Chapter 59
The system started sharing, and the sound was so loud that most of the Chu family could hear it.
[Sister Huan, please accept this! Don't be polite to the Emperor.]
"We found Princess Anle's tomb and dug up treasures equal to four national treasuries, yet he didn't give you any. Now he's only giving you this little. You're being so stingy."
The Chu family: "..."
Jinyiwei: “…”
The disdain in the system's tone was so strong that it was difficult for the Fifth Prince to pretend not to hear it.
He had just had a meal of bamboo shoots and fried pork, and his butt was hurting, so he just gloated over it, thinking, "Tong'er, well done! Give me a little more!"
The system lived up to expectations, continuously angrily outputting: [You discovered that Lü Zhengye was stealing from the national treasury. He used this as an excuse to raid the Lü family. Half of the Lü family's century-long business profits went into his private treasury, and half went into the national treasury.]
You've done him and the treasury so much good, yet you haven't received a promotion, you haven't made any money, and he hasn't even offered you a word of praise. How could there be such a stingy emperor? Even Grandet would bow down to him!
The little baby voice rose in disbelief, so shrill that everyone who could hear it couldn't help but cover their ears.
Chu Huan's brow furrowed in frustration at the high notes. Despite the headache, she didn't forget to respond to the Fifth Prince, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward. I'm deeply unworthy of it."
The fifth prince felt ashamed for his father.
How can this be called a reward? It's clearly given by his father to prove that he's not stingy. He even uses his father's name to cover it up. How stingy! How stingy!
"Just accept it." Feeling uneasy at this, the Fifth Prince stopped deliberately calling Chu Huan "sister," which would have made her uncomfortable. He also didn't stay to say anything more. "The teacher has assigned me some homework, so I'll take my leave now."
Chu Huan walked him for a while and saw that the Fifth Prince was trying hard to hide his still somewhat strange walking posture. She understood in her heart - was he beaten?
Not sure why, and since it wasn't convenient to watch the group chat, she simply pretended not to see it.
[Tong'er, is Miaoshoukongkong ready to take action? ]
System: [No, he's still traveling around the capital and checking out the best spots.]
This made the Jinyiwei distressed.
They didn't know what Miaoshoukongkong looked like, nor did they know where he had gone, so they couldn't follow him. They could only wait for him to make the first move, which put them in a somewhat passive situation.
Chu Huan knew that the time was not right, so she didn't ask any more questions and focused on the homework assigned by the two teachers.
She didn't know how long these two masters could teach her, so she had to learn as much as possible in the time she could - all teachers liked diligent and studious students, and she had to improve their favor in this regard.
What she didn't know was that she had an extra assist from God.
The old Taifu, believing himself to be slightly better, deliberately ran to the old Grand Tutor to show off: "My student, at such a young age, has a photographic memory. She has dabbled in the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as the imperial examinations. It's a pity that she's a girl. She didn't have a good teacher before, so she had to learn on her own. Otherwise, with her talent, she would have created a legend like the three of them, father and son, serving in the same court."
The old master: “…” The old guy is showing off in his face, how can he tolerate this?
He straightened his sleeves immediately and calmly delivered a fatal blow: "She recognized me as her master first."
Old Master:!!!
Once a teacher, always a father.
Even though both of them were Chu Huan's teachers, there was an order of priority.
The old Grand Tutor secretly regretted that he had something to do in the morning and that he had lost the initiative to the old Grand Tutor, but he did not completely lose.
"I teach more than you, teach longer than you, and leave more homework than you."
In this respect, he won! The old master's eyes were full of pride, and he seemed to have instantly become several years younger.
Old Master: "..." Are you a child? You even want to compare such things!
"Oh, I won't argue with you."
The old teacher pretended not to care, but actually started preparing for tomorrow's class as soon as he got home.
He didn't know how much more the old tutor had taught him than he did, and it was not easy for him to send someone to the Chu family to ask, so he could only prepare as much as possible.
As for whether Chu Huan can learn so much?
She already has a certain foundation and has a photographic memory, so she will definitely be able to do it!
The next day, Chu Huan and the Fifth Prince discovered that the old tutor's lectures were faster, the course content was more extensive, and there was more homework left.
Yesterday was a trial lesson. After understanding the students' acceptance level, I speeded up a little today, which is normal.
Chu Huan and the Fifth Prince comforted themselves in this way.
However, when they thought about who was in the class and what their relationship was, they always had a bad feeling.
The premonition came true in the afternoon - the old tutor also did the same thing.
Chu Huan: “…”
The Fifth Prince: “…”
As soon as the old tutor left, Chu Huan quickly tapped the system: [Tong'er?]
