Changing the General Summoning

The next day, Wu Junji woke in the dragon bed, alone once again. The bedding was just warm enough: one degree hotter would have been too much, one degree cooler would have lost that delicious languor.

He rolled onto his side, yawned, and reached toward the head of the bed.

Nothing.

Wu Junji's sleepy languor vanished at once.

He sat up, his voice mellow after a full night's sleep.

"I'm awake."

Nanny Wang had long been waiting outside. She brought two maids in and drew back the bed curtains. Their little master's cheeks were rosy from sleep, and he was full of energy.

Nanny Wang smiled in relief.

Wu Junji held out his arms for them to dress him. All he needed to do was lift his feet and hands as the maids guided him; he had nothing else to worry about.

"Who came near the bed?"

At a glance from Nanny Wang, the two palace maids stepped forward and reported:

"Eunuch Deli helped His Majesty dress. Apart from him, only Eunuch Qian approached the bed to search it, saying His Majesty had left something behind."

Nanny Wang asked, "Did he disturb Your Highness's sweet dreams? I'll give him a proper scolding later."

Wu Junji shook his head without speaking.

The porcelain shard was gone.

If the old bastard had taken it, he would not have hidden it away. Putting the broken shard by the pillow so Wu Junji would see it the moment he opened his eyes-that was Emperor Zhou's style.

Only a servant who had discovered it and gone to inform on him would have taken it away so silently.

Today's breakfast consisted of a basket of Golden Milk Pastry, Fresh Duck Blossom Soup, Phoenix Embryo, and Plum Blossom Porridge.

Phoenix Embryo sounded grand, but it was really a dish made from eggs that had not yet fully developed inside a hen, cooked together with fish. It tasted all right.

Once he had eaten his fill, Wu Junji walked to the Admonition Hall, where Emperor Zhou held smaller meetings after court and ministers delivered minor reports.

When Wu Junji was a year old, the old bastard often carried him here to keep him company while he worked.

Ever since he had learned to walk, he had come and gone freely.

A squad of Golden Eagle Guards stood before the Admonition Hall with sabers at their hips. Their red uniforms embroidered with golden feathers gave them an extraordinary presence, and every one had a wasp waist and an ape's broad back. Their faces were also...

Wu Junji suddenly remembered that the Golden Eagle Guards seemed to be eunuchs, every last one.

The little Crown Prince was barely a scrap of a person, dressed like a peach blossom branch carved from jade, drifting slowly across the ground like a cloud.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on the little squat bundle.

Every one of them marveled. Only a place as exalted as the imperial palace could raise such an heir to the dragon throne.

Every day without fail, before going to bed, Emperor Zhou coordinated the little Crown Prince's clothes and accessories for the following day.

Beneath Emperor Zhou's brawny exterior beat a pink heart.

His fortune manifestation was the Pink Dragon, so Emperor Zhou considered pink the noblest, most exalted, most beautiful color under heaven.

The little Crown Prince's pale skin glowed pink, fair and tender. Dressed in pink, he truly looked like an immortal child descended from heaven.

If the child attendant beneath Guanyin looked like the little Crown Prince, Emperor Zhou would surely pluck Guanyin off the lotus throne and enthrone the little Crown Prince instead, offering flower dew to his jade body every day.

In his previous life, Wu Junji had endured more than a decade of hardship among the common people. When he first entered Chang'an, his skin was dark and sallow, and whatever he wore looked rustic. The sickliness between his brows only made people consider him ill-omened.

Nothing like now, when the entire palace agreed that His Highness shone like starlight and moonlight and would surely become Chang'an's greatest beauty when he grew up. Though he clearly resembled His Majesty, his bearing was entirely different, exceptional and distinct.

The cloud drifted up to them and tilted his head back to ask, "Is Father busy?"

For a moment, the Golden Eagle Guard was struck speechless, unsure how to answer. All he knew to do was extend an arm to invite him inside.

Perhaps deciding this man was not terribly bright, the little Crown Prince shook his head and went in on his own.

The guard's face flushed red.

As Wu Junji stepped through the doorway, he was still thinking how wonderful it was to be emperor. When he became emperor someday, he would certainly choose good-looking people to serve around him too.

Great Zhou's imperial examinations screened candidates for their looks. Unless an ugly candidate was exceptionally talented, he would be eliminated in the first round.

In his previous life, he had been short of people and had stopped caring about appearances. His court had been filled with officials tall and short, fat and thin, an eyesore to behold.

Then Wu Junji entered and saw someone even better-looking!

Red robes, a tall official's hat, delicate features, a touch of sickliness-Wu Junji clicked his tongue. Li Gong...

Qian Deli was a mere junior before him.

Qian Deli could only arrange the emperor's meals, clothes, and daily needs, and handle miscellaneous affairs within the palace.

Li Gong handled not only internal affairs but military forces outside the palace as well.

Wu Junji kept his face tilted up, staring and staring.

When he entered Chang'an, apart from Chen Yu, who had ulterior motives from the start, only Li Gong had shown him any respect.

Though that respect had been mixed with pity and Li Gong's innate tactfulness, Wu Junji forgave him.

What could he do? He simply liked loyal talents of this sort.

This man was utterly loyal to Emperor Zhou, constantly reminding him to kill Wu Junji sooner rather than let his games get out of hand. He had been one of Wu Junji's greatest adversaries.

Yet Wu Junji truly liked him. Just as no one disliked Zhuge Liang, even an enemy wanted a minister like Zhuge Liang.

In Wu Junji's heart, Li Gong's steadfastness rivaled Kongming's.

Why did the old bastard's General Summoning produce someone like Li Gong, while his produced someone like Chen Yu?

Emperor Zhou flicked the little Crown Prince awake from his drooling admiration of Li Gong and chided him with a laugh.

"What sweet dream are you having in broad daylight?"

Wu Junji wiped away his nonexistent drool, pointed at Li Gong, and declared willfully:

"I want him."

Far from being displeased, Emperor Zhou was brimming with pride at this affirmation of his discerning eye. He turned the little Crown Prince's greedy head back toward himself.

"In your dreams."

"This is Li Gong, summoned through my General Summoning."

"I originally stationed him at your side to keep you safe, but the moment Li Gong entered Jixia Academy, Lord of Changbai Mountain detained him. I only just ransomed him back."

Lord of Changbai Mountain should not have known about Emperor Zhou's ability.

Only the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager knew of Emperor Zhou's innate General Summoning ability.

Who had told Lord of Changbai Mountain was obvious.

Tigers had keen noses, but if his opponent had not been on guard, Li Gong was confident he could have slipped past unnoticed.

Yet Lord of Changbai Mountain had been prepared. The instant Li Gong stepped into Jixia Academy, a force had pinned him in place. He had walked straight into the enemy's trap.

Li Gong smiled bitterly. "I failed in my duties. I beg Your Majesty and Your Highness's forgiveness."

Emperor Zhou waved a large hand. "Oh, I already said I wouldn't hold it against you."

Emperor Zhou picked up the little Crown Prince, sat on the Imperial Throne, and settled his son on his lap.

"The people around you aren't up to the task."

As he spoke, Emperor Zhou laid out a porcelain shard.

"I'll replace one for you."

Anyone else would have been scared witless.

Wu Junji still had the leisure to think, Look at that. Now this is how the old bastard ought to act.

He glanced at it and said calmly:

"How did that end up with Father? I distinctly remember putting it beneath the bedding by my pillow."

Emperor Zhou said disapprovingly, "Why put something so dangerous beneath the bedding?"

"What if you forgot and stepped on it? You'd be the one in pain."

"I'll have a dagger you can use forged for you and put it beside your pillow."

"A dagger has a sheath and a hilt. It won't hurt its owner."

Wu Junji asked, "Where's Eunuch Qian?"

Emperor Zhou said, "Dead."

Even Wu Junji's eyes cleared. "Oh~"

Emperor Zhou would not keep something that betrayed its master.

Whatever he gave the Crown Prince belonged to the Crown Prince, whether an object or a person.

Eunuch Qian had not considered himself the Crown Prince's man and had brought a porcelain shard to inform on him. Though he had meant to act for Emperor Zhou's benefit, Emperor Zhou did not accept it.

The first time he came to say a shard was missing from the teacup, Emperor Zhou ignored him.

The second time he came to Emperor Zhou with the shard, Emperor Zhou could no longer tolerate him.

I said nothing the first time, and you dared come again? Do you think I'm a fucking idiot who can't understand what you mean, or do you think you're the only clever person under heaven?

You stole that porcelain shard out-are you trying to poison my mind against him, or make me poison the Crown Prince's mind?!

Seeing no strong reaction from the little Crown Prince, Emperor Zhou gave Li Gong a meaningful look.

Li Gong nodded and went out. Eunuch Qian was not dead yet. If the Crown Prince had shown anger or grief, Eunuch Qian would have come back to life on the spot. Since the Crown Prince did not care, he could go die.

Emperor Zhou coaxed him, diverting his attention. "Want to see the people I've chosen for you?"

"They're all from the Golden Eagle Guards and highly skilled in martial arts. Once they acknowledge you as their master, they will never betray you."

Ten eunuchs entered from outside, the very ten Wu Junji had seen at the door.

Emperor Zhou whispered in his ear, "Don't you want to change your General Summoning?"

"I'll teach you how."

Wu Junji's pupils contracted. General Summoning could be changed?!

Here was yet another blind spot in his knowledge.