System: [Hehe, it’s the same person the Assistant Censor-in-Chief was targeting earlier—Yu Hongyu!]

The officials collectively sighed in relief. Good, it’s not me!

Then they all turned to Yu Hongyu, eagerly ready to witness the drama.

Yu Hongyu staggered slightly and couldn’t help coughing. He looked at the Assistant Censor-in-Chief in disbelief, mentally ranting: It’s one thing for us to disagree politically, but did you really have to disgust me like this?

Yuan Ruan: [Ah! Isn’t this the guy who almost got his entire family wiped out last time? And now, something else has happened to him. Luckily, he doesn’t know about this. Otherwise, he’d be running to a temple for incense to change his luck.]

The officials nodded in agreement and, as if on cue, all turned to look at Yu Hongyu. You heard the Little National Preceptor’s suggestion, right? Go clear away the bad luck early.

System: [Hehe, it’s not as simple as you think, Ah Ruan. A few years ago, when the Assistant Censor-in-Chief was dressed as a woman, Yu Hongyu was smitten with him. While fleeing from him, the Assistant Censor-in-Chief encountered some thugs, and Yu Hongyu ended up rescuing him like a hero saving a damsel in distress. The two drank together for a while afterward. Yu Hongyu, however, never acted improperly and only vented about the frustrations of political life. After Yu Hongyu got married, he stopped seeing the Assistant Censor-in-Chief. But the Assistant Censor-in-Chief, having fallen for him, couldn’t let it go. Too proud to admit his feelings, he started targeting Yu Hongyu, which is how they became rivals in court. Hehe.]

The emperor and crown prince were so stunned they held their breath.

The officials covered their mouths in shock: !!!

Oh my, this is so dramatic!

Now that you mention it, it makes sense. Ever since Yu Hongyu got married, the Assistant Censor-in-Chief has been increasingly aggressive, constantly finding excuses to pick on him in court. So, it really is a case of love turning to hate!

Yu Hongyu’s face turned pale, then green, as he avoided looking at the Assistant Censor-in-Chief.

Yuan Ruan gasped: [Oh my god, this, this…]

System: [But to be fair, the Assistant Censor-in-Chief has some boundaries. He knows Yu Hongyu doesn’t like men and hasn’t truly disturbed him after his marriage. Speaking of which, Ah Ruan, I have to say, Yu Hongyu is a man worthy of admiration. His wife passed away a few days ago, and since he’s worried about a stepmother mistreating his children, he plans to raise his kids alone in the future.]

Yu Hongyu froze in place.

Yuan Ruan, holding her chubby cheeks, couldn’t help but start observing Yu Hongyu.

At this moment, Yuan Ruan noticed that the officials’ expressions were becoming increasingly strange. Their glances seemed to hold some kind of unspoken understanding.

She grew curious.

What she didn’t realize was that the officials’ curiosity was practically becoming tangible.

Because just as the system finished saying Yu Hongyu was “a man worthy of admiration,” the Assistant Censor-in-Chief suddenly stepped forward. With measured steps, he said slowly, “So now you understand how I feel, don’t you?”

The officials: ???!!!

A massive scandal!

They all had the same thought at the same time:

Could the Assistant Censor-in-Chief be doing this on purpose?! Was he deliberately… or maybe just conveniently using this situation to have the Little National Preceptor expose this drama?

He’s not even afraid of social death because his real target is Yu Hongyu!

Realizing this, the officials became even more excited to watch the drama unfold. Nothing beats someone else’s scandal! The only thing they regretted was not having sunflower seeds to snack on.

Some of the older officials even shook their heads and clicked their tongues in lamentation: Ah, the moral decline of society. Young people these days sure know how to play.

Yu Hongyu, feeling the gaze of the Assistant Censor-in-Chief, felt his scalp tingle. He immediately shut his eyes.

Everyone was silently enjoying the unfolding drama. The entire court fell silent for a moment.

The emperor and crown prince, after digesting the scandal, noticed Yuan Ruan’s confused expression. The emperor quickly clapped his hands and randomly pointed at a court official, giving him an opportunity to speak and divert Yuan Ruan’s attention.

This time, it just so happened to be the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Astronomy.

