After Li Shun and the eunuchs left, Yu Hua was in the courtyard, hugging her newly received gold and jewels and kissing them repeatedly.
“Enough, enough. Do you even know how His Majesty obtained all these treasures?”
Yu Hua kept moving, ignoring him. “He’s the ruler of a nation. This little treasure is nothing.”
“These were all gathered from the palace consorts and given to you. The ladies in the harem are not happy about it.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“What does it have to do with you? Isn’t it for your sake?”
“You got a gift for me, but I didn’t ask to be an official. I don’t even want to go!”
Yu Jinghong could only laugh at his daughter’s audacity.
“By the way, father, what rank is an Anshun Envoy? How much salary do they get each month?”
“I don’t know the exact figures. You’re not short on money, so why are you always thinking about money? You’re becoming a little money-grubber.”
“What’s wrong with being money-wise? Having money makes you feel secure.”
Shen Yanchu looked on indulgently. “Alright, alright. Let’s not scold our precious daughter. You need to teach her court etiquette. No matter how unruly she is at home, she mustn’t embarrass herself outside.”
“Come here, I’ll teach you how to behave in court,” Yu Jinghong said.
“Huamei, Dujuan, have these treasures moved to her courtyard and put away carefully. Don’t let her second brother know, or he’ll be sneaking over to steal from her every few days.”
“You’re such a little miser,” Shen Yanchu remarked as the servants carried out the instructions.
Huamei and Dujuan led the treasures to Yu Hua’s residence while Yu Hua followed her father to the study.
Yu Jinghong lectured for two hours straight, but Yu Hua struggled to stay awake.
Seeing her distracted, he scowled. “Did you remember everything I told you? These are important points. Don’t offend anyone because of carelessness.”
“You said it yourself—I’m just a lucky charm. I just need to stand there. I don’t have to speak, right?” Yu Hua yawned.
“That’s true, but if His Majesty asks you questions, you should know how to answer. That way, you’ll win his favor.”
“I’m a twelve-year-old girl. Why would I need to win his favor?”
“At least it could save your life!”
Yu Hua stuck her tongue out at him.
“And these bad habits must change. Don’t let your colleagues see them, or it could be dangerous for you.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“Even worse than I’m saying.”
Yu Jinghong sipped his tea. “Now I’ll teach you about the ranks of the civil and military officials.”
“I don’t know them. Why do I need to know?”
“They will be your colleagues in the future. You must greet them. You can’t not recognize them.”
“They all look the same to me. How can I tell?”
“You’ll have to.”
“Any easy way to remember them?”
“Yes, look at the patterns on their official robes. That’s how you’ll know their rank. Listen carefully.
Civil officials:
1st rank – crane, 2nd – golden pheasant, 3rd – peacock, 4th – wild goose, 5th – white pheasant, 6th – egret, 7th – magpie, 8th – oriole, 9th – quail, unranked – sparrow.
Military officials:
1st rank – qilin, 2nd – lion, 3rd – leopard, 4th – tiger, 5th – bear, 6th & 7th – leopard, 8th – rhinoceros, 9th – seahorse.
“Got it?”
“Nope.”
“Then memorize it properly. If you can’t, no drawing books for you today.”
Yu Hua grumbled inside. Father isn’t even watching me closely. I’m not going to memorize this. It’s too complicated.
On her way back, she ran into her second brother, Yu Qingyun, who was playing with a parrot.
She ran up excitedly. “Parrot, say something nice about me!”
“Little sister, it can’t speak yet. I’m still teaching it.”
“If you can’t teach even a parrot, you’re a big dummy. It’s going to be my dinner tonight instead.”
Yu Qingyun pouted. “How can you say that, little sister?”
“Yu Hua is beautiful! Yu Hua is beautiful! Yu Hua is beautiful!”
The parrot repeated after her, and Yu Qingyun was shocked. “Why does the parrot speak when it sees you?”
“Simple and direct. That’s because I’m naturally extraordinary,” Yu Hua said.
“Oh, I heard you’re going to court tomorrow. How do you feel?”
“You know me, I hate getting up early. I’m twelve. What can I even do there?”
“Father didn’t teach you court etiquette?”
“He just mumbled a lot. I didn’t remember any of it.”
“That’s understandable. You were expected to memorize a lot in a short time.”
“You understand me best, second brother. By the way, since I’m an official now, shouldn’t you give me a congratulatory gift?”
“There’s no such thing as giving gifts for becoming an official.”
Yu Hua remembered the illustrated books she had read—new officials usually received gifts from colleagues.
“Of course there are. The books say so.”
“Little sister, those are just books. Don’t take them seriously. You’ll go crazy reading them.”
“Second brother, are you reluctant to give me a gift?”
“Not at all. But look, I have nothing to give you.”
“Then give me your secret stash! 500 taels!”
Yu Qingyun’s face turned grim. “Little sister, you’re asking for a bribe before even being an official? People will think you’re corrupt.”
“It’s not a bribe! You’re my brother. You should help me!”
“You really think I have 500 taels of secret money?”
“Stop pretending! I know you have secret savings.”
Yu Qingyun thought she was trying to trick him.
“Fine, find it yourself. Whatever you find is yours.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
Yu Hua jumped with joy. She ran to a peony pot in the garden, dug into the soil, and uncovered a money pouch.
“Little sister, brother was wrong. Don’t take my pocket money. I only have this little bit.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll leave some for you,” she said, taking two-thirds of the pouch and tossing it back to Yu Qingyun, then skipped back to her courtyard, leaving him in stunned disbelief.