Chapter 84 Opening Ceremony
The golden glow of early morning showered generously upon the newly renovated Yuxiu College. The soaring eaves and brackets resembled rocs with outstretched wings, the vermilion-lacquered pillars resembled a stabilizing force, and the glazed tiles shimmered in the sunlight.
The air was filled with the fragrance of fresh wood, the festive scent of newly-woven colorful silk, and the elegant perfume of hundreds of young women, blending into a vibrant energy that was unique to new life and hope.
Today is the official opening ceremony of Yuxiu College, a women's school destined to go down in history.
The Yuxiu Garden area, designated for the ladies, had already been meticulously decorated. The ladies, all dressed in pink brocade school uniforms, gathered at the front of the ceremony area like a forest of newly blossoming peach blossoms.
The design of the school uniform can be regarded as Dongfang Yuning's masterpiece: the narrow sleeves and waist are perfectly outlining the girl's figure; the skirt is spread out like petals, and there is a faint light floating when walking, which is gorgeous and agile.
The tender pink color made their faces look like the morning glow and their eyes look like autumn water. They greeted each other with reserved smiles, but their eyes could not help but frequently look towards the direction of the college gate, with excitement and anticipation that was almost overflowing.
Princess Fuxing, Dongfang Yuning! Empress Dongfang Qiwu! Her Royal Highness, Princess Nangong Yue! And the venerable Empress Dowager! This "Yuxiu Heavenly Group" is about to arrive! This honor is enough to make their fingertips tremble with excitement.
"Look! The procession! Here they come!"
Someone let out a low cry of suppressed excitement.
All eyes focused instantly.
At the main entrance of the academy, royal guards solemnly and orderly separated the crowd. First to enter was the current Empress Dongfang Qiwu.
Her bright yellow phoenix robe was solemn and elegant, and her phoenix crown was dazzling. She walked calmly and gracefully, with a look of dignity and majesty as a mother of the country. When she looked towards the academy, she revealed a sincere sense of relief and tenderness.
Following closely behind was the eldest princess, Nangong Yue, dressed in a fiery red, refined gown. Twenty years old, she was tall, towering over many of the men present. The sleek gown perfectly outlined her slender, toned figure. Her long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, revealing a bright, bold, and heroic face.
She walked with a brisk pace and an uninhibited air of boldness, which instantly drew the irrepressible and admiring exclamations from the noble ladies of Yuxiu Garden.
So what if she had experienced marital ups and downs? Under the influence of her aunt Dongfang Yuning, she lived more wantonly than anyone else, and her career was her strongest armor.
Next came the graceful and elegant Empress Dowager. Holding the hand of a palace maid, she slowly approached, her gaze sweeping over the brand-new academy buildings and the meticulously decorated grounds with her usual scrutiny. But deep within her eyes, a subtle glimmer of satisfaction lingered—this was, after all, the grand spectacle her future daughter-in-law had created.
Finally, the petite figure that almost everyone was looking forward to finally came into view—Princess Fuxing Dongfang Yuning.
She rarely wore a formal light green palace dress today, which made her face look even whiter and more lively, and had a soft light filter in the morning light.
She seemed unused to being the center of so much attention, and followed the Empress Dowager briskly, her almond-shaped eyes glancing around. Especially when she saw the pink "peach blossom forest", the corners of her mouth raised high, with an expression of undisguised pride.
118! 118! Look!
Dongfang Yuning screamed excitedly in her heart,
[Is this princess's aesthetic sense on point? Pink and tender, the beauty and the peach blossoms complement each other beautifully! Isn't she stunning? Isn't she! And Yueyue's red outfit, wow, the queen has arrived, everyone get out of the way! Her aura is two meters eighty!]
System 118's electronic voice sounded somewhat mechanically applauded:
[Wow! This host's design is a masterpiece! The delicate pink perfectly matches the status and temperament of the noble ladies of Yuxiuyuan, and it's eye-catching! It's a must-see! The Princess's battle red robe is a perfect combination of fierceness and beauty! However...]
