[Life doesn't have that many spectators. Rest easy, host. They won't take this little incident to heart.]
The system paused, its tone gleeful at her misfortune.
[You'll have to get used to it, host. There'll be plenty more things like this in the future.]
From what it knew of its host, Minister Shen would be hauling her off to court again within ten days or a fortnight.
Its host certainly wouldn't give up sleeping just because she had embarrassed herself.
The system had barely finished speaking when Shen Yuxi's voice sounded in her mind, carrying an undercurrent of threat.
Every word seemed to squeeze out through gritted teeth.
[System, what did you just say? I didn't catch that. Repeat it for your host.]
[I... I said your father went too far. Next time, I'll help you get revenge, host.]
The system decisively wiped away its smile and turned its spearhead toward Minister Shen.
It joined its host in shared indignation against a common enemy.
Everyone else who could hear her thoughts: "..."
Lord Little Shen's system really did... know which way the wind was blowing.
To Shen Yuxi, practically all the officials at court were unfamiliar faces.
She couldn't learn who they all were in such a short time and could only rely on the system to tell her.
"Hmph!"
Suddenly, Shen Yuxi keenly sensed an unfriendly gaze landing on her.
She looked up and followed her instincts toward its source.
She found an official of about fifty or sixty standing ahead, glaring fixedly at her.
She saw deep hatred and disgust in his eyes.
Shen Yuxi's pretty brows knitted slightly.
[System, who's that? Why's he looking at me like I dug up his ancestral graves?]
[He's Grand Tutor Wei, Noble Consort Wei's father.]
Hearing their conversation, Grand Tutor Wei reluctantly withdrew his gaze and turned away, no longer looking at her.
Everyone else's gazes wandered back and forth between Grand Tutor Wei and Shen Yuxi.
Ever since learning from Lord Little Shen that Noble Consort Wei had been having an affair with a man outside the palace, they had been watching Noble Consort Wei and the Third Princess closely, wanting to know whether Lord Little Shen's words were true and how the emperor would deal with them.
What no one had expected was that the emperor would order Noble Consort Wei and the Third Princess put to death without the slightest hesitation.
Having lost his daughter, Grand Tutor Wei naturally resented Lord Little Shen.
Minister Shen's brows furrowed so deeply they formed the character 川, and he tugged his youngest daughter farther behind him.
Shen Yuxi had her head lowered and didn't notice her father's movement.
[The old emperor discovered that Noble Consort Wei was having an affair with a eunuch at her side and had bribed an imperial physician to falsify how many months pregnant she was. In his fury, he simply ordered Noble Consort Wei and the Third Princess put to death.]
[Grand Tutor Wei's in a terrible mood. He didn't sleep a wink last night.]
Puzzled, she asked, [I don't even know him. Why does he look like he wants to kill me?]
[It's not as if I told the emperor to kill Noble Consort Wei and her daughter.]
Standing ahead, Grand Tutor Wei abruptly clenched his fists, the hatred in his eyes almost taking physical form.
[Grand Tutor Wei's in a bad mood. He looks ready to devour anyone he sees. It's not just you, host.]
[If you're angry, host, I'll dig up some of Grand Tutor Wei's melons for you to eat in a bit.]
"Grand Tutor Wei, calm yourself."
Mo Jingyu approached him, a hint of warning in his gentle voice.
"Lord Little Shen exposed Noble Consort Wei's corruption of the imperial bloodline. That was a great service indeed. Otherwise, wouldn't all the honor of being a princess of this nation have gone to some lowborn illegitimate daughter?"
"Imperial Father places great trust in you, Grand Tutor Wei. Don't do anything foolish."
Grand Tutor Wei stiffly tugged at the corners of his mouth, producing a smile.
"You misunderstand, Your Highness. His Majesty dealt with my unfilial daughter for me. I couldn't be more pleased."
"Good, then."
