Main story/12

## Chapter 12: Prince

Rewards 14
File:Water Sword.png Water Sword
File:Water Hairpin.png Water Hairpin
Rewards 28
File:Water Shoes.png Water Shoes
File:Water Robe.png Water Robe
Rewards 42
 Recruit Paper 8

## 12-1 Suggestion

Other people thought it was Princess Anle who helped you and the emperor reconcile. Since then, the emperor often fetched you to grind ink, which made you more popular than Lady Liu.

Emperor
After days of effort, the dispute between Wangs and Weis is finally settled. Standing in between, I feel quite embarrassed.
Player
It's their kids who disappointed them, not you, Your Majesty.
Emperor
(Smiled) You are right. You helped me solve this problem. There was an open and free atmosphere life. Many wise and virtuous concubines engaged in national affairs in the past. and their stories had been told. So you thanked him for his praise.
Player
It's almost time for the campaign. We shouldn't use their men. Do you have any good choice, Your Majesty?
Emperor
I wanted to send one of my captains before, but I had some concerns. Luckily, Lord Chu told me that he would like to go. Now I don't have any worries.
Hearing this, you were shocked. You didn't expect that he would go. It was a good opportunity indeed, but you couldn't help to worry that Wangs and Weis may play the same trick and hurt him.

Player
Though we will win for sure. But there are so many uncertainties on the battlefield. Lord Chu is your cousin. He doesn't have to take the risk actually.
Emperor
I am surprised, too. But he said he had learned kung fu for years, and he wanted to test himself on the battlefield and serve our nation.
Player
(Embarrassed) That's good. He is your cousin, and you can trust him now.
You felt sorry for Lord Chu and didn't want him to take any risks. But you had to leave him be, as he asked for it. You must tell him to be careful when you saw him next time.

Emperor
I have no choice. Now I realize that most of the ministers have connections with the prime minister or the general, and few potential talents are loyal to me.
Suggest him to set up martial examination
*Foxy +5*
Some of your cousins were good at kung fu but didn't know the literature. You felt sorry that the government didn't recruit warriors. Otherwise, more men would be outstanding. So you brought it up.

Player
We advocate kung fu. As literatus can seek a future through imperial examination, you can add martial examination and give a chance to all men of prowess to serve the nation. What do you think?
Emperor
Good idea. Ordinary people won't become their followers so soon as long as I lead them the right way.
Emperor
And the imperial examination system also need s to be developed. I will add a court test. By then, all of them will be my students.
Player
See, I only saw one aspect, and you figured out the whole system.
Emperor
Don't be modest. You are a good advisor.
Raising your head, you saw that he looked at you with appreciation. At once, you felt ambitious. This time you wouldn't be a low-grade concubine and bullied byothers. Instead, you could discuss national affairs with the emperor. Your future would prosper.

## 12-6 New Waves

At Qingning Palace, the empress and Lady Jiang were sipping tea. They became anxious as they had failed several times, Lady Jia was demoted and the emperor adored you more.

Empress
Huh, it seems that your idea doesn't work.
Lady Jiang
I am sorry, Your Majesty. But I made sure that everything in Limbo Palace was well arranged. She wouldn't be able to survive if Lady Lan didn't help her.
Empress
I am still too lenient with Lady Lan so that she dares stand against me after being grounded in the Limbo Palace!
Lady Jiang
It is because the emperor thinks she gave birth to the prince, so she dare have so many moves.
Empress
(Sad) Prince? Yes, her son is the heir. It was my son who should be the heir!
Lady Jiang
(Carefully) The emperor is still in his prime and treats you as well as before. You will have your own son sooner or later. By then, her son will step down.
Empress
I hope so. I miscarried before, so it's not easy to get pregnant again. Now our priority is Lady Liu and the consort.
Lady Jiang
Doctors said that Lady Liu's health is poor and it's not easy to get pregnant. I think our priority is the consort.
Empress
(Nodded) Now the emperor adores her very much, so we shouldn't target her obviously.
Then dark means were the best choice. Lady Jiang got it and said no more.

