She truly did not believe in fate.

Eunuch Qin looked at that pond with a complicated expression. The fate-defying emperor had spent enormous manpower and resources just to find these two koi, and he often stood by the pond with his eyes closed for no reason. As a servant, he supposed he should pretend not to notice.

“Is your relationship with the Shufei not very good either?” the Emperor suddenly asked her.

Hua Chun laughed dryly. “It’s fine.”

The Emperor raised his eyes, gazing at her deeply, saying nothing.

Resigned to her fate, Hua Chun sat back down beside the Emperor and said, “It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that our elders have some conflicts, so there’s occasional friction.”

Eunuch Qin led everyone back some distance, leaving only the two of them within ten zhang.

The Emperor said, “These past few days I’ve often stayed at the Shufei’s palace. She told me that the Prime Minister’s birth mother is domineering and tyrannical in the household, and has made her suffer more than a little.”

Hua Chun rolled her eyes. Pillow talk—she’d dare say anything. Wasn’t it common courtesy not to air one’s dirty laundry in public? And yet she’d actually gone crying to the Emperor about her grievances. If the Emperor doted on Hua Xunyue a little more, wouldn’t she be the one in trouble now?

Still, at least she was smarter than Hua Liuying—just a few complaints, not daring to actually file a real accusation.

“Does Your Majesty think that someone who could raise a son as well-read and courteous as this official would be domineering and tyrannical?” Hua Chun said. “My mother is straightforward by nature, but she harbors no intent to harm others—this much I can guarantee. As for whatever great grievance the Shufei suffered in the past… in all my years in the household, I’ve never witnessed it.”

The Emperor said flatly, “Everyone certainly has their own version of reason.”

“If Your Majesty trusts the Shufei somewhat, then this official has nothing more to say.” Hua Chun shrugged. “My mother and I both have clear consciences.”

Looking at her for a moment, Yuwen Jie said, “I believe you.”

Hua Chun paused, feeling a small warmth in her heart, and grinned at him.

“Your Majesty.” Eunuch Qin, after observing for a good while, cautiously brought over some pastries. “The Shufei asked this servant to bring these over, says the small kitchen just made them.”

“Leave them there.”

“Yes.”

The women in the palace, when they often couldn’t see the Emperor, could only send various food and drink. Hua Chun understood and even sympathized.

However, before half an hour had passed, Eunuch Qin brought over more pastries, still from the Shufei.

The Emperor said nothing.

Another half hour later, when Eunuch Qin came again, Yuwen Jie finally spoke, displeased: “The Prime Minister and I are not the least bit hungry. There’s no need to keep sending food—send it back.”

“Yes.” Eunuch Qin acknowledged.

Hua Chun curiously glanced twice at Eunuch Qin’s retreating back and shook her head. None of her business—Hua Xunyue was being foolish herself. If she wanted to send something, she should send it once and be done. Disturbing the Emperor’s rest three or four times over and not getting punished for it was already fortunate.

“How did it go?” Hua Xunyue looked at Poxiao with expectant eyes.

Poxiao said awkwardly, “His Majesty sent it back.”

Such difficulty to personally make the pastries, just that one small plate, how could it be sent back? Hua Xunyue was very disappointed and couldn’t help asking, “Does His Majesty dislike it, or what?”

Poxiao shook her head. “His Majesty is with the Prime Minister right now. He said not to disturb them again—didn’t even taste a bite before taking it out.”

Her expression darkening slightly, Hua Xunyue said, “I spent an entire afternoon making just one plate to send over. How is that a disturbance?”

Beside her, Huo Xianrou said in a sour tone, “Sister, you’ll get used to it. Last time I sent tea over, His Majesity just gave it straight to the Prime Minister to drink. Whenever those two are together, anything anyone does is a disturbance.”

Wasn’t that too much? Hua Xunyue felt resentful, and without asking about the specifics, quietly added this to Hua Jinghua’s account.

Huo Xianrou saying he bewitched the ruler wasn’t without reason after all!

Hua Chun knew nothing of this, eating the pastries on the table, even thinking Hua Xunyue’s skill wasn’t bad.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day the foreign envoys arrived in the capital. Hua Chun stood on the high tower at the palace gate and couldn’t resist spreading her arms wide, saying, “Ah, this blue sky and white clouds, all Your Majesty’s domain!”

Standing behind her, Yuwen Jie’s mouth twitched.

“Your Majesty, you should return to the inner palace.” Turning around, Hua Chun said, “Having this official here is enough to receive the envoys. You are the most exalted—you can’t personally welcome a foreign delegation.”

“I merely came out to look around,” Yuwen Jie said.

The people hadn’t even arrived yet—what was there to look at? Hua Chun pursed her lips and let it go, quite satisfied as she surveyed the arrangements at the palace gate.

By her aesthetic standards, both sides of the palace gate were covered with flowers and laid with red carpet—all that was missing was a pair of newlyweds walking in arm in arm.

“If you run into any trouble, call for Zichong anytime,” the Emperor said after a moment. “I’ll head back first.”

“Oh, alright.” Hua Chun agreed casually, still watching below.

Eunuch Qin, trembling, glanced at Prime Minister Hua and, seeing not the slightest hint of shock on her face, couldn’t help but sigh.

Huo Zichong was the commander of the imperial bodyguards. What did “imperial bodyguard” mean? It meant someone whose only job was to protect the Emperor, and now the Emperor had so casually assigned him to the Prime Minister, and she wasn’t even surprised!