It changed the subject and the electronic soundtrack was teasing.
[Host, don't forget that you've designed more than just this one. The main event will be the appearance of the fairies in white from the Medical Garden! Be careful of the Empress Dowager's nitpicking!]
Dongfang Yuning waved his hand proudly in his heart:
What are you afraid of?! This princess's design philosophy is a thousand years ahead of its time! Angel White, get it? Holy! Professional! Healing the wounded and the dying brings with it a holy light!
Who dares to say it's unlucky? This princess will bury him in melon seed shells! Even the Empress Dowager can't do that! ...Well, at most, bury him shallowly.
As they spoke, the Emperor and Empress' carriages had already settled into the main seat. The Empress Dowager, Empress, Princess Chang, and Princess Fuxing took their seats in their turn. The ceremony officially began.
The first to speak was Empress Dongfang Qiwu. Her voice was clear and gentle, yet it held undeniable power.
She explained the original intention of establishing Yuxiu College - to open the door of wisdom for women all over the world, provide a place to settle down, and enable them to find their own place and glory in this world with knowledge and skills, just like men.
Her eyes swept over the noble ladies of Yuxiu Garden, and also looked at the common women in the Yucai Garden area a little further away who were wearing brand new light green cotton dresses, with nervous yet hopeful expressions.
"Regardless of your family background, once you enter the Yuxiu Sect, you will become the future pillar of our Dayan! Women can also stand tall and proud!"
The Queen's words resonated deeply, triggering excited cheers and thunderous applause. The common women were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes, clutching the hem of their pale green garments tightly, grasping the rope that would change their fate.
Next came the eldest princess, Nangong Yue. Her style was completely different from the moment she spoke, just like her fiery red dress—passionate, direct, and full of power.
"What's wrong with women? Who says women are inferior to men?"
Nangong Yue's voice was as clear as the sound of gold and jade clashing together, and with the sharpness honed on the battlefield, her eyes swept across the entire audience with burning intent.
"I, too, was once trapped in the imperial harem, and was once looked down upon! But now, I manage the royal trading company, oversee the manufacture of military equipment, and ride on horseback to the frontier. Who dares to say that I am inferior to a man?"
Her words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of every female student.
"Yuxiu Academy is the place where you can grow your wings! Learn literature, martial arts, trade, reason, and even delve into medicine! Show us your abilities and let those who look down on us see how high women can fly and how far they can go! Don't let your youth go to waste, don't let your life go to waste!"
Her words were sonorous and powerful, with a power that broke through the fog and went straight to people's hearts, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue.
Fighting spirit ignited in the eyes of the noble ladies, and the common women straightened their backs, their eyes shining brightly, as if they saw another possible self.
[Wow! Yueyue is so cool! I give this speech full marks!]
Dongfang Yuning was cheering crazily in his heart,
As expected of the child I raised! Such aura, such a style! If my brother-in-law saw this, he would definitely say sourly, "You have led my Yue'er wild!" Hehehe.
[118: Ding! Host's high spirits detected, Pride +100. Friendly reminder, you're the next to speak, prepare some soul-stirring chicken soup!]
It was the Queen Mother's turn to speak. The old lady sat upright on the throne, her tone calm and profound:
"For women to establish themselves in society, morality and conduct come first, and talent and learning are essential. Yuxiu Academy not only teaches skills, but also cultivates virtue. I hope you will remember that knowledge and skills should be used for righteous purposes. With a flexible heart and a strong character, you will live up to what you have learned here and live up to the expectations of the imperial family."
Although not as passionate as the Queen and the Princess, she has a calming power that makes people feel awe.
Finally, it was the turn of the finale of today's "Yuxiu Group", the soul designer of the academy - Princess Fuxing Dongfang Yuning.
She took a deep breath and walked with her short legs, thinking:
[What a damn height difference! ]
She walked to the front of the stage. The sunlight fell right on her, making her pale green palace dress look especially fresh. She cleared her throat and tried to appear dignified, but her baby face made her forced sternness seem even more endearing.
"Ahem!"
