[System, who on earth invented the rules about kneeling?]
[These ministers kneel all day long. Don't their legs hurt?]
Shen Yuxi muttered, [Especially those elderly ministers. Won't their old bones fall apart from all that kneeling?]
[They're probably used to it. They've been kneeling for decades, after all. They've long since trained their knees into walls of bronze and iron,] the system said thoughtfully.
[Ugh... am I going to have to kneel for decades too? No!]
Shen Yuxi wailed.
Her expression said she had nothing left to live for.
[Judging by the current situation, Host, kneeling for eight or ten years shouldn't be a problem.]
Shen Yuxi asked in bewilderment, [Seriously, what's inside His Majesty's head? Paste?]
[Handing me an official post so carelessly-is he really not afraid that every civil and military official and everyone under heaven will call him a muddleheaded ruler?]
Emperor Xuanzhao: "..."
My head is not full of paste.
The civil and military officials: "..."
How dare she! Minister Shen's daughter actually dared insult His Majesty. Simply unforgivable.
Minister Shen: "..."
Daughter, do you think we've lived too long?
The system thought for a moment before answering, [You saved the Fourth Prince's life, Host. The old emperor has always doted on the Fourth Prince, so naturally he'd show you, his son's savior, a little extra consideration.]
[If His Majesty wanted to look after me, he could've rewarded me with more gold, silver, jewels, antiques, paintings, calligraphy, clothes, and jewelry.]
[But look what he's gone and done instead,] Shen Yuxi grumbled indignantly.
[He's clearly repaying kindness with enmity.]
[Be content, Host. In everyone else's eyes, the emperor is already showing you extraordinary favor.]
[So many women want to serve at court but never get the chance. So many scholars spend years studying by cold windows without necessarily making it into court, yet you became an official with ease, Host. Everyone else is green with envy.]
[Can I please do without this kind of favor?!]
The system told her in an exceedingly regretful tone, [No.]
Listening to the conversation between the girl and the system, the civil and military officials below were deeply alarmed.
They had not seen Shen Yuxi open her mouth, nor was anyone in the hall speaking to her.
Who did that voice they had never heard before belong to?
Could it be... that Shen Yuxi could communicate with ghosts and gods?
At this thought, some of the more timid ministers broke out in goosebumps.
The ministers' gazes involuntarily fell on Minister Shen's face.
"Minister Shen, Lord Little Shen..."
Beside him, the Minister of Works, who was on good terms with Minister Shen, lowered his voice, unable to conceal his curiosity.
Minister Shen felt utterly helpless.
From the moment His Majesty had demanded that his youngest daughter serve at court, he had foreseen this scene.
His youngest daughter's secret was a secret no longer.
"That's my daughter's inner voice."
"But who is Lord Little Shen talking to? There's no one around her."
"A spirit called a 'system.'"
The surrounding ministers sidled closer to Minister Shen, pricking up their ears to listen.
His words made their eyes widen.
"A system? A spirit?"
How terrifying.
"No wonder His Majesty insisted on granting Lord Little Shen a post no matter what. It wasn't just because she saved the Fourth Prince after all."
When Emperor Xuanzhao had told them the news, the entire court had been stunned.
After the shock came frantic attempts to stop Emperor Xuanzhao's absurd plan. They had all but dashed their heads against the ground, begging His Majesty to rescind his decree.
The prime minister had even fainted outright in anger, collapsing on the spot.
But His Majesty's mind was set. They talked until their lips wore thin, yet still could not sway Emperor Xuanzhao.
Helpless, the ministers could only force themselves to accept it.
They had decided to keep a close watch on Shen Yuxi's every move.
The moment she made a mistake, they would memorialize His Majesty. No matter what, they had to drag Shen Yuxi out of her post as a court historian.
Indeed, Emperor Xuanzhao also knew that appointing Shen Yuxi would not win everyone's acceptance, so he had not given her an important position.
Instead, he had assigned her to assist the court historian.
The court historian did the writing and recording during court sessions; she only needed to lend a hand now and then.
Meanwhile, the emperor, who had been subjected to a wholly unprovoked round of insults, said nothing.
Mustn't get angry. Mustn't get angry.
The girl saved Chen'er's life and helped uncover the culprit who had plotted against him.
She rendered a tremendous service!
He took several deep breaths.
Emperor Xuanzhao swept his majestic imperial gaze over the officials present.
A large part of his reason for granting Shen Yuxi a post was his hope of using her and the system's inner voices to assess the ministers at court.
The chief eunuch, Eunuch Yang, spoke at just the right moment, his high, thin voice ringing out long and clear.
"Those with memorials, present them. If there is no business, court is dismissed-"
"Your Majesty, this old subject has a matter to report."
Yan Bosen, the Censorate's Left Censor-in-Chief, stepped out of the ranks.
[Host, I've found loads of juicy gossip. Want to hear it?]
The system's excited voice rang out again.
[Yes! Lord Shi can handle the recordkeeping all by himself anyway.]
She would just stand there like a wooden pole.
[An idle day without eating melons is a day of misery.]
[Whose melons should we eat~?]
[The emperor's. It's all his fault. If he hadn't insisted on making me an official, I'd still be fast asleep in my soft, sweet-smelling bed at this hour.]
Shen Yuxi held grudges. Whoever provoked her would get their payback.
The system supported its host one hundred percent.
[All right, let's eat the old emperor's melons.]
Emperor Xuanzhao: "..."
What was eating melons?
The ministers were equally puzzled.
Where were there any melons here for Lord Little Shen to eat?
Minister Shen clutched his chest, looking as though he might faint the next instant.
The Minister of Works beside him hurried to rub his back and help him catch his breath.
"Minister Shen, you must stay calm. His Majesty isn't even angry, so don't take it to heart."
There would be more and more of this sort of thing in the future. He needed to get used to it ahead of time.
The Minister of Works silently added that to himself.
But upon seeing Minister Shen's expression, he wisely kept his mouth shut.
He feared Minister Shen would beat him up if he said it aloud.
[Host, what do you think of this emperor of yours?]
At this, Emperor Xuanzhao immediately puffed out his chest and sat up straight.
Even Yan Bosen lowered his voice considerably as he spoke.
Emperor Xuanzhao was not the only curious one. The ministers were also eager to hear how Shen Yuxi would assess him.
Shen Yuxi stole a glance at Emperor Xuanzhao and pondered for a moment.
She concluded, [The late emperor grew muddleheaded in his final years and indulged in pleasure, leaving the people throughout the Mo Kingdom struggling to survive and the treasury empty. On top of that, the nine princes fought fiercely for the throne.]
[His Majesty managed to win that struggle, so his ability is beyond question.]
[After ascending the throne, he ordered reductions in corvée labor, humbly accepted remonstrance, and improved people's livelihoods. The Mo Kingdom rapidly grew stronger. All of that is enough to prove he's a good emperor who works diligently and loves his people.]
Phew-
Minister Shen let out a great sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. His daughter still had some sense.
He had truly feared his daughter would call His Majesty a muddleheaded ruler or a confused fool.
Upon hearing Shen Yuxi's fair assessment, Emperor Xuanzhao's lips curled upward uncontrollably.
He puffed out his chest proudly, looking for all the world like a rooster that had won a fight.