Chapter 7 When in doubt, I'm the best.
The Institute of Communications is guarded, so Yu Sui can't go there often.
She had only been there once, but in the days and nights that followed, whenever she closed her eyes, she could recall every detail of the National Academy's communication array.
When Yu Sui was alone in the house, he would start by drawing the constellation array on the ground. Even though he had only seen it once, it was as if he had built it himself. He was extremely skilled in every step and drew it naturally.
She would burn each drawing she finished, and then draw it again in her mind.
The enormous numbers swirled in her mind every day, yet Yu Sui felt incredibly energetic and full of enthusiasm as she sorted out the combination of the three forces.
The National Academy's communication array is extremely large and has a wide coverage, occupying one-third of the entire southern part of the capital.
Some communication arrays have range restrictions, allowing voice transmission only within their coverage area. Outside this range, without authorization, it is impossible to send messages to people inside.
Yu Sui dismantled this super-large communication array, a process that took more than two months.
For the past two months, she has been going to Gu Gan's house almost every day. She says she is studying, but in reality, she is going to his house to look up information related to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and also to study his Wind-Listening Ruler.
Perhaps because she had been getting too close to Gu Gan during this time, Princess Shangyang gradually developed a dislike for her.
On the day Yu Sui entered the Imperial Academy, Princess Shangyang asked her fiercely, "Do you like Gu Gan?"
Yu Sui was stunned.
Princess Shangyang pointed at her and said, "You like Gu Gan, that's why you won't agree to help me keep an eye on him!"
Princess Shangyang was furious and, without giving Yu Sui a chance to explain, ordered the tutor to move her away, refusing to sit with her any longer.
The instructor was in a difficult position.
One is the Empress's most beloved youngest daughter, and the other is the heir to the Prince of Nangong. He can't afford to offend either of them.
Yu Sui asked Princess Shangyang, "Do you really want me to leave?"
Princess Shangyang's eyes widened: "Get out!"
Yu Sui: "Okay."
She stood up, picked up her books, and went to the back, coming to Zhong Lique's side.
Zhong Lique, who was engrossed in writing, looked up and stared at her in surprise.
Yu Sui said to the person sitting next to Zhong Lique, "Do you want to switch with me?"
It just so happens that the girl was a member of Princess Shangyang's sisterhood. She glanced at Princess Shangyang, packed her things, and got up to leave.
Yu Sui then asked Zhong Lique, "May I sit here?"
Zhong Lique reached out and scratched her cheek: "Y-yes, that's fine."
Yu Sui thanked her, sat down next to her, and then lay down on the table to sleep.
Princess Shangyang: "..."
She actually went to Zhong Lique's side!
I'm so angry!
Seeing that the children had solved the problem themselves, the teacher secretly breathed a sigh of relief, coughed casually, and began the lesson.
Zhong Lique held her pen, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Yu Sui, who was sleeping on the table beside her. Sunlight shone on half of her body, making her skin look crystal clear and exquisitely beautiful, like a porcelain doll.
Yu Sui got a new deskmate. Unlike her previous deskmate, who would talk to her every day, the two hadn't spoken to each other for several days, each doing their own thing.
Neither of them mentioned the incident of the hair ornaments clashing, nor did they mention why Young Master Lin had called out to Yu Sui that day.
Yu Sui didn't know if it was because of Princess Shangyang, but she openly disliked Zhong Lique, so there were no children who played with Zhong Lique.
Zhong Lique is the daughter of the General Who Guards the Nation, and a direct descendant of him. Her status and position are no less than those of Yu Sui and Princess Shangyang.
Previously, Madam Su told Yu Sui that she didn't need to get close to the children of the Zhongli family, and Yu Sui thought it was because of Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming's Asura Eyes can see through all military formations, but the Zhongli family possesses the world's strongest military formation trapping and killing techniques. Nangong Ming is their only nemesis.
These two are also the right-hand men of the current Qingyang Emperor, and they check and balance each other.
Princess Shangyang was angry for several days. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she felt. She no longer cared whether Yu Sui liked Gu Gan or not. All she could think about was "She actually went to see Zhong Li Que."
I can choose not to be your friend, but you've gone and become friends with someone I hate.
This was unacceptable to Princess Shangyang.
