If It's Quiet, They're Definitely Up to Something

Shen Anxin: Chacha, I got distracted just now and didn't hear clearly. What did he say?

Chacha: He said it was a sign of a golden age.

Shen Anxin: Wait, he's from Southern Xia, right? He's not an undercover agent from Great Qi, is he? Can he really say that?

Chacha: Maybe... fifty is just the age when you can't keep anything to yourself.

Shen Anxin: *...*

It wasn't just Shen Anxin. Every civil and military official at court suspected their ears were playing tricks on them.

Even Emperor Hongyao frowned slightly. This was not part of his plan.

Xiao Yanchen had been watching the state preceptor's reaction closely. Not a single fleeting expression escaped his eyes, and the sight of his pupils trembling with shock really didn't look like an act.

For him to blurt it out, it had to be completely contrary to what he had expected. Could he really have divined a sign of a golden age for Great Qi?

Southern Xia's state preceptor could no longer stay on his feet and staggered backward. The minister of rites beside him hurriedly caught him.

"State Preceptor, what... what's wrong? Did something go wrong with the divination? Should you try again?"

Southern Xia's minister of rites was already drenched in sweat. Don't do this to me, brother! I can't afford to keep playing!

If word of this got out, the consequences were simply unthinkable!

But the state preceptor seemed unable to hear him. His eyes were unfocused as he murmured, "The lucky star awakens, heaven and earth turn, ten thousand nations submit, a golden age..."

Every line was like a sharp blade hanging over the head of Southern Xia's minister of rites. He pinched the state preceptor hard, but even that couldn't stop him.

Southern Xia's minister of rites: You're still talking! Still talking! Please stop! You must be messing with me, right? Hurry up and say you're messing with me, aaaaah!

Have you forgotten last night? What about our agreement? We promised to fight together!

How can you build up someone else's ambition and diminish our own prestige? Have you considered whether we'll even make it back?

When the state preceptor finished speaking, his expression had gone numb, and he had no attention to spare for anything else.

The next second, his eyes closed and he fainted on the spot.

The minister of rites screamed in fright.

Shen Anxin: It's great being old. You can fall asleep as soon as your head drops.

All the civil and military officials: Asleep? He fainted!

The murderous intent had long since vanished from Emperor Hongyao's face. Smiling, he called out, "Summon an imperial physician for the envoy. Make sure he receives attentive treatment."

He said something I liked to hear, so of course he must be treated well.

All the civil and military officials: Your Majesty, how magnanimous.

Eunuch Chen, who was attending him nearby: How wonderful. It's been a long time since I've seen His Majesty smile like that.

Southern Xia's minister of rites was frantic, running around in circles. In the end, he could only watch the state preceptor being carried away and remain in the hall with a vacant stare.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Shen Anxin: Their minister of rites looks like he's lost the will to live. This really doesn't look like an act. Was it real? And he even left behind a prophecy like that.

The lucky star awakens, heaven and earth turn... Wait! That lucky star... has to be me, right?

Shen Anxin's eyes lit up. She couldn't help puffing out her chest, and she couldn't suppress the curve of her lips.

Just tell me, who else in this dynasty has abilities beyond the era and can help a nation turn heaven and earth around? It has to be me!

Who would have thought? People who transmigrate really are protagonists chosen by fate! Ehehehehe!

Chacha: Of course you're the protagonist, Host. Otherwise, you wouldn't have bound a system.

Everyone held back their snickers. In truth, when the state preceptor had spoken the prophecy, their hearts had surged with extraordinary excitement.

They had long since acknowledged that Shen Anxin was the lucky star who could turn Great Qi's fortunes around.

Now, hearing that prophecy from the mouth of an enemy, their confidence grew all the stronger.

Sure enough, Heaven had taken pity on them and awakened Shen Anxin to help them!

As long as Shen Anxin was there, they could surely change the future.

Shen Anxin: No, that's not right!

Everyone's soaring spirits were abruptly pressed down.

What wasn't right? Where was the problem? It was absolutely right!

Shen Anxin's inner voice suddenly turned ingratiating.

You should be the lucky star, Chacha. Without you, even if my heart were willing, I wouldn't have the power.

You're the one who knows the future, and you're the one who provides the System Shop.

I know my own limits. I'm just an ordinary person.

Even after transmigrating, I wouldn't be all that impressive. At most, I'd know a little more common knowledge than the people here.

Only because you woke up do I have a chance to change everything. Thank you, Chacha. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have many good years left in Great Qi either.

Shen Anxin was genuinely grateful to Chacha. After all, not every transmigrator was some awesome bking. Ancient people were ancient, not stupid.

When the nest was overturned, how could any eggs remain intact? Even if she was a marquis's daughter and the sister of a third-place palace examination graduate, it would do her no good.

Only with the system did she have a real protective talisman.

