“What?” Fang Lingchu, who was happily gnawing on a large pork knuckle, was dumbfounded when she heard her father say he wanted her to enter the palace and become an official.
Fang Yelin looked at his silly daughter, fuming with anger.
“His Majesty wants you to attend the morning court session with me tomorrow.”
“Why?” Fang Lingchu didn’t understand. She was also quite famous in the capital, just that the reason for her fame was different from her sister’s.
Her sister was famous for her talent, while she was famous for her wealth.
Didn’t His Majesty know what she was like? Even if he didn’t, shouldn’t her own father?
“Stop with all the questions. Just follow me tomorrow, and that’s that.”
Fang Lingchu looked pitifully at her father and said, “Father, I can’t get up that early. Can I please refuse?”
Feeling like he was trying to forge scrap iron into steel, Minister Fang said, “His Majesty has already issued the imperial edict. All the civil and military officials in the court know about it. Do you want our entire family to be executed for defying a decree?”
Fang Lingchu looked miserable. She really didn’t want to go to work.
What was the difference between attending the morning court and her old job?
Just then, the System spoke up: [Host, why are you so resistant to attending the morning court?]
Fang Lingchu explained listlessly: [In my past life, my 996 schedule was already exhausting. Going to court now would be like a 001 schedule. Plus, it’s so early, I won’t be able to sleep in anymore.]
The System said: [Alright, but judging by your father’s expression, it seems you can’t refuse.]
Hearing his daughter’s inner thoughts, Minister Fang truly felt the urge to beat this lazy girl to death. Not wanting to see her a moment longer, he could only let out a cold snort and leave.
Watching her father’s retreating back, Fang Lingchu unhappily complained to the System: [This is all because of that poem.]
Her memory returned to the previous day.
“Greetings to the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed with eternal fortune and peace.”
The Empress looked at the crowd, raised a jade-like hand slightly, and said, “You may dispense with the courtesies.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The crowd of noble ladies curtsied and sat down. Fang Lingchu returned to her mother and sister’s side.
“Seeing the flowers in the palace in such fine bloom, I realized it has been a long time since I’ve seen everyone, so I thought of inviting you all to the palace for a chat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The crowd rose to their feet again in acknowledgment.
Following behind her sister, Fang Lingchu muttered under her breath, “Coming to the palace is so tiring. I’d rather be at home…”
Before she could finish her complaint, her sister, who was beside her, gave her a tug, and she finally realized she should sit down.
She had no idea how many times she had already stood up. It was truly exhausting.
The Eldest Princess tugged on the corner of the Empress’s sleeve and said coquettishly, “Mother Empress, didn’t you say you wanted us to compose poems with chrysanthemums as the theme? Have you decided on a prize?”
The Empress lovingly tapped the Eldest Princess’s nose and said, “You! It’s just a prize, and you still need your Mother Empress to provide it.”
The Eldest Princess giggled.
On the surface, this was a flower appreciation banquet, but in reality, it was a selection banquet for the Crown Prince’s consort.
The Empress smiled, then addressed the ladies below, “Whoever comes in first today will receive this phoenix hairpin from my own collection.”
The noble ladies’ faces lit up with joy. They knew today was no ordinary flower appreciation banquet, but a selection for the Crown Prince’s consort. They hadn’t expected that the First Prince or even other princes might also be choosing their consorts. If they couldn’t have the favored son of heaven, the Crown Prince, his other brothers were also acceptable.
Winning the Empress’s prize was equivalent to gaining an opportunity to participate in the consort selection. Everyone was thrilled.
After all, every son of the imperial family was a dragon amongst men.
Soon, palace maids served paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones to the noble ladies present.
Fang Lingchu stared at the items on her table, unwilling to move. She had an aversion to these things now. Having endured the brutal university entrance exams and then the civil service exams in her past life, she had no desire to participate in any kind of test in this life.
Beside her, Fang Lingyan saw her sister’s state and shook her head helplessly before continuing to write her own poem.
Although she had no desire to become the Crown Princess, given her father’s and brother’s capabilities, someone from their family was bound to enter the palace.
Fang Lingchu propped up her head and looked around. Seeing everyone writing furiously, she let out a despairing wail in her mind. [Ahhh… this is so boring…]
Everyone!!!!
Everyone’s hands trembled, and some of their characters came out crooked.
They glared around in anger.
Who was that wailing like a banshee!
The Empress, seated above, also looked down at the noble ladies in confusion. Seeing that they were all looking down with their lips pursed, she thought she must have misheard.
Just then, the voice sounded again.
[Gua Gua, can you help me think of an ancient poem about chrysanthemums?]