Princess Shangyang gritted her teeth and decided to "take back" Yu Sui. In the past few days, she would casually stroll in front of Yu Sui whenever she had the chance, implying in her words that "I have forgiven you".
Yu Sui pretended not to understand, and each time she looked back at Princess Shangyang blankly, her eyes saying, "What are you saying? I don't understand." This angered Princess Shangyang, who scolded her for being stupid.
In fact, Zhong Lique wasn't truly without friends. After all, her family was large, and she had many sisters and cousins from the same clan, almost all of whom were at the National Academy. They would dine together, travel to and from the National Academy for study, and so on.
Princess Shangyang thought Yu Sui was a fool, so she said directly to Yu Sui, "I forgive you. Come back on your own."
Zhong Lique didn't look over, but she pricked up her ears to listen.
Yu Sui looked at the composed Princess Shangyang and shook her head: "I don't want to go back."
Princess Shangyang's pupils dilated in shock: "What did you say?!"
"I'm perfectly fine sitting here," Yu Sui said honestly.
Princess Shangyang angrily pointed at Zhongli Que and said, "Do you like playing with her?"
Yu Sui nodded: "Mm!"
Princess Shangyang felt very embarrassed and angry, and almost got into a fight with Yu Sui. It was only because the young ladies around her stopped her that she stopped them. If the two of them had fought, it would have been terrible.
Everyone thought Yu Sui was bound to get beaten up, but they were worried that Princess Shangyang would be scolded by the Empress after she beat Yu Sui up.
Princess Shangyang finally uttered a harsh threat: "Nangong Sui! You can just sit there, you'll never be coming back!"
Yu Sui nodded: "Mmm!" Li Yi
Princess Shangyang: "..."
fed up.
She turned around and overturned Yu Sui's table.
The scene erupted into chaos, with children screaming in alarm. Zhong Lique cried out and rushed forward with Princess Shangyang's group of sisters to break up the fight.
The tutor was so frightened by this situation that he almost fainted when he came in.
Yu Sui was truly stunned when Princess Shangyang pounced on her.
She never dreamed she would fight with a seven or eight-year-old child.
The two were pulled apart, and the instructor angrily rebuked the behavior.
Princess Shangyang was still angry and was being held back by her friends, so she could only glare fiercely at Yu Sui.
Yu Sui ruffled her messy hair and couldn't help but laugh.
Instructor: "..."
Zhongli Que looked over in surprise, and Princess Shangyang said angrily, "You're still laughing!"
Yu Sui couldn't help but burst out laughing again.
On this day, Princess Shangyang announced that she would sever ties with Nangong Sui.
Yu Sui was beaten by Princess Shangyang, and the news spread throughout the entire Imperial Court that very day.
It wasn't that the young princess of the royal palace and Princess Shangyang got into a fight; rather, it was that she was hit by Princess Shangyang.
After all, Princess Shangyang was unharmed, and Yu Sui did not fight back. Her hair was disheveled from being grabbed, and there were several red marks on her neck.
When Yu Sui left the National Academy that evening, his three elder brothers looked at him with complicated emotions.
Yu Sui looked back, puzzled.
The eldest brother, Han Bing, looked at her, hesitated, and finally sighed, saying, "Let's go."
Yu Sui followed him outside.
The other two older brothers walked arm in arm.
Second brother Su Feng seemed unable to resist and tilted his head to say to Yu Sui, "You fight back."
Third Brother Sheng Fei glanced at Yu Sui walking beside him and sneered, "What were your hands born for?"
Yu Sui looked up and said, "That's a princess."
The older brothers looked away, disappointed in their son.
When Yu Sui returned to the Prince's Mansion, the red marks had almost disappeared, and the mute woman helped her comb her messy hair back to its original state.
When she went to recite her lessons to Madam Su again, there was no sign that she had been in a fight.
Yu Sui knelt at the door, glanced at the book, recited a few lines, and spent some time reciting it to Madam Su. After confirming that there were no problems, she got up and happened to run into Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming casually patted her head and chuckled, "I heard you got hit by Princess Shangyang today?"
Before Yu Sui could answer, Nangong Ming sighed: "Are you planning to keep getting beaten by her from now on?"
“I have no such plans,” Yu Sui said.