Chacha: Hehe, you're making me embarrassed, Host. I'm only a system. You're still the one making the decisions, and it only works because you're willing to help Great Qi. So as far as Great Qi is concerned, you're still the lucky star.

Shen Anxin: It's you, it's you.

Chacha: It's you, it's you.

Everyone: Don't be modest. It's both of you. You're both Great Qi's precious lucky stars.

Chacha: Host, now that there's a prophecy, do you want to reveal your identity and have them venerate you as a state preceptor and divine maiden? You'd be below one person and above ten thousand.

Everyone immediately focused, eager to hear Shen Anxin's answer. They were restricted from revealing the truth to her, but what if she was willing to expose herself?

Emperor Hongyao also wanted to know Shen Anxin's answer. He could guarantee that he, and even future emperors, would treat her well.

Never mind being below one person and above ten thousand. For Great Qi's sake, Emperor Hongyao was willing to accept it even if she existed independently of imperial authority.

Shen Anxin: No way.

Everyone: ...For some reason, that feels like exactly what we expected.

Chacha: Why?

Shen Anxin: It's not good to stand out.

Chacha: Because the tree that towers above the forest will be broken by the wind? Or are you afraid that if your special abilities are exposed, the imperial family will harm you for the sake of power?

Shen Anxin: I'm afraid I'll be too useful, and they'll drag me into working myself to death.

Everyone: ...Not surprised at all!!!!

Shen Anxin: The capable are made to do more work, so I absolutely refuse to become capable!

Once Shen Anlan gets back, I'll hand everything over to him without anyone being the wiser and let him toil away.

Everyone: He's so lucky to have you as his sister!

Shen Anxin: That way, I can help Great Qi and live freely, without responsibilities or shackles. Easy and relaxed. Perfect!

Chacha: So clearheaded, as always!

Everyone: All right, looks like we have to keep acting.

Emperor Hongyao pressed a hand to his forehead. All right, one shouldn't be too greedy. It was enough that she had the heart to help.

The corners of Xiao Yanchen's lips curled up. From now on, Shen Anlan would just have to work a little harder, for Great Qi and for his sister's wonderful, easy life.

Shen Anlan, still on his way home, sneezed yet again.

Shen Anlan: How strange. Why do I feel more and more uneasy the closer I get to the capital? Surely no one has discovered that Father and I went to Southern Xia?

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate.

Only the minister of rites remained to represent Southern Xia in the negotiations, isolated and without support.

Great Qi's side, on the other hand... was a mountain of people and a sea of faces, all eyeing him like tigers stalking prey.

Looking at the scene, Shen Anxin felt a little sorry for the minister.

Next came negotiations on establishing friendly relations, agreeing to mutual trade, and related matters. They mainly concerned doing business, exchanging resources, and the benefits from taxation.

She had expected to see some fierce debate, but the minister of rites had evidently lost all his fighting strength, and his bottom line was pushed lower and lower.

All she saw was him wiping away sweat over and over. In the end, his eyes turned red, as though he had been bullied to tears, and he could only drink tea to hide it.

At the end, he even said, "Hehe, this tea... is a little bitter, huh?"

Everyone from Great Qi: It is a little bitter, but not as bitter as your fate.

Before the delegation came, Southern Xia must have given him a bottom line, and Emperor Hongyao had concluded the negotiations with terms that came right up against it.

When the minister of rites left the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, his whole being had gone ashen. His body was still there, but his soul was gone.

When he saw that the state preceptor had awakened, he exploded.

He truly hadn't expected the state preceptor, who seemed above the dust and smoke of mortal life, to turn traitor too. He had always thought only quick-witted scholars like them would...

Southern Xia's minister of rites seized the state preceptor by the collar and shook him for all he was worth. "We were at the final kick, and not only did you refuse to help, you kicked me off a cliff! Is that any way to be a teammate? Tell me! Are you a spy sent by Great Qi?!"

The state preceptor hurriedly pushed him away. "It's no use. Heaven's mandate cannot be defied. Take care of yourself. I'm leaving."

"Leaving? Where are you going?"

"In any case, I'm not going back to Southern Xia." The moment the words "a sign of a golden age" slipped out, the state preceptor was destined never to return to Southern Xia.

The minister of rites completely lost his composure. Was he dumping all the blame on him? If he had done wrong, Heaven could punish him some other way instead of sending him a whole group of extraordinary beings as teammates!

"Aaaaah! I don't care whether I die today, but I certainly won't let you live! You wretch! Prepare to die!"

The Eastern Palace.

After court, Shen Anxin, as the crown prince's attendant, would accompany him to the Eastern Palace for a while. By rights, her position should have required her to help handle some official business.

But every time, Xiao Yanchen only asked her to help organize books. By the time she finished, it was just right for her to mooch a midday meal and then go home to rest.

Shen Anxin was very satisfied with this temporary superior. If he really asked her about affairs of state, she could answer, but she feared that the more she said, the more flaws would show when Shen Anlan switched back in the future.

