That inner voice startled Eunuch Changshun into a sudden stumble. The teacup he held wobbled, and the clear clink of jade rang through the hall, which seemed exceptionally quiet to everyone else, instantly drawing every eye.
Jiang Yanchuan's gaze turned probing, while Jiang Yingcheng tipped up her round little face, her almond-shaped eyes full of confusion.
[What's wrong with Uncle? There's nothing on the floor to trip him.]
The thought of "tripping" suddenly reminded her of her earlier grand scheme to stage a collision.
After sweeping her gaze around the hall, she successfully located the figure from before in a corner.
[Found him!]
She slipped off the couch like a little loach and set off toward him on her short legs. But as she passed Jiang Yanchuan, he caught her in one swift motion. Her feet left the floor, and he settled her beside him.
Jiang Yanchuan radiated the robust warmth of a martial practitioner, along with a wonderfully pleasant scent.
She loved both. Once seated, she carefully edged a little closer to him, completely forgetting what she had been about to do.
[Heeheehee, Chengcheng loves her beautiful imperial father best!]
She thought her movements were so discreet that no one would notice, unaware that Jiang Yanchuan had already taken it all in. He merely turned his steady gaze back to the others, silently allowing her little maneuver.
Changshun quietly set the teacup beside Jiang Yanchuan's hand, then swiftly wiped the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead as he turned away.
The shocking news had caught him so abruptly that, in his alarm, he had not even managed to check which official the little princess's inner voice had accused of embezzling silver.
Still...
Once he was back in place, he stole another look at Jiang Yanchuan's expression.
His methods were several times more formidable than those of the late emperor. Surely this little matter would not pose a challenge to him.
Jiang Yanchuan gave a light cough, drawing back all the probing gazes fixed on Jiang Yingcheng, and said slowly in a casual tone, "I summoned you here today to hear how the tasks I assigned you several days ago are progressing."
The vice minister of works was the first to bow and answer. "Your Majesty, I personally inspected the moat embankment yesterday. Following this year's repairs, it is now exceedingly sound. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
The hall fell silent. After speaking, Zhang Ding'an lowered his eyes to a small patch of empty floor before him, unable to fathom Emperor Mingze's intentions.
Usually, after hearing an official's report, Emperor Mingze would offer a comment or ask a question. He would never leave the conversation hanging like this, saying nothing for so long.
Had his mind wandered beyond the heavens?
Jiang Yanchuan said nothing, but he was hardly idle.
Whoever Jiang Yingcheng called "System Bro" had apparently told her something else. Her startled exclamations kept ringing in Jiang Yanchuan's ears.
Suddenly, Jiang Yingcheng reached out with her chubby little hand and seized a fold of his robe, anxiety all but spilling from her eyes.
[Beautiful Imperial Father, don't believe him! He never went to inspect the moat yesterday. He's making it up!]
[Waaah, I really want to tell Imperial Father! System Bro, hurry and think of something!]
[What's all this about Compacted Earth and undisturbed soil? Slow down, System Bro.]
[Oh, oh, oh, this man used Compacted Earth to repair the embankment...]
She automatically skipped the lengthy explanation 007 gave afterward and delivered a brief but forceful conclusion: [Dangerous!]
Jiang Yanchuan's gaze abruptly darkened.
Though the little one's words were vague, he had already pieced together the situation from those few scattered remarks.
Who knew where Zhang Ding'an had acquired the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard? He had actually dared to pass off Compacted Earth as undisturbed soil for the river embankment repairs and embezzle the court's repair funds.
That kind of soil was far too loose. Unless the problem was discovered early, the embankment might breach when the heavy rains of spring and summer arrived.
Without letting anything show on his face, Jiang Yanchuan drew out a quiet "Mm," mentally adding another charge to the ledger.
He would have to investigate further before he could confirm that everything in the little one's inner voice was true.
Zhang Ding'an let out a long breath of relief.
Jiang Yingcheng, however, was frantic. Her little hand still clutched that fold of fabric, shaking it rapidly back and forth as she struggled to figure out how to explain the whole affair to her beautiful imperial father.
007 had said that people in this era both revered and feared ghosts and spirits. If anyone discovered anything unusual about her, she could be burned alive!
Jiang Yingcheng was still pressing 007 to come up with a solution when a shadow suddenly fell over her head. Then Jiang Yanchuan's large hand descended, enclosing her little hand once more.
For the first time, a hint of helplessness colored Jiang Yanchuan's perpetually unhurried voice. "Stop fussing."
If one listened closely, there was also a trace of barely perceptible affection.
Finally granted a moment's peace, 007 seized the chance to persuade her: [Even if the embankment breaches, it won't happen until next year. We still have time to think of something.]
Delighted to have her little hand held again, Jiang Yingcheng readily let it off the hook. [Then remember to remind me before the embankment breaches next year.]
007: [Yes, yes, yes.]
Jiang Yanchuan: "..."
Changshun: "..."
Changshun's legs went weak. He dearly wanted to drop to his knees and kowtow to this little dumpling right then and there.
Why did he have to be the one to hear this news?
If he kept it to himself, there was no guarantee that this little ancestor would not get so carried away playing that she genuinely forgot to tell Emperor Mingze.
When the river burst through the embankment, the people in the city would surely suffer. If anyone lost their life as a result, his conscience might never rest easy.
But if he went to Emperor Mingze with the matter...
How would he explain where the information had come from?
Changshun's head felt ready to swell to twice its size.
The remaining officials gave their reports in turn. Jiang Yingcheng watched whoever was speaking with her big, round eyes, curiosity, disgust, fondness, and shock flickering through her gaze. Even without hearing her inner voice, her thoughts were exceptionally easy to read.
[Wow, thieves broke into this man's house yesterday, and while he was catching them, he stumbled upon his concubine secretly meeting someone?]
[He's so pitiful. His wife takes all his salary, and he doesn't have any spending money at all. He can't even afford little pastries!]
[Huh? This uncle's newborn son isn't his? Mm... then he's a little more pitiful after all.]
Changshun struggled to suppress his laughter the entire time, and a faint smile touched Jiang Yanchuan's lips as well.
But when the last official finished his report, the previously cheerful commentary abruptly grew much graver.
[H-how could he dare embezzle so much silver?!]
007 had just explained how many little cakes nine hundred thousand taels of silver could buy, finally giving her a rough sense of the amount.
Indignantly, Jiang Yingcheng declared inwardly, [That many little pastries-could he even finish them all?!]
Jiang Yanchuan suddenly rose and took two steps toward the man.
It was Liu Zhengqing, who had just been promoted from vice minister of personnel to minister of personnel.
Before you continue