Lady Jiang
Lady Jia seems to be a little upset lately…
Empress
I will intercede for her later. She still can be useful, so I'd like to keep her.
Lady Jiang
She got demoted, so she must hate Player very much. If she has a chance to get revenge, she will go even if you don't assign her.
Empress
If she succeeds, my efforts will be well paid for. I am afraid that she is as stupid as before and achieves nothing.
Lady Jiang
If she fails, it will be her destiny. Anyway, you only lose a pawn.
Empress
You are right. There is no place for useless people in this palace.
She picked the wilting Chinese herbaceous peony in the blue and white porcelain without leniency.

## 12-8 Farewell

People in Northwest China became more rampant recently. Now Lord Chu had been chosen, so they dare not delay the schedule. They got everything ready quickly, and he could set off any time. That night, you were leaning against the settee and reading an old poem book, while Yaner was sewing. Seeing your worried face and hearing your sigh, she said:

Yaner
My lady, this is your sixth sigh! Is there anything that bothers you?
Player
(Looked down) Nothing…Just do your job.
Yaner
(Pouted) You promised Doctor Huang that you wouldn't keep everything to yourself last time. Now you do it again!
Yaner held your hand and pretended to be angry. You knew that she was trying to amuse you. You patted her arm and told her that you were fine.

Player
Nothing. I am worried about Lord Chu when thinking that he is heading for the battlefield later.
You were afraid that Wangs and Weis may hurt him out of hatred, so you wrote to him a few days ago. You told him to beware of those people around him.

Yaner
You said we will win the battle for sure, right? So you should have faith in Lord Chu!
You knew Yaner was right. But you couldn't think too much. Now you felt a lot better after talking with Yaner. So you nodded to her and thought no more.

Player
(if I can see him again before he leaves…)
As you were thinking, you heard a slight sound. Someone hit your window with some stuff. Then you remembered something, so you rushed to open the window. No one was there. Leaves sang over the wind on this summer night, and bright moonlight spread on your window. You could see the wooden box sitting there alone. You took the old pottery doll in the box. He had a round head and a round face and, with a sword in his hand, was laughing. Though it was a rough work, you knew it was Lord Chu. Suddenly, your eyes were filled with tears. This was the gift you made and sent to Lord Chu when you were little. Unexpectedly, he kept it for so many years.

Player
(Hongze, are you here to say goodbye to me…)
Put it away
*Innocent +5*
You put it away carefully because you thought it could connect you with him.

## 12-11 Attack

It was summer now, and cicadas sang day and night. One day, after you went you Zichen Palace to send the emperor sweet lotus seed soup, an incident happened on your way back.

? ? ?
Hahaha! I gotyou!
A small stone flew out from a bush by the path and hit you. Turning around, you saw a boy who may be eight years old stand by the bush. Again he threw several small stones to hit you.

Yaner
(Stood in front of you) Who are you? How Dare you attack my lady? Hey…!
Before Yaner finished, a stone hit her forehead. Seeing that, the boy laughed and tried to escape.

Player
Xiao Shunzi, stop him.
Then Xiao Shunzi chased him and locked him with his arms.

? ? ?
Unhand me! Unhand me! Do you know who I am? Or I will ask my father to punish you!
Player
(Grabbed the slingshot in his hand) Does your father teach you to shoot others with the slingshot?
? ? ?
My father only cares about my sister. He won't bother to ask about me. Why are you to say that to me?
His adorable face looked sad and angry when he talked about his father.

Patiently talk to him
*Cautious +5*
You couldn't help to talk to him patiently when you saw his look.

Player
You are a big boy now and still play with a slingshot. Don't you feel ashamed?
? ? ?
Leave me alone! You are a lady, but you took my stuff. Don't you feel shamed? Give me my slingshot!
Player
Give you back? OK! I will give you the toy if you tell me how many flowers are here. And you need apologize to me if you give me a wrong number. What do you say?
? ? ?
If I win, you must give me the slingshot and kneel down to beg for my forgiveness! What do you say?
Player
Alright. Only if you can win.
? ? ?
Huh! I will.
Then he ran away and counted those flowers carefully.

