"We did see it," Emperor Xuanwu said with a cold chuckle. "But We heard that so-called surprise was something you prepared alone. Your Fifth Sister was nowhere to be seen from beginning to end, was she?"
Clouded with dread, Yun Chuhuan's heart skipped a beat. That tone from Imperial Father was far from promising.
He forced himself to stay composed, clinging tightly to the one lifeline that might spare him: his Fifth Sister's reputation. "Fifth Sister didn't come yesterday, but the cement came from her!" he said quickly.
"Did it now?"
Emperor Xuanwu's lips tugged in a faint, unreadable smile.
He didn't doubt that part, truth be told.
The Simulation Life Selection System had already given a clear prompt long ago—this cement truly was something Xiao Wu had come up with. But who knew what tricks this little scoundrel had used to get it from her?
Emperor Xuanwu's gaze turned cold as it settled on Yun Chuhuan. After a long pause, he finally nodded. "Then do explain. That thing at the entrance—how exactly does it qualify as a surprise?"
"That thing…"
Yun Chuhuan swallowed hard, mind racing to recall the nonsense Fifth Sister had spouted when she tried to persuade Grand Preceptor Ye. "Fifth Sister said it could be used to pave roads. It's hard enough that no one can crush it, not even horses, and even carriages won't leave deep ruts. The road stays flat, so it'll be more convenient in the future for merchants traveling or transporting military supplies."
He paused for breath, then added, "It might even be used to cast city walls or build houses…"
"Hmm?"
Emperor Xuanwu had only intended to hear what other foolish excuse the boy would try next. He hadn't expected the child to actually say something of value.
Earlier, most of his attention had gone to fuming over that embarrassing fall, so he hadn't spared a thought to it. But now that he considered what the guards had reported… cement, initially soft and shapeless, could harden to a strength surpassing stone?
For paving roads, reinforcing dams, building homes, or erecting walls… it truly could be useful.
So in a way, it was a surprise after all?
Wait. No. Absolutely not.
He nearly let the little brat talk his way out of it!
The cement that Xiao Wu developed might be a surprise—but what Yun Chuhuan had done with it, piling it in front of the Imperial Study and causing him to trip, was another matter entirely.
Recalling how he had just embarrassed himself outside, Emperor Xuanwu's expression darkened once more.
"And you still dare argue? Since when could the entrance to Our Imperial Study be treated as your playground?"
He pointed a sharp finger toward the door. "No matter what method you use, get that thing cleared by sundown. And don't even think of calling anyone to help. Each day you delay, We shall fine you another hundred taels of gold."
"Your son only wanted to surprise you!"
Yun Chuhuan was nearly in tears. He still wasn't sure if Imperial Father had even tripped. He had only just repaid his previous debts, and now he was on the verge of another massive one.
He wanted to plead further, but at a glance upward, saw his Imperial Father's expression. That look clearly said: 'One more word, and the fine will double.'
So Yun Chuhuan swallowed the rest of his complaints. "If your son clears it today, that will be sufficient, yes?"
"Five hundred gold taels for today."
Emperor Xuanwu delivered the sentence with cold finality. "Plus five strikes to the palm."
Five hundred gold taels. Again!
Yun Chuhuan's vision went dark. He didn't even care about the hand strikes anymore. He dropped to his knees with dramatic flair. "Father Emperor, you can't do this! Your son only wished to—"
"Out."
The Emperor waved him off with complete indifference. "Or it will be six hundred."
Yun Chuhuan scrambled out without a second word. "Your son takes his leave!"
Emperor Xuanwu watched him flee in silence.
"This unfilial child!"
He pressed his fingers to his brow. How could someone like that possibly be his son?
He was nothing like himself. Nor like the Noble Consort.
No… perhaps a little like Xiao Wu?
Nonsense! Ridiculous!
Startled by the thought that surfaced in his mind, Emperor Xuanwu quickly shook his head, forcing it away.
How could he resemble Xiao Wu?
Even if Xiao Wu was unreliable at times, she was still leagues better than that troublemaker.
Though… now that he thought about it, Xiao Wu wasn't exactly trouble-free either.
"..."
When Yun Shu arrived at the Imperial Study with a satchel of cement powder, she found Yun Chuhuan still bent over, sweating profusely as he hammered away at the mess he made the day before.
At first, she had no idea what he was doing.
But when she drew close and saw the half-finished lump on the ground that looked suspiciously like the base of a city wall, her lips twitched. "I thought you were only testing the cement's effects?"
"And why can't I test it in front of the Imperial Study?"
Yun Chuhuan sat down heavily, dejected. One debt paid, and now another five hundred gold hanging over his head. He nearly clung to Yun Shu's leg in despair.
"Fifth Sister, Xiao Yuanzi said the cement was only finished because of your guidance, right? You must know how to make it soft again! I've been hammering it for ages and it won't budge!"
Yun Shu glanced at the tiny hammer he'd tossed aside. It wasn't even as big as an infant's fist. She didn't know whether to laugh or scold.
"Why not just ask a guard to help you?"
"Father Emperor forbade it!"
Yun Chuhuan's face collapsed. He complained like a wronged puppy.
"Fifth Sister, do you know how harsh Father Emperor is? He fined me five hundred gold taels and said if I don't clear this thing myself by the end of the day, it'll go up by a hundred per day!"
An initial fine of five thousand taels, then ten thousand per day afterward… harsh indeed.
But if the punishment was this severe… could it be that the little rascal really had succeeded?
Did Imperial Father actually trip?
Tsk. In that case, perhaps she ought to return on another day.
After all, what she came to say wasn't exactly good news.
Yun Shu quietly considered retreating. Just then, Li Dehai stepped out of the study. She quickly stepped forward.
"Eunuch Li, This Princess just remembered something urgent I've yet to tend to. Would you kindly inform Father Emperor that I shall—"
"Aiyah, my dear little ancestor!" Li Dehai cut her off, distressed. "Now that Your Highness has arrived, how could you depart without so much as stepping through the door?"
His Majesty had just flown into a rage. He was counting on Yun Shu to soothe him—there was no way Li Dehai would let her escape now.
He quickly moved aside with an ingratiating smile and gestured toward the door. "Please, Your Highness, don't make things difficult for this old servant. His Majesty is still waiting for you inside!"
Yun Shu stood frozen.
She should never have come.
And the guards outside the Imperial Study—what were they doing? How could they let Yun Chuhuan build a cement wall right at the front entrance?
If he'd done it anywhere else, it might have been fine!
Now she was walking straight into disaster.