Even once court began, Shen Yuxi's inner voice did not stop.
Emperor Xuanzhao and the ministers discussed affairs while pricking up their ears to listen to the conversation between the human and the system.
Compared with dull, tedious work, eating melons and listening to gossip was far more interesting.
[System, Grand Tutor Wei suffered the pain of losing his daughter and didn't sleep all last night. How did he have the energy to come to court this morning?]
Emperor Xuanzhao's gaze swept lightly over Grand Tutor Wei's face.
In a single night, Grand Tutor Wei seemed to have aged more than a decade.
[What if I told you Grand Tutor Wei not only had the energy to attend court, but also had the energy to favor his concubine? Would you be even more shocked, host?]
[Eww.]
Shen Yuxi gave Grand Tutor Wei a disgusted glance.
She thought no one had noticed her little movement, unaware that most of the people at court had caught it.
[How old is Grand Tutor Wei already? And he's still doing that stuff?]
[How old is his concubine?]
[In her early twenties.]
[Good grief. Grand Tutor Wei's old enough to be his concubine's father, yet he really has no qualms about laying hands on her.]
Grand Tutor Wei's face flushed red, then white, turning as colorful as a painter's palette.
How was Shen Yuxi airing his private affairs before everyone any different from humiliating him in public?
The Second Prince quietly covered half his face with one hand, looking toward Grand Tutor Wei with the eyes of someone enjoying a good show.
He teased, "Your virility is undiminished from your younger days, Grand Tutor Wei."
Everyone else who heard this secretly snickered.
What undiminished virility? This was plainly an old ox eating tender grass.
Although such things were common, after Lord Little Shen put it that way, why did Grand Tutor Wei seem so utterly shameless to them?
The system burst into laughter, sounding like 3D surround sound in everyone's ears.
[Don't let Grand Tutor Wei's age fool you. His prowess is top-notch. He battled his concubine all night, yet still came to court today brimming with vigor.]
[His daughter died, yet her father was still in the mood to live it up and enjoy a night of springtime pleasure? That shows just how heartless Grand Tutor Wei is.]
Shen Yuxi's words brimmed with disgust and sarcasm.
Emperor Xuanzhao cast a thoughtful sidelong glance at Grand Tutor Wei.
How blind had he been to think Grand Tutor Wei was a man of noble character and lofty principles, virtuous and widely respected?
He was plainly a shameless old geezer.
[Noble Consort Wei wasn't Grand Tutor Wei's only daughter. Her death didn't cause him pain for long. On the contrary, he's now planning how to send his youngest daughter into the palace and offer her to the emperor.]
Shen Yuxi's mouth slowly formed an O.
[He really dares to dream.]
[The emperor wore a green hat for over a decade and is at his most sensitive right now. If he chooses this critical moment to send his daughter into the palace, isn't he afraid the emperor will get even angrier?]
The system said matter-of-factly, [Of course he is!]
[The old emperor is very displeased with Grand Tutor Wei. Grand Tutor Wei's worried he'll never regain the emperor's trust and will gradually lose his favor, affecting his position at court.]
[So he wants to go all in and take a gamble, turning a bicycle into a motorcycle.]
[His youngest daughter is even more beautiful and enchanting than Noble Consort Wei. Grand Tutor Wei thinks her looks and figure are sure to win the old emperor's affection.]
The system said softly, [But Grand Tutor Wei's youngest daughter doesn't have her sights set on the old emperor. Rather than an emperor more than twelve years her senior, she wants to find a husband her own age who suits her heart.]
[Grand Tutor Wei surely won't agree to that, right?]
[Mm-hmm.]
[Grand Tutor Wei's youngest daughter has a temper that explodes at the slightest spark. She isn't remotely like Noble Consort Wei, who obeyed his every word. Grand Tutor Wei has quite a headache over it. He wants to send his youngest daughter into the palace, but he's also worried her temper will displease the emperor even more.]