Zhu Cunji stared at the giant screen in the market square as if it had personally betrayed him.
A prince… raising troops to serve the emperor?
He, Zhu Cunji, could not even leave Xi'an openly. Every time he wanted to step outside the city walls, he had to arrange a body double to sit properly in his residence, then disguise himself as the wandering swordsman Zhu Piaoling and sneak out like some third-rate Jianghu rogue, only to rush back in a panic before anyone noticed the switch.
And yet Zhu Yujian, Prince of Tang, had openly assembled a thousand men and marched north under the banner of loyalty.
Zhu Cunji suddenly threw his head back and laughed toward the sky.
"If Prince Zhu Yujian dares to do this," he declared grandly, "then I, the heir, shall do the same! To arms! We march to serve the emperor!"
"Sit down."
The voice came from beside him, calm and unimpressed.
Sun Chuanting, newly appointed Governor of Shaanxi, did not even bother turning his head. "Raise an army? With what troops? Will you drag Dao Xuan Tianzun's militia into imperial politics again? There is no need. Bai Mao and Ma Shouying already went north."
Zhu Cunji froze mid-heroic pose.
"Oh."
Right.
If he were to "serve the emperor," he would naturally bring the militia.
But the militia was already gone.
He sat back down heavily.
"This is terribly boring."
Sun Chuanting gave him a sidelong glance. "Affairs of state are not meant to entertain you. If you crave excitement, put on your Zhu Piaoling disguise again and wander the streets. Just do not meddle in war."
Zhu Cunji rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It has been a while since I went out. Perhaps I shall visit Henan."
"Henan is crawling with rebels," Sun Chuanting replied dryly. "What business do you have there?"
"I shall visit my relative, Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang."
Sun Chuanting's brows knitted together. "By the time this news was filmed, edited, sent back to Gao Family Village, and scheduled for broadcast, several days have already passed. By now, the situation may have changed entirely."
Zhu Cunji's smile faded. "Headmaster Sun… you mean…"
"I mean," Sun Chuanting said quietly, "Prince Zhu Yujian is walking into danger."
Zhu Cunji stood abruptly.
For a moment he hesitated, then made up his mind and dashed downstairs.
"Your Highness!" Sun Chuanting called after him. "Where are you going?"
"Certainly not telling you!"
Moments later, the gleaming Kulinan roared to life and shot down the road like a silver arrow.
Sun Chuanting watched it disappear and sighed.
On the screen, the broadcast continued.
Gao Yiye's composed figure reappeared.
"Now," she announced with a faint smile, "a special report delivered by Dao Xuan Tianzun himself. On September eighth of this year, across the vast ocean, a school named Harvard University was established, becoming America's earliest private institution of higher learning."
She paused slightly before continuing.
"Although we have the Thirty-Two Middle School, which rivals such institutions, one school alone cannot sustain a nation's educational needs. Dao Xuan Tianzun hopes that those of vision will establish private institutions of higher learning, expanding our academic resources and elevating national education as a whole."
A young scholar leapt up from the crowd.
"Private higher learning? You mean advanced academies?" he shouted. "That is admirable, but how can any academy rival Thirty-Two Middle School? We lack the Heavenly Books. Without divine artifacts, how could we possibly operate such an institution?"
The surrounding spectators groaned.
"Gu Yanwu, sit down! You block the screen every time!"
Gu Yanwu protested loudly, "Then where else am I supposed to ask? If Dao Xuan Tianzun speaks through the screen, I can only shout back at it!"
At that moment, Wang Tang, Gao Family Village's representative in Xi'an, stepped forward.
"You may submit your proposal directly to Gao Family Village and present it to the Saintess. If she approves, the Heavenly Books and certain teaching tools from Thirty-Two Middle School may be loaned."
Gu Yanwu's eyes widened. "Even the divine artifacts?"
"If the purpose is righteous," Wang Tang replied, "they can be shared."
Gu Yanwu did not hesitate.
"My family owns eight hundred mu of ancestral land. I will sell it all and establish a private academy."
Wang Tang smiled. "Dao Xuan Tianzun will be pleased."
The next morning, Gu Yanwu boarded the train to Gao Family Village.
After the roaring iron beast carried him across the plains, he arrived at the station, adjusted his robes, and walked toward the main fortress.
Before he reached the watchtower, a familiar head peeked from the third-floor balcony.
"Mr. Gu," Gao Yiye called down gently, "please come upstairs. Dao Xuan Tianzun has been waiting for you."
Gu Yanwu nearly stumbled.
"The Heavenly Lord… waiting for me?"
His dignified scholar's pace vanished instantly. He hurried up the stairs with surprising speed.
On the balcony, Li Daoxuan sat at a tea table. Gao Yiye's chair was positioned slightly behind his, a subtle gesture of respect.
Gu Yanwu bowed deeply before taking his seat.
"You wish to establish a school?" Li Daoxuan asked.
"Yes." Gu Yanwu's expression was solemn. "Years ago, I received guidance from you. Since then, I have traveled through Xi'an, Gao Family Village, Puzhou, and much of Shanxi. I have observed carefully, year after year. I have reached a conclusion."
Li Daoxuan lifted his teacup. "Let us hear it."
"For popular governance to succeed, the people must first be educated. If the populace remains ignorant, giving them power is merely chaos in disguise. But if the entire land is literate and informed, then self-governance will arise naturally."
Li Daoxuan set down his cup and clapped lightly.
"Well said. Your thoughts align perfectly with mine."
Gu Yanwu lowered his head modestly, though pride shone in his eyes.
"Since you are willing to sell ancestral property for education," Li Daoxuan continued, "I shall not be stingy. Headmaster Wang will support you fully. You may enter the Thirty-Two Middle School library and select whatever textbooks you require. Take as many as necessary."
"All of them?" Gu Yanwu asked carefully.
"Any of them."
Gu Yanwu hesitated. "Are you not concerned that my institution may be poorly guarded? What if enemy spies infiltrate and steal the Heavenly Books?"
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"What is there to fear? It is not as though no one has ever tried."
Gu Yanwu blinked.
Li Daoxuan smoothly shifted the topic.
"Knowledge alone is not power. Without industry, infrastructure, and a network of skilled hands, books are merely ink on paper. Even if someone stole every volume, without the foundation beneath them, they could not recreate what we have built."
Gu Yanwu slowly nodded.
He understood.
Education was not about possessing secrets.
It was about building soil where ideas could take root.
And that, far more than any single book, was the true divine artifact.