After-school Assignment

"Then, Yunying, you will accompany me to the Grand Secretariat..."

Luo Zhao paused mid-sentence.

What about the Wenli Hall?

There were massive amounts of account books and dossiers piled up here, requiring a sufficiently reliable person to stay behind and keep watch.

Shangguan Yunying was obviously the best candidate, but she needed to accompany her to the Grand Secretariat to negotiate and apply pressure.

Just as Luo Zhao was considering having Chen Busha or another female official stay behind, a calm voice sounded from behind a small desk nearby:

"Your Highness, Xiaoli can do it."

Hearing the voice, Luo Zhao and Shangguan Yunying turned their heads simultaneously.

They saw that Gu Xiaoli had put down her pen at some unknown point, meeting Luo Zhao's scrutinizing gaze.

Without avoiding her eyes in the slightest, she spoke clearly and logically, "When I was in the Inner School, I was Eunuch Lu's assistant."

"Eunuch Lu had to serve His Majesty and was extremely busy, so I handled all the affairs of the Inner School."

She paused, seemingly to add persuasiveness, and added, "There hasn't been a single mistake to this day."

Then, Gu Xiaoli glanced at Shangguan Yunying, turned back to Luo Zhao, and said, "I just heard that something happened to Big Brother Gu."

"Sister Yunying must have more important things to do, right?"

"I can keep a good watch over the Wenli Hall."

Luo Zhao and Shangguan Yunying exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Time was pressing, allowing no room for much hesitation.

Luo Zhao pondered for a moment and finally nodded, making her decision:

"Alright, I will leave this place in your hands for now, Xiaoli."

"I will have General Chen come over to protect your safety."

"You only need to ensure it operates normally."

"Mhm!"

Gu Xiaoli nodded vigorously. "Rest assured, Your Highness! I will definitely keep a close watch."

Having arranged matters at the Wenli Hall, Luo Zhao delayed no further.

She picked up the stack of documents that Gu Chengyin had carefully selected and entrusted to her.

What kind of secrets were hidden inside?

Gu Chengyin had only pointed out their importance but hadn't explicitly told her the mysteries within.

So he wanted her to find the answers herself?

Luo Zhao lightly bit her lip, a trace of complex emotion flashing through her heart.

This guy really took his role as Junior Preceptor for granted.

To think he even left her homework.

Leaving her, his student, to figure it out on her own?

Fine!

As the dignified Crown Princess, could she possibly fail to understand a set of accounts?

Without thinking further, Luo Zhao gripped the stack of documents tightly in her hand.

She said to Shangguan Yunying in a deep voice, "Yunying, let's go. We head to the Grand Secretariat first."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Shangguan Yunying's spirits lifted, and she immediately followed.

The two, one after the other, hurriedly left the second floor of the Wenli Hall.

...

Outside the gates of the Grand Secretariat, below the white marble steps, three Grand Secretaries were already standing solemnly in waiting.

The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, stretching their shadows straight and reflecting the varying degrees of solemnity on their faces.

According to the original schedule, the three Grand Secretaries gathered today to hear Gu Chengyin's final conclusive report, complete the procedures, and officially close the case.

However, plans could never keep up with changes.

What was even more surprising was that Luo Zhao didn't choose to enter the palace to seek an audience with the Emperor immediately, nor did she directly apply pressure. Instead, she sent a message to the Grand Secretariat, stating she would visit in person.

Everyone could tell that this struggle had reached a complete boiling point, escalating from a secret wrestling match to a stage where the core figures of both sides were personally taking the field.

As the honor guard of the Crown Princess's carriage appeared at the end of their line of sight, the three Grand Secretaries unanimously straightened their backs, restrained their expressions, and put on looks of respectful solemnity.

The carriage slowly approached, finally stopping steadily in the open space before the main entrance of the Grand Secretariat.

The driver and accompanying female officials quickly lined up in dead silence, with only the banners fluttering loudly in the wind.

Cui Shifan, as the Vice Grand Secretary of the cabinet, was the first to step forward. Facing the carriage, he gave a deep bow:

"We subjects respectfully welcome Your Highness to the Grand Secretariat!"

The carriage curtain was lifted from the inside.

The first thing that caught their eyes was a bright yellow sleeve embroidered with complex golden phoenix patterns. Immediately after, Luo Zhao's stunningly beautiful yet frost-cold face appeared before everyone.

