A second spring for their careers?

Chacha: [Sorry, host, there's no video function, but their performance really was spectacular.

At first, they thought the other man had discovered his relationship with his sister and had come to break the lovebirds apart. So both of them started out humbling themselves, trying to behave and admit their mistakes in the hope of getting past their prospective brothers-in-law.

But the more they said, the more things seemed wrong. When they finally realized what had happened, they stared fixedly at each other, stunned for the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Then they demanded again and again to know if the other was playing him for a fool. In the end, they came to blows, showing no mercy. By the time they were pulled apart, both were bruised and battered, with internal injuries all over.]

Shen Anxin: [Hahahahaha, now that's love turning to hate made flesh! Though I do feel rather sorry for them. Losing their loves—or rather, never having been in love at all-must have been a pain like an awl to the heart!]

The onlookers nodded furiously. Who wouldn't go mad in their shoes?

General Wu and Minister Zheng took deep breaths. Even now, when they looked back, they could still recall a little of the heart-rending pain they had felt back then.

Chacha: [Afterward, their families pressed them for answers when they went home. Naturally, neither dared breathe a word of it. They only said they couldn't stand each other and had gotten into a fight because they didn't get along. Both families thought their own child was at fault and brought gifts to the other's home to apologize, so there were no hard feelings between the families.]

Shen Anxin: [Then after they found out the truth, didn't they think of setting things right?]

Chacha: [Not at all. They went straight into silence.]

Shen Anxin: [That makes sense. After all, they'd poured two years of affection into each other. Whenever they saw the sisters, they'd be reminded of it, so they really couldn't have a future with them.]

General Wu and Minister Zheng no longer had any impression of each other's sister. After all, though it had been love at first sight, that had only been on the surface; they had never actually spent time with the women afterward. Everything had been an illusion, a fleeting bubble.

The ministers thought, Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a poignant romance. That's really not the sort of experience just anyone gets to have.

The younger princes listened to the whole story, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. They marveled inwardly, Who would have thought the imposing General Wu and the meticulous Minister Zheng were so wild when they were young?

Xiao Yanchen held back his laughter. Both men had taught him before, and he truly hadn't realized they had a history like that. Still, the two really were never willing to spend time alone together. He had previously assumed they simply disagreed on matters of policy.

Emperor Hongyao's mouth twitched. Having listened to the whole thing, he wanted to laugh, but he was afraid of hurting his ministers, so he could only hold it in and maintain his stern expression.

Who would have thought? After all their years as sovereign and subjects, they still had a little secret like this between them-even the Brocade Guard hadn't known.

It seemed the Brocade Guard needed more training. Otherwise, wouldn't he miss out on something so wonderful... ahem, ahem...

Shen Anxin continued to marvel: [Oh my granny in heaven! If a single step in the whole process had gone wrong, this mix-up could never have happened. Isn't that a kind of fate? How did those two not end up together? Their souls were already in love! Why care whether the flesh is male or female? Love knows no gender!]

General Wu and Minister Zheng thought, Fate, my ass! In love, my ass! I'd rather fall in love with a ghost than get together with him, all right?! Shipping anything and everything will only hurt you! Don't spread rumors about us, aaaaaah!

Wait, what's with the looks everyone's giving us?! Don't look at us like that!

What are you doubting?!

There's nothing between me and this guy!

We're more innocent than pearls are white!!!!!

Chacha: [Host, there's no need to overthink it. They're in perfect harmony with their current wives and have no feelings for each other. They just think the other is still hung up on what happened back then and keeps making trouble for them at every turn, so they've come to dislike each other even more. They really can't stand the sight of each other.]

General Wu and Minister Zheng thought, Heavens above! Earth below! Great and just Chacha! Our innocence has finally been preserved!

You brats! Look at us! Look carefully! We're just sworn enemies! There are no feelings! Not a single trace!

Emperor Hongyao actually breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have known how to face these two ministers in the future.

