Imperial Palace of Jing Country.
Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand, silencing the cabinet ministers and the Minister of Officials who opposed appointing Zheng Qiru as the top scholar due to his unsightly appearance.
"We do not judge people by their looks," the Emperor declared.
"Your Majesty, if our top scholar looks like this, won't we be laughed at by other countries?"
"Are we going to forbid our top scholars from meeting foreign envoys from now on?!"
Xiao Yunzhou pressed his lips together. In the past, he might have cared about saving face, but now, after listening to the little princess's teachings, his thinking had become more open-minded.
Xiao Yunzhou looked at Chancellor Fu Cha and the Minister of Officials. "Is our country's reputation solely based on the appearance of our men?"
The Minister of Officials and the cabinet were shocked.
In the past, the Emperor would never have uttered such words.
These words could only come from someone with a broad mind and far-reaching vision.
Clearly, Xiao Yunzhou had subtly reached this level. "It's better for other countries to see our top scholar."
He leaned forward, "We want talented individuals from all countries to know that in Jing Country, regardless of gender, age, physical disabilities, or appearance, as long as you have skills, Jing Country will value and employ you."
[Oh! Well said, my Emperor father.]
Behind the screen in the study, Xiao Chuchu was being fed vegetable porridge by Liu Chaniang.
Because she wasn't crying or making a fuss, the ministers, even though they knew the little princess was behind the screen, couldn't be bothered to mind her presence.
Now, Xiao Chuchu was almost openly spending her days in the imperial study, always ready to observe the drama unfold.
Hearing Xiao Yunzhou's words, Xiao Chuchu's imagination ran wild. [Isn't this talent recruitment? Immigration policy?]
Xiao Yunzhou, who had just been pleased with his daughter's praise, was suddenly stunned.
Immigration?
[Attracting talented individuals from various countries and regions, encouraging them to join our country's citizenship.]
[They would need to pay taxes in our country, contribute to our nation's development, and of course, they could enjoy the welfare policies of our citizens.]
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes flickered, his heart suddenly burning with excitement.
Good!
What an excellent idea of immigration!
The words he had just casually used to show off—no, to lecture the cabinet—actually aligned with the thoughts from the Immortal Realm.
[I remember that for immigration and talent recruitment, there are several criteria. First is whether the person has high educational qualifications or is a research or management talent.]
[Second is whether they have certain assets, or pay taxes locally, or invest a certain amount in the area.]
Hearing this, Xiao Yunzhou wanted to applaud.
Recruiting scholars, officials, merchants, and skilled farmers from other countries!
Or wealthy people who would bring money to Jing Country!
Weren't these two categories exactly what Jing Country needed most now—people and money?
Ah, this talent recruitment and immigration policy from the Immortal Realm was truly spot-on!
The only problem, Xiao Yunzhou frowned, was whether talented individuals and rich merchants from other countries would be willing to come to Jing Country.
Previously, it had been quite challenging to attract people from Duoti and the twin beauties from Chu State.
[Of course, we also need to have attractive features for talents, such as what Emperor Father said—we recruit talents regardless of physical condition, gender, or age.]
[Besides this, there should be more specific talent benefits, such as housing and business establishment privileges.]
Xiao Chuchu recalled, [It requires strong national power and welfare policies to support!]
[In a word, we use our strengths to attract them!]
[We offer what others don't have. For example, development opportunities, excellent educational environment, and so on...]
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes grew brighter as he listened.
The little princess's suggestions subtly incorporated the approach used in three previous instances of gathering elite individuals.
Jiu Xiao - giving them opportunities to fulfill their ambitions, Duoti - offering better military welfare, and the sisters from Chu State - providing more job opportunities and legal support for women.
Not to mention Jing Country's culinary and medical expertise!
[We need to promote our country's advantages... let talented individuals from other countries see them.]
Xiao Chuchu pondered, but she didn't truly understand these professional matters.
She could only think about it a little in her mind.
However, she didn't realize that this little thought was already a highly advanced concept in ancient times.
Xiao Yunzhou immediately had an idea. He stood up abruptly and looked at the senior cabinet ministers before him.
"While talking with you, I suddenly remembered what Concubine Liu suggested to me a few days ago. She proposed that Chu people who want to join the milk tea shop franchise should open their shops at the border between our two countries."
Chancellor Fu Cha and the Minister of Officials were bewildered.
How did the Emperor's thoughts jump so quickly?
They were almost dumbfounded.
Weren't they just discussing the new top scholar who was extraordinarily ugly?