The system had already quietly eaten the melon, and knowing that there was no need to discuss this matter privately, it spoke in group chat mode.
[Yesterday, after the old tutor finished teaching you two, you went to show off to the old teacher. What a stubborn old man! I'll give you two extra lessons when I get home.]
[The old master boasted that he had anticipated this before, and based on his estimation that the old master might add more classes, he added more classes, so the two of you will have to take several additional classes.]
Chu Huan: “…”
The Fifth Prince: “…”
Others: “…”
The system continued: [These two were famous for their high scores when they were young. Now that they have accepted two more students, they are even beginning to compete with each other.]
Comparing today with yesterday, tomorrow with today, you with him, two teachers with each other, where is the end of this competition? There is only more, not the most.
[Anyway, you two have to fight, and if you can't die, then fight to the death.]
Chu Huan: “…”
The Fifth Prince: “…”
Is it okay to be forced to become the king of the test?
I wanted to say no, but the two teachers were nearly seventy years old and were still working hard to prepare lessons, so they really had no room to refuse.
From that day on, the two of them were plunged into a difficult study career.
Chu Huan had no time to eat melons. She asked the system three times a day whether Miaoshou Kongkong was ready to take action. If it was still scouting, she would continue to study hard.
The fifth prince didn't care about his acting or being scheming. He just watched others being fooled by him, and his mind was full of the lessons from his two teachers.
Both mentally and physically, he was a real nine-year-old boy, and his progress was slower than Chu Huan's.
Occasionally, when I encounter content that I am not familiar with or difficult to understand, I can just walk a few steps to Qianhuaju to find Chu Huan. It is very convenient, and I have also experienced the benefits of having someone to study and communicate with him.
Seeing that the Fifth Prince was easy to talk to and didn't play tricks on her, Chu Huan would ask him for advice on some things.
During this period, Chu Qin traveled south as an imperial envoy.
Chu Huan no longer had to go to court in the cold early morning wind despite his brother's identity. He attended classes at home during the day and followed the system's revelations at night to draw up a map of Miaoshou Kongkong's infiltration and escape routes.
The emperor and Lin You set traps and deployed troops in the national treasury and the capital according to the drawings drawn up by the Jinyiwei, to ensure that if Chu Huan failed, they could capture Miao Shou Kongkong in one fell swoop and avenge their previous defeat.
In order to find the hidden source of intelligence that was known to both parties, Chu Huan entered the treasury in advance and pretended to be on guard for three consecutive nights.
The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works knew that the old tutor and the old mentor had started studying again, and they also knew that her schoolwork was very heavy, so they thoughtfully prepared a desk, candles, water and food for her.
So, on the night of the operation, Miaoshou Kongkong climbed over walls and ran across eaves to avoid inspections, while Chu Huan read and did homework under the light of candles and night pearls.
Miao Shou Kong Kong was almost pierced into a sieve by the mechanism set up by the Ministry of Industry. Chu Huan was tired of reading and ate some fruit leisurely during the break.
After Miaoshou Kongkong breathlessly passed through all the traps, he secretly complained that the Dasheng Treasury was not as easy to enter as his predecessors had said. He then entered the real treasury in one fell swoop. When he was delighted to see the many treasures, he also saw Chu Huan surrounded by many treasures.
How could there be someone in the treasury?
Miao Shoukong rubbed his eyes. This person was still there. It wasn't an illusion?
Chu Huan smiled and nodded: "Nice to meet you. I'm Chu Huan, an ordinary businessman."
This wave of self-introduction made Miaoshoukongkong completely confused.
"Are you waiting for me here?"
He thought this guess was a bit far-fetched, but Chu Huan was not surprised to see him.
There were candles, books, tables, and even tea, snacks, and fruits in the treasury. It was so well prepared that it was as if they knew he would come in advance.
Did he accidentally reveal his whereabouts while scouting the area, or did one of his fellow apprentices betray him?
But if the court knew he would come, they should have sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Imperial Guard to arrest him. Why would they send such a young girl?
Could it be that despite looking inconspicuous, she's actually a hidden martial arts master? The kind who can kill a kid with one palm strike?
Miaoshoukongkong uses his brain like crazy.
Chu Huan's answer came belatedly: "Yes."
Miaoshoukongkong was so angry that he jumped up and down, and immediately said a series of polite words: "Which little bastard tipped you off?!"
Chu Huan did not answer. She put the four treasures of the study aside, made a gesture of invitation, poured a cup of tea into the second remaining teacup, and pushed it to the opposite side.
"Tea, please."
Miaoshoukongkong didn't get an answer, so he sat down across from Chu Hua angrily, "Is this place full of Jinyiwei?"
"Yes." Chu Huan smiled, "So you don't have to worry about the tea being poisonous."
