Chapter 193 Placing Radar to Break Through

Wang Shuo was full of ambition; he had planned everything out.

In this life, his elder brother is still alive, using the alias Yang Shou to gather his old troops and develop his power in the army. In truth, Wang Shuo no longer needs to follow the same path and work so hard. Old Uncle Weiyong was simply surprised that his grandson, who had always boasted of wanting to achieve great things, was now willing to give up such a golden opportunity to become a mere study companion.

Wang Shuo remained silent for a while that day and had a secret conversation with his grandfather.

He said, "Even though my mother was granted an imperial title, she still stayed on the farmland where she supported the retired soldiers and didn't come back. I know what she was thinking, and what my grandmother was thinking. I was immature in the past... so let's wait a few more years. After I've stayed, I'll go to the battlefield with my brother to fight the enemy!"

“And my cousin needs me these past few years.” Wang Shuo’s tone changed, and he looked at his grandfather with a deep look. “The palace is a den of thieves. It has already devoured my aunt. My cousin can’t be in any more trouble! I can take advantage of these few years to be his right-hand man. It will be natural for me to go out in a few years.”

Old Uncle Weiyong had never heard his grandson think so maturely before. He was greatly shocked and remained silent for a long time before replying with satisfaction: "You've always gotten along well with your cousin. Shuo'er, you're all grown up now. Do what you think is right."

From then on, when Old Uncle Weiyong saw his grandson again, he changed his attitude towards the younger child.

Furthermore, his uncle, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, had connections within the court, making it easy to submit the list of his study companions. The only problem was whether His Majesty would reject the memorial. Wang Shuo spent several days in a state of anxiety at home, finally awaiting the arrival of an imperial eunuch who, by imperial decree, asked him whether he intended to abandon his duties to serve his country after inheriting the title.

The eunuch perfectly conveyed the somewhat reproachful tone of Emperor Hongren.

Wang Shuo was bold yet meticulous, and he had a good understanding of His Majesty from his previous life, so he immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, speaking with a heavy heart: "This humble subject is naturally eager to share His Majesty's burdens as soon as possible. But I am young and weak, and even if my grandfather drags his ailing body to work for me every day... where is there a good place in the army? I only ask to serve His Highness Prince Rui for a few years, to study with famous teachers and scholars for a few more years, and then I will have a place to serve after gaining experience."

Emperor Hongren was naturally dissatisfied upon hearing this, but after pondering for a moment, his anger subsided.

He both hoped that the Wang family's descendants could rebuild the glory of the once mighty army to resist foreign enemies, and he was also unwilling for Wang Shuo to actually be able to rally the troops, regain the old troops, and rekindle their friendship if he went to the army.

Back then, he was young and could wield the mighty army's sword well. But now he is old, his princes are grown up, and the situation is complicated. He no longer wants the mighty army to return to the battlefield and become his sons' sword.

Now, upon hearing this, it's clear that his strategy of sowing discord back then had worked. The Wang family members in the army had long since left, and there was hardly any trace of their former relationship. If Wang Shuo wanted to advance further, he would have to rely on his cousin's status as a study companion to get closer to him. Perhaps it wasn't because the old Earl of Weiyong was too sickly to teach his grandson, but was hoping that, because of Prince Rui, he could be recommended for a future career.

After weighing the pros and cons, Emperor Hongren felt relieved despite his regret.

The maternal relatives of cousins ​​cannot be separated. Since the Weiyong Army is no longer a force to be reckoned with—whether it is real or not—if it drags on for a few more years and no Wang family members come to recruit them into the army, it will be even more real. That would take almost twenty years.

This relieved one of Emperor Hongren's worries.

Let Wang Shuo, this only son, study for a few more years, then send him to the army to try his luck. If he can make a name for himself from scratch, Emperor Hongren will not hesitate to reward him. But if he fails to recover, all that can be said is that he was just unlucky!

With this thought, Emperor Hongren felt completely relieved and, with a wave of his hand, approved the memorial granting Wang Shuo permission to serve as his study companion...

That's how the rest of the story began.

...

Wang Shuo held his cousin's shoulders tightly in the front yard, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to say, "His Majesty's paranoia will only get worse in the future!"

The greater his achievements in his past life, the harder his cousin's life became in the capital. Who knows if this was partly the reason his cousin eventually died in despair?

It would be better to live like this life, where the elder brother develops his career in the military from the open to the covert, while he stays by his cousin's side, pretending to be foolish in public.

