Indeed, and when it comes to connections, who could have better ones than princesses whose own fathers are the emperor.
Host, you should make friends with several princesses. I heard from the palace servants that Emperor Mingxi has several quite favored princesses.
Make friends? Yue Fuguang shook her head. "In both my past and present life, I haven't had much luck with close girlfriends. So rather than painstakingly cultivating friendships, I'd rather gain a few more believers.
After all, we might complete our mission and leave this place in just a few years. Having friends isn't important; parting is inevitable in the end."
The system thought that made sense too but still asked, [Host, what do you mean by believers?]
"You're the one who said I need the grandeur befitting a deity. Since I'm an Immortal Lord, I can do without friends, but not without believers.
My believers are like..."
"Stop right there, you! I'm talking to you, the little chubby girl up ahead!"
Yue Fuguang was just about to expound on her lengthy theory about believers to the system when she heard a voice cracking with puberty, like a duck's quack, shouting from behind.
At first, she didn't think it was directed at her. After all, having been around the Great Yan palace for several months now, who didn't know her—the current favorite in the eyes of the three most powerful figures: the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress?
Even the Crown Prince had to speak softly in her presence. Who would dare raise their voice at her?
Moreover, with the added "little chubby girl," she was even more convinced it wasn't for her. Yue Fuguang, who had never considered herself fat, felt the term "chubby girl" didn't apply to her in the slightest.
She had slimming pills lying in her storage ring. If she felt fat, she would have taken them long ago. Would she have waited until now?
No sooner had Yue Fuguang thought this than she was swiftly proven wrong.
A green, skinny beanpole of a figure overtook her and blocked her path.
It was a gaunt youth, thin as a rail, but with exceptionally bright eyes. He wore a robe embroidered with a three-clawed python and had beautiful jade and a pouch hanging from his waist.
The emperor's son? Never seen him before!
The skinny beanpole spoke, "Chubby girl, didn't you hear me? I told you to stop, yet you dared to keep walking? Do you have a death wish?"
Yue Fuguang was so angry she almost laughed. Since revealing her 'Immortal Lord' identity, this was the first time anyone had dared speak to her like this.
She didn't have the kind of novelty some overbearing CEOs feel when encountering someone 'different.' All she felt was the urge to beat him until he was crawling on the ground crying for his mother!
This person had the audacity not only to shout at her but also to call her a chubby girl. He was clearly asking for a world of hurt!
Yue Fuguang said coldly, "Who are you? Which son of the emperor dares speak to this Junior Mentor like this? Charging you with disrespect wouldn't be excessive, would it?"
She wasn't like those protagonists in novels who endure all sorts of insults from villains, getting thoroughly insulted before finally revealing their intimidating identity for a dramatic comeback.
There was truly no need. As an 'Immortal Lord,' if she suffered first, any subsequent face-slapping would be a step down. She wouldn't do such a foolish thing.
She wasn't cut out for that kind of suffering!
So Yue Fuguang instructed another eunuch, "You're called Little Anzi, right? Go and fetch his emperor father. His son is blocking my path. Ask him if he, as the father, intends to do anything about it?"
Little Anzi was terrified. Had this Fourth Prince, absent from the palace for months, not heard how the winds had changed within these walls?
Provoking this one would bring no good to the prince himself, and those serving him would also face consequences. Even he, who was merely escorting the guest, would get an earful.
As Little Anzi ran towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he was crying inside. He thought following Little Fuzi to see this great Buddha off the palace grounds was a cushy job. Who would have thought he'd run into the palace's most troublesome prince? Just his luck!
Sweating profusely, Little Anzi ran all the way to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and bumped into Chief Eunuch Qian, who was coming out to fetch fresh water.
Usually, when His Majesty was in council with the ministers, only Chief Eunuch Qian was qualified to remain inside. Everyone else was dismissed to wait outside the hall, so the task of serving tea and water also fell to Chief Eunuit Qian alone.
Qian Gui, carrying a water pot and about to head into the main hall, turned and saw Little Anzi, who had been assigned to escort the Junior Mentor, running back in a panic.
A bad feeling instantly arose in his heart.
"Little Anzi, weren't you sent to escort the Junior Mentor? Why are you back so soon?"
Before he could even catch his breath, Little Anzi said in a hoarse voice, "Chief Eunuch, something's happened! Quickly inform His Majesty. The Junior Mentor is summoning him!"
The Junior Mentor summoning His Majesty?
Qian Gui's heart sank. Something really had happened!
Without time for further questions, he pulled Little Anzi and hurried into the hall.
The emperor and his ministers, deep in discussion, first heard hurried footsteps. Turning around, they saw the usually strict and proper Chief Eunuch Qian dragging in a little eunuch dripping with sweat. They were all somewhat bewildered.
Emperor Mingxi did not immediately reprimand him. He knew Qian Gui always understood propriety. If he acted so disregarding of rules, there must be a real reason.
"Qian Gui, what has happened? Why such panic?"
"Your Majesty, this is Little Anzi. It was this servant who assigned him to escort the Junior Mentor earlier. This boy came running back in a panic, saying something has happened. The Junior Mentor wants Your Majesty to go to her."
"Wants me to go? Little Anzi, explain clearly. Where is the Junior Mentor, and why does she want me to go?"
A room full of people stared at him intently. Little Anzi swallowed hard with difficulty, trying to calm himself.
Did no one find it inappropriate for the Junior Mentor, a subject, to summon His Majesty, the sovereign?
Did no one feel this was a bit like turning the world upside down?
Shaking off these irrelevant thoughts, Little Anzi knelt and quickly recounted what had happened after they left the hall. "The Junior Mentor asks if you intend to do anything about it?"
Emperor Mingxi angrily slapped the table. That little brat was nothing but trouble! The Junior Mentor asking if he would handle it implied that if he didn't, she would handle it for him!
Yu Chongshan and his son, standing among the crowd, were even more anxious. The Fourth Prince was a lawless troublemaker. What if he hurt their granddaughter?
So Yu Chongshan said, "Your Majesty, perhaps we should go see first, to ensure no one gets hurt."
Emperor Mingxi also thought of the hot-tempered Divine Artifact, fiercely protective of its master. Once that one set its sights on someone, even if they didn't die, they'd be skinned alive.
If that boy accidentally harmed the Junior Mentor... Emperor Mingxi glanced at the crowd of ministers behind him.
He wouldn't be able to protect the kid either!
And at this moment, the battle between Yue Fuguang and the palace's number one troublemaker, the Fourth Prince, was...
The battle was not as intense as one might imagine.
Whether this newly appeared Fourth Prince was all bark and no bite, or whether he was simply stunned by Yue Fuguang's actions...
In any case, the current situation was that this Fourth Prince, who had appeared with exceptional arrogance, was now completely suppressed by Yue Fuguang's aura.
"You're the Fourth Prince, right? As for who I am..." A mocking smile curled at the corner of Yue Fuguang's mouth. "This Junior Mentor doesn't believe you are unaware."
Seeing him about to retort, she continued, "Don't deny it. Although you were punished and sent to a Buddhist temple for reflection for a few months and haven't returned to the palace, don't tell me you heard nothing of the news from within these walls."
Yue Fuguang circled him, giving him a once-over. "Who gave you the courage to come provoke this Junior Mentor the moment you returned?"
The Fourth Prince lacked conviction but still tried to save face. "So what if you are the Junior Mentor of our dynasty? No matter how esteemed your position, you are ultimately a subject. As a subject, you should obey the commands of our imperial family."
