Chapter 1 Reading Companion: I promise I'll behave like a quail and won't give you...
Fu Mingzi was dragged out of bed by his brother.
"You bastard! Have you forgotten what day it is today?"
Although Prince Jingguo's heir, Fu Mingsong, was over forty years old, his voice was still full of energy. Fu Mingzi immediately returned from his slumber and was groggily pulled off the bed.
He vaguely saw several maids serving him standing by the bed with mournful faces, but his mind was in a daze and he couldn't remember what had happened.
However, Fu Mingsong was clear-headed. In just a few words, he instructed several maids who were in a mess to dress him properly, and then took a handkerchief soaked in ice water and smeared it on his face.
Fu Mingzi immediately woke up halfway.
"Brother!" he exclaimed, somewhat exasperated, "What's wrong with you now?!"
His older brother was so angry he was practically fuming, his hands trembling as he wanted to punch him, but then he thought better of it and lowered his hand.
"Do you remember what day it is today?" Fu Mingsong asked, barely suppressing his anger.
“Of course I…” Fu Mingzi was taken aback, then finally remembered.
Today is indeed a big day; it's the day he enters the palace to serve as a tutor to the Fifth Prince.
Fu Mingzi was stunned for a moment, but Fu Mingsong pulled him out of the west courtyard, his tone somewhat annoyed: "I told you a thousand times to get up early today, have you forgotten? Hurry up and go, we're running out of time."
Fu Mingzi paused, instinctively trying to struggle: "Big brother, I haven't eaten yet."
"What are you talking about? If you're late, you'll have to eat yourself." Fu Mingsong was almost furious, but he wouldn't let go and dragged him away.
Fu Mingzi was furious. That bastard Emperor!
He was originally living a carefree life as a spoiled brat, indulging in delicious food and drinks every day, sleeping until he naturally woke up, and enjoying himself immensely. But then an imperial edict came down and assigned him to be the emperor's fifth son's tutor. Is this something a human being would do?
The key point is that even if he's furious, he can't disobey and can only reluctantly comply.
Fu Mingzi dared not speak out in anger, and could only be pulled by his elder brother onto the carriage leading to the palace.
He didn't stop talking in the car either. Fu Mingsong kept reminding him about important and trivial matters in the palace the whole way.
His Highness the Crown Prince and the previous princes are no longer studying in the Imperial Study. Only the princes below the Fourth Prince are still there. Among them, the Ninth Prince is the one you should never offend, and it's best not to offend the Sixth or Seventh Princes either. In any case, apart from the Fourth Prince's child, the Fifth Prince Zhou Xiaoyan has the lowest status in the entire palace.
"Consort Wan was once favored, but she came from a humble background. Now that the Imperial Concubine has come along, I'm afraid her situation is difficult, not to mention His Highness the Fifth Prince. I heard from Duan Shijiang of the Imperial Study that the Fifth Prince is indifferent to fame and fortune and does not like to talk. He should be easy to get along with."
At this point, Fu Mingsong paused for a moment before saying, "Actually, in another year or two, His Highness the Fifth Prince will be leaving the palace to establish his own government office, and you won't be able to go for more than a few days."
Fu Mingzi leaned against the carriage, her eyes half-closed, it was unclear whether she was listening or not.
Fu Mingsong was furious, but he couldn't bring himself to hit him. He could only tap his knee and say in a deep voice, "That guy in front messed up his job and got a beating. His whole family was disgraced. You should take this as a warning and be careful with your words and actions!"
Fu Mingzi opened her eyes, glanced at Fu Mingsong, and sneered.
"Cheng Yuancai is such a blockhead, it's common for him to mess up his job. It's quite an achievement that he wasn't kicked out of the palace immediately. He's endured it for so many years, he must have gone to great lengths."
Fu Mingsong was so angry at his arrogant attitude that his face turned pale, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He only ended up with internal injuries from anger and sighed several times.
