Minister Fang pulled Fang Lingchu before the historian Lord Chang and said, “Lord Chang, I’ll have to trouble you to look after my daughter from now on.” Minister Fang’s attitude was extremely courteous. Despite holding a higher official rank, he spoke to Lord Chang in this manner for his daughter’s sake—a rare display of humility.
“Minister Fang, there’s no need for such formalities. Your daughter seems quite agreeable to me. We’ll be working together from now on as colleagues, so there’s no talk of looking after or not looking after,” said Lord Chang, an elderly man who stroked his beard with a kindly smile.
Fang Lingchu obediently bowed and greeted, “Greetings, Lord Chang.”
In her mind, she complained to the System: 【System, my new supervisor looks really old.】
The System replied: 【If he weren’t old, why would he need a young assistant like you?】
Fang Lingchu nodded and said: 【So it’s this guy’s fault I got dragged to court?】
Her tone was full of danger.
Hearing her thoughts, Lord Chang felt a chill run down his spine.
Minister Fang, listening in, could only feel embarrassed and coughed awkwardly.
Minister Chen, hearing Fang Lingchu’s inner monologue, was startled and was about to speak when the official beside him quickly covered his mouth and said, “His Majesty is arriving. Hurry to court.”
Then the gates of the Hall of Supreme Harmony opened.
Everyone entered the Imperial Court in an orderly manner. Fang Lingchu stood beside Lord Chang. Although her rank was low, her special position allowed her to stand relatively close to the front.
“Court is in session!”
Three cheers of “Long live the Emperor” echoed.
The Emperor said, “Those with matters to report may speak; if there are none, court is dismissed.”
Soon, everyone began discussing important state affairs of the Long Kingdom, and an argument broke out over one particular issue.
Fang Lingchu stealthily yawned, watching Lord Chang scribble furiously in his notes. She wondered if she should offer to help but was refused.
With nothing to do, Fang Lingchu grew drowsy. To keep herself awake, she asked: 【System, I’m so bored. Any gossip to share?】
Hearing her Host’s question, the System replied cheerfully: 【Yes, and it’s a super juicy piece of gossip about your unlucky Emperor.】
The ministers!!!
This Lord Xiao Fang has a death wish, daring to speak of the tyrant like that.
Emperor Chongde: …
Why, out of so many people, must they gossip about me again? Still, the Emperor pricked up his ears to listen. He himself had no idea what gossip there could be about him.
At this moment, Minister Fang was utterly mortified. Why must she gossip about the Emperor in front of so many people? He felt as though their family had taken another step closer to the underworld.
He nearly lost his footing.
Unaware of the reactions around her, Fang Lingchu grew excited upon hearing it was gossip about the Emperor.
The System’s cheerful voice rang out: 【Your Emperor is really pitiful. Despite ruling such a vast kingdom, he’s as poor as a church mouse. He may look splendid on the outside, but apart from his outer robes, all his inner garments, including his underwear, are patched up and mended year after year.】
Fang Lingchu stole a shocked glance at the Emperor, then thought: 【Hahahaha, who would have thought the Emperor, who looks so majestic, is actually that poor? No wonder every time he gives rewards, it’s always things like calligraphy or plaques. I thought he was just going for a literary vibe. Hahahaha, this is too funny.】
Fang Lingchu’s laughter was so bizarre that everyone felt as though it was coming from all directions.
The word “poor” struck everyone like a hammer, landing squarely in the Emperor’s heart as well.
The Emperor’s ears were beginning to burn.
As Minister Fang listened to his daughter’s laughter, he had already started thinking about where the family should be buried—at the very least, they couldn’t be left to die in the wilderness.
Emperor Chongde’s old face was practically cooked. He could only pretend to discuss state affairs to divert his attention. How did that so-called System know about his clothes? It even knew about his underwear.
He stole another glance at Fang Lingchu, who stood quietly on the surface. How could a girl know about a man’s underwear and not feel the slightest bit of shame?
The ministers and Imperial Princes below looked at the Emperor, never expecting His Majesty’s life to be so difficult.
Even his underwear was torn. They couldn’t help but feel pity, as they had always thought the Emperor’s complaints about poverty were just an act.
