The next day, Lu Chao and Zhou Qingyuan changed into brocade robes and entered the Chen Residence with Prince Kang's token.
"Lu Chao, are we really doing this?"
Without Prince Kang's permission, wouldn't they get beaten when they returned?!
"His Highness told me to act according to circumstances."
Zhou Qingyuan smiled: Oh, then it's fine.
Soon, the Chen family's eldest son personally came out to greet them. Lu Chao and Zhou Qingyuan nodded slightly with cold expressions, then strode into the Chen Residence without so much as a glance to the side, their noble arrogance written plainly on their faces.
"Might I ask why the two of you have come? Does Prince Kang have any instructions?"
Eldest Young Master Chen respectfully invited the guests to sit. Suppressing his irritation, he recalled his father's words before leaving.
"His Highness sent us to fetch the third young master of your household. Please have your servants notify him."
Eldest Young Master Chen was momentarily stunned, unable to recall who the "third young master" was.
After a pause, he remembered—the simpleton of the family, sent to Prince Kang as a study companion months ago. Had he returned?
"Please wait a moment. I’ll have someone inform him right away."
"Has my third brother offended Prince Kang?"
Zhou Qingyuan glanced sideways at Eldest Young Master Chen and shook his head.
"Young Master Anning is highly regarded by His Highness. He accompanies the prince daily during studies. You worry too much."
Eldest Young Master Chen forced a laugh.
"Anning has always been reserved. Who would have thought he’d earn Prince Kang’s favor? It’s his fortune to serve by His Highness’s side."
When Chen Ning'an arrived, Eldest Young Master Chen patted his shoulder meaningfully and said with a smile,
"Third Brother, Prince Kang’s two companions have come to escort you back to the academy. Considering you’ve only been home a day and haven’t had time to properly reunite with the family, I took the liberty of arranging for you to stay another night. You’ll return tomorrow—does that suit you?"
Chen Ning'an nodded nervously.
"That’s fine. I’ll follow Eldest Brother’s arrangements."
"Please enjoy some tea. I must excuse myself for now."
He then headed to the front courtyard.
That night, Chen Ning'an finally met his ever-busy father.
Prefect Chen examined his son carefully for the first time, his gaze scrutinizing and accusatory.
"I heard Prince Kang holds you in high regard. Why didn’t you mention it in your letters?"
Chen Ning'an sneered. "You promised to treat Qing well. Why didn’t you keep your word?"
Prefect Chen slammed the table.
"You ungrateful wretch! Think you can act high and mighty just because you’ve latched onto Prince Kang? He’s nothing but—"
"Father, mind your words!"
Eldest Young Master Chen cut him off. The unspoken half of that sentence was clear to all.
"Times change, Father. Can you swear he won’t rise to power one day? Besides, Yingchuan is his fief."
Prefect Chen dared not answer. If Prince Kang rebelled, he’d be the first sacrificed. More importantly, the Emperor’s favor was uncertain.
After a tense silence, Prefect Chen suppressed his anger.
"Qing merely wanted to learn dancing for fun. If you disapprove, I’ll have her brought back."
A mere concubine-born son and daughter were expendable. If they failed, no great loss. If they succeeded, they’d be another path for the Chen family—a worthwhile gamble.
But for a bastard son to defy him? Clearly, the boy had forgotten his place.
An hour later, Chen Ning'an walked out of the study, back straight despite the blood seeping through his clothes. He looked up at the sky—the endless darkness he’d known all his life had finally cracked, letting in a sliver of light.
When he returned to the temporary side courtyard and pushed open the door, his younger sister Qing stood at the sound. The siblings locked eyes, tears streaming down their faces.
Next door, Zhou Qingyuan and Lu Chao listened, their own eyes brimming.
From now on, they wouldn’t bully Little Chen anymore. Poor kid.
From then on, Chen Ning'an’s quarters were moved from the servants’ quarters to the side courtyard, and Qing finally had a proper living environment.
Naturally quiet, she stayed in her small courtyard for months without leaving, free from her stepmother’s torment and half-sisters’ schemes. The new maids, though occasionally absent, always appeared when needed. Gradually, the girl’s cheeks filled out, and Chen Ning'an could finally focus on his studies at Guanfu Academy, acting as a liaison between both sides.
Lu Chao’s quick mind, combined with knowledge from his past life, often sparked ideas. But in this era of handcrafted parts, the results were never quite satisfactory.
Chen Ning'an, despite his burly appearance, had deft hands. Once Lu Chao explained his needs, Chen Ning'an could swiftly and precisely craft the required components.
A year earlier, Yingchuan suffered a severe drought—three months without rain. The people suffered, especially those whose fields lay far from the river, forcing families to take turns hauling water day and night.
Remembering the waterwheels and simple pumps from his middle school physics class, Lu Chao drafted designs with Chen Ning'an. At first, even Father Lu thought they were fooling around—until the first waterwheel was installed in Yuxi County. Slapping his thigh, Father Lu regretted not seeking his son’s "master" sooner!
Lu Chao shared the blueprints freely with Prince Kang, who oversaw the construction of large waterwheels along the Yingchuan River with Prefect Chen and local magistrates. The drought eased, and Prince Kang became a savior in the people’s hearts.
During his year-end report, Father Lu couldn’t stop grinning. Ha! The first waterwheel was in his Yuxi County! While other counties salvaged some yield, Yuxi’s early irrigation kept losses minimal. Compared to past droughts, this was a miracle—their official posts were safe!
Prefect Chen’s memorial that year was impeccable, but the Emperor, lost in alchemical pursuits, left it unanswered.
……
"Lu Chao, my dad’s gonna lose his mind when I take you home tomorrow. If I had a sister your age, you’d be calling me ‘brother’ by force, heh."
Zhou Qingyuan’s booming voice snapped Lu Chao out of his thoughts.
Over the years, Zhou Qingyuan’s father had praised Lu Chao endlessly, lamenting the lack of a marriageable daughter to tie him to the family.
The other three present agreed. Chen Ning'an eyed Lu Chao’s slender legs—thinner than his own arms. The guy was brilliant, but too frail.
Someone else shared Chen Ning'an’s opinion.
Sitting in her tent, Yingge twirled a delicate dagger, her mind wandering.
How could a man be prettier than most women? His skin was paler than hers! But he was too thin—she could knock out a dozen like him with one punch.
Frail, perhaps, but not cowardly. He’d even mocked that Tartar princess—no spineless fool.
"Yingge, earth to Yingge. What’s on your mind?"
Xiao Huan waved a hand in front of her face. Yingge blinked.
"Uh, nothing."
Whack! Xiao Huan’s head snapped forward from an unexpected slap. He turned—only to see his father.
"Who told you to call her that? It’s Ah-Zheng!"
Xiao Huan grimaced and covered his mouth—after all, he was among family.
"According to the news we’ve gathered, Prince Kang arrived at the relay station just before us. He must have been summoned to the capital for the imperial birthday celebrations. Ah-Zheng handled things well, making the Tatars swallow their humiliation in silence. As for Prince Kang, we’ll break camp tomorrow after they’ve departed."
Yingge frowned. Prince Kang? Could he be one of Prince Kang’s men?
Xiao Yi took a sip of wine and sighed. Prince Kang was a shrewd man—he had just sent someone with a courtesy note to greet them, saying only that they would meet again in the capital if fate allowed. Reading it, Xiao Yi felt a wave of relief. Men like them, who held military power, dreaded any association with imperial princes.
"Princess Baya has been humiliated. She likely won’t let this slide. Stay out of her way these next few days—don’t give her another chance to trap you."
