After returning to her courtyard, Yu Hua didn’t obediently follow her father’s instructions to memorize all the rules. Instead, she eagerly took out her illustrated book and began reading.
She came across a story called The Princess Falls in Love with Me. The plot revolved around a poor scholar who accidentally rescued an injured princess. Despite her family’s opposition, the princess ran away to be with him. In the end, they lived a happy life together.
Yu Hua immediately began to critique it: “Is this princess stupid? She abandons a life of luxury to suffer alongside a poor scholar and somehow ends up happy?!”
“Miss, these are just illustrated books. The characters aren’t real.”
“Even so, how can these books be so popular among young ladies from noble families? Isn’t it just teaching them to be foolish? And who in reality lives like this?!”
“Do you know why these books sell so well?”
“Because noble girls have nothing else to do in their courtyards, and they need something to pass the time.”
“Exactly. Subtly, these books influence noble girls’ thinking, making them long for this kind of life.”
“But families are unequal. How can they live together? Their upbringing, their habits, everything is different! And yet, the story always ends happily.”
“Do you know who wrote these books? Usually poor scholars. Writing these stories helps them vent about their own struggles while subtly encouraging noble girls to be naive and follow them into hardship.”
“What a fantasy! If it were me, I wouldn’t abandon wealth for poverty. Love without money is meaningless!”
“That’s life. People without money want to experience wealth; those with money sometimes want to experience poverty.”
“Ugh, what pointless suffering.”
They discussed back and forth until deep into the night.
“Miss, if you don’t sleep soon, how will you wake up tomorrow? Don’t forget, you have to attend court!”
“No rush. I want to finish these two chapters.”
“Miss, you definitely won’t wake up in time. Morning court begins at Yin hour, which is 3 a.m. by modern time, and lasts until Mao hour, around 5 a.m., and that’s just for routine matters. Anything extra means overtime.”
“My poor fate! After nine reincarnations I still can’t escape the life of a laborer. Even becoming a young official from a wealthy family, I’m still doomed!”
“Accept reality, Miss. There’s no escaping it.”
“Are you working for the King of Hell or something?”
“I’m just a gossip system AI. I don’t know anything about that.”
“Stop pretending you can do everything. When it comes to real matters, you’re useless.”
“Let me remind you, it’s already Hai hour. If you don’t sleep soon, you’ll have no time to rest.”
Though Yu Hua argued, she obediently closed the book and fell asleep.
Some time later, she vaguely heard someone calling:
“Miss! Miss! It’s time to wake up! You have to attend court today!”
Yu Hua’s eyelids felt heavy; she couldn’t open her eyes.
Huamei and Dujuan called repeatedly, but she stayed asleep.
At the courtyard gate, Yu Jinghong had already sent people to wake her several times.
“Master, the young lady won’t wake up!” Huamei reported.
“Forget whether she wakes up for now. Help her wash and dress. If she’s late on her first day, His Majesty will be displeased.”
Huamei and Dujuan dressed Yu Hua and helped her to the Shàngshū Mansion gate. Miraculously, she never opened her eyes during the entire process.
“Why is she so sleepy? She probably stayed up reading those books again. Let’s get her to the carriage first. We’ll wake her at the palace gate.”
Yu Hua continued sleeping all the way to the carriage.
Yu Hua and Yu Jinghong didn’t share the same carriage. Even though they were father and daughter, propriety required them to avoid being seen together, since in that era, a man and a woman riding in the same carriage could be considered improper.
The carriage creaked along to the palace gate, and Yu Hua slept soundly throughout the journey.
At the palace gate, officials had to wait for the gates to open.
Yu Jinghong instructed Huamei and Dujuan to support Yu Hua.
The other ministers looked on in disbelief:
“Lord Yu’s daughter…?”
“It’s her first day at court. What’s unusual?”
Another minister interjected: “It’s not a matter of habit. She doesn’t seem awake!”
Yu Jinghong gritted his teeth but reminded himself: it’s my daughter. I have to protect her. Otherwise, how will she survive at court?
“Why does it matter if she’s not fully awake? As long as she doesn’t delay the court session. And you all are standing here anyway, waiting. She’s just resting, so she’ll have energy for the proceedings.”
Some ministers smirked but said nothing. However, a few quietly noted this, planning to use it as a point in a future report.
As the palace gates opened, the ministers entered in order of rank. Yu Hua’s eyes were still half-closed.
“Yu Hua, wake up! We’re going in!”
Yu Hua looked like a living corpse, moving mechanically. Fortunately, her father was beside her, preventing her from falling.
They reached the Golden Throne Hall. An Emperor, An Yi, had not yet arrived. Everyone stood according to rank. Yu Hua stood beside her father.
Fifteen minutes later, An Yi slowly entered, straightened his posture, and sat on the Dragon Throne. After the triple “Long Live,” someone stepped forward:
“Your Majesty, since the founding of the Great An Kingdom, there has never been a woman serving in court. Is it appropriate for the Anshun Envoy to attend?”
The speaker was Huang Zicong, a junior official in the Ministry of Rites.
“Minister Huang, do you not know that Yu Hua is a person of auspicious fortune, capable of ensuring prosperity and peace for our kingdom? Allowing her to attend court is not against ritual law!”
“But Your Majesty, women should remain in the inner palace. How can they discuss state affairs here?”
Several conservative ministers nodded in agreement.
“So sleepy… so tired… two hours of standing… I wish I could sit… why is work always standing?” thought Yu Hua.