Having just hosted the Little National Preceptor’s Heaven and Earth Ritual, the Deputy Director had absolutely nothing to report. But he didn’t dare remain silent, afraid that Yuan Ruan might grow bored and expose some gossip about him.

The Deputy Director racked his brain and finally said, “Your Majesty, a few days ago, Daoist Master Longhu sent a letter requesting an exchange of insights with the Little National Preceptor.”

The officials scoffed at this: Our National Preceptor can command the forces of heaven and earth, easily crushing any small-time Daoist priest. There’s no time to entertain such a pointless request. Reject it, reject it.

Only Yuan Ruan’s little face was unusually serious as she stared at the Deputy Director.

The Deputy Director, about to end his report, was suddenly interrupted by the voice of the chief eunuch outside the door, who announced that an urgent message from the Grand National Preceptor of the Chu Kingdom had arrived. The matter concerned the Four-Nation Spring Festival after April.

The Spring Festival was an agricultural ceremony, one of the most important rituals for agrarian nations like Da Xia, the Chen Kingdom, the Shu Kingdom, and the Chu Kingdom.

Upon hearing the eunuch’s announcement, the emperor immediately ordered the letter to be brought in.

The emperor skimmed through it and suddenly let out a cold laugh. “It seems the Grand National Preceptor of Chu is both curious about Ah Ruan and looking to test her.”

The officials glanced over curiously.

The emperor handed the letter to the Deputy Director, who read it and reported:

“The Grand National Preceptor of Chu claims that he is too old to properly host the Spring Festival after April. He proposes gathering the National Preceptor of the four nations to debate, with the winner presiding over the Spring Festival. Additionally…”

The officials found the first part acceptable. Replacing the host of the Spring Festival wasn’t unprecedented. But what came next darkened their expressions.

The Deputy Director, face grim, continued: “The country of the winning National Teacher will also host this year’s Spring Festival.”

The officials, though confident in Yuan Ruan’s lightning-controlling powers, felt disheartened. The Spring Festival required debating and exchanging philosophies, and how could a nine-month-old baby compete? Winning seemed utterly impossible.

The court erupted in discontented chatter:

“How absurd! The Spring Festival, held once a year to pray for favorable weather, is rightfully ours. Why should it be taken away?”

“Ridiculous! Are they mocking us as if our Da Xia has no one to compete?”

“Unacceptable! We absolutely cannot agree to this!”

At first, Yuan Ruan was confused, unsure why the officials were so angry.

Then the system gave her an analogy: [It’s like finally winning the bid to host the Olympics, which would boost tourism, only for the organizing committee to snatch it away at the last minute.]

Yuan Ruan immediately empathized: [How infuriating! Why should we let it go? Are we just going to let this opportunity fly away?]

Yuan Ruan: [System, how many more points do I need for the next divine ability?]

System: [Quite a few. Ah Ruan, you’re not thinking of participating, are you? The requirements include sitting for debates, and you can’t even sit steadily yet. Maybe let this one go.]

The officials agreed with the system.

But then Yuan Ruan’s inner voice rang out: [I am the National Preceptor of Da Xia. If I don’t go, who will?]

The officials froze.

Yuan Ruan: [Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Let’s at least try. Who knows? The next divine ability might allow me to speak or have some other miraculous use. System, check how many points the potatoes earned me.]

System: [Let me see! The potatoes earned you 18 points! Incredible, my potatoes! So now you’re only 4 points short! There’s hope. Even if you don’t unlock a new divine ability, hehe, Ah Ruan, you can’t speak, but you can zap them into silence!]

Yuan Ruan: [Pfft, haha… You’re wicked, but I like the idea. If I lose and they follow the rules to host the Spring Festival here in Da Xia, I’ll behave. But if they don’t play fair, I won’t either!]

The officials suddenly saw the light. That’s right! Why fear? If we follow the rules, we might lose, but if they break them, we can definitely win!

System: [Exactly! Go, go, go! Ah Ruan, let’s venture out more to find national fortune missions.]

Yuan Ruan: [Awoo!]

The officials also rallied. If the Little National Preceptor is so motivated, how can we fall behind? Social death be damned! We must seize the opportunity to mobilize everyone to support her! Let’s go!