recruiting students and imparting knowledge! Minister Chen will be fully responsible for this matter. You must establish these schools in the shortest possible time!"

"I obey your order!" Chen Daru knelt down on the ground excitedly, tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty is wise!" all the ministers shouted in unison.

Watching this scene, my heart is filled with hope. The establishment of the Cultural School is just the beginning. I believe that under my leadership, this country will usher in a new era of cultural prosperity!

"Painter Wu, Musician Li, I..." I was about to summon them, but was interrupted by the eunuch's announcement outside the palace...

"Announce." I calmed myself down and looked outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, I, Painter Wu (Musician Li), pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" Two people dressed as artists knelt respectfully in the center of the hall.

"Please rise quickly, my dear ministers," I said with a smile. "I have summoned you to the palace today to ask you to contribute to the newly established cultural school."

"Your Majesty wants us to..." Painter Wu asked cautiously.

"I hope you two can teach calligraphy, painting, and music at the Cultural School," I paused, then continued, "and pass on your skills to more young people, allowing them to feel the charm of art and appreciate the essence of music."

"Your Majesty, you are so far-sighted. We admire you!" Painter Wu and Musician Li exchanged glances and said in unison, "We will do our utmost to contribute to the preservation of this culture!"

Thanks to everyone's concerted efforts, the Cultural School officially opened soon. Looking at the youthful faces, my heart is filled with hope. These children are the future of our country!

In addition to traditional Confucian classics courses, I also specially invited poet Zhou to give a poetry lecture at the Cultural School.

“The orioles are singing on the island in the river…” Poet Zhou recited famous poems from the Book of Songs with great emotion, sometimes passionate, sometimes low and gentle, bringing the students into touching stories.

After the lecture, students gathered around Poet Zhou to ask him about poetry writing techniques, and the entire classroom was filled with a strong learning atmosphere. Watching this scene, I felt extremely gratified. The seeds of cultural heritage have taken root and sprouted in this land...

"Your Majesty, Monk Meng requests an audience." Just as I was looking forward to the future, Zhen Youcai's voice suddenly rang in my ears...

"Master Meng? Come on!" I said hurriedly, full of curiosity about this enlightened monk.

After a while, an old man in a simple monk's robe, holding Buddhist beads, appeared before me. He had a kind face and exuded a peaceful and serene aura that made me feel respectful.

"Amitabha, I, Meng Fan, greet Your Majesty." Monk Meng clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

"Master, there's no need to be so polite. Please stand up." I quickly gave him a hand and gestured for him to sit down nearby. "I've long admired your compassion and profound Buddhist teachings. I've specially invited you to the palace today because I hope you can contribute to the new cultural school you've established."

Monk Meng smiled slightly and said slowly, "Your Majesty cares deeply about the people of the world and values ​​cultural heritage. I deeply admire this. I am willing to do my best to offer Buddhist culture courses at the Cultural School, explaining the essence of Buddhism to students and cultivating their compassion and wisdom."

I was overjoyed to hear this and quickly said, "That's excellent! I believe that with Master's teachings, the students will surely benefit greatly."

A few days later, I decided to personally visit the Cultural School. In class, Monk Meng was explaining Buddhist stories to the students in simple, easy-to-understand language. His smile, his pensive expression, and his every gesture imbued with Zen charm captivated the students.

"Fellow students, Buddhism teaches us to always be compassionate and treat others with tolerance and wisdom," said Monk Meng in a gentle yet powerful voice. "All things in the world have spirituality. We should respect life, cherish nature, and treat others with kindness."

Seeing the students listening with rapt attention, I was filled with joy. Cultural heritage is not just about passing on knowledge; it's also about passing on spiritual heritage. I believe that under the guidance of Monk Meng, these students will grasp the true meaning of Buddhism and become people of compassion and exceptional wisdom.

After class, I walked among the students and had a cordial conversation with them.

"What do you think is the difference between studying in the Cultural School and before?" I asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, we only studied Confucian classics before, but now we can also learn calligraphy, painting, music, poetry, and even Buddhist culture. It's really eye-opening!" a student said excitedly.

"Yes, yes, we live a fulfilling and happy life every day now!" other students also echoed.

Seeing their faces filled with a thirst for knowledge, I feel incredibly gratified. I believe that as long as we persevere, the seeds of culture will take root in the hearts of the younger generation and blossom into even more brilliant flowers!

"Your Majesty, these are memorials submitted from various regions regarding the establishment of cultural schools." Returning to the imperial study, Zhen Youcai placed a stack of memorials before me. I eagerly flipped through them, my heart filled with anticipation for the future. However, as I read, my brows gradually furrowed.

"What's wrong, Mengmeng?" Zhen Youcai noticed my mood change and asked with concern.

I handed him a few memorials and said in a serious tone, "Take a look at the construction of cultural schools in these places. The situation is worrying."

Zhen Youcai took the memorial and read it carefully. "What it says is completely different from what I had in mind. Some local officials have neglected cultural and educational reform, perfunctorily addressing it. Funding is insufficient, the teaching staff is weak, and some officials have even diverted funds for cultural school construction for other purposes."

"How ridiculous!" Zhen Youcai slammed the table, seething with anger. "Your Majesty places such high regard on cultural education, yet they dare to pretend to obey you while secretly disobeying you!"

I shook my head and sighed. "This isn't an isolated case; it's the current situation in many places. It seems implementing a new policy is much more difficult than I imagined."

"Your Majesty, why don't I personally go to various places to inspect and supervise the construction of cultural schools?" Zhen Youcai suggested.

I pondered for a moment and shook my head. "This is just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. We need to address the root cause and make officials truly realize the importance of cultural education."

"What should we do then?" Zhen Youcai asked.

I pondered for a long time, and a bold idea came to my mind.

"Pass the order down. Tomorrow morning at the court, I will discuss cultural and educational reforms with all the ministers!" There was a firm light in my eyes and my tone was unquestionable.

The next morning, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was solemn. I presented the memorials submitted from various regions to the court officials one by one, and recounted what I had seen and heard at the Cultural School, as well as my interactions with the students.

"I believe that culture is the soul of a nation and education is the foundation of a country's prosperity. Only by attaching importance to cultural heritage and vigorously developing education can we cultivate more people with both moral integrity and ability, and make our country more prosperous!" My voice echoed in the hall for a long time.

"Your Majesty, what you say is absolutely right!" Chen Daru was the first to stand up and express his support. "I sincerely implore Your Majesty to increase investment in culture and education, recruit talented people, establish schools, and ensure that all people in the world receive a good education!"

"I second the motion!" Painter Wu, musician Li, poet Zhou and others also stood up to express their support.

However, some officials looked hesitant and remained silent. I knew that they still had doubts about cultural and educational reforms.

"Sir Zhang, you have been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue for many years and are well aware of the country's financial situation. Tell me, will increasing investment in culture and education place a burden on the national treasury?" I cast my gaze at a wealthy old minister, my tone calm, but with a hint of unquestionable majesty.

Beads of sweat formed on Master Zhang's forehead. He opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but dared not. I waited patiently for his response. He knew that I had made up my mind about today's matter and would not compromise easily.