Chaohua was his eldest daughter, raised from childhood like a pearl cradled in his palm. That bastard had actually dared to wrong his daughter!
The emperor hurriedly searched the crowd for the top scholar.
He soon found him.
The one with the reddest face in the crowd!
The emperor said, "Minister Shen, I remember you're a year older than Chaohua. She praised your talents to me last time, too. Are you currently betrothed?"
Shen Zhiyi's mind went blank, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, I am not betrothed."
"Then how about I give you Chaohua's hand in marriage?"
"I, um... huh? Yes! No, I mean-your subject thanks Your Majesty for this great favor!"
Shen Zhiyi knocked his head against the floor three times.
Happiness had arrived so suddenly that he had no idea what to do with himself.
Half the officials silently offered their blessings to the loving couple.
It did feel a little like sticking a fresh flower in cow dung, but at least this was good cow dung.
This particular pile of cow dung had a promising future!
The other half were puzzled.
Hadn't they heard that His Majesty wanted the princess to marry Commandery Princess Qinghe's nephew? How had the groom become Shen Zhiyi?
Jiang An was panicking, too.
He had been the one to suggest this match to Commandery Princess Qinghe. If it fell through, wouldn't he be implicated?
Jiang An stepped forward, feigning concern. "Your Majesty, the top scholar comes from a poor family and is only a fifth-rank clerk. I fear it would be inappropriate for the princess to marry beneath her station."
Jiang Shuyue thought, [My beast-hearted father with his human face is stirring things up again! I bet he has something going on with Commandery Princess Qingping. Otherwise, why would he work so hard for her?]
Understanding dawned on the emperor.
He had wondered why the sight of this little old man always rubbed him the wrong way. So he was a beast wearing a human face! No wonder!
The emperor snorted, and Prince Huai took up the conversation.
"I think Shen Zhiyi is young and promising, good-natured, and upright. Most importantly, Chaohua likes him. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Well..."
"Even if you do, swallow it! His Majesty has spoken, and the decree has been issued. Who do you think you are, demanding that my imperial brother go back on his word?"
Jiang An dropped to his knees in fright. "I wouldn't dare! I merely care about the princess and fear she may have no one to rely on in her old age..."
"Insolence!"
Prince Huai snatched up a eunuch's fly whisk and hurled it at Jiang An.
"Who do you think you are, cursing Princess Chaohua to have no support in her old age? Is she incapable of bearing children, or does she have no one backing her? Since when was it your place to belittle her?"
Jiang An trembled in terror.
He had no idea what had come over him. In a moment of hotheadedness, he had actually uttered such outrageously disrespectful words.
Jiang Shuyue roared with laughter. [Hahaha, the old fox took a tumble, huh? Serves him right! Better yet, strip him of his minister's post and make him clean the privies. Let him lose every scrap of face!]
Zhou Yunshen wanted to deal with Jiang An, too, but he absolutely could not let him clean the privies.
Jiang An was his father-in-law, after all. If word got out, he would have nowhere to hide his own face.
Zhou Yunshen said, "Your Majesty, Minister Jiang's words were indeed improper, but considering that concern clouded his judgment, please show him some mercy."
The emperor nodded. "Since the Marquis of Zhennan has interceded for him, demote him three ranks and dock six months of his salary. Court is dismissed."
Jiang Shuyue was overjoyed and cheered ten times that Uncle Long-Live-the-Emperor was awesome.
The emperor smiled wryly. He wasn't even thirty yet. How had he become an uncle?
Everyone dispersed. The gossip hunters wanted to linger in the palace and enjoy a little more excitement, but the emperor had them all ushered out.
Lin Fang shook his head with a grin. "My dear fellow in-law, take it easy. You've only gone from a first-rank dignitary to a fourth-rank official. What's the big deal? Take it easy!"
"Look at me. I've always been fourth rank, and aren't I perfectly happy?"
"Exactly."
Liu Ning came over as well and draped an arm over Jiang An's shoulder. "Rank, fame, and fortune are all external things. Family is what really matters."
"Look how highly His Majesty and the Marquis of Zhennan favor your daughter. Yue'er truly is a girl blessed with good fortune. The Jiang Family's meteoric rise is just around the corner! Congratulations!"
Jiang An felt as sick as if he had swallowed a fly.
She might be his daughter, but how could a daughter possibly matter more than his career?
Besides, that little bitch was surely closer to the Liu Family. He had to get his own people into those positions.
Jiang An stormed off.
Lin Fang and Liu Ning exchanged a glance and a smile, then agreed to head to a tavern and celebrate properly over a jug of wine.
Jiang Shuyue was kept in the palace for a meal.
She had been bundled up and delivered there that morning without so much as a sip of tea. Now hungry and thirsty, she stuffed food into her mouth without the slightest concern for appearances.
The emperor and Prince Huai thought, This girl's table manners... are certainly bold!
Zhou Yunshen wiped her mouth. "Slow down. Don't choke."
Jiang Shuyue said, "The palace food ish sho yummy."
"Is that so? Then you should visit often. Tell me what you like, and I'll have the imperial kitchens prepare it in advance."
Jiang Shuyue said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
A palace attendant reported that Princess Chaohua wanted to see Jiang Shuyue, and the emperor sent someone to escort her over.
The emperor looked envious. "Brother Yunshen, when all is said and done, I really envy you. With such a lively treasure at your side, every day is full of color. How wonderful!"
The emperor sighed inwardly. Why hadn't he taken an interest in this girl back then?
If he could bring her into his palace, every day would be this entertaining.
Zhou Yunshen's gaze sharpened. "Jiang Shuyue is my wife. Please conduct yourself with dignity, Your Majesty."
The emperor thought, ...I was only thinking about it. Only thinking...
Zhou Yunshen said, "My wife is carefree and has no guile. Apart from chasing gossip and pretending to be a sweet, innocent schemer, she can't do anything. In plain terms, she's a clueless freeloader. Please harbor no designs on her, Your Majesty."
The emperor and Prince Huai thought, Who talks about his own wife like that?
Each with his own thoughts, the men tested one another and finally worked out several rules for hearing her thoughts:
1. Not everyone could hear Jiang Shuyue's thoughts. Those harboring ill intentions and those in the enemy camp could not.
2. There was a distance limit. For now, they were guaranteed to hear her within three hundred meters.
3. They belonged to another storyline-the people in the book Jiang Shuyue had mentioned-so she could know some future events.
Foreknowledge, gossip, and exclusion of enemies combined-she was practically a lucky star bestowed by Heaven!
Unbeknownst to Jiang Shuyue, while she was on her way to see Princess Chaohua, several of Great Zhou's most powerful men reached a consensus.
She had become Great Zhou's most precious treasure!
Nor did she know that these three men were sneaking along behind her to rush to the front lines of gossip.
Holding a little meat bun, Jiang Shuyue happily headed to her second gossip destination with the system.
The imperial palace really was wonderful. Juicy gossip was growing everywhere.
Not only was there plenty of it, but the portions were generous and the flavor excellent.
The system said, [There isn't much gossip at Princess Chaohua's place. We'll treat it as a little cucumber appetizer first, then find somewhere with good feng shui and drop a huge revelation on you!]
Jiang Shuyue nodded repeatedly. [Don't worry. I, Jiang Shuyue, will always charge onto the front lines of gossip and tea!]
The eunuch leading the way felt his mouth twitch. He had a feeling Princess Chaohua was no longer safe.
No, the entire imperial palace was no longer safe.
The masters had better pray for their own good fortune!
Before you continue