The Hanlin Academy was silent as dusk deepened.
Zhu Mo, after the information had been fully integrated, meticulously reviewed the system. The more he looked, the more his heart surged with excitement.
The Imperial Dynasty Civilization System was indeed true to its name, arguably the most complex and logical system he had ever encountered. However, to utilize it effectively, the host needed to improve their own capabilities. It was much like a high-level AI, capable of interaction and integration with the host, fostering mutual growth.
Take, for instance, the panel for the late Jiajing era. The more profoundly the host understood it, the richer and more precise the system's summary reports became. The system's core purpose was to deepen the host's understanding of the world they inhabited, then to change and improve it, ultimately achieving an imperial dynasty...
Zhu Mo studied until very late, increasingly feeling that this was a scientific system, not something from the "Sky-Busting Gang." It was more like an "AI Think Tank," making no decisions but serving as the highest-level strategist, ensuring that the myriad details of governing the realm were orderly and logical, and providing advice that incorporated the actual situation.
But it was a pity that he was merely a minor Daoist priest and a general handyman. Such a powerful configuration felt like overkill... From all perspectives, the minimum requirement for utilizing this setup should have been the qualification of a Grand Academician of the Hall of Literary Brilliance. Holding it himself, it was truly of little use.
Unconsciously, the bright moon had reached its zenith. Only then did he remember that he still had to write the qingci. Zhu Mo's mind suddenly cleared, and he picked up his brush, writing with one fluid motion. Stepping back three paces, he admired his work, finding it as elegant as drifting clouds, and the phrasing imbued with a profound sense of compassion for the world!
He put down his brush and sat comfortably in the chief Grand Tutor's chair, contemplating what business he should pursue after his upcoming southern journey. Suddenly, he heard the sound of hurried, disorderly footsteps in the distance. He immediately picked up his water bucket and left the Hall of Classics and Rites, leaving the completed qingci on his desk.
...
The next day, at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).
The Grand Academicians, who were usually still asleep at this hour, were already standing outside the Hall of Classics and Rites, trembling.
Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng each reviewed the qingci that they had rushed to write overnight. With each paper they read, their brows furrowed tighter, the scholars' heads drooped lower, and the atmosphere became incredibly oppressive.
Xu Jie, usually possessing good self-control, managed to suppress his anger. Zhang Juzheng had not held out much hope to begin with, and now he could only offer a wry smile and a sigh. Gao Gong, however, had a fiery temper. He grew increasingly angry as he read. Upon seeing a line that read, "The dragon and tiger ascend to immortality, desiring to soar," he erupted in fury, shouting:
"Absurd!"
"Incoherent!"
"Who wrote this? What is the meaning of this?"
"What are you submitting?"
"Who? Who wrote it?"
The assembled Grand Academicians outside immediately lowered their heads. Some of them had smiles twitching at their lips, struggling to contain their laughter.
Xu Jie, a seasoned scholar, was also quite incensed upon hearing this. He wanted to say something, but instead, he shook his head and sighed deeply.
Zhang Juzheng also read the line aloud and then chuckled, saying, "Brother Su Qing, why get angry? These scholars usually study the books of sages. Who among them has read many Daoist texts? I think the time is about right. We've seen what we needed to see. Let's present them first..."
Before he could finish speaking, two young eunuchs walked down the corridor.
"Your Excellency! Grand Academician Xu, are the qingci from the Hanlin Academy ready? Eunuch Lu is waiting."
Xu Jie also put down his reading glasses and rubbed his temples, saying, "Taiyue, gather them all up. Present them, present them..."
The two eunuchs helped to gather the scrolls, which quickly formed a large pile. They then carried them away. The scholars breathed a collective sigh of relief, thinking that since it had come to this, they might as well eat before facing any potential consequences.
Just as everyone was rising to leave, Zhang Juzheng happened to notice a sheet of Xuan paper covered with writing on a desk in the corner on his right. The calligraphy was quite good.
