Kapitel 82: Chapter 82: Prettier Than That Zhu Ci Ci (Two in One Chapter)
Unknowingly, Xu Ming had already been in the imperial palace for a year.
During this time, he stayed by Emperor Wu's side every day.
Apart from attending morning court sessions, Xu Ming would assist Emperor Wu while he reviewed memorials.
For all three meals of the day, Xu Ming dined alongside Emperor Wu.
When Emperor Wu went hunting, Xu Ming rode on horseback at his side.
In their leisure time, Emperor Wu attempted to teach Xu Ming military strategy, but Xu Ming declined, saying, "It's enough to understand principles and strategies. There's no need to study ancient military doctrines."
When Xu Ming refused, Emperor Wu jokingly berated him, though he didn't press the matter further.
Even when sitting on the dragon carriage, Emperor Wu insisted Xu Ming ride with him.
Xu Ming was certain that Emperor Wu intended to groom him as a trusted confidant.
However, the greater the favor, the more cautious Xu Ming became.
Serving an emperor was like walking on thin ice.
One should never trust that an emperor's favor would remain unwavering.
Xu Ming's careful demeanor did not go unnoticed by Emperor Wu, who grew even more satisfied with him.
If Xu Ming had become arrogant from favor, Emperor Wu might not have abandoned him entirely but would likely have taught him a lesson to correct his behavior.
Now, Emperor Wu felt relieved of such trouble.
The news of Xu Ming's favor could not be hidden from the court.
Some believed that the emperor merely appreciated talent. After all, Xu Ming was both scholarly and skilled in martial arts, young, and impressionable—raising him by the emperor's side would undoubtedly make him a loyal confidant in the future!
Others speculated that Emperor Wu intended to make Xu Ming the consort of the princess. Since the emperor was unable to bear children, Xu Ming and the princess's offspring could be future heirs to the throne!
As for whether they could have heirs?
If not on the first attempt, try again. With a 50% chance, seven or eight children later, one would surely be a boy. After all, the emperor was still young and could afford to wait.
Raising a grandson as a son—there's little difference.
Regardless of whether Xu Ming became the princess's consort, his eventual importance was a foregone conclusion. The emperor was merely waiting for Xu Ming to take the metropolitan and palace exams to see what ranking he could achieve.
If Xu Ming performed modestly, he could be polished for a year or two, gaining experience before being heavily utilized.
If Xu Ming excelled, the emperor would undoubtedly reward him greatly! Xu Ming's future would be bright, making him a rising star.
In recent days, officials of all ranks had been visiting the Xu family residence or seeking connections through the Qin family to build a relationship with the Xu family.
Xu Guogong (Duke), Xu Shuiya, Xu Ming's father Xu Zheng, and Qin Guogong (Duke), Qin Ruhai, had been riding high, frequently attending banquets and being showered with flattery to the point of arrogance.
The Xu family basked in their newfound prestige, with a sense of "when one man ascends, all around him rise too."
Even Xu Wang, the sixth young master of the Xu family (born to the second wife, five years younger than Xu Ming, and nine years old), got into a dispute with the third son of the Jingzhao Yin (Chief of the Capital Prefecture).
He struck the boy, injuring his head, yet still acted brazenly.
Shockingly, the Jingzhao Yin didn't dare utter a word of protest and even brought his son to apologize.
When Wang Feng heard of this incident, she was furious and took up the matriarch's cane, intending to punish Xu Wang. However, she was stopped by others, and her blows never landed.
Even the family matriarch dismissed the matter, saying, "Let it go, let it go. It's just children squabbling—nothing serious."
Wang Feng, enraged, threw down the cane and didn't leave her quarters for ten days.
When Zhao Wenshan heard about this, he was alarmed and hurried to the Xu residence. Speaking plainly to the matriarch and Xu Zheng, he said, "Although Fifth Young Master Xu Ming is talented in both literature and martial arts and favored by the emperor, the treatment he received from the Xu and Qin families before his rise is something the matriarch and Master Xu should not forget! Now that he is being nurtured by the emperor…
The Fifth Young Master Xu Ming is destined to receive significant attention from His Majesty in the future.
However, our Xu and Qin households are already powerful. Would His Majesty allow someone he has personally nurtured to be burdened by us? Would he permit the Xu and Qin households to rise even further because of Xu Ming, upsetting the balance of power?
The recent incident where the Sixth Young Master clashed with the Jingzhao Yin's third son—based on my understanding, the Sixth Young Master was clearly at fault. The Jingzhao Yin is known for his upright nature and fearlessness in the face of authority. Like Xiao Mo Chi, he is also a confidant of His Majesty. For him to swallow his pride in this matter—does this not strike the matriarch and Master Xu Zheng as odd?