Miao Shoukong sized Chu Hua up and down, deliberately trying to scare her: "Aren't you afraid that I'll take you hostage?"
Chu Huan: "If I'm afraid, I won't come."
Miaoshoukongkong had been in the mountains for many years, and this was the first time he saw a girl who was so calm and composed at such a young age, and seemed to be planning something.
"You said you were a businessman. What kind of business do you do?"
As for that ordinary thing? Oh, I don't believe you!
An ordinary businessman would not have such an informed source of information, let alone let the Jinyiwei cooperate with her and let her treat the national treasury as her own home.
If Chu was not the emperor's surname, he would have suspected that the girl was the emperor's daughter.
Chu Hua: "I'm not very talented, so I'm going to run a soap, glass, and wine business."
Empty-handed: "..."
Even when he was living in seclusion in a remote mountain, he still saw his master's wife using soap and glass. You can imagine how humble she was.
What kind of wine is that? It must not be ordinary wine.
Since he could even manage the national treasury, Miao Shou Kong Kong didn't think there was any need for Chu Huan to deceive him.
He pulled down his black face scarf, revealing a handsome face. He picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. "Hmm, not bad."
He was really rude. He poured himself a drink and ate Chu Huan's snacks and fruits.
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
If they just wanted to capture him, either the Embroidered Uniform Guards or the Imperial Guards would do. Chu Huan must have something in mind for going to such great lengths.
Chu Hua said bluntly: "Stealing from the Xirong treasury."
"Poof—" Miaoshoukongkong spat out all the snacks in his mouth.
He wiped his mouth roughly with his sleeve, secretly complaining: It's because I am gentle with women that I spray you aside on purpose, otherwise your book and face would be in trouble.
"What do you want me to steal?" Why does he seem to have such bad hearing even though he's so young?
Chu Hua didn't repeat herself, but instead asked him, "What's the point of stealing from Dasheng's treasury to enhance your reputation?"
"How can it be useless? Everyone in the world knows that Miaoshou Kongkong is a master thief who can come and go freely in the national treasury." The young man didn't care and was even proud of it.
Chu Hua: "But you were born and raised in Dasheng. What you stole was your motherland. It's like you broke into your parents' room, opened their boxes, and told everyone in the world that they were paupers, making them the laughing stock of the world."
Miaoshoukongkong's expression changed, "How can this be the same?"
"Why are they different?" Chu Huan asked him, "Are your parents from Dasheng?"
"yes."
"Are your parents' parents from Dasheng?"
"yes."
"It's the land of Dasheng that grows the crops and cotton you need for food and clothing. It's the soldiers of Dasheng who sacrificed their lives to protect you from the enemies' trampling. That's why you've been able to grow up safely." Chu Hua didn't believe the boy didn't have a sense of belonging. "Isn't Dasheng your parents in another sense?"
Miaoshoukongkong: "Dasheng has no flesh and blood, how can he be my parents?"
Chu Hua: "Just because Dasheng can't speak and can't appear in front of you in human form, does that mean he's no longer your father and mother?"
"You were born and raised by your parents, and Dasheng was also born and raised by your parents. You were raised by your parents, and Dasheng was also raised by your parents. Your parents are your home, so isn't Dasheng your home?"
Empty Hands: ???
"Well, it seems so."
This sounded right, but something seemed amiss. His clever little brain couldn't wrap its head around it for a moment.
Chu Hua struck while the iron was hot: "You have such a great ability, what's the point of breaking into the Dasheng treasury?"
"If you have the ability to break into the Xirong treasury, steal their treasures, and leave some souvenirs, then when you get out safely, let the world laugh at the Xirong, and let all the people of Dasheng be proud of you and applaud you, that would be true ability."
As soon as Miaoshou Kongkong imagined that scene, he suddenly felt as if there was a liquid boiling in his chest, burning him so much that he wanted to really break into the treasury of Xirong.
He still had some sense and was not completely instigated: "No, Xirong..."
Before he could finish his words, Chu Huan interrupted him, "Unsafe?"
Miao Shou Kong Kong suddenly looked up and saw the sarcastic smile on Chu Huan's lips, as if saying: Look, you are just a thief who is protected by Dasheng's parents and steals their things and is complacent about it.
At that moment, Miaoshoukongkong really wanted to do something to make Chu Huan look at him with admiration.
At least, don't underestimate him like this!
"You're trying to provoke me." He had seen through everything.
"So what?" Chu Huan used an overt strategy this time. "Isn't everything I said true?"
Empty-handed: "..."
He was so angry just because it was an irrefutable fact!
If Chu Huan plotted against him, used poison or some other scheme to threaten him, he would rather die than surrender.
