A look of delight froze abruptly on Emperor Xuanwu's face. In that instant, he suddenly understood why so many commoners outside dared not register.
Even as her Father, he couldn't feel at ease letting Xiao Wu go!
The thought that the little rascal had run straight to the registration point without so much as a word of warning—right in front of the crowd, no less—made Emperor Xuanwu grind his molars in frustration. He hadn't even had the chance to stop her, let alone forbid it.
"Where is the Crown Princess? Summon her to Us at once!" His voice thundered across the hall.
"At once, Your Majesty."
Li Dehai shrank his neck in instinctive fear, relieved he hadn't borne the brunt of the Emperor's fury. Still, he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Her Highness truly had nerves of steel.
How could she, time and again, provoke His Majesty to the point of fury?
And yet, every single time, she managed to come away unscathed.
With ability like that, no wonder she had secured her place as Crown Princess.
When a young eunuch came to inform her that Emperor Xuanwu had summoned her to the imperial study, Yun Shu was not the least bit surprised. She scooped up Fufu in her arms and followed without hesitation.
The eunuch faltered.
Was it really alright for Her Highness to carry the little creature with her?
But of course, he didn't dare correct her.
He kept sneaking glances at the animal nestled in her arms, eyes flickering with hesitation. After much internal struggle, he swallowed his words and kept silent.
"Father Emperor!"
Crash!
The moment she stepped through the doorway, something came flying her way. Yun Shu dodged with practiced ease while simultaneously lifting a hand to shield Fufu's eyes.
"Father Emperor, you will frighten the child," she chided gently.
"What child? You?" Emperor Xuanwu's voice thundered, his fury clearly not yet appeased. "We would count ourselves fortunate if you did not frighten Us instead. Who else in this palace dares to scare you?"
"When has This Daughter ever caused fear in Your Majesty's heart?" Yun Shu retorted. "On the contrary, Your Daughter even brought Fufu to lift Your spirits."
She pulled her hand away from Fufu's face and held him up to her own. "He is not yet two. If even he does not count as a child, then what does?"
Emperor Xuanwu was speechless.
This little imp had truly lost all sense of propriety. She caused trouble and then tried to use a fluffy creature to placate him?
And yet...
Those wide, dazed eyes. That round little head and soft, pudgy body. The mere sight of it made his anger falter.
Especially when, behind the tiny beast, another pair of similarly round, innocent eyes peeked out timidly. Eyes that unmistakably belonged to a certain mischievous offspring.
Emperor Xuanwu clenched his hand into a loose fist and knocked his knuckles against the name scroll on the desk.
"Enough with your diversions. Explain this. Who gave you permission to go register on your own? Without so much as consulting Us, you went to the manor to receive the smallpox vaccine?"
"I only wished to ease Your Majesty's burden," Yun Shu answered with conviction.
"The reason the people are afraid to register is simple. They don't trust the vaccine. They believe there's no such thing as a free meal. If something falls from the sky, it's more likely a trap than a blessing. But if I, the Crown Princess, take the lead, it speaks louder than any official decree."
"You are the heir to the throne!"
Emperor Xuanwu's voice lowered with warning.
"We know the vaccine poses no danger, but nothing in this world is absolute. Even common medicine, though helpful to most, can be deadly to a few. What if—"
"You're absolutely right, Father Emperor." Yun Shu lifted Fufu's paw and waved it gently.
"But if everyone waited in fear, then what was the point of developing the smallpox vaccine at all?"
Emperor Xuanwu fell silent.
But Yun Shu was not done. She launched her final blow.
"If anything, it shouldn't be just me. It would be best if Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, and all the other young members of the imperial clan who remain in the capital joined me at the manor."
"Do you even hear yourself?" Emperor Xuanwu inhaled sharply.
"You are truly fearless. Do you want every noble house in the capital storming Our palace in protest?"
"And on what grounds would they protest?" Yun Shu raised her chin proudly.
"Such a miraculous vaccine, and their children are among the first to receive it. That is a gift from Your Majesty. A blessing bestowed upon their lineage."
Emperor Xuanwu stared at her.
It was... not without logic.
The proposal sounded outrageous at first, but upon further thought, it wasn't entirely unreasonable.
These members of the imperial clan did nothing all day but live off the state.
What harm in making a real contribution to the Empire of Tian Sheng, for once?
Besides, if even the Crown Princess and Imperial sons were participating, were their children somehow nobler?
"Go, then. Every last one of them."
Emperor Xuanwu, fully convinced, waved his brush across the scroll. Soon, a formal decree was issued, summoning all young members of the imperial clan in the capital to receive the smallpox vaccine at the manor five days hence.
That same day, an article was also dispatched, marked for urgent publication in the next morning's issue of the Capital Weekly.
But printing would take time, so the article caused no immediate stir.
The imperial edict, however, set the Imperial households ablaze the moment it left the palace.
Especially those with large harems and many children. Dozens of wives and concubines burst into loud lamentations, clutching their sons and daughters as if they were being dragged to the execution ground. The poor old lords were left dazed, heads spinning from the cacophony.
By dawn the next day, many of them had made up their minds. They packed their robes and headed to the palace, intent on clinging to Emperor Xuanwu's leg and begging for clemency.
But the moment they stepped outside their mansions, a strange unease crept over them.
Why were there so many commoners loitering near the gates?
Especially that one man in the green robe—was that his third time walking past?
And still he pretended to be simply passing by?
Did they think him blind?
Something was not right. Not right at all.
Prince Rong paused on the carriage step. After a brief moment of hesitation, he slapped his forehead and turned back toward the manor.
"No! Forget it. Why is it that every time we go fishing, it has to be at Prince Rui's estate? Our pond is just as fine, is it not?"
The servant waiting to assist him into the carriage blinked in confusion.
Fishing? Prince Rui? Weren't they supposed to head to the palace?
Still dumbfounded, the servant followed Prince Rong back into the residence, only to find himself once more surrounded by chaos.
"Your Highness, why have you returned? Weren't you going to plead with His Majesty today?"
"Your Highness, Hong'er is still so young. How can I bear to let him go to that manor?"
"Yes, Your Highness! Hui'er has always been frail. He's never even spent a night away from home—"
"Your Highness, you know Lan'er clings to me the most. If she doesn't see me for even a day, she cries nonstop—"
"Your Highness…"
"Your Highness…"
"Enough! Silence! All of you, be quiet!"