Hearing her answer, Nangong Ming was somewhat satisfied. He instructed Yu Sui to work harder in her upcoming riding, archery, and sword lessons. Yu Sui nodded in agreement and noticed Madam Su's gaze as she left.
Yu Sui was well aware of Madam Su's attitude towards him.
They knew that Lady Su had wavered and wanted to kill her to reclaim the complete Breath Soil.
She also knew that Madam Su was unwilling to return and work with Nangong Ming again, and even more unwilling to let the safety of her beloved eldest daughter, Qingkui, be in Nangong Ming's hands.
Over the years, her relationship with Madam Su has drifted further and further apart.
When Nangong Ming used Qingkui to threaten Madam Su into continuing their cooperation, Madam Su found it difficult to regard Yu Sui, whom she saw as a pawn, as her beloved daughter.
Because in Madam Su's eyes, Yu Sui was raised by Nangong Ming.
At this moment, Madam Su looked at Yu Sui with a judgmental gaze, deeming her a weakling.
Yu Sui's mediocrity seemed to have led Madam Su to completely give up on the child.
Back in the room, Yu Sui rolled around on the bed, recalling the look Madam Su had given her when she left, and unconsciously scratched the corner of her eye with her finger.
That's incredible.
A seven-year-old child would be really sad to see this.
If she behaves more cleverly, Madam Su will become increasingly wary of Yu Sui, because it means that Nangong Ming has a clever pawn in his game.
No one would believe that Yu Sui had her own thoughts, nor would they believe that her intelligence was innate; they would only think that she was a thorn in the side of the Prince's mansion.
Lady Su did not trust Nangong Ming, so she would not trust Yu Sui either.
Yu Sui was certain that if given the chance, or if Nangong Ming forced her into a corner, Madam Su would no longer hesitate to kill her first and retrieve the complete Breath Soil.
Not to mention she possesses a strange fire and bears the mark of a world destroyer.
Yu Sui knew too little about cultivation in this world. In this vast ocean, she didn't even have a drop of water. Who knew what she might do or say that would expose her identity as the destroyer of the world and lead to her being burned at the stake?
She had to remain unnoticed by everyone, growing in a corner where no one cared, until she was sure she was strong enough.
Seven years old.
Before the age of seven, children will tell their parents that they are tormented by an unknown fire inside them every night and cannot sleep.
She was only seven years old when she was facing Princess Shangyang.
Yu Sui rubbed his eyes, sat up, and continued tinkering with the National Academy's super-large communication array.
Although she could reconstruct the appearance of the communication array in her mind based on her memory of that day, there were only two ways to obtain real-time information:
One approach is to crack the communication array itself.
Secondly, obtain the wind-listening ruler and then connect it to the National Council's communication array.
How can I visit the Institute of Communications Technology frequently without arousing suspicion?
The next day, Yu Sui left early during the last class. When she entered the School of Communications, she was stopped by patrolmen who asked her what she wanted.
Yu Sui said, "I'm waiting for my third brother, but it's so hot outside. Can I come in and wait here?"
Upon learning that this was the young princess of the royal family, the people from the Communications Institute did not stop her. Moreover, there was no reason for Yu Sui to refuse, as the little girl was well-behaved and cute. Under various circumstances, Yu Sui successfully entered the Communications Institute.
No one would think that a seven-year-old child could decipher the runic information in the communication array.
So Yu Sui sat at the edge of the Star Array, and could even chat with the patrolmen, listening to them talk about cultivation:
"These in the star array are called number mountains."
"The largest mountain is called Tianyuan, the one to the left of Tianyuan is called Jiguang, and the one to the right is called Changsheng."
"Tianyuan represents positioning, Aurora is responsible for transmission and conversion, Changsheng is responsible for encryption, and the other mountains record different information and converge on them."
The patrolman made a gesture, drew a circle, and finally his fingertip rested on the top of the mountain.
Yu Sui's face was full of "I'm so awesome!" which made the patrolmen who were teasing the child feel a great sense of accomplishment.
"The Wind-Listening Ruler isn't something you can use just because it's given to you. There are several conditions for using it. First, you must be literate; second, you must be able to memorize the word-filling rhyme so that you can send messages; and third, you must remember the positions of the stars so that you can transmit messages to others."