So she kept praying in her heart that Xiao Yanchen wouldn't ask her, wouldn't ask her.

Although one shouldn't be too superstitious, sincere prayer really did work.

Xiao Yanchen truly never asked her. Most of his questions were whether she was hungry or thirsty, or whether she was tired.

Whenever Shen Anxin felt that Xiao Yanchen's concern for Shen Anlan was a little ambiguous, Xiao Yanchen would say that her body had yet to recover and she needn't push herself.

And so, Shen Anxin slacked off with a clear conscience.

Just then, Shen Anxin had finished her midday meal and was about to leave when someone came rushing over to report to Xiao Yanchen.

"...They're fighting."

Unable to restrain her appetite for gossip, Shen Anxin caught a bit of it and asked instinctively, "Who's fighting whom?"

The subordinate glanced at Shen Anxin awkwardly. Xiao Yanchen smiled faintly and told him to speak louder.

The subordinate coughed. "Southern Xia's minister of rites and state preceptor are fighting. They've even drawn blood."

Shen Anxin said, "Are the people of Southern Xia so violent? Fighting every day?"

The others in the Eastern Palace nearly lost their composure.

And whose doing is that?!

Xiao Yanchen coughed to hide his smile. "Mm, they are rather violent." He then asked the subordinate, "What instructions did Imperial Father give?"

"His Majesty said not to interfere. If either of them dies, so be it. It has nothing to do with Great Qi."

The corner of Xiao Yanchen's mouth twitched.

Shen Anxin nodded in considerable agreement. It really had nothing to do with Great Qi; it was an internal dispute.

At that thought, Shen Anxin suddenly grew puzzled. Strange...

Chacha: What is it, Host? Want to eat some melon?

Shen Anxin: No, I'm wondering why Jixia Academy hasn't made a peep. Their arrival even got us civil officials dragged off to clutch Buddha's feet at the last minute! Weren't they supposed to compete?

Chacha: In the original future, they did compete with the civil officials in the palace. Great Qi lost across the board, and Jixia Academy returned to Southern Xia in triumph. They even declared that the land of Great Qi had no literary spirit at all and was a barbaric wilderness.

The faces of the Eastern Palace officials who could hear her inner voice darkened instantly. They were furious.

Even if they were inferior to the people from Jixia Academy, they were still proper scholars. How had they become barbarians?

Shen Anxin: That arrogant? Then why have they let Great Qi off now? Could it be that Southern Xia's delegation performed so badly that they're afraid of acting too arrogant on someone else's turf and getting beaten up?

The melon-eating crowd: Our fists really are itching!

Chacha: Probably not. If anyone dared beat up someone from Jixia Academy, it would be an affront to scholarly dignity. They'd better be prepared to become enemies with every scholar under heaven.

The melon-eating crowd: Put down our fists. We love peace.

Shen Anxin: ...That status is being raised way too high.

The melon-eating crowd: Exactly. Why should they get that? They just have a little more foundation, that's all.

Just as they were talking, the young eunuch who served under Eunuch Chen came running over in a hurry.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, His Majesty urgently summons you!"

Xiao Yanchen asked, "What's so urgent?"

"The people from Jixia Academy defeated White Horse Academy in three literary contests today. White Horse Academy admitted defeat and agreed to lend them a venue for a literary gathering.

"They've already announced that tomorrow they'll exchange ideas and compete with Great Qi's scholars, for one day only!

"Anyone who considers themselves a scholar may enter and participate as long as they pass the preliminary entry test.

"They've also allotted viewing places to the court, saying they invite the imperial family and all the civil and military officials to attend."

The moment he finished, the Eastern Palace officials erupted.

"Are they treating our Great Qi's imperial capital as their home ground?"

"White Horse Academy didn't win a single round? How is that possible?!"

"A contest on this scale and in this form will have a far broader and more lasting impact than one held at court in the palace."

"They know they'll win. They're going to slap the faces of Great Qi's scholars in front of the entire capital! What sinister intentions!"

Shen Anxin was dumbfounded too.

Shen Anxin: Sure enough, whenever it's quiet, they're definitely up to something. I was just thinking how depressing it was to clutch Buddha's feet at the last minute to prepare for an exam, only to find out there wouldn't be one.

Well, great. It's not that there's no exam; they've switched it for an even harder paper!

Chacha: Host, what are you afraid of? You have a splendid cultural history behind you. Dealing with them is child's play.

The melon-eating crowd instantly pricked up their ears. Was that true? Jixia Academy's poetry, songs, prose, and scholarship were among the very best. Could it be... that the lucky star had a way to deal with them too?

Xiao Yanchen also looked at Shen Anxin, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

Shen Anxin directed a deathly smile at the empty air. Chacha, let me teach you something. For us, the moment the college entrance exam is over, our intelligence switches off. As for all those things I once memorized, if I can still recite enough of them in full to count on one hand, that would already do my Chinese teacher proud!