The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches; one by one, they lean towards you, my dear.

  "There's nothing." Zhang Yan turned around with him, still facing him, but reached behind his back to stuff the lacquer box into the wide sleeve of his left arm.

  "Really?" Liu Ying asked slowly, without getting annoyed, but with a hint of amusement.

  Under such a gaze, she felt that she was so childish and careless, her fingers intertwined, slightly embarrassed.

  "Come over here," he ordered. When the little girl walked in front of him, he reached out and pulled her sleeve from behind her back.

  As the spring days grew warmer, she wore a white dress with green trim and curved hem, long sleeves and wide cuffs, enough to hide a small box, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't completely conceal it. The box was tied to her left sleeve, which flipped up, revealing a patch of snowy skin, and then slid back down, still carrying the fresh scent of a bath. Zhang Yan hummed softly, her cheeks flushing red.

  He didn't seem to notice, looked around and saw Mu Xi standing on one side, then instructed, "You help the princess dry her hair."

  Muxi knelt down and responded to the voice, hugging the white handkerchief draped over one side.

  She really treated her like a child. Zhang Yan slightly pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

  Thirteen is the prime time for a girl's development, she was still not tall enough, her white towel was long and absorbent, while her wiping motion was very gentle. The handkerchief was wide enough to cover half of her face, giving her a semi-private space, no need to hide her facial expression, her beautiful eyes were rolling around, counting with satisfaction, "one, two, three..."

  Behind her was a rustling sound. When she counted to seven, Liu Ying suddenly stood up, "A Yan, what's this?" Her voice was excited.

  "It's just... paper." She replied slowly. Turning around, she brushed aside the handkerchief on her face, revealing a pair of bright apricot-like eyes.

  "My father also loved books and deeply felt the inconvenience of bamboo slips and silk. He then sought out wise scholars from all over to work together to create this high-quality paper that can be written on for a long time, and I wish to present it to Your Majesty." Zhang Yan said.

  "It's rare for Brother-in-law to have such a heart." Liu Ying sighed, putting the purple frost rabbit hair brush back on the pen holder. "I should really thank him."

  "Heh." She gave a soft, gentle laugh. Taking the paper he had just written on in silence, she asked, "Will Your Majesty give it to Ah Yan?"

  "That doesn't count for much." Liu Ying said nonchalantly, "I just casually wrote it down a moment ago."

  "How can it be worthless?" Zhang Yan said loudly, "This is the first piece of writing on good paper by Your Majesty, it's certainly extremely memorable."

  Liu Ying smiled, "If you want to, then just do it. However, Ah Yan." He hesitated and asked, "It's a good thing that the fine paper is being produced. Just now, why did you have to go to such great lengths to deceive me?"

  "I didn't mean to deceive Your Majesty." Zhang Yan slightly pursed her lips and said, "It's just that the time hasn't come yet, and this paper isn't good enough. I want to copy another batch of better handwritten paper and then present it to Your Majesty for approval."

  "Is it not time yet? When is it?" Liu Yingqi said.

  "That." She blushed, lowering her head to gaze at the embroidered cloud pattern on the toe of her silk shoes, "Isn't it almost time for His Majesty's coronation? I was planning to show you then."

  "Who knows," she said with annoyance, "you didn't even give a warning and suddenly came over, causing me to be busy and flustered, with no place to hide."

  Liu Ying was taken aback for a moment.

  He turned around and looked at Zhang Yan's profile.

  Her eyelashes are slightly curled, long and like a fan. Her skin is a very delicate white color, with almost no pores on it. Exuding the breath of youth, it's as if the fragrance of apricot flowers blooming in the spring breeze.

  A Yan has always been very beautiful. This was still a long time ago, when he first saw the little crybaby in front of Chang Le Palace for the first time, he knew it.

  A Yan is also very intelligent. She likes to observe the world with a cold eye, thinking deeply in her heart, but never revealing anything on her face. Unless it's about herself, she rarely takes action.

