Yun Shu fell silent.
…She had to admit, the guess was rather accurate. But for his own safety, it was best if Yun Chuhuan stopped right there. Saying things like "Father Emperor is a rubbish bin" might very well get him beaten to death.
With one hand, she pushed Yun Chuhuan's head down and firmly forced him to forget everything he had just said.
That same afternoon, the slow-moving procession finally reached the capital.
Yun Shu was the first to step down from the carriage. As expected, the prominent officials of court had all gathered to receive her. Tang Yuanlin, thanks to his connection to the Crown Princess, was permitted to stand in the front row beside the Right Prime Minister, despite holding only a fourth-rank post.
When he saw Yun Shu emerge from the carriage, his eyes immediately lit up with quiet delight. The old man instinctively stepped forward.
But in the very next breath, a dark blur swept past him. Before he could even make sense of what had happened, Minister Yan had already rushed in front of Yun Shu and begun babbling with barely contained excitement.
"Your Highness, you must know, in this old minister's lifetime, there have been very few people worthy of my admiration. Aside from His Majesty, only Your Highness has earned my wholehearted respect.
Such mastery over grand strategy, such far-reaching foresight… Your Highness remained at a countryside estate, yet still managed to influence this year's commercial tax revenue with but a single article published in the Capital Weekly…"
"Minister Yan," Yun Shu interrupted with a smile, "you may speak plainly.
This year's tax revenue surely surpassed last year's?"
"Surpassed? It more than tripled!"
Usually known for his stern and rigid demeanor, Minister Yan was now laughing aloud, utterly unable to contain his joy.
"Even before Your Highness's article, the newly paved roads had already increased trade activity across the realm. But once your 'Get Rich Overnight' piece appeared, the local Merchants' Associations flocked to invest like mad.
There were even large merchant houses that could have legally qualified for exemptions, yet chose to forego them entirely and paid the highest tax bracket willingly.
Five hundred million! Hahaha, this old minister never even dreamed of such a number. One tax alone brought five hundred million taels of silver into the treasury this year!"
Almost three times more than the previous year. No wonder the man could not stop smiling.
Yun Shu found herself infected by his laughter. Seeing Minister Yan grinning from ear to ear made her smile as well.
"Minister Yan, dream as boldly as you wish. This Princess dares promise that next year's revenue will climb even higher."
"Haha! Your Highness speaks true. Then this old minister shall not be polite about it.
When I return home today, I will have my lady wife switch my pillow. I shall dream of a treasury income reaching six hundred million taels!"
"…Excuse me?"
All that lofty talk, and the dream was capped at six hundred million?
Did he think she could not aim higher?
Yun Shu shook her head, half amused, and stepped past the beaming Minister Yan. She turned to the other assembled officials and offered a formal salute.
"Thank you all for waiting."
"We dare not claim so, Your Highness!"
The officials quickly returned the gesture.
"Your Highness has set an example for the people, risking Your own comfort to reassure them and encourage widespread acceptance of the smallpox vaccine. Compared to that, standing here a short while is of no consequence."
…
So that more of the common people could witness this moment with their own eyes, Yun Shu graciously exchanged several rounds of ceremonial pleasantries.
Once she judged that the spectacle had run its course, she casually glanced over the crowd.
"Is the Minister of Honglu Temple present?"
"This official is here!"
The official in question held a modest rank and had been happily blending into the crowd, quietly enjoying a moment of ease. Caught off guard by being named, his expression froze.
Fortunately, Yun Shu had not summoned him to rebuke him.
She merely pointed behind her.
"The Bei Xiang delegation has arrived. As for how they should be received, you are more familiar than This Princess."
"Yes, yes…"
He had been thoroughly startled, half convinced he had done something wrong. Wiping his forehead with a sleeve, the official could not help but feel puzzled. The courier from the post station had reported the Bei Xiang group would arrive in three days.
Why had they shown up today?
Could they be up to something again?
Silently raising his internal alert to the highest level, the Minister of Honglu Temple watched Yun Shu and her procession leave. Then, with a practiced smile, he stepped toward the envoys.
As for Yun Shu, once her duties at the city gates were fulfilled, there was no further need for her to make appearances.
She returned smoothly to the palace. But instead of heading to the Eastern Palace, she took a detour to the imperial study.
Over the past few days, the letters from her seemingly indifferent Imperial Father had been curiously warm beneath the surface. Remembering his tone, Yun Shu could not help but smile.
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Xuanwu sat at the dragon desk, mulling over a private thought.
If that little rascal dared to forget him today, he would double her official duties starting tomorrow.
At that moment, Li Dehai burst in joyfully from outside.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the Crown Princess requests an audience."
The corners of Emperor Xuanwu's mouth curved upward, quite visibly.
A heartbeat later, he covered it with a cough and replied with practiced indifference.
"Let her enter."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Li Dehai stifled a chuckle. Knowing how eager His Majesty truly was to see her, he turned quickly to fetch Yun Shu.
"Your Daughter greets Father Emperor."
Her light and lively voice filled the study. It was a sound that belonged only to her, and it never failed to brighten the space.
Emperor Xuanwu looked up at her lazily, only to frown the next moment.
"Did you not say you were eating three meals a day, with five bowls each? Why do you still look thinner?"
"I am not!"
Yun Shu instinctively glanced at her own waist.
"See? Still perfectly fine. I was actually worried I'd gain weight from sitting indoors for so long."
With a grin, she walked up to the desk, leaned halfway across it, and cupped her cheeks in her hands.
"Father Emperor, have you noticed? Your Daughter has changed."
"Changed where?"
Emperor Xuanwu arched a brow and studied her for a long moment.
But before he could determine what had changed, Yun Shu tilted her head playfully and grinned.
"Have I not grown more beautiful?"
"…"
"Where did she get this shamelessness from?"
With a sigh, Emperor Xuanwu raised a finger and gently poked her forehead, pushing her back a bit.
"You came running here the moment you returned to the palace, just to say that?"
"Well, it is quite important."
Yun Shu nodded solemnly.
"But there is also one small, unimportant matter I must report.
The Bei Xiang delegation arrived today, earlier than expected. Just outside the city, they crossed paths with our returning party.
The Seventh Prince of Bei Xiang then conveyed a proposal for cooperation. He even offered to cede a city as a token of sincerity."