Did It Never Occur to Him That He Was the Infertile One?!

Neither faction could convince the other, so Jiang Yanchuan chose a compromise: he sent men to surround the duke's estate, ensuring that not a single person could escape.

The military officials still refused to give up on that half of the tiger tally. Before they could argue their case again, they heard the little princess's sweet, babyish inner voice.

[Sigh, if only Chengcheng knew martial arts. Then Chengcheng could dash into Grandpa Wang's house and steal that half of the tiger tally!]

Jiang Yingcheng sighed, then took another fierce bite of the pineapple pastry in her hand.

[Mmm, so yummy!]

The military officials: "..."

Well, what a coincidence. They knew martial arts!

Although the little princess's thoughts had yet to reveal exactly what that half of the tiger tally looked like, they were hardly without options!

The military officials cheerfully lowered their banners and stilled their drums, tucking their hands into their sleeves as they returned to their places. Their opponents looked utterly baffled.

A moment ago, every one of them had been red-faced and thick-necked with anger, and now they were laughing?

Had anger knocked them senseless?

Both sides believed they had won, leaving everyone satisfied, and order was finally restored to court.

The remaining proceedings went remarkably smoothly, because-

Worried that Jiang Yingcheng might get bored, Eunuch Changshun had prepared a truly generous assortment of sweets for her.

The matters the officials reported slipped hurriedly past their ears. Those who could hear Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts had their heads filled with the little girl's slightly childish voice.

[Heehee, this sugar cake is so delicious~]

[What is this sweet water? It tastes so good!]

[Wow, Chengcheng has to ask Uncle Changshun for two more of these sticky pancakes later!]

Everyone's attention was drawn to these thoughts, and no one picked holes in the proposals, so naturally, everything proceeded very smoothly.

After hearing each proposal, Jiang Yanchuan either approved or rejected it without the slightest obstruction. The entire court had practically become his one-man show.

He glanced with a smile at Jiang Yingcheng, who was still battling her pastries, and felt thoroughly satisfied with this outcome.

The cheerful atmosphere lasted until the final official rose to deliver his report.

Someone called out, "Your subject has a memorial to present!"

Everyone immersed in the little princess's thoughts jumped at the suddenly raised voice.

Although officials had been offering counsel all along, their voices, while loud, had remained fairly even. Hearing such a sudden cry, several people could not help turning to look.

Then they turned back, feeling rather as though they had encountered an ill omen.

The speaker was Deputy Censor-in-Chief Bi Honglang, whose foul, stubborn temper was notorious. He insisted on offering a few admonishing words about everything, as though he were exhausting his heart and mind for the country and its people.

In truth, everything he talked about was no bigger than a fart.

Emperor Mingze, seated on the raised dais, had long expected the man to pull something like this. His sudden outburst hardly surprised him.

"Granted." Jiang Yanchuan knew full well that once this man started talking, he would take an exceedingly long time. Propping his chin on his hand, he settled into a comfortable position.

Bi Honglang launched into an endless stream of words. "Throughout the history of our Great Rui, there has never been a precedent for a princess attending court..."

Several people in the crowd looked anxious.

Who were you impeaching?

The little princess?

Did you have any idea how useful the little princess was to the court before you went impeaching her?!

Did you have nothing else to talk about?!

The sound of grinding teeth rose all around, even making Bi Honglang pause for a rare moment.

No matter how absurd his remarks usually were, he had never received a reaction like this...

Had this bunch been bought off by the little princess without his knowledge?

Just then, Jiang Yingcheng suddenly let out a satisfied burp, drawing Bi Honglang's attention back.

He continued by approaching the matter through Great Rui's rites and laws, citing the classics in his analysis to demonstrate that a princess's attendance at court should be prohibited from this point onward.

Jiang Yingcheng was a little bewildered. [Who is he?]

After obtaining Jiang Yingcheng's permission, 007 had used her Merit Points to buy a packet of electronic sunflower seeds. Its entire attitude had softened considerably, and at her question, it immediately investigated eight generations of Bi Honglang's ancestors.

[Bi Honglang, Deputy Censor-in-Chief, the court's famous petty nuisance-he wants to meddle in every fart-sized affair and is terribly annoying. Still, he is fairly honest as an official and does not fear the powerful, which is why Emperor Mingze has tolerated him to this day.]

Jiang Yingcheng lowered her head, staring fixedly at the tips of her shoes.

She was terribly afraid of making people dislike her, unless the person was bad to begin with.

[Then... then why doesn't he like Chengcheng...]

A hint of nervous caution crept into Jiang Yingcheng's voice, making everyone's hearts clench.

Their gazes involuntarily took on a trace of reproach as well.

Was that really necessary? It was such a little thing.

No sooner had that thought crossed their minds than they suddenly remembered.

Oh, right. That was exactly the sort of person Bi Honglang was...

Someone stole another furtive glance toward the golden dais-

The little princess was being bullied. Wasn't he going to do something?

Yet Emperor Mingze's face showed not the slightest impatience. The corners of his lips even lifted a little as he looked leisurely toward the screen, as though waiting for something.

Everyone grew even more puzzled.

What was he waiting for?

They soon learned the answer.

[Really?]

The little princess's inner voice regained its liveliness, as though she had heard some good news.

[Hahahahaha, this uncle really hates every child equally just because he doesn't have any children of his own?]

Everyone: "???"

For the first time, they doubted this "system's" source of information.

Bi Honglang had a son and a daughter. Not only were they obedient and sensible, but they were also extremely adorable-they just did not look much like the couple.

"..."

Wait!

Had they uncovered some hidden secret?!

[Hahahahaha, he actually borrowed a pair of twins from his neighbors on the spot to pose as his children when his colleagues came to visit?!]

The officials who normally loved contradicting him fell silent, and even those who often voiced their agreement with him kept their mouths shut. Bi Honglang swept a puzzled glance around and successfully collected a whole heap of sympathetic looks.

Bi Honglang: "???"

Just as he was wondering why they wore such expressions, someone behind him murmured very quietly, "The neighbors' twins... are quite good-looking."

Several people chuckled in apparent agreement.

"!!!"

Bi Honglang's pupils shook violently.

He rarely mentioned family affairs at court and always took great care to conceal them. How did this person know?!

Everyone saw the shock in his eyes clearly, but no one was kind enough to explain. Instead, they waited with even greater anticipation for the little princess's next thoughts.

After a string of explosive laughter that pierced their ears like a demonic chant, they finally received a fresh revelation.

[Help, he actually believes a boy's urine can cure infertility! He even mixed that stuff into his wife's medicinal decoction behind her back and tricked her into drinking all of it?!]

[As if making her drink it wasn't enough, he let it slip afterward? And after she kicked him out, he went to his father-in-law's house to tell tales about her?!]

[Is this the twisting of human nature, or the collapse of morality?!]

[Did it never occur to him that he was the infertile one?!]