The Imperial Preceptor

Chu Hongle curled his lip. "He certainly knows how to show off. I'm Siqing's father, you know."

Han Wanqing smiled. "You should still give it to Siqing. It was a gift from His Majesty, after all."

Meanwhile, over with Chu Siqing.

System: [Host, I have some juicy gossip about your father. Want to hear it?]

Chu Siqing perked up. [Tell me, quick!]

System: [His Majesty gave you a rattle made of solid gold, but your father hid it.]

Chu Siqing was aghast. [Aaaah! How could Father pocket my gift!]

Chu Hongle sneezed on the spot and had no choice but to sheepishly hand the rattle over to Chu Siqing.

Chu Siqing gripped the rattle tightly in her chubby little hands, her eyes narrowing into smiling crescents.

[Oh, my! This is solid gold! It's worth a fortune!]

System: [Host, could you stop being such a money grubber?]

Chu Siqing clicked her tongue. [A-Tong, you just don't understand. As the saying goes, without money, everything is an uphill battle!]

She shook the rattle, making it jingle, and told the system, [Hear that? That's the sound of money!]

System: [Host, you're a prince's daughter now. Money isn't a problem.]

Chu Siqing remained utterly unconcerned. [Who would ever complain about having too much money?]

System: ...

After a while, the system spoke again.

[Host, I detected that His Majesty is very fond of you. He even asked your mother to bring you into the palace often.]

Chu Siqing was delighted. [I've finally latched onto the biggest golden thigh of all! That Tranquilizing Card was well worth redeeming!]

System: [Host, while you're visiting the palace, see if you can latch onto the Imperial Preceptor's thigh too!]

Chu Siqing said, [I almost forgot. A-Tong, hurry and scan for any gossip about the Imperial Preceptor.]

System: [Host, I've tried, but I haven't been able to detect anything!]

Chu Siqing replied, [Never mind. I'll find a chance to meet him first.]

Great Chu's Imperial Preceptor lived in the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion within the imperial palace, making it convenient for the emperor to summon him at any time.

The position of Imperial Preceptor had been passed down from master to disciple for generations. The previous elderly Imperial Preceptor had died prematurely of illness, and the current one, named Tu Qingchen, was only in his twenties.

That day, Emperor Chu Ming was handling state affairs in the imperial study when the chief eunuch, Feng Zhonglin, came to report, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor is outside requesting an audience."

Emperor Chu Ming closed a memorial and said, "Show him in."

Tu Qingchen entered the imperial study and first paid his respects to Emperor Chu Ming.

Emperor Chu Ming said, "No need for such formalities, my loyal minister. Attendants, bring the Imperial Preceptor a seat."

Great Chu's Imperial Preceptor was versed in mystical arts and could foresee fortune and calamity, so his standing had always been high.

Tu Qingchen wasted no words. "Your Majesty, I recently performed a divination. A Holy Maiden was born a month ago. If her talents can be put to use, Great Chu will flourish."

Emperor Chu Ming's surprise gave way to wild delight, and he hurriedly asked, "Imperial Preceptor, where is this Holy Maiden now?"

Tu Qingchen replied, "Here in the palace."

Emperor Chu Ming froze.

No imperial princess had been born in the palace a month ago. If the Holy Maiden was now here, as the Imperial Preceptor claimed, who could she be?

Something suddenly occurred to Emperor Chu Ming, and he immediately asked Feng Zhonglin, "Did Princess Yu bring her daughter into the palace today?"

Eunuch Feng reported, "Yes, Your Majesty. Princess Yu is speaking with the Empress Dowager in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, with the little commandery princess."

Emperor Chu Ming's heart raced.

Could the Holy Maiden be his niece, Chu Siqing?

Emperor Chu Ming asked, "Imperial Preceptor, is the Holy Maiden Prince Yu's daughter, Chu Siqing?"

Tu Qingchen said, "I dare not make a reckless claim. I can only confirm it after seeing the Holy Maiden."

Emperor Chu Ming said, "Then accompany me to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility."

Eunuch Feng announced, "His Majesty will proceed to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility!"