The methods and requirements for transmitting text and sound are different.
The patrolman asked, "How far has the princess progressed in her studies?"
Yu Sui blinked and held up one finger, saying, "I can read."
The two patrolmen chuckled upon hearing this.
The following time was spent with the two teaching her crossword puzzles.
Yu Sui left just in time to meet Sheng Fei, who had finished his studies. She had to keep up the act to avoid arousing suspicion.
She stood at a distance in the crowd and called out to Sheng Fei as he walked out, "Third Brother!"
Sheng Fei paused for a moment upon hearing the sound, then looked at Yu Sui under the tree, and glanced around. The sun was setting in the east today.
"What are you doing here?" Sheng Fei ignored his friends and walked straight towards Yu Sui.
Yu Sui said, "Father told me to pay more attention to my upcoming archery and sword lessons. I don't know how, so I'd like to ask you, Third Brother, to teach me in advance."
Sheng Fei felt that the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.
"You have to kneel to memorize your lessons, but you can't kneel to learn horseback riding and archery?" the sharp-tongued third prince retorted.
Yu Sui thought there was nothing she could do; she couldn't sleep well at night, so she had to make up for it by sleeping during the day.
"I don't want to learn on my knees," Yu Sui said honestly. "So I'd like to ask Third Brother to teach me."
The reason for seeking out Sheng Fei was that his college was the closest to the School of Communications.
Sheng Fei said without changing his expression, "Go find Gu Gan. Aren't you two on good terms?"
Yu Sui said, "Brother Gu is not as good as you, Third Brother, in this respect. You are the best among the people I know."
Perhaps it was the word "most powerful" that convinced Sheng Fei. Although he complained, he still took Yu Sui to the archery range after returning to the manor.
To outsiders, Yu Sui was a princess of the royal palace with mediocre talent, no ability whatsoever, and even a somewhat dull-witted nature. Sheng Fei, who lived under the same roof as her and went to and from the Imperial Academy with her, had a somewhat different perception of her.
First of all, Sheng Fei didn't think Yu Sui was completely useless, nor was he stupid enough to know nothing. He was a perfectly fine person, just a little slow to react and not very temperamental, and he was just timid.
Sheng Fei was three years older than her and was mostly taught by his mother, Madam Sheng. Because of his high talent, Nangong Ming also often cared for this child.
Although Madam Sheng's cultivation level was not high, she had her own businesses and was not worried about money. With the background of the royal family, she was also a prominent figure in the business world.
Therefore, she was able to give Sheng Fei enough confidence and raise her son to be fearless.
Sheng Fei, who believes in the principle of "I'm the best when it comes to indecision", thinks that Yu Sui, who only knows how to be beaten and scolded without fighting back or talking back, is a coward with no temper.
Although Madam Su has no family background, she is still a thirteenth-level expert. You are the heir of the royal family and the future princess. Princess Shangyang may not be more powerful than you in the future. What's wrong with being so timid? Stand up for yourself!
Sheng Fei had a lot to say to Yu Sui, but looking at her blank face, he couldn't say anything. He then led her to start by choosing a bowstring.
Yu Sui was quite serious and didn't do it perfunctorily.
Sheng Fei felt that her physical strength was too weak and her bowstring strength was unstable. She needed to train her physical fitness first. After that, she also needed to familiarize herself with the bowstring every day and develop a bond with it.
The siblings' instruction at the archery range quickly caught the attention of their eldest and second eldest brothers.
Upon learning that Yu Sui wanted to learn horseback riding, her older brothers, who were already proficient, offered to help.
Second Brother Su Feng was in high spirits and eager to show off. He drew the bowstring and shot several times, hitting the bullseye every time. He looked back at Yu Sui triumphantly and said, "You've learned something, haven't you!"
Yu Sui clapped her hands, then shook her head.
The second son, Su Feng, was also raised by his mother, Lady Hui. When Lady Hui was young, she was quite ambitious and wanted her son to compete for the position of heir to the royal family.
Who would have thought that his son's talent test would reveal that he was most suited to military strategy.
Given the complex and adversarial relationship between the Prince of Nangong, who came from a prominent family, and the military family, it was impossible for him to pass the throne to his son, who also came from a military family.
Lady Hui then gave up and changed her mind to focus on training her son Su Feng in the military.
