Xiao Shao's expectations were not wrong. The next day, the Emperor sent a verbal decree summoning him to the palace for an audience.

Right at this moment, System 55 also updated the mission.

It spoke in a cold, ruthless electronic voice: "Please pay attention to the main plotline, Host. The imperial palace teaching is an important plot point, please pay attention."

Xiao Shao rubbed his chin. "Imperial palace teaching."

The one being taught obviously couldn't be Xiao Shao; it could only be Qi Yan.

At that time, Xiao Shao had just finished reading Qi Yan's policy essay on water management. This essay reflected the little Tanhua's consistent style and level. It lacked the flowery, superficial rhetoric of eight-legged essays and parallel prose; instead, it was concise, refined, and every word was a gem.

Based on his experiences inspecting Hedong with his father, he clearly detailed the locations, structures, and flood-control functions of the canals and diversions, as well as the labor costs and silver required.

Qi Yan had stayed up late into the night yesterday. Once he started writing the policy essay, he couldn't stop and insisted on finishing it. It wasn't until around the third watch that he finally set down his brush and ink and handed the essay to Xiao Shao.

Xiao Shao waved him off to sleep in the side room, while he tossed and turned, reading it over several times. The more he read it, the more he liked it. If he had someone like this to assist him in his past life, he wouldn't have been so overwhelmingly busy that he eventually died of overwork.

As a result, near the fourth watch, just as he was about to put out the lamp and go to sleep, he suddenly heard faint noises from the side room.

The night was quiet, amplifying even the smallest sounds. He put down the essay and walked over to the side room.

Qi Yan was not sleeping very peacefully.

He hugged the quilt, burying the tip of his nose into it and rubbing, like a burrowing hamster searching for a familiar scent. Failing to find it, his brows furrowed and his eyelids trembled, causing the tear mole under his eye to quiver along with it, looking like a teardrop on the verge of falling. It was a pitiful sight.

...Was he having a nightmare?

Qi Yan had said he dreamed every night. Xiao Shao originally thought he was joking, but now it seemed it wasn't a lie. He sat on the edge of the bed and tapped Qi Yan's cheek with his finger. "Wake up?"

"Qi Yan? Attendant Qi? Little Tanhua Qi? Pingzhang?"

There was no reaction.

Xiao Shao then reached out and pinched Qi Yan's nose.

He squeezed it mischievously. Unable to breathe smoothly, Qi Yan blearily opened his eyes. Seeing Xiao Shao, he unexpectedly reached out and grabbed his arm.

A familiar scent lingered at the tip of his nose, and the nightmare receded. He was like an adrift, solitary boat finally reaching the shore; his body relaxed even before his mind did.

Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. "Not afraid of me anymore?"

"..."

The sudden voice made Qi Yan clear-headed for a moment. He let go as if burned, releasing Xiao Shao's arm, and wanted to pay his respects. But with Xiao Shao blocking the front of the bed, he couldn't get down and could only sit there, awkwardly saying, "Your Highness."

His voice was a bit hoarse, and a bit dry.

Xiao Shao asked, "What did you dream about? Tell me."

Qi Yan replied, "...Nothing."

Xiao Shao let out an "oh," then narrowed his eyes and interrogated, "The house your sister lives in is under my name, you know."

In truth, even if Qi Yan didn't say anything, Xiao Shao wouldn't make Lady Qi move out. He just found Qi Yan's reaction amusing and insisted on teasing him.

Qi Yan pursed his lips. "I dreamed of the imperial palace."

The palace walls were towering, and inside, human lives were cheaper than grass. Washing clothes in the dead of winter was considered a cushy job. Whether the nobles were injured or sick, in a good mood or a bad one, it inevitably led to a bout of torment, and such torment often cost a life.

The close-serving eunuchs had even more numerous rules, with strict regulations for sitting and kneeling postures. Qi Yan had learned the rules for two months and suffered nearly ten beatings. If Xiao Shao hadn't arrived early, he didn't know if he could have survived it.

Xiao Shao: "Dreamed of the imperial palace? You're not even in the palace anymore, so what are you afraid of?"

Qi Yan: "I always feel like I haven't gotten out yet."

His daily nightmares were filled with vermilion and bright yellow glazed tiles. The palace walls stretched out in all directions, front and back, left and right, with no end in sight. Being trapped within felt as if his entire life was buried there.

