Inside the imperial study, beneath the solemn gaze of Emperor Xuanwu, Yun Shu did not dare linger on idle conversation. Especially not in front of Cen Yiyi, and especially not in such a formal setting.
She offered only a brief interjection, then quickly lowered her head and returned to her memorials, pen moving with steady resolve. Her diligence, paired with the air of stern self-discipline, created such an intense impression that even after leaving the imperial study, Cen Yiyi found herself shivering involuntarily.
"Being Crown Princess is no easy feat…"
It was hard to believe this was the same Yun Shu who once found even half a morning's lecture in the imperial academy torturous. To have come this far, how much effort had she poured into becoming worthy of her title?
Cen Yiyi sighed repeatedly on her way out, utterly unaware that once she had departed, the serene silence in the imperial study was broken by a sudden snort from Emperor Xuanwu.
"Have you finished pretending?"
Yun Shu blinked, her face the picture of innocence.
"Is Father Emperor speaking to Your Daughter?"
"Do you not know?"
Her tone remained guileless, but Emperor Xuanwu's eyes narrowed with unmistakable exasperation.
"When did you become so occupied that you cannot spare even a moment to speak, buried in those memorials as if the world depended on it? And those memorials on your desk, the ones already reviewed could be removed. Yet you insist on piling them high, blocking yourself entirely."
He pointed in irritation.
"If you truly wished to engage with others, even a slight shift of your chair would have sufficed to reveal your face. But no, you insisted on parting the stack with a narrow gap and peeking through as if to startle someone."
His voice grew colder.
"Do you wish the entire court to believe that We treat you like a beast of burden?"
"That would not be a misunderstanding," Yun Shu muttered under her breath.
Alas, Emperor Xuanwu had always possessed sharp ears.
"What did you say?"
"Your Daughter said that Your Majesty's wisdom is renowned throughout the realm. How could anyone possibly misunderstand Your intent?"
Her change in tone was swift and obedient, delivered with practiced ease.
"And besides," she continued smoothly, "the sheer number of memorials cannot be blamed on Father Emperor. The true fault lies with the officials below."
Seizing the opportunity, Yun Shu returned to the matter she had not yet explained in full the day before.
"There are many trivial issues here that the lower-ranking officials should be resolving themselves. They could have handled the matter and submitted only the results. Yet they choose instead to pass everything upward to Father Emperor's desk."
She paused, her voice turning crisp with conviction.
"This is not only inefficient, it is illogical. Consider the operation of our Tian Sheng Merchants' Association. As Head of the General Chamber, Your Daughter only needs to establish overarching policies, collect trade taxes at the year's end, and offer rewards based on revenue. I simply release a few tempting incentives for the new year, and the provincial chambers are motivated to outperform themselves."
She gestured lightly.
"As for the individual merchants, and the myriad small matters handled by local heads, most of them never need Your Daughter's personal involvement. At most, I might intervene in matters too complex for the local leaders to resolve."
She met his gaze.
"Yet has the Merchants' Association not functioned remarkably well?"
"State governance is no mere merchant guild," Emperor Xuanwu replied flatly. "Running an empire is vastly more complex than managing a trade network."
He could not deny that some of her logic made sense. However, throughout the dynasties, matters of the court had always fallen to the emperor. This was the essence of centralized power. To pass down too much authority was to weaken the throne.
What emperor would willingly relinquish control?
Yun Shu, ever defiant in her principles and rather unconcerned about convention, pushed back.
"What difference does it make?"
She sat straighter.
"National affairs may be more intricate, yes, but the court's officials are also far more capable than regional chamber heads. Father Emperor spends vast sums of silver to retain these talented men, yet most of the time, they are not truly put to use."
She lifted a brow.
"Every morning, civil and military officials are summoned for court sessions, allowed to offer advice or play the role of messengers. After that, they return home to rest or entertain themselves as they please. Is that not a terrible waste?
Please, do not recite to me that this is the way it has always been," she added quickly, seeing his expression harden. "And do not assume Your Daughter brings this up merely to avoid toil."
Before he could interrupt, she pressed on.
"Father Emperor, allow Your Daughter to ask. If with my intellect and capability, I could live to one hundred, would that not be far more beneficial to Tian Sheng than only reaching sixty or seventy?"
Emperor Xuanwu frowned. "And what of it?"
Though her words were laced with no small amount of vanity, they also held a deeper weight, especially considering what he had once glimpsed in the Simulation Life Selection System.
With some reluctance, he gave a small nod.
Yun Shu seized the moment.
"To reach one hundred, proper rest and a healthy routine are essential."
She leaned forward, her tone serious.
"Father Emperor, surely You recall that Your Daughter has studied some medical texts. Even renowned divine physicians have warned of the health dangers posed by prolonged sitting."
She ticked off the risks one by one.
"Keeping the head bowed for extended periods strains the neck and shoulders. This tension can cause dizziness, headaches, and even impair blood flow to the brain. And long hours of sitting… that brings even more dangers."
Her voice lowered slightly, almost solemn.
"From damage to the spine and back muscles, to risks to the heart. Worse still, it can cause fatigue, insomnia, memory decline, and a host of issues that reduce mental sharpness and increase errors."
She paused for breath, then concluded gravely.
"And as one's efficiency falters, the workload inevitably grows heavier, forming a vicious cycle."
After this cascade of reasoning, she offered her final judgment with a clarity that bordered on righteous.
"Therefore, in Your Daughter's humble opinion, whether for Father Emperor's own health, or for the long-term stability of Tian Sheng, it is imperative to delegate lesser matters to the ministers. The burden of sovereign rule must not become a trap."
Emperor Xuanwu fell into silence.
Could reviewing court memorials truly be so hazardous?
If that were so, why had the imperial physicians never raised such alarms?
Could it be this impish child was bluffing him?
Suddenly, a familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
[The Simulation Life Selection System is now at your service.]
[Please select your next course of action.]
Emperor Xuanwu froze.
What? This matter had triggered the Simulation Life Selection System?
He turned toward the floating screen in disbelief.
[A. Reject Yun Shu's suggestion and continue to hold full power, forbidding her from future delegation to prevent erosion of imperial authority.
B. Reject Yun Shu's suggestion, but leave her free to act as she pleases once she ascends the throne.
C. Accept Yun Shu's suggestion and gradually grant more authority to the ministers, allowing them to manage less critical affairs.]