“What! Me! I can’t die—I’m not ready to die! And I absolutely can’t have my soul scattered to the winds! System, think of something, quick!” the consciousness cried out in despair.
【The system is currently nourishing the host’s soul. That talisman contained only a small amount of spiritual power and did not harm the host’s soul. However, because the host’s physical body has been destroyed, the system currently has no way to revive the host.】
“Dantai Rongyao! Gu Shen’an! They’re both completely insane! Insane! We had no grudge against each other, yet after I died, they dug up my grave, burned my body, and smashed my bones! They actually made me vanish into thin air! And you, System! Why didn’t you revive me sooner?”
【Wasn’t this the time personally chosen by the host?】
“Yes, I chose the time myself, but couldn’t you have adapted to the circumstances? You saw Princess Fuxi digging up my grave and preparing to burn my corpse. Why didn’t you revive me right away?”
【Did the host really think it would have been appropriate to revive in front of Princess Fuxi? According to the system’s calculations, if the host had revived in front of Princess Fuxi, there would have been a high probability of dying a second time.】
“Then what am I supposed to do? You have to revive me! I haven’t completed my mission yet. I wasn’t supposed to die in the first place. It was your idea that got me killed, so you have to come up with a solution! Otherwise, I’ll report you!”
【Host, please don’t panic. The system is helping the host search for a new body. It will simply take a little time.】
“Really? You can actually find me a new body? I want to be the daughter of a wealthy family, and I want to be beautiful! I also want to be closer to Dantai Lin!”
【…The host needs to wait patiently.】
“How long am I supposed to wait? Put me to sleep first.”
【Putting the host into slumber requires energy. The host’s energy must be reserved to search for a suitable match.】
“What if you can’t find a suitable body for ten or eight years? Am I supposed to stay in this coffin for ten or eight years?”
【Perhaps. Everything is uncertain. The host should remain calm and wait for the system to find a new body.】
“Then hurry up and look!”
【Understood, understood.】
“Have you found one yet?”
【Not yet. The system is searching diligently…】
“What are you doing? Are you slacking off?”
【How could the system do that? The system is working hard for the host.】
“Hurry up! I want to get out! I want to get out!”
【All right. The system will work very hard.】
“System…”
…
The Golden Hall.
“Your Majesty, the county schools in every prefecture and county have been completed. They will begin enrolling students next month. Within the borders of Great Zhou, any child who wishes to study may enter a county school.”
Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming’s face was glowing as he spoke with fervor.
Dantai Ji glanced at the memorial and nodded. “Excellent! By establishing these county schools, the Chief Grand Secretary has brought great benefit to the nation and its people. In the future, you will surely leave your name in the history books.”
Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming said, “It is all thanks to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty had not been wise enough to break with tradition and open the way, how could these county schools have come into being? From now on, countless students across Great Zhou will sing the praises of Your Majesty’s wisdom!”
After the Chief Grand Secretary finished speaking, all the officials in the court fell to their knees and cried out in unison, “His Majesty is wise!”
Dantai Ji looked at the civil and military officials kneeling across the court and straightened his back.
Meanwhile, Rongyao, who had been secretly listening from the rear hall, was overjoyed as well.
The county schools had all been completed!
Wonderful!
A thousand miles from the capital, in Ye County.
An argument could be heard coming from a household.
“Father! Mother! I want to go to the county school too!” Ten-year-old Ye Qingqing lifted her head and declared.
The smiles on Ye’s father and Ye’s mother’s faces stiffened.
“What would you go for? You’re a girl. How could the county school possibly let you enroll?”
Ye Qingqing said excitedly, “I just went to ask at the county school. They accept girls too! And there’s no tuition!”
“Really? I’ve never heard of any school accepting girls, much less one that doesn’t charge tuition.”
Ye Qingqing tugged on her parents’ arms. “It’s all true! I heard that the Eldest Princess in the palace asked His Majesty, and His Majesty agreed to let girls enter the county schools as well. The Eldest Princess even contributes a thousand taels of silver every year to cover the tuition for girls like us!”
Ye’s father said, “The Eldest Princess truly is a good princess who cares about the people. But what use would it be for you to attend? You won’t be able to take the imperial examinations in the future. Wouldn’t that just be a waste of time?”
Ye’s mother disagreed. “If our daughter can read and write and has studied at a county school, it will make it easier for her to find a good marriage later. Besides, even the princesses in the palace study. That proves there’s some use in women receiving an education.”
Ye’s father frowned. After thinking it over, he nodded. “That makes some sense. But I heard that students have to take an entrance examination to attend the county school. If you don’t pass, you won’t be allowed in.”
Ye Qingqing declared excitedly, “Don’t worry, Father and Mother! I’ll prepare properly. In the future, your daughter is going to become a female teacher!”
…
Xinghua County.
The county magistrate, Fan Xiuwen, personally beat a gong and drum as he went down every street, proclaiming in a booming voice:
“By His Majesty’s decree, the county school has been completed! All children of the appropriate age, regardless of whether they are boys or girls, may enroll for free after passing the entrance examination!”
Along the road, a villager caught up with him and asked, “My lord, is it really true that the county school accepts both boys and girls?”
Fan Xiuwen stopped and replied in a clear voice, “This is a gracious decree granted at the request of Grand Princess Fuxi. His Majesty has spoken it with his own lips! There is absolutely no falsehood in it.”
The man clapped his hands. “Wonderful! My daughter has wanted to study every day. She’s only a little girl, yet she can already compose poetry—she’s incredibly clever. If she learns that she can attend the county school, she’ll be so happy she won’t be able to sleep all night.”
“A girl has no business attending a county school. She can’t even take the imperial examinations, so what use would studying be?”
“Even if my daughter can’t take the examinations, she’ll still be better than your son! I only want her to read more and learn some sense.”
“Lord Fan, Lord Fan! Does entering the county school really require an examination?”
Fan Xiuwen said, “That’s right. Those with ability may enroll.”
“But what if some girl happens to score better than my son and takes his place? My son is going to become the top scholar in the future!”
Fan Xiuwen replied, “If your son can’t even pass the county school’s entrance examination, I’m afraid he has no chance of becoming the top scholar.”
“Who says so? My son will definitely pass! He definitely will!”
Upon hearing the news, someone dropped to his knees and bowed toward the capital.
“My son has the talent for studying, but my family is desperately poor and cannot afford tuition. Heaven has truly opened its eyes! To think there would be a county school that requires no tuition—His Majesty is wise! His Majesty is wise!”
Fan Xiuwen continued to beat the gong as he shouted:
“By His Majesty’s decree, the county school has been completed! All children of the appropriate age, regardless of whether they are boys or girls, may enroll for free after passing the entrance examination!”
The sunlight spilled across Fan Xiuwen’s back, covering it in a layer of golden radiance.
Her voice was loud and clear, as though she could go on shouting like that for the entire day.
…
Four years later.
A little girl of about ten years old scampered into the rear hall of the Golden Hall.
The young girl wore a red beizi over a yellow ru skirt, her hair styled in a longrui bun. Delicate and charming, with bright eyes that glittered like stars in the night sky, a rosy face, apricot-shaped cheeks, and a hint of baby fat, she sat to one side of the rear hall of the Golden Bell Palace. Holding a plate of sweet apricots, she ate them as she watched what was happening inside.