In the end, Fu Mingzi felt sorry for her brother and waved her hand dismissively.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I'll behave as well as a quail and won't embarrass you."
Fu Mingsong was not only the heir of the Duke of Jingguo, but also a high-ranking official, a confidant of the emperor, the Minister of War, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and a person granted the privilege of serving in the emperor's presence.
The fact that the younger brother of such a pillar of the state was paired with an unknown prince as a study companion—only this emperor could come up with such a system of checks and balances.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace.
Fu Mingsong helped Fu Mingzi off the carriage. A eunuch was already waiting by the palace wall. When he saw them arrive, he greeted them with a smile.
"Lord Fu and Young Master Fu have arrived early. There is still half an hour before the hall is to be opened. This servant will lead you in now."
Fu Mingsong stopped and, upon seeing that this eunuch was a servant of the emperor, became even more polite, nodding slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, sir." After speaking, he looked at Fu Mingzi: "I won't go over there. You go with this eunuch. Remember, do your job well."
Fu Mingzi nodded, took the book basket from the servant, and turned to follow the eunuch into the palace.
The young eunuch was very clever. Seeing Fu Mingzi's book basket, he offered to help her carry the things, but Fu Mingzi smiled and declined, saying, "No need to trouble you, Father-in-law, I can carry this myself."
What kind of place is this? None of the people here are simple. Even a lowly eunuch like him can't afford to offend them.
After entering the palace gates, they headed west, passing through several more gates, and finally arrived outside the Imperial Study.
The eunuch smiled and handed a token to Fu Mingzi.
"This token will be used by Young Master Fu to enter and exit the palace in the future. Please take it carefully, Young Master."
Fu Mingzi nodded, tucked the item into his pocket, and became even more polite.
The eunuch left with a smile, and Fu Mingzi stood outside the study, taking a slow breath.
The princes haven't arrived yet; he needs to wait.
However, it didn't take long before two boys of similar age walked over from behind. One was followed by a eunuch and a young master-looking companion, while the other was followed only by a eunuch.
Fu Mingzi squinted at the distance, but suddenly felt a jolt in her heart.
He had seen many beautiful women, not to mention the maids, sisters, nieces and sisters-in-law in his own household, but also the courtesans and beauties in brothels and entertainment venues. He considered himself a seasoned lover.
But this person...
She was truly a beauty with exquisite features, fair skin and delicate bones, like spring snow in the mountains, elegant yet refined, and radiant yet captivating. She was truly unparalleled in her beauty.
If he wasn't mistaken, this should be his study companion, Zhou Xiaoyan.
Fu Mingzi felt her heart pounding wildly as she watched him approach step by step. The closer he got, the more her heart raced.
It's like having a restless rabbit in your arms, it can't wait to kiss it right away.
Fu Mingzi never knew that she was actually someone who was attracted to beauty.
"Is this Young Master Fu?" Zhou Xiaoyan's dark eyes stared straight at Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingzi's heart skipped a beat. Coming to his senses, he immediately bowed his head and said, "It is indeed your humble servant who respectfully wishes the Fifth Prince good health."
Zhou Xiaoyan looked down at Fu Mingzi's hair and pursed his lips slightly: "Come in with me."
The voice was clear and cold like a mountain spring, yet it warmed Fu Mingzi's heart.
If this voice were heard on the bed someday, what would it be like? It's a pity that the Fifth Prince was born the wrong gender. If he were a woman, he would have gotten his hands on her even if it meant getting a beating from his father.
"Yes." Fu Mingzi replied gently, stepping aside to let the two princes pass before calmly following behind Zhou Xiaoyan.
"What good luck!" Fu Mingzi smiled enigmatically. "I never expected the Fifth Prince to be such a beauty."
The fourth prince, Zhou Xiaoheng, who came with Zhou Xiaoyan, also glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan with great interest.
In the past, Zhou Xiaoyan hated being looked at like that, but today, he clearly saw this young master Fu's momentary loss of composure, yet Zhou Xiaoyan didn't seem angry. He didn't know if it was because he was truly not angry, or...
