Chapter 2

Lin Mo was very displeased with the system’s evaluation of her, but the system believed it was simply telling the truth.

The system didn’t want to argue about such a trivial matter; it had its own mission to accomplish.

[Host, I’m here on a mission too. I need to collect energy to get a wife, so I need you to dig up as much gossip as possible. The more gossip we uncover together, the more energy I can gather to find a wife.]

Lin Mo’s lips twitched. She never imagined that even a system would need to get married. [If you’re going to get a wife, how do you communicate? You’re not human, right?]

The system proudly replied, [We’re much more advanced than humans. We communicate through electromagnetic waves.]

Lin Mo: … Electromagnetic waves? Brainwaves? That’s so Platonic.

Lin Mo needed a moment to process the fact that she was now bound to a system, so she just sat there in a daze.

“What are you still sitting on the floor for? Father’s already left. No matter how much you throw a tantrum, it won’t help. You might as well behave and go to court with Father tomorrow,” Lin Qi said, looking at his troublesome little sister, his brows furrowing into a tight knot.

His elder sister was well-educated and well-behaved, requiring little of his attention, but this younger sister truly worried him. No wonder their father went to such lengths to secure an official position for her.

Lin Mo glanced at her elder brother and slowly got up from the floor.

“Brother, if you pass your exams this year, will you have to go to court too?”

Lin Qi nodded. “Yes, why do you ask?” He was suspicious, wondering what kind of mischief she was planning.

Lin Mo sighed deeply and said in a pained voice, “In the future, the three of us will be working together. It’s going to be tough. If I can’t get up in the morning, please carry me, okay?”

Lin Qi: …

That’s it. This one is beyond saving.

Their father had asked him to check on her and offer comfort if she seemed too distressed. But now, it was clear she didn’t need any comforting—she’d already planned for the possibility of not being able to wake up for court.

In the afternoon, her court attire was delivered, and surprisingly, the role of assistant meeting recorder was actually an eighth-rank position.

That night, lying in bed, Lin Mo gloomily chatted with the system: [Hey, system, do you think there’s a lot of gossip at court? If there’s nothing to gossip about, I’m going to end up dozing off standing there for hours.]

System: [There’s plenty. You’ll find out when you start working tomorrow.]

Outside, Lin Ran, who had come to check on her sister, heard something that sounded like Mo’er’s voice, along with another strange, unidentifiable voice.

She must have been mistaken—Mo’er should have been asleep at this time.

Lin Ran stood outside Lin Mo’s door and listened. Hearing the steady sound of breathing from inside, she finally left.

Her younger sister had always had strange habits. She preferred being alone, even while sleeping. The servants in her courtyard stayed outside unless called for.

Whenever this girl called for someone, her voice was so loud it could scare people—like a man’s voice. She kept the maids so far away that every time she called for them, it must have been exhausting.

(Lin Mo: You don’t get it; it’s about maintaining privacy.)

Early the next morning, Minister Lin came to drag her out of bed.

“You lazy girl, get up! It’s time to go to court!”

Lin Mo was groggily hauled away by her father, her eyes still half-closed.

Standing at the door, watching them leave, were Lin’s wife, Lin Qi, and Lin Ran: …

“Make sure you keep an eye on Mo’er, and don’t let her fall asleep in court!” Lin’s wife was genuinely worried about her youngest daughter—falling asleep in court was definitely something she could imagine her doing.

After the father and daughter left, the three remaining at home couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

Worriedly clutching a handkerchief, Lin’s wife said, “Do you think your sister can really handle this job?”

Lin Qi and Lin Ran shook their heads in unison, replying in sync, “Hard to say.”

Lin’s wife: … “Can’t you at least try to comfort me? Give your sister some confidence. She’s not entirely unreliable.”

Lin Fu’s voice grew weaker as she spoke, mainly because even she didn’t believe what she was saying!

[Ahhh! Heaven! Earth! I’m so tired! I don’t want to go to work!]

Lin Mo sat in the carriage, lamenting in her heart.

Minister Lin: !!! That voice… It sounds like Mo’er, but she hasn’t even spoken!

System: [Host, you’ll get used to it. It’s only a few hours of standing. Just be a good mascot.]

Minister Lin: !!! What is this now?

[System, I don’t want to stand. If only I could find a place to sit down.]

Lin Mo really didn’t want to stand for so long. Standing every day like this—no wonder the older officials had trouble with their legs. It would be strange if they didn’t.

The system felt sorry for her. Getting up so early to go to work—this was much earlier than modern nine-to-five jobs. It was still dark outside.

[Mo Mo, just bear with it for a bit. I’ll find you some juicy gossip to keep you entertained. With that, court won’t be so unbearable.]

Minister Lin was utterly stunned. He could hear his daughter’s inner voice, but the other voice—who knew what that was? Mo’er called it “System,” so maybe that was its name. From their conversation, they seemed very familiar.

The entire way, Lin Mo and the system kept chatting nonstop, talking about everything under the sun. Minister Lin was left utterly speechless.

“Ahem, we’ve arrived. Hurry up and get out of the carriage. You’ll follow Minister Li later,” Minister Lin said, bringing Lin Mo to an old man with a goatee. The man held a pen and paper and didn’t look like someone to be trifled with.

“Minister Li, I’ll have to trouble you to take care of my daughter,” Minister Lin said, showing great respect. His rank was much higher than Minister Li’s, so such politeness was truly rare.

“No need for formalities, Minister Lin. Your daughter seems like someone I’ll get along with. We’ll be working together from now on, so let’s not talk about taking care of each other,” Minister Li replied with a kind smile.

Soon, the officials were about to enter the court. Lin Mo stood with Minister Li. Although her rank was low, her position was special, so she stood near the front, though not in the best spot since she and Minister Li were just recorders.

Before long, the officials started arguing over an issue, and Minister Li was writing so fast it seemed like his pen might take off.

Lin Mo asked if he needed help, but Minister Li declined, so she just stood there, serving as a mascot.

[System, is there any juicy gossip? I’m so bored.]

Suddenly, everyone in the court, including the emperor, heard a young woman’s voice. The only female official in the court was Lin Mo.

The system cheerfully replied, [Yes! And it’s about the emperor!]

The ministers: !!!

Emperor Xuande: …

Emperor Xuande perked up his ears. He was curious to hear what this matter concerning him was about.

The heated debates in the court quieted down significantly, and everyone began sneaking glances at Lin Mo.

At that moment, Minister Lin nearly suffocated. Judging by everyone’s reactions, they could all hear his daughter’s thoughts. And now that troublemaker was about to speak about the emperor—this could spell the end for the Lin family!