The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches.

  Liu Ying smiled and looked at her, "Those are court matters, even if I told you, Ah Yan, you wouldn't understand."

  She retorted, "Your Majesty's words are not quite fair. How can you be certain I won't understand if you don't tell me?"

  He was amused by her and said, "Oh? Then I'd like to ask Ah Yan, is governing the country with clarity and inaction really the best way for today's Great Han?"

  This year, Liu Ying will be twenty years old. Twenty is the age of majority for a man, after coming of age, he is no longer a child in anyone's eyes and should take on all the responsibilities given to him by his family and country.

  When he was the Crown Prince, he had many ideals for governing the country. However, it wasn't until he actually became Emperor that he realized how different reality and ideals were. The founding ministers were intertwined with each other through marriage and friendship, like a vine, and even though he was the Emperor, he felt constrained and unable to fully exert himself.

  Among them, what made him feel most helpless was Chancellor Cao Shen.

  Xiao He had recommended Cao Shen to him before he left, and so he sent an envoy to the state of Qi to summon Cao Shen back to the capital. However, for two years since Cao Shen became the Chancellor of Han, he did nothing but maintain the status quo, without making any changes or contributions to the Han dynasty. He privately wondered if the Emperor doubted his youth and ability to handle the heavy responsibilities, so he sent his son Cao Su back home to ask his father, "As the Chancellor, I have been drinking every day without being asked about state affairs; what should I worry about?" Cao Shen was furious and scolded his son, saying, "Hurry back and attend to your duties! State affairs are not for you to discuss!"

  Although he was a recognized benevolent and kind ruler, Liu Ying was still young after all, and couldn't help but have some pride. So on the second day in court, he deliberately questioned Cao Shen, "The matter of the previous day had nothing to do with Cao Jie, it was I who ordered him to go and advise the Chancellor."

  Cao Shen can scold his son. In front of the emperor, he had to take off his hat and apologize for his crime, asking, "Your Majesty thinks you are more holy than Emperor Gao?"

  Liu Ying naturally humbly acknowledged, "I dare not look forward to surpassing the previous emperor."

  "Then, Your Majesty, who do you think is more worthy between Xiao He and Cao Can?"

  "You seem to be no exception either."

  "Your Majesty is right." Cao Shen bowed his hands and smiled, "The High Emperor and Xiao He established the world. The laws are clear, Your Majesty governs with ease, we officials fulfill our duties, follow them without fail, isn't that good?"

  He was shocked and felt somewhat depressed in his heart, but for the time being, he couldn't find any words to refute, so he just said, "Good. You may retire!"

  "Nonsense," Zhang Yan said with a slight smile, "standing on the shoulders of giants is to see further and higher. Not to make oneself timid and hesitant."

  "Oh?" Liu Ying raised an eyebrow and smiled, "This way of speaking from Ah Yan is quite novel. I've never heard it before."

  She glanced sideways and said with a smile, "The world is so big, Your Majesty hasn't heard that there are many things going on. Moreover," her right hand played with the sleeve of her left hand, wrapping it around her fingers one by one, and suddenly said in a low voice, "I also never thought that Your Majesty was not as good as the previous emperor." She lowered her head, her cheeks slightly red, looking quite shy and charming.

  Liu Ying was speechless and lost her smile. "You're quite protective of me, just like Mother." The last sentence sounded almost like a sigh.

  The palace maid quietly took the tray away, Liu Ying held her hand and walked into the inner hall, and asked again, "Does Ah Yan think that what Prime Minister Cao said is wrong?"

  Those words were like idle chatter, yet seemed to be intentionally inquiring. Zhang Yan's heart had an inexplicable sense of openness and softness, she looked up at him with a nod, "Hmm." Kneeling opposite Liu Ying. "Emperor Gao conquered the world, and Chancellor Xiao assisted Emperor Gao in governing the great Han dynasty, everything was in order. They didn't hope that later generations would only follow their established rules. But hoped that Your Majesty could inherit their legacy, and create a peaceful and prosperous great Han dynasty."