The second son, Su Feng, is the least likely to become the heir, so he has no competition with his brothers and sisters. He has a cheerful personality and is the one among the children who admires his father the most.
As for the eldest prince's mother, Madam Han, she is the only one among the four wives who truly loves and still loves Nangong Ming.
Nangong Ming expected Han Bing to be a certain kind of person, and Madam Han would raise him to be that kind of person.
All three sons liked their father, Nangong Ming. Before Gu Gan appeared, Nangong Ming did not show any obvious favoritism towards any of his children.
Even Yu Sui, who was chosen as the heir, did not receive any special favor.
Unfortunately, a child who wasn't from the Nangong family got it.
This is also why the three brothers had no hostility or prejudice towards Yu Sui, because Gu Gan was the one they were hostile to.
In other words, if the heir Yu Sui had received Nangong Ming's prejudice, they wouldn't be so jealous and dissatisfied.
We're all family, after all.
What kind of person is that brat Gu Gan?
Yu Sui had always been close to Gu Gan, which made her three brothers somewhat disappointed in her. Now that she had given up on Gu Gan and come to find her own people, the three of them felt a sense of victory, as if "we have finally won."
At this moment, Han Bing, the oldest and most composed, corrected Yu Sui's bow-drawing posture.
Su Feng and Sheng Fei discussed whether to "train their physical fitness first" or "start directly to gain experience".
Sheng Fei said, "She's not strong enough; she struggles even to draw a bow. How can she gain any experience?"
Su Feng said, "We have light bows. Let's pick one that's suitable for her to practice with first, and then gradually add more."
Sheng Fei: "You don't know anything!"
Su Feng: "You don't know anything!"
Han Bing turned around and looked over: "You must not use such vulgar language."
The two brothers ignored him and neither convinced the other. Instead, they got more and more worked up and started fighting. Han Bing tried to stop them but failed, so he stepped in and forcibly pulled them apart.
Yu Sui stood to the side and watched for a moment, then turned his head and tried to draw the bow himself. The long arrow flew halfway before falling to the ground.
She picked up the arrow again, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the three men still wrestling.
Boys at this age are carefree, easy to read, and have not experienced hardships or setbacks; they can be seen through at a glance.
They possess the naivety, jealousy, and confusion typical of their age, and their emotions come and go quickly.
These everyday memories will be their most profound and unforgettable ones in the future.
Yu Sui has been getting busier and busier lately.
She dismantled the National Academy's giant communication array at night, slept at the National Academy during the day, skipped classes regularly to go to the Communication Academy, observed the mountains of data within the communication array, and inquired about relevant information from the patrolling guards.
At sunset, he would return to the mansion with his brothers to practice riding and archery.
Yu Sui showed her seriousness in practicing riding and archery, but she never practiced beyond the allotted time, leaving on time without stopping for a moment.
Often, while Sheng Fei was explaining the techniques, Yu Sui would run away halfway through, saying as she ran, "It's time! I'll listen to it again tomorrow, brother."
Sheng Xun: "..."
Recently, neither Madam Su nor Nangong Ming have been in the manor, so Yu Sui doesn't need to go there to memorize her lessons. She has some free time to catch up on sleep before dark. After being awakened by the restless strange fire, she continues to study the communication array.
This continued until Madam Su and Nangong Ming returned to their residence.
Gu Gan also returned at the same time.
Gu Gan rarely visits the Prince's Mansion unless there's a specific reason. Today, on a whim, he decided to visit Yu Sui. He happened to pass by the archery range and saw Yu Sui standing there, being instructed on archery by his three elder brothers.
It's obvious to anyone with eyes that the relationship between these people is much better than before.
Gu Gan watched for a while, then, finding it uninteresting, turned and left the Prince's residence.
The next day he went to the National Academy and met Yu Sui, who greeted him with a smile.
Gu Gan asked Yu Sui, "What have you been practicing lately?"
Yu Sui said, "I'm practicing riding and archery. I'll be learning next month, so I'm practicing in advance."
Gu Gan said "Oh," and then asked, "Training at the National Academy?"
“No,” Yu Sui shook her head. “My third brother taught me after I got home.”
Gu Gan snorted: "Why don't you ask me to teach you?"
[Author's Note]
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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