As she grew worked up, Jiang Yingcheng nimbly dodged the imperial physician applying medicine to her, darted between several eunuchs, and pattered over to Jiang Yanchuan on her short little legs.
Her eyes opened wide, and she strained up on tiptoe, trying to let Jiang Yanchuan see her more clearly.
[Look, a wound!]
[It hurts!]
Jiang Yanchuan: "..."
His gaze slowly lowered, settling on the little hand clutching the hem of his robe.
This was truly a novel experience.
His fearsome reputation preceded him, and very few princes or princesses dared come up and cling to him as freely as Jiang Yingcheng did.
007 grew anxious at the sight. [Jiang Yanchuan is unpredictable, and he dislikes too much physical contact with others. Even...]
It abruptly stopped halfway through. Considering Jiang Yingcheng's current childish disposition, it decided to change the subject and simply concluded, [Anyway, hurry and let go of him!]
[I won't!] Jiang Yingcheng's babyish voice was fierce. [Mind your own business!]
As she spoke, she carefully studied her beautiful imperial father's expression. Once she was sure there was no displeasure on his face, she boldly spread both arms and did something that sent everyone's hearts into their throats. "Up!"
If he couldn't see clearly while she stood on the ground, surely he could once he picked her up!
For a moment, the scene fell deathly silent.
Changshun stood where he was, furiously pondering how he should plead for this adorable little princess if His Majesty really lost his temper.
Even the eunuch from earlier briefly stopped begging for mercy.
Under everyone's eyes, Jiang Yanchuan raised his handsome brows and watched Jiang Yingcheng steadily for a long moment. Finally, with what could even be called good temper, he extended a hand from his cloak, curled one of her little hands into a fist, and slowly enclosed it in his palm.
Just as Changshun had held her hand earlier.
He knew she was anxious to see how this matter would end, so he did not deliberately draw it out. "Ying Feng."
A man immediately stepped forward and cupped his fist. "Here!"
"Drag him away and get the truth."
Ying Feng had followed Jiang Yanchuan for a long time and knew his methods well. At that command, he automatically expanded those few short words into a speech nearly a hundred words long, with a bloody torture in every paragraph.
With 007's help, Jiang Yingcheng arrived at the same understanding as Ying Feng. Although she could not personally watch her imperial father deal with the fourth prince, she knew this matter would certainly not end here.
She thought that was fine too, so she lowered her free hand and stood obediently beside her imperial father.
When her gaze shifted to Jiang Xingran, who was still kneeling on the ground, Jiang Yingcheng visibly froze.
[Oh no! I forgot my powerful backer!]
[He's been kneeling there for so long while I've been wandering everywhere. Will he hate me?]
[Waaah, what do I do, my Sys?]
007: "..."
At that moment, it too tasted the misery of being given a random nickname. [First, find a way to get his attention.]
Jiang Yingcheng's tearless wailing stopped, and she nodded emphatically. [Okay!]
Then she raised her left hand and waved rapidly toward Jiang Xingran. [Look at me! Seventh Brother, look at me!]
Her beautiful imperial father was handling serious business. The ingrained notion that children should not interrupt adults at work made her completely overlook the option of calling out aloud.
007's voice strained. [I meant get Jiang Yanchuan's attention.]
Jiang Yingcheng, whose little hand was waving so fast it nearly left afterimages, paused and answered miserably, [Oh.]
"Changshun," Jiang Yanchuan suddenly said. After Changshun answered, he continued, "Take Xingran and the imperial physician to my chambers."
The words had barely fallen before Jiang Yingcheng rewarded him with a gaze brimming with admiration.
Along with another burst of utterly unrestrained flattery.
[Aaaah! I hereby declare that my imperial father is the very, very, very best imperial father in the world!]
One corner of Jiang Yanchuan's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, his voice low and languid. "Let's go."
There was something he could not wait to verify.
Inside Xianyang Palace, Jiang Yingcheng finally quieted down after chattering the entire way.
The imperial physician had already given her forehead a quick cleaning and was now applying an ointment to prevent scarring.
The wound had already scabbed over, so applying the ointment did not hurt. Its cool touch was quite soothing.
She let the imperial physician tend to her and quietly listened as 007 explained the key events of this world, occasionally interjecting with a quip or two.
By the time the imperial physician finished, she had more or less gained an understanding of this world.
Under 007's supervision, Jiang Yingcheng began summarizing.
[Hmm... in three years, Imperial Father will die of poisoning...]
Standing nearby, Changshun was so startled that he nearly dropped the whisk cradled in his arms. Jiang Yanchuan, who had already heard this once, showed little reaction.
He rested his right elbow on the table in a leisurely pose, his chin lightly propped on the back of his hand, and idly sipped the Golden Melon Tribute Tea Changshun had just brought him.
He appeared utterly unconcerned by what was happening in the room, but in truth, all his attention was fixed on that soft, sweet inner voice.
[Ah... The Fourth Prince will actually try to force Imperial Father off the throne later! He's so bad!]
[The male lead gathers support among the common people and seizes the throne, but because he doesn't know how to rule, he nearly brings Great Rui to ruin?!]
[Oh, oh, oh! In the end, my Seventh Brother is the one who turns back the raging tide. After taking back the throne, he gradually restores Great Rui to its former strength and prosperity. He's so amazing!]
At that, both Jiang Yanchuan and Eunuch Changshun discreetly turned their gazes toward Jiang Xingran, who sat beside Jiang Yingcheng.
The thin, frail boy held his face taut, expressionlessly allowing the imperial physician to examine him.
His features bore only a seventy-percent resemblance to Jiang Yanchuan's, but the icy aura around him forcibly pushed that resemblance to the limit. If he had already possessed the imposing authority of a ruler, he would have been the very image of Jiang Yanchuan in miniature.
Jiang Yanchuan brought the White Jade Teacup to his lips again, using the act of drinking to conceal the emotions in his eyes.
If Great Rui's future truly unfolded as Jiang Yingcheng had described, he ought to carefully reconsider how the princes should be raised.
Without realizing it, he drained his cup. Just as Jiang Yanchuan set it down, a palace servant hurried over in small steps and whispered a few words into Changshun's ear.
The next moment, Changshun's voice rang out in the hall. "Your Majesty, all the officials have arrived."
Jiang Yanchuan finished setting down his cup. "Summon them."
Before long, five middle-aged men in red official robes entered one after another and lined up before Jiang Yanchuan.
These were Jiang Yanchuan's private sleeping chambers, not somewhere he ordinarily summoned his ministers. Suddenly being brought here left all of them bewildered.
Especially since...
Two little Highnesses were sitting on the couch.
After the officials paid their respects, Jiang Yanchuan did not immediately speak. He merely gestured for Changshun to bring him another cup of hot tea.
Just as Changshun returned to the hall, Jiang Yingcheng's inner voice rang out.
[Wow... you're saying this uncle embezzled nine hundred thousand taels of silver!]
Jiang Yingcheng's voice paused. A moment later, she asked hesitantly, [But... how much is nine hundred thousand taels...?]
Before you continue