She tried to suppress her voice.
[118, quick! Give me a 'Steel Rose' sound effect!]
[118: Beep! The 'Steel Rose' sound effects pack failed to load. The host's vocal cords do not meet the requirements. It is recommended to enable the 'Energetic Little Sun' mode.]
Dongfang Yuning gave up struggling and simply raised her signature bright smile. Her voice was crisp and full of the vitality unique to young girls, instantly breaking the slightly serious atmosphere:
"Sisters! Future pillars of our school! Seeing you look so energetic and beautiful in the school uniforms I designed, this princess feels truly... delighted!"
She made no secret of her pride, and waved her hand, pointing to the three square formations.
"The pink Yuxiu Garden is delicate but not coquettish, a naturally noble aura! The light green Yucai Garden is full of vitality, like spring grass breaking through the soil! And our soon-to-be-launched Medical Garden—Angel White! That is the light of holiness, the light of hope!"
Speaking of the Medical Garden, she paused deliberately, and "inadvertently" glanced at the Queen Mother sitting in the main seat. Sure enough, she caught the Queen Mother nodding slightly when she saw the fresh and simple light green color of Yucai Garden, but when she heard the word "white clothes", her brows frowned almost imperceptibly.
[118: Alert! Alert! The Queen Mother's sensitivity to 'white clothes' increased by 50%! Host, attack! Conquer her with your perverse theories!]
Dongfang Yuning: Bah! That's called advanced thinking! Watch me!
"I know, some people might think that this white dress..."
Dongfang Yuning deliberately prolonged the tone, crossed her waist, and raised her chin slightly, looking like a princess who had been prepared for this.
"Don't you think it's unlucky?"
There was a slight commotion in the audience, especially among the ladies, who had heard of some taboos.
"Wrong! Absolutely wrong!"
Dongfang Yuning's voice suddenly rose, and he said decisively,
"This is called Angel White! Think about it, when someone is injured or sick, lying there in pain, surrounded by darkness and despair, who brings hope? It's the person wearing this pure white dress!
They are clean and pure, like angels descending from heaven or fairy children in heaven! Their hands are the hands that save the dying and the wounded!
Their presence is the light that dispels the shadow of illness! White is not bad luck, it is holiness! It represents professionalism! It is the hope of life!
Wearing this white coat means bringing light and health to everyone! This is the spirit of our Medical Garden!
Her words flowed like a rapid-fire barrage, brimming with undeniable, almost brainwashing enthusiasm. Her final phrase, "hope for life," especially ignited the eyes of the girls in the audience, who were initially curious but hesitant about the Medical Garden, with a twinkle of yearning.
Yes, it is so sacred to be an angel who brings hope!
The Queen Mother was a little confused by her talk of angel white and holy light. She opened her mouth, but finally closed it silently under the Queen's smiling gaze.
Forget it, this little bastard's reasoning is so convoluted, it sounds like... it does make sense. It's mainly because of that sense of self-righteousness that makes it seem like blasphemy to refute it.
[118: Ding! Heresy (crossed out) Advanced concept indoctrination successful! Queen Mother's Misfire Index +99%! Host, well done!]
Dongfang Yuning: (Inner laughter, hands on hips)
[That's right! This princess is here, one person is worth two!]
Next, it is time to prepare the Oriental Yuning brand chicken soup for the soul.
She restrained her arrogance, and a sincere yet dreamy expression appeared on her face, and her voice softened.
"Standing here and looking at you, I'm so happy. Do you know? For each of you to be able to stand in the sunshine of Yuxiu College today is itself an incredible courage and breakthrough!"
"Perhaps you all come from different places and have different stories. Some of you live in luxury, while others may have to save money and even face family incomprehension in order to come here."
Her eyes swept across the pink and light green groups with understanding and encouragement.
"But no matter what happened in the past, from today on, you all share a common name—Yuxiu students! There's no innate nobility or inferiority here, only the degree of effort and the level of talent!"
