"When has your Imperial Aunt ever lied to you?"
On the other end of the line, Yun Chuhuan seemed to be playing around with Nao Nao, laughter briefly spilling through the receiver. But soon enough, he straightened up, took the phone, and greeted Emperor Xuanwu with solemn decorum.
"Your Son greets Father Emperor."
"Hmm."
Emperor Xuanwu paused, then asked, "Where is your Consort Mother?"
"Consort Mother is busy with the flowers in her garden."
It was likely Yun Chuhuan's first time using a telephone. All his focus was fixed on the strange contraption, so much so that his speech came out rather stilted and formal.
"Fifth Sister once said that with special cultivation, it might be possible to grow black roses. Consort Mother was intrigued, so she's been fussing over her plants lately."
"Hmm."
This time, Emperor Xuanwu fell into an even longer silence.
"Then hand the receiver back to Nao Nao."
Yun Chuhuan blinked. "?"
So Father Emperor had nothing more to say to him?
Well… he supposed there really wasn't much to talk about anyway.
Quietly, he passed the receiver back to Nao Nao. As the child's lively voice resumed chattering away, Emperor Xuanwu's previously impassive expression softened. The conversation carried on for over half an hour.
When he finally hung up, the Emperor nodded in satisfaction. He had half a mind to compliment the craftsmanship of this strange device when he looked up — and found Yun Shu watching him intently, eyes gleaming with quiet speculation.
Emperor Xuanwu narrowed his eyes. "What are you staring at?"
"You, of course."
Dragging a chair closer, Yun Shu sat down, curiosity written all over her face. After a moment of study, she asked in a tone both light and probing:
"Father Emperor, are you hiding something from me?"
"A secret?"
Emperor Xuanwu hadn't quite caught up to her train of thought. His brow furrowed slightly.
"What nonsense are you talking about now?"
"Is it really nonsense?"
Yun Shu propped one elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm.
"Just now, when you realized Nao Nao's voice came from the receiver, you didn't look the least bit confused. You picked it up and started chatting like it was the most natural thing in the world. Not a single strange guess, no hesitation. It was as if you already knew exactly what a telephone was."
"What's so strange about that?"
It caught him off guard, that she had noticed. Indeed, Emperor Xuanwu had already learned about this invention through the Simulation Life Selection System. But having ruled for many years — and served as Retired Emperor for many more — he knew how to school his expression.
With practiced ease, he met her gaze and replied coolly.
"It's not as if you had somehow stuffed Nao Nao into that tiny box, is it?"
"Fine. Let's say you're just uncommonly clever."
Yun Shu gave a conceding nod and continued, smoothly shifting the topic.
"Speaking of which, did you hear about the Hanlin Academy's recent project? They compiled every decree, every event from your reign into official records and organized them anew."
"What of it, if We have?"
"Nothing of consequence."
She smiled, eyes crescent-shaped with amusement.
"But the official who oversaw the compilation couldn't stop praising you when he spoke with Your Daughter. Truly, Father Emperor, your reign was without flaw. So many monumental decisions, and not a single misstep."
"Is that not the mark of a competent sovereign?"
Emperor Xuanwu straightened his spine with quiet pride, even shooting her a faintly disdainful look.
"You would do well to aspire to such ability."
"Your Daughter will strive earnestly."
She accepted the admonishment without protest and slipped seamlessly into reminiscence.
"How could I not? You've always supported me without question. When I received the compiled records from the Hanlin Academy, I read them from beginning to end. The more I read, the more I realized how blind I had been in my youth — I never truly grasped just how absurdly indulgent you were with me.
Take the Zhibei flower, for instance. In the beginning, you didn't even know the fruit of the plant had any practical use. Yet when Your Daughter insisted it was beautiful and declared a wish to see it bloom throughout the entire kingdom, you agreed.
If it had been me on the throne, any child who came pestering to scatter flowers everywhere would have been chased out of the palace."
Emperor Xuanwu said nothing.
Indeed, looking back on all the requests she had made over the years, that one had been particularly outrageous.
By rights, even with his favoritism, he should have limited her to a few royal estates at most, let her plant to her heart's content there — but to allow a flower with no known value to spread across the empire?
Wait a moment… something felt off.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and gave Yun Shu a measured look.
"So you knew all along that your request was absurd. Then why make it in the first place?"
"Because I was just a naive little princess back then."
Yun Shu spoke with shameless confidence.
"What's wrong with a little princess liking pretty flowers?"
"...?"
That again?
His mind, which had been starting to piece together a clearer picture, was thrown into disarray once more by her righteous declaration about pretty flowers and little princesses. He had always believed that for her to accomplish all she had, she could not have been so simple at fourteen or fifteen.
Yet recalling her behavior from that time…
Perhaps she truly had been capable of such childish whims.
Once again, Emperor Xuanwu fell silent.
Yun Shu, seizing the moment, pressed further.
"Then why did you agree to it?"
"You used to parade around looking like the whole world owed you. Of course We agreed, if only to keep you smiling."
He gave a derisive snort.
"We were certain the court officials would object anyway.
As for what followed — well, you solved the problem of reclaiming wasteland for cultivation. You even managed to implement a merchant tax. At that point, what reason did We have to oppose your little flower?"
"I see…"
"But Father Emperor, some matters are harmless when left unexamined. Yet once one begins to connect the dots…
Why was it that every time she brought up something important, you would fall into a trance, staring off into the distance?"
Yun Shu straightened her back, still smiling, though she said nothing more.
Perhaps Emperor Xuanwu truly had encountered some miraculous opportunity in his life.
But then again, did it matter?
After all, she herself had a secret just as monumental — one she had never told him.
Not everything in this world must be dragged into the light. If Father Emperor clearly had no intention of sharing, then she had no need to ask.
What mattered most was undeniable: throughout the years, his affection for her had been genuine.
This rare and precious bond between father and daughter — perhaps it, too, was one of Heaven's gifts.
"Father Emperor."
With solemnity, Yun Shu raised a finger and demonstrated how to use the dial on the telephone.
"See this number? 00000001. That connects directly to Your Daughter's residence. So if you ever wish to reach me, just call this number."
"And why," Emperor Xuanwu immediately retorted, "would We call the palace to speak with you in your chambers?"
He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"You unfilial child, do you expect Us to labor while you lie about, waiting for a call?"
Yun Shu: o(////▽////)q