Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

The Golden Palace of the Chishui Kingdom, with its yellow glazed tiles shining in the rising sun, exudes the magnificence of the imperial palace.

The white marble steps in front of the hall are carved with exquisite dragon patterns, which show the nobility and majesty of the royal family.

Chu Xiao held the letter from the Kingdom of Lanling, frowning in thought.

Left Chancellor Li Binglin stepped forward to pay his respects and said, “Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say. Since the Lanling Kingdom is willing to establish a marriage alliance with our country, why not agree? The marriage of Princess Yongle alone can spare millions of soldiers and civilians from the suffering of war. Moreover, the Crown Prince of Lanling Kingdom has offered 15 cities as a dowry, which is unprecedented in history. This shows that the Crown Prince is very sincere towards our Chishui Kingdom and Princess Yongle. I believe that the princess will surely receive the Crown Prince’s utmost favor after marrying into the kingdom. When the Crown Prince of Lanling Kingdom ascends the throne, Princess Yongle will be the Empress. This marriage alliance is entirely beneficial to our country, Your Majesty!”

The newly appointed Grand Commandant Zhou Minghai stepped forward and rebuked Left Chancellor Li Binglin, saying, "War between two countries is inevitable. Is using a princess to exchange for temporary peace really the skill of you civil officials? Lord Li, can you guarantee that after Princess Yongle's marriage, Lanling Kingdom will not cause any more trouble or provoke our country? In the past month, the external forces in Cang and Sacheng on the western border have begun to stir, and some enemy troops have begun to assemble. If Lanling Kingdom uses the pretext of marriage to deceive our country and delay our military preparations, what will we use to resist a powerful enemy once war breaks out?"

The Grand Commandant's faction, including the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, stepped forward to reconsider. Those who supported Left Chancellor Li Binglin were mostly civil officials. The two factions, civil and military, each expressed their own opinions and debated fiercely in the court.

Lin Ruoshui fell asleep behind Chu Xiao's dragon throne. She was exhausted from being tormented by Xuan Yuanyu every day.

Even in her sleep, she was still being entangled by Xuanyuan Yu. Later, in her dream, Xuanyuan Yu really turned into a giant python, tightly coiling around her and making it hard for her to breathe.

While holding her tightly, he laughed and said, "Give it to me, please... begin..." Lin Ruoshui, her veins bulging, shouted, "Xuanyuan Yu, you son of a bitch, let me go right now!"

Lin Ruoshui never expected that she would actually shout out the words she heard in her dream.

The court was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Chu Xiao turned to look at Lin Ruoshui, who had woken up in fright behind the beaded curtain. She was covered in sweat and breathing rapidly. He was certain that Lin Ruoshui was having a nightmare, so he stood up, walked behind the beaded curtain, and took out a handkerchief to wipe Lin Ruoshui's sweat.

Standing below, Xuan Yuan Yu smiled smugly: "Look, his dead woman is calling his name even in her dreams. It's clear she still cares about him."

Xuanyuan Yu didn't care at all what Lin Ruoshui was saying; he only cared whether she was dreaming about him.

The courtiers in the Golden Palace looked at each other, their faces showing displeasure. In their minds, how could a woman be allowed to enter the court and even sleep behind the dragon throne? This was utterly improper.

None of the ministers wanted to offend the emperor and the princess, so they all turned their eyes to the censor, Zheng Tai, the imperial censor of the Censorate.

Zheng Tai, who was at least 60 years old this year, stepped forward shakily and said to the emperor in a stern and rigid tone: "Your Majesty, I am sixty years old and have been an official for forty years. I have never seen a princess as bold as Princess Yongle, sleeping soundly in the court and showing contempt for the court. The princess's unorthodox behavior not only damages the dignity of the royal family, but also has the suspicion of interfering in politics and causing chaos in the court. Your Majesty should punish her severely."

Chu Xiao asked with a stern face, "How should they be severely punished?"

Zheng Tai, with his eyebrows the same and his goat horn beard twitching, said, "This humble official believes he should be flogged thirty times and made to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' ten times."

After hearing this punishment, Lin Ruoshui felt that the old man was quite ruthless. Her heart meridian was damaged, and thirty strokes of the cane would probably kill her.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Zheng, I wonder if you are just as strict with your own granddaughter?" Lin Ruoshui straightened her skirt, stood up, and looked down at Zheng Tai.

“My granddaughter is well-behaved and lovely, and has not yet done such a rebellious thing. If the princess wants to avoid punishment, I am afraid she will not be able to escape the record in the history books and will not be able to silence the gossip of the people.”

