After the pleasant interlude, everyone continued reading the comments.
“The Yin-Yang Ring was originally gifted by me?”
No one knew under what circumstances it had been given originally. This time, Zhu Xuanyi intended to present the Yin-Yang Ring as a meeting gift.
Qing Ju’s character illustration was exquisitely detailed, perfectly capturing the character’s traits.
Yue Guantang: “The Yin-Yang Ring reflects her Daoist identity.”
Xue Zeruo: “The purple official robe signifies her position as a Minister.”
Wang Zhan: “Holding the ‘Sacrificial Manuscript,’ corresponding to her identity as a Great Yin sacrificial text scholar.”
The Minister of Works: “Fingers pointing at a glass vial containing a black substance—could this be gunpowder!”
Gunpowder is black!
Zhu Xuanyi remarked, “For Qing Ju, this is merely an insignificant detail. But for our Great Yin, it reveals the form of gunpowder. This shows that not a single sentence, image, or brushstroke on the Sky Screen can be overlooked.”
She wanted the court painters to depict everything that appeared on the Sky Screen, but she knew this wasn’t practical.
If animations appeared frequently, how could the court painters accurately remember and depict every scene in its entirety?
There weren’t that many geniuses with photographic memories around her yet.
If only it could be replayed!
Perhaps this function would become available in the future?
Zhu Xuanyi had a feeling that many more functions and permissions of the Sky Screen awaited discovery and activation.
“The comments clearly come from people of later generations. They even know the Yin-Yang Ring was gifted by Your Highness!”
The Yin-Yang Ring wasn’t particularly valuable anyway.
What did later generations knowing this imply?
It meant this event was recorded in texts, indicating Meng Wenruo valued and cherished the Yin-Yang Ring greatly.
Liu Feiran suddenly recalled the unexplained “sister-lover” reference that Qing Ju hadn’t clarified.
He felt something was odd but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Absentmindedly, he adjusted his sleeve.
Wait!
Sleeve?
Cut sleeve?!
He felt as if struck by lightning—
No no no!
What are you thinking, Liu Feiran!
It couldn’t be that.
Don’t entertain such strange thoughts!
He quickly glanced a few more times at Prince Shunyang and Marquis Jingting—a perfect match between talented man and beautiful woman, a union made in heaven!
“The third comment mentions the Yuling Museum. Yuling should be Your Highness’s future mausoleum. What is a museum?”
Zhu Xuanyi: Excellent, even the name of my tomb is confirmed.
Yue Guantang thought, barring unforeseen circumstances, this would also be his final resting place.
Previously, Yue Guantang had been confident about being buried with Zhu Xuanyi—after all, he’d assumed they’d be buried in the Yue family tomb.
Now, he wasn’t so sure.
Surely he wouldn’t do anything stupid later?
In contrast, Lu Fengqiu had never imagined he could be buried in the imperial mausoleum.
But now, given the status and implicit approval the Sky Screen revealed about his future self…
He was ninety percent certain he’d be buried in the imperial mausoleum after death, perhaps even granted temple sacrifices!
“Knowledgeable about numerous matters and widely experienced. A museum is likely an institution housing many valuable items, similar to a library.” Wang Zhan commented.
He wasn’t concerned about his own burial in the imperial mausoleum—his daughter would undoubtedly qualify anyway.
He just wondered which mausoleum his daughter would be buried in.
Logically, she should be buried with the current emperor, but he had a feeling his daughter might prefer to rest with Princess Xuanyi instead?
Xue Zeruo found this reasonable: “Your Highness’s Yuling Mausoleum must be magnificent and precious, with an exceptionally distinguished status. Turning the entire Yuling into a museum for careful preservation is quite appropriate. Future generations have been thoughtful—those later dynasties were indeed benevolent!”
He wondered if the current emperor’s tomb would have a museum.
Everyone had grown accustomed to dynastic changes.
Many imperial tombs from previous dynasties were destroyed after their fall, but Yuling was different!
Yuling remained intact into later generations—being buried there meant receiving protection from future eras!
Xue Zeruo felt tempted. At his advanced age, he placed great importance on matters after death!
Liu Feiran: “Opened to the public—does this mean others are permitted to enter? Could Qing Ju be royalty, a court official, or the child of officials?”
In any case, she must have status and position, and not low-ranking at that.
How could someone without status go to Yuling to pay respects to Your Highness?
“No.” Lu Fengqiu objected. “Do you all remember? Qing Ju received the white jade inlaid with gold earrings from Your Highness and said she didn’t understand jade. If she were royalty, an official, or an official’s child, she shouldn’t lack such knowledge.”
Everyone was enlightened by this point.
“Her family background is ordinary, at least not wealthy.”
Zhu Xuanyi, who had been listening to the ministers’ analysis, joined the discussion: “A girl from an ordinary family can discuss history fluently and be familiar with various historical allusions, indicating she has received a good education.”
She had a bold speculation: “Could it be that in later generations, regardless of gender or family background, everyone can study and attend school?”
“This…” Even Wang Zhan, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, found it hard to believe. “Impossible, right?”
If this were true, to what extent would education be popularized in later generations!
But Zhu Xuanyi didn’t think it impossible. Her eyes sparkled as she envisioned boys and girls sitting together in bright rooms, listening to teachers impart knowledge!
“Later generations have miraculous means like videos, broadcast through the Sky Screen. If what’s shown isn’t historical discussions like Qing Ju’s but a teacher’s lecture, then why would it be strange for everyone in the world to read and study?”
Even the usually steady Xue Zeruo, considering all possibilities, couldn’t contain his excitement: “In that era, not being literate or educated would be strange!”
Everyone was astonished!
What kind of culturally prosperous era would that be?
What are later generations really like?
Zhu Xuanyi couldn’t help saying: “If only Miss Qing Ju could show us what later generations look like!”
Not to mention distant matters—even just posting a video of her visiting Yuling to pay respects to Your Highness would be wonderful!
This would also provide direction for the construction of Yuling.
Today’s discussion ended here.
Nowadays, besides discussing during Sky Screen livestreams, Zhu Xuanyi would have transcripts of the Sky Screen conversations distributed to ministers afterward, letting them research independently and submit memorials.
As the ministers were preparing to withdraw with lingering interest and return to their respective offices, the light screen appeared before Zhu Xuanyi again.
“Jade Fish Lotus Pendant transmission failed!”
“You have triggered the Spacetime Cultural Relic Protection Mechanism. Please do not use spacetime livestreams to transfer cultural relics!”
Both the Jade Fish Lotus Pendant and the note were returned to Zhu Xuanyi.
Cultural relics must be items with cultural value, right?
The previous white jade inlaid with gold earrings were something she bought for novelty while wandering the market streets—they weren’t actually valuable, and the craftsmanship wasn’t particularly good either.
The Jade Fish Lotus Pendant was already something she had carefully selected—attractive yet not expensive!
“To later generations or the heavens above, the Jade Fish Lotus Pendant is considered worthy of protection.”
Zhu Xuanyi looked left and right, unable to understand the protective value of an ordinary piece of jade.
“Your Highness,” Zhong Lingyun spoke up, “I believe the greatest value of the Jade Fish Lotus Pendant lies in it being an item that has been passed down through long years of history and belongs to you. It is you and history that have endowed it with value.”
After so many years, the person had long decayed in the tomb, yet the Jade Fish Lotus Pendant was still cherished and protected, even more than before.
Was it merely about protecting an object?
No, what was being protected was the brilliant and profound history behind the object.