"Your daughter?"
Good heavens, not only were her Imperial Father making her work overtime, now he wanted her to work overtime on a business trip too?
As the name suggests, the Spring Ploughing Ceremony was held on the first day of spring cultivation each year.
Rather than taking place in the palace or any other resplendent temple or grand hall, the ceremony was always conducted in the fertile fields just outside the capital, where farmland was most abundant.
Led by the Emperor himself, court officials, consorts, and even imperial children would labor alongside the common folk to show the court's concern for its people. It was both a symbolic gesture of solidarity and a ritual to pray for blessings from Heaven, that the coming year would be graced with fair weather and a bountiful harvest.
Since it involved physical labor, Emperor Xuanwu had, in years past, only brought along children over the age of fifteen.
But this year…
"Father Emperor, your daughter has not even reached fourteen yet!"
Yun Shu attempted to remind him.
Truth be told, if it was merely about spending a day in the fields, she would not object. She had never done such work before, and trying it once could be amusing.
The problem, however, lay in the phrase "the fertile fields near the capital," which all but guaranteed another long, bone-rattling journey by carriage.
Just recalling the ordeal from the last autumn hunt made Yun Shu feel like her limbs were already falling apart.
"Would it not be better if this daughter simply…"
"The Right Prime Minister spoke in the Xuan Zheng Hall today. While he said many things, one line in particular was quite accurate."
Emperor Xuanwu's tone turned distant and calm.
"Your status is no longer what it once was."
As a princess, she could indeed be excused from attending since she had not yet turned fifteen.
But as a court official, she was duty-bound to appear at the Spring Ploughing Ceremony.
"Moreover…" Emperor Xuanwu's voice softened. "Do you not wish for more people to know that the court now counts a female official among its ranks?"
"This daughter could simply publish it in the Capital Weekly." Yun Shu lowered her head and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles she had twisted into her sleeves.
"Once the affordable paper becomes widely available, and the local Merchants' Associations are all established, this daughter intends to turn the Capital Weekly into the Tian Sheng Weekly. From then on, should there be any matter I wish to announce to the world, it can be published through the Tian Sheng Weekly."
"Affordable paper will not be available for at least another three months."
The key to affordable paper lay precisely in its low cost.
If it were released too soon, even in small quantities, it would undoubtedly be snatched up in a frenzy. Those unable to get any might drive up the price just to obtain some from others.
As long as their raised price was still cheaper than the paper currently sold on the market, they would still profit.
But that would defeat the entire purpose of "affordable" paper.
And those who feared a drop in paper prices might seize the chaos to exploit poor students, using the government's subsidized paper to extract their coin.
This was something Emperor Xuanwu could not allow under any circumstances.
After explaining these matters in brief, the Emperor leaned back against his chair and concluded,
"Therefore, your Tian Sheng Weekly will have to wait. As for the Capital Weekly, well, those honest farmers may not even have a chance to read or hear about it."
"But this daughter truly does not wish to endure another long carriage ride."
Yun Shu looked thoroughly miserable, her expression one of pitiful grievance.
"Isn't the Spring Ploughing Ceremony mainly for court officials anyway? This daughter doesn't even attend morning court on a regular basis."
Emperor Xuanwu: "…"
Was she really so unwilling?
Admittedly, the child was still young.
And she had a point. After all, even in the future she would not be expected to attend morning court unless necessary. Perhaps she truly could be excused from this…
[The Simulation Life Selection System is now at your service.]
[Please choose your next course of action.]
Emperor Xuanwu: "."
As expected, Xiao Wu was destined to go on this trip.
The only question now was what surprise she would spring on him this time.
Without betraying his thoughts, Emperor Xuanwu glanced at Yun Shu, then assumed a thoughtful expression and turned his gaze toward the light-screen projection.
[A. Allow Yun Shu to remain in the palace.
B. Insist that Yun Shu attend the Spring Ploughing Ceremony.]
Only two choices this time.
He first considered Option A.
[You have chosen A. Yun Shu does not attend the Spring Ploughing Ceremony and is in excellent spirits.]
Emperor Xuanwu: "?"
That's it?
He knew it. Option A was useless!
Without hesitation, he turned to Option B.
[You have chosen B. The survival rate of rice crops improves significantly. Within three years, all major roads within Tian Sheng territory are completely renovated and smoothed to perfection.]
Hiss—
All because she hated the jostling of carriage rides, the roads of the entire realm would be smoothed within three years?
And rice!
If survival rates increased dramatically, would that not lead to a substantial increase in yield?
Truly, she was his qilin daughter.
He had said it before: anyone could be absent from the Spring Ploughing Ceremony, except for Xiao Wu.
Emperor Xuanwu's expression softened at once, his tone filled with benevolence.
"Xiao Wu…"
"…Father Emperor, please speak plainly."
Yun Shu instinctively took two steps back.
"You're scaring your daughter with that look!"
"?"
This rebellious child!
With a cold snort, Emperor Xuanwu's face darkened.
"You will attend the Spring Ploughing Ceremony, whether you wish to or not. If you truly cannot bear to travel alone, We shall have your Sixth Brother accompany you."
Yun Shu: "…"
Had she just gotten Yun Chu Huan dragged into this too?
…
Leaving the Imperial Study, Yun Shu found herself unusually sympathetic toward others for once. She was even considering whether to cook something nice to make it up to Yun Chu Huan, who was about to be unwittingly implicated.
She had not gone far when a small head peeked out from around the corner.
"Fifth Sister!"
"What are you doing here?"
Yun Shu stopped in her tracks.
"Were you looking for Father Emperor?"
"What would I want with him? Of course I came to find you!"
Yun Chu Huan ran up and clung expertly to Yun Shu's sleeve, tilting his head up with eager curiosity.
"Fifth Sister, is attending court fun? Do you feel powerful when you're there?"
"It's nothing special."
Yun Shu replied offhandedly.
"Most of the officials in the Xuan Zheng Hall can't stand me. Nearly all of them opposed my appointment and don't want to see me setting foot in court."
"That can't be!"
Yun Chu Huan blinked.
"Didn't my maternal grandfather support you?"
"How did you know Prime Minister Liu supported me?"
Yun Shu paused, then pinched his cheek in surprise.
"Don't tell me you were the one who told him to?"
"It wasn't me, it was my Consort Mother!"
Hurriedly wriggling free from Yun Shu's hand, Yun Chu Huan scratched his head as he tried to recall what Noble Consort Liu had said at the time.
===
I've finally reached the dialogue style I was aiming for. The narrative will remain consistent with the previous tone, but you'll notice a noticeable refinement in how the characters speak.
Rather than going full ancient royal diction or overly stiff with formal court speech, I've chosen a tone that feels elevated and appropriate for a royal historical setting—more polished than in the earlier chapters, but still natural and readable.
This style better reflects the courtly ranks, etiquette, and status of the characters, while keeping the reading experience smooth and immersive.
I started applying this change a few chapters back, beginning with The Princess Who Enters Court, in case you've noticed the difference. I'll be continuing with this style moving forward.
Thank you for reading, and I hope the refined tone enhances your experience with the story!