Even Yun Shu had that look on her face, let alone Yun Chuhuan.
They both watched, stunned, as a plain red bridal sedan chair was carried out from the gates of the Right Prime Minister's manor. With a heavy thud, the main doors slammed shut behind it.
There were no gongs and drums, no musicians playing joyful wedding tunes. No teary-eyed relatives escorting the bride, and certainly no dazzling parade of dowries stretching ten li long.
Only a cold, quiet little sedan chair, accompanied by two large trunks.
Even the attendants? Just one maidservant.
Yun Chuhuan stared out the window, mouth agape, watching for a long time before turning back around in disbelief, still dazed.
"That can't possibly be Side Consort Shen in that sedan chair, right? Maybe there's another shu daughter in the Right Prime Minister's household marrying out today... No wait, could it be some favored little maid?"
"What sort of maid gets to marry out through the main gates of the Right Prime Minister's manor?" Yun Shu sighed helplessly. "If you really don't believe it, why don't we follow the sedan and see where it goes?"
"You're right, Fifth Sister!" Yun Chuhuan turned to shout to the coachman. "What are you dawdling for? Follow it, now!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
The carriage turned slowly, keeping a polite distance behind the modest red sedan. It trailed it all the way to the palace gates, where they personally saw Shen Jingshu step out, assisted by her lone maid.
Only then did Yun Chuhuan finally accept the truth.
"It really was Side Consort Shen? But didn't they say the Right Prime Minister dotes heavily on her? She's his legitimate eldest granddaughter, isn't she? Then why…"
"Who knows?" Yun Shu's tone was light.
Yun Chuhuan had grown up in the lap of luxury, pampered and treasured. There was no comparing that to the cold, transactional world of the Right Prime Minister's household, where family ties meant little and everything was dictated by gain. Yun Shu never enjoyed speaking of such things.
So she simply shrugged, pretending ignorance.
"There aren't many people at the Eastern Palace yet. If we go now, it won't be lively at all. I'm planning to stop by the Imperial Study first. Will you come?"
"I…"
Yun Chuhuan hesitated.
If it was only a matter of whether he wanted to, then of course he did. He loved drama and was endlessly curious. He wanted to know what Fifth Sister planned to ask Imperial Father at such a time.
But actually going in? That made him nervous.
What if Imperial Father took one look at him and asked something like, "Which foot did you step out with first today?" One of those seemingly harmless but wallet-emptying questions. He was already in debt. If it happened again, he might not survive it.
After struggling for a moment, he ultimately decided that his coin pouch mattered more.
"Forget it. I'll wait for you nearby."
"Suit yourself."
It was honestly more convenient this way. If he'd insisted on going, she'd have had to remind him when to hold his tongue.
Leaving Yun Chuhuan near the Imperial Study, Yun Shu cheerfully strode inside, greeting Emperor Xuanwu in the way he'd come to expect from her—bright voice first, figure second.
"Father Emperor~~~"
"You've already entered court as an official, yet you still act like a child?"
Though he spoke in reprimand, the corners of Emperor Xuanwu's lips had already curled into a smile. He set down his imperial brush, unable to hide his amusement at her chirpy, lilting tone.
"What brings you running here at this hour?"
"Of course, to deliver silver to Father Emperor!"
Yun Shu pulled a thick bundle of banknotes and a ledger from her sleeve and placed them before him with a radiant smile.
"Cousin sent over the first month's earnings and accounts from the Capital branch of Tian Waitian Restaurant via Eunuch Wang yesterday. Since some of the profits are yours, I've come to deliver your share personally."
"The Capital branch's first month?"
Emperor Xuanwu raised an eyebrow. His expression remained composed, but inwardly he was practically beaming.
Hadn't the Simulation Life Selection System predicted that his private treasury would surpass the national coffers in just two years? This little scoundrel's ability to make money was truly formidable.
Not to mention, aside from the Capital location, branches of Tian Waitian in Jiangnan and other regions had already begun operations in the past few days.
Even if those branches earned slightly less than the Capital one, they wouldn't be too far off.
And the Capital branch's first month alone...
He flipped open the ledger.
Hoh! One million, four hundred eighty-nine thousand, six hundred fifty-two taels of silver, plus eight hundred eighty-eight wen!
Even if he only received a forty percent share, that still came out to nearly six hundred thousand taels!
So this thick bundle of banknotes—close to six hundred thousand taels—was his cut?
Emperor Xuanwu kept his composure with great effort, calmly picking up the stack and counting.
Six hundred ten thousand taels.
Not a coin more, not a coin less—
Wait a moment.
"Why is there over ten thousand extra?"
He arched a brow.
"You've only just become the Head of Merchants' Association, and already you've forgotten how to do sums?"
"The correct amount should be five hundred ninety-eight thousand, eight hundred sixty-one taels and one hundred fifty-five wen!"
Yun Shu blurted out the answer with flawless accuracy, then leaned in, grinning with a mischievous twinkle.
"Father Emperor, that extra ten thousand is because this daughter wishes to purchase something from you."
"Purchase something?" In all his years on the throne, Emperor Xuanwu had never heard anyone say they wanted to buy something from him.
And the person saying this was his own daughter!
Now he was truly intrigued.
"What is it that you wish to buy?"
"I want to purchase one of your ink paintings. One that you personally painted… and decided wasn't very good."
Yun Shu stated her intent plainly.
"I'd like to gift it to Crown Prince Elder Brother as a wedding present."
Emperor Xuanwu fell silent.
So honest. She couldn't even be bothered to cover up her mischief.
He was thoroughly amused.
"You could buy a renowned masterpiece with ten thousand taels. Why insist on one of Our… poorly done works?"
"Because this daughter is petty."
Yun Shu spoke without shame.
"What Crown Prince Elder Brother and Side Consort Shen did at Tian Waitian last time—I haven't forgotten. I have no desire to give them a good gift."
"But…"
Her voice soured.
"This daughter has been quite well-off lately. If I give some cheap trinket, those censors who already dislike me might use it to write up a memorial, claiming I lack respect for my elder brother and the Crown Prince. That would be another mess."
"But if I pay a high price for one of Father Emperor's… less successful paintings, that changes everything."
First, the money goes to you. A fine show of filial piety.
Second, the painting isn't exactly a masterpiece. If I give it to the Crown Prince, I can annoy him a little. And he'll have no choice but to swallow it down without complaint.
Because it's your ink treasure!
No matter how he truly feels, he'll have to pinch his nose and praise it on the surface."