Thinking about the uniqueness of his daughter’s thoughts, Jiang Fengyuan felt a headache coming on.

Inside the palace hall, the Emperor happily played with Jiang Yuanxi.

Cao Cheng entered with a smile. “Your Majesty, Minister Jiang has left.”

The Emperor leaned back and laughed heartily. “See? I knew I had a way.”

These military generals ignored their sons but doted on their daughters as if their lives depended on it.

It was almost like a sickness.

When the late Emperor was still alive, he once took a liking to the daughter of a military general.

But who would have thought that the general would nearly kill himself by ramming into the Golden Palace gates?

The late Emperor was so frightened that he never dared to take a general’s daughter as a concubine again.

Yet, military men valued honor and promises above all else.

Last time while drinking, the Emperor had taken advantage of Jiang Fengyuan’s drunken state to get his fingerprint as a seal—just for today’s situation.

Jiang Fengyuan had agreed to it himself.

How could he turn around and blame the Emperor now?

The Emperor was in a great mood.

Holding Jiang Yuanxi in his arms, he coaxed, “Yuanxi, call me Father.”

Jiang Yuanxi thought for a moment before cutely opening her mouth. “Emperor Father.”

“Ah, my good daughter,” the Emperor chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits from joy.

Cao Cheng couldn’t help but think to himself: Your Majesty, you criticize the generals, but look at yourself now, grinning like there’s no tomorrow.

Suddenly, the Emperor remembered something.

“Yuanxi, what do you think of Yan Song in the Ministry of Justice’s prison?”

Halfway through his sentence, the Emperor realized he must have lost his mind.

How could he bear to let a little girl handle such a dangerous matter?

Besides, this tiny girl could barely even speak properly.

He glanced at the little one chewing on her own toes and immediately dismissed the thought.

【Yan Song was captured by me, Emperor Father. What were you about to say?】

The Emperor was stunned by her words.

He turned to think.

No wonder Jiang Yuansheng was willing to let Yuanxi go.

He must have already known that this little girl was extraordinary.

The Emperor continued, “Yan Song has learned some strange sorcery. Although we caught him, the officials in the Ministry of Justice still can’t get close to him or interrogate him.”

His abilities were bizarre.

The Emperor needed to find out if Yan Song had any accomplices.

After all, the ability to shrink space and travel instantly only existed in legends.

Jiang Yuanxi asked in confusion, “Why doesn’t Emperor Father just keep him locked up forever?”

The Emperor ruffled the little girl’s soft hair.

“As the ruler of a nation, I must consider the people.”

If Yan Song had accomplices who used his techniques to harm the world, the Emperor would bear responsibility.

The Emperor sighed. “If someone could solve this problem for me, I would reward them with a thousand taels of gold.”

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes lit up.

A great opportunity to make money!

A thousand taels of gold! Just thinking about it made her excited.

She immediately raised her little hand.

“I can do it!” She stood straight and patted her tiny chest.

【If not me, then who? The gold is all mine!】

The Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

This little one’s greed—who did she inherit it from?

The news that Jiang Yuanxi was to be made a princess spread everywhere, stirring discontent among the ministers.

Although the Emperor had expected objections, he was still surprised by the mountain of petitions on his desk.

During the next morning court session, the ministers united in opposition.

Prince He, the Emperor’s half-brother, led the protest.

“Your Majesty, Jiang Yuanxi is merely a one-year-old child and not of the royal bloodline. How can she be made a princess?”

Even his own daughter had not been granted the title of princess—why should an outsider’s child be?

Censorate Minister Zheng Guang also objected.

“The laws of our dynasty state that non-royal children must make great contributions to be granted the title of princess.”

“When the late Emperor ruled, Princess Yuqing earned her title by marrying into the Rou Tribe to maintain peace. Jiang Yuanxi is illiterate and has made no contributions—how can she be worthy?”

…

Hearing the court ministers belittle his daughter, Jiang Fengyuan was displeased.

I haven’t even said anything yet, and you’re already yapping away.

His temper flared instantly.

“My daughter is adorable! Why can’t she be a princess? You’re just bitter because you don’t receive royal stipends! You think I care about your complaints?”

He couldn’t afford to offend Prince He, but the others? He could scold them as much as he wanted.

Zheng Guang glared. “You are uncivilized!”

Although the two had a good personal relationship, their political stances were clear.

“How am I uncivilized…”

“Enough,” the Emperor intervened before a full-blown argument broke out.

No one could interfere in his decisions.

“This matter is settled. You may have your opinions.”

The ministers were overjoyed.

They believed the Emperor would never allow a non-royal to surpass his own family.

But before they could celebrate for long, they heard the Emperor say:

“You can argue all you want—I won’t listen.”

Granting a princess title was a royal family affair.

The Emperor waved his sleeve. “Cao Cheng, come. Let’s go see the princess’s coronation ceremony.”

Early in the morning, Jiang Yuanxi was pulled out of bed.

As Madam Chen dressed her up, the little girl remained asleep.

Madam Chen felt sorry for her, but royal ceremonies were full of rigid traditions—there was no helping it.

“Yuanxi?” Madam Chen called softly.

Jiang Yuanxi sleepily opened her eyes.

“Mommy, sleepy.” She could barely keep her eyes open.

Madam Chen pinched her little nose. “Do you remember what I told you yesterday?”

Jiang Yuanxi blinked drowsily. “Huh? What?”

She barely managed to keep her eyes open.

Madam Chen sighed.

Oh well.

She would be there to remind her anyway.

Still, she had a bad feeling about today.

She and Jiang Yuanxi entered the palace by carriage.

Everything had been arranged by the Ministry of Rites.

Since Jiang Yuanxi’s name would be entered into the royal registry, many people attended—even the imperial concubines.

Madam Chen nervously clenched her sleeves.

When she looked at her daughter, the little one was still sound asleep.

Just as Madam Chen was about to wake her up, the Emperor stepped forward and carried Jiang Yuanxi away.

Noble Consort Xian stood in place, looking as if she had lost her soul.

Meanwhile, Concubine Chen spoke up.

“A non-royal child being named a princess… Noble Consort Xian, what is His Majesty thinking?”

Rumors had spread that the Emperor treated Jiang Yuanxi better than his own daughter.

Even his only biological daughter, Yun’er, had never been personally carried by him.

She was so absorbed in her complaints that she didn’t notice the lack of response from the person beside her.

Inside the ancestral temple, the Emperor carried Jiang Yuanxi forward, with the Empress following.

Seeing the sleepy child in his arms, the Empress smiled faintly.

According to ceremony, the newly titled princess had to kneel and bow until the ritual script was read.

Jiang Yuanxi followed instructions and knelt.

But the cushion was too high, and when she bowed, she tumbled forward.

The Emperor and Empress struggled to hold back their laughter.

Now fully awake, Jiang Yuanxi climbed up, dusted herself off, and knelt again.

On her second bow, she flipped over once more—this time getting stuck between the cushion and table, legs up in the air.

The crown prince and other royal sons stifled their laughter.

Only the Eldest Prince’s eyes widened. Isn’t this the little rascal who cursed me?!

Finally, the ceremony concluded.

“She shall be titled Princess Xihe. Ceremony complete!”

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly opened her eyes.

【What’s this about porridge? And a feast? Where’s the food?!】