She hadn't deliberately dressed up and was still wearing her everyday Crown Princess attire, but her innate noble bearing, along with the awe-inspiring majesty gathered between her brows at this moment, made everyone present shudder inwardly.

Luo Zhao's gaze swept over the three Grand Secretaries. She didn't tell them to dispense with formalities, nor did she offer any pleasantries.

She stepped straight down from the carriage using the stepping stool, and once steady, she strode directly toward the doors of the Grand Secretariat.

Seeing this, Cui Shifan, Hu Juzheng, and Yuan Zhengqing hurriedly straightened up and quickly followed, clustering behind Luo Zhao as they entered the Grand Secretariat together.

Passing through successive corridors, they arrived at the Grand Secretariat's council hall.

Luo Zhao didn't hesitate in the slightest. She walked straight to the main seat, flicked her sleeves, turned around, and sat down steadily.

Her movements were smooth and flowing, completely natural, as if she was always meant to sit there.

The three Grand Secretaries followed closely inside, standing on her left and right below her, their hands resting respectfully at their sides as they awaited her instructions.

Luo Zhao's gaze swept over them once more before she finally spoke, carrying a hint of questioning:

"Where is Grand Secretary Xiao?"

Cui Shifan immediately bowed and replied, "To answer Your Highness, today's originally scheduled agenda was to hear the final conclusive report on the sudden death case of the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, Xiao Michang."

"Grand Secretary Xiao is Xiao Michang's clan uncle. To avoid suspicion, he is not in attendance today."

This reason was high-sounding and beyond reproach.

Hearing this, Luo Zhao nodded. Her face was devoid of expression, but the words she spoke made the hearts of the three Grand Secretaries skip a beat simultaneously:

"That's fine."

"It saves me the trouble of having to invite him out."

Invite him out?!

The dignified Crown Princess, right in front of three Grand Secretaries of the cabinet, was openly stating her intention to invite the current Chief Grand Secretary out of the council hall?

The smell of gunpowder in these words was practically overflowing.

The three Grand Secretaries were all shrewd old foxes, instantly understanding Luo Zhao's attitude.

She was truly furious.

Come to think of it, who was Gu Chengyin?

He was the Marquis of Equal Standing personally titled by Luo Zhao, the newly appointed Junior Preceptor to the Crown Princess, her trusted favorite, and the key figure leading the charge on her behalf.

One moment, he had just encountered a street assassination, narrowly escaping death.

The next moment, he was arrested on the street by the Ministry of Personnel under the charge of being a spy—a crime severe enough to warrant the confiscation of his property and the extermination of his entire clan.

How was this just making a move on Gu Chengyin?

This was clearly a slap in Luo Zhao's face and a direct challenge to the authority of the Crown Princess's Palace.

With Her Highness's temper, it would be a miracle if she could swallow this anger.

Not directly ordering someone to surround the Ministry of Personnel's office was already considered restrained.

Luo Zhao's gaze swept over Cui Shifan, Hu Juzheng, and Yuan Zhengqing one by one.

In the past, when facing these crafty and cunning Grand Secretaries, she rarely gained any advantage. She was often left speechless and suffocated by their various grand principles, ancestral laws, and bureaucratic rules.

These old foxes could always easily seize upon the slightest flaw in her words or actions, bringing down heavy accusations of being contrary to etiquette, lacking the decorum of a Crown Princess, or being young and arrogant, leaving her in a dilemma.

But today was different.

A strong surge of confidence welled up in Luo Zhao's heart.

She first looked at Cui Shifan, cutting straight to the point:

"Grand Secretary Cui, the case of Xiao Michang's sudden death is an earth-shattering matter decreed by Imperial Father, jointly investigated by the Three Ministries."

"Imperial Father's golden words demanded that the cause of death must be investigated and a conclusion provided within three days."

"Now that the deadline is fast approaching, the chief investigating official, Gu Chengyin, was forcibly taken away halfway through by the Bureau of Official Evaluations on trumped-up charges. Because of this, the final report of the case cannot be submitted, and His Majesty's imperial edict cannot be fulfilled."

"This action by the Ministry of Personnel shows a blatant disregard for the dignity of the imperial court and flouts the Emperor's will! To interfere with the investigation of such a major case sets an exceptionally vile precedent!"

"The Grand Secretariat serves as the central hub that oversees state affairs and coordinates the various ministries. Should it not provide an explanation for such a chaotic state of affairs?"

Here it comes, Cui Shifan thought to himself.