Furthermore, our Wu kingdom has strict laws prohibiting private banquets of more than ten officials. Yet Master Xu Zheng hosted a banquet for twenty people at the Chunfeng Tower—an outright violation of the law. Has the Censorate not filed an impeachment? Would His Majesty truly be unaware?
This is His Majesty giving our Xu and Qin households one last bit of face while simultaneously preparing a blade—one he will not hesitate to turn against us if necessary.
'To destroy a man, first let him go mad.' Even a five-year-old child understands this principle. Does the matriarch and Master Xu Zheng truly not see this?"
Hearing Zhao Wenshan's words, both Xu Zheng and the matriarch were indeed startled. However, they brushed it off, saying things like, 'Wenshan, you're overthinking it. We have imperial decrees of protection,' and 'No matter what, Xu Ming is part of our Xu family. He will always speak on our behalf.'
Looking at their nonchalant expressions, Zhao Wenshan could only sigh heavily and say, "In the end, the bird will flee the forest, leaving behind nothing but desolation."
With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed out.
As for this incident, Xu Ming, still within the palace, remained completely unaware.
Confined to the palace and interacting only with Emperor Wu, Xu Ming had no idea what the court officials thought of him.
Two months before the metropolitan examination, Xu Ming sought an audience with Emperor Wu. "Your Majesty, in two months, I will sit for the metropolitan exam. I humbly request to leave the palace temporarily for two months to focus on my studies."
Although Xu Ming held no official position and spent his days following Emperor Wu, it was a significant drain on his time.
Xu Ming wasn't confident enough to skip studying and still rank as a jinshi. Moreover, this upcoming examination had an unprecedented number of candidates since the founding of Wu Kingdom.
This request was also a strategic move to avoid suspicion. In ten days, various officials would gather in the imperial study to draft the examination questions alongside Emperor Wu. As a candidate, Xu Ming knew he couldn't remain in the palace during this time.
"Hmm, approved," Emperor Wu nodded. "You should indeed avoid suspicion during this period. There's a residence in the eastern part of the city—it's not too large, not too small. I'll assign two palace maids to assist you. Focus on your studies."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After expressing his gratitude, Xu Ming was personally escorted out of the palace by Wei Xun to the designated residence in the eastern city.
True to Emperor Wu's description, the residence was modest—a simple two-courtyard house. However, its decor was elegant and tasteful.
From that point on, Xu Ming devoted more time each day to his studies, reducing the time spent on martial arts practice.
While Xu Ming wasn't overly concerned about achieving high academic honors, he was curious about the potential rewards for ranking as a jinshi, or even within the top tier.
Meanwhile, as the metropolitan examination approached, the capital of Wudu grew increasingly lively.
Typically, such exams attracted little attention from the common folk.
But this time was different.
This year's examination was not only the largest since Wu Kingdom's founding, but it was also of significant interest to neighboring states such as Qi, Liang, and even the northern tribes of Beimang.
There were two key reasons:
First, this was the first examination held since the imperial exams were fully opened to all eligible candidates, resulting in unprecedented participation.
Second, Xu Ming was taking part.
The boy genius who, four years ago, composed the famous couplet "The mirror bids farewell to youthful beauty, as the flowers fade upon the trees" and topped the provincial examination at just ten years old—was he destined to fade into obscurity, or would he once again shine brightly?
Everyone eagerly awaited the outcome.
Of course, many were skeptical of Xu Ming's chances.
After all, he had spent three to four years in military training—rigorous training as part of Wu Kingdom's infamous Blood Butchers. How much time could he possibly have devoted to studying?
Even for someone as gifted as Xu Ming, passing the metropolitan examination and advancing to the palace exam to earn the title of tong jinshi chushen (entry-level jinshi) would already be a significant achievement.
Xu Ming had a vague sense of how the outside world perceived him.
He figured they weren't wrong—after all, cramming for two months at the last minute didn't exactly guarantee success. He might not even pass the metropolitan exam.
All Xu Ming hoped for was to give it his best. That was all.
On another note, he wondered how Xu Xiaopang was doing. It had been four years since they last met. At sixteen, Xu Xiaopang was now a young man. Was he still the same as before?
What about his mother and the big white goose? His mother, who never sought power or influence, should be fine. But had the big white goose taken human form yet? Would it be a muscular woman if it had?
Xu Ming considered visiting the Xu household. However, the thought of dealing with his grandmother and father, not to mention the possibility of being dragged into endless banquets to meet high-ranking officials, made him groan inwardly.
"Forget it. Only two months left. I'll visit after the exams," Xu Ming muttered, shaking his head as he turned back to his books.
The metropolitan exam in Wu Kingdom was quite open-ended. There were no cloze tests, memorization drills, or other time-wasting exercises.
Instead, the exam covered the four major fields of scholar, agriculture, crafts, and commerce, with twenty essay questions for each field. There were no standard answers—it was all about your insights and opinions. The exam lasted four days.