"I know the road ahead may not be smooth. Some might laugh at me, saying, 'A woman's virtue is not her talent, so what's the point of learning all this?' I might encounter difficulties and think, 'This is too hard, am I not capable of it?' I might feel lost, wondering what I can do in the future after learning all this."
Her words seemed to touch the hearts of many girls. The audience became unusually quiet, with pairs of eyes looking at her intently.
"What I want to tell you is - screw that 'a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent!' That's just a bunch of nonsense made up by lazy men who are afraid of being outdone by us!"
She suddenly blurted out a shocking statement, which scared the Queen Mother in the main seat so much that she almost choked on her tea, while the Queen and the eldest princess couldn't help laughing.
118: [Host! Watch your words! Lady! Lady!]
Dongfang Yuning: [Oh, so excited.]
She quickly tried to make amends, her voice softening again.
"Ahem, what I mean is that knowledge and skills are wealth that will never betray us! They allow us to see the world clearly, give us the right to choose, and allow us to live a wonderful life without relying on others! Just like my niece Yueyue,"
She pointed at Nangong Yue, who was dressed in red and looked very heroic.
"Who dares to say that she's not living a good life? Who dares to say that she's worthless?"
Nangong Yue cooperated by raising her chin, with an expression of pride that said, "I am a role model."
"Difficulties? Everyone will encounter them! Let me tell you a little secret."
Dongfang Yuning lowered his voice mysteriously, as if he was sharing some great secret.
"My brother-in-law, our wise and powerful Emperor, reviews memorials until midnight every day, and he loses several hairs out of worry! Aren't the difficulties he faces greater than ours?
But did he back down? No! He's still persisting (fleecing me)... uh, persisting in governing the country! So, don't be afraid when you encounter difficulties. Think about my brother-in-law's increasingly thinning hair, and you'll be motivated!
"puff--"
I don’t know which young lady lacked self-control and couldn’t help laughing out loud, then quickly covered her mouth, her face turning red.
Empress Dongfang Qiwu, seated in the main seat, covered her lips with her sleeve, her shoulders shaking suspiciously. Princess Nangong Yue rolled her eyes, her lips curled upwards.
The empress dowager looked speechlessly at her future daughter-in-law who was a funny little girl, and then looked at the emperor's son who was trying hard to maintain his dignity but with twitching eyes. Although the emperor was not present, when these words reached his ears... he sighed deeply.
System 118:
[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully established His Majesty the Emperor as a negative (crossed out) inspirational role model! Courage is commendable! Please pay attention to your personal safety after leaving the court!]
[Dongfang Yuning: ...Don't be afraid! I have my own luxurious little stool to protect me!]
“As for what can be done in the future?”
Dongfang Yuning smiled brightly again and opened her arms as if to embrace the whole world.
"Your future holds endless possibilities! You can be like the Empress, a dignified and virtuous mistress who manages everything at home and beyond.
You can navigate the business world and fight on the battlefield like the eldest princess.
You can become a respected female medical officer with miraculous skills who can bring people back to life, you can become a knowledgeable and talented female teacher, you can become a female accountant who is proficient in mathematics and is in charge of the accounts of a region, you can become a female master who is clever and can design beautiful clothes!
Even... one day in the future, we women will be able to stand upright in the court and offer advice and suggestions for the world! Who dares to say it's impossible?"
The last sentence was earth-shattering! It was like dropping a huge rock into a calm lake, stirring up a huge wave!
The noble ladies widened their eyes in shock, while the common women were so overwhelmed by this grand plan that they had never dared to imagine that their hearts were beating like drums, and an unprecedented warmth surged in their chests.
"The future is in your own hands! At Yuxiu College, you will learn more than just knowledge. You will also gain the power to change your destiny and the courage to pursue your dreams! Sisters!"
Dongfang Yuning raised his little fist and shouted with all his strength,
"Let us work hard together, live up to our youth, live up to our aspirations, and live out the most dazzling and wonderful lives that belong to us women! Let those who are waiting to see us laugh shut up and be amazed!"
"good--!"
"Don't let down your youth! Don't let down your heart!"
