Chapter 487 : Proper Palace Intrigue (26)

State Teacher, this matter concerns the reputation of our country. If you know, dont keep it to yourself.

One of the officials fought down his fear and approached Shi Sheng to speak.

I dont know means I dont know.

Their voices werent soft, so everyone in the chamber heard them.

Lu Ruo had her own agenda, but it wasnt the best time for her to speak right now.

Are you perhaps looking down on my present, State Teacher?

Shi Sheng switched the hand she used to prop up her jaw, her lips tilting upwards slightly.

Ming Jin knew she was about to say something unpleasant, so he gave a short, slightly pitying look at the Second Prince.

You know what this things called?

Didnt Zhao Yi-niangniang already say it just now? The Second Prince didnt know what Shi Sheng was getting at. This is called a clock.

The smile on Shi Shengs face grew even more brilliant. Youre giving a clock to someone on their birthday? Are you planning on changing your surname too? Or calling a thief your father[1]?

Send clocksend off?!

The ones with faster minds all got the hint, immediately staring at the Second Prince rather unhappily. But State Teacher, why is your wording so weird? What do you mean calling a thief your father???

The Second Prince still hadnt understood however. Why cant I give a clock?

Of course you can, I never said you couldnt.

The Second Prince harrumphed coldly, ignoring his people who tried to convince him otherwise with very urgent looks, and spoke disdainfully, Dont change the topic if you cant get it to work?

Shi Shengs eyes curved upwards. If I make it move, how about you agree to my condition?

What condition? The Second Prince frowned.

Oh, nothing hard. Just do a lap around Vermillion Street[2] naked.

Everyone, That isnt hard?!

The Second Prince ground his teeth. And if you cant get it to move?

Shi Sheng was indifferent. Name whatever condition you want.

The Second Prince pondered for a while. He felt like backing down a bit. This woman is so confident, maybe she really can get it to work.

This

Shi Sheng gave him a half-smile, whereupon the Second Prince felt a rush of anger surge up. If I admit defeat, Ill be losing face for Xi Liang! Maybe this woman is simply bluffing in an attempt to scare me off. No matter how many people I got to look at the thing, none could get it to moveI dont believe she can!

The Second Prince steeled himself, and spoke through gritted teeth, Fine.

Bring it over. Shi Sheng commanded him.

State Teacher, youre really demanding. The Second Prince was so angry that his face was turning dark.

Forget it if youre not moving.

Second Prince,

He got people to lift the clock over to Shi Sheng, who instructed them to place it down.

Shi Sheng took out several Nanchi[3] batteries, opened the casing at the bottom, popped out the rather rusty old batteries and inserted the new ones in.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock

The crisp sound echoed throughout the chamber.

Shi Sheng raised her chin in the Second Princes direction, signalling for him to get the people holding it to lift it higher.

Lu Ruo was dumbfounded. Its battery powered?! How can there be something battery powered in this era?! This is simply too illogical!

Shi Sheng had the aloof expression of an expert. Its very logicalthat thing dropped in from another dimension. After all, you, a fully grown human, could drop in, so why cant objects do the same? Isnt that right?

In a virtual world, the only limit is your imaginationdont try finding logical errors in everything. Its not like youre playing Find Your Sis[4].

Several people lifted the clock up, making the ticking sounds even clearer as time flew past.

Everyone had odd expressions.

The hall was completely silent save for the ticking of the clock.

So when are you planning on streaking, Second Prince? Shi Sheng propped her head up, asking with a smile on her face. Who doesnt know how to show off? Im(bbb) the ancestor of showing off!

Second Prince,

State Teacher, dont joke around with the Second Prince anymore. Yuwen Xun broke the silence. After all, the latter was an emissary from his tributary statehe couldnt go too overboard.

Whos joking? Shi Sheng tugged her lips upwards. Either he goes of his own volition, or Ill make him. But if its the latter, Im not sure if hell make it back to Xi Liang alive.

Yuwen Xun snapped coldly, State Teacher!