How did the topic suddenly shift to milk tea shops?
"I think Concubine Liu's idea is very clever. I want to open a Jing Country-style cultural gathering place at the border between the two countries!"
"?!"
"Not only will I open food shops there, but I'll also set up free clinics, demonstrating open-chest and abdominal surgeries..."
"???"
Xiao Yunzhou felt his thoughts were clearer than ever before.
Just as his daughter said, they needed to showcase Jing Country's advantages for all talented individuals from other countries to see!
"Order the new top scholar Zheng Qiru to assist in this matter."
"Also, command Liu Runnian from the Ministry of Works to display the newly acquired items at that cultural gathering."
"And the Ministry of Officials, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Justice, compile our country's recent new policies."
"??"
Amidst the bewildered gazes of the ministers, Xiao Yunzhou stood up.
"I want all other countries to know that Jing Country now far surpasses its former self!"
Everyone in the imperial study was shocked.
...
At the Spring Flower Banquet in the mansion of the Prime Minister of Chu State, noble young men and ladies residing in the capital came to attend.
Whether talented scholars or beautiful ladies, they all gathered around the beautiful twin sisters, Ji Chunyue and Ji Qiuyue.
"Love pea milk tea?"
"Fruit tea?"
"Does Jing Country really have so many good things? How come we've never heard of them?"
If anyone else had said this, these young ladies and gentlemen might not have believed it, but looking at the elegant and dignified Ji sisters, they were completely convinced, as if the twins were the center of attention.
Ji Chunyue nodded, "Not just these, they also have very interesting board games. My sister and I played until late at night, and even learned some household management principles from them."
The other young ladies, upon hearing this, were all curious and very interested.
"Chunyue, did you bring any back?"
Ji Chunyue immediately showed a regretful expression, "No, we came back in a hurry."
At that time, they were only concerned about returning to open the shop and left the board games behind.
The maid Yuan couldn't help but interject, "The roast duck is also delicious, and so are the hot pot and barbecue skewers!"
The young men and women of Chu State immediately looked longing.
"Alright, we ladies are having a private conversation, you all should leave now," Ji Qiuyue dismissed the men.
After all the men had left, Ji Qiuyue mysteriously began speaking to the young ladies from various noble families, and even the married Princess of Chu who had come to visit today.
"Our biggest gain from this secret trip to Jing Country wasn't actually the food."
"Instead, we heard the sound of women standing up!"
The young ladies from various noble houses of Chu State and the Princess of Chu were all startled.
Until sunset, everyone listened intently, reluctant to leave.
Even when their mothers came to urge them home, they were still not satisfied and kept asking Ji Qiuyue to continue.
"Did Concubine Liu from Jing Country really whip men dozens of times in public and say she would continue to do so?"
"Men are not allowed to hit women? Otherwise, they'll be hit back?"
"Can women go out to work? Even married ones?"
"What is this 'suturing technique'?"
"So Concubine Liu beat and disciplined men, and not only was she not punished, but she also got the emperor to change the law?"
The sky had darkened, the tea had gone cold, and the young ladies had drunk their fill of water. Even the Princess of Chu felt a bit drowsy, yet they were still reluctant to leave.
It was too legendary.
In their Chu State, not only did such things not happen, but they weren't even in storybooks!
Ji Chunyue, seeing it was getting too late, couldn't keep everyone any longer and stood up to see her guests off.
As they were leaving, she remembered the bookworm's letter mentioned yesterday and lowered her eyes, saying, "In the next few days, at the border between Jing Country and ours, Xun Prefecture will open milk tea shops and host special cultural gatherings in Jing Country style."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Xun Prefecture was Jing Country territory but very close to their Lanshan City in Chu State.
They were separated by water.
Sometimes they would go there for outings, as the temples there were said to be very efficacious.
Especially for seeking blessings in marriage and childbirth, their elders would sometimes take them there to burn incense.
"You should tell your families at home. Those who want to go burn incense should go quickly. In a few days, when Jing Country starts their special cultural gatherings, there might not be enough rooms at Lanke Temple."
The group of young ladies, and even the Princess of Chu, all had a glimmer in their eyes upon hearing this.
*
In the third month of spring, Xiao Yunzhou led the two princes, Cheng Qian and Cheng Shan, along with Concubine Liu, little princess Xiao Chuchu, and a group of officials to Xun City.
"Your Majesty, our cultural gathering will officially begin tomorrow!"
"The common people have spontaneously put up lanterns and decorations, just waiting for your arrival!"