Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 964: Keep what should be kept, and abandon what should be abandoned!

Appropriately accepting and accustoming to this kind of service is itself a form of wisdom in maintaining a balanced interpersonal relationship in this era. Thus, Gao Yao learned to sing the song that suits his situation, hiding his modern pity deep in his heart and treating them with a gentleness that conformed to the rules of the times and with a moderate amount of dignity.

Seeing Gao Yao didn't resist as he had initially, Lü Su felt relieved, her movements becoming increasingly fluid and natural. She gently called to the maids waiting outside the hall, and soon, warm water, salt, clean towels, and other necessary items were brought in in an orderly manner. Lü Su personally tested the water temperature, soaked the towel, wrung it out, and then respectfully handed it to Gao Yao. The entire process was silent and efficient, with a ritualistic beauty.

When Gao Yao finished washing up, changed into his casual clothes, and was about to have breakfast, he heard a sound of brisk footsteps like a running deer outside the hall, accompanied by a silver bell-like cry of joy:

"Father! Father!"

Before the voice fell, a small figure in a pink palace dress and twin buns rushed in like a gust of wind. She ignored the palace servants' greetings and fell accurately into Gao Yao's arms like a small cannonball. It was Yunna, his daughter with Lu Su.

"Yun Na!" Seeing this, Lu Su quickly scolded her, with a look of helplessness and doting on her face, "Don't be rude to your father! Come down quickly and pay your respects properly!"

However, Yunna turned her little head and buried it in her father's waist, saying in a muffled voice, "No! I want to hug my father! Humph!"

Gao Yao looked at his daughter's innocent face, and the pent-up annoyance from waking up early and handling government affairs instantly vanished. He laughed heartily, bent down, and easily lifted the little girl up, letting her sit in his sturdy arms. Yunna immediately hugged her father's neck with a triumphant gesture, giggling happily.

"Hahaha, okay, hold me. Let father hold me." Gao Yao gently scratched his daughter's nose with his fingers, his eyes full of love. "When the weather gets better in a few days, father will take you and your mother to go hunting outside the city, okay?"

"Really?!" Yunna's eyes lit up instantly, her face filled with disbelief and surprise. "Father, do you keep your word?"

"Of course!" Gao Yao nodded affirmatively, his tone full of unquestionable authority. "I am the ruler of a country, and my words are golden. How could I lie to my little Yunna?"

"Father is the best! Yunna loves father the most!" The little girl danced with excitement, leaned forward her little head, and with a "smack", left a loud kiss with the scent of milk and saliva on Gao Yao's cheek.

This undisguised closeness and dependence softened Gao Yao's heart like a pool of spring water. In this palace filled with calculations and power, perhaps only a child's innocent smile and unconditional love could be the best medicine to comfort his lonely soul in another world.

The warm breakfast was spent amidst Yunna's chattering childish chatter. After the meal, Gao Yao affectionately rubbed his daughter's head, then stood up and left Lu Su's courtyard, heading towards the main hall where government affairs were handled.

Although a cabinet had been established to offload a large number of tedious and complicated daily affairs, so that Gao Yao no longer had to personally handle everything and work day and night like in the early days of the founding of the country, as the ultimate ruler of this huge kingdom, there were still many military and political affairs that needed his personal review and decision.

Inside the hall, a mountain of memorials and documents still piled high on the massive rosewood desk. Gao Yao had lost the gentle demeanor he'd displayed with his family moments before, his expression regaining the composure and dignity of a ruler. He sat upright at the desk and began to read through them one by one.

The cabinet had already conducted a preliminary screening and drafting of the various memorials, along with recommendations for handling them. For example, the joint memorial submitted by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue regarding the reconstruction of the major army groups and a new round of military funding was deemed reasonable in amount and well-planned by the cabinet, and thus approved. However, Gao Yao still needed to carefully review the details, confirm the flow of every penny, and assess its impact on the national finances before finally receiving his imperial approval.

Another example is the several candidates for county governors submitted by the Ministry of Personnel. These high-ranking officials, in charge of a region, were crucial to local stability and the well-being of the people. Gao Yao held the power of appointment firmly in his own hands. The cabinet could provide a list of candidates, detailing their strengths and weaknesses, but the final decision on who to appoint and who not would rest with Gao Yao, who would comprehensively consider their abilities, backgrounds, factional balance, and even personal loyalty. He carefully reviewed each candidate's resume and the cabinet's comments, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes lightly tapping a name, either circling it or rejecting it.

Time slipped away quietly amid the rustling sound of pen tip against paper. Sunlight slowly moved from the east side of the palace to the zenith, then gradually set in the west. When Gao Yao finally finished reviewing the last memorial regarding the new water conservancy project, he put down his brush and rubbed his swollen temples. Only then did he realize that a full three hours had passed.

The lights in the hall had been lit at some point, the orange candlelight dispelling the twilight and illuminating his slightly tired but still sharp profile.

"Yuexin." He called out, his voice slightly hoarse due to the long silence.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a calm and composed maid in a pale blue palace dress quietly came from the palace gate to the imperial desk and bowed gracefully. Her name was Yue Xin, and she was one of Gao Yao's more useful female officials.

"Your Majesty!" Yue Xin responded with her head lowered, her voice clear and pleasant.

Gao Yao paused for a moment, then ordered, "Go and convey my order. Bring the Queen and all the ladies to Changle Palace. I have something important to announce."

"Yes!" Yue Xin bowed neatly without any hesitation and quickly left the hall. Her figure disappeared into the deepening night.

Gao Yao watched Yue Xin's retreating figure, his gaze sweeping across the empty yet solemn palace. Thanks to his deliberate reforms, the palace today could be described as "simple" compared to previous dynasties. He was well aware of the dangers of eunuchs interfering in politics and had eliminated such hidden dangers at the source, rather than following the old practice of recruiting large numbers of eunuchs.

All palace affairs within the capabilities of women were handled by well-trained female officials and maids. Any special tasks requiring physical strength or involving the outer court were handled by his trusted personal guards. The few remaining eunuchs within the palace were limited to specific court ceremonies and menial tasks in the kitchens. Their powers were strictly limited, and they had no access to core affairs.

Gao Yao also strictly controlled the number of maids. The entire harem, including the residences of Queen Lü Zhi, several wives, and the princesses, numbered no more than a hundred maids. This number, in the previous dynasty, would likely not even cover the expenses of a favored concubine. It was common for a prince's residence to have two or three hundred slaves and servants.