After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

Xiang An: "Is there anything in our mansion that wasn't bestowed by Father Emperor?"

Xiao Ru pondered, then shook her head.

Xiang An: "..."

Without the emperor, the princess's residence will fall apart!

Her gaze fell on the toe of the shoe, and she pondered the value of the two thumb-sized pearls adorning it.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually approached from afar, growing louder as they drew nearer outside the carriage.

Just as Xiang An was wondering what was going on, the sound of horses' hooves stopped. Through the curtain, she heard someone speaking: "Greetings, Princess."

The voice is clear and pleasant to hear.

Unfortunately, the carriage drove past quickly, and by the time she lifted the curtain to look, the person was already gone.

"Who was it that just bowed?" Xiang An asked the guards running alongside the carriage outside.

"Reporting to the princess, it is General Anwu."

Xiang An: "So it was that man with the thin waist on the boat."

I don't know his name, I only remember his waist.

Although the two never met formally, they had encountered each other indirectly many times, after all, the capital city is only so big.

Upon entering the palace, Xiang An boarded a special golden silk sedan chair reserved for palace use, and was carried by eunuchs to a spacious grassy area.

A dozen or so colorful paper kites were neatly arranged on the ground, and dozens of palace maids and eunuchs were standing in various places. As soon as Xiang An arrived, everyone knelt down to pay their respects.

Changfu stepped forward: "This servant greets Princess Miankang. May Your Highness be well."

"An, Changfu, what is the reason Father Emperor summoned me here today?"

"This servant was unaware that His Majesty was currently dealing with state affairs and instructed this servant to attend to the princess."

"What are these kites for?" Xiang An gestured with his eyes.

It was dusk, and the clouds on the horizon were tinged with orange. The sun hung leisurely on the horizon, radiating a warm and gentle afterglow. The kites quietly bathed in the tender light, peaceful and serene.

Changfu: "His Majesty ordered it to be moved here, saying that you can play with it as you please."

Xiang An smiled and said, "Thank you, Eunuch. I like it very much. However, my father still needs you. I am already very satisfied with having so many people here with me."

Changfu bowed slightly: "Princess, there is no need to worry. Before I came, His Majesty specifically instructed me to keep you company. Now His Majesty has Changchun serving him, so he does not need any servants."

"That's good." Xiang An picked out a big red butterfly kite. "I don't know how to fly a kite, so I'll trouble you to teach me, Eunuch."

"I wouldn't dare accept such praise," Changfu smiled slightly. "Flying a kite requires two people to run quickly, one in front of the other, and one could easily fall. How about this, this servant and the maid will fly the kite first, and then the princess can play with it?"

Xiang An glanced reluctantly at the kite in her hand: "No, I want to fly it myself."

Strangely enough, she had a vague memory in her mind, as if she had flown a kite a long, long, long time ago.

“This…” Changfu hesitated.

Xiang An understood and waved his hand: "I will release it myself. I will talk to Father Emperor about it."

Changfu stopped her, saying, "Princess, let this servant do it."

Xiang An lowered her eyes and said softly, "The last time we played with kites, it was Xiao Ru who flew them, but I didn't feel any joy at all. Oh well, I can't make things difficult for you, Eunuch. It's just that I'm not worthy of this joy." She gave a pitiful smile.

Changfu seemed oblivious to the unspoken meaning, and accepted the kite with a smile: "Thank you for your understanding, Princess, Chunhua."

A young palace maid stepped forward upon hearing the commotion, and together with Changfu, they flew the kite. Changfu then presented the reel: "Princess, it's ready."

Xiang An took it and put it down. Just a moment later, the emperor arrived, smiling broadly: "I'm late. Does Xiao Jiu have any complaints about me?"

He bowed to the emperor, then approached him with bright eyes: "Father, you are always busy with state affairs. It is only with great difficulty that you have time to spend with me. I am overjoyed and would never complain. Even if you had not come today, I would not have felt resentful at all. On the contrary, I would have been very grateful to you."

The emperor gently rubbed An's head with his palm, his eyes full of affection: "Tell me, where does this gratitude come from?"

“When Father Emperor rests, the people of the world rest. When Father Emperor rests for a day, the people of the world rest for a day. Solitary joy, shared joy, joy for the world, why not do it?” Xiang An grabbed the emperor’s sleeve and shook his head solemnly.

"Nonsense!" The emperor said, both amused and exasperated. "If the censors in the court heard what you said, they would impeach you for half an hour."

"Hmph, I've said plenty of wrong things today, so what's another half hour of their impeachment?"

The emperor smiled and ruffled her hair: "Is it that serious? What did you say today? Tell me."

Xiang An truthfully recounted the incident of the Prime Minister's residence falling into the water.

"...Ren Xueqing, the Prime Minister's only daughter." The Emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought. "I often hear the Prime Minister say that she is in poor health. Every early spring, she is sick for several months at the shortest, and sometimes for a whole year, and she is always on her sickbed with medicine."

"Indeed. The Prime Minister's residence has not held a banquet for the public for three years. I heard that Miss Ren's health has improved this year. Otherwise, I would not have attended the Lotus Banquet."

"Did Ren Xueqing really harm Xia Ruozhi?" The emperor abruptly changed the subject, looking into her eyes.

Xiang An covered his mouth and chuckled: "Your subject doesn't know either. At that time, your subject was just about to test the waters when Changfu arrived."

"Changfu deserves to be punished. Why didn't he go sooner or later? Now I don't even know the outcome." The emperor glanced at him, his words instantly sharp, and Changfu, who was waiting to the side, silently knelt down.

"Father, please don't punish him. I haven't even explained how I misspoke. Don't rush me." Xiang An used all the superb acting skills he had acquired in the first half of his life, along with his thick skin, to finally manage to act coquettishly as if no one else was around.

The emperor, both helpless and amused, said, "Father is listening, Father is listening."

"Your subject was also startled at the time, but the Prime Minister is not only the current Prime Minister, but also the most trusted minister of the Emperor. Although your subject does not know what kind of person the Prime Minister is, your subject trusts the Emperor's judgment of people."

"What the maid says may not be credible, but I wasn't there, and I know nothing of the cause and effect. How dare I make a rash judgment?"

"On a sudden impulse, I remembered that I had heard that Lady Wang was fair and just, and as the lady of the Prime Minister's mansion and the hostess of today's lotus banquet, she must know more than I do. So I asked her, and then... *slap!*" Xiang An slapped his hands together.

"You're so easily startled." The emperor bent his index finger and lightly tapped her forehead with his knuckle. "You're naughty. Continue."

"Who knew that Lady Wang not only recounted the whole story, but also found several witnesses to verify the falsehoods on the spot. She was extremely capable!" Xiang An praised her lavishly. "When I was filled with admiration, I blurted out, 'If she were to become an official in the Dali Temple, she would be quite suitable.'"

"You deserve to be impeached! How dare you say such things!" The emperor scolded gently, his tone indulgent. "I'll let you off this time. But if you talk nonsense again, I'll teach you a lesson before the censors even impeach you."