Chapter 106
Xiao Chuchu attempted to exchange for the weaknesses of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch in the system.
She was unsure whether this person was the assassin in the novel.
However, her current memory was quite certain that the novel never mentioned this assassin's weakness.
Had it not been for the Lantern Festival that day, the Empress Dowager closest to Xiao Yunzhou would have disregarded her own life, with the guards advancing and retreating in an orderly manner, risking their lives. Xiao Yunzhou would have been doomed.
"Weakness of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch: ???"
"The host has not yet unlocked the skill to view weaknesses."
"Requires 100 points to exchange."
So expensive!
Xiao Chuchu gasped in her swaddling clothes.
100 points can be used for a lottery draw, possibly winning a skill book.
But there were priorities. This wasn't the time to cherish points.
Exchange it!
Xiao Chuchu clenched her fists.
In an instant, the system gave feedback.
"Weakness One of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch: Fear of blood."
"?"
Xiao Chuchu was stunned.
An assassin, who was afraid of blood.
Well, so he might not have used all his strength on the day of the assassination.
Seeing blood, he was frightened, and his strength would decrease?
"Weakness Two of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch: Fear of hunger."
"...Weakness Three: Fear of cold."
"Weaknesses are ranked from the most to least significant."
Xiao Chuchu's tender little face was all wrinkled up.
Was this all the information for 100 points?
That's too much.
Could she ask the system to verify his identity?
Just as Xiao Chuchu thought of this, she was rejected by the system.
"The system currently has no information on this matter available for exchange."
Xiao Chuchu instantly pouted.
But the continuous exchange of information and checking of the three people's combat power values drained her energy. She was surrounded by fatigue instantly.
Her little head drooped bit by bit, and she couldn't keep her eyelids open.
"I'll sleep first, there are still more than twenty days until the Lantern Festival, I'll think about it tomorrow~"
Was there anything special about the Lantern Festival?
Concubine Liu and Fifth Prince Cheng Qian were completely puzzled.
But the weaknesses of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch, the little princess's inner thoughts were crystal clear to them.
After dinner, Concubine Liu and Cheng Qian bid farewell to Consort Min and the Sixth Prince and returned to their palace.
"Cheng Qian, it's best if you don't get too close to the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch your sister mentioned," Concubine Liu said.
Concubine Liu hadn't heard Xiao Chuchu's evaluation of the Tea-serving Junior Eunuch.
But Chuchu had a habit. If it's a good person worth getting to know, she would certainly be excited and shout.
For example, the former Imperial Guard Pang Rusong, and again the wet nurse, Zhang Jia.
"We don't understand the situation right now, but this person is hiding his real ability near your father, hiding his identity. He must not be simple, we can't get too close."
Concubine Liu advised her son to stay away and didn't plan to interact with this junior eunuch too much either.
If he was the expert arranged by Xiao Yunzhou, and Xiao Yunzhou didn't say, they naturally wouldn't be convenient to get to know him.
If not, then the problem was even bigger.
Cheng Qian nodded, "I understand."
The two spoke a little and then talked about Xiao Yunzhou asking them to visit the Imperial Study less often.
"At this time last year, the border was not peaceful, and the Chu State cavalry was ready to move."
Cheng Qian thought, "I estimate that this year, the cabinet will discuss measures in advance."
Concubine Liu nodded, she thought the same.
There was another reason, which she didn't say.
That night, when the Duke of Dingguo's daughter implied that Xiao Yunzhou had a 'bad back', Xiao Yunzhou was probably too embarrassed to face her.
Let him calm down for a couple of days.
"By the way, Cheng Qian, don't rush your martial training, prioritize your health."
In an instant, Cheng Qian's face turned red. "I understand, father."
Today he truly experienced the 'social death' his sister often spoke about.
Not only did his sister know, but even his dear mother knew about his weak martial prowess, which was far less than his sixth younger brother.
Being a young man who values his pride, Cheng Qian couldn't sit still at Concubine Liu's place anymore. After a while, he got up with a red face and returned to Qianxi No.5 Residence.
"Let's go to the training ground."
Just before reaching Qianxi No.5 Residence, Cheng Qian was still feeling uneasy and couldn't help but detour to the training ground where he practiced during the day.
The eunuchs who were with him were puzzled. "Your Highness, it's so late, there's nobody at the training ground."
"Yes, I'm going for some extra practice."
The eunuchs were taken aback.
Cheng Qian gritted his teeth, entered the empty training ground, and started practicing horse stance.
His sister said that his sixth younger brother had a five-star growth rate, while his was only two and a half stars.
That meant for every hour of practice his sixth brother did, he needed to practice twice as long to make the same progress.
Then he'd just train more!
Cheng Qian didn't want to lose.
He used to be ignorant, but now he knew that his country was on the verge of collapse, and he was a potential heir to the throne... He couldn't waste his youth.
He should hold himself to higher standards.
Cheng Qian wanted to give it his all.