  She smiled and said, "Emperor Gao and Prime Minister Xiao were indeed wise men, but they only managed to establish a new dynasty on this ruined land with rough rules and regulations. It's up to Your Majesty and Prime Minister Cao to perfect them and set an example for future generations. If you just follow the old ways and let all the problems accumulate until they reach a critical point, then suddenly erupt and leave difficulties for later generations," she raised her eyebrows, "Is there such an easy thing in the world?"

  Liu Yingxiao smiled as she gazed at the girl in front of her, who was talking eloquently with confident eyes and eyebrows that seemed to be flying high, radiating a dazzling light that made people reluctant to look away.

  He had always liked Ah Yan's innocent and lovely, approachable, but today he saw another side of Ah Yan, bold and unrestrained, and couldn't help but feel extremely surprised. This Ah Yan in his heart became even more vivid and profound, secretly hidden in the depths of his heart, waiting for a certain day to ferment. "Ah Yan's words have a heroic and martial air, not at all like other girls." He smiled teasingly, with an unusual sparkle in his eyes.

  "Uh," she stuttered, slightly embarrassed, "doesn't Your Majesty like it?" But in an instant, she returned to her usual little girl demeanor.

  "It's nothing." he sighed.

  He also said, "However, Prime Minister Cao's words are reasonable. The people are exhausted and we should let them rest and recover. It seems that there is indeed some truth to this." He seemed to have forgotten that the person in front of him was just a 13-year-old girl, and he was discussing with her the dry and dull court affairs that were not suitable for women.

  "It's not that," Zhang Yan said in surprise, "Xu Xiang's agricultural research has been quite effective. Last year, the harvest was bountiful in Guanzhong, and the people have stored up enough grain to last half a year longer than usual."

  "This is just the first year," said Liu Xiang. "There are bumper harvests and poor harvests every year, let alone that the kindness has only been in Guanzhong."

  "That's also a hope." Zhang Yan smiled and said, "If this trip is successful, then the time for the Great Han to rest and recover will be shortened by at least half."

  "Hmm. I also think so." Liu Ying nodded in agreement, "The great progress of this matter is indeed due to Xu Xiang's efforts, and his contributions cannot be ignored."

  There is another person who has made great contributions, but unfortunately you won't know about it. Zhang Yan sighed and said, "Now the Great Han is much better than when Emperor Gaozu first came to power." It's said that when Liu Bang first became emperor, they couldn't even find four horses of the same color for the imperial carriage, and Xiao He, as prime minister, had to ride in a ox cart for many days. "While excessive construction projects are indeed undesirable, there are some things that can be done."

  "For example?"

  "Ah, it seems that even her uncle can be a bit mischievous. Zhang Yan felt a slight sweetness in her heart and couldn't help but smile, so she said with a sly tone: "Nowadays, there is a big problem that has already begun to show its head, although it's not yet obvious, but if left unattended, it will eventually lead to disaster. I wonder when Minister Cao will realize it?"

  "Oh?" Liu Ying couldn't help but feel a little surprised, slightly leaning forward, and asked, "What did Ah Yan say?"

  "I'd like to know," she was about to sell Guan Zi, when suddenly she heard a faint commotion outside the hall and involuntarily turned her gaze outward.

  "Your Majesty," Chang Ji furrowed his brow and stepped forward to report, "Zhao Liangren sent someone over, saying it's already nighttime, why haven't you gone to her place yet?"

  Liu Ying was taken aback.

  He covered his sleeve and pretended to cough, feeling quite embarrassed in his heart.

  At a young age, the emperor was not good at female charm, and there were always several concubines in the harem. This Zhao Liangren was one of the favored ones. As it happens, today is not his day to stay in the Pepper Chamber, but previously he had promised Zhao Wei that he would go to her place tonight.

  He was just having a great conversation with Ah Yan, and suddenly felt that the recent worries in his heart had been swept away, leaving him with an unfulfilled feeling. The warm and cozy lanterns in the Pepper Chamber made him reluctant to leave abruptly, so he hesitated for a moment before turning back to instruct Chang Xuan: "Tell her that I have something to attend to today, and I'll go see her another day."

  Zhang Yan hung her head in shame after speaking and only looked up again.

  She blinked secretly in an uninhabited place.

  Don't think I'm a sick cat just because the tiger doesn't show its might.