Yaner
This kid is so rude!
Player
His identity allows him to act like this.
Hearing this, Yaner and Xiao Shunzi looked at each other. Suddenly they seemingly figured it out and exclaimed. He must be the little prince.

## 12-15 Naughty Boy

You saw him counting those flowers carefully, so you waited in a shade.

Crown Prince
There are one thousand four hundred and fifty one flowers in total!
After he counted the flower cluster nearest to you, he yelled the number out and didn't care about his maculate clothes.

Player
There should be one thousand four hundred and thirty one flowers in total
Crown Prince
Bullshit! How can I miss twenty flowers?
You pointed in the direction where he started. Obviously, some potted flowers had been removed.

Crown Prince
(Shocked) How could it be possible? Where are those flowers?
Player
You didn't notice what happened when you were counting. Pity, I win.
Crown Prince
No! You tricked me.
Player
I removed those flowers in front of you, and you didn't notice. How can you blame me?
Crown Prince
Alright, try again!
Ask him to apologize first
*Cool +5*
Player
You are not a good loser. I won. If you wanna try again, you must apologize to me first. Then I can play with you.
Crown Prince
(With a solemn face) I'm sorry, alright! Are you happy now?
Player
(Smiled) Well, you kept your promise, so I can give you the slingshot. But if you attack others with your tool, I won't be so nice.
Crown Prince
Don't lecture me. Let's try again!
Player
What do you have?
Crown Prince
What do you want? Gold or jewels?
Player
I don't like such stuff. My prince, I like butterflies. If you can catch some pretty butterflies for me, I will play with you.
Crown Prince
Deal! Remember what you said! I will go and get some for you!
Though he was frustrated, he was not angry. Instead, he was a little happy. He almost fell down when he ran away. Probably he spent too much time counting those flowers, and now he felt dizzy.

Xiao Shunzi
Speaking of the prince, I feel bad for him. His birth mother is grounded in the Limbo Palace, while the empress is not easy to get along with. He must suffer a lot.
Player
We are here with him for a while, but no nanny or maid comes to look for him. So the empress doesn't wanna take good care of him.
Yaner
The empress is still very young. She doesn't want to adopt a son of course.
Player
(Sighed) Anyway, I have promised Lady Lan to take care of her son. I had no time to check on him recently, but we must pay more attention to him later.

## 12-18 Find the Mole

When you were back with Yaner and Xiao Shunzi, Weiyang, with a serious look, led you to the inside. She said she had something important to tell you.

Player
What's about it?
Weiyang
You asked me to find out who is the spy. I got something.
Player
Really? What have you got?
Weiyang
My lady, look.
Weiyang took out a willow-leaf-shaped golden bracelet, which was carved with flowers and birds. It must be precious.

Player
It looks familiar. But it's not mine.
Weiyang
The bracelet fell off Chunxiang's pocket today when she was working. And she didn't realize it.
Weiyang
I thought she just liked to steal. But then I found that she is a traitor!
Weiyang was easygoing and steady, so you seldom heard her scold someone like this. You were surprised and looked at her with a smile.

Weiyang
Why are you smiling, my lady? Look, Lady Jia wore the bracelet once.
I forgot…
*Innocent +5*
Player
I wanna escape whenever I see Lady Jia. How can I pay attention to such things? It looks familiar to me though.
Weiyang
But I remember clearly. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to confirm.
Clearly, Chunxiang was the traitor and made all the trouble. And Lady Jia's bracelet was her reward. You felt a little sad, but you didn't show.

Player
I believe you. I just seldom see your angry face.
Weiyang
I am pissed off! These maids often remind me of my sister. And you are so kind to us, my lady. I think they are so lucky to be your maids. How can she do this to you?
Player
Well, they have their choice. But I believe in karma. They will pay for their behaviors.
You spoke harsh words in a gentle tone.

Weiyang
Got it. I will do what I have to do. What do you wanna do with her?
Player
(Smiled) We need evidence. Leave it aside and ask someone to keep an eye on her. Don't let her know.