Zhou Xiaoheng slightly curled his lips, his eyes deepening with emotion.
They entered the study with their own hidden agendas. Since Fu Mingzi was Zhou Xiaoyan's study companion, he naturally sat next to Zhou Xiaoyan.
Fu Mingzi had studied when he was a child, but he was impatient with classical Chinese texts and thought he would be rich and noble in the future, so he didn't listen to them much. They went in one ear and out the other, and he didn't take them seriously at all.
But now he has no choice. He has become the prince's study companion. If the prince does not perform well, the study companion will be beaten. If the study companion does not perform well, the study companion will also be beaten. In any case, he will be beaten. There is no reason for it, and he can't win the argument.
Fu Mingzi wasn't a masochist, so he felt that he might really need to study hard.
Thinking of this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but glance at Zhou Xiaoyan again.
He sat there with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in meditation, but his face somehow managed to distract one's attention.
It's not just her beauty, but also her aura. She is unparalleled in beauty, yet she is cold and aloof, creating a stark contrast that makes one's heart itch unbearably. One can't help but want to take her to bed and humiliate her, to make her peach blossom eyes glisten with tears, and to make her red lips utter words that ignite passion.
Thinking of this, Fu Mingzi felt hot all over and quickly lowered her head, not daring to look anymore, for fear of embarrassing herself in public.
Zhou Xiaoyan seemed oblivious to his gaze. After opening his book, he said softly to him, "Today, the teacher will be lecturing on Mencius."
"Oh." Fu Mingzi was taken aback, and glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan again, only to see that he still had a calm expression.
Fu Mingzi curled her lips, lowered her head, and took out a copy of Mencius.
That's really funny.
Fu Mingzi suddenly realized that the old emperor had actually done a good thing by accident.
Before long, the other princes arrived one after another, along with their study companions.
Fu Mingzi also saw many familiar faces.
For example, he knew the Ninth Prince's study companion.
The Ninth Prince was born to the Imperial Concubine, who, despite her humble origins, was the most favored concubine in the palace. Now, she had even recognized the Marquis of Dingyuan as her adoptive father. Therefore, the Ninth Prince's study companion was naturally someone from the Marquis of Dingyuan's household. This person was none other than Luo Xing, the third son of the Marquis of Dingyuan, who was as famous for his dissolute lifestyle as Fu Mingzi.
Luo Xing, upon seeing Fu Mingzi, wore a look of utter disbelief, his hands trembling as if he were having an epileptic seizure.
"You, you, you, Fu Mingzi, what are you doing here!"
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I inherited a planet [Transmigration novel]
When Wen Xia woke up, she found herself turned into cannon fodder in an interstellar novel who wouldn't survive more than two chapters.
Because he was so useless, the Duke was very dissatisfied with him and assigned him to a remote planet, ordering him to get out immediately.
Everyone was waiting to see him cry and make a fool of himself, but Wen Xia was so happy that she left without stopping.
As soon as he left the Imperial Star, a cat covered in blood came to try and cause trouble.
It looks fierce, like someone owes it hundreds of millions.
Wen Xia softened her heart and let him successfully stage an accident. He looked pathetic, so she decided to treat him like a mascot.
But to her surprise, the mascot was indeed very auspicious. The day after she received it, Wen Xia opened the interstellar trading panel.
Water sources, tree species, minerals, and interstellar coordinates were all obtained, and the warm and humid planet became the most prosperous planet in the entire Gamma Galaxy.
Just as Wen Xia was working hard to build up the desolate planet and felt that he was about to reach the pinnacle of his life, news came that his duke father was going to arrange a marriage for him.
My fierce little cat has gone missing.
The following day, the Crown Prince of the Interstellar Alliance slowly stepped off the spaceship: "I'll give you two choices: come with me, or be taken away by me."
Wenxia: Is there a difference?
#Later he discovered that this prince was actually a fierce-looking furry little dumpling#
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