"Your Son greets Father Emperor. May Father Emperor be blessed with boundless fortune."
The Third Prince stepped into the hall and finished his formal bow. When he looked up, he found both Emperor Xuanwu and Yun Shu staring at him, eyes bright with anticipation, as though waiting for him to share good news.
He immediately broke into a wide grin.
"Judging by the looks on your faces, I take it both Father Emperor and the Crown Princess have already heard the news?
The official document from Bei Xiang has arrived. This year, King Huyan Mingchuan will personally attend the Wanshou Festival and will present a formal letter of submission as a tribute!
So Bei Xiang is surrendering…"
Yun Shu frowned slightly.
And here she thought she was about to gain a new little aunt.
Though a touch disappointed, she still nodded in acknowledgment.
"Huyan Mingchuan, at the very least, has kept his word."
"Hmm."
Emperor Xuanwu's expression remained mild. He had already foreseen this outcome through the Simulation Life Selection System.
Moreover, just recently, seven minor states had already pledged submission.
While Bei Xiang was significantly larger than all seven combined, it no longer struck him as anything particularly novel.
At this moment, however, he was more preoccupied with another matter.
His eldest son—an unfilial disgrace—had already been stripped of his title and demoted to commoner status, exiled to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.
The second son, the former Crown Prince, was not even worth mentioning.
And now Xiao Wu—his fifth daughter—was already seventeen. She had held the title of Crown Princess for two years, during which many promising young men had tried to catch her eye.
But she behaved as if she were missing a vital thread of sense, wholly unmoved no matter how obviously they lingered before her.
Worse, it seemed she didn't even realize they were there for her at all.
At this rate, she truly might follow through with her vow—never to marry, never to bear children.
His sixth son was still a child, hardly someone to place hopes upon for the near future.
To think he, the majestic Emperor of Tian Sheng, was already nearing forty-five…
While his peers had grandchildren tumbling about their halls, he had yet to be called Grandfather even once.
Day by day, he could only pin his hopes on the Third and Fourth Princes, praying they would bear him a healthy, strapping grandson before long.
He had thought today would finally be the day that hope became reality.
And yet…
Tsk. It had been more than half a year since the Third Prince's wedding.
"Was the boy even capable?"
As that thought crossed his mind, Emperor Xuanwu's face involuntarily showed a flicker of disdain.
Unfortunately for him, the Third Prince caught it in full.
The Third Prince blinked. "???"
"Wait, was this not genuinely good news?
It was Bei Xiang, after all!
Had Father Emperor and the Crown Princess not heard him clearly?
Bei Xiang had surrendered!"
A monumental victory like this—and not only did Imperial Father fail to look pleased, but he even cast him a glance filled with scorn, as though he were utterly useless?
Had he somehow offended Imperial Father again?
Perplexed and hesitant to ask Emperor Xuanwu directly, the Third Prince turned toward Yun Shu, hoping to probe her reaction instead.
"Crown Princess… Is it that you already knew, so it no longer excites you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
Yun Shu propped her head up with one hand, voice tinged with resignation.
"I am delighted. Truly."
Setting aside the fact that Bei Xiang's submission meant even more work was now piled on her desk—likely at least a full month of overtime—the expansion of Tian Sheng's domain was, objectively, something to celebrate.
The Third Prince looked at her silently.
Could she say that again—with that exact expression?
Still utterly confused but unwilling to push further, the Third Prince bowed and withdrew from the palace.
As he approached the gates, a servant from his manor came running, panting and red-faced as he doubled over and gasped for breath.
"Your Highness… Third Princess Consort… she asks that you return at once!"
"Did something happen at the manor?"
The Third Prince stiffened, heart leaping as he seized the servant by the collar.
"Is the Third Princess Consort alright?"
"She… she was fine when I left!"
Startled by the sudden grasp, the servant stammered nervously.
"But… but one of her maids did call for a physician just before I departed…"
Before the servant could finish, the Third Prince had already unhitched the lead horse from the palace carriage and was galloping full-speed toward the manor without a backward glance.
Within the Imperial Study, Yun Shu, still unaware of the situation, lay sprawled over the map of Bei Xiang, letting out a long, weary sigh.
"Father Emperor, when all is said and done, Huyan Mingchuan has not even arrived in Tian Sheng yet.
Is there any true urgency?
Could we not simply wait for the letter of submission before beginning deliberations?"
Emperor Xuanwu said nothing, merely casting her a faint sideways glance.
Yun Shu exhaled slowly.
"Very well. Your Daughter already has some ideas."
Not that she had much choice.
How could she not, with a father like this—one who made even the most diligent scholar look lazy?
Straightening up, Yun Shu pushed her fatigue aside and returned to work mode.
"Bei Xiang's territory is vast, yes, but half the year they are snowbound. Much of the land is unsuitable for settlement. Add to that the predominance of grasslands, and I believe our most prudent initial move is to expand and invest in large-scale animal husbandry…"
…
Indeed, with Bei Xiang's submission, the matter of governing the newly acquired territory naturally fell to Emperor Xuanwu and Yun Shu themselves.
Her "brief overtime" thus stretched straight to the eve of the Wanshou Festival.
During this time, Huyan Mingchuan arrived in Tian Sheng and attempted several times to seek audience with her.
Every attempt failed.
Not until the day of the festival did he finally catch her within Linde Hall.
The first words out of his mouth were laced with thorns.
"Crown Princess, you have truly grown more exalted than ever. Even surrendering an entire swath of land is not enough to merit a moment of your time."
Yun Shu couldn't be bothered to explain.
Without a word, she tossed three mathematics books his way.
As expected, once he had obtained what he came for, Huyan Mingchuan immediately lost interest in her, clutching the books like precious gems as he retreated to a quiet corner to study.
Yun Shu, free at last, headed to her seat and began leisurely enjoying the refreshments.
"Fifth Sister."
The moment she sat down, Yun Chuhuan, who had arrived early, grew restless again.
His cushion might as well have grown legs for how swiftly he scooted over to her side.
Yun Shu looked at him sideways.
"What are you doing?"
Her plum blossom pastry nearly tumbled from her hand. Elbowing him gently, she nudged him away.
"If you have something to say, then speak plainly."
"But Consort Mother told me that when mocking people, one must lower their voice!"
Yun Chuhuan whispered conspiratorially, darting glances toward the foreign envoys.
"Fifth Sister, the people who came this year… why do they all look so strange?
I don't think I've seen anyone like them before."
"Our former neighboring states have all surrendered. These delegations are from our new neighbors."
Yun Shu replied casually.
"They likely heard of the seven kingdoms' submission and came to test the waters. As for their appearance… remember those paintings the Liu family's trade caravan brought back from overseas?
Surely you've seen faces like these before."