Qi Yan was the descendant of a sinner. The Emperor's vermilion brush had condemned his entire family, leaving him without a single person on the outside to look after him. In the palace, he would only suffer more torment and hardship than the average eunuch.

He lowered his eyes and asked Xiao Shao, "Is Your Highness satisfied with that policy essay?"

Transitioning so abruptly from nightmares to the policy essay made Xiao Shao feel a bit weird, but he still replied, "It's alright, well written."

Seemingly drawing some courage from his affirming tone, Qi Yan asked, "Then may I ask Your Highness for a favor?"

"...Speak."

Qi Yan closed his eyes. "...Please don't send me back."

He was truly terrified.

Xiao Shao was taken aback at first, then smiled. "Don't worry. Since I chose you, you are my person. So far, no one has been able to snatch anyone from my hands. You're out, and that's that. No one can send you back. I can still call the shots on this."

Only then did Qi Yan relax, replying softly, "En."

Xiao Shao: "So you can sleep now?"

"...En."

After the lamp was extinguished, Qi Yan pulled up the quilt. The bed was once again imbued with Xiao Shao's scent. Smelling that incense, he relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

Separated by a single wall, Xiao Shao thought to himself, 'Don't send you back?'

Although he had agreed, he thought in his heart, 'Not necessarily. When this young master becomes the Emperor, are you not going to enter the palace with me? That won't do.'

The memorials in the Imperial Study were still waiting for his little Tanhua to review them.

Early the next morning, Xiao Shao rode his horse into the imperial palace.

In the Imperial Study, his old man, the Emperor, sat at the head seat, and his older brother sat to the side. The two were discussing a memorial. Seeing him, the Emperor waved. "Shao'er is here, come sit."

Xiao Shao pretended to kneel in greeting, getting up before his knees even touched the ground. To the side, the head eunuch, Li Quande, had already arranged a chair for him. Xiao Shao sat down without any politeness. "Is there a matter for Imperial Father summon me?"

Emperor Jianning said, "I heard that the remnant of the Qi family was taken in by you?"

At this time, the ink in front of Emperor Jianning was nearly used up. Xiao Shao took the inkstick from Li Quande's hand and began to attentively grind it. "Yes, I was told to pick at the time, so I casually chose one. Why?"

Just then, the Crown Prince Xiao Yi happened to look up, made brief eye contact with Xiao Shao, and quickly lowered his gaze again.

Emperor Jianning: "Casually chose, yet you just happened to pick him?"

He sighed and said, "The Silver Case shook the ruling and opposition parties. Three million taels of silver vanished without a trace right under my nose. I originally wanted to execute his entire family and implicate his nine generations to serve as a warning to others. Unfortunately, Qi Yan holds a scholarly honor and is well-liked by the old fogeys in the Six Ministries, who jointly petitioned for him, resulting in a special pardon. I had intended to throw him somewhere random in the palace, like the Headwear Bureau of the Directorate for Imperial Attire, and leave him to fend for himself. I didn't expect you to pick him."

Such a trivial matter normally wouldn't reach Emperor Jianning's ears. Since he was mentioning it now, someone must have deliberately brought it up.

Xiao Shao's gaze swept over the Crown Prince's kind-looking face, and he immediately understood.

In his past life, the Crown Prince chose Qi Yan because he wanted to win over Grand Tutor Song and others, intentionally picking him to gain the support of the upright civil officials.

Now that Xiao Shao had intervened and chosen the person first, it was inevitable that the Crown Prince would overthink it: Was Xiao Shao also trying to rope in the civil officials to fight for the Crown Prince's position? That was why he mentioned it to Emperor Jianning, using the Emperor's hand to test Xiao Shao.

Xiao Shao sneered, acting even more indifferent. "No, Imperial Father, how could I know all these twists and turns? You know I'm most annoyed by the trivial matters of the court. I can't even match the names of the Ministers of the Six Ministries. I chose Qi Yan simply because he looks pretty."

He put on a full display of a foppish playboy. "Little Tanhua Qi is truly beautiful. I had my eye on him during the Qujiang Banquet. Unfortunately, he had his scholarly honors back then, so I couldn't make a move. Now that he's fallen on hard times, surely I can bring him over for some eye candy, right?"

