I'll find something else to hit you with!

The tea was fragrant, and the pastries were sweet.

Jiang Yingcheng sat on the couch with two exceptionally thick cushions tucked behind her back.

She swung her little feet leisurely, eating and drinking as she listened to her beautiful imperial father discuss affairs of state with the uncles.

With 007 constantly telling her stories about these uncles, she did not find the scene dull or tedious.

On the contrary, it was great fun.

[Wow, this uncle doesn't take bribes or form factions for personal gain. What a good official!]

Jiang Yanchuan discreetly followed the little one's gaze and added the man's name to the whitelist in his mind.

Lu Yao had entered the palace early that morning to report that the Ministry of Works had indeed used settled soil to repair the river embankments, raising the credibility of the little one's inner voice another notch in his mind.

If he could also prove that Liu Zhengqing had been selling offices and titles, he could smoothly move forward with his next plan.

[Hmm?]

As he pondered this, he suddenly heard the little one laugh merrily, as though she had heard something hilarious.

[Hahahahaha, really, really? Is this uncle really that miserable?]

The familiar tone piqued Jiang Yanchuan's interest.

That "System Bro" must have uncovered another official's secrets and was sharing them with the little one for amusement.

[This uncle really got sent to sleep in the study because he didn't have money to buy his wife a pretty bracelet?]

[Hmm... doesn't Imperial Father pay the uncles their wages?]

Jiang Yanchuan: "..."

Although he did not know what she meant by "wages," it was probably something like an official's stipend.

The man's rank was not high, but his stipend was not particularly low either. Surely he could afford a bracelet.

The little one's inner voice soon answered his question.

[Huh? This uncle spent all his wages on his youngest son's tuition? Oh, his child has to go to school already? How pitiful...]

Hu Hongyuan, the acting Vice Minister Quan of Personnel, was still speaking eloquently. Jiang Yanchuan slowly turned the teacup in his hand and finally realized what was wrong.

The little one seemed to sincerely believe that going to school was something deserving of great pity.

Although a princess's education was not as important as a prince's, he still wanted this little one to grow into the learned, sensible young lady he envisioned.

"Your Majesty?" Hu Hongyuan had been speaking in a torrent, but when he looked up, he discovered that Emperor Mingze's attention did not seem to be on him.

Jiang Yanchuan lowered his eyes slightly, the jade-green tea reflecting the depths of his gaze. "Continue."

Hu Hongyuan paused. He had already reported everything he needed to and had no idea what else he should say.

Fortunately, Pu Yuanzhou, the acting Vice Minister Quan of Rites beside him, smoothly picked up the conversation. "Your Majesty, regarding New Year's Day..."

Hu Hongyuan furtively cast him a grateful glance.

New Year's Day was the most festive day of the year, and envoys from various countries would come to court to offer their congratulations. It was indeed an extremely important occasion, but the celebration was held every year, and the Ministry of Rites already handled every procedure with practiced ease. In previous years, they had never been summoned before Emperor Mingze for him to personally inquire about it.

Much less summoned while a princess remained beside him, eating and drinking.

Hu Hongyuan could not help grumbling inwardly.

Although the princess was still young, surely they could not...

As Hu Hongyuan studied her distractedly, his eyes happened to meet the little princess's. She gave him an open smile, nearly spilling the pastries stuffed into her mouth, and hurriedly covered it with her hand.

Ah, the little princess was so adorable that she involuntarily reminded him of his own daughter when she was young.

The little princess was still so small. How could she decide where she should appear?

Even if her presence today went against etiquette, it certainly was not her fault!

That was what Hu Hongyuan thought.

The next moment-

[Hehehe, this uncle thinks what the uncle beside him is saying is boring too, just like Chengcheng! Chengcheng isn't the only one who thinks so!]

Hu Hongyuan: ????

If he remembered correctly, Emperor Mingze's eleventh princess had the character "Cheng" in her name.

But the little princess clearly had not opened her mouth at all?

Had he slept poorly last night and started hearing things today?

He was not sure. He would have to keep watching.

He lowered his head, seemingly listening closely to the Vice Minister Quan of Rites' report, while actually watching the little princess's face out of the corner of his eye.

More precisely, he was watching her mouth.

The sweet, childish voice continued.

[It's because your gossip is too boring, System Bro.]

[Oh? You've got something even juicier? I want to hear it, I want to hear it!]

Hu Hongyuan's eyes filled with shock.

The little princess's mouth had indeed remained closed, yet her voice kept coming, one remark after another.

What was this?

Before he could fully digest his shock, the little princess's inner voice dealt him another heavy blow.

[Oh my, this uncle called Pu Yuanzhou secretly buys clothes and toys for his Outer Courtesan's child under the pretext of making official purchases?]

[And he's contacted the minister of personnel, hoping to buy an official post for his eldest son by his Outer Courtesan?]

Hu Hongyuan's pupils abruptly contracted, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

"Cough, cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

The breath went down the wrong way, and he immediately began choking and coughing.

He had only just managed to stop when Emperor Mingze's voice came from above, carrying a hint of amusement. "Are you all right, my minister?"

"Cough... I am fine now. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Hu Hongyuan silently glanced at Pu Yuanzhou, whose face was filled with concern, and thought that one could know a man's face without knowing his heart.

Although the man was somewhat older, he had always been renowned at court for his steadfast devotion. He and his wife, Madam Zhang, lived in harmony like a perfectly tuned zither and lute, and he had married only this one principal wife in his entire life, never taking a concubine. This had earned him considerable praise.

But the little princess's inner voice was far too deadly.

If any of the things she had just mentioned were proven true, they would cost a man his head!

Truly deadly.

[Whoa!]

Hu Hongyuan hurriedly set aside his other thoughts.

That shocking?

Could there be even more horrifying news?

Jiang Yingcheng swallowed the pastries in her mouth with difficulty, afraid of nearly spilling them again as she had earlier.

[H-he's actually that bold! He keeps his Outer Courtesan in Spring Fragrance Lane, only two little lanes away from his own residence!]

Jiang Yingcheng's round little face was filled with indignation.

Jiang Yanchuan tapped his knuckles against the table, one beat after another. The quiet, dull sound was especially distinct in the silence.

Hu Hongyuan's gaze grew resolute. He had decided to personally investigate Spring Fragrance Lane over the next few days and determine whether what the little princess's inner voice had said was true.

The other officials looked at the atmosphere that had suddenly turned strange, feeling uncertain.

Pu Yuanzhou, who had just finished reporting the celebration procedures, felt even more bewildered and apprehensive.

Could there have been some mistake in his report?

Jiang Yingcheng suddenly stood up on the couch.

[Bad man! You're so nice to your Outer Courtesan's child, but you go home and abuse your wife's children! Bad man!]

Jiang Yingcheng grabbed a pastry beside her and was about to fling it at Pu Yuanzhou, only to hastily stop a split second before it left her hand.

She hesitantly glanced at the plate on the table, which she had somehow eaten down to its very last pastry. After wrestling with herself for a long while, she finally stuffed the pastry fiercely into her own mouth.

[Hmm... I'll find something else to hit you with!]

Jiang Yanchuan: "..."

Hu Hongyuan: "..."

Pu Yuanzhou: ????