After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"...Don't be afraid to spend money."

"Why is the national treasury afraid to spend money? Because money spent now can't be recovered. As long as the system for ensuring the money flows back is in place, it doesn't matter how it's spent. If we really run out of money, we can just borrow. Domestic debt isn't real debt..."

"Borrow?" she asked in return.

The young doctor hesitated for a moment, then tried to fool her by saying, "Well... we'll talk about that later."

"In short, well... all you need to remember now is this... money flows out of your national treasury, into the hands of the army, the army distributes the money to the Third Bureau, the Third Bureau distributes the money to the artisans, the artisans spend the money on grain shops, wine shops, and cloth shops, and the people in these places have to spend money on food, drink, and other necessities..."

"You collect their taxes in the middle. The money goes around in circles and comes back... The more times it goes around, the more you get back... But if you rely on gold, silver, and goods, it's much harder to collect taxes this way..."

As the Empress on the dragon throne recalled these events, Xing Ge'er, sitting below, was unaware of what was happening. Being extremely clever, he noticed that his sister-in-law seemed to be ignoring him, so he quickly shut his mouth and stood obediently.

With the chatter gone and the hall quiet down, Zhu Cuiwei came to her senses and couldn't help but chuckle at Xing Ge'er's frightened appearance.

First, he ordered Zhang Qi, the eunuch standing on the left, to reward the Academy of Sciences with one thousand taels of silver. Then, he ordered Chunyu, the head palace maid on the right, to take Xingge'er to get something to eat.

The lazy afternoon sun shone through the vermilion windows as I watched two figures leave the palace.

Zhu Cuiwei ordered Zhang Qi to hand her the memorial that had been reviewed by the cabinet and was awaiting her approval.

"Lu Machang, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, respectfully reports that the flood in Changzhou Prefecture has been quelled and spring plowing has resumed. I have impeached Qin Xi, a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, for embezzling 5,000 taels of disaster relief funds... The Cabinet's comment: Order Qin and Lu to return to the capital. The Changzhou Prefecture government should distribute farm tools and borrow oxen to ensure that spring plowing proceeds without incident. The Emperor's edict: Lu Machang has rendered meritorious service, and Qin Xi has also rendered meritorious service. The Cabinet is ordered to investigate this matter thoroughly."

"Imperial Censor Xu Longdao respectfully reports: During my inspection tour of Huguang, I discovered an alarming amount of unpaid wages at the Wuchang Prefecture military camp, with one camp owing wages for three months. I have already, together with the Prefect of Wuchang, apprehended three Qianzong (military commanders) and four Bazong (military officers) at the Wuchang Prefecture camp… The Cabinet's comment: Dispatch the Huguang Governor's Office, the Huguang Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office, and the Provincial Military Commissioner's Office to investigate. Imperial Edict: Promote Gu Xichuan to Governor-General of Huguang, overseeing military affairs in Huguang. All matters concerning the Wuchang Prefecture camp are to be decided by Gu Xichuan himself, without needing to submit a report. Grand Tutor Gu should quickly promote capable generals, and then submit a report afterward, acting expediently."

"The Governor's Office of Huguang respectfully reports that the rebellion of Chen Fu, a traitor of the Heavenly Principle Sect in Yongzhou Prefecture, has been quelled. Chen Fu has fled to Yunnan and Guizhou... The Cabinet's commentary: The Sichuan Military Command is hereby ordered to apprehend Chen Fu and bring him to justice. Imperial Edict: Approved."

"The Prefect of Yongzhou respectfully reports that last autumn, the Governor's Office of Huguang forced donations and payments, which led to the rebellion of Chen Fusheng of the Heavenly Principle Sect. As a result, the autumn harvest was insufficient and there was a shortage of seeds for spring planting. I earnestly request the court to allocate grain seeds, oxen, and farming tools... The Grand Secretariat: The Changsha Prefecture is ordered to allocate grain seeds. Imperial Edict: Approved."

"A congratulatory message from the Prince Gui's residence, dated the first year of the Mingzhen reign. On this auspicious day, with boundless admiration for Your Majesty, the Prince wishes Your Majesty a long life. Enclosed are the following gifts: eight pairs of ivory, ten sets of saddles and bridles, nine agate artifacts, and ten cartloads of goods from Yunnan and Guizhou... The Grand Secretariat: to be deposited into Your Majesty's private treasury. The Emperor: Instructs the Ministry of Rites to return the gifts, and the Hanlin Academy to draft the reply."

“…………”

The Empress reviewed the various memorials one by one.

Sometimes her eyebrows furrowed, sometimes she let out a gentle sigh of relief.

Sometimes he would purse his lips, ponder for a long time, before finally putting pen to paper to write his comments.

After reviewing the documents, she would occasionally instruct the eunuch beside her to write down certain matters, keep them safe, and inquire about them again after a few days.

For example, regarding the case of Chen Fu, a traitor of the Heavenly Principles Sect, after a few days, the Sichuan government will be questioned about whether Chen Fu has been caught.

Otherwise, some things would be glossed over by a bunch of incompetent people.

The sun gradually began to set in the west.

