Fate Trading System – Chapter 191

Plan A

Guiding Stars 7

The Wish

Although Su Xin hadn’t established contact with Pei Yu, she had Fourteen constantly monitoring Pei Yu’s situation, ready to relay any reactions immediately.

Su Xin had no real reason to contact Pei Yu, and communication would be difficult because such behavior would be too strange – one being the reclusive and taciturn Crown Princess who rarely emerged from the deep palace, and the other being this year’s newly crowned Top Scholar. Neither their age nor status had anything in common at this moment.

Su Xin’s last contact was done secretly. In reality, the palace wasn’t as terrifying as described in novels, filled with spies everywhere – that was impossible unless someone had hands covering the sky [手遮天 | shǒu zhē tiān | meaning: having supreme authority] or specifically assigned people to watch her. Given the palace’s vast environment, anyone attempting to sneak around would be easily exposed. Plus, with Fourteen’s positioning system, there wasn’t much to worry about.

【Host, I’ve captured the surveillance footage and will project it onto your retina.】

There’s even such a function?

【The system can upgrade at any time. The designers strive to provide hosts with better experiences and enjoyment, letting hosts feel the system’s high-class status as a golden finger.】

Alright, I’ve safely experienced it.

【This one thinks that this one’s functions will certainly become more and more refined, providing you with better experiences.】

Okkkkk.

Like watching an ultra-HD short video, Su Xin observed Pei Yu’s reactions clearly, feeling about eighty to ninety percent confident.

Next, she would go meet her Mother Emperor, whom she hadn’t seen once since arriving.

Speaking of this Emperor, she wasn’t really an extraordinary person, possessing neither exceptional talent nor ambition to develop and strengthen the country. One could say she ascended to the throne without using many schemes or thoughts, rather it was somewhat opportunistic.

If she had been a truly powerful emperor with keen political insight and the ability to identify treachery among those around her, she wouldn’t have let Yue Xingyao succeed at the age of 14.

In the emperor’s generation, several daughters fought fiercely for power. The emperor herself had been young, politically transparent, and without much influence, essentially excluded from being considered a threat by her powerful sisters. These sisters fought too intensely, going beyond limits – some died, some were injured, some fell ill. Between poisonings and stabbings, none of them could possibly ascend to the throne anymore. At this point, the old emperor was willing but unable to intervene, watching helplessly as her daughters ended up in such states. Then, noticing she still had one daughter who was alive and well, healthy, vibrant, reasonably attractive, and without disabilities, she passed the throne to her before drawing her last breath.

When the seriously ill sisters learned this news, they lamented how “the sandpiper and clam fight while the fisherman benefits” [鹬蚌相争漁翁得利 | yù bàng xiāng zhēng yú wēng dé lì | a Chinese idiom meaning a third party benefits from others’ conflict]. While they had been fighting to the death, that little fish they had never taken seriously got the opportunity instead. Their conditions worsened from anger – some died within days, others within a year or two.

Of course, there were some complications after the succession.

Although those sisters were gravely ill, they continued to cause trouble for their sister who had become emperor. They still had many loyal followers who weren’t the type to to sail according to the wind [見風使舵 | jiàn fēng shǐ duò | meaning: to be opportunistic].

Therefore, the emperor had to seek alliances with other forces to stabilize her position, so she allied with the Emperor Consort’s maternal family.

After that, her reign gradually became more stable.

However, all this stability was predicated on the Demon King not yet having grown up.

Through the original host’s memories, Su Xin understood that this Mother Emperor was actually very approachable, of course, this was after learning her temperament. Having not experienced much scheming, she was an emperor who believed in “more children, more fortune”. She would become very happy just from her daughters’ slight smiles, though it depended on the sincerity and whether it pleased her. She wouldn’t refuse her daughters’ small requests.

The next day, after lunch, Su Xin didn’t stay still to rest but instead asked Fourteen about the emperor’s schedule, checking where the emperor currently was.

After confirming that the emperor wasn’t randomly wandering about or having lunch with any consorts, but was properly handling affairs in the Imperial Study, Su Xin breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly proceeded with her original plan.

Jinxiu had already taken away the food boxes, and now only Su Xin and Xiao Mingyi remained in the place.

This palace used for lectures was quite spacious, with dedicated resting areas for students. After all, the people here placed great importance on afternoon naps, believing that “when the yang is at its peak, it begins to decline” [陽盛則衰 | yáng shèng zé shuāi | traditional Chinese belief about midday rest], and taking a brief rest when the sun was at its strongest would help maintain better spirits.

Following their usual routine, Su Xin and Xiao Mingyi would normally wash their hands and faces for their afternoon nap shortly after lunch, but today Su Xin stood up, intending to leave.

“Your Highness, where are you going at this hour? Are you returning to your palace?”

Xiao Mingyi followed Su Xin closely, like a little follower bug [小跟屁蟲 | xiǎo gēn pì chóng | meaning: someone who follows another closely].

