13: Chapter 13 Her Motivation to Become Stronger

Lost her sense of direction?

Su Chen was taken aback, but he did not interrupt Zhuge Jinyu, allowing her to continue.

"Teacher, when I was very young, as a member of the Zhuge Family, I began learning all sorts of things."

"Back then, the Matriarch looked down on me and constantly belittled me. My father was also somewhat disappointed in me, and even the children from the branch families would ostracize me."

"Only my elder brother and sister were willing to treat me with patience, teaching me the things I didn't understand..."

That was right.

Zhuge Jinyu had grown up in the Zhuge Family's great estate.

From childhood to adulthood, although she suffered the contempt of her family...

...she certainly never lacked cultivation resources or spiritual rice.

Zhuge Jinyu's greatest motivation for becoming stronger was to prove herself to those who looked down on her, while also living up to the expectations of her brother and sister.

At most, there were some ethereal goals added in, like the glory of Great Qian or the reputation of the Zhuge Family.

And now, most of those who looked down on her and those she loved had already died in a war.

She no longer needed to prove herself, yet she was also powerless to do so; losing her goal for struggle was a natural consequence.

...

Her abilities allowed her to strategize and govern a nation.

But having grown up in a greenhouse, she could not see the "commoners" recorded as mere numbers in the memorials.

This wasn't her fault, but a problem of her upbringing.

What Su Chen needed to do was guide her step by step to understand these things and the meaning of governing a country.

But before that, he had to find an anchor for her to lean on.

"Listen, Xiao Yu."

Zhuge Jinyu wiped the mirror, listening intently to Su Chen's words from within.

"If you truly can't find a goal to strive for anymore, then take me as your goal."

"Haven't you always wanted to see what I look like?"

"I'm telling you, even if you wipe this mirror for ten years, if you cannot become an excellent Female Prime Minister, you still won't be able to see my face!"

"Besides, having lived in this mirror for so long, I quite miss the days when I had a body."

"If you can cultivate to the Mahayana Realm and refine a new body for me, that wouldn't be bad either..."

Zhuge Jinyu stopped her wiping motion and nodded heavily.

"I understand, Teacher!"

She was incredibly bright and naturally knew Su Chen was just comforting her.

But every time she faced a request from the "Teacher" in the mirror, she could never find the slightest bit of heart to refuse.

Never mind the Teacher asking her to govern Great Qian well; even if he asked her to conquer Great Qian and give it to him as a gift, she wouldn't hesitate for half a second.

On the contrary, she felt that bearing eternal infamy together with the Teacher would be a very romantic thing.

Su Chen watched as the light slowly returned to the young girl's previously lifeless eyes.

At this thought, Zhuge Jinyu stood up abruptly.

She sat before the dressing table and untied her hairpin.

Three thousand strands of black hair cascaded down, and she used the pin to secure her hair again.

Her original youthful hairstyle vanished.

This time, she combed it into the style of a young married woman staying in her chambers.

"Teacher, this is the last set of clothes my sister left for me..."

"Please take a look for me and see if it suits me!"

"As soon as I finish trying on the clothes, I'll go handle the court affairs!"

After saying that, she pulled a bright red garment out of a wooden chest on her own.

"Your sister left you a... wedding robe?"

"It's beautiful, but..."

Looking at the intricate phoenix crown in Zhuge Jinyu's hands, Su Chen felt a bit uneasy.

Young lady, this kind of clothing for girls isn't something you can just show to outsiders.

It's only meant to be seen by your future husband!

Put it away quickly!

Zhuge Jinyu shook her head.

"When my eldest sister gave it to me, I deliberately tried to annoy her by saying I'd never look for a husband and that living on my own would be better. But now I regret it a little."

Su Chen nodded.

Youthful arrogance; one always waits until loved ones are gone to learn how to cherish them.

"Xiao Yu, so what are your thoughts now?"

"I can't wear this wedding robe now anyway. I have to observe three years of mourning for my father and brother..."

Zhuge Jinyu squeezed out a smile and looked into the mirror.

"In the future, governing the country with Teacher, there will be even less time."

"Everything can wait until after I break through to the Mahayana Realm..."

Hearing this, Su Chen couldn't help but pump his fists.

That's right, this is how my investment target should look.

Cast aside all the messy mundane affairs and be a cold-blooded, battle-hardened Female Prime Minister!

Ten thousand immortals retreat before the River of Regret; love is no match for the tears of persistence!