They now have both military power and powerful allies!

"Alright, alright, you're about to inherit the title, and you're still so lively." Qi Chengming was exasperated by the persistent teasing, but he was also secretly pleased.

His younger cousin liked him very much from the beginning, which made him feel very at ease.

While the two cousins ​​were talking, the other three classmates watched with a mixture of understanding and envy. They didn't have Wang Shuo's luck and connections, so the three of them seemed to get much closer to each other and started introducing themselves and chatting.

As a result, no one uttered a word during the conversation.

Qi Jiyun was a quiet, unassuming person. Apart from basic literacy, he had never studied any other subjects. He was only interested in physical exercise, and conversations with them would quickly turn awkward and silent.

Qin Chongzhi, the son of a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, was the oldest of the five, but in terms of official rank and family background, he was the lowest. He was not good at flattery and was cautious and timid throughout. He did not say a word unless the others spoke. He was a dull and conservative person. His downcast eyes and still appearance were infuriating.

Only Chu Hong, the son of the Minister of Rites, remained, caught in the middle. His grades were mediocre, his age was insignificant, and his family background was neither high nor low. He was utterly frustrated and could only lament inwardly:

...Who are these people? There's not a single one I can talk to! Things are going to be tough from now on!

Qi Chengming's attention remained focused on the other students while he was talking to his cousin, and he had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Not to mention the diverse backgrounds of the study companions, it will take them a long time to get used to each other. Managing these hot-blooded teenagers and preventing them from causing chaos all the time... it will truly test his management skills!

Qi Chengming felt a little tired just thinking about it, but he didn't show it on his face. He simply said a few kind words to each of them and then sent them away, telling them to come back for class tomorrow. He would clean up the front yard near a small garden and use it as a teaching place. The scenery there was nice, and the lighting was good. The side rooms on the left and right could be used as places for teachers and their students to rest.

Wang Shuo was still looking on longingly, but he didn't pester her anymore. He left reluctantly, turning back every few steps.

The steward, who had rushed over, respectfully replied, "Your Highness, would you like to give the courtyard a name?"

The new palace is too big; not only is the prince himself uncomfortable, but the other servants are also struggling to adapt. The main courtyard can be called the main courtyard, and the kitchen the kitchen, but it's difficult to keep track of the previously vacant courtyards uniformly.

Qi Chengming got excited when he heard that.

He likes to mess around with his own space; this little courtyard could be called…

Steward Hua waited patiently for a while, then secretly glanced up. The young man was staring blankly out the window, lost in thought. Suddenly, a strange, mocking smile appeared on his lips, a smile that seemed to be lost in memories, a contradictory feeling. Finally, the young man laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "Let's call it the Drinking Ice Courtyard."

Before time travel, the auspicious name "Yinbing" came from Liang Qichao's study.

Qi Chengming felt that the anxieties and worries he felt about facing both internal and external troubles in the country were similar to his own future, making the situation both pleasant and timely. One of Liang Qichao's works was also written in this study and titled "Drinking Ice."

When it comes to naming, Qi Chengming doesn't know many classical allusions, but this is the first one that comes to his mind.

Manager Hua: "?"

Qi Chengming shook his head, regretting the good name: "Never mind, I remember there's a spring with flowing water in that little garden, let's rename it Drinking Spring Courtyard."

"Yes." Steward Hua was puzzled and did not understand why the young boy's face was so conflicted and melancholy when the prince was just giving him a name.

He left, puzzled, to find someone to make the plaque. On the way, he ran into Steward Song. Steward Hua explained for a moment, then hesitated for a long time before dismissing the others and whispering to Steward Song, "Sir Song, you are an educated man. Do you know what 'drinking ice' means?"

Song Gu didn't inquire about his past, but after a moment's thought, stood under the corridor gazing at the distant high wall, his brows slowly furrowing: "Are you referring to that line from Zhuangzi, 'If I receive orders in the morning and drink ice in the evening, am I not burning inside?'"

If it weren't for fate's cruel twist that led him to become a eunuch, Song Gu, with his extensive reading, might very well have been able to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Steward Hua smiled awkwardly, "I don't understand what Lord Song is saying. Perhaps it's this... what does 'this' mean?"

Song Gu did not answer immediately, but looked him up and down. Combining this with what he had just said about making the plaque, he already understood: "Did His Highness say this?"

Manager Hua remained silent.