Whatre you yelling for? Shi Sheng dug her ears. Im not deaf.

The hall once again fell silent, no one daring to speak out of turn.

Theres conflict wherever the State Teacher goes Shes a walking powder keg.

Its hard for a horse to catch up to a promise a man makes[5]. Is Second Prince planning on reneging? Seeing the Second Prince remain silent, Shi Sheng added.

Whos reneging? Ill do it!

Yuwen Xun couldnt even stop the Second Prince despite wanting to, so he could only watch as the latter streaked down Vermillion Street.

Fortunately, it was already getting late, so there werent many people around. Adding to the fact that the Second Prince covered up his face so he wouldnt be recognised, not many people knew about it.

Though the gazes of those officials had turned rather odd as they felt satisfaction inwardly. Serves you right for being cocky! Messed up now, huh?

The Second Prince couldnt handle those looks, so he left early to head back to the relay station and lick his wounds.

Once hed left, the officials began the giving of birthday presents. One didnt have to get the most expensive present for the emperorthe most important part was that it was valuable and unique.

Once the gift-giving was over, the real celebration with performances and drinking started. Shi Sheng left early to get some fresh air outside.

A hand suddenly snaked out from behind and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her behind the artificial mountain to the side. Shi Sheng subconsciously drew her sword and stabbed the arm.

Hss

Ming Jin looked at his bleeding arm, his tone a bit helpless, Miss Zhuang, cant you be gentler?

Who asked you to ambush me? Shi Sheng took her sword back, her gaze pausing on his arm. Since he was wearing white, even if there wasnt much light, it was still easy to make out the fresh blood staining it.

Ive been thinking. Ming Jin casually bandaged up his arm. I can agree to your suggestion from last time.

Shi Sheng, No! Were not hooking up! For real, were not hooking up this time round! Bye!

Shi Sheng turned to run off, but Ming Jin reacted swiftly and grabbed her, pressing her against the artificial mountain.

Within that smiling tone was a hint of overbearingness. Miss Zhuang, its too late for regret.

Shi Sheng decided she might as well be frank. You have no problem being the one at the bottom?

Ming Jin leaned closer and buried his head in her neck, nipping it slightly. As long as I can be with you, Im willing to do anything.

Shi Shengs heart shook a bit. The feeling from her neck made her a bit irritable.

Weve only met a few times; dont you think this feeling is weird?

Youre different. Ming Jin tightened his grip on her. Ever since I saw you, I knew you were different.

He suddenly chuckled. I never believed in previous lives before, but from the moment I saw you, Ive been having this feeling that weve been together before, that we should be together in this life too. Nobody can stop that.

Shi Sheng was startled. His memoriesare awakening?

System ought to be wiping his memories after every worldpreviously he only felt familiarity after I put spirit energy into his body. But Ive never poured any into him in this world, yet he feels familiar. System is losing control of Feng Ci.

Shi Sheng didnt know why this idea popped up in her head.

Shed always known that there were a lot of people in this world who were powerful enough to send chills up the spines of others. She wasnt the only one, merely one of their number.

But unlike some people, she was more cold-blooded, selfish and unafraid of death. That was why she was above them.

So, Feng Ci, are you one of those people too?

[1] In Chinese culture, its taboo to give people clocks, especially as birthday presents. This is due to the wording. which means give clock, sounds similar to which means to see someone off for the last time. In other words, a funeral. The other examples Shi Sheng uses are also stuff thats frowned upon, though I think the last one is the one that doesnt fit in the most.

[2] Generally the name of the main street in imperial capitals. Now, Im no city planner so take this with a grain of salt, but Im pretty sure cities in ancient China were usually designed with one main street running down the middle with a bunch of branching streets.

[3] A company that makes batteries. I mean, its like how I refer to my toothpaste as Colgate instead of toothpaste. I still added it at the back though, just so you dont get confused.

[4] I think its a detective game where you look for clues (though Im basing this solely off of one image that came up in my search), dont ask me.

[5] It means that a man cant take back his words once theyve left his mouth (since even a horse cant catch it, get it?)