"Does Elder Zheng mean that punishment is necessary?" Lin Ruoshui raised an eyebrow.

"This humble official is merely acting in accordance with the laws of the court." Zheng Tai's upright and unyielding demeanor amused Lin Ruoshui.

Lin Ruoshui said to the air, "Shadow One, read it to Lord Zheng."

Yingyi appeared, taking out a file from his robes recording the deeds of Lord Zheng's entire family. He mechanically began reading: "Three years ago, Lord Zheng Tai took five concubines, three of whom died from flogging. Two years ago, Lord Zheng's five-year-old eldest grandson, Zheng Ruiran, was drowned in the lily pond of Lord Zheng's residence by his stepmother, Liu Qiuyun, who also reported it to the authorities. That same year, Lord Zheng gave his 12-year-old illegitimate daughter to Prince Yue as a concubine, ostensibly as his legitimate daughter. This year, Lord Zheng's granddaughter had an affair with Song Xian, a playboy in the capital, and became pregnant. When the affair was discovered three months prior, she was forced to take an abortion pill. She is currently preparing her dowry and will marry Wang Heng, the illegitimate son of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, in two months."

Before Yingyi could finish reciting, Lin Ruoshui raised her hand, and Yingyi vanished instantly.

Zheng Tai's face looked ashen, as if he had eaten excrement. Overwhelmed with anger and rage, he vomited blood onto his clothes.

He never expected that his family's secrets would be discovered so thoroughly. As an official who could not set a good example, his reputation was ruined, and he felt that life was worse than death.

Zheng Tai stepped forward, knelt down, and kowtowed to the Emperor, saying, "This humble official is guilty and is willing to atone for his sins with his death." After saying this, he rushed towards a pillar in the Golden Palace.

Xuanyuan Yu waved his hand, sending the man flying out of the Golden Palace.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Don't let your dirty blood pollute this court. If you're going to die, die outside the palace."

Chu Xiao ordered Zheng Tai to be dismissed from his post and investigated on the spot.

Everyone present was stunned by Lin Ruoshui's actions, and for a moment no one dared to speak. After all, which big family didn't have some dirty secrets, and which minister could be completely innocent? These big and small matters had been investigated so thoroughly that no one would dare to offend this ancestor in the future.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Does anyone else have any objections? State your name. I have all the information here. If anyone feels that it is incomplete, I will immediately send someone to investigate it thoroughly."

Lin Ruoshui smiled smugly. They couldn't imagine what Lin Ruoshui did in her previous life. She was a secret agent. After she transmigrated, she arranged for secret guards to monitor the movements of the various officials' residences. She had detailed information on each person, down to which concubine's room they went to each night, what kind of tea they liked to drink, whether their spleen and stomach were healthy, and where their silver was kept in secret compartments. She knew everything about them better than the officials themselves.

No one expected that the princess, who had been frail and sickly for many years, would have such methods, and everyone fell silent in fear.

Lin Ruoshui said with a smile, "If no one objects, then shouldn't I be exempt from this punishment?"

The ministers all said in unison, "That shouldn't be the case."

Lin Ruoshui's lips curled into a mocking smile.

The military commander Zhao Mingxuan had been watching Lin Ruoshui the whole time. He thought the princess was both beautiful and fierce. She was too special. His heart suddenly started pounding. He clenched his fist, lowered his head, and dared not look at her anymore.

Looking at his adorable younger sister, Chu Xiao felt genuinely happy. Having such a capable sister was truly a blessing.

Chu Xiao slowly said, "The matter of Lanling Kingdom has already been decided, and the affairs of the six ministries have all been arranged. I will not marry my sister to Lanling Kingdom. The purpose of war is to achieve peace. We cannot fear war for the sake of peace. The enemy has already invaded our territory, and I will surely punish them."

After saying that, Chu Xiao announced the tide was receding.

Lin Ruoshui ordered someone to send all the officials' information to Chu Xiao, saying, "Brother, with these in hand, no minister will dare to disobey you. Those who disobey will be dealt with directly."

Chu Xiao held Lin Ruoshui's hand and said, "Little sister, you're not fully recovered yet, don't worry about these things for your brother."

Lin Ruoshui said, "I'm leaving soon. There's not much I can do for you. I don't know when the war will end. I need to pave the way for my brother."

Chu Xiao reached out and ruffled her hair, making it a mess. Lin Ruoshui didn't resist and said with a smile, "I hope that when I come back, my brother will have already married his sister-in-law and had a baby. Then I'll have someone to play with."

Chu Xiao looked at her with affection and said, "You're still a child."