“Your Highness, please behold the finished Crown and Robes of the Heir Apparent.”
Since Emperor Hui designated Zhu Xuanyi as the crown princess, creating entirely new Crown and Robes of the Heir Apparent had become the urgent priority of the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau.
Some officials had suggested making minor modifications to the original crown prince robes. Both Zhu Xuanyi and Queen Wang opposed this.
Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for a female crown heir to wear robes designed for male crown heirs?
Could this great nation truly not design crown robes for a female heir?
Was this a failure of design, or an unwillingness to accept a female crown prince?
The issue of ceremonial robes was an issue of ritual, and ritual issues were political issues.
The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau and Ministry of Rites dared not treat this lightly.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau completed initial designs, first presenting them to Queen Wang for review, then to Zhu Xuanyi.
After the designs were approved, the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau concentrated efforts to produce the finished product now before them.
Zhu Xuanyi had already changed into the Crown and Robes of the Heir Apparent.
“Excellent, excellent.”
Queen Wang circled Zhu Xuanyi three times, carefully examining every detail of the crown robes.
Majestic and solemn yet retaining elegance, with ingenious designs in small details that fully embodied feminine characteristics.
“These are truly crown robes worthy of a female heir. The Ministry of Rites and Imperial Wardrobe Bureau have worked diligently.”
After much effort, several revisions, and sleepless nights, finally receiving approval from both the Queen and Crown Princess, the Chief of Imperial Wardrobe and Minister of Rites could finally set their anxious hearts at rest.
“Merit Point System activated.”
The mechanical, emotionless voice suddenly echoed through Changding Hall as the light screen appeared before Zhu Xuanyi again.
But it wasn’t yet time for video playback!
Before anyone could comprehend what the Merit Point System was, the text disappeared and was replaced by new words.
[Princess Shunyang Zhu Xuanyi becomes crown heir, points +100]
[Lu Hehe of Luojing invents obstetric forceps, points +100]
[Great Yin Dynasty current points: 200.]
A page appeared on the light screen, with ethereal Great Yin Dynasty landscapes as background and the Great Yin Dynasty Imperial Seal stamped in the upper right corner.
On the left side of the page was a circular portrait of Zhu Xuanyi – smiling brightly, confident and uplifted.
Beneath the portrait read: Points Authorized User: Zhu Xuanyi.
To the right of the portrait, in the center of the page.
[Current Points: 200
Merit Point Store: To be opened.
Other Privileges: To be perfected.]
In the lower right corner of the page was a line of small, underlined text.
[Click to view point rules.]
Queen Wang and the Minister of Rites gathered around Zhu Xuanyi, while the Chief of Imperial Wardrobe quietly stood behind her, all intensely curious about this light screen.
Zhu Xuanyi clicked to view the point rules.
The light screen displayed a new page.
[1. Point Acquisition: Promote progress in politics, economy, culture, society, military, and ecological civilization to earn points.
2. Point Usage: Authorized point users may exchange points for goods in the Merit Point Store.
3. Other: The point system is gradually being perfected. Additional functions and privileges forthcoming.]
After this explanation, everyone understood.
Queen Wang: “This means that whenever Great Yin subjects perform beneficial deeds, they earn points. For example, this Lu Hehe from Luojing invented obstetric forceps, and here we gained 100 points.”
Minister of Rites: “Merely inventing obstetric forceps actually carries the same point value as Your Highness being enthroned as crown heir.”
Zhu Xuanyi, Queen Wang, the Chief Attendant, and the women in the palace all cast skeptical glances at the elderly Minister of Rites.
“Minister, you have never given birth and do not understand the suffering women endure during childbirth. Obstetrical forceps can assist in delivery and save the lives of countless mothers and children. This is a legacy that will benefit generations to come.”
Come to think of it, with so many talented individuals in the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Ministry of Works, and such excellent resources, why hadn’t they invented obstetrical forceps sooner?