“Live a wonderful life!”
After a brief moment of dead silence, there was a thunderous response! Whether it was the reserved ladies or the shy commoners, their faces flushed with excitement, waving their arms and shouting loudly.
Dongfang Yuning's down-to-earth yet provocative speech, filled with both grand promises and inspiring inspiration, completely ignited the fire in their hearts. The entire Yuxiu College square became a sea of passion and dreams.
118: [Drip! Chicken Soup for the Soul has been successfully brewed! Concentration: Lethal dose! Effect: Mass Excitement! Faith Value +10086! Congratulations to the host for achieving the achievements of 'MLM Head' (crossed out) 'Spiritual Leader'!]
Dongfang Yuning (paralyzed due to exhaustion):
[Huh… This princess's eloquence is truly unparalleled! It's just that my voice is a bit worn out… Melon seeds, I need some to soothe my throat!]
The next day, the Golden Palace.
The atmosphere in the solemn and dignified court was somewhat subtle.
Emperor Nangong Yu sat high on the dragon throne, the jade beads hanging from his crown tassels swaying slightly, covering most of his expression, but his tense jawline and the low pressure of "I am very unhappy, you guys be careful" emanating from his whole body made all the civil and military officials in the hall hold their breath and concentrate, wishing to reduce their presence to the lowest level.
Especially when the emperor's eyes swept over the ministers of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, his eyes were cold and sharp like a knife.
Qian Youcai, the Minister of Revenue, was sweating on his forehead and was very nervous:
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? I didn't hear anything about any major disturbances yesterday? River works? Canal transport? Taxes? I've checked all the accounts..."
In this suffocating silence, an extremely discordant scene appeared in the corner of the hall - near the bottom of the imperial steps, on a specially made luxurious stool with a cushion, carved flowers, and inlaid with small pieces of colored glaze (it is said that it is for the convenience of lighting and eating melon seeds), our lucky princess Dongfang Yuning was sitting leisurely.
She was wearing a small goose yellow palace dress today, which made her look particularly cute (and short).
At this moment, she was using her fair little hands to slowly and leisurely take out a handful of fragrant roasted melon seeds from a delicate little purse around her waist.
Then, a crisp "crack" sound broke the silence of the court, and she accurately spit the melon seed shells into another specially made small golden bowl at her feet.
[Crack... Mm, these sunflower seeds are fried to perfection today, fragrant and crispy! Zhang Yu is a real chef!]
Dongfang Yuning sighed in satisfaction.
118:
[Host, please be mindful of the situation! The sound of you cracking sunflower seeds in the Golden Throne Hall, where you can hear a pin drop, is simply a demonic sound! Didn't you see the emperor's brother-in-law's face darken even further?]
Dongfang Yuning (not caring):
[Don't worry, don't worry. This princess has the imperially granted privilege of 'supervising the country (eating melons)'! My brother-in-law tacitly approves it! Besides, they discuss their politics, and I eat my melons. We shouldn't interfere with each other.]
Look at my brother-in-law. He must have not slept well last night. He looks so irritated. Tsk tsk, is he in menopause? Or was he kicked out of bed by my sister?
Nangong Yu's ears twitched barely perceptibly, and the veins on the back of his hand that was gripping the armrest of the dragon throne popped out:
[Little bastard! You're the one going through menopause! I'm in my prime! In my prime! Also, could you please be quieter about the noise you make when you chew melon seeds? The whole hall is filled with your 'crunch, crunch, crunch,' and don't I have any respect for myself?!]
He suppressed his anger and glanced at the ministers who were like quails below him, especially the old ministers in charge of people's livelihood and education. The more he looked, the angrier he became.
All that filled his mind was the report of the grand opening of Yuxiu Academy submitted by the secret guards yesterday - the queen was dignified and graceful, the eldest daughter was vigorous and heroic, and although the queen mother was choked by the little bastard's angel Bai, she was generally satisfied.
The most infuriating thing was that little bastard, whose nonsense (Nangong Yu firmly refused to admit that the chicken soup had any truth in it) actually caused the whole audience to boil, and the eyes of those female disciples were as bright as wolves!
