"The Earth and Moon Sect will allow the common people to live a good life. Jiu Xiao, you became an orphan because of the Jing Country's misdeeds. All of this suffering, your suffering, will soon come to an end."
The elder began re-indoctrinating the young man before him.
"Jiu Xiao, your death will not be in vain. Once the great cause of the Earth and Moon Sect is accomplished, we will build you a tomb with a memorial arch and burn offerings and roast chicken for you every day." The elder spoke.
Jiu Xiao frowned slightly in discomfort, his fists clenching gradually behind his back.
[Ding, indoctrination progress increased to 80%!]
[Ding, indoctrination progress decreased to 75%!]
...
[Ding, indoctrination progress increased to 81%!]
[Ding, indoctrination progress decreased to 76%!]
...
[Ding, indoctrination progress increased to 80%!]
Xiao Chuchu was woken up in the middle of the night by the system's noise, leaving her bewildered.
What's going on, the assassin is fluctuating?
Is he conflicted?
*
"Ahem, we'll depart in an hour."
The next day, in the imperial study.
As Xiao Yunzhou prepared to leave the palace, he stiffened when he saw the emaciated Xiao Luzi bringing in a tea cup.
"On this journey, we will visit the relief hall at Blue Stone Bridge outside the capital to comfort the elderly and children refugees," Xiao Yunzhou said to Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng: "...?"
What does that mean?
Why is the emperor repeating the destination to him again? Didn't he just mention it?
Wei Zheng was increasingly confused by Xiao Yunzhou's behavior and nervously said, "This servant has remembered."
Xiao Yunzhou nodded.
He was afraid the eunuch Xiao Luzi serving tea didn't hear, so he moved the note with the departure location and time written on it closer to the tea cup.
He didn't dare look directly at the eunuch Xiao Luzi, but soon felt a chill down his neck.
Hm? Killing intent!?
Xiao Yunzhou was startled, his right arm about to pick up the tea cup going numb.
Wait, didn't Qiu Li say the assassin's indoctrination level was already at seventy percent?
Previously, when this Xiao Luzi approached him, he didn't sense anything unusual.
But now, as Xiao Yunzhou looked up, he saw the tea's ripples reflecting Xiao Luzi's delicate yet tightly pursed, murderous lips!
Xiao Yunzhou's hand trembled!
Is... is this indoctrination task from the immortal realm going smoothly?
Are you sure the indoctrination level has succeeded by that much?
How is this person still wanting to kill him? With that urge to act!
Xiao Yunzhou held himself back, barely avoiding fleeing.
"Your Majesty, shall you change clothes now?" Wei Zheng asked obliviously.
Only then did Xiao Yunzhou feel the murderous aura receding like the ebbing tide.
The emaciated Xiao Luzi took a step back, hunching his shoulders in his usual humble, meek manner as he stood in the corner of the study room.
It was as if the killing intent Xiao Yunzhou had sensed was an illusion that never existed.
Xiao Yunzhou gulped.
"Your Majesty, in addition to this servant, there will be two senior officials and ten guards for secret protection on this trip. Do you need anyone else?"
Xiao Yunzhou: "..."
He froze.
Last night, he was convinced that by diligently governing and improving the people's lives, he could indoctrinate the assassin.
He was certain, as the reincarnated immortal princess Qiu Li had said, that the assassin would not make a move before the Lantern Festival.
But just now, he clearly sensed killing intent!
This Xiao Luzi serving him tea is confirmed to be the former court assassin with a martial power of 99!
"Your Majesty?" Wei Zheng called out cautiously again.
Xiao Yunzhou flinched.
Last night he had planned to bring Xiao Luzi and another eunuch with him to witness the proper resettlement of the refugees, but now... he, the emperor, was a bit afraid to do so.
Damn it.
He cultivated immortality not to seek longevity, but because he was truly afraid of death and didn't want to die.
At this point, Xiao Yunzhou regretted not taking another look at the reincarnated immortal princess Qiu Li and hugging her again.
And about what she had mentioned before, the 'Irrigation Laws' - he hadn't heard her detailed explanation or recorded it to pass on to the cabinet and ministries.
Alas.
Xiao Yunzhou regretted wasting so much time in the past years.
How had he squandered those years?
"Wei Zheng, help me up."
"??? Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"...My legs are numb," he was too scared to stand up!
Xiao Yunzhou's face was ashen, with sweat gradually beading on his forehead.
This was the first time he had sensed such tangible killing intent around him.
"Ah, Your Majesty, do you need to call the imperial physician?"
Xiao Yunzhou gritted his teeth, glancing sideways at the eunuch Xiao Luzi in the corner.