Su Chen could almost see the image of Zhuge Jinyu leading Great Qian to unify the three kingdoms while he returned to the real world with pockets full of gold to live like a local king.

He was daydreaming there, failing to notice...

...that Zhuge Jinyu was tightly hugging the mirror where he resided.

She just gazed at him tenderly.

She said nothing more.

...

That night.

"I'm so tired, Teacher..."

Zhuge Jinyu sat at her desk, holding a brush to review stacks upon stacks of memorials.

Originally, she only assisted Crown Prince Liu Dou, and these memorials were mainly reviewed by her father, Zhuge Yuan.

But now, she had to shoulder all of this alone.

Border defenses in peril, internal rebellions, natural disasters, and man-made calamities...

Every single item concerned the nation's economy and the people's livelihood.

All of it was decided by the brush in her hand.

Of course, these were not the most urgent matters.

Last March, Guo Wenzhuo, the Prefect of Lianzhou in eastern Great Qian, directly declared a rebellion.

The eight prefectures of eastern Great Qian were originally important granaries.

Because the states of Qian and Hao had been at war for years, a large number of soldiers and grain were conscripted from here. The common people were already suffering beyond words, and the officials and local families were not very submissive to the imperial court.

Therefore, once the rebellion started, it swept through the entire eastern Great Qian like a swarm of locusts.

The elite forces of eastern Great Qian that could have opposed the Guo Clan had already been wiped out in the battle at White Emperor City.

And within the court, not a single person capable of leading troops in battle could be found now.

Meanwhile, the Guo Clan had strong soldiers and sturdy horses.

Taking this opportunity, Guo Wenzhuo directly sent a challenge to the court, claiming he would conquer the entire territory of Great Qian within three months.

It could be said that the officials and powerful families of Great Qian were already prepared to open the city gates to welcome the Guo Clan into the capital and change the dynasty.

"Teacher... what should I do?"

Zhuge Jinyu stretched and looked at the memorial before her with a headache.

The content of this memorial was equally urgent.

Public security in the capital had recently become increasingly poor. This included the previous superstition incident, where many of the instigators were caught from the capital's slums.

That place was a true den of filth and inequity.

Su Chen looked at the content of the memorial and was quite puzzled.

"Slums?"

"With a lack of proper management and poor people huddling together, such a place will definitely generate serious social problems."

"If the slums can be demolished and welfare homes managed uniformly by the government are built, the problem will surely be solved."

Zhuge Jinyu couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Teacher, you are right, but Great Qian has no money..."

After several rounds of such 'sustainable' draining of the pond to catch the fish, Great Qian's national treasury had reached the point where even a mouse entering it would commit suicide.

"No money? Do you know why that rebel Guo Wenzhuo has strong soldiers while the state can't even collect taxes?"

Su Chen looked at the map of Great Qian on the wall, looking at the various lords, bureaucrats, and families pinned to the map.

"The emperors of Great Qian change one after another, but these things are like nails, pinned here for generations."

"In the local areas, the people only recognize the county magistrate and not the imperial court. How do you expect them to hand over money to you?"

Zhuge Jinyu nodded.

The officials and noble families of Great Qian were all hereditary and deeply rooted; her Zhuge Family was no exception.

"Abolish hereditary succession. Civil officials should be recruited through examinations, and military officials should be rewarded based on their merit and headcount."

"Implement the division of property and land among all sons. The powerful families will become smaller and smaller, cutting off the possibility of rebellion while simultaneously winning over the people's hearts."

"If anyone is dissatisfied, your Teacher here knows a thing or two about fighting."

With just three simple sentences, Su Chen directly pointed out the solution to the problems facing Great Qian!

After hearing this, Zhuge Jinyu immediately felt extremely excited.

"Teacher, what you said is wonderful! I will report to His Majesty to promulgate this tomorrow..."

Su Chen shook his head.

"There's no need to rush. First, repair the welfare homes in the capital. As for the other measures, even if they are promulgated, I'm afraid they won't be accepted..."

"What should be solved most urgently now is the imminent problem of rebellion."

"Xiao Yu, tomorrow I will accompany you on an imperial expedition."

Currently, Great Qian had no one left who could lead troops, and everyone was waiting to see Zhuge Jinyu make a fool of herself.

She needed to lead a real war and also needed a great victory to prove herself.

"I'm going personally?"

Zhuge Jinyu's delicate frame shuddered.

"Teacher, how many people do I need to take with me?"

"Eight hundred experts at the Foundation Establishment level or above will suffice."