Inside the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, Princess Yu was chatting and laughing with the Empress Dowager when an announcement came from outside. "His Majesty and the Imperial Preceptor have arrived-"

Chu Siqing, who had been nestled sleepily in her mother's arms, instantly perked up.

[A-Tong! The Imperial Preceptor is here!]

Just a few days ago, she and the system had been talking about finding the Imperial Preceptor, and today he had delivered himself right to her door!

The system was excited too.

[Host, make sure you take the initiative in a moment!]

Chu Siqing replied, [Mm-hmm!]

Everyone sat down after exchanging greetings.

Empress Dowager Pei smiled. "Why have you come with the Imperial Preceptor today, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Chu Ming said, "The Imperial Preceptor and I came to see Siqing."

Hearing that it concerned her daughter, Han Wanqing immediately grew nervous. "Is something wrong with Siqing?"

Could the Imperial Preceptor have divined her daughter's unusual nature?

Would they consider Siqing a monster?

At the thought, Han Wanqing clenched the handkerchief in her hand, wishing she could scoop up her daughter and flee!

Emperor Chu Ming said, "Rest assured, Princess Consort. The Imperial Preceptor recently divined that Great Chu's Holy Maiden descended into this world a month ago, so we came to take a look."

Chu Siqing's eyes widened, and she shouted inside her head:

[A-Tong! A-Tong! What's this Holy Maiden business? Did you secretly set up an identity for me?]

The system was just as shocked.

[Host, I didn't! I can't even detect gossip about the Imperial Preceptor. How could I have arranged a Holy Maiden identity for you?]

Chu Siqing panicked a little. [A-Tong, what should I do?]

System: [Host, just go with the flow. Having the Holy Maiden's status will make things easier for you in the future!]

Chu Siqing said fearfully, [Didn't you say the Imperial Preceptor in this world has supernatural powers? What if he divines that I have you, a system, and uses teaching the Holy Maiden as an excuse to drag me off for interrogation?]

System: [He won't, Host. I just checked. In this world, the Holy Maiden ranks even higher than the Imperial Preceptor. He probably divined your tremendous fortune, which is why he came looking for you.]

[Even if he really does want to harm you, Host, you can redeem a protective talisman in the shop, and you won't have anything to fear.]

Chu Siqing breathed a sigh of relief and felt rather pleased with herself. [That's good. I transmigrated into this world and even have a system. Of course I'm a daughter of fortune!]

Surprise appeared in Empress Dowager Pei's eyes. "The Holy Maiden? Is that Siqing?"

Emperor Chu Ming said, "The Imperial Preceptor has yet to confirm it."

Hearing the words "Holy Maiden," Han Wanqing suddenly felt dizzy.

The Holy Maiden?

Her daughter might be Great Chu's Holy Maiden?

Han Wanqing could scarcely believe it.

The Holy Maiden held an exceedingly high position in Great Chu. Legend had it that she could influence a nation's lifeblood, a daughter of the Heavenly Dao who possessed the ability to communicate with the gods.

It was said that fifty years ago, when Chu was still weak, a Holy Maiden had appeared. It was under her guidance that the mighty Great Chu of today had come to be.

Though Siqing had some unusual qualities, Han Wanqing had always regarded her simply as her own daughter. She had never considered the possibility that she might be the Holy Maiden!

As she pondered this, Tu Qingchen said, "Princess Yu, may I take a look at the little commandery princess?"

Han Wanqing came back to her senses. Hearing the Imperial Preceptor's request, she immediately hesitated.

Even knowing that the Imperial Preceptor meant no harm, she still felt inexplicably uneasy.

[Mother, it's all right. Just hand me over to the Imperial Preceptor!]

Hearing her daughter's inner voice finally gave Han Wanqing a pill to settle her nerves.

That inner voice had always known things before they happened. Since her daughter had told her so, she could put her mind at ease.

Han Wanqing handed her daughter over to the Imperial Preceptor.

Tu Qingchen reached out to take her, then lowered his head and found himself staring wide-eyed at Chu Siqing, who stared right back.

[Aaaah! The Imperial Preceptor is so handsome! So handsome!]