FAIRLINGTON PROVINCE — The divinely ordained empress and matriarch of the Cee-Howett Dynasty, Melon, has reaffirmed her and her royal court’s universal rule through heavenly correspondence with otherworldly powers. The Cee-Howett Dynasty first came to power in 2023 A.D. after the descent of the Hatching family from power following the former emperor’s abdication and subsequent intercontinental pilgrimage. However, there has been recent instability in the Fairlington province due to student dissent.

In response to peasant insubordination, the empress and her loyal court of advisors have decreed that their rule will be extended another century, and that a 25% tax and official censorship will now be imposed on newspaper imports. This policy will be carried out by the county prefects, who have been instructed to tolerate no criticism of the dynastic family and to cooperate fully with the Royal Bureau of Communications.

The Imperial Court also authorized the Commissariat Security Bureau to conduct unlimited searches and raids at their own discretion. Students must now consent to have their belongings searched through by imperial guardsmen upon entrance to their academies. Additionally, students have had their privileges to a scroll and quill revoked and are no longer allowed to send letters to each other.

Despite the economic fragility of the broader royal domain, the Empress and the Imperial Court have declared there to be no increase in payments to scholars and inspectors within the schools. This could lead to students failing the civil service examination before their graduation. In yet another unpopular move, Empress Melon Cee-Howett has declared certain trading ports to be opened to foreign mercenaries and merchants, worrying some that this could lead to direct harm to the province’s population.