"…Yes."
Was it not just some pitiful Seventh Prince, a minor cannon fodder who did not even earn a name in the original storyline?
Yet Imperial Father gave this task with such solemnity, as though it were some grand affair destined to leave a mark in the annals of history.
Yun Shu did not dwell on it. She simply nodded and agreed without much thought.
...
The days passed swiftly. Before long, New Year's Eve arrived.
Yet, on this festive day, not a single one of the foreign delegations remaining in the capital could summon any cheer.
The Wa Kingdom delegation, naturally, was beyond miserable. Their country teetered on the brink of ruin, and they were forced to attend their enemy's New Year's banquet with forced smiles. That none of them burst into tears was only because they lacked the courage.
As for the other smaller states' envoys…
First came Tian Sheng's overt display of hostility by waging war on Wa Kingdom.
Then followed the shocking annihilation of the Bei Xiang diplomatic mission. These events weighed heavily on everyone's nerves. Each day, they walked a tightrope, straining under a pressure that seemed ready to snap.
Officially, the Bei Xiang mission had been slain by their own Ninth Prince.
But who among them did not know the truth?
Before they were wiped out, the Bei Xiang envoys had been demanding answers from Emperor Xuanwu and the Crown Princess over the mysterious disappearance of the Seventh Prince.
And that Ninth Prince of Bei Xiang—was he not rumored to be on friendly terms with the Crown Princess herself? It was even said that, at her request, he had once briefly taught at Tian Sheng Academy.
Could anyone truly believe there was no foul play in the demise of the Bei Xiang mission?
"Tian Sheng grows more arrogant by the day. They no longer bother to hide their contempt for the rest of our nations."
On the road to the palace banquet, several smaller state delegations seized the rare opportunity to gather in plain sight. One envoy, ever calculating, lowered his voice in subtle provocation.
"Today it is Wa Kingdom and Bei Xiang. Tomorrow, who knows whose turn it will be?"
"Tian Sheng has indeed grown formidable in recent years."
Another envoy, clearly aware of the first speaker's intentions, narrowed his eyes and murmured as if speaking to himself.
"If Tian Sheng ever gives in to ambition, I cannot imagine a single nation that could withstand them alone."
"That is why no one should stand alone. Even the weakest flame grows fierce when fed by many hands."
The earlier envoy let out a soft chuckle, his tone light yet laden with meaning.
"They still haven't found that Seventh Prince of Bei Xiang, have they?"
"No… not yet."
Their gazes met, silent understanding passing between them.
Of course he had not been found.
In truth, over the past few days, that very Seventh Prince had been lurking nearby, constantly shifting his appearance, attempting to contact envoys from the smaller states to propose an alliance.
Bei Xiang, in its current state, no longer held much allure.
But if the Seventh Prince's bold proposal came to pass—if Tian Sheng could truly be divided among them…
The temptation was undeniable.
In their minds, dreams of carving up Tian Sheng took root—of expanding their dominions and elevating their nations.
So these envoys entered the Linde Hall with cautious reverence, and while the court officials of Tian Sheng laughed and toasted in celebration, they themselves sat stiffly, silently choking down a joyless meal.
Only after the banquet came to a close could they breathe again.
Yun Shu observed their uneasy restraint, but said nothing.
Instead, she used the holiday lull to tinker once more with her drafts and blueprints.
When Yun Chuhuan came skipping into the Eastern Palace to find her, he happened upon her scribbling intently on a large sheet. His curiosity was instantly piqued.
"Fifth Sister, what good thing are you drawing this time?"
"I'm working on applying the steam engine to steel refining."
The sketches on the table were chaotic, filled with symbols and terms only she could decipher. Yun Shu showed no concern about Yun Chuhuan understanding or accidentally leaking anything he read.
She casually picked up another sheet and resumed drawing at speed.
"Weren't you saying just yesterday that you wouldn't be coming over today, and planned to stay in Yaohua Palace to keep your Consort Mother company?"
"Father Emperor went to Yaohua Palace today, so Consort Mother does not need me."
Yun Chuhuan pouted as he spoke, then added with a grumble.
"And I wouldn't dare linger in front of Father Emperor anyway. What if he finds an excuse to fine me again? I just managed to save up some money!"
Yun Shu had heard plenty about Yun Chuhuan's long-standing trauma of being fined over the past couple of years.
She could not help but laugh.
"I seem to recall you haven't been fined for quite some time now, have you?"
"That's only because I'm clever! If I can avoid getting in Father Emperor's line of sight, I avoid it completely—even if it's just for a sliver of time."
He pinched his fingers together to show just how tiny a sliver he meant, shaking his head dramatically with a look of deep grievance.
"Enough about that! Fifth Sister, you said something about using steam to refine steel? Will that let you produce more, and faster?"
"Possibly. My goal is to create higher quality steel through this method."
Yun Shu offered one of many reasons for her new schematic, brushing off his curiosity with a half-truth.
"I promised Yi Yi that once she wins the martial examination and becomes the top military scholar, I would gift her a peerless sword. Since she's already gone to war with her father, I thought I might as well send it ahead of time."
"Her going to war? That hardly counts."
Scooping up the ever-curious Fufu, who had just trotted into the study, Yun Chuhuan stroked the cat while snorting in disdain.
"She's only tagging along for show. There's no way she'd be on the front lines, fighting hand-to-hand."
"Just because she isn't now, doesn't mean she never will."
Yun Shu added a few more precise lines to the drawing, her tone meaningful.
"It never hurts to be prepared."
"But you've never given me anything special, Fifth Sister."
He completely missed the deeper implication in her words, his entire mind fixated on one thing—jealousy.
"I'm your real brother!"
"Have I truly never given you anything?"
Her brush paused mid-stroke as Yun Shu considered the question seriously. After a moment, she realized he was right. She had never gone out of her way to gift him anything unique.
Birthday gifts, yes, but those were standard for everyone in her household. They hardly counted as "special" by his definition.
She pondered a moment longer, then her eyes lit up.
"A toy. Would you like one?"
"…"
Excuse him?
He and Cen Yiyi were the same age.
Yiyi was getting a legendary sword worthy of the battlefield.
And he? He was being offered… a toy?
He was already eleven!
Yun Chuhuan opened his mouth to protest, ready to remind his Fifth Sister that he was no longer a toddler.
But before the words could form, he suddenly changed his tune completely.
"What kind of toy?"
After all, this was his Fifth Sister.
Anything she crafted would be nothing short of extraordinary.