"Enough. Li Aiqing, are there not pressing matters at home you still must attend to? Since the accusations of slandering court officials and leaking court secrets have proven baseless, then be on your way."
The Emperor's voice was calm yet final, like a gavel striking wood.
And that casual parting jab—pressing matters at home—nearly made several ministers lose their composure. A few had to duck their heads quickly to hide the twitch at the corners of their mouths.
Fortunately, Emperor Xuanwu paid no mind to their suppressed laughter. With a sweep of his sleeve, he dismissed the entire court.
In the vast imperial study, silence fell. Only Emperor Xuanwu, Yun Shu, and Yun Chuhuan remained.
The Emperor sat behind his dragon-carved desk, his posture straight and unyielding. Then, he suddenly gave a short laugh.
"You are quite clever."
"Father Emperor flatters me," Yun Shu replied modestly, her expression a perfect picture of shy humility.
"Your daughter only possesses a touch of wit, nothing more."
Emperor Xuanwu: "..."
A touch of wit? More like a great deal of shameless nerve!
He gave her a side-eyed glance, clearly exasperated, when his gaze happened to land on Yun Chuhuan—who was craning his neck as if eager to speak but too hesitant to interrupt.
The sight made the Emperor's irritation deepen.
"What is it now, boy?"
"Father Emperor..." Yun Chuhuan finally couldn't hold it in. Since the Emperor had opened the door, he broke into a fawning smile.
"Why praise only Fifth Sister? I contributed to the Capital Weekly too! Does Your Majesty not think your son is clever as well?"
Emperor Xuanwu: "?"
"So stupid it gave me a headache.
Had this Sixth still not realized why his Fifth Sister had invited him to co-review the issue just before this edition went to print? Or why she brought him with her to the imperial study today?"
Emperor Xuanwu closed his eyes. He had no desire to continue entertaining this topic.
Instead, he changed the subject entirely.
"Autumn Hunt approaches. Will the two of you be joining this year?"
"I will!" Yun Chuhuan answered at once, eyes lighting up. He never passed up a chance to eat, drink, and be merry.
"You always said I was too young before, Father Emperor, but this year I am certainly going!"
"Mm."
At eight years old, he was of age to go.
Emperor Xuanwu gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze to Yun Shu.
"And you?"
"I..." Yun Shu hesitated.
If it had been before, she would've agreed without a second thought. After all, she'd never seen an imperial autumn hunt firsthand. Such things were rare and fascinating to her.
But ever since she'd gone out with Yun Chuhuan last time in an ordinary carriage, she'd developed a lingering trauma over bumpy roads.
And that had just been on the relatively smooth streets of the capital.
The hunting grounds, however...
Thinking of her poor ass, Yun Shu cautiously asked, "Father Emperor, how far is it from the palace to the hunting grounds?"
"The royal game preserve is not far from the capital," Emperor Xuanwu said with a lifted brow. "Roughly five days' journey."
"Nothing, nothing..."
Five days one way—ten days total in a carriage!
Wouldn't that rattle her bones to pieces?
Yun Shu forced a laugh. "Your daughter just suddenly remembered she may have some ideas on how to produce that low-cost paper. Perhaps I should stay behind this year. I don't ride or shoot anyway. Better to remain in the palace and see if I can make progress."
That was reasonable.
It was just an autumn hunt, after all. If she didn't want to go, there was no need to force her.
Xuanwu Di was just about to nod his agreement—when the now-familiar translucent screen suddenly flickered into view before his eyes.
[Simulation Life Selection System at your service.]
[Please select your next course of action:
A. Grant Yun Shu's request to remain in the palace.
B. Insist Yun Shu participate in the autumn hunt.]
Xuanwu Di tried tapping option A.
[You chose A. The Crown Prince is deposed. The Eldest Prince is exiled to the imperial mausoleum.]
What?!
Xuanwu Di's expression changed in an instant.
He stared at that single line of brief yet staggering text. His hands tightened against the table's edge until his fingertips turned pale.
How could this be? What on earth would happen during the autumn hunt that could lead to such catastrophic outcomes?
His breathing grew heavy.
But then he remembered—the two children were still standing before him.
After a few moments, he forced himself to calm down and quietly selected option B instead.
[You chose B. You lost your favorite incense burner.]
Emperor Xuanwu: "..."
His emotions were complicated.
If letting Yun Shu go on the hunt could avert such a future—saving both the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince—then of course he was grateful.
But the only difference between the two choices… was whether or not this little rascal came along?
What in the world was she capable of, to be the fulcrum that could shift such disastrous consequences into something so trivial as… losing an incense burner?
What incense burner, for heaven's sake?!
His expression flickered between confusion, frustration, and disbelief.
Yun Shu watched him with growing unease. She truly couldn't understand why her Imperial Father's mood was swinging so dramatically over such a small thing.
She gingerly asked, "So… is it really not possible for your daughter to stay behind?"
"Mm."
Emperor Xuanwu had just barely regained composure.
He gave Yun Shu a deep, thoughtful look, then said slowly, "We have reconsidered. This autumn hunt—you must attend."
"Why?"
Yun Shu was stunned. She had guessed this might happen, but it still made her balk.
"But I truly want to stay in the palace to continue researching low-cost paper. Didn't Father Emperor say before that he hoped your daughter would achieve results quickly?"
"During the journey there and even at the preserve, so long as you are not occupied with other tasks, you may continue refining your methods for producing that paper."
Emperor Xuanwu's tone was unwavering. Now that he understood Yun Shu's unexpected importance in the autumn hunt, there was no way he could let her stay behind.
He tried persuading her further.
"The list of those who attend the hunt each year reflects, in part, Our attitude toward them. You have just been impeached twice. If word gets out that your name is absent from the retinue, it may give certain people the wrong impression—that you have fallen from favor.
They may then act in ways that would harm you."
He looked directly at her.
"Xiao Wu, do you truly not care about bringing that trouble down upon yourself?"
Yun Shu: "..."
She cared deeply.
She just wanted to lie flat and rest in peace. Was that too much to ask?
"Is there really no way out of it?"
Yun Shu wrestled with herself for a long moment, then finally blurted out her true feelings.
"Father Emperor, I really can't endure that long carriage ride! Look at how small and delicate your daughter is—what if I fall ill on the road and can't continue the journey?
Not only would that delay everything, it would also spoil Your Majesty's hunting pleasure!"