Who would have thought it was actually true? Their Majesty was genuinely poor.
When Emperor Chongde saw everyone looking at him with such pity, goosebumps rose all over his skin.
Minister Fang knew best why he was so poor. If it weren’t for the empty treasury and Minister Fang’s exceptional accounting skills, would he have needed to dip into his own pockets?
The state had no other sources of revenue, and he had to clean up the mess left by his father. How could he not be poor? What was so funny about that?
The System continued: 【But you can’t blame him. Who made him have such a troublesome father? Still, at least he’s an exceptionally good emperor—diligent in governance and caring for his people. He’s far better than many emperors I’ve seen.】
Fang Lingchu chimed in mentally: 【From the way he insisted on letting a woman like me attend court, you can tell he’s a good emperor with his own ideas. His level of thinking is beyond ordinary people. Hehehe, and he even discovered someone as brilliant as me.】
Everyone: How did this person manage to praise herself while complimenting His Majesty?
Emperor Chongde was speechless. But hearing the System’s evaluation of him, he couldn’t help but feel a little smug.
Although he did these things because it was his duty, it was still gratifying to be praised for them.
The System and Fang Lingchu chatted animatedly about this topic, growing more and more enthusiastic. The others listened intently, and the discussions around them gradually quieted.
Everyone multitasked, listening to gossip while discussing state affairs.
“Your Majesty, the son of Prince Anjin has forcibly seized commoners’ daughters, committed robbery in broad daylight, and murdered many innocent people. This has severely disrupted the people’s livelihood. We implore Your Majesty to make a decision.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. The law applies equally to princes and commoners. The son of Prince Anjin has gone too far, Your Majesty.”
Fang Lingchu’s attention was abruptly drawn by the two ministers’ loud voices.
Both of them fell silent and listened.
“Your Majesty, the son of Prince Anjin, relying on his father’s achievements, acts arrogantly and does as he pleases in the capital. Countless commoners have already suffered at his hands. Here is a list of the laws he has violated. Please review it, Your Majesty.”
A memorial was presented. As Emperor Chongde read through the litany of crimes, his face grew darker and darker.
“Bastard!”
The Emperor’s roar echoed through the hall. Everyone knelt immediately. Fang Lingchu was caught off guard, but Lord Chang beside her quickly tugged at her sleeve.
Fang Lingchu’s knees made intimate contact with the ground, and she grimaced in pain, utterly furious.
【Couldn’t he have given a little warning? My kneecaps are practically shattered!!!!!!】
The solemn atmosphere of the court was instantly shattered by Fang Lingchu’s outburst.
“All ministers may rise. Is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review present?”
“Your servant is here.”
“Is this matter true?”
Vice Minister Wu Renjie of the Court of Judicial Review was sweating profusely. His Majesty knew a little about these matters, but had always turned a blind eye. Now he was being questioned…
[System, why do I feel like His Majesty is asking something he already knows?]
Minister Wu: His court mouthpiece! Lord Xiao Fang is truly saving his life.
[He is indeed asking something he already knows. After all, that Prince An died for him, so even if he knows, he won’t really do anything about it.]
[Didn’t you say our Emperor is a wise ruler?]
[Yes, but His Majesty feels that the matter of Prince An’s Son falls under family affairs.]
[He’s harming the common people, and it’s still considered family affairs? Is the Emperor out of his mind?]
Emperor: I am not out of my mind, not at all…
Minister Fang: Feels like his family is about to face disaster again.
“Your Majesty, Prince Anjin is the only descendant left by Prince An. Do not let the frontier generals and soldiers lose heart.”
A burly-looking man stepped forward.
At this moment, a rather refined-looking man said, “Then should we let the people of the world lose heart over Your Majesty?”
“Back then, Prince An died for the sake of the entire city’s people. Can we not tolerate leaving behind a single bloodline?”
[System, what are they arguing about?]
[One wants Prince An’s Son dead, the other doesn’t.]
[What heinous deeds has this Prince An’s Son committed? Can I get some gossip on this?]
[Yes.]
[Didn’t you say it can’t be unlocked without seeing the person?]
[Hehehe, there are people related to him here, so it can be unlocked.]