The golden reflection cast on the ground by the vermilion window stretched longer and longer.

When this warm reflection reaches its longest point.

A young eunuch rushed in to report.

It is said that the Northern Dynasty's envoy, Da Chungui, has submitted a memorial and presented it to the emperor.

"Da Chun?" Zhu Cuiwei narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.

Zhang Qi walked silently down to take the red-striped memorial.

Zhu Cuiwei took the memorial with her delicate hands and unfolded it.

"Your humble servant Dachun has submitted a memorial, praising the alliance between our two dynasties. It is truly in accordance with Heaven's will, a covenant as strong as gold and stone, turning swords into jade, and deeply moving both North and South. It is too numerous to describe in detail."

"On the twelfth day of the first month of spring, your esteemed dynasty sent an envoy northward. After a long and arduous journey, with the protection of the mountains and rivers, he finally arrived at our dynasty on the twenty-fifth day of the second month of spring. Our dynasty then opened the Zhengyang Gate to welcome him."

That night, music played and guests and hosts feasted. King Jing of the noble dynasty wept and said, "Seeing that the people of the old capital are well-fed and clothed, I can return south to pay homage to my ancestors."

"However, the Rakshasa people have hearts like snakes and scorpions, are traitors to Heaven's principles, and are even more like jackals and wolves."

"On the night of the 26th, the two traitors colluded and attacked your Southern Embassy with firearms. The sound was like thunder, and the flames were like mist... Your Vice Envoy Ning Nan... ultimately... perished at the hands of the two traitors!"

thump.

After that sound, Zhu Cuiwei's heart stopped, and everything suddenly went black...

……

……

March 16th, at nightfall.

The head palace maid, Chunyu, felt her knees buckle, her eyes red from crying, and she staggered out of the palace.

The eunuch Zhang Qi, who was in charge of writing, shouted loudly and quickly arranged all the matters.

Several palace maids and old women entered the hall... and soon chaos erupted in the palace.

Zhang Qi ordered the eunuchs to close the palace gates tightly and commanded the Imperial City Garrison to guard the palace gates strictly, forbidding anyone except those with his warrant from entering or leaving.

As the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace, Zhang Qi's palms and back were covered in cold sweat.

Not long after.

Several imperial physicians, led by eunuchs and palace maids, hurriedly entered the palace.

After hearing a few words from the imperial physician, Zhang Qi felt a sudden tension followed by a sense of relief.

Upon leaving the palace, he ordered his men to quickly invite the four Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet to come to the Qianqing Palace to await his arrival.

After Prime Minister Qin arrived, Zhang Qi spoke a few words to him. Prime Minister Qin's face darkened, and he ordered the other three cabinet ministers to wait in the side hall. He and Zhang Qi waited on the steps in silence.

The eunuchs and palace maids started running around, sometimes to the imperial kitchen, sometimes to the imperial hospital, discussing amongst themselves along the way, and the palace was suddenly in chaos.

Wang Bing, the eunuch of the Imperial Censorate, walked by with a gloomy face, glanced at them a few times, and then they fell silent.

Later still.

The head palace maid, Chunyu, brought Physician Jiang from outside the city into the palace...

The unrest lasted from late afternoon until midnight before Chief Minister Qin and the other three cabinet ministers entered the hall. Through a screen, they heard the Empress, who was on her sickbed, give an order.

"Gentlemen, the news... is now absolutely certain. We..."

The Empress's head rested on the jade pillow, her face deathly pale. Holding the hand of Physician Jiang Sixue by the bedside, she closed her eyes and murmured to them:

"Prepare for war..."

…………

According to the "Comprehensive Explanation of Lüshi Chunqiu".

January of each year is called Mengchun (the beginning of spring).

February is called mid-spring.

March is called late spring.

By April, the winter snow and ice had completely melted away, summer had arrived, and the days were gradually getting longer. This month is called early summer.

The early summer sun warmed the city walls of Jiangpu.

A whole winter and a spring.

Some of the soldiers in Jiangpu City were overjoyed that if they formed an alliance with the Northern Dynasty, they would finally no longer have to fight.

Some are stuck in the frustration of having no battles to fight and no credit to claim.

A small group is also caught in the anger of how to avenge their life-or-death feud if they were to form an alliance with the Northern Dynasty.

But by the time of the twenty-fifth of spring, these various emotions had gradually transformed into confusion, unease, and an indescribable tension.

March 25th.

The mission to the Northern Dynasty formally returned the letter signed with the Northern Dynasty, stating that the alliance had been established.

then.

The three major camps of the Northern Dynasty began to break camp and retreat, ceding Chuzhou.

Da Chun spoke righteously and eloquently in the Nanjing imperial court:

"Although our dynasty has ceded Chuzhou, firstly, we request that your dynasty treat the people of Chuzhou well. Secondly, we request that your dynasty first fulfill its alliance agreement and deliver the agreed-upon grain, weapons, and cloth to our dynasty. Otherwise..."

Da Chun glared at him with his tiger-like eyes and threatened:

"We will be at each other's throats in an instant!"

Da Chun's threatening words were forceful, but the course of events took a far greater turn than he had anticipated.