Truly, the most skilled masters often emerge from among the common people.
Minister of Rites: …This is the problem when dealing with a female crown prince—there are fewer shared topics of discussion.
Undoubtedly, a female crown prince would show more attention, assistance, and support toward women, with greater sensitivity and detail.
“Points can be exchanged for goods—likely products from future generations!” Zhu Xuanyi said with slight excitement. “It’s a pity the marketplace hasn’t opened yet.”
Lin Zhitong complained, “Why is everything ‘to be perfected,’ ‘to be opened,’ or ‘stay tuned’?”
It feels somewhat unreliable, doesn’t it?
“Look here,” Zhu Xuanyi pointed at the section on earning points. “Politics, economy, culture, society, military, and ecological civilization—these six terms encompass all aspects of state governance. Among them, ‘economy’ and ‘society’ are relatively unfamiliar terms, likely commonly used in later eras. From this, we can glimpse the direction of future state governance.”
“Does ‘economy’ mean managing the state and benefiting the people?”
“It doesn’t seem so. The phrase ‘managing the state and benefiting the people’ is broad and profound, already encompassing these categories.”
If it meant managing the state and benefiting the people, it shouldn’t be listed alongside politics and the others.
“And what does ‘society’ mean?”
The Minister of Rites couldn’t figure it out either.
Zhu Xuanyi asked Zhong Lingyun, “Have you recorded everything?”
“Your Highness, rest assured, it has all been noted down.”
While court officials and the scholars of the Imperial College were still grappling with heavy workloads and the questions left by the Sky Screen, their beloved Crown Princess Xuanyi had already prepared the next task for them.
[Video update detected. Now playing, countdown…]
A massive, familiar Sky Screen appeared over the Great Yin territory, displaying flickering numbers as a mechanical, cold countdown echoed in their ears.
[987]
Zhong Lingyun hurriedly recorded the numbers appearing on the Sky Screen.
[321]
What’s going on?
It’s not yet time for the video broadcast today!
[Greetings, esteemed viewers—I am Qing Ju. Long time no see, I’ve missed you all—In response to the strong requests from our audience, we’re releasing an extra episode today!]
The familiar character illustration with auspicious clouds opened the segment, accompanied by the same gentle yet lively voice.
To be honest, after a few days, everyone had started to miss it a little.
[The theme of this episode is—Examining the Reform of Officialdom Practices in the Early Zhaowen Period through the Overtime Bloodshed Case.]
The character illustration and clouds faded away, and the Sky Screen turned black, displaying several large white characters. Among them, the words “Blood Case” were a bloody crimson, with red, blood-like streaks dripping from them, creating a somewhat terrifying effect.
The court officials immediately felt uneasy.
They referred to their duties at government offices as “sitting shifts,” so “overtime” was easily understood—working beyond their scheduled hours.
Overtime Bloodshed Case…
A blood case!
Which government office? What happened?
How could an overtime bloodshed case lead to reforms in officialdom practices?
Reforming officialdom practices is no easy task!
How terrifying must it have been!
【On the sixteenth day of the fifth month in the thirtieth year of Emperor Hui’s reign, the gravely ill sovereign announced to the entire realm his abdication in favor of his legitimate daughter, Princess Shunyang. On this day, the supreme throne of the Great Yin Dynasty changed hands amid shifting winds and undercurrents, catching everyone off guard—so much so that the new emperor’s ceremonial robes had not even been completed.】
Under the clear sky, within the majestic imperial palace, court officials gathered in the Taiji Hall to pay homage to the new emperor. However, as the imperial robes were unfinished, the new sovereign still wore her princess ceremonial attire.
It felt somewhat peculiar.
Yet, a female ruler was itself an unprecedented occurrence in history, making the oddity of the robes less conspicuous and extraordinary.
The static scene in the Sky screen flipped like a page in a book, and amidst the flowing auspicious clouds on the luminous screen, a date appeared.
June twentieth.