“Besides…” Nie Huai still had other reasons, but he didn’t know how to make a decision, nor could he tell Qin Sang.
Qin Sang didn’t care—or perhaps his eyes had already seen too many storms and hardships.
If Nie Huai didn’t speak, he would not ask.
“In any case, discuss this matter with the Empress Dowager tomorrow. As your master, I do not insist that you go…”
While Qin Sang was speaking with Nie Huai, Feng Zhao, who had left Zhongnan Mountain, was also discussing with the system.
“I remember Nie Huai was a capable minister under the protagonist Xie Chen in the novel. Later, after Xie Chen unified the world, he was appointed as Imperial Preceptor with grand honors. Why is he here now, becoming Qin Sang’s disciple?”
The novel was written from Xie Chen’s perspective. It did not describe side characters in detail; at most, it only mentioned how brilliant his strategist was. It always emphasized that Xie Chen had sharp judgment, recognized talent, and was destined for great achievements.
In short, the protagonist was powerful, and so was his team. All talented people would inevitably be conquered by his wise and heroic presence.
The system had no interest in whether the protagonist was strong or what direction the story would take. It only cared about one thing—
【Please hurry and assign a suitable imperial tutor for the cub to complete the mission!】
Feng Zhao asked it, “I’m stealing someone who was supposed to belong to the future protagonist. Won’t you say I’m disrupting the plot?”
【No.】
The system replied that it truly didn’t care.
【A mere protagonist is not allowed to block the host’s path of raising the child.】
【The host just needs to complete the mission. Leave the rest to the laws of heaven.】
It was the typical attitude of a worker who only cares about getting the job done, not whether the boss survives.
Feng Zhao liked its attitude.
“Even if you tried to stop me, Nie Huai is mine.”
Why should all the good things belong to the protagonist? Whoever she saw first, belonged to her.
At this moment, far away in the Fengming Palace’s cat cage, Xie Chen had no idea his future man was being stolen. He was listlessly sighing at Xiao Hongyi.
Xiao Hongyi hadn’t seen Feng Zhao for three days. Worried about her, yet too afraid to go find her, he compromised by holding Feng Zhao’s pet cat to ease his longing.
“Little Black, how many fingers do you have?”
“If you have twenty fingers like humans, I won’t go find Mother Empress. If not, I will—how about it?”
Xie Chen never expected the little cub to be this bored—so bored that he used a cat’s paws to make decisions.
He protested, but his cat life was not under his control. Xiao Hongyi forcefully held his front paws and started counting.
“One, two, three, four, five… your front paws have ten digits.”
Xiao Hongyi’s voice was tense, afraid that the hind paws might also match the front—meaning he wouldn’t be allowed to see his mother.
Xie Chen didn’t understand. If he wanted to go, why did he need to count fingers and toes?
“One, two, three, four… Little Black! You only have four hind legs!!”
Xiao Hongyi hugged his legs in excitement.
Xie Chen really wanted to claw his face and teach him a lesson, but he couldn’t—especially since the woman named Feng Zhao who had taken him in valued him greatly. If he attacked Xiao Hongyi, he might be beaten to death the next day.
He still hadn’t figured out how he suddenly turned from a human into a cat, nor whether death would return him to his human body. So he couldn’t take risks.
With the cat’s silent response, Xiao Hongyi suddenly gained courage and motivation, happily spinning around while holding the cage.
“Thank you! I’ll go find Mother Empress tomorrow!”
Xie Chen, dizzy from being spun: “……”
After making up his mind, Xiao Hongyi went to Zhongnan Mountain the next day to meet Feng Zhao.
“Why are you here?” Feng Zhao asked.
Afraid of saying he missed her and being scolded for being playful, Xiao Hongyi used the excuse he had prepared all the way.
“Mother Empress, after careful thought, I believe that when selecting a master and imperial tutor, it is proper to meet beforehand as a sign of respect.”
He added quickly, “Rest assured, I’ve already finished my government work before coming. It won’t delay anything.”
Feng Zhao looked at him carefully. As he spoke, he kept sneaking glances at her expression and immediately understood—this little one missed her.
It made sense. The palace was so large, and he didn’t even dare stay alone in the “devouring” Hall of Governance. Holding out for three days was already his limit.
So Feng Zhao didn’t scold him or question him, only praised him for completing his work before coming out.
After that, they went up the mountain together.
Feng Zhao told Xiao Hongyi about what had happened over the past three days.
She did not mention how difficult it had been to visit three times, only focused on Qin Sang and Nie Huai.
“Qin Sang is a respected Imperial Tutor of two dynasties. You must treat him with respect. As for Nie Huai, he is also a capable man, but apprenticeship depends on fate. Since you are here, you may as well see for yourself.”
Even without her saying it, Xiao Hongyi could sense the hardship from her brief words.
He secretly resolved that he must bring Nie Huai into his service as his imperial tutor.
After stopping and starting, they finally reached the peak of Zhongnan Mountain, and the sun was already high in the sky.
This was because five-year-old Xiao Hongyi was exhausted from climbing, yet refused all help and insisted on walking the entire way like Feng Zhao.
By the time he finally reached the top, his legs were weak.
“Mother Empress, who is my future teacher?” Xiao Hongyi asked, not seeing anyone except a young man in the courtyard wearing a long robe, drying books. He looked like a servant.
“It is—” Feng Zhao was about to introduce Nie Huai, but Qin Sang came out of the house and shook his head at her.
Feng Zhao understood and said to Xiao Hongyi, “I need to speak with Qin sir. You may walk around on your own.”
Xiao Hongyi was confused why he couldn’t meet his future teacher first, but he did not question her decision. After watching her enter the house with an elderly white-haired man, he stayed alone in the courtyard with the young man.
Curious about who would teach him in the future, he turned his attention to the youth drying books.
After preparing his words, he asked, “Do you know who Nie Huai is? Where is he now?”
Nie Huai had been thinking all night, still unsure whether to go to the capital with Feng Zhao. He had originally planned to discuss it with her at dawn—but instead, the main subject had arrived.
He asked calmly, “Why are you looking for him?”
Xiao Hongyi nodded heavily. He was not wearing a dragon robe today, only a pale yellow robe embroidered with gold edges. He looked delicate and precious, running up and down as he moved.
“I want to become his disciple and have him teach me poetry and books!”
A five-year-old child had no authority, only sincerity.
Nie Huai asked, “Why must you take him as your master? He is only about twenty, still a young man who hasn’t even finished his own studies.”
“You are not allowed to say that about my master!” Xiao Hongyi immediately defended him before even becoming his disciple.
“My mother Empress’s judgment is never wrong. He must be extremely capable.”
Capable?
Nie Huai didn’t even know where he was supposed to be capable.
Fortunately, Xiao Hongyi didn’t need his answer.
“Are you drying books as punishment?”