Think about these people under my command...
"snort!"
Nangong Yu finally couldn't help it and snorted coldly from his nose, which scared several old ministers.
"Yesterday,"
He spoke, his voice was not loud, but it was filled with ice.
"I heard about the opening of Yuxiu College and it was so exciting. The female students are full of vigor and ambition. Princess Fuxing was even more enthusiastic, saying that women will have a chance to serve in the imperial court and contribute to the country in the future!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "standing in the court" and his eyes swept below like lightning.
The ministers' hearts trembled, and many of them subconsciously looked towards the figure in the corner who was cracking melon seeds. Dongfang Yuning was pinching a melon seed, about to put it into his mouth, but when he heard the words, he paused and blinked his big eyes innocently:
[Huh? Why did my brother-in-law bring this up? Is he impressed by my grand ambitions? Want to give me a high position in advance?]
System 118:
[…Host, based on the Emperor's facial micro-expressions and blood pressure fluctuations, his emotions at this moment are more inclined towards 'sour' and 'anger', with the possibility of shock less than 0.1%.]
Sure enough, Nangong Yu changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming sharp and... sour:
"Look! Look! My sister-in-law, a young girl who just came of age! What did she do? She built a grand academy! She divided people into different classes and established specialized departments!
How many women's difficulties in pursuing education have been solved? How many talents can be cultivated for our Great Yin in the future? She is also planning to build a hospital! Recruiting doctors and benefiting the people! Every single one of these is a major undertaking that benefits the country and the people, and will be passed down through the ages.
His voice became louder and louder, filled with a kind of anger that was full of disappointment:
"Look at you again! You eat the emperor's salary, yet you worry about the emperor's worries! You all stand in this golden palace, acting like decent people! You write memorials in lavish style, and you keep talking about your concerns for the country and the people!
What's the result? What have you done all these years? Huh? River works are repaired year after year, and they collapse year after year! Taxes are collected year after year, and they complain of poverty year after year! Education has been promoted for more than a decade, but what are the results? Even a decent official school is struggling to run!"
He slammed the imperial desk so hard that the imperial pens on the pen holder jumped up:
"Look at you! You're not even half as good as my sister-in-law! She's a girl, but what she wants and does is a hundred times better than you old guys who just sit in office and do nothing! Aren't you ashamed? Are you guilty?!"
The emperor's roar echoed throughout the palace, each word lashing out like a whip across the faces of his ministers. Minister of Revenue Qian Youcai sweated profusely, while the Vice Minister of Works felt his legs weaken.
Many ministers' faces turned red and white, filled with shame and indignation, yet unable to refute. Because... what Your Majesty said seemed... to be the truth!
The academy run by Princess Fuxing was indeed fast, good and sensational. Although the hospital has not been built yet, it sounds like it will be more open to the public than the Imperial Hospital!
[Wow! My brother-in-law is going all out!]
Dongfang Yuning even forgot to eat the melon seeds, and watched with great interest, her mouth slightly open.
[This wave of output is fierce! The scolding is good! The scolding is brilliant! The scolding is amazing! These old-timers deserve to be scolded! But... brother-in-law, you are using me as a benchmark, which is just drawing hatred to me!]
System 118:
[Beep! The Emperor's resentment towards his ministers has reached its peak! His 'benchmark' praise of the host has caused his ministers to increase their 'reverence' (crossed out) and 'resentment' towards the host by 50%. The host's hatred is steadily rising.]
Dongfang Yuning shrank his neck:
[…I knew it! Brother-in-law, can you change the sheep you’re plucking? There are so many fat sheep down there! You caught a little lamb of mine and plucking it so hard that the wool is almost bald! This is unethical!]
Nangong Yu's inner roar at this moment was about to break through the sky:
[You little bastard! Sister-in-law! This brother-in-law of mine is your biological husband! He’s your biological husband! Why do you always try to pick on me?!
You robbed my private treasury to build an academy, you used my prestige to confront ministers, and now you are even the benchmark for insults!
