“Madam, His Highness has made arrangements. The chef will arrive later to prepare meals for Little Lord Ji.”
“Oh my, we must thank the Crown Prince!” Fang Yulan was delighted. After organizing the tasks to be arranged, she headed to Sishi Residence.
Before reaching the entrance, the gatekeeper reported that neighbors from next door had come to visit. Fang Yulan had no choice but to return to the main hall.
“Greetings, Madam. I’m from the neighboring residence where the Liang family serves as Court Librarians. My mistress heard that someone had moved into this adjacent residence and sent me to deliver these pastries.” The visitor was an elderly maid, indicating the neighboring household was no ordinary family.
“Thank your mistress for me. My husband’s surname is Ji. Once I’m settled, I’ll invite your mistress over for a visit.”
“You’re too kind!”
As the Liang family maid was about to leave, Ji Yingying happened to arrive—she was hungry.
“Mom, is food ready yet?” Ji Yingying remained true to form—her voice arriving before her person. Upon entering and seeing a guest, she immediately switched to introvert mode, greeting them politely.
“You… Just wait a bit longer. The chef should arrive soon. You can tell him what you’d like to eat then.”
“Mom’s the best!”
[Host, that person just criticized your lack of manners.] Xiangxiang’s voice suddenly chimed in. Hearing she’d been insulted, Ji Yingying quickly asked: [Come on, give me some gossip about her. Let me have a taste.]
Since there’s no food yet, having some gossip isn’t too much to ask!
[Oh my, I’ve never seen such an old woman—she actually forced her daughter-in-law to have an abortion and forbade her from getting pregnant. Good heavens, how embarrassing! She actually has feelings for her own son. Just because she favors her son, she mistreats her daughter-in-law like this.]
[No way, no way! This old woman actually secretly drugged and slept with her own son? That’s utterly disgusting! If the maid from the neighboring residence in the capital plays such wild games, wouldn’t others be even more outrageous?]
[Host eating melons like this every day—Xiangxiang thinks it’s quite good~ Perhaps if Host gathers enough data from melon-eating, the system might even update.]
[What? It can actually update? It’s been ten years, and you’re only telling me now that it can update? Xiangxiang, you really don’t love me at all!]
[I do love you, just not deeply enough!]
[How heartbreaking!]
Fang Yulan, who had been listening nearby to her melon-eating, suddenly felt disdain for the food the visitor had brought.
“Mom, let’s open it and see what she brought?”
“Don’t bother looking. We won’t be eating this. Fortunately, the Crown Princess cares about you and sent a chef. Let’s have the chef prepare something for you.”
“Okay”
…………
Early the next morning, shortly after daybreak, Ji Yingying was awakened by Nanny Xia.
“Little Lord Ji, someone from the palace has come. They say you’re required to attend morning court.”
Still drowsy, Ji Yingying didn’t want to deal with her and waved her hand, urging her to leave quickly.
“Miss,” Pingguo called out from nearby, but it was utterly ineffective at rousing her.
[Stop bothering me, I’m sleepy… Whatever that damn Emperor wants, disturbing my sleep is a crime…]
Nanny Xia was terrified. She never expected Ji Yingying to speak like this… Would this lead to execution?
The hidden guards outside the door also heard—they were sent by the Emperor to protect Ji Yingying.
They had been stationed there since last night, initially thinking they were just protecting a young girl. Who knew this girl would be so reckless! Daring to insult His Majesty like that.
“Miss, if you don’t get up now, I’ll drag you out of bed myself.” Pingguo tried to assert authority, but it was useless.
In the end, it was Fang Yulan who came over to pick her up and had Pingguo apply her makeup and dress her.
Ji Yingying’s official uniform hadn’t been made yet, so today she was wearing clothes that Ji Jiayu had worn as a child.
Despite all the commotion, Ji Yingying still slept soundly, as if completely undisturbed.
“Nanny, please escort her into the palace. Wake her up once you reach the palace gates.”
Fang Yulan sighed. They had promised her two days to rest, yet here she was being summoned to the palace in no time at all. Judging by the hour, it seemed the morning court session hadn’t even ended yet.
“Rest assured, Madam. This old servant will ensure Little Lord Ji is delivered to the Hall of Diligent Governance.”
Throughout the entire journey, no matter how bumpy the ride, Ji Yingying didn’t wake up. When they reached the palace gates, Nanny Xia was about to carry her inside when she finally stirred. However, she would walk two steps and then pause to rest, forcing Nanny Xia to carry her the rest of the way. Fortunately, by the time they reached the entrance of the Hall of Diligent Governance, she was finally awake.
As she entered the Hall of Diligent Governance, Ji Yingying completely ignored the predatory gazes fixed upon her. After performing the ceremonial kowtow to the Emperor, she had no idea what to do next. She didn’t even know where she was supposed to stand.
“Little Ji, my beloved official,” the Emperor spoke. Ji Yingying yawned and replied, “Your Majesty, your servant is here!”
“Are you not fully awake yet?”
“Your Majesty, your servant is awake.”
【Spits Since when did this lady ever wake up this early? What time is it even? Making me get up at this hour—isn’t this just asking for me to go bald? As expected, the Emperor is up to no good. Good thing I’m about to be hung on the city walls soon, otherwise, who could put up with him?】
Emperor: ……
Civil and military officials: ……
Those who had heard about the Emperor appointing a woman as an official but had not yet heard Ji Yingying’s inner thoughts immediately knelt down. “Your Majesty, we have heard that a woman was appointed as an official yesterday. We implore Your Majesty to revoke this decree. Women should remain at home, serving their husbands, raising children, and managing household affairs.”
“Your Majesty, since ancient times, there has never been a precedent for a woman to hold an official position. We beseech Your Majesty to revoke this decree.”
A large crowd knelt in unison. Ji Yingying looked over in surprise. Only a few remained standing, all of whom were positioned closer to the front. Those further back had almost all knelt down, demanding the decree be revoked.
【This… Should I kneel too? I don’t want to work anyway. Look at this—dragged out of bed early in the morning to work, without even having breakfast. I’m still young and need to grow. How can I manage without food or sleep?】
【Besides, I don’t have the lofty ambitions of those transmigrated heroines who want to achieve great things. I have no interest in that. I just want to lie flat. And the Tianyou Dynasty is about to fall anyway—what’s the point of me being an official?】
Suddenly, a voice rang out beside her: “Women are raised in the inner chambers—how could they understand matters of state? Moreover, women are short-sighted, only concerned with daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, salt, and cosmetics. Women should not hold official positions!”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. We beg Your Majesty to revoke this decree.”
【Well, well, these old fogies are really stirring up this lady’s fighting spirit now. Saying women are incapable? Very well, very well. I’ll start by making an example of you. Xiangxiang, serve the tea and gossip!】
Just as the Emperor was about to speak, he heard the words “serve the tea and gossip” and immediately fell silent.
【Oh, so it’s a Vice Minister. This Vice Minister is already in his seventies or eighties… no, almost sixty, and he’s still taking a wife? And not just any wife—he married a young girl in her teens.】
【Truly, an old cow eating tender grass—how shameless! Come on, let this lady see how this young girl agreed to marry him.】
Kneeling on the ground, Minister Shao was utterly dumbfounded. Who was this… No, judging by the voice, it was a woman’s. There was only one woman in the entire hall. He quickly pointed at her, wanting to signal her to stop speaking.
But then the Great Ancestor came for him, striking him so hard he saw stars. At that moment, terrified out of his wits, he forced himself not to restrain this Little Lord Ji from continuing her thoughts, thus managing to save his own skin.