By the time the second and third princes returned, the morning court session was nearing its end.
Li Shun shouted, “If there is business, present it! If none, the court is dismissed!”
At that moment, the second prince stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present.”
Emperor An Yi waved his hand. “Second son, what matter do you wish to report?”
The other ministers bowed their heads silently, knowing exactly what the second prince was about to say. He only spoke it in court so that the Anshun Envoy could hear.
“Father, I have recently investigated Prince Jing for embezzlement, oppressing the common people, and even colluding with foreign enemies with the intent to seize the throne. The evidence is conclusive.”
He handed over a pre-written memorial.
Li Shun, bowing, took it and presented it to the emperor.
An Yi opened it, only to find the pages blank. Yet his expression revealed that he already understood everything.
The ministers, long familiar with the emperor’s ways, immediately grasped the situation—but none dared expose it.
Pretending to be angry, Emperor An Yi exclaimed, “Prince Jing! I treated him well, yet he dares to act thus against me!”
But inside, he was thrilled. “Thanks to the Anshun Envoy, my lucky star, my urgent problem is resolved! Now I can have wealth again.”
Seeing the emperor’s “anger,” all the ministers knelt. “Your humble servant is guilty!”
Yu Hua, still slumped in her chair, looked puzzled.
A nearby official tugged at her skirt, signaling her to kneel as well.
Yu Hua blinked her large, innocent eyes. “Why should I kneel? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Yu Jinghong, slightly further back, wiped the sweat from his forehead. “This girl… why is she so inflexible?”
“I… should I kneel too? But I didn’t do anything wrong!” Yu Hua asked again.
“You, Anshun Envoy, need not kneel,” Emperor An Yi said, grinning ear to ear.
The second prince continued, “Father, I have ordered Prince Jing’s mansion to be searched. A mountain of gold, tens of millions of taels of silver, and all involved have been captured and brought to justice.”
“Well done, second son! That solves the issue of military pay as well,” Emperor An Yi praised.
The ministers shouted in unison, “Your Majesty is wise!”
Yu Hua thought to herself, “Were these people rehearsed? How can their voices be so synchronized?”
Yu Jinghong sighed inwardly. “You’ll learn to act like this when you’ve served in court long enough.”
The emperor, even more pleased, said, “Rise, ministers.”
The ministers obeyed, shouting again, “Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years!”
Yu Hua, a little slow on the uptake, only then realized something. “Wait… something doesn’t feel right…”
The ministers were stunned. “Could the Anshun Envoy have discovered something?”
“Just now, the Prince Jing mentioned by the second prince—that’s the same gossip we just ‘ate’ earlier! How did it collapse so quickly?” Yu Hua thought.
“Yes, what collapsed just now was exactly the gossip we discussed. Perhaps good is rewarded, evil punished,” the system explained.
“But in dramas I’ve seen, the good don’t live long, and villains’ evil lasts generations. Why is this karma happening so quickly?”
“You said it yourself, those were just short dramas. Perhaps Prince Jing is an exception.”
Yu Hua thought maybe she was overthinking.
“Prince Jing’s matter must be handled according to the law. Arrange for all involved to be dealt with,” Emperor An Yi commanded.
Li Shun stepped forward, raising his voice, “Court is dismissed!”
The ministers shouted again, “Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years!”
After the emperor left, Yu Jinghong turned to Yu Hua. “Alright, it’s time to go home.”
Yu Hua stretched lazily. “Done for the day. I’m exhausted.”
“You’ve been sitting all morning. How can you be tired?” Yu Jinghong said.
“My heart is tired. First day at court is nerve-wracking!”
“If not for hearing your thoughts, I would have believed you were idle.”
They returned to the Yu mansion. Shen Yanchu greeted them, examining Yu Hua. “My precious daughter, was your first day at court tiring? You didn’t eat breakfast, so I’ll prepare something at once.”
Yu Hua threw herself into her mother’s arms. “I knew you’d care for me the most!”
Yu Jinghong pouted. “All day at court, and she only cares for the daughter…”
“You’re used to court life. My daughter’s first day is harder, so she comes first.”
Yu Jinghong muttered, “I gave birth to a daughter… not a rival!”
Yu Hua dug in hungrily. Shen Yanchu shook her head. “Even your father is jealous now. Look at how tired our daughter is.”
“You know her—once food appears, she’s unstoppable,” Shen Yanchu reminded him.
A while later, Yu Hua stood. “Father, Mother, I’m full. I want to nap in my room.”
She ran off without waiting for a response and fell asleep immediately.
Shen Yanchu felt heartache seeing her so tired.
“Not to mention she stayed up late reading last night, hence this exhaustion.”
“Don’t be too strict with her. She’s used to staying up late; suddenly attending court is a big adjustment.”
Yu Jinghong explained the morning to Shen Yanchu. She was equally worried.
Just then, Li Shun’s voice echoed at the door: “Imperial edict!”
Yu Jinghong hurried to receive it.
“Yu, do not kneel. These are gifts for the Anshun Envoy from His Majesty, to recognize her hard work on her first day at court.”
“Thanks, Li Gonggong,” Yu Jinghong replied.
“Serving the Anshun Envoy is our honor.”
Several eunuchs carried in large boxes filled with treasures.
“Yu, these are His Majesty’s gifts to the Anshun Envoy. See how she performed in court—she must be sleeping by now. Please accept them on her behalf.”
“Many thanks to His Majesty,” Yu Jinghong said.
“His Majesty says no thanks are necessary. If thanks are due, His Majesty himself should thank the Anshun Envoy. She resolved the treasury crisis for the entire court.”
Yu Jinghong exchanged a few more words before sending Li Shun off.