Xiao Yaozu returned home.
Surprisingly, Xiao Yaoming was waiting for her at the courtyard gate in the pitch darkness.
“Xiao Yaozu, stop right there! Did you steal my purse? Give it back to me.”
Xiao Yaoming cast a disdainful glance at this place, scratching his hand irritably—completely bitten by mosquitoes.
Xiao Yaozu didn’t even lift her eyelids, walking toward her room as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Who could understand? She, a legitimate child, lived in a remote backyard.
Seeing himself ignored, Xiao Yaoming felt anger rising in his heart again.
“Xiao Yaozu, can’t you hear what I’m saying? Are you deaf?”
This time he had brought several servants with him—he wasn’t stupid.
“Three counts. If you keep blabbering at me, don’t blame me for taking action.”
“You… dare!”
“Three!”
With a sharp slap, Xiao Yaozu swung her entire arm.
This time, the System skillfully added life value to the Host’s palm.
A clear palm print immediately appeared on the other’s face.
Xiao Yaoming, furious, covered his stinging face: “You didn’t even finish counting to three!!”
The servants quickly supported Xiao Yaoming.
“Third Lang Jun, let’s not stoop to their level, no need to bother with First Lang Jun.”
“So him hitting me just gets brushed aside like that?”
A servant braced himself and asked: “Then… hit… hit back?”
Xiao Yaoming looked at Xiao Yaozu, who stood with arms crossed, looking down at him with her chin.
He fearfully shrunk his neck.
This was bizarre, what was wrong with this Xiao Yaozu?
“Let’s go, we’ll go back and plan carefully.” He started to leave with his entourage, but unwilling to concede, turned back to hurl threats.
“Xiao Yaozu, you remember this! I’ll make you repay this slap tenfold! My second brother won’t let you off.”
Xiao Yaozu coldly glanced over, but the other had already vanished.
Another purple purse appeared in her hand.
She weighed it, listening to the clinking of silver coins, then satisfied, lay back in her small nest and lowered the gauze curtain.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately…
The next day
Xiao Yaozu opened her eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her.
Her body felt pressed down by an invisible force, heavy.
It seemed the Gu poison was acting up today.
She gathered her spirits, though her pale complexion couldn’t conceal her physical discomfort.
[Host, are you alright?] The System’s tone carried a hint of concern.
[I’m fine.]
[Host, let’s hurry to court to check in. I’m afraid you might kick the bucket.]
Xiao Yaozu rubbed her temples and slowly completed dressing.
She sat on the bed for a while in a daze before leaving her room.
Midway, the carriage stopped.
[Host, what are you doing?]
Xiao Yaozu picked a dew-covered flower and tucked it into her robe.
[For the Eighth Prince. He should like it.]
[He’s a man.]
[This flower blooms rather uniquely. He should like it.]
The carriage stopped beside the Eighth Prince’s parking spot.
“Lord Xiao, we’ve arrived.”
Xiao Yaozu lifted the curtain and immediately encountered the Eighth Prince descending from his carriage, his long legs stepping down effortlessly…
[System, why aren’t my legs as long as his?]
[Host, it’s in his genes. Can’t be envied.]
“Good morning, Your Highness. Have you eaten?”
The Eighth Prince nodded slightly, glancing at Xiao Yaozu’s height—indeed shorter than the average Nan Lang.
She looked paler today than yesterday too…
Xiao Yaozu wasn’t surprised by the man’s aloof demeanor.
She enthusiastically told the Eighth Prince about the Admonishing Official’s story of the real and fake daughters from yesterday.
“Your Highness, did you know the Admonishing Official’s residence was quite lively yesterday? He lost his daughter over a decade ago, and now someone showed up claiming to be her with a blood-test for kinship. What’s even more shocking is that the imposter daughter had known the truth for several years…”
“How did you come to know this?”
“I consider you one of my own, so I’ll tell you secretly.” Xiao Yaozu leaned closer. “Yesterday I secretly watched from the roof of the Admonishing Official’s residence. Don’t tell anyone.”
The Eighth Prince was a qualified listener, evident from the way the man slowed his pace.
[Host, when are you going to give the flowers to the Eighth Prince?]
[I plan to do it secretly! Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know!]
The minister behind them pricked up his ears and twitched. Little did this fellow know he had no secrets left.
[Host, you’re being rather cowardly.]
[Mind your own business! I have my own rules for secret admirers.]
The newly appointed Bai Jingnian was somewhat startled. Who was speaking? He noticed Minister Zuo glancing over and subtly shaking his head.
