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Since cutting back on revenue was impossible, she could only tighten her spending. She would have to let go of the servants and guards, and try cooking meals herself. However, she was really terrible at cooking. Had she known there would come a day when she needed to support a man, she should have learned how to navigate a kitchen properly from Xiaojiu. For tonight, she would just make some noodles to tide herself over.

"Your Majesty has arrived." An announcement interrupted her train of thought. Alongside all the other officials of the Imperial Academy, she stood up and knelt to respectfully welcome the imperial carriage.

The sound of the curtain being lifted and dropped preceded the dragon-patterned leather boots that stepped into the territory of the Imperial Academy and entered her lowered field of vision. In a condescending tone, he commanded, "Record the decree just decided by the Cabinet into my Imperial Diaries."

She nodded in acknowledgement, stood up, lowered her head, and used both hands to receive the file from Your Majesty's grasp. To her surprise, not only did he refuse to leave, but he also raised a hand to signal the others to get up and return to their duties, waving for a personal eunuch to bring over a chair. He crossed his legs and sat right down in front of her desk.

"Why are you daydreaming on my salary? Get back to work."

It was true that the new decree needed to be copied and recorded by the end of the day, but what was so urgent that Your Majesty had to personally come to the Imperial Academy to stand over her like a taskmaster while she made her records? She muttered inwardly, yet her hands quickly unfurled the scroll to read through it. Her lips