Shen Anxin sheepishly rubbed her head. [True. Plenty of people meet their online loves in person and immediately seal their hearts and lock love away. I'd better think of a way to let them find out about the storybooks soon, before they spread everywhere. It wouldn't be good if their wives took it to heart and it disrupted their marital harmony.]

General Wu and Minister Zheng thought, You... forget it, forget it.

Though their greatest dark history had been exposed and the girl had made them furious, Shen Anxin hadn't done it on purpose, and she did have a kind streak. They couldn't hold it against someone of the younger generation.

Shen Anxin: [I'll read and appreciate it first when I buy it. Then I'll find a chance to slip the book to them.]

General Wu and Minister Zheng thought, What the hell! You still want to read it?! Give us back our sympathy!

The other onlookers thought, Unfortunately, the little girl won't get to appreciate it. By the time she leaves the palace, the books will have been swept clean off the shelves. If she wants to know what's in them after that, she'll probably have to interrogate the court chronicler duo.

Emperor Hongyao badly wanted to press a hand to his forehead. He hastily waved a hand to put a stop to the farce.

Eunuch Chen, who had been gorging himself on the gossip at his side, saw the emperor's gesture and immediately called the court to order.

Only then did everyone notice that the court chronicler duo were still kneeling off to one side.

Once General Wu and Minister Zheng had retreated, still swallowing their anger, Emperor Hongyao finally said, "My two beloved ministers, why are you kneeling? Get back to your records."

The court chronicler duo had thought Emperor Hongyao would deal with them on the spot. After all, though what they had done wasn't against the law, it was still indefensible, so they hadn't dared get up and had waited to be dealt with.

To their surprise, Emperor Hongyao told them to return to their posts. Presumably, he had no good excuse to deal with them in front of Shen Anxin, and punishment would certainly follow later.

But they probably wouldn't suffer as badly as they had in the original future.

Trembling, the two helped each other to their feet and prepared to go back.

Shen Anxin: [Come to think of it, those two are rare talents.]

Chacha: [How so?]

The court chronicler duo nearly stumbled and fell. Goddess, goddess, please spare us! Stop paying attention to us!

Shen Anxin: [That kind of talent for writing storybooks could absolutely be used as a weapon in a battle for public opinion. It's not very good to use such methods against our own people, but what about enemies? Take the imperial relatives and high-ranking officials and nobles of Southern Xia, for example. As long as the storybooks sell as well as the one about General Wu and Minister Zheng, the relationships between our enemies could be fabricated with a single brush. Make up enough stories, and they'll fall into mutual suspicion themselves. Used well, it could be a weapon that wins without shedding blood.]

The court chronicler duo were dumbfounded. They could do that?

In an instant, the hall fell silent. Everyone turned their minds to serious business, quickly settled down, and began to think.

Even General Wu and Minister Zheng began imagining their own terrible future circumstances being visited upon their enemies.

What effect would it have? Could it shake the people's confidence and the army's morale?

Emperor Hongyao frowned in thought. In the past, they had used myths and legends to wage battles over public opinion, but that was mostly done in troubled times. In ordinary times... actually, as long as a storybook was compelling enough, it could also be used to lay the groundwork for a covert battle.

Chacha: [Although it definitely wouldn't be as effective as the battles over public opinion in the host's original future world, it could make money and disgust the enemy at the same time. Not bad at all. You should know that, in the original course of events, the storybook about General Wu and Minister Zheng was a hen that laid golden eggs. It made a lot of money.]

General Wu thought, It could disgust the enemy...

Minister Zheng thought, It could make money...

The ministers all turned to look at the court chronicler duo.

Emperor Hongyao thought, Perhaps they aren't suited to being court chroniclers. There's a position that suits them better.

The court chronicler duo thought, Why do we have a feeling we're about to shine and give off heat? A second spring for our careers?

This time, not to vent our anger? But to fight for Great Qi's future?!