Prince Nolan and Serena Feng couldn’t stay here forever. After treating Yana Zhan for a period and confirming her recovery, they left behind enough medicinal herbs and prepared to depart...
"Every three months, I’ll send a physician to check on Yana and deliver her next season’s medicine. Remember to take the medicine on time and rest well—no strenuous work allowed."
No matter what Evan Zhou thinks, Serena Feng doesn’t want them to suffer too much.
"Even after treatment, Yana’s body is still weak and can’t handle hard work. She shouldn’t do household chores. If you refuse to let servants help, at least hire local women to handle the housework for me."
Regardless of Yana’s background, before marrying Evan Zhou, she was always a pampered lady. She really isn’t suited for chores, and even if she tries, it’s much harder for her than for ordinary people.
"Don’t worry, sister. I’ll take good care of Yana. Once she’s well, I’ll bring her and Jamie Zhou to visit you." Evan Zhou was reluctant to part; this month together made him feel like he’d returned to the old days.
Countless times in the middle of the night, Evan Zhou wondered: if he hadn’t gone to Southlyn back then, what would life have been like if he’d stayed in Eastlyn, stayed at Feng Manor?
Maybe there would have been some regrets, but mostly happiness. After all, a simple life suits him best.
Hearing Evan Zhou’s words, Serena Feng finally felt much relieved. "I’ll wait for you in the Capital," she said. She had always feared Evan would stubbornly refuse to return.
"Auntie, I’ll miss you..." Jamie Zhou clung to Serena Feng’s hand, unwilling to let go.
Scholars rarely succeed in rebellion, even after ten years—Prince Nolan isn’t worried about Jixia Academy’s scholars rising up, so he has plenty of time to slowly bring the Academy under control.
The slow-boil strategy is perfect: Prince Nolan plans to nibble away at Jixia Academy step by step, so by the time its people realize, the Academy will already be in royal hands.
Every year, Prince Nolan sends batches of officials’ sons to study at Jixia Academy. These boys are carefully selected—not just for book-smarts, but for their social skills.
Compared to rigid bookworms, the officials’ sons are smooth operators and skilled at networking. Finding a few “close classmates” is easy for them.
Once they graduate from Jixia Academy, they have the bonds of classmates—helping each other out is totally normal.
In recent years, countless Jixia Academy students have been drawn into the bureaucracy by Prince Nolan’s strategy, serving him loyally.
Honestly, the students trained at Jixia Academy are impressive. Sure, some are pedantic, but most are practical—and Prince Nolan trusts them in office.
Lately, Prince Nolan is even considering sending an imperial minister to Jixia Academy each term, to lecture students on governance and people’s livelihoods.
Serena Feng is right: as long as you win over these scholars, with them leading the way, ordinary people will follow.
Education is the foundation of the nation—it’s absolutely worth the effort!
However...
The old hardliners at Jixia Academy aren’t so easily persuaded. Prince Nolan can send students there—they can’t refuse, since the whole realm is under his rule. But…
But when it comes to sending teachers to Jixia Academy, they won’t accept it.
Jixia Academy used to be independent of imperial power. If Prince Nolan does this, isn’t he hollowing out their authority?
At that point, will Jixia Academy even be Jixia Academy anymore?
Both sides have argued for ages—even William Wang Jinling stepped in to mediate. But neither Jixia Academy nor Prince Nolan will budge.
Still, William Wang Jinling thinks it’s only a matter of time. Jixia Academy can’t hold out forever—nobody dares defy the Emperor for long.
The Emperor has already shown restraint by not using force against Jixia Academy. If the Academy keeps pushing its luck, it might end up like Southlyn, Westlyn, or Northlyn—losing even its name.
Of course, none of this concerns the Grand Heir. Ever since leaving Skyvault Palace Sect, he cut ties with everyone—no one can find him.
Northern Desert, the frontier, the great grasslands… the Sea’s Edge, the Sky’s Corner…
While Prince Nolan and Serena Feng traveled together, William Wang Jinling’s footsteps reached every corner of the Nine Provinces Realm.
Unlike Prince Nolan and Serena Feng, who simply passed through, William Wang Jinling recorded the geography and customs everywhere he went, and always picked a spot to paint—capturing the local scenery on paper.
His servant compiled these notes and paintings into a travelogue—William Wang Jinling’s Journeys Across the Nine Provinces.
Reading ten thousand books is no match for traveling ten thousand miles. But…
Not everyone has that opportunity. Never mind the cost—even safety isn’t guaranteed. For ordinary people, traveling ten thousand miles is just a fantasy.
William Wang Jinling knew this well. So everywhere he went, he wrote about local life—so those who couldn’t travel could still discover the world through his words.
You have to admit, the Grand Heir’s character is truly exceptional—he never acts just for himself.
Ten years later, when William Wang Jinling published his travelogue, it caused a sensation—paper prices soared across the Nine Provinces, and edition after edition rolled off the presses.
Every literate person was proud to own William Wang Jinling’s Journeys Across the Nine Provinces. For officials, it became a handbook for governance—because…
Its descriptions of local customs let capital officials understand the provinces without leaving their desks, and helped new magistrates prepare for the challenges ahead.
One book—Journeys Across the Nine Provinces—put the Grand Heir back on a pedestal. Even past fifty, he was still the Jade Beau of the Wang Clan, adored by noblewomen and girls in the Capital.
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