Xu Ming's reading habits were eclectic, given his photographic memory. He read anything and everything, hoping to pick up some unusual attributes along the way.
Still, he hadn't gotten around to buying Little Liu Bei, so he had no idea what attributes it might grant.
"I'll get it after the exams. For now, I need to stay focused," he decided. Pre-exam distractions were a big no-no.
"Xu Gongzi (Young Master)," a maid entered the room.
These maids were former palace attendants, well-trained and meticulous.
"What is it?" Xu Ming asked.
"There's a young gentleman outside who claims to be your friend," the maid replied respectfully.
"My friend? Got it," Xu Ming said, setting down his book and leaving the room.
As he stepped out into the courtyard, he spotted a figure sitting at a nearby wine stall—a "young man" dressed in men's clothing but so strikingly beautiful that he outshone most women.
Xu Ming chuckled, walked over, and called to the waiter, "Two jars of red pine wine, two pounds of spiced beef, and a plate of fried peanuts."
"Right away, sir!" the waiter responded cheerfully.
Xu Ming sat across from the "young man," who glanced at him with those sharp, almost predatory eyes.
"You've grown quite a bit," the 'young man' remarked.
"Of course," Xu Ming replied, pouring himself a cup of wine. "At this age, men tend to grow quickly."
"Fast enough to marry, perhaps?" Wu Yanhan teased, her tone light but with a hint of mischief.
"That's a bit too fast," Xu Ming shook his head.
"Too fast?" Wu Yanhan's lips curved into a smile, her bold demeanor tinged with a feminine allure. "Surely, if you make the imperial honor roll this time, you'll be marrying that girl, Zhu Ci Ci, from Qi Kingdom, won't you?"
Cough, cough!
Xu Ming choked on his wine. "Why are you bringing her up all of a sudden?"
"You don't know?" Wu Yanhan's gaze lingered on Xu Ming.
"Know what?" Xu Ming looked puzzled.
Wu Yanhan's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Xu Ming for a moment before she shook her head and took a sip of wine. "Nothing."
"Strange," Xu Ming muttered, taking a bite of spiced beef. Deep down, though, he felt a little guilty.
Could it be that the childhood promise he made with Zhu Ci Ci had been leaked?
No, that didn't make sense. No one would take the innocent words of two children seriously. They were just kids back then—what could they possibly understand?
"Where have you been this past year?" Xu Ming asked, pouring Wu Yanhan a drink.
"Traveling," Wu Yanhan replied nonchalantly. "Wandering the Jianghu, challenging a few sects, killing some cultivators."
"Hmm," Xu Ming nodded. "What's your current level?"
"Heroic Soul Realm," Wu Yanhan said without hesitation.
"Advancing to the Heroic Soul Realm in just a year—no one can match you," Xu Ming said with a genuine smile, feeling happy for his friend.
Wu Yanhan shot him a glance. "If you hadn't gone off to that damned palace, you could've matched me."
[T/N: Wasn't he already in the Heroic Soul Realm?]
"Not that fast," Xu Ming shook his head.
He wasn't being modest. Despite having his unique "cheat," Xu Ming was a dual cultivator of both body and energy. The further he advanced, the slower his progress became.
This was precisely why most cultivators, despite having the option to pursue the path of a martial artist, rarely advanced beyond the Mercury Realm. It required too much time and effort, leaving them spread too thin.
"What about you? Planning to return to the Blood Asura Battalion?" Xu Ming asked.
Even though leaving the Blood Asura Battalion usually meant you couldn't return, she was clearly an exception, given her connections.
"No, I'm heading home," Wu Yanhan said, taking a sip of her wine. "If I don't go back soon, my Fa—my father will lose his mind."
[T/N: It's actually the way she was going to address the Emperor (Royal Father) in chinese.]
"Fair enough," Xu Ming said with a chuckle.
Though she had the Martial God Physic, she was, after all, still a girl.
Wu Yanhan blinked and looked at Xu Ming. "Did you know? There's a rumor in the capital that after the exams, you'll become the imperial son-in-law of Wu Kingdom."
"Huh? What?" Xu Ming froze for a moment.
He genuinely didn't know. His understanding of royal affairs was limited—he never asked about them, and no one had told him anything.
Having spent a year in the palace, Xu Ming had been exceptionally cautious, avoiding questions or information he shouldn't be involved in. He didn't even know how many children the Emperor had.
Speaking of which… did the Emperor have children? Xu Ming had never seen any during his time in the palace.
"Who knows?" Wu Yanhan said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But if the Emperor decrees a marriage, would you agree or not?"
Xu Ming thought for a moment. "Is she pretty?"
Wu Yanhan snorted coldly. "Prettier than that Zhu Ci Ci."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein