Chapter 9: Emperor Xia’s Test
Chapter 9: Emperor Xia’s Test
Name: Xiao Rui
Status: Seventh Prince of the Great Xia Kingdom
Talent: Does being a transmigrator count? If not, then none.
Advent Points: 65/100
New Mission: Excel in Emperor Xia’s test, Advent Points +15. This mission is mandatory. Failure results in a deduction of 50 Advent Points!
…
“Shoot!”
Xiao Rui sprang up from his seat, completely bewildered.
System, are you trying to kill me?
Having a mission was one thing, but damn, failing it also meant losing points? One deduction like that would send him right back to pre-transmigration.
Of course, for Xiao Rui, this wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was what the System wanted!
You want me to excel in Emperor Xia’s test, are you trying to force me to become Emperor?
Xiao Rui seemed to see the Eldest Prince snorting coldly, the Second Prince picking up his knife, the Fourth Prince raising his fists, the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince smirking sinisterly. Most hateful was the Third Prince, who actually tore up the IOU he had written!
“Deduct them, go ahead, deduct them. I’ll just pretend the System doesn’t exist,” Xiao Rui thought. He would rather lose all his Advent Points than become the nail that sticks out.
“Ding-dong… Special Reminder: When Advent Points reach zero, it will harm the Host! Seriously, it could cause heart disease, cerebral thrombosis, and there’s even a chance of kidney deficiency. Believe it or not?”
The corner of Xiao Rui’s eye twitched. Then, putting on a righteous front, he declared, “As an outstanding transmigrator, I must contribute and set an example for this era. Don’t even mention possibly becoming Emperor; even if you asked me to be Li Erlang, I’d pick up the sword and do it.”
The System, satisfied, vanished.
Oh my god! Xiao Rui covered his face, feeling lost about the path ahead. Dear brothers, listen to your little brother’s explanation! Your little brother was forced into this!
The next day, Xiao Rui entered the palace.
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he ran into Xiao Jing and Xiao Yan, who had been waiting for a while.
“Seventh Brother!” Xiao Yan called out.
Xiao Rui responded with a listless “Hmm.”
“What’s wrong, Seventh Brother? Didn’t sleep well?” Xiao Yan asked.
Xiao Rui replied weakly, “Did you sleep well?”
Xiao Yan glanced at the Hall of Mental Cultivation and quickly stuck out his tongue.
Xiao Jing looked pleased with himself, unable to resist silently laughing at the two of them.
A moment later, a Palace Eunuch walked out.
“His Majesty is reviewing urgent memorials submitted by the Grand Secretariat. He orders the three Imperial Princes to proceed to the side hall to wait,” the Palace Eunuch said respectfully.
“Yes! Thank you, Eunuch Hai.” Xiao Jing nodded, treating Emperor Xia’s personal Palace Eunuch with considerable courtesy.
Xiao Rui glanced at Eunuch Hai, and for a moment, his gaze met the eunuch’s calm eyes before looking away.
This old eunuch had served Emperor Xia for over twenty years. Calling him ‘cunning’ was an understatement. The Directorate of Ceremonial was responsible for the Vermilion Endorsement on Grand Secretariat memorials. As the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he held a position of great power and influence.
He told the three of them to move to the side hall. But why had he added that preface?
An urgent memorial that required Emperor Xia’s personal review, and one that the Directorate of Ceremonial dared not delay… it could only be military intelligence! A critical border report.
Immediately, Xiao Rui thought of the Steppe pastureland contested by the Great Xia Kingdom and the Great Qi Kingdom – the hottest topic of the moment.
Entering the side hall, the first thing Xiao Rui saw was a topographic map hanging on the wall. Looking closely, wasn’t it precisely the map of the area around the Steppe pastureland?
The map was very detailed, marking the boundaries of the Steppe pastureland, the terrain, mountains, and water flow on both sides, even the estimated heights of the mountains and the general overview of the rivers.
The heartland of the Great Xia Kingdom was mostly plains and hills. The further north you went, the more mountainous it became.
This Steppe pastureland was in the northwest of the Great Xia Kingdom, bordering the Great Qi Kingdom. It was a grassland spanning tens of thousands of square miles, with the border between the two countries splitting it in two.
More importantly, beyond this pastureland, hundreds of miles to either side were continuous mountain ranges. This gap was a natural passage, allowing armies to drive deep into the other’s territory.
Therefore, the Champion Marquis of the Great Xia Kingdom had stationed troops at a Military Garrison twenty miles south of the pastureland. The Great Qi Kingdom had a Military Garrison stationed north of the pastureland.
Xiao Rui remembered that this map hadn’t been hanging here during his previous visits to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Were all these signs hinting that the content of Emperor Xia’s test was precisely this dispute over the pastureland? After all, the content of Emperor Xia’s previous tests had always been related to affairs of state.
Thinking of this, Xiao Rui carefully studied the topographic map around the pastureland, trying to find a solution.
West of the pastureland, the mountain range trended northwest, connecting to the Kunlun Plateau. The altitude there was high, covered in ice and snow year-round. At this time of year, it was the season of snowmelt.
“Hmm?” Xiao Rui suddenly had a bold idea, though he didn’t know if it was feasible.
While Xiao Rui stared intently at the map, Xiao Yan also came over to look. After a few glances, he found it boring and walked away. Xiao Jing also scanned it a few times before paying it no more mind.
Not long after, Emperor Xia walked in.
Emperor Xia was fifty-two years old. Though slightly portly, one could still see the broad-shouldered, powerful build of his youth when he campaigned across the land. He still carried the commanding aura of a military leader.
The burdens of state made him look somewhat weary. Arriving at the hall’s entrance, he observed the actions of the three princes. Xiao Yan looked bored. Xiao Jing sat quietly in thought. And Xiao Rui… hmm? He was looking at the map.
Emperor Xia glanced at Eunuch Hai, then walked in without pausing.
Xiao Rui snapped back to attention and hurriedly, along with Xiao Jing and Xiao Yan, paid their respects.
“Your sons pay respects to Your Majesty.” The three bowed.
Emperor Xia smiled. “How are the studies of you three coming along? Have you completed the coursework left by your various tutors?”
Xiao Jing replied respectfully, “Reporting to Imperial Father, your son dare not forget your teachings. I complete every assignment diligently and do not dare to be negligent.”
“Me too,” Xiao Yan said softly, his tone seeming like he didn’t quite believe his own words.
Xiao Rui then said, “I will learn from my two younger brothers and be even more diligent.”
Emperor Xia smiled and nodded. His gaze lingered on Xiao Rui for a moment.
He rose and went to sit at the desk. “Among you nine brothers, only you three are still cultivating yourselves and have not yet started families. So you must take advantage of your youth, study hard and learn diligently. What you learn becomes your own. As members of the imperial clan, you should possess a certain level of cultivation, not just in academics, but also in martial arts. Your status means you cannot live like ordinary commoners. This is your fortune, and also your misfortune.”
Emperor Xia’s tone was deep and earnest in his instruction.
Actually, Xiao Rui admired Emperor Xia. No matter how busy state affairs were, he always found time to instruct his sons personally, rather than pushing it all onto the Jiwen Hall. Moreover, his teachings focused heavily on responsibility and capability. It was clear he wanted his children to live up to their status.
“Yes!” The three bowed in acknowledgment.
Emperor Xia smiled. “Don’t just stand there. Sit.”
Eunuch Hai had already ordered servants to bring desks and chairs, arranged in the center of the hall. Xiao Rui and the other two sat down in turn, looking up at Emperor Xia seated before them.
As usual, the test began.
Emperor Xia said solemnly, “As Imperial Princes, while you focus on studying the classics, you must also keep your ears open to what happens beyond the window. What is the matter currently being widely discussed by the people of the Capital City?”
“The Muye Pasture!” Xiao Yan blurted out.
Emperor Xia nodded. “Therefore, the content of my test today is about the Muye Pasture. Each of you three will write your policy proposal. Speak freely, express your own views.”
As expected! Xiao Rui thought to himself.
Xiao Yan’s face fell; he felt it was really difficult.
Xiao Jing frowned, caught unprepared.
“You have one quarter of an hour. Light the incense,” Emperor Xia said.
Eunuch Hai waved his hand. Three eunuchs brought three Incense Burners and placed them on the three princes’ desks.
Watching the curling smoke, Xiao Rui fell into hesitation.
He absolutely had to earn those Advent Points because he didn’t want to die. But how to excel in Emperor Xia’s test required deeper thought.
Excelling meant putting forward a good suggestion, stating a proposal that Emperor Xia would greatly agree with, one that not only solved the problem but also had unexpected positive effects. It wasn’t as simple as just outperforming Xiao Yan and Xiao Jing.
Beating those two didn’t necessarily mean excelling in the test.
So, he needed to figure out Emperor Xia’s true intentions.
As Emperor, his wishes likely boiled down to two.
First, to obtain the Muye Pasture, and to do so permanently, making the Great Qi Kingdom dare not contest it again.
Second, if they could simultaneously deal a heavy blow to the Great Qi Kingdom, all the better.
The wish was beautiful, but the methods were few.
Xiao Rui pondered for a long time. Finally, he made up his mind. He would write exactly that!