Before leaving, Yun Shu made sure to leave behind the entrance examination she had specifically prepared for the Mathematics division. She reminded Huyan Mingchuan to recruit no fewer than thirty students by the end of the day.
Only after this did Yun Shu leisurely take Yun Chuhuan on a tour through the other academic courtyards.
Yun Chuhuan followed silently behind her the entire way. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if caught in the depths of profound contemplation. To an outsider, it might have seemed he was pondering some weighty state affair.
It was not until they were about to leave the premises that he finally broke his silence.
"Fifth Elder Sister, do you truly believe those entrance questions can identify the right talents?"
"Of course not."
Without hesitation, Yun Shu shook her head.
"Those are merely a starting point. Once proper instruction begins, we'll be conducting monthly assessments tailored to each discipline. That will be the true test of merit.
Right now, we're barely managing to filter out a few children with sharper observation, quicker thinking, and a bit of logical reasoning. Those who don't pass aren't necessarily lacking potential. But given the limited number of places, we must make an initial cut."
"...I see."
So he had not even passed the most basic criteria in those areas?
Yun Chuhuan's mood sank further.
Sensing his shift, Yun Shu halted and turned around. She flicked a finger against his forehead with a practiced snap.
"What are you brooding about?
No one in this world is perfect. I've yet to meet anyone who truly excels in every field.
Back in the Imperial Academy, you never once seemed bothered when your lessons didn't go smoothly. Why this sudden surge of competitiveness today?"
"That's different."
Yun Chuhuan pouted and muttered under his breath.
It was one thing to compare himself to others of noble birth, all schooled by renowned tutors. But to now be outshone by children of common households—some who likely could not even read before today—how could that possibly be the same?
He pressed his lips together, about to say more, when Tang Yuanlin suddenly rushed out from the academy behind them.
"Your Highness, wait!"
"Grandfather?"
Yun Shu turned in surprise.
"Why did you come out?"
"I had been so occupied administering the entrance exams, I nearly forgot to mention something important," Tang Yuanlin said, gesturing behind him.
He turned with a smile and waved toward the attendants carrying a table, urging them to quicken their pace.
"Please, look over there."
He pointed to an empty stone monument standing near the academy's main gate.
"Back when this Tian Sheng Academy was under construction, I had the idea to leave an inscription to commemorate the day enrollment officially began. And who better to inscribe it than the founder herself—Your Highness."
"Right there?" Yun Shu blinked, slightly confused. "You mean to write directly on the stone?"
"Certainly not," Tang Yuanlin chuckled.
"If we wrote directly on the stone, the next rain would wash it all away. I've already arranged for a sheet of paper the same size as the monument. Once you write your inscription, we will have the calligraphy engraved properly."
As they spoke, the two attendants arrived carrying a long table and a full set of writing tools.
The paper was not excessively large, yet it offered ample space. Yun Shu took up the brush and paused in thought. Before long, she had settled on a fitting phrase to mark the academy's gateway.
With calm focus, she lowered her gaze and began to write, each stroke precise and deliberate:
To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth,
To establish a life for the people,
To continue the lost teachings of the sages,
To bring peace to all generations.
As Yun Shu wrote, Tang Yuanlin stood quietly at her side, eyes intent upon each character.
He began to softly recite the words under his breath. Yet by the time he reached the final line, his voice had risen without him realizing, laced with growing emotion.
"A fine inscription!
To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth,
To establish a life for the people,
To continue the lost teachings of the sages,
To bring peace to all generations!
Your Highness, this is splendid beyond words!"
"I didn't come up with it," Yun Shu coughed lightly. "It was—"
"We understand!" Tang Yuanlin interjected before she could finish, a knowing expression on his face. He nodded as though uncovering a profound secret.
"Just like those unparalleled quotes that appear monthly at Xianting—this too must be the work of those reclusive literary sages you've encountered in your travels. The ones with no names, no origins, and no desire for fame, correct?"
"...Yes."
Indeed, none of them existed in this world.
So technically, she wasn't lying.
Still... why did Grandfather's gaze seem so suspicious?
Yun Shu blinked, trying to read his expression again. Yet before she could pursue the thought further, Tang Yuanlin had already turned his full attention back to admiring the inscription with great enthusiasm.
Yun Shu fell silent.
Fine. Some truths were simply not meant to be explained. The more one tried, the murkier it became.
Better to let it remain ambiguous.
She shook her head and cast off the lingering unease. She did not think much of the matter afterward.
What she underestimated, however, was just how deeply those few lines would resonate among the learned.
Though neither the Tian Sheng Weekly nor the Capital Weekly made mention of it, the words engraved on the stone monument at the entrance to Tian Sheng Academy spread with astonishing speed.
First, the court officials began to look upon her with subtle but noticeable shifts in their eyes. Then Emperor Xuanwu himself, before the entire court of civil and military ministers, praised her openly:
"Our qilin daughter indeed possesses the ambition of a great roc. With such a Crown Princess, Tian Sheng is truly blessed."
By autumn, even Tang Muzhi wrote to her from far-off Qiongzhou. At the end of his letter, he teased:
He had never imagined the day would come when the name of Crown Princess would be whispered with reverence in literary circles across the land. As a Zhuang Yuan, he confessed himself thoroughly humbled.
Yun Shu: "…"
Let them spread whatever tales they please.
It wasn't as if she could step forward and explain that the quote came from another world entirely.
With a quiet sigh, Yun Shu folded the letter and glanced up at Tang Xinhua, who was seated across from her.
"Did Cousin say in his letter that he sent a carriage to the Tang residence?"
"He did."
Tang Xinhua paused briefly, then nodded.
"In the past, letters were always sent by swift courier on horseback. But for some reason this time, he arranged for a servant to drive a proper carriage back. It took considerably longer.
And oddly enough, aside from instructing me to use the carriage for my travels from now on, he said nothing else."
"He told you to use that carriage?" Yun Shu raised her brow, clearly amused.
"Did you?"
"I did."
Tang Xinhua hesitated, sensing Yun Shu's words hinted at something more. After a moment's pause, she added softly, "It's currently parked in the rear courtyard."
"Have you noticed anything unusual about the carriage?"
"Unusual?"
Tang Xinhua reflexively tried to recall the past few days of riding in it. Just as she opened her mouth to answer, the sharp clash of blades erupted from outside the private room.
===
The quote above is one of the most famous and lofty expressions of Confucian idealism in Chinese intellectual history. It comes from Zhang Zai (张载), a major Neo-Confucian philosopher of the Northern Song dynasty. The quote is:
"为天地立心,为生民立命,为往圣继绝学,为万世开太平."(Wèi tiāndì lì xīn, wèi shēngmín lì mìng, wèi wǎngshèng jì juéxué, wèi wànshì kāi tàipíng.)
Literal Translation:
为天地立心 – To establish a heart/mind for Heaven and Earth
为生民立命 – To establish a destiny for the people
为往圣继绝学 – To continue the lost teachings of the ancient sages
为万世开太平 – To open the way to peace for all generations
This quote is a statement of rujia (Confucian) scholar-mission: it defines what Zhang Zai saw as the purpose of the Confucian scholar, and more broadly, the moral responsibility of the intellectual. It appears in Zhang Zai's work "Western Inscription" (Ximing, "正蒙·西铭"), and became one of the most influential declarations of purpose in Song dynasty Confucianism.
"To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth" (为天地立心)
This is deeply metaphysical. It implies that the cosmos itself is not complete until human beings infuse it with moral consciousness.
"Heart" (心, xin) in Confucianism can mean mind, heart, moral center, or intention. Zhang Zai saw humans as the moral agents of the cosmos, who give meaning to Heaven and Earth through ethical thought and action.
In other words, we become the conscience of the cosmos, responsible for keeping the natural order aligned with justice and harmony.
"To establish a life for the people" (为生民立命)
This refers to giving the people a meaningful and secure life, or more broadly, to define or secure their "destiny" (命, ming).
Zhang Zai's Neo-Confucian thought emphasized a duty to serve society. Scholars should not retreat into personal cultivation alone, but should uplift the people—morally, politically, economically.
Some interpret this line as striving to help people understand their moral purpose, guiding them toward virtue.
"To continue the lost teachings of the sages" (为往圣继绝学)
Refers to carrying on the authentic Confucian tradition, especially during times when it has been neglected or corrupted.
"绝学" (lost teachings) refers to classical wisdom that was feared to be lost due to political turmoil or the rise of competing schools (e.g. Buddhism or Daoism).
Scholars in Zhang Zai's time believed they were reviving the true Dao of Confucius and Mencius, restoring a noble lineage of moral learning.
"To bring peace to all generations" (为万世开太平)
The most practical and political of the four. It means to create lasting peace and order for the world, not just one dynasty or reign.
It reflects the Confucian political ideal: a harmonious, just society governed by virtue rather than force.
"万世" (ten thousand generations) suggests a desire to build institutions, ethics, and teachings that can endure forever.
This passage became a kind of creed for Confucian scholars, especially during the Song and Ming dynasties. It was used to define the moral and political role of literati and officials.
The phrase is often quoted in Chinese education, political speeches, and even popular media to evoke moral duty, patriotism, and a sense of historical mission. It's commonly invoked when praising teachers, scholars, or public servants who have made great contributions to society.
--
"the ambition of a great roc" is a metaphor that draws from classical Chinese mythology, especially Zhuangzi (庄子), to express vast and soaring ambition—the kind that transcends ordinary limits.
The Origin: Zhuangzi ("庄子"), Chapter 1: Free and Easy Wandering (逍遥游)
This is where the story of Kunpeng originates.
Zhuangzi writes:
"There is a fish in the northern sea, its name is Kun. Kun is so huge, no one knows how many thousand li it stretches. When it transforms, it becomes a bird. Its name is Peng. Peng's back is like a mountain, and when it rises, its wings are like clouds across the sky."
Then he continues:
"It rises on a wind of ninety thousand li and soars into the sky. It travels to the southern sea in one burst, never stopping."
This bird starts life as a giant fish called Kun (鲲, Kūn), and then transforms into a roc (鹏, Péng). It represents something that is: Beyond ordinary scale; Capable of soaring far beyond what others can even dream of; Unstoppable once it sets its course
It also the embodiment of boundless transformation and ambition.
In here the Author only write "great roc" (大鹏, dà péng) instead of full 'Kunpeng'.
The Peng (鹏) form — the giant bird — is what people usually remember, because it symbolizes soaring ambition and unstoppable movement. So, many texts and adaptations just call it a "great roc" or "Peng", even though it's the same being as Kunpeng.
The term "roc" comes from Persian and Arabic mythology (like in One Thousand and One Nights), but is often used in English as a rough equivalent for 鹏, since both are giant mythical birds.
"Our qilin daughter indeed possesses the ambition of a great roc."
This line praises Yun Shu for having extraordinary ambition and vision, much like the roc that soars above all others. It implies she is not content with the mundane or ordinary path, but instead harbors noble, far-reaching aspirations—perhaps to reform the empire, rise above court politics, or reshape the future of the dynasty.
It's a compliment of the highest kind, especially when spoken in a historical or royal context.
The qilin (麒麟) is another auspicious creature in Chinese mythology, symbolizing virtue, wisdom, and heavenly favor.
Together with the great roc, this paints the Crown Princess as both blessed and destined for greatness—someone born under a lucky star and aiming for the heavens.