Along the way, the officials they passed seemed to have come down with some collective affliction. Every so often, a few would freeze in place with blank expressions, then turn to look in Jiang Yingcheng's direction in utter shock.
Jiang Yingcheng was utterly bewildered, but Eunuch Changshun insisted they were always like this.
"I-is that so?" Jiang Yingcheng scratched her head. Her eagerness to see her beautiful imperial father outweighed her curiosity, so she stopped paying attention to these strange uncles and continued onward.
Even so, the chatter in her mind never stopped for a moment.
[Ahahahaha, is it really that funny? Did this uncle really get chased by a dog for five li yesterday?]
Changshun glanced sideways at the man Jiang Yingcheng was sneaking looks at. It was Rong Wenbin, who had only recently been appointed Grand Master of Palace Attendance. He had the unmistakable build of a civil official who never exercised: a slightly bulging belly and slack flesh.
Those five kilometers yesterday must have thoroughly exhausted him. There were dark circles beneath his eyes.
[Oh? This uncle got swindled out of his entire salary by the girls at a pleasure house, so now he goes to his colleagues' homes every day to mooch food and drink, claiming he's there to discuss literature?]
Changshun perked up. Now this juicy gossip was much more interesting than Lord Rong's little escapade!
He hurriedly followed the little princess's gaze.
It was Xu Junming, Grand Master for Court Service, who had recently celebrated his thirtieth birthday.
Rumor had it that Xu Junming's wife was a loud-voiced tigress. Disgusted by his spineless incompetence, she had gone back to her parents' home nearly half a month ago.
[Wow! This uncle...]
"Eunuch Changshun." Someone suddenly called out to them from behind.
Only after the two turned around did he look at Jiang Yingcheng with a beaming smile. "Might this be His Majesty's Eleventh Princess?"
Changshun bowed and confirmed it.
Jiang Yingcheng followed suit with a sweet smile.
[Ah! It's the uncle we just passed!]
The smile on Yuan Liangping's lips deepened. It seemed he had guessed correctly: those strange inner thoughts really did come from this little princess.
Judging by his colleagues' reactions, quite a few others could hear them too. They simply weren't as thick-skinned as he was. None dared approach as he had to listen up close to the private anecdotes of these important figures.
How foolish.
Wasn't this far more interesting than attending court?!
Yuan Liangping cleared his throat softly. "Are you taking Her Highness to see His Majesty in Wuyang Hall?"
Eunuch Changshun made no attempt to conceal it. "Yes, my lord. This servant is indeed hurrying to Wuyang Hall with Her Little Highness."
Before sending him to fetch Her Little Highness, His Majesty had already predicted that someone would come over. This Lord Yuan would not be the only one.
Sure enough, the instant he finished speaking, Yuan Liangping laughed heartily. "What a coincidence! I just remembered there are a few matters I haven't reported to His Majesty yet. Why don't we walk together?"
Eunuch Changshun agreed with a smile.
Yuan Liangping naturally took Jiang Yingcheng's other hand. From a distance, the three figures looked like three generations of a harmonious family, leisurely strolling through a garden.
Eunuch Changshun felt a little awkward, but that slight discomfort soon disappeared.
He discovered that this Lord Yuan truly understood the art of conversation.
Not only had Yuan Liangping won Her Little Highness over in an extremely short time, the two had nearly gone so far as to swear a blood oath and call each other brothers.
Most importantly, he was exceptionally good at steering the conversation.
Yuan Liangping glanced at the middle-aged man who had just passed them, admiration in his eyes. "This Lord Li is said to be a rare, upright magistrate, as clear and just as the blue heavens!"
Jiang Yingcheng followed his gaze and curled her lips in disdain. "Oh, oh."
[What's so good about him? All the money he secretly squeezed out of the common people is buried beneath his courtyard outside the city! I need to find a chance to bring Father past there and dig it all up!]
Yuan Liangping then pointed at Lord Jiang, who had just emerged from the hall. "This Lord Jiang is an honest official, upright and unyielding. They say common people come to his door with letters of thanks every day. He enjoys an excellent reputation among the people!"
As Jiang Yingcheng looked away, she forced the corners of her lips upward.
[He paid people to spread all those stories! And the money he spent came from the tribute his subordinate officials regularly delivered to his residence!]
"This Lord Ji..."
[Ha.]
"Lord Bai..."
[Hmph.]
This went on the entire way. Eunuch Changshun's initial wild delight gradually turned into misery.
He would have to faithfully report everything Her Little Highness revealed in her thoughts to Emperor Mingze later, but the pair's conversation was growing ever more rapid. He was almost at the point where he couldn't remember anything more!
Just before Eunuch Changshun reached his breaking point, they finally arrived outside Wuyang Hall.
Emperor Mingze was discussing important matters with senior court officials inside. When the guards at the entrance saw Eunuch Changshun approaching with the little princess, they opened the doors at once and let the two inside.
Yuan Liangping, however, was left outside.
Seeing the wooden doors close again before him, Yuan Liangping wasn't annoyed. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and waited there at his leisure.
Emperor Mingze would certainly summon him.
For some inexplicable reason, he was sure of it.
Inside Wuyang Hall, braziers placed throughout the room kept everything toasty warm. Jiang Yingcheng felt as though she had finally come back to life.
Although her mother had bundled her up tightly, the ice and snow outside were still no match for the warmth indoors.
As soon as a palace maid helped Jiang Yingcheng out of her outer robe, she set her little legs moving, tugging Eunuch Changshun along as she tried to run farther inside.
Before they rounded the final corner, Eunuch Changshun abruptly stopped and pulled Jiang Yingcheng to a halt beside him at the corner.
Jiang Yingcheng assumed it was because important business was being discussed inside. She thought nothing of it and obediently stood close beside Eunuch Changshun.
The voices arguing inside reached them clearly.
"Weng Zizhen, the top scholar from the previous examination, is quick-witted and talented. This subject believes he would be just the right tutor for the Eleventh Princess's palace."
"This subject has heard that the venerable Master Chang Honghua will return to the capital shortly. Master Chang has taught many students and has extensive teaching experience. He is the most suitable candidate for the position."
"The venerable Master Zou Xinrong is the one who..."
Jiang Yingcheng sucked in a sharp breath.
Why had they suddenly started talking about finding her a tutor?!
She hadn't had enough fun yet!
As panic overtook her, 007 suddenly spoke up. [There seems to be something wrong with that Weng Zizhen.]
[What's wrong with him?] Jiang Yingcheng's eyes lit up as though she had grasped a lifesaving straw. [Is he the only one with a problem? Are the other two fine?]
Jiang Yingcheng pouted so hard that she looked ready to burst into tears on the spot if 007 couldn't give her a satisfactory answer.
007 replied helplessly, [The real Weng Zizhen was accidentally killed by bandits on his way to the capital to take the examination. The current one is the Northern Frontier's second prince, who has assumed his identity.]
Jiang Yingcheng brightened again. [Then does that mean if I tell Father this Weng Zizhen is the Second Prince of the Northern Frontier, he won't be in such a hurry to find me a tutor?]
But 007 pondered for a long while. [How do you intend to tell your imperial father this?]
Jiang Yingcheng suffered another blow. [Right! How am I supposed to tell my imperial father this?!]
Eunuch Changshun secretly studied the little one's shocked and aggrieved expression, his own face filled with feelings he could hardly put into words.
Why were you still worrying about that?
Your imperial father already knew.
Before you continue