Emperor Jianning shook his head. "Improper." But he didn't say anything further.

A son raised in the palm of his hand wanting a pretty eunuch was nothing major.

While Xiao Shao was speaking, the Crown Prince's gaze continuously scrutinized his face. Only when he finished did he retract his gaze and say slowly, "I heard his training hasn't been completed yet, and he still retains some arrogance. He has only learned seventy or eighty percent of the palace rules, and he even contradicted the kid from Marquis Yongyi's family in the Imperial Study. I wonder if Shao'er is accustomed to using him?"

The Crown Prince was twelve years older than Xiao Shao and inherently cold and suspicious. Being called "Shao'er" by him gave Xiao Shao goosebumps all over. Before he could speak, Emperor Jianning sneered coldly. "The son of a criminal dares to be arrogant in front of a prince? Who taught him these rules?"

The head eunuch Li Quande fell to his knees with a thud. As the manager, all the palace eunuchs came from under his hands. "His Highness came in a hurry, so he indeed hasn't been fully taught... How about His Highness sends him back, and I'll deliver him to you once he's properly trained?"

Just as Xiao Shao was about to speak, his vision suddenly blurred. System 55 flew out holding a small screen and said coldly, "Host, please note that the protagonist [Qi Yan] receiving training is a necessary plotline, please..."

Saying this, the small screen stuttered slightly, then stated flatly, "Please strictly adhere to the passing line of 50 points."

The System's tone was serious and icy cold, lacking any human warmth. But in a place Xiao Shao couldn't see, System 55 cried two thick streams of tears.

—It didn't want to speak to its Host like this either, but who told Xiao Shao to be fierce to the System? The System had to be fierce back!

Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. "Alright."

At this time, Emperor Jianning also nodded. "Feasible."

Li Dequan bowed and voiced his compliance. Just as he was about to go down and make arrangements, Xiao Shao spoke up again. "Hey, hey, hey! I just got my hands on him and haven't looked at him enough. Where are you trying to take him?"

System 55 had just turned invisible and nearly fell headfirst. It was forced to reveal itself again, pretending to be even colder and fiercer: "Host, severe warning! Severe warning! 50 points is the bottom line of the contract, 50 points is the bottom line of the contract!"

"Ugh, stop warning me, I know."

Xiao Shao frowned and waved it away, saying with a headache, "How about this: have your people come to my estate to teach him. I use him, and you teach him. Neither will be delayed."

Emperor Jianning naturally agreed.

With this matter brushed over, Emperor Jianning resumed discussing the flood disaster with the Crown Prince. Xiao Shao stayed to the side, grinding ink on his own, only casually interjecting when the Crown Prince mentioned the flooding in Hedong and the need to build dikes and dams, which required an inspector.

"I heard that the Hedong commandery is rich in natural resources and treasures, and the Yellow River flows right through it with magnificent momentum. Imperial Father, your son is bored staying in the Capital City and wants to go ride horses in Hedong."

He seemed to bring it up casually, but Emperor Jianning's gaze fell on him thoughtfully.

Supervising the construction of dams was not a crucial job; anyone could do it as long as they watched out for subordinates embezzling funds. The corruption case involving Imperial Censor Qi had left Emperor Jianning trusting no one. Looking at it now, his own son Xiao Shao seemed like a good option.

So, Emperor Jianning asked some basic questions about water conservation. Xiao Shao hid his capabilities, only mentioning some points brought up by Old Man Song. It wasn't particularly brilliant, but it wasn't wrong either—more than enough for an overseer.

And so, he mounted his horse to take command, becoming the Imperial Inspector of the Hedong Circuit. Set to assume his post next week, he took the imperial edict and returned to his residence.

Beside him was a director from the Directorate of Ceremonial surnamed He, who was the instructor appointed by Li Dequan.

As soon as the director arrived at the estate, he bowed slightly to Xiao Shao. "I won't disturb Your Highness. Where is Eunuch Qi now? This servant can just go find him directly."

System 55 surfaced once again: "Host, please take 50 points as the baseline and cooperate with the director's actions."

Xiao Shao: "Of course I'll cooperate."

He glanced at Eunuch He and said languidly, "You're asking where Qi Yan is? Oh, he's in my room. Go find him."

—He was truly cooperating as much as possible.