  However, as an elder, he always thought of her as just a child.

  In that previous farcical wedding drama, he eloquently persuaded the empress dowager and asked his elder sister, but never once opened his mouth to ask her, Ah Yan, are you willing to marry me?

  From start to finish, he ignored her opinions.

  In his subconscious mind, he thought she was completely passive in this marriage.

  She was passively told by Lü Hou that she would be married, she was passively taken to Xuanping by Lu Yuan, she was passively arranged by her grandmother and mother... She was passively dressed up, stepped onto the sedan chair, and entered Weiyang Palace, marrying her uncle and becoming a 13-year-old empress.

  He always thought that she didn't understand the sadness in it well enough.

  A Yan, what do you want?

  Liu Ying opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, but finally found nothing to say, and only said, "Your kindness, I thank you."

  "I like this gift very much. Actually, it's also good this way. I and you will wait together to see the progress of Liang Zhi little by little, until the final version is settled, it must be more delightful than seeing the final version from the beginning."

  Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily with a loud "en", her eyes curving into two crescent moons.

  A Yan, don't be too obsessed.

  The warm years that come and go in the Pepper House, I am also very nostalgic. However, if we continue to live like this for a lifetime, it will become a torment for you.

  One day you will hate me.

  Liu Ying almost felt a painful tenderness lingering in her chest, unable to swallow or spit it out. Forcing herself to calm down, she smiled and said, "How clever, I suddenly thought of the solution to what you said that day, so I couldn't wait until dusk and hurried over."

  Zhang Yan was taken aback for a moment, feeling both annoyed and amused, and said in a soft voice, "Your Majesty has been troubled by this matter for several days?"

  "Hmm." Liu Ying nodded and stood up, pacing around, "Actually, I've had a vague feeling all along, but couldn't grasp the crux of it. Thanks to Ayuan for pointing it out, as the ruler of the world, I must think of a way to solve it."

  "Oh?" She knew he took it as suffering and also as joy, so she looked at him with calm admiration. Kneeling on the couch, she gazed up at his face.

  "What plan has Your Majesty thought of?" The lower jaw was clean and bright.

  His gaze swept over the bamboo scrolls on the bookshelves in the hall, and then looked at the new paper stacked on the case, "During the Qin dynasty, the way of burning books and burying Confucians was actually implemented, and the law of seizing books was also established. Except for the nobles and the doctor's officials, no one in the world was allowed to possess poetry and books of the hundred schools. When the Han Dynasty rose, Xiao He established the nine chapters of law, but did not abolish the law of seizing books. In recent years, although the common people of the great Han have been able to work hard and live a warm and full life, they are less able to read and write like in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period. The customs of the people are becoming more and more rude and ignorant, and if this continues, the Great Han will naturally have no one to use. I want to abolish the law of seizing books."

  "Uh-huh." Zhang Yan nodded with a suppressed smile, "Of course, getting rid of the book is naturally the first step to solving the problem."

  "So you're saying Ah Yan supports me in abolishing the laws and regulations?"

  "Why not? It's long overdue." Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Qin Shihuang was afraid that Confucian scholars would disrupt the government, so he burned books and buried scholars. Ironically, it was ultimately the ones who overturned his Qin dynasty, whether it was Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, or Xiang Yu of Western Chu. Or even the previous emperor, which one of them was a scholar? It's clear that none of them were reliable."

  He reduced the number of soldiers, cast golden statues. He burned books and buried scholars, wanting to weaken the people's power, implementing a policy of fooling the people. However, he didn't think that even if the common people were not clever, there was one thing they could understand without reading books.

  "They still have rice in their barns tomorrow, and they can still survive. Thousands of years ago, Da Yu knew how to control the flood. Blocking is not as good as dredging. Guarding the people's mouths is more important than guarding the rivers. The heart of guarding the people has excesses. Foolish people start by fooling the common folk, but in the end they only fool themselves. Water recedes and rocks appear versus water rises and boats float high. I prefer the latter."