The System said, gloating a little: [Host, I’m a Gossip System, not a Top Student System. I don’t have that kind of knowledge, you know.]
This time, the Empress heard it clearly. She scanned her surroundings, trying to find the source of the voice.
At the same time, she observed the others. Judging by their micro-expressions, they could all hear it too.
The Empress looked at the Eldest Princess beside her and frowned slightly.
The others didn’t dare to move. If the Empress found out they could hear this strange voice, forget becoming the Crown Princess, they might even be seized for having fits.
Among those present, only Fang Lingyan knew what was going on, but she couldn’t say anything. At the same time, she was terrified that her sister would have another random thought, which could lead to their entire family being executed.
Thus, everyone present, each with their own thoughts, went about their business, all pretending they had heard nothing.
Fang Lingchu drooped her head unhappily and said: [Then tell me some gossip to listen to. Let me relax a bit and see if I can remember anything.]
The System giggled and said, [See that young lady across from your sister? She’s the granddaughter of the Grand Secretary. She’s always been known for her gentle, kind, dignified, and graceful appearance, but in private, she’s really wild and even keeps male paramours!]
Fang Lingchu looked up in surprise toward Lu Chuyu on the opposite side. [No way. She’s that wild and can still participate in the Crown Princess selection? I heard my mother say the Empress is quite fond of her. Can someone like that be a mother to the nation?]
This sentence was transmitted accurately into the Empress’s ears, and simultaneously into the minds of everyone present.
Some were happy, others were worried.
At the same time, everyone realized that there was nothing wrong with them, nor were there any demons or ghosts in the palace. Rather, it was the inner voice of the young lady across from Lu Chuyu.
They exchanged glances. It seemed everyone could hear it.
Just like that, the reputation Lu Chuyu had cultivated for so long was utterly ruined.
Lu Chuyu’s face turned pale, and the hand holding the brush trembled nonstop. She looked up and saw strange looks coming from all directions, and she was about to lash out.
Fortunately, the young lady beside her pulled her back in time. She steadied herself, stood up, and said, “Your Majesty, I am not…”
“What’s wrong, Lady Lu? You look so pale. Someone, take Lady Lu down to rest.”
A palace maid from behind the Empress immediately pulled the person away.
Everyone present was shrewd. By saying this, the Empress was already telling everyone that Lu Chuyu had no chance of becoming the Crown Princess.
Fang Lingchu, somewhat oblivious to the situation, watched the person being led away, baffled.
She had even been glared at by the other party for no reason.
Fang Lingchu: [??? What’s going on? Why did she glare at me? Did I do something to provoke her?]
Beside her, Fang Lingyan silently thought to herself, [You exposed her secrets in your mind. She doesn’t just want to glare at you; she probably wants to kill you.]
Fang Lingyan was terrified right now, praying that her sister wouldn’t go digging for any more gossip.
Otherwise, their family would really be doomed.
This palace was full of nobles.
Gua Gua: [Tsk tsk tsk, you can tell she has a bad temper just by looking at her, and she’s so wild too.]
Fang Lingchu subconsciously nodded. She looked up, wanting to see her sister, and then met everyone’s eyes…
[What’s going on? Why are they all looking at me? Did they find out I wasn’t working on my poem?]
Everyone…
Everyone quickly retracted their gazes and busied themselves with their own tasks.
The Empress above had also found the source of the voice.
The Empress looked at everyone and said, “How are your poems coming along?”
“This servant is finished. I invite Your Majesty to have a look…”
A perfectly synchronized chorus of voices rang out. Fang Lingchu stared at the blank paper in front of her.
[Did they secretly rehearse without telling me? How can they speak in such unison?]
Everyone…
System: [That’s what you call a well-bred lady. Look at your sister.]
Fang Lingchu retorted unconvinced, [I am one too.]
System: [Yes, yes, you are. Host, you are a well-bred la~dy.]
[Are you asking to be punished again?]
Listening to her adorable conversation with that Gua Gua, the Empress couldn’t help but ask, “Which family’s daughter are you?”
Seeing the Empress looking at her, Fang Lingchu quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and said, “Replying to Your Majesty, this servant is the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue.”
The Empress looked at Fang Lingchu with a kindly expression. It seemed she would have to ask Lady Fang about this in private. Her family had two daughters, and the younger one looked perfectly healthy, yet she had never appeared in public before. Could it be…
She was probably only brought into the palace today because she had instructed that all young ladies of suitable age must be brought along.
“I heard that Lady Fang is in poor health. Since you’ve come to the palace today, would you like me to have the imperial physician take a look at you?”
Author’s Notes: