Don't provoke mentally ill people in the infinite flow genre!

Yi Zanglan opened her eyes and found herself lying on a carved bed made of golden nanmu wood. The quilt covering her was embroidered with lotus flowers, and when she lifted it, she found that she was wearing an ancient-style sleeping robe.

She immediately sat up, made sure the bracelet on her wrist was still there, and then touched the system prompt.

Half a minute later, she fell into a speechless silence.

"Your Majesty, you're awake?"

A familiar female voice sounded from the side. Yi Canglan turned his head sharply and saw Su Su wearing an exquisite and dignified long gown, her hair tied up in a high bun, her hands clasped together, looking at him respectfully.

"...What did you call me?"

"You are the Emperor of Feng Kingdom, so of course I am Your Majesty." Su Su smiled and bowed, then lowered her voice to remind him, "There are so many people in the palace, all of them NPCs. The rules require us to respect the characters. What if the system also has an acting score? We have to be careful, Your Majesty."

Okay, very good, this person is completely immersed in the role.

Fortunately, Yi Zanglan was adaptable. She accepted the setting in just two seconds and began to ask detailed questions while maintaining a haughty demeanor.

"Oh, I just woke up, and my memory is a bit hazy. Who are you again?"

"I am your head palace maid." Su Su paused, then her expression brightened, and she couldn't help but say what she really thought, "I am so lucky to have been assigned such a good job."

"Alright, where is Li Siqi?"

"You're asking about Chief Eunuch Li?" Su Su pointed outside the bedchamber. "Your new court robes are ready. He just delivered them and is waiting at the door."

"Should we try it now?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, all the officials are waiting for you to attend court."

"..." Yi Zanglan rolled out of bed and walked out expressionlessly. Halfway there, he turned back to look at her. "You two have gotten into an office romance too."

Su Su immediately stood up straight and said seriously, "You can't say such things carelessly, Your Majesty. I am terrified."

……

About an incense stick's time later.

With the help of the couple, Yi Zanglan changed his clothes. He wore a dark blue wide-sleeved court dress with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread, and his hair was tied up with a golden crown. He was truly a peerless monarch, unparalleled by the sun and moon.

Su Su led her to the Fengtian Hall to meet the officials. According to Su Su, she and Li Siqi received introductions to all the characters' identities and a complete map of the imperial city at the start of the game.

"This is the basic quality of someone who is your head maid and chief steward."

"Okay, so everyone else is in Fengtian Hall?"

"Not entirely." Su Su hesitated for a moment before explaining tactfully, "Only a few are present. Please see them first, and we can continue after the court session."

She didn't elaborate, but once they arrived at the main hall, Yi Zanglan knew who the others were.

Below the emperor's throne, officials, both men and women, stood neatly arranged on both sides of the hall, presumably selected based on merit.

Civil officials wore blue-toned official robes, while military officers wore red-toned official robes. They stood according to their rank, with the higher the rank, the darker the color of their official robes, and the more complicated and expensive their official hats and accessories.

Yan Zhao and Tang Yunxi stood at the front of the civil officials' ranks, with Jiang Yao standing in a row behind them; Wu Ying and Jiang Ling stood at the front of the military officers' ranks.

Su Sushi stood next to Yi Zanglan and introduced them one by one in a low voice.

"The second-in-command is the current prime minister, Yunxi is the imperial advisor, Yingjie is the commander of the imperial guards, Lingling is the general in charge of the south, and Jiang Yao is the minister of the Dali Temple."

Yi Zanglan nodded: "I'll remember. Ask them if they have anything to say. If they do, speak up; otherwise, the court is adjourned."

As expected, the NPC ministers all submitted memorials, some concerning livelihood issues such as floods and plagues, others reporting on the border war situation, and still others making important requests regarding the recent series of strange events in the capital that have caused turmoil in the court and among the people.

"Your Majesty, there have been a series of murders in the capital recently. The people suspect that evil spirits have descended to earth, and rumors are spreading. If this continues, it may affect the stability of the people's hearts. We hope that Your Majesty can give us some guidance."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Tang Yunxi retorted decisively. "Last night I observed the celestial phenomena and saw that the Purple Star still resides high in the sky, guarding the four directions. Your Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven, and will surely ensure the longevity of the Feng Kingdom for thousands of years!"

"..."

As a result, the court returned to silence. The Feng Kingdom was quite superstitious about this kind of saying, and since she was the emperor's favored Grand Preceptor, her words naturally carried weight.

Yan Zhao cleared his throat and added at the opportune moment, "The Court of Judicial Review is already investigating those recent strange cases, isn't that right, Lord Jiang?"

"Indeed, we are investigating." Jiang Yao immediately understood. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the truth will be revealed within seven days."

Even if the truth doesn't come out, once the instance is released in seven days, it won't be something he needs to worry about anymore.

"Very well, then I will await your good news, my dear minister."

Yi Zanglan calmly raised his hand, signaling the court to adjourn, then rose and left Fengtian Hall with a flick of his sleeve.

Su Su followed closely behind: "Your Majesty, where are we going next? To the Imperial Hospital?"

"...Is Matsuko in the Imperial Hospital?"

That's really easy to guess.

"Yes, and there's Mingyue, a court painter who resides in the palace. Your Majesty, you cherish talent and have allowed her to live in the Bamboo Grove Cottage."

"Then later you and Siqi...you and Chief Eunuch Li will trouble you to call everyone to the Imperial Study for a meeting." After Yi Canglan finished speaking, he casually lifted Su Su's sleeve, "Give me the map...let me take a look."

She quickly glanced at the map of the imperial city provided by the system, forming a general impression in her mind, and then zoomed in to examine the details.

"What kind of places are these palaces?"

"This should be the residence of the three royal attendants."

"Your Majesty?"

Su Su pondered for a moment, then changed to a more easily understood way of saying it: "Your harem beauties."

"..." Yi Canglan rubbed her ears to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. She sighed, "Then call all three of them to the Imperial Study. I'm too lazy to check on them one by one."

"Very well, then I will send someone to deliver the message."

* * * * * *

Su Su was very considerate. Before all the members arrived, she specially introduced the identities of the three attendants to Yi Zanglan.

"Lord Ling is the son of General Fuyuan, and Lord Qin is the son of Minister of Revenue. Your Majesty's decision to bring them into the palace serves two purposes: first, to control military power; second, to control finances; and third, to check and balance the court."

"As for Shen Junshi, he doesn't have any illustrious background. His mother is just a minor official in a remote county. She was favored by you and had her name recorded because of her outstanding appearance, gentle and talented nature, and excellent perfumery skills."

Yi Zanglan couldn't help but click his tongue: "Is this a dungeon completely tailored to our team's situation? Has the system's twisted sense of humor reached this level?"

"Perhaps other teams also customize their dungeons in this way... Oh dear, Your Majesty, please be careful what you say!" Su Su quickly advised, "What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside, and then a mysterious man dressed in a flowing purple palace gown flew into the imperial study like a butterfly.

He called out in a sweet, melodious voice, "Your Majesty, I've arrived!"

Yi Zanglan instinctively leaned back: "...Bring me a needle and thread, I will sew his mouth shut myself."