  "Ah Yan," Liu Ying was stunned for a moment, and then praised, "To be honest, I also watched you grow up. But I don't know how you grew up like this. Many things, even the most learned scholars may not understand, but you always seem to unintentionally hit the nail on the head, with a sharp and piercing insight."

  "Ah." Zhang Yan suddenly felt her face burning and murmured, "Who's that good?"

  "It's already very good." He smiled and asked her, "So, what should we do next in your opinion, Ah Yan?"

  She still maintained her dignified and composed demeanor, "That is something for Your Majesty and the Prime Minister to worry about, Ah Yan is a palace maid, it's not good for me to interfere----"

  "Stop it, Liu Ying," she said, intercepting her. "You just said that taking the imperial edict was only the first step, so you must have a plan in mind for what to do next. Since we are as close as we are, is there any need for you to hide it from me?" She thought for a moment and smiled brightly, saying, "Then I made a mistake, Your Majesty won't laugh at me?"

  He smiled and replied, "Of course."

  She picked up a brush and drew a pool of water on the paper, then drew a river. She looked up at Liu Xiang and asked, "There is a Cang Pool in Weiyang Palace and a Wine Pool in Changle Palace. Does Your Majesty know why the water in these two pools remains clear all year round?"

  "It is," replied Liu Ying, "because there are flying canals that draw living water from the river, flowing through two pools, and finally emptying into the Wei River."

  "This is the reason." Zhang nodded, "The system of Han Dynasty officials and the people of the world is like the Cang Pool to the Wei River. What Your Majesty needs to do is to find a flying canal to introduce living water for officials. Then it will be endless. And the people of the world have a way to promote themselves, even if they are dissatisfied with the government, they can participate in and influence the government through their own abilities. They won't dare to think about rebellion."

  "So," he asked solemnly, "how can we open up this aerial canal?"

  She smiled and revealed a shallow dimple on her left cheek, opening her mouth to utter two words, "Investigate thoroughly."

  "Furthermore, it's too excessive."

  "In the Warring States period, Qi established the Jixia Academy, where scholars debated in front of the king and taught their disciples. As a result, the city of Linzi became a hub of learning, with numerous schools of thought flourishing, and Qi prospered for over a hundred years. Your Majesty can establish a similar imperial academy in Chang'an, inviting talented scholars from all over the world to become doctors. Order each regional governor to recommend exceptional talents every year, who will then study under the doctors at the imperial academy. After two years, test their abilities, and those who excel will be appointed as officials in the capital, while the next best will be sent back to their localities to serve as officials."

  This was indeed a strategy of selecting and recommending talents implemented in the Han Dynasty, which ensured peace and stability for over a hundred years. As the sons of nobles could enter the Imperial Academy relying on their ancestors' prestige, if the number of students at the Imperial Academy could be controlled within certain limits, it would not have a huge impact on the existing group of meritorious officials, and also bring a fresh stream to the imperial court.

  Liu Ying thought for a long time and realized that this strategy of examining the details could plug up all the loopholes, and the more she thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed. She couldn't help but look at Zhang Yan with admiration, saying, "Ah Yan, if you were a man, you would definitely become my trusted minister."

  Zhang Yan's voice rang out with a laugh, and he stood up, took a step back, pressed his left hand on top of his right hand, and bowed, saying, "Your subject Zhang Yan pays homage to Your Majesty." His movements were bold and unrestrained. (This is the male version of the courtesy; for women, it is the opposite, with the right hand pressing down on the left.)

  Liu Ying stretched out her hand to support her, also smiling, and said, "Yan Qing, calm down."

  Ah, clenched fists, I'm so cute with this title today.

  This chapter is today's basic update. As for the additional update, I'll continue to work on it later. The vote count is pressing, and it's painful yet blissful.

  Continue to beg for pink tickets today.