That's the gist of it. He could secretly guess his master's intentions, but he couldn't admit it aloud. If Steward Song hadn't been their prince's most trusted confidant and close friend, Steward Hua wouldn't have dared to ask that question.

Song Gu's smile faded, and he explained in a proper manner: "This means that you received the king's decree in the morning, but you have to drink ice water in the evening, probably because you are anxious and restless."

After the appointment of a monarch, this person is so burdened with the mission of the country and the future that his mouth is dry. So what can relieve the restlessness caused by this anxiety and worry?

The only way to suppress it was to drink ice water.

This is a name that expresses ambition and concern for the country and its people. If the new ruler originally intended to use this name…

Then Song Gu knew why the final name was "Yinquanyuan" (Drinking Spring Courtyard).

When Steward Hua saw the same sigh and solemn expression on Steward Song's face as the Prince, he seemed to instantly understand something. He became even more frustrated and lowered his voice, humbly seeking an explanation:

"May I ask, sir, is there something wrong with this name, which is so well chosen?"

What have you scholars actually understood?

Song subtly hinted to him, "Read it yourself. He is so concerned about the country and its people because he was entrusted by the emperor. It would be more appropriate to call him 'Drinking Ice'."

On its own, this statement seems unremarkable; it merely expresses aspirations, concern for the people, and a desire to shoulder responsibility. But what the imperial court lacks most is simplicity, while it has no shortage of people with ulterior motives. The problem with this statement lies elsewhere:

—Their prince is not yet the crown prince, nor has he ascended the throne. He hasn't been chosen by His Majesty yet, so how dare he so brazenly say that he has been entrusted with a mission and is worried day and night? Even if he wants to express his concern for the country and its people, he should use a different phrase, not this one.

The new emperor must have changed his name because of these concerns.

Thinking of this, Song Gu felt a heavy weight in his heart, and sighed again, half moved and half heartbroken.

Isn't this how new emperors have always acted? Although they genuinely care for the people, the world—especially the emperors—is suspicious. They always think there are no such selfless saints in the world. Even if someone is noble in heart, they still have to rack their brains to find an excuse to cover up their behavior.

Even if the new emperor liked such a word, he wouldn't dare to use it.

Song Gu was already feeling unsteady on his feet. He bid farewell to the steward and hurriedly went to the main courtyard to find the prince, worried that he was in a bad mood.

Qi Chengming was also pondering an important matter. He dismissed everyone else, including Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, and wandered around the mansion for half a day. When he saw Song Gulai, his eyes lit up: "You've come at the right time! I have something to entrust to you to do alone. No one is allowed to know about it. Apart from you and me, no one is allowed to come near here."

He led Song Gu to a side room in the main courtyard.

This place was originally used for storing miscellaneous items, but now it's piled with firewood, straw, and fire-prevention water tanks, among other things. Qi Chengming called to Song Gu, and the two of them began to move the things themselves.

"Your Highness, leave it alone! Let me handle it!" Song Gu was shocked. He knew it was a secret as soon as he saw that the main courtyard had been emptied of people, but he still stopped the new emperor and did the work by himself.

After finally clearing the room, Qi Chengming, without blinking, revealed a huge, strangely shaped pot-like object, neither made of metal nor wood, crammed full, along with a flat, upright board. The whole thing was taller than a person.

Such a large thing appeared out of nowhere, without any warning. Song Gu was greatly startled, but her expression remained unchanged. She calmly clenched her fists and asked, "...What does Your Highness wish me to do?"

"This thing is called radar... Actually, it's a whole related system, but for convenience, you can just call it that," Qi Chengming solemnly explained. "I'll teach you how to use it later. Look at this board; if nothing unexpected happens, its scanning range is very long, roughly covering the distance from our residence all the way to the palace gates..."

In other words, once Song Gu learns to use radar, whether he monitors it himself every day or has a trusted confidant do so, he will be able to combine it with infrared detection devices to clearly see the number of officials going to court.

This would be completely useless under normal circumstances, but Qi Chengming was mainly concerned about the rebellion and palace raid that occurred in the later part of the original story.

As long as a large number of people approach the palace unusually, or there is a normal mobilization of the Imperial Guards, these things will be exposed to Qi Chengming's eyes... There will be no more hiding, which will help him seize the opportunity.

Qi Chengming let out a sigh of relief.

He's already traveled through time; who can guarantee the plot will unfold as usual, or remain completely unchanged? What if, this time, the He family isn't among those guarding the palace gates, leading to unforeseen circumstances…

Wouldn't he cry himself to death?