There are so many fat, big-eared ministers down there, which one isn't worth your plunder? Huh? That old sly fellow in the Ministry of Works, his family has countless properties! That money-grubbing idiot in the Ministry of Revenue, his private treasury is even richer than my own!
And that old fogey from the Ministry of Rites... Go get them! Why are you always staring at me? You've almost taken away all my pension!
I want to take Wu'er to see the beautiful mountains and rivers! When will these hard times end? Cheng Qian! My prince!
When will you finally stand up straight and calm these old foxes so that I can retire in peace?!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the more aggrieved he felt. The look he gave the culprit in the corner was filled with the resentment and accusations of a woman in the boudoir.
Dongfang Yuning was pinching a melon seed and was about to put it in her mouth when she suddenly met her brother-in-law's complicated look, as if she owed him eight million taels of silver and stole his wife. She was so scared that her hand trembled and she almost dropped the melon seed.
[118! 118! My brother-in-law looks at me with such a scary look! Like he wants to eat me! Does he think I'm stealing his limelight? Or does he think I'm cracking sunflower seeds too loudly?]
System 118:
[Ding! Target Subject (Emperor) Emotional Analysis: Resentment 70%, grievance 25%, longing for retirement 5%... Overall Verdict: Extremely Dangerous! Host recommended to adopt the 'Cheat It Out' strategy!]
Dongfang Yuning was suddenly enlightened, and immediately put on what he thought was the most obedient, sweetest, and most innocent smile. He raised his little hand, and towards the dragon throne, he shook the remaining half handful of melon seeds in his hand, and asked in a low, flattering voice:
"Brother-in-law... you've worked so hard, right? Would you like some melon seeds? They're freshly roasted, they're so delicious!"
“…”
The entire Golden Palace was in deathly silence.
Time seemed to stand still.
Emperor Nangong Yu's expression instantly changed from resentful accusation to incredible dullness, as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning.
The ministers were collectively petrified, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads. Princess Fuxing... in the court... asked His Majesty... if he wanted to eat melon seeds?!
"Puff—cough cough cough!"
Finally, a younger censor with less self-control couldn't hold it in any longer and was choked by his own saliva. His face turned the color of liver, and he pinched his thigh desperately and fiercely while coughing, trying to use the severe pain to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out of his throat.
This seems to be a signal.
"hiss--!"
"Well!"
“Hmm!”
Suddenly, a chorus of suppressed, painful gasps and groans echoed throughout the hall. The entire court, from white-haired veterans to officials in their prime, all engaged in the same coordinated movement—overtly or covertly, lightly or heavily, they mercilessly twisted, pinched, and plucked the soft flesh of their thighs and arms!
Each one of them grimaced in pain, their faces contorted, their expressions completely out of control, yet they forcibly suppressed the laughter that could have wiped out their entire clan, trembling all over and tears welling in their eyes. Their thighs and arms must have been covered in bruises.
Nangong Yu looked at the twisted and twitching faces of all the civil and military officials in the court, and then looked at his sister-in-law who was holding melon seeds in the corner with a look of "Am I very considerate?", and he felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, and his vision went dark.
[Little bastard!!! I…I…I want to withdraw from court!!! I want to go find Wuer!!! I quit!!!]
System 118:
[Beep! Alarm! His Majesty's blood pressure is skyrocketing! Rage is at its maximum! Resentment is skyrocketing! Host, the wind is strong, hurry up?]
Dongfang Yuning quickly stuffed the melon seeds back into her pouch, then sat upright, looking seriously up the steps, as if studying the patterns on the ceiling.
[I can’t see, I can’t see, I can’t see myself…]
In the Golden Palace, the emperor's resentment, the innocence of his sister-in-law, and the pain in the ministers' thighs were intertwined, playing a hilarious court symphony called "Wholesale of Pickles".
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian was studying diligently in the East Palace at this moment, completely unaware of the mental catastrophe his old father, who was eagerly looking forward to retirement, had just experienced.
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