Could Minister Zuo hear it too?
Simultaneously, he discreetly observed his superiors. They all appeared calm on the surface, but he keenly detected something unusual.
[System, who’s this new face in front of me?]
[Bai Jingnian, the Salt and Iron Commissioner.]
[The one who was badly screwed over by his superior?]
Xiao Yaozu’s gaze fell upon Bai Jingnian, who was relatively thin with a clear and intelligent look between his brows.
[He looks like someone who gets things done, with strong resilience under pressure.]
Bai Jingnian truly didn’t know how to describe his feelings at that moment.
It felt absurd—like being gossiped about right in front of him while having to pretend he didn’t know.
As Eunuch Rong’s loud announcement echoed, the court assembly officially began.
“Yesterday, we captured a spy from Wa Country. What are your thoughts on this matter?”
The Emperor’s face was dark. Wa Country had repeatedly played petty tricks. Considering the people’s hard-won peace, he hadn’t intended to go to war again.
The Old General was the first to step forward. “Your subject believes we should fight! Beat them until they’re terrified, and they won’t dare anymore.”
The Prime Minister disagreed. “We could fight, but when war breaks out, it’s the common people who suffer. I beg Your Majesty to think twice.”
[Host, there’s some juicy gossip about the Prime Minister!]
[Tell me quickly!]
[With the Spring Examination approaching, the Prime Minister is seeking a son-in-law for his daughter. He doesn’t know that both his daughters have fallen for someone—and it’s the same man.]
[That man is stringing both sisters along while favoring the elder sister. The two sisters have grown resentful and are trying to make each other look bad.]
The Prime Minister was shocked. How dare some despicable scoundrel toy with his daughters!
[Ah? Has no one warned the sisters?]
[The Prime Minister’s wife tried, but they wouldn’t listen. The elder sister refuses to yield to the younger just because she’s older, and the younger sister won’t accept her sister stealing her crush. They’re stuck in a deadlock, completely unaware that the man is manipulating both of them—using the same tricks to ‘coincidentally’ meet and confess to both of the Prime Minister’s daughters.]
If they weren’t in court, the Prime Minister would have immediately sent someone to skin that man alive.
Who could it be?
[Who is that man?] Fortunately, Xiao Yaozu asked the question on everyone’s mind.
[He’s the young master of Marquis Zhenyuan. Actually, he’s not the real young master—the real one is locked in a secret dungeon by this imposter and is on the verge of death.]
[How ruthless! Let’s ambush him with a sack after court and give him a beating.]
Xiao Yaozu was lost in thought when he suddenly heard the Emperor call his name: “Compiler, what is your opinion on this matter?”
[Of course we should fight, fight until they’re dead!] But he couldn’t say it like that.
What if his words actually started a war between the two countries…
Xiao Yaozu looked up and saw the Emperor frowning slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said: “Your Majesty, the Wa Country is shameless, so we should repay them in kind and make them uncomfortable too.”
The Emperor became interested: “Go on.”
“They’ve stolen so many things from us – which of their officials doesn’t have one or two items from our country? Our young warriors are eager for achievements. Why not let them test their skills and gain some experience points, so they won’t panic when real battles occur. After all, retrieving what rightfully belongs to our Chu Country can’t be wrong.”
It was somewhat shameless, yet somewhat reasonable.
The Emperor couldn’t help but curl his lips: “Old General, what do you think?”
The Old General laughed heartily: “Young people do have clever ideas indeed. We can retrieve Chu Country’s possessions, and if they initiate war later, we’ll have justification to directly send troops against them. Excellent, excellent. This old subject will go arrange it immediately.”
“Your Majesty, this old subject will take his leave now.”
“Mm, you may go.”
The Prime Minister then spoke up: “Your Majesty, I suddenly feel unwell and request to leave early as well.”
The Emperor nodded slightly, knowing what the Prime Minister was going to do, and allowed him to leave court: “Anyone else?”
Xiao Yaozu, who wasn’t very good at reading the Emperor’s true expression, raised his hand: “Your subject, would like to as well.”
The ministers: “…”
This kid would definitely be the one turning the table when the Emperor is serving himself food.
The Emperor glanced at Xiao Yaozu, curious about where he planned to go, when he heard the voice in his heart…
[Host, you want to leave early?]
[Yes, I need to find an opportunity to give the flowers to the Eighth Prince. They’re already wilting in my embrace…]
The Emperor subtly glanced at the Eighth Prince too, who remained calm and composed as if he hadn’t heard anything…