In the blooming month of March, the world was full of vibrant life.
Occasionally, crisp birdsong echoed through the mountains and forests.
The spring sunshine cast a soft, fuzzy warmth over the grassy plains.
Inside the Finance Hall, however, the air felt slightly damp, though not so stifling as to be uncomfortable.
Qin Jianghe glanced briefly at Fang Manchang before turning back to his work, asking casually, "Manchang, how are things over there?"
Fang Manchang, still sorting through the ledgers, replied, "The message from the royal family says things are going smoothly. While many sects are still somewhat skeptical about our supply channels, none of them have outright rejected us. A few of the larger, more established sects have already placed small test orders through the royal family."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jianghe's hands didn't slow, but a faint smile appeared in his eyes.
"As long as they didn't reject us, it's a good sign. Once they've gathered enough information about us, it's only a matter of time before they fully accept our supplies."
After several years of steady growth, Lingxian Sect had firmly established its business dealings with the cultivation world, the royal family of Pusi Kingdom, and the three major sects. All major and minor matters had been properly arranged. The only issue was the shortage of personnel, which meant that departments like the Finance Hall and Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had to take on extra work. However, this problem was expected to be resolved after the new batch of disciples was recruited and trained.
Because of this, Qin Jianghe had already begun preparing to expand the sect's business dealings beyond Pusi Kingdom, reaching further into the mortal world.
Lin Yan, who was busy recording entries, sighed lightly as she held her pen, "Let's just hope that next month's recruitment goes smoothly, and that we can bring in some capable hands who know how to handle accounts and business."
Jiang Youdi also sighed, "Exactly. Every time we approach the shipping and receiving dates, I barely get to see my little girl for ten days to half a month."
At twenty-two years old, Jiang Youdi had been married for five years. For a long time, he and his wife hadn't been able to conceive, though they hadn't been overly concerned about it, given their youth. But after joining Lingxian Sect, his wife had become pregnant the following year.
Now, their little daughter was over a year old. Afraid that a formal name would be too difficult for the young child, they gave her the nickname "Dou Dou" for the time being.
Perhaps due to growing up in the rich spiritual environment of Lingxian Sect, Dou Dou didn't have the typical look of a scrawny country child; instead, she was white, plump, and incredibly adorable. Jiang's mother often said that Dou Dou resembled Jiang Youfu when he was a child.
The mention of Dou Dou brightened the mood in the Finance Hall.
Especially for Lin Yan, who, as a young woman already of marriageable age, had a particular fondness for the chubby little girl. The thought of her brought an extra burst of energy as she declared, "We can worry about next month when it comes. Let's finish this work quickly, then we can take Dou Dou to the herb garden to play!"
Qin Jianghe nodded, "I heard Elder Liao's grapes have ripened recently. We can take Dou Dou there to try them."
The four of them picked up the pace, eager to complete their tasks.
Dou Dou was the first child born in Lingxian Sect, and she had grown up surrounded by the love and care of everyone in the sect. Even Liao Pantou, a five-hundred-year-old cultivator, couldn't help but show a gentle smile when interacting with the little girl.
After all, when Dou Dou was born, everyone in the sect—except those on assignments—had gathered outside Jiang Youdi's house to witness the occasion.
The moment the newborn's loud cries filled the air, the entire sect got their first glimpse of Dou Dou, the newest addition to Lingxian Sect.
As the group focused on their work, Qin Jianghe suddenly received a voice transmission talisman.
Since Lingxian Sect was still relatively small, and everyone knew each other well, they hadn't yet implemented any formal information hierarchy. Major matters were discussed in meetings, while smaller issues were shared informally during meals and casual conversations.
Without hesitation, Qin Jianghe activated the talisman.
A calm, clear young male voice came through, which everyone recognized as Sun Yigao's.
"Jianghe, the academy plans to expand its library collection this year. I'm wondering if the Finance Hall has the funds to support this. If possible, let's discuss it tonight. If not, then we'll hold off."
Yes, the small school at the foot of the mountain had officially been upgraded to an academy last year.
The reason was that last year, Sun Yigao had allowed his students to participate in the county-level Tongsheng exam.
It wasn't about pursuing early fame and fortune, but rather about addressing a problem he had noticed. Some of his students, particularly the girls and those from Xiushui Village, had developed feelings of inferiority.
These students, having had little exposure to education before, were naturally intimidated by the idea of studying. They often felt that, despite their newfound literacy, they could never match up to others, particularly when interacting with students from well-established families.
Although Sun Yigao had spent the past two or three years guiding them through words and actions, he knew that some psychological barriers could only be overcome through personal experience.
That's why, after determining that his students were sufficiently prepared, Sun Yigao had all of them take the Tongsheng exam last year.
This examination was quite different from the small tests they took at the private school. Placing these students in the midst of a large crowd of county-level examinees was a way for them to truly understand that their knowledge could hold its own on a larger stage.
By facing their fears, they would come to recognize their own abilities.
For this purpose, Sun Yigao had even personally negotiated with the court of Pusi Kingdom to allow female students to take the imperial exams.
The court didn't put up much resistance and quickly agreed. After their approval, they worked to develop a comprehensive plan for female participation in the exams.
One issue they had to resolve was the examination searches. Due to the court's strict exam regulations, candidates were thoroughly searched—though fortunately, not to the point of stripping off clothes.
While the royal family maintained trade relations with Lingxian Sect, the court and the royal family were separate entities.
Nevertheless, the court responded swiftly.
After all, a Golden Core elder from Lingxian Sect had personally requested the court's assistance. If a Golden Core elder from any of the other three major sects had made such a request, it would have represented the entire sect's position. How could they not agree immediately?
Once the court approved and enacted this new policy nationwide, female scholars began registering for the exams in droves, far exceeding the court's expectations.
As a result, many palace maids from the royal household were temporarily reassigned to assist with the examinations. During this time, Li Zhouxuan's daily life was entirely handled by eunuchs, with the remaining palace maids all being reserved for the Empress Dowager's service.