"Your Highness, it's so late... If you want to practice, I'll wake you up half an hour earlier tomorrow, it's too dark to see clearly now."
The young eunuch, Xiao Luzi, tried to persuade him.
But Cheng Qian shook his head firmly. "Today is today, and tomorrow is tomorrow. I have to finish my quota for today."
Even if it took ten years, any improvement in his martial prowess was worth it.
"What if one day I have to go to battle, do you think the enemy will wait for me to train in the morning? Xiao Luzi, if you have nothing to do, train with me. We'll go to the battlefield together in the future."
"... " Xiao Luzi immediately closed his mouth.
Seeing him like this, Cheng Qian couldn't help but laugh and cry.
If he became the new emperor, Xiao Luzi would be in Wei Zheng's position, the head steward.
Look at this useless fellow.
If he were to be an emperor, he wouldn't let Xiao Luzi be like Wei Zheng, only good at bootlicking!
"Xiao Luzi, you train with me."
Cheng Qian demanded on the spot.
Xiao Luzi wanted to cry but had no tears. Why did the prince suddenly drag him into this?
He wasn't a study buddy!
Seeing him waffling, Cheng Qian immediately grew irritated and began lecturing him.
"If you want to stay by my side, don't learn to flatter and compliment."
"You need to learn some real skills. Think about it, if you earn ten taels a month, that's equivalent to the annual income of a poor peasant. What gives you the right to earn that?"
Cheng Qian didn't say it out loud, but he didn't really approve of his father's fondness for Wei Zheng, a eunuch who didn't have much to offer.
Wei Zheng didn't have enough ability, so how could he be the head eunuch? What good could he do?
Cheng Qian was different now. After being enlightened by his beloved sister, he knew about the impending national crisis. His perspective was much higher than that of an ordinary prince.
"Ten taels? Are you pulling my leg, Prince? I'm just a junior eunuch and I get only one tael a month...how can it be as much as ten taels!" Xiao Luzi couldn't even fathom it, "That would be almost as much as Chief Eunuch Wei!"
Cheng Qian was flabbergasted, he really couldn't see eye to eye with Xiao Luzi, "And why do you think you deserve one tael? Just because you serve me day in and day out?"
"The common people toil in the fields every day, their backs nearly broken, and they might not even earn one tael a month."
Xiao Luzi pulled a long face.
Outside the training ground, the moonlight poured down, casting a glow on a slender, weak figure passing by.
If Xiao Chuchu and Xiao Yunzhou were present, they would be extremely nervous.
The silent figure who passed the training ground and then paused was none other than the junior eunuch who had an outstanding martial prowess of 99!
He was hiding in the shadows at this moment, making no sound, even his breathing was nearly inaudible.
Although he was at least twenty steps away from Cheng Qian, every word Cheng Qian spoke clearly entered his ears!
"The tea-serving junior eunuch in the Emperor's study, who looks even younger than you, doesn't earn as much as you do by my side."
Cheng Qian couldn't help but compare.
The comparison left him speechless.
The other had a martial prowess of 99, and compared to him, Xiao Luzi had no special skills.
"That one, is way better than you..." Cheng Qian almost let it slip, and abruptly stopped.
Following Xiao Luzi's puzzled gaze, Cheng Qian quickly changed the subject with a cough,
"Last time I went to the imperial study, I saw him practicing how to serve tea without spilling a single drop."
The shadow lurking in the moonlight shuddered slightly.
Cheng Qian and Xiao Luzi didn't notice.
"He earns even less than you."
Cheng Qian thought of what his sister had said about the tea-serving junior eunuch's weakness— he was afraid of hunger.
Looking at Xiao Luzi in front of him, Cheng Qian wished he could point at Xiao Luzi's forehead, "He probably often goes hungry without even a snack. He's a pitiful soul indeed."
The lurking shadow under the moonlight clenched his fist behind his back.
"The tea-serving junior eunuch has suffered a lot, but he is ambitious and competent. Xiao Luzi, look at yourself, how do you compare?"
"You should learn from those who strive, not from those who only know how to flatter!"
"When I work for the people in the future, if you are useful, you can continue to receive your salary. But if not, I can't use the hard-earned money of the people to support you, Xiao Luzi."
The shadow lurking in the moonlight lingered for a long time before slowly leaving.
*
"Roar, Emperor Dad, what have you done! Last night, you completed one-tenth of the enlightenment mission!"
Early in the morning, Xiao Chuchu was held by Concubine Liu in the imperial garden. Seeing Emperor Xiao Yunzhou from a distance, she yelled with excitement in her heart!
Xiao Yunzhou was dumbfounded from afar.
Huh?
"Emperor Dad, what good deed did you do last night? Keep it up."
Xiao Yunzhou was stunned.
What did he do last night?
He was so scared that he couldn't sleep!
He only dozed off around midnight, and even had a nightmare about the junior eunuch trying to assassinate pleted one-tenth already?
Keep...it up...okay?