Emperor Mingxi inwardly exclaimed, "Good grief! To shut me up, this little ancestor can really think of any method!" So, he just wasn't worthy of eating that fragrant and sweet chocolate, was he!
Why was it that the more he couldn't have it, the more curious he became about its taste!
Yue Fuguang smiled with an utterly harmless expression. "If Your Majesty wishes to eat it, I do happen to have one last piece here."
As she spoke, she held the candy up before Emperor Mingxi. "Your Majesty, please eat it quickly. Its fire-dispelling effect is quite good."
Emperor Mingxi took the candy but didn't eat it immediately. He was afraid that if it tasted sour or bitter, he wouldn't be able to control his expression and would lose his dignity in front of his ministers.
The assembled officials thought: Your Majesty, don't you realize your dignity has long been shattered into pieces on the floor, impossible to pick up!
Unaware of his trusted ministers' inner grumblings about him, Emperor Mingxi changed the subject. "Fuguang, there's another matter I called you here for today."
Seeing that Emperor Mingxi didn't take the pill immediately, Yue Fuguang didn't press him and followed his lead. "What other matter does Your Majesty have?"
"I was thinking that after the New Year, you will be nine years old, which is the right age to begin studies. I discussed it with your grandfather and decided to send you to study at the Hongwen Academy in the palace. What do you think?"
Yue Fuguang rolled her eyes inwardly. If I said 'not a chance,' would you really not send me?
She thought it over seriously. Going to school wasn't entirely out of the question. She still had tasks to complete in other worlds in the future, and having knowledge would be useful.
But she had just endured the hardships of studying in her previous life, grinding away until her hair thinned to get into university, only to arrive here less than two years later. She hadn't even enjoyed many days of comfortable living, and now she was supposed to burn the midnight oil and rise at the crack of dawn again? How could she bear it!
School was inevitable, but bargaining couldn't be skipped. "Your Majesty, if I go to study, does that mean I don't have to attend the morning court sessions?"
School started over two hours later than the morning court. She could sleep in a bit more!
Emperor Mingxi: !!! With the Divine Artifact's previous remarks about casually wanting to kill the emperor, he suddenly didn't dare suggest the unreasonable demand of Yue Fuguang attending morning court before school.
He was afraid that if he said it, the Divine Artifact might strike him dead on the spot, and no one could stop it!
He tentatively proposed, "How about... you attend court every other day?"
Yue Fuguang nodded. Accumulating knowledge for future tasks was important, but the immediate task was even more crucial, wasn't it?
"On the days I attend court, I won't go to the Hongwen Academy, okay? Your Majesty knows, I was injured before and shouldn't overexert myself."
Emperor Mingxi inwardly cursed Yu Qinchun a dozen times and quickly said, "Indeed, Fuguang's health is paramount. If you get tired during studies, just tell your tutors."
As he spoke, he looked towards several officials from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministers of various Boards. These individuals all had teaching duties, especially the Hanlin Academy Scholars, Reader-in-waiting, and Lecturer-in-waiting—they were the main instructors.
Everyone hurriedly chimed in, "Your Majesty is right. We will certainly prioritize the Young Preceptor's health."
As the etiquette tutor, Minister of Rites Zhang Zhongping added, "The Young Preceptor is still young. It's perfectly fine to slightly reduce her academic workload."
In the Dayan dynasty, even if this one's etiquette didn't conform to the rules, it could only mean the rules were flawed, not that this ancestor was ignorant of propriety.
Yue Fuguang suddenly thought of another matter and asked, "Your Majesty, do I need to find a study companion?"
Emperor Mingxi said, "Indeed. Typically, one can bring two to four study companions. Have you thought about who, Fuguang? Would you like me to help you find some?"
Hearing the emperor's words, the eyes of officials with eligible daughters or granddaughters suddenly shone brilliantly. Some looked at Emperor Mingxi, others at Yue Fuguang.
Yue Fuguang decisively shook her head. "No need. I'll find them myself."
[Master, have you decided who to choose as study companions? This choice must be made carefully. It's a chance to cultivate some subordinates for yourself. In the future, whatever Master wants to do, you won't have to toil personally.]
"Indeed, we must choose carefully. In the future, whether we settle on an island or stay in Dayan, if we want to create some novel things to play with, we'll need loyal and capable people to carry them out."
Hearing their conversation, the hearts of the ministers grew even more fervent. For outsiders like them, what relationship could be more intimate than becoming the little celestial lord's study companion?
If just one person from a family became the little celestial lord's study companion, it would be like the whole family attaining enlightenment! They would automatically become part of the little celestial lord's 'kingdom'!
"As for candidates, I'll pick two from among my sisters at home. For the other two, we'll see if Grandfather and the others have any good recommendations."
[Master, what kind of study companions are you looking for?]
"First and foremost, they must be as loyal as Little Pearl. If they can also be clever and quick-witted, that would be even better."
[Loyalty to the Master is indeed most important. Even the most ordinary items in my possession are things hundreds or thousands of years more advanced than this era. Without loyalty, no amount of capability is acceptable.
Although Master is currently in a mortal body with sealed memories, the prestige of an immortal cannot be lost. Little Pearl can help Master observe people. I can tell at a glance whether someone is loyal or not.]
"I forgot that Little Pearl also has the ability to observe mortals' fortune and virtue."
[Hehehe, Little Pearl's abilities have been greatly diminished by the rules of this world, and they are not even one ten-thousandth of Master's power before undergoing tribulations.]
"Was I that powerful before? I don't remember!"
"Before, Master could move mountains and fill seas, turn clouds with a flip of the hand—all with just a thought. When Master successfully completes the tribulation and ascends to High Godhood, you will be even more formidable!"
Emperor Mingxi and his ministers were utterly stunned. Was this the power of an immortal? Any random item they brought out would be enough for them to benefit from for a lifetime!
They were numb with envy. As for jealousy, it was out of the question. The gap was like heaven and earth; they could only look up in awe, unable to harbor any other thoughts!
Thinking this, their desire to latch onto this powerful figure grew even more urgent.
As everyone watched Yue Fuguang's back disappear outside the hall, the more impatient ones couldn't wait to crowd around Yu Chongshan, promoting their daughters and granddaughters.
Yu Zhongchun and Yu Shuchun saw their father instantly become the center of attention and felt a strange mix of envy and pride.
Their Yu family was truly bringing glory to the ancestors through their daughter/niece!
Especially Yu Shuchun. From what she had observed these past days, Fuguang seemed closer to her own Xuan Jie'er than to her other sisters.
From what her parents implied, it was related to Xuan Jie'er's kindness towards Fuguang when she first returned, when her status was still that of an unimportant adopted daughter.
Back in Emperor Mingxi's Hall of Mental Cultivation, the officials were still fiercely competing over the two study companion spots.
Meanwhile, Yue Fuguang and the system, following the young eunuch Xiao Fuzi and strolling slowly out, were also discussing the matter.
[Host, finding study companions is a great opportunity to develop your own network. You must choose carefully.]
"System, when it comes to connections, even if I don't actively develop them, as I grow older and can do more, connections will come to me on their own.
Besides, rather than having their children become my connections, wouldn't it be better to skip that step and turn the patriarchs themselves into my connections!
Trust me, the content of our conversation just now will definitely yield unexpected results."