Truly spoiled rotten, it seemed…

Actually, Hua Chun simply hadn’t registered it—her mind was entirely on receiving the envoys, her eyes fixed on the palace gate without looking away.

At noon, the envoys’ carriage finally arrived slowly. Hua Chun straightened her robes and led a group of civil officials down to greet them.

The carriage stopped, and the foreign envoys, seeing the arrangements at the palace gate, were somewhat astonished, murmuring to each other for a long while. Then, when they walked up to Hua Chun, their expressions turned somewhat arrogant: “Many thanks for such courteous treatment from your esteemed country. But Western Xia is only a small nation—I’m afraid we cannot bear such an honor.”

Hua Chun smiled, not bothering to bow, and simply said, “Whether a great nation or a small one, Great Liang’s welcoming rites only reflect Great Liang’s own grace and manner—so whether one can ‘bear’ it or not is irrelevant.”

The Western Xia envoy paused, then smiled. “We’ve come to Great Liang many times, and never seen such a welcoming ceremony.”

“After all, in previous years Great Liang was merely peaceful and stable, but could hardly be called a flourishing golden age. This year is different.” Hua Chun said. “All under heaven is at peace, autumn brings a bountiful harvest, and Great Liang’s national strength has risen another level—naturally the welcoming rites must change accordingly.”

This skill of speaking bald-faced lies with a straight face, she’d learned from Prince Xi. In front of outsiders, even though she knew Great Liang had suffered floods and droughts in various places this year with less than ideal harvests, she still had to say this.

The envoy’s face indeed showed an expression of awe as he followed her inside.

They were temporarily arranged to stay at Furong Palace, and Hua Chun immediately went back to report.

“The banquet has already been arranged. Just stay by my side,” Yuwen Jie said. “Don’t wander off when there are many people around.”

She wasn’t a dog! Hua Chun pouted but obediently followed behind the Emperor.

Generally, in such scenes of foreign tribute-bearers coming to court, the female lead would dance, sing, perhaps play an instrument, and certainly astonish everyone at home and abroad. But unfortunately, she could do none of that, and on top of it, she was posing as a man.

She could only sit obediently beside the Emperor and watch.

The Empress Dowager and the harem consorts were all in formal dress today, yet the first seat to the Emperor’s left was not occupied by the Empress, but by Hua Jinghua.

At first, Hua Chun objected to such a seating arrangement, but seeing He Chang’an seated alongside her as well, with a row of important officials nearby, she let it go and settled in with ease.

Before the banquet began, there would be various performances, starting with dancers brought by the foreign delegation. Hua Chun didn’t recognize the dance, but it looked decent enough, at least more proper than the ones Consort Huo Zhaoyi danced.

Next was the program prepared by Prince Xi.

The venue chosen for the banquet had a large pool in the middle. At first Hua Chun thought it was for some kind of game, but now, watching one dancer after another emerge from the pool wrapped in water-silk, all she could think was: these palace people really knew how to have fun!

This was literally synchronized swimming come to life! She had no idea what Prince Xi was thinking, having these dancers wear red inner garments and white water-silk, splashing about in the water, both solemn and seductive at once.

The foreign envoys clearly had never seen such a dance, all gaping, eyes fixed unblinkingly.

Prince Xi spoke up at the right moment: “This is the prayer dance. Dancing like this in the water can bring favorable weather to the nation in the coming year.”

Watching a group of envoys show expressions of sudden understanding, Hua Chun wiped her face.

A few days apart, and Prince Xi’s ability to talk nonsense had reached a whole new level.

“Would Your Majesty be interested in praying for Great Liang’s blessing?” Prince Xi said with a smile. “Just step on the stone pillars in the water to the platform in the center of the pool and pour out the holy water.”

Yuwen Jie simply ignored him, sitting motionless on the dragon throne.

Amid the lively music, this bit of awkwardness went unnoticed, and one of the envoys below stood up and asked, “Might this humble official also share in some of the blessing?”

“This humble official would also like to pray for Great Liang.”

Hua Chun’s mouth twitched.

Damn Prince Xi, being ruthless—the people of Western Xia were extremely superstitious, and would eagerly participate in anything related to prayer and blessing. This was in the research notes; she hadn’t expected he’d prepared for this in advance, even trying to drag the Emperor into the water.

A dignified emperor, stepping off the dragon throne to pour water in the middle of a pool—how would that look!

After thinking it over, Hua Chun stood up and said, “Since it’s a prayer, as long as the sincerity is there, it doesn’t matter who goes. Why don’t I go on His Majesty’s behalf?”

“Very well.” Prince Xi nodded with a beaming smile. “The Prime Minister stands at the head of all officials—naturally has the qualification for this.”

Yuwen Jie glanced at her, his gaze falling on her clothing. “Be careful.”

Hua Chun understood, nodded, and followed the several envoys to join in the fun.

She’d prepared in advance—today’s clothing was particularly secure, so no matter what unexpected situation arose, she could handle it.

Prince Xi intended to make things difficult for her; she could sense it. A dignified modern elite—how could she really be fooled by some ancient person?

Carefully stepping onto the stone pillars in the water, Hua Chun crossed the pool full of dancers and arrived at the platform in the center along with the other two envoys, each scooping up water and pouring it out.

Suddenly, someone emerged from the water beside her, reaching out to grab her ankle, trying to pull her down.

However, Hua Chun was fully equipped today. Before the person could exert force, there was a scream of pain, and the hand withdrew.

“What was that sound?” the nearby envoy asked, startled.

Hua Chun calmly replied, “That is the language of the heavenly gods, praying for Great Liang’s blessing.”