Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Ten days had passed in the blink of an eye since Xiao Mo returned to the Imperial City of Qin.

During this time, many court officials and heads of Noble Families sought to visit the Xiao Mansion and the Frost King’s Mansion.

However, both Xiao Mo and Xiao Shi refused all visitors, not seeing a single person.

Xiao Mo would also often use his Jade Token to visit Qin Siyao and Empress Shi at the Imperial Palace.

Empress Shi’s health grew worse with each passing day.

Although Qin Siyao brewed and fed her medicine every day, and Empress Shi also took all sorts of Elixirs, not even a divine panacea could help when one’s fated time had come.

Still, Empress Shi dutifully drank her medicine every day and often walked with Qin Siyao in the courtyard.

Xiao Mo understood what Empress Shi was thinking.

The Empress knew the medicine was useless, but she also knew that the harder Siyao tried to heal her now, the less guilt her daughter would feel after she was gone.

When he wasn’t visiting the palace, Xiao Mo spent his time either accompanying his mother or discussing the war with Xiao Shi.

The war on the border was not yet over.

Every day, Communication Flying Swords arrived from the border, delivered to Prince Xiao’s Mansion.

The two of them often strategized about the war’s future developments to formulate their responses.

It was during this period after Xiao Mo’s return to the capital that the entire Imperial City grew restless.

The question of who would ascend to the position of Crown Prince was on everyone’s mind.

As things stood, with the Eldest Prince and Second Prince having passed away, His Majesty had no other sons.

The only solution, it seemed, was to select and formally adopt an heir from a cadet branch of the Royal Family.

Because of this, the Imperial Court was in an uproar.

Many ministers began to neglect their duties, instead joining together to petition the Sovereign of Qin, recommending various outstanding Heirs of the Dukes and urging him to adopt one quickly to secure the nation’s future.

If the ministers were this fervent, it went without saying that the collateral branches of the Qin Royal Family were even more so.

Who wouldn’t want their son to be adopted into the Imperial Palace?

Even though, legally speaking, the parental ties would be severed after the adoption, he would still be their own flesh and blood. They were sure to reap benefits in the future.

For a time, everyone in the Qin Kingdom, from the highest to the lowest, was restlessly scheming.

One day, Zhang Yi, Baili Xi, and Uncle Jian visited the Frost King’s Mansion to ask Xiao Mo what his stance was on the matter.

The three of them stated that they would support whomever Xiao Mo supported.

In truth, many in the Imperial Court were indeed concerned with the opinions of the Frost King, Xiao Mo, and the Prince Zhenbei, Xiao Shi.

After all, the father and son’s contributions were so immense that they truly held enough influence to affect the selection of the future Crown Prince.

However, Xiao Mo simply shook his head, stating that he had no opinion on the matter. He would abide by His Majesty’s decision and support whomever His Majesty chose.

But it was impossible for Xiao Mo not to be worried.

The Qin Kingdom was at a critical juncture and needed the Imperial Court to be united. Yet the issue of the succession had made everyone restless. Many ministers were looking to place their bets, hoping to gain the merit of having backed the new sovereign.

Xiao Mo returned to the Xiao Mansion, intending to ask his father for his opinion on the selection of the future Crown Prince.

When it came to matters of the Imperial Court, Xiao Mo was certain his father understood far more than he did.

”I know what you’re worried about, Xiao Mo,” Xiao Shi said with a smile. ”But you needn’t trouble yourself with this. His Majesty naturally has his own plans. If I’m not mistaken, he already has someone in mind.”

”His Majesty has someone in mind?” Xiao Mo asked, surprised.

”It’s just a guess. We’ll see if I’m right when the time comes. But people tend to have a moment of perfect clarity just before they die.”

Xiao Shi stood up and patted Xiao Mo’s shoulder.

”On another note, you should go get ready. I’m afraid that the day after tomorrow, you’ll be heading to the Northern Wilderness with me.”

”Do I need to go with you this time?”

Xiao Mo knew his father would usually head for the Northern Wilderness as soon as he returned to the capital. For him to stay in the Imperial City of Qin this long was already quite unusual.

A smile touched the corners of Xiao Shi’s lips. ”This time,” he said, ”it is imperative that you go.”

...

”Royal Father, you were looking for me?”

Having been summoned, Qin Siyao arrived at the Imperial Study.

The Sovereign of Qin was reviewing memorials.

”Ah, Siyao, you’re here.” Seeing his daughter enter, he raised his head, patting a stack of memorials beside him. ”Come, Siyao,” he said with a smile, ”help your father with something.”

Qin Siyao walked to her father’s side and asked in confusion, ”How can I help you, Royal Father?”

”With these memorials and documents, of course.” The Sovereign of Qin personally poured his daughter a cup of tea. ”In the past, when I handled these state affairs, your elder brothers would help. Now, it’s just me. So, I was hoping you could lend me a hand.”

”But, Royal Father... I am a woman...” Qin Siyao looked at her father. ”How can a woman participate in politics? Is this not against protocol...?”

”In my Great Qin, I *am* the protocol,” the Sovereign of Qin said with a slight smile. ”Read through these memorials first, then comment on them directly with the vermilion brush. I want to see how you do.”

...

Qin Siyao was still hesitant.

But seeing her father’s insistent expression, Qin Siyao had no choice but to give a slight bow. ”Yes, Royal Father.”

Sitting beside her father, Qin Siyao began to go through the memorials.

The memorials covered military affairs, agriculture and sericulture, official promotions, and mutual impeachments, among other things.

Having grown up in the palace, Qin Siyao had been subtly influenced by courtly matters her whole life. Coupled with her own considerable education, she was not entirely at a loss when faced with the task.

After marking them up, Qin Siyao handed the memorials to her father for his review.

The Sovereign of Qin went over them again, explaining to Qin Siyao what she had overlooked. He described the personalities of certain officials and pointed out which memorials could be dismissed with a single glance, not worth wasting any time on.

As evening fell and the sun began to set, the Sovereign of Qin pushed another stack of memorials toward his daughter. ”Siyao, take these and review them. Show them to me tomorrow.”

”Yes, Royal Father...”

Although Qin Siyao was indeed exhausted, she didn’t utter a single word of complaint, wanting to ease her father’s burden.

After Qin Siyao left the Imperial Study, the Sovereign of Qin couldn’t help but sigh, speaking as if to someone unseen.

”That girl... she’s always hated reading and writing. In the past, if I’d stuffed her with this much ’homework,’ she would have thrown a fit long ago. But now, she didn’t say a single word.”

From behind a screen, Prime Minister Li, who had been concealing his presence all this time, emerged and gazed out the window.

In the grand square outside the Imperial Study, the princess, dressed in her palace robes, was hugging a large stack of memorials as she walked toward her personal chambers.

Prime Minister Li drew his gaze back and looked at the Sovereign of Qin. ”Has Your Majesty truly made your decision?”

The Sovereign of Qin tucked his hands into his sleeves, a smirk playing on his lips.

”And why not?”