"Hmm? There's another scroll?"
He walked over and was immediately captivated. After glancing at just three or four lines, he exclaimed involuntarily:
"Excellent!"
"Marvelous!"
"Superb!"
"Grand Academician Xu, Brother Su Qing, come quickly and see! This qingci can be considered the finest of our dynasty!"
*Woosh!*
The more than twenty Grand Academicians who had just walked a few steps away immediately crowded around, craning their necks to observe. After reading a few lines, they were utterly dumbfounded. How could this be written by a mortal? It was simply the word of immortals.
Xu Jie read it repeatedly three times and suddenly felt as if half his soul had been lost. After a long pause, he murmured, "Who, who wrote this?"
"An immortal, an immortal wrote it?"
"Yes, who else besides an immortal could write such a thing?"
One scholar suddenly cried out, "Grand Academician Xu! Could it be a spirit pen?!"
*Woosh!*
*Hiss!*
"That makes sense!"
"It's the Old Spirit Pen! It manifested its spirit during Emperor Chengzu's reign!"
"It must be the Old Spirit Pen coming to save us!"
"The Spirit Pen has saved us! The Spirit Pen has saved us!"
"..."
The assembled Grand Academicians refused to believe that this scroll of qingci had come from the hand of a mortal, even if it meant their lives.
Zhang Juzheng, the most composed among them, suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, "Have the two eunuchs who delivered the imperial decree gone far? Hurry and catch up!"
"Wait!"
Xu Jie, being as steady as an old dog, continued,
"This matter is strange; we must not act rashly! Let's investigate thoroughly first... Li Qingyuan, from last night until now, besides the academicians, who else has been to the Hall of Classics and Rites? Go quickly and find out! Taiyue, Su Qing, the time has come, we must enter the palace first... I will hold onto this qingci for now. We will see how things unfold later."
Saying this, he immediately strode toward the exit. Just outside the door, he suddenly turned back and said, "You! None of you are to breathe a word of this! Do you understand?"
"Your students understand!"
The students, all upright scholars, bowed in unison.
...
The Yu Xi Palace was located in the Western Garden.
It was now afternoon, and the silence was so profound that one could hear a falling leaf.
Compared to the tense atmosphere outside, the palace was filled with an air of serenity. Even the Yan father and son, usually known for their arrogance and domineering behavior, now wore grim expressions.
Lu Fang, after assisting Jiajing in taking his elixir, washed his hands and came out to the outer chamber. Seeing the assembled officials lining the sides, he quickly said with a smile, "Oh! This old servant has been remiss. Grand Academician Yan, Grand Academician Xu, you have waited a long time."
"Eunuch Lu has worked hard!"
"I dare not, I dare not!"
Lu Fang exchanged a glance with the eunuchs, who then brought forth the qingci from the Hanlin Academy scholars and spread them out on a large desk. Lu Fang signaled for Huang Jin and Chen Hong to come and look. After a cursory review, finding nothing amiss, Lu Fang said, "Jin'er, the Emperor likes to hear you read, so please do so..."
Huang Jin bowed to Lu Fang, picked up the scrolls, and began to read them one by one.
"Hanlin Junior Scholar Li Qingyuan presents his ode: On this auspicious day, the sacrificial rites are grandly arranged. The essence of pure Yang, especially for the Great Ming..."
He droned on for quite some time before finishing. Yan Song and his son, hearing this, found it quite ordinary. Yan Shifan couldn't help but reveal a hint of a mocking smile.
Meanwhile, Jiajing, in the inner chamber behind the curtain, remained motionless, seated like a clay Buddha, as if he wasn't listening at all and showed no reaction, neither the sound of the jade jug nor the jade chime.
The ministers of the Qingliu faction were immediately disheartened. Seeing Yan Shifan's gloating expression, they felt immensely uncomfortable and already sensed that something terrible was about to happen...