He had sensed the killing intent from him, estimating that the assassination may not wait until the Lantern Festival!
"No, Wei Zheng, help me up. I can still go see the refugees."
Jiu Xiao, standing in the corner, raised his head upon hearing this, giving Xiao Yunzhou a swift glance.
His gaze held a strange, indescribable emotion, but he quickly lowered his head again, standing meekly with hunched shoulders.
*
[Oh no, the emperor is going to see the refugees today, but he didn't bring the tea-serving eunuch?]
[Won't the indoctrination task stagnate then?]
Xiao Chuchu was in Consort Min's embrace, watching her prepare the noon meal in the Chonghua Palace.
"With the emperor and Wei Zheng away, and us having finished the down coats, we can relax a bit today," Consort Min said to Liu Chaniang as she eagerly eyed the kitchen staff bringing in racks of pork spare ribs.
Ever since collecting the duck down, Consort Min's relationship with the kitchen supervisors had greatly improved.
She was the first to know about any new ingredients the kitchen acquired.
"Chaniang, you know the empress' father Lord Tong has started raising pigs, right? He sent the first batch of premium pigs into the palace yesterday, so we can have a taste today."
[Ooh, streaky pork, braised pork belly, pork loin~]
Xiao Chuchu's mind immediately wandered, unable to resist drooling.
[Pork loin skewers are really tender and fragrant, and the streaky pork cut into small pieces and threaded onto bamboo skewers, grilled until the fatty parts are crispy golden and the lean parts are chewy but not dry or tough~]
[Oh, and some garlic skewers to grill too, you can eat them directly or wrap them with the streaky pork in a clean lettuce leaf, the mix of savory, sweet, and crisp textures is simply perfect~!]
Xiao Chuchu imagined it and ended up drooling over herself.
"..."
Liu Chaniang smiled wryly and used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of the child's mouth.
"By the way, has the imperial decree conferring your title as a consort been issued yet?" Consort Min asked after rewarding the kitchen staff who brought in the pork and returning.
Liu Chaniang had also nearly forgotten and only recalled when asked, "They said to wait for the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious date for the ceremony."
"Indeed, the Emperor relies on this the most for cultivating his way," Consort Min laughed.
"Lady Chan, you're going to eat pork. How would you like it prepared - as meatballs or in a pork soup with noodles?"
[Woof woof woof lettuce wraps with roasted pork belly ~ Long live barbecue! ~]
Just as Liu Chan was about to respond, her daughter's excited voice interrupted her, forcing her to change course.
"Sister Min, why don't we try something new today?"
"Huh?"
"Last time at the Emperor's, I had skewers. Why don't we have the kitchen slice the pork thinly and thread it onto skewers today?"
Liu Chan looked at her daughter's increasingly bright eyes and pondered, "Recently, all expenses in the palace have been reduced, so we shouldn't be too wasteful with oil."
"Let's skip frying them. We can grill them instead, slicing the meat thinly with alternating lean and fat parts. We can use the pork's own fat and add some fresh vegetables."
"It's not easy for commoners to eat pork, so we in the palace should also be frugal. Let's not just eat meat, but add fresh vegetables to eat with the meat."
As Liu Chan said this, Xiao Chuchu and Consort Min's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Lady Chan, you are truly kind-hearted and thoughtful! That sounds delicious."
[Woof, my mother actually came up with this way of eating, heavens!]
As Xiao Chuchu danced and gesticulated, Cheng Qian, who had been busy since the Emperor left the palace, also found time to come with Xiao Luzi.
[Woof woof, big brother is here, quick big brother grill me some meat ~]
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qian froze momentarily.
Then he laughed, "Xiao Luzi, bring me some water to wash my hands. Today, I'll do the grilling, no one else needs to move."
Xiao Luzi hastened to comply.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, an agile figure slipped unnoticed onto a beam of the Chonghua Palace and became transfixed upon hearing those words.
Throughout the grilling process, this shadowy figure kept its head lowered, watching Cheng Qian's movements intently as he grilled the meat himself.
"Prince, allow me," someone offered.
"No need, I'll do it today," Cheng Qian replied, delivering some perfectly grilled skewers to Liu Chan and Consort Min's plates.
Some less attractive but still edible skewers, Cheng Qian handed to Xiao Luzi to distribute among the palace maids and eunuchs of Chonghua Palace, including Qiu Li.
The shadowy figure on the beam never left, its gaze repeatedly lingering on the skewers Xiao Luzi received.
[Ding! Transformation Percentage: 85%!]
Xiao Chuchu's mouth opened wide in an "ah" of astonishment.