“This palace [self-reference] wishes to seek guidance from Mother Emperor on some matters. Mingyi, would you like to come along?”

“Ah…” Xiao Mingyi’s mouth gaped in surprise, as if she hadn’t expected Su Xin would do such a thing, and quickly shook her head. “No, no, I won’t come along. Your Highness, please go by yourself. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Alright.”

“Your Highness, what guidance do you wish to seek from Her Majesty?”

Xiao Mingyi’s eyes widened, her face full of innocent curiosity, and with her fair, plump cheeks, it was hard to refuse her inquiry.

“It’s fine to tell you, because if I go, you’ll probably have to follow along anyway.”

“Ah? Go where?”

Xiao Mingyi’s heart felt like it was being gently scratched by cat claws, making her even more curious.

“This palace wishes to learn martial arts, so we’ll need to ask the Imperial Tutor to adjust the class schedule, or perhaps discuss specific arrangements separately. As this palace’s study companion, you’ll naturally have to follow along.”

Su Xin had no intention of mentioning anything about Pei Yu to Xiao Mingyi.

“Ah… martial arts… no way… why did Your Highness suddenly have such an idea?”

Xiao Mingyi covered her face and wailed, as for someone of her body type, exercise was truly an especially painful matter.

“A daughter should strive for self-improvement, martial arts strengthen the body. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Of course not.”

Xiao Mingyi sniffled pitifully and said with a pouty mouth.

“I’m truly overjoyed.”

She said this with a gloomy face while claiming to be happy.

“Be good, I believe your mother will be especially happy to hear this news. After all, your figure really needs some control – what if you can’t find a boy to marry you in the future?”

“How could you… Your Highness, how could you mention such things!”

Xiao Mingyi childishly stamped her feet, her ears instantly turning bright red, trying hard to express through body language that she was still a child.

“I’ll stop teasing you. This palace takes leave.”

---

This was Su Xin’s first true face-to-face interaction with the emperor, rather than the sparse images from vague memories.

She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but one could see the dignity of her high position, carrying an unhurried air about her. Her features were rather gentle, and in a peaceful nation, she could be considered a benevolent ruler.

Fortunately, this wasn’t an era of intense warfare; otherwise, given this person’s temperament, the nation would have collapsed long ago.

She was a good ruler for times of peace and prosperity, but not one who was decisive in warfare or capable of expanding territory.

“Paying respects to Mother Emperor.”

“Ah, it’s Eldest [老大 | lǎo dà | informal way of addressing the firstborn]. Speak directly if you have something to say.”

The emperor had been in a good mood lately, having suddenly gained two daughters. The court officials’ praise nearly made her heart bubble with joy. Many things she previously found disagreeable now seemed pleasant – the sky appeared so blue, and the flowers and grass looked so beautiful.

The daughter before her, whom she hadn’t paid attention to for so long, also seemed so adorable. Speaking of this eldest daughter, she felt quite sympathetic towards her – truly a model of pitifulness. Although the Emperor Consort wouldn’t go so far as to abuse her, with such a selfish nature, he couldn’t treat her as his own child. This child had lost her father at a young age; as a mother, she should indeed take better care of her.

The emperor’s long-dormant maternal love suddenly had a small burst, accompanied by a trace of guilt.

Su Xin displayed a sweet and obedient smile, deliberately acting cute while subtly showing her vulnerability.

“Mother Emperor, your child has a request – may I study martial arts?”

“Oh? Does Eldest want to play with spears and sticks now?”

“Your child merely wishes to strengthen the body. As a daughter, naturally being strong and healthy is better. I wonder if Mother Emperor would approve this request?”

“This isn’t a difficult matter at all. We [朕 | zhèn | imperial self-reference] approve. However, what about your studies with the Imperial Tutor?”

“We may need to discuss this properly with the Imperial Tutor. This might cause some inconvenience for her and my younger siblings, since the Imperial Tutor teaches everyone together. If your child could be assigned a separate teacher… I wonder if Your Majesty would grant your child another request…”

“Does Eldest want a new instructor? The Imperial Tutor indeed teaches well, but having to handle several princes and princesses, her energy is inevitably divided. In a few months, Fourth should also start attending lessons… You are indeed getting older… Let Us think about who would be suitable…”

“Your child will follow Mother Emperor’s decision completely. Whoever Mother Emperor favors must be someone of outstanding literary talent.”

At the mention of “outstanding literary talent”, the emperor suddenly recalled something, thinking of the newly appointed Top Scholar. That person was indeed talented, possessing the air of one having poetry and literature in one’s belly [腹有詩書氣 | fù yǒu shī shū qì | meaning: well-educated and cultured].

“As for martial arts… We will make proper arrangements for you. Regarding literary studies, how about Official Pei who recently joined the Ministry of Personnel? That one is this year’s young champion scholar, quite extraordinary indeed.”

“Many thanks to Mother Emperor.”

---

---