But she used such an obvious conspiracy that he really couldn't do anything about this girl.
One is: she is young, so he doesn't bother with his sister.
The second one is: Damn it! What she said was the truth! He himself felt like a jerk and thought her suggestion was great and tempting!
Damn, this girl is really good at talking!
Miao Shou Kong Kong's face was filled with frustration. "Why are you trying to persuade me? If you succeed, what good will it do you?"
"I am a woman. I have money but not power. What benefits can I get?" Chu Huan asked back.
Miaoshoukongkong thought about it and realized it was true.
Chu Huan added, "I just feel that life is so fleeting, and you've spent the first ten or so years of your life learning these traps and the art of theft. I'm sure you really enjoy them."
"Since you desire to become as famous as your predecessor, why do you follow his old path instead of choosing a new one that can surpass it? The new path may be difficult or full of thorns, but it will always be your path, not someone else's."
"Wouldn't it be better if I could do what I like while also doing it for my country and for the people?"
Miaoshoukongkong felt that Chu Huan was fooling him, and the most terrifying thing was that he was actually fooled into falling in love with her.
Master is right! The women down the mountain are all tigers, the kind that call you a young boy all the time!
"The customs and habits of Xirong and Dasheng are different. I don't know much about that place and I've never been there." The young man was used to touching something when thinking, so he took Chu Huan's brush and spun it back and forth on his fingertips.
His hands had been specially trained, and he had mastered the speed and strength of spinning the brush. He spun the brush several times without letting the ink on the tip of the brush drip or get it rubbed anywhere.
Chu Huan had never been able to spin a pen in her previous life, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. Admiration and envy flashed in her eyes, "How amazing."
The boy's vanity was satisfied. He subconsciously straightened his chest, increased his speed, and swung the brush with such force that only a blurry shadow could be seen.
Chu Hua applauded enthusiastically, like an audience watching an acrobatic performance: "Amazing!"
The boy raised his chin even higher, and after turning it a few more times, he stopped. "I've never stolen anything from Xirong before, so I need to practice first."
That's what I promised.
Chu Huan had been prepared for this, but she didn't expect it to be so simple. She still had many follow-up measures to take.
But it’s okay. Young people may like to be famous, but they always hope that the motherland will become stronger.
Chu Huan took out a few drawings from the book. "This is the floor plan and mechanism diagram of the Xirong Emperor's Mausoleum. Take a look."
The boy was stunned: "You can even get this?"
He didn't know much about Xirong, but based on his knowledge, the design habits and details on these drawings were correct and should be authentic drawings.
"We have such detailed drawings, can't you just steal them yourself?"
Chu Hua smiled: "Then Miaoshoukongkong will lose a great opportunity to become famous, right?"
"Pfft..." The young man also laughed, "My name is Meng Hang. Nice to meet you, an ordinary businessman."
Chu Huan: "My name is Chu Huan. Nice to meet you, the master thief who will soon become famous all over the world."
Against the backdrop of the national treasury filled with treasures and dazzling jewels, the young man and the girl reached out to shake hands and smiled at each other.
Meng Hang turned his head and looked at the overly abundant national treasury. Everything he saw today was different from what his predecessors had said.
"When did Dasheng become so rich? Could it be that they knew I was coming and borrowed money from somewhere else to show off?"
"Huh?" He suddenly exclaimed in surprise, clattering over and picking up a red sandalwood box to examine it carefully. "Isn't this something from the previous dynasty? There's a crape myrtle flower pattern with an embroidery needle. This is the symbol of Princess Anle."
"This is it, and this is it too. Why are all these things Princess Anle has here?" Meng Hang thought of the pictures of the Xirong Emperor's Tomb. Mu Mu turned his head away, "You wouldn't..."
Lady Chu Huan smiled and said, "Yes, Dasheng was so poor, so I led them to find Princess Anle's treasure."
Meng Hang: “…”
Suddenly, he had a very bad premonition: after cooperating with this girl, would he go from being a master thief to a master tomb robber?
If the master knew about this, he would definitely beat him to death!
"Well..." Meng Hang swallowed hard, "I'm a principled person. Stealing is fine, but tomb robbing is really..."
Chu Huan was easy to talk to. When she heard that he was unwilling, she didn't make things difficult for him: "Then, could you introduce me to your fellow apprentices?"
Meng Hang:?
"You want them to rob tombs? They won't agree."
Chu Huan smiled slightly. "I just heard that several of your fellow apprentices like my little apprentice sister, and I happen to have something your little apprentice sister wants. I think they should be willing..."
"I'll go!" Meng Hang slammed the table and stood up, his face full of righteousness. "For Dasheng! For the people! Please entrust this difficult task to me!"
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