Behind the dragon desk, the An Emperor propped her delicate chin in one hand and listlessly pushed the memorials around the desk with the other.

The Xuan Emperor sat beside her, watching her with fond exasperation.

At the sound of footsteps, they both looked up.

"Your child greets Father Emperor!"

The Xuan Emperor smiled. "No need for ceremony!"

The Ninth Princess's pretty little face lit up at once. "Ning Chen, you're here... Come look at these people. They're so boring. Not one real matter, just bootlicking and congratulating this emperor on taking the throne."

Ning Chen smiled. He used to help the Xuan Emperor go through memorials, and more than half of them were greetings.

Things like: How has Your Majesty's health been lately? Has Your Majesty's appetite been good?

That was all perfectly normal.

First, it kept your face in front of His Majesty.

Second, it was a way to test whether His Majesty was happy with your work.

Ning Chen smiled. "That's all normal. You'll get used to it."

The An Emperor pulled a long face. "Being emperor is so boring. I want to quit."

Ning Chen and the Xuan Emperor were both left utterly speechless.

Since when could an emperor quit just because she felt like it?

Ning Chen smiled. "You just aren't familiar with the work yet. Give it a while and you'll be fine.

Oh, and I've got an idea for you."

The Ninth Princess asked eagerly, "What idea?"

Ning Chen said, "You could call Li Hanru back. He can handle unimportant memorials like these."

The Left Chancellor, Li Hanru, had been so disgusted by the way the De Emperor pushed loyal ministers away and kept treacherous ones close that he'd resigned in anger and gone home.

The Xuan Emperor nodded slightly. "That's a good idea of Ning Chen's. Li Hanru is loyal to the core and very capable. He's one of the pillars of the Great Xuan. Calling him back is exactly the right move."

The An Emperor giggled. "Then I'll issue the decree right now to call Li Hanru back and have him…