"Then…" Yunzuo thought for a moment, his interest piqued, and proposed, "Next time you come to the academy, could you bring another volume of the new Liaozhai stories?""I won't read it for free—I’ll exchange it for a favor!" Yunzuo added.This wasn’t difficult to arrange. After all, the person responsible for writing was Fu Yuchen. All she, Fu Xuechen, had to do was tell Fu Yuchen another new Liaozhai story. It was just a matter of speaking—the stories were ready-made, and she didn’t have to rack her brains to create them. Why not agree?"Sure!" Fu Xuechen readily agreed, then asked curiously, "What favor does Your Highness plan to exchange?"Yunzuo, however, smiled mysteriously. "What favor? You’ll find out if you follow me this afternoon. No rush—we’ll talk after class."Fu Xuechen looked at the handsome young man before her and couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, no matter how exalted his status, the current Prince Yunzuo was just a teenager in his early teens—a youthful disposition, always playing games of secrecy and suspense.Unfortunately, she had long since passed her own rebellious phase in her previous life. Even though she had been reborn as a middle school girl, she wouldn’t easily be teased into restlessness by a young boy. If he wanted to keep it a secret, so be it. Let the winds blow from all directions—if I feel even a flutter of excitement, I lose!Little did Fu Xuechen know that her calm composure and indifference would be shattered at lightning speed after class.Outside the Qianming Palace, Fu Xuechen stared at Yunzuo in shock, her voice trembling. "Y-you… what did you say? The favor you’re giving me is… the Emperor wants you to take up the position of Ministry of Works Apprentice Official?""Exactly!" Yunzuo was amused by her expression. "My Emperor Father also said that when the time comes, you’ll accompany me. We’ll go to the Ministry of Works together to see what real fire lances and firearms actually look like. We can’t just talk out of thin air—we need to be down-to-earth to truly speak with substance."It was like a bolt from the blue!I… thank you so much!I really don’t want to see the Emperor! No, please!In that moment, Fu Xuechen, who had switched identities with Fu Yuchen and was guilty of deceiving the Emperor, nearly burst into tears and fled in panic. But Yunzuo firmly grasped her wrist and eagerly led her into the Qianming Palace."Alright, Yuchen, no need to be so excited. My Emperor Father is quite approachable, and besides, I’m here with you! There’s no need to be nervous."Yunzuo comforted her gently, unaware that Fu Xuechen’s heart was already flooded with terror.The entire Fu family’s sole wish was to safely get through the hundred days of Fu Yuchen’s recovery from his injury. During this time, the lower their profile and the less attention they attracted, the better. Fu Xuechen had even happily suppressed all her own brilliance, never showing off the classical knowledge she had brought from her previous life in front of her teachers or classmates, let alone thinking of attracting the Emperor’s attention.However, man proposes, but heaven disposes. She never could have imagined that the casual discussion about fire lances she had with the Sixth Prince, initially just to lazily avoid archery practice, would lead this earnest prince to report it to the Emperor. As a result, he was assigned some ghostly task as a Ministry of Works Apprentice Official, dragging her, Fu Xuechen, the prince’s study companion, into the role of his lackey, forced to follow him in everything.Damn it all! Completely unprepared, she was suddenly about to have an audience with the Emperor. What does it mean to have trouble fall from the sky while sitting quietly at home? This is it!Upon hearing the eunuch on duty at Qianming Palace loudly announce, "Summoned: Sixth Prince Yunzuo and Sixth Prince's study companion Fu Yuchen to enter the hall for an audience!"Fu Xuechen's mind raced frantically, desperately searching for a way out. Avoidance was impossible now; what she needed to consider was how to deceive everyone perfectly, flawlessly playing the role of Fu Yuchen without arousing the slightest suspicion from the emperor—not even attracting a bit of extra attention.First, she had to remain calm; panic was not an option. After all, Fu Yuchen was the grandson of the late Duke, the cherished legitimate son of a first-rank ducal household. Though somewhat pampered, the noble bearing of a young master was innate. Even if his courage wasn't particularly great, he wouldn't panic merely at the sight of the emperor.In his view, the status of other dukes' descendants was roughly equivalent to his own, so the dukes were merely the fathers or grandfathers of his classmates or friends. As for the emperor… it wasn't much different—just the father of a new classmate. Well, perhaps there might be some nervousness akin to facing a classmate's parent.Second, regarding the advanced discourse on fire lances and firearms, that was entirely her own doing. Fu Yuchen could never have uttered such words. Fortunately, her father, Fu Chuanyi, was a military star who had fought alongside the emperor to establish the empire and was no stranger to firearms. She could attribute the related remarks to what she had heard from her father. As for anything too advanced, she could dismiss it as imaginative speculation. Right, she must remember to discuss the firearms theory with Fu Yuchen when she returned.Finally, she must maintain the utmost discretion. Her etiquette had to be impeccable, her head bowed low, and her gaze absolutely steady, never wandering. She would hide behind the Sixth Prince, speaking only when the emperor asked, answering each question succinctly. If possible, she would answer a few words for every two questions, never uttering half a sentence more…By the time Fu Xuechen finished her deliberations, she had already completed the formal audience rituals with proper decorum. She was called to rise by the emperor and stood respectfully with her head bowed behind the Sixth Prince."Xiao Zhengzi!"Emperor Yuan'an summoned the chief eunuch, Zheng Ze, who understood the gesture and brought over a red-lacquered wooden tray, presenting it before Yunzuo and Fu Xuechen. On the tray were two Pass Tokens and two Official Appointment Decrees."The edict has already been sent to the Ministry of Works. Take the Official Appointment Decrees there, and someone will attend to you," Emperor Yuan'an explained briefly."Thank you, Emperor Father!" "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fu Xuechen echoed Yunzuo's words of gratitude in unison."Hmm!" Emperor Yuan'an nodded, his gaze sweeping over the clean-cut youth standing behind his son, noticeably a head shorter, with fair, translucent skin and a gentle, jade-like demeanor. Originally intending to dismiss them, he suddenly felt a spark of interest in this legitimate grandson of the military god. "Fu Yuchen, have you seen a fire lance before?"So she couldn't escape the emperor's notice after all! Fu Xuechen sighed inwardly in resignation and bowed to reply, "Your Majesty, this humble subject has only heard of it from my father."Emperor Yuan'an chuckled. "So that's how it is. No wonder you have so many novel ideas. This time at the Ministry of Works, take a good look and learn. As a descendant of military merit, you should at least understand what kinds of firearms our Great Rong possesses and what they actually look like, so as not to make a fool of yourself."Fu Xuechen felt inwardly frustrated but couldn't be bothered to complain. Adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble, she respectfully responded with a single "Yes."Having experienced the trials of modern-day chat groups, Fu Xuechen knew all too well how to speak in a way that would kill the conversation!Sure enough, Emperor Yuan'an was completely thrown off by her obedient "yes." He had originally thought that the young boy who could shout "A strong youth makes a strong nation, a wealthy youth makes a wealthy nation" must have a proud and unyielding temperament, not easily subdued. With a single word, he had dismissed the boy's viewpoint, expecting at least some resistance or a few words of argument. But this?All the words he had prepared were suddenly stifled. Emperor Yuan'an could only wave his hand, allowing the two youths to leave.
Chapter 20
The Prince Does Not Compete for the Throne