Jiang Yingcheng let out a tiny sigh of relief, believing she had done so discreetly.
[System Bro, System Bro, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is so capable, they'll definitely get to the bottom of it, right?] Still a little uncertain, Jiang Yingcheng cautiously sought confirmation from 007.
Only after looking through the worldlines for a while did 007 return with an answer: [I checked. The Embroidered Uniform Guard here is extremely reliable. Even if they have to dig three feet underground, they'll investigate everything thoroughly.]
Only...
It remembered that, in the worldline it had just examined, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had discovered something suspicious only much later.
007 glanced at Jiang Yingcheng, who was happily swinging her legs, and quickly dismissed its doubts.
Perhaps the little girl had suddenly caught Emperor Mingze's attention, and when he sought a tutor for her, he had looked into the candidate's background along the way and discovered the suspicious details.
The butterfly effect. It had to be the butterfly effect!
Seeing that Jiang Yingcheng had soon regained her energy, Jiang Yanchuan casually passed her another plate of pastries.
The weather was clear and fine that day. Warm sunlight fell over the snow blanketing the ground, reflecting a shimmering, pearly glow.
It was a perfect day to get outside for some fresh air.
He wondered whether his pillars of the court could withstand the ordeal to come.
When Jiang Yingcheng finished the new plate of pastries beside her, Jiang Yanchuan suddenly spoke, telling her to take a couple of strolls outside and digest the treats in her belly.
Jiang Yingcheng looked up in shock, her mouth hanging wide open.
Although she said nothing, her accusatory inner voice exposed her thoughts completely.
[Entrapment! This is entrapment!]
[Boo-hoo-hoo! Chengcheng only just sat down for a little rest!]
Jiang Yingcheng did not want to go wandering outside. Walking here earlier had already exhausted all her strength, and she still had not recovered.
But Imperial Father was right, too. If she did not get up and move around, she would surely have no room for that delicious lunch when lunchtime came.
Jiang Yingcheng pouted and let Eunuch Changshun lead her out through the back door, looking thoroughly aggrieved.
Smiling, Jiang Yanchuan walked to the window and pushed open the casement in the corner, letting the cold wind sweep inside as he watched the two figures, one large and one small, slowly disappear from view.
When he turned back, even his expression seemed to have taken on a trace of the weather's icy chill.
"Fuquan." He sat back in his cushioned chair and called only that name. An eunuch immediately took his meaning and went outside to summon the officials waiting beyond the hall doors.
In the Imperial Garden.
The scenery here lacked the vibrant life of spring and summer. Most of the trees were bare branches, and snow covered the grass, making a stroll considerably less interesting.
Fortunately, the view was still fairly open. With so few people about, the snow remained a gleaming white, much cleaner than the roads outside the palace, and the sight was refreshing enough.
Yet at that moment, no one in the garden was in the mood to appreciate its beauty.
All the ministers who had been discussing affairs in Wuyang Hall had been invited here. They stood in little clusters of two or three, discussing Emperor Mingze's baffling decree.
"Elder Xu, do you have any inside information?"
They had never received such a peculiar decree ordering them to admire the snow in the Imperial Garden. Accustomed to the court's schemes and deceit, the ministers could hardly help overthinking it.
But-
"I am just as bewildered as the rest of you."
"Ah..."
Similar exchanges played out in one spot after another.
A little later, a hidden guard drifted down from the roof of a pavilion. After a brief greeting, he instructed them to separate and forbade them from gathering together.
Their suspicions deepened, but they instinctively did as instructed.
Only when they could no longer see one another did the hidden guard return to the pavilion roof, satisfied.
After another little while, Eunuch Changshun arrived, leading Jiang Yingcheng by the hand.
Jiao Hongmiao, the Minister of Revenue, was the first to spot them, and his eyes lit up.
The court officials did not know what Emperor Mingze intended, but surely the chief eunuch who had served at his side for years would have some inside information!
He excitedly waved at them and lifted his foot to walk toward Eunuch Changshun.
Wonderful! In this freezing weather, any more wandering would bring on the old trouble in his legs!
"Eunuch Chang-"
Whoosh.
Thud!
Before Jiao Hongmiao could finish speaking, a pebble flew out of nowhere and struck his knee. His body tilted, and he fell straight into the snow!
Jiao Hongmiao: "????"
Who was so wicked?!
The sudden turn of events startled Jiang Yingcheng. "Wh-what happened?"
[He isn't trying to scam us, is he?]
Jiang Yingcheng, who often faked falls to scam others herself, immediately clutched the little purse hanging at her waist.
Inside were the gold beans her Imperial Consort had tucked in for her. She still wanted to find a chance to give them to Seventh Brother!
She could not just give them to someone else!
Eunuch Changshun: "..."
Caught between laughter and tears, Eunuch Changshun said, "If Your Highness wishes to help this official, I can summon someone to assist him."
Jiang Yingcheng immediately agreed to that suggestion. "But you can't go over either, Eunuch Changshun."
Jiang Yingcheng had long since counted Eunuch Changshun as one of her own. She could not let strangers scam him either!
Eunuch Changshun, who could already hear Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts: "..."
The Minister of Revenue, who had only just become able to hear Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts: "!!!"
What had happened to the world?!
Jiao Hongmiao's expression grew complicated. For a moment, he could not tell whether the pain in his body outweighed the shock in his heart.
Eunuch Changshun gave a light cough where he stood and, without turning his head, casually said, "Someone, come."
A quick-witted eunuch stepped out of the procession and trotted over to the Minister of Revenue to help him up.
Jiao Hongmiao's lips trembled. He badly wanted to grab the fellow by the collar and ask whether something as trivial as helping him up really required waiting for the princess's instructions.
However, neither Eunuch Changshun nor Her Highness was someone he could afford to offend. He took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and thanked them.
Eunuch Changshun returned the salute and courteously instructed the eunuch who had gone to help to escort Lord Jiao out of the palace.
Suppressing his many questions, Jiao Hongmiao left, looking back three times with every step.
Eunuch Changshun led Jiang Yingcheng farther into the garden.
Next came the following.
Ran Hongyi, the Minister of Works, twisted his ankle the instant he saw them.
Chu Jiaxu, the Minister of Rites, strained his back.
Pu Mingxu, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, tripped on perfectly level ground.
Fewer and fewer eunuchs remained behind the pair. Only when their party had dwindled to the final three did this tour of the garden finally reach its end.
Jiang Yingcheng looked warily left and right, afraid of encountering another uncle who needed her help.
Only one young, strong eunuch remained behind them. If he left too, she and Uncle Changshun would have to do the work themselves!
Besides...
She was very worried.
[Imperial Father’s ministers are all so frail. Can they really help Imperial Father shoulder the affairs of state?]
Jiang Yingcheng heaved a long sigh, feeling that she was truly worrying herself sick over Great Rui's future.
Eunuch Changshun: "..."
Before you continue