  I've been holding the thought of "out of sight, out of mind" and didn't bother to argue with you, but instead, you think I, the Empress, am young and can be bullied? Even when Liu Yan was still sitting in my palace, you dared to come over and snatch people openly?

  Zhao Liangren, isn't it? As the saying goes, "coming but not returning is impolite". You've given me a gift and I've accepted it. I wonder if you can accept my return gift?

  "What exactly did Ah Yan just say?" Liu Ying continued to ask beside her ear.

  Zhang Yan regained her composure and smiled, "Your Majesty just said I didn't understand these things, why are you asking me again now?"

  Under the candlelight, she narrowed her eyes slightly. With a mix of pride and playfulness, she looked like a charming young fox. Liu Ying's heart softened. However, he said, "Most likely it's just childish nonsense, but as the Emperor, I should still listen to all opinions, lest I be accused of being close-minded."

  She wrinkled her nose and smiled, saying, "If that's the case, then I, Yan Ruo, was wrong. I'll accept any punishment from Your Majesty without complaint. But if Your Majesty thinks what I said was polite, shouldn't there be some reward?"

  "You little scamp." He reached out and rapped her on the head, laughing and scolding, "You never know how to give in."

  Zhang Yan collected her smile and sat down again next to Liu Ying, stretching out her hand in front of the case and drawing a line. "In the past, Emperor Wu had civil officials planning strategies and military generals fighting wars, so after conquering the great Han, he entrusted the meritorious officials with governing the country. This was a matter of course. However, Your Majesty, these meritorious officials, even if we count those who were mid-ranking officers or above in the Han army at that time, there were no more than 500,000 to 600,000 people. And how many people are there in the great Han dynasty now?"

  "According to last year's census, there are over 300,000 households and more than a million people in the lower reaches of the river today." Liu Yingruo seemed to understand something and replied.

  "That's it." Zhang nodded, "There are many people in the world, but there are few meritorious officials. The court only appoints officials who were meritorious in the past. These meritorious officials are slowly growing old, but Your Majesty is still young, how can you find suitable successors?"

  "As usual," Liu Ying furrowed his brow and replied, "meritorious officials can have one or two sons or younger brothers enter officialdom."

  "This is a favor, not the way to govern. Xiao He was called a wise minister, but what about his son? Zhang Yan asked nonchalantly, "If this continues, the imperial court will become stagnant, and many official positions will be vacant, yet Your Majesty will think that no one can be used. Meanwhile, many talented people outside of the meritorious officials are being isolated from the imperial court, idle and useless. If they were to be instigated by someone with ill intentions, it's not impossible for them to pose a threat to our great Han dynasty."

  "Aren't you being a bit too alarmist?" Liu Ying forced a smile and said, "I can issue an edict to seek out wise men from the countryside, and even the Four Elders of Mount Shang were not officials who followed me since the beginning. I respect them as teachers and friends."

  "These are just exceptions, how many people can they account for? The rivers and seas do not pick and choose the small streams, only then can they become great. Stubbornly guarding a small clique will only make oneself more rigid, and the question is, what kind of person does Your Majesty want to control your imperial court? Wanting to establish a system of promotion and entering the court, in order to let both sides communicate and complement each other, finally becoming one, this game of chess can be played alive."

  "So," Liu Ying asked, "what does Ah Yan think is the way to resolve this awkward situation?"

  Under the candlelight, she blinked and smiled, "A Yan is just a palace woman, recently gained some insights from reading history, so I advised Your Majesty. As for how to solve it, --- this is Your Majesty's and Prime Minister's business, nothing to do with me. It's getting late, I'm going to take a bath."

  I think Ah Yan is weaving a web for Xiaomi, waiting for the unsuspecting uncle to step in one step at a time?

  I thought about it, and actually updating 3,000 words every day is already quite tiring for me. If I reduce it to 2,000 words per update, it's not like it can't be done, but this way each chapter won't have much content. To thank everyone for their support on the recommendation ticket rankings, I still want to put in a bit more effort, so in May I'll try out an experiment: 400 tickets will get an extra chapter added.

  I know it's a small amount compared to others, but it's my heart's intention. Please accept it with a smile.

  May 1st, sincerely knocking on the pink ticket.