The Host was the prime minister, and it was not some character profile meant for talking too much, so Ming Shu only intended to respond to them at will.
But some people didnât think so.
Papapa... The sound of applause approached. âLady Prime Minister, you are really impressive.â
Fengqi State was set up with one prime minister and two cabinets, and this woman was one of the two eldersâElder Feng, who was also Shen Yuâs favorite.
This woman could be respected as an elder, so she was certainly not young. She had put on some weight, and the navy blue official robes made her look like a real elder with impressive and dignified manners.
The prime minister was in the front row and her position was naturally higher than that of the elder. Elder Feng had to lower her head before Ming Shu.
Ming Shu folded her hands in her wide sleeves and replied without modesty, âItâs my honor to impress you, Elder Feng.â
Elder Feng: â...â
Who couldnât tell that she was just being sarcastic?
The two big brothers faced against each other, and the other ministers didnât dare to make a sound, moving back with small steps. Yet they wanted to watch the show, so they moved very slowly.
Elder Feng snorted. âLady Prime Minister, you did a great job this time, Her Majesty will definitely reward you well.â
She stressed the word âreward.â
âIâm looking forward to it.â Ming Shuâs mouth curled in a faint smile.
Elder Feng looked at the woman opposite who was wearing her dark red prime ministerâs clothes, feeling a little strange. Whatâs happening? She wouldnât talk to me this way before...
Elder Feng stared at Ming Shu for a few minutes before shaking her sleeves and taking another way.
Iâll leave you to be happy now, letâs see how long it will last.
As soon as Elder Feng left, the ministers on her side also scattered, and those on the Hostâs side slowly gathered around.
âLady, you need to be careful in todayâs court.â
âThe court is not very calm recently, Iâm afraid something bad will happen.â
âThatâs true, Lady, you must be careful. Her Majesty has replaced many ministers during your absence. Elder Feng is now the favorite.â
Ming Shu said she knew.
...
The Qiankun Palace where the court meeting held was resplendent and magnificent, showing its boundless riches everywhere.
Ming Shu looked at the glittering dragon chair and thought it must be worth plenty of snacks!
Fengqi State was more humanized compared to those states that made the ministers have court meetings on their feet. Fengqi State prepared a futon and a small table for each ministerâalthough there was nothing on the tableâso they could all sit down.
The prime minister was in the most central position, with two cabinet elders on each side, and the ministers below were all seated according to their official positions.
There was a large open space in front, and if ministers had something to report, they needed to walk to the open space and start the performance.
âHer Majesty arrivesââ
The female officialâs voice sounded.
The ministers stood up and moved between the small tables, bent over, and folded their hands before their foreheads.
Neither Ming Shu nor the two cabinet elders needed to salute, which was a tradition passed down through the ages, so they just had to stand symbolically with their heads down.
The ministers lowered their heads and could not see the situation above at all. But when the empress took her seat, they could always start shouting aloud in timeâ
âLong live Your Majestyâs rein!â
âArise.â From above came the womanâs majestic voice.
âThank you, Your Majesty.â
The ministers then took their seats after shouting the daily declaration.
Ming Shu looked up to size up Shen Yu on the dragon chair. Fengqi State was a state where women were noble, and women were born taller and bigger than men, but it didnât mean women were masculine in appearance... excluding those ugly ones.
Fengqi Stateâs women were only slightly taller than those in other countries, famous for their beautiful appearance. Besides, they were the countryâs main force, which endowed them with some kind of heroic spirit. Men from other countries all appreciated Fengqi Stateâs women.
Given Fengqi Stateâs ruling system, despite their appreciation, most men were still unwilling to marry Fengqi Stateâs women.
As a member of the royal family, Shen Yuâs appearance had nothing to criticize. At this time she wore a dragon robe, with a womanâs grace in her majesty, making you unable to move your eyes away.
âPrime Minister, youâve had a long day.â Shen Yu began to talk with a fake smile. âThe battle was won very well, the prime minister did a lot of good work. I heard you got hurt, Prime Minister? Is it serious?â
Ming Shu said, âDonât you know it well, Your Majesty?â
Shen Yu didnât expect Ming Shu to go against her in public and her face darkened a little. But only a moment later, she reverted to her majestic image as an empress. âYou should take care of your health, Prime Minister. This time youâve made a great contribution, what reward do you want from me?â
âYour Majesty.â
Before Ming Shu could speak, a minister rushed out from behind. She quickly stepped forward and knelt to the ground. âI have something to report.â
Shen Yu pretended to be unhappy on the surface. âIf itâs not a matter of importance, report it after I reward the prime minister.â
âYour Majesty, the matter... is related to the prime minister.â
Shen Yu raised her eyebrows slightly. âOh?â
The minister took a letter from her sleeve, which was slightly wrinkled and appeared to be stained with blood. âI have a letter, Your Majesty, please read it.â
Shen Yu pondered for a while. âHand it over.â
The female official took the ministerâs letter and presented it before Shen Yu on the dragon table. The letter was stained with blood and fingerprints, as if it had been snatched from somewhere.
Shen Yu signaled the female official to open it.
The ministers below didnât dare to breathe heavily and all lowered their heads. As for what they were thinking, only they themselves knew it.
Ming Shu looked sideways at Elder Feng on the left, who had already showed a little less obvious happiness on her face.
The other Elder Zhang on the right, instead, focused on her own business, and didnât seem to care about what others were doing.
Pa!
Shen Yu slapped her hand on the table.
All the ministers were frightened and fell to their knees and moved to the aisle nearby.
Shen Yu shook the letter between her fingers in the air. âJing Se! Whatâs this?!â
She called her by full name. Her Majestyâs anger was evident.
Ming Shu sat unmoved and asked smilingly, âWhatâs that? Your Majesty, please read it to me.â
Shen Yu: â...â
Shen Yu slammed the letter paper on the table and said coldly, âPrime Minister, donât you know what youâve done?â
âI really donât know, Your Majesty, after all, you didnât invite me to edit the play thatâs going on here.â
â...â
Shen Yuâs heart beat wildly. Whatâs wrong with this Jing Se?!
Holding back her confusion inside, Shen Yu scolded angrily, âHow dare you! Kneel down!â
Ming Shu was silent. This was why she hated having such identities! Couldnât she just be a very powerful big brother?
How can I kneel down casually!
I have my dignity!
Even my snacks wonât agree!
[Hidden Task: Since ancient times, sages and wise men live short lives, but careerists and evil men all succeed.]
Ming Shu: â...â Whatâs this about! Are you instigating me to be a traitorous minister? Donât think I canât tell just because you say it like a poem!
[Guest, itâs not being a traitorous minister, itâs being a career traitor.] The Harmony System corrected her seriously.
Ming Shu: â...â
Whatâs the difference? Whatâs the difference? Wonât they both be cursed in the end? Is it because you donât feel well if you canât instigate me to do bad things?
The Guest was originally a bad person, and it didnât matter if she became worse. The Harmony System continued its suggestion happily.
[Hints: Please work hard to be a career traitor, Guest.]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
No, I donât want to!
I donât need to gain Hatred Points now...
Right!
I donât need to do tasks!
I can go to the female protagonist directly!
Speaking of which...
Where is the female protagonist now?
[Guest, if you fail the hidden task, half of your Hatred Points will be deducted at one time. When your Hatred Points are less than one million, the system store will be closed.]
Ming Shu: â...â I think you just made this rule on the spot.
[It is my duty to serve the Guest at all times.]