Wang Quan pinched the red envelope. It held a single thin sheet, so he knew it contained a banknote, and his smile grew a little more sincere.
Assistant Minister Song ventured cautiously:
"Eunuch Wang, what does His Majesty mean by this?
Our Yaoyao is only twelve. Following His Majesty around every day and recording his words and deeds, that..."
Wang Quan said with a smile:
"You're worrying too much, Lord Song. His Majesty asked me to pass along a message: Young Official Song will only be responsible for recording His Majesty's words and deeds during court, and his discussions of state affairs with the ministers. Records at other times need not concern her."
"That's good, that's good."
Assistant Minister Song wiped nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead.
After Eunuch Wang left, Song Yaoyao pulled a miserable face:
"Dad, talk to His Majesty for me. I don't want to attend court.
Besides, the female officials in the palace all stay in the inner palace and serve Her Majesty the Empress. I'll be the only woman at court. There won't be any others. I don't want to go."
Assistant Minister Song sighed:
"Yaoyao, His Majesty won't revoke his decree!
Just be good and come to court with me. All you have to do is record His Majesty's words and deeds during court, and his discussions of state affairs with the ministers.
The work is fairly easy."
"Dad, this isn't about whether the work is easy. I'm only twelve! I really don't want to go to work!
Dad, I'm begging you. Please talk to His Majesty and ask him to revoke the decree, okay?
Whatever His Majesty sees in me, can't I change it?"
"The imperial decree has been issued. You don't get to refuse!"
Looking at his flighty youngest daughter gave Assistant Minister Song a splitting headache. He flicked his sleeve and walked straight out.
Her dad was gone, but didn't she still have her mom?
Song Yaoyao draped herself over Madam Song as though she had no bones.
Madam Song poked Song Yaoyao's forehead with a finger and said:
"How old are you now? You can't even sit or stand properly. Can't you stand up straight?"
"Nope! I like leaning against you, Mom.
Mom, could you ask Dad to talk to His Majesty..."
Before Song Yaoyao could finish, Madam Song cut her off:
"No. Once an imperial decree has been issued, you have to attend court even if the king of heaven himself comes down.
All right, I'll have the kitchen make your favorite braised pork tonight. Will that do?"
"Mom, I want squirrel-shaped mandarin fish too!"
"Fine, I'll have them make both tonight!"
"Okaaay."
Song Yaoyao knew that with the imperial decree issued, she had to obediently attend court, however unwilling she was!
She was only twelve! How had she somehow stumbled into the life of a working stiff?
Yaoyao is so dejected! Yaoyao is so sad! What can she do?
Toss it cold! Toss it dry! Toss it however you like!
That evening, Song Yaoyao got her wish and enjoyed her favorite braised pork and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish!
After dinner, Song Yaoyao went straight back to her room, walked over to the bed, kicked off her shoes, and flopped facedown onto it. She pulled a book from beneath her pillow. Emblazoned across its cover was the title: "A Few Untold Tales of a Refined Scholar and a Pretty Young Widow."
Seeing the book its host had brought out, Guagua's eye twitched, but it still asked curiously:
[Host, did you have the purchasing woman buy this outside for you again?]
[Yep. Guagua, let me tell you, this pretty widow is fierce! She pinned the handsome young scholar next door against a wall, teased him until his heart was all aflutter, then pulled away and left.
What a heartbreaker! Why did she leave?
His pants were already off, and that was it?]
[Host, do you remember that you have to get up during the fifth watch tomorrow to attend court?]
[I know. Stop nagging. I'll read a little longer.]
Guagua said nothing more, and Song Yaoyao's voice rang out in the room again:
[This pretty widow is hopeless. It feels like she just enjoys flirting and doesn't dare do anything real.]
[Oh, come on! If you like him, go for it!]
[Reading this is making me anxious for the pretty widow!]
Before she knew it, the night had grown late, and Song Yaoyao fell asleep without realizing when.
Song Yaoyao felt as though she had only just fallen asleep when Bi Tao was already calling beside her ear for her to get up.
Song Yaoyao rolled over, turning her back to Bi Tao, and mumbled sleepily:
"Stop making noise. Let me sleep a little longer."
"Young Miss, you can't sleep any longer. Hurry and get up! You have to attend court with the master today!"
Finding the noise by her ear unbearable, Song Yaoyao buried her head beneath the covers.
Bi Tao kept calling beside her, but all Song Yaoyao wanted to do was sleep.
Just then, Assistant Minister Song's voice came from outside:
"Yaoyao."
Bi Tao hurried out. "Master."
"Is the young miss awake?"
"No. This servant has been calling her for ages, but she still hasn't gotten up."
Assistant Minister Song told the two older serving women by the door:
"Go help Bi Tao. Make sure you get the young miss up."
"Yes."
Bi Tao and the two women entered the room and forcibly dragged Song Yaoyao out from beneath the covers.
Song Yaoyao did not even open her eyes. The two older women held her upright in a sitting position while Bi Tao began helping her dress, wash, and get ready.
Song Yaoyao's official robe had arrived with the imperial decree the day before. It was a little too large, and Madam Song had arranged for someone to alter it overnight before it was wearable.
When Song Yaoyao left her room, Bi Tao and the older women supported her on either side. Her eyes remained shut the entire time.
Seeing her like this, Assistant Minister Song called:
"Yaoyao, wake up!"
Song Yaoyao did not even open her eyes:
"Dad, let me snooze a little longer."
Looking at Song Yaoyao in this state, Assistant Minister Song shook his head helplessly. Resigning himself to his fate, he hoisted her onto his shoulder, turned, and walked away.
The sudden feeling of weightlessness roused Song Yaoyao briefly. Seeing that her dad was carrying her, she closed her eyes again with peace of mind.
After carrying Song Yaoyao to the carriage and stuffing her straight inside, Assistant Minister Song climbed in himself.
Inside the carriage, Song Yaoyao had already found a comfortable position and fallen asleep.
Every so often, Song Yaoyao smacked her lips. "Delicious. So delicious."
Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth. As though sensing something, Song Yaoyao reached up, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and went on sleeping.
This was simply too much to look at!
Suppressing the urge to kick his youngest daughter out of the carriage, Assistant Minister Song closed his eyes too.
If he looked at her a moment longer, he would surely fail to contain his primordial power and explode!
How had he fathered such a flighty daughter?
He and his wife were a talented man and a beautiful woman. Their two sons were dragons and phoenixes among men, and their eldest daughter was a renowned young lady of refinement in the capital. Only this youngest daughter acted like a wastrel through and through!
She was already twelve and would reach marriageable age in a few years. With the way she was now, would she ever find a husband?
He couldn't think about it. Just thinking about it gave him a headache!
The carriage rocked as it rolled forward, and the swaying lulled Song Yaoyao into an even deeper sleep.
After traveling for who knew how long, the carriage finally stopped.