"Eunuch Chu, His Majesty summons you."
"Alright, I understand."
The Empress is eager to see me as soon as I return. Could it be that Princess Xin Yue failed to fool her and intends to punish me?
As he followed, Chu Chen silently opened the Life Simulator, intending to predict the situation.
[Simulation loading complete, protagonist: Chu Chen!]
[You won the competition for Princess Xin Yue, and your talent in training soldiers has attracted the attention and curiosity of the court officials.]
[You returned to the palace, and the Empress summoned you for a reprimand.]
[A few days later, the West Palace mysteriously caught fire. The blaze raged through the night but was quickly extinguished just before dawn.]
[You imitated Princess Xin Yue's handwriting and helped her copy the court rules.]
[A few days later, Chen and Yun Yue countries clashed, and a small-scale war broke out.]
[The Empress ordered you to accompany Princess Xin Yue and lead the army to support the front lines.]
[...]
[You were betrayed and died at the age of twenty-four.]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the life simulation. You can choose one of the following three skills:]
[White-grade Printing Technology: Grants the host knowledge of this technology.]
[White-grade Golden Bell Shield: When activated, circulates spiritual energy to greatly enhance the host's defense, except for the head, heart, and private parts.]
[White-grade Grass on Flying: After cultivation, the host circulates spiritual energy to enable brief aerial hovering and movement at a height of ten meters.]
After reviewing the results of this simulation, Chu Chen was relieved.
So, she just wanted to reprimand me, likely to remind me to be mindful of my boundaries and not be too close to Princess Xin Yue. But is that something I can control?
Most other things were not much different from the previous simulation. However, why did the West Palace in the imperial palace mysteriously catch fire this time?
Was it Xue Yun's scheme? Did he set the fire? But doing so seemed to offer him no benefit.
With a heart full of doubt, Chu Chen arrived at the Imperial Study.
Chu Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"Little Chenzi, do you know your crime?"
The Empress asked expressionlessly.
Hearing the address "Little Chenzi," Chu Chen knew this reprimand would likely just be a conversation. He immediately said, "Your subject knows his crime."
"You admit your guilt quite quickly. Then do you know what you did wrong?"
"Your subject does not know."
Chu Chen dared not say he knew what crime he had committed. He had only been forced to do one thing today, but he dared not speak of it.
"Hmph."
The Empress snorted. "You went to the military camp to train soldiers for a while, and it seems your ability to curry favor with Xin Yue has declined. You couldn't even support the princess when she stumbled in her haste."
"You didn't let her fall this time. If she had truly fallen, you would be receiving a beating right now."
"Your Majesty's lesson is well-taken. Your subject guarantees there will be no next time."
Chu Chen admitted it readily, as it seemed the Empress was merely categorizing the incident.
It seemed that even if the princess hadn't completely succeeded in her deception, her objective had been achieved. That was a relief.
"Alright, stand up straight when you speak."
"Your subject obeys."
The Empress tapped the table with her index finger and asked, "The textile machines you improved and the shops you opened previously have yielded quite good income this month, no less than the profits from the soap and beauty soap shops, though the scale is not large."
"Have you sent people to neighboring countries to purchase silk?"
"Your Majesty, your subject has arranged for the purchase of raw materials for both soap and silk. I believe some should have been transported back within a month."
"In addition, Miss Shao Li Li, Princess Xin Yue's companion, has been very successful in her commercial activities selling soap in neighboring countries. As agreed, a batch of grain has been brought back."
"May I ask how Your Majesty plans to allocate this batch of grain? Your subject has temporarily stored it in the commercial granaries within the city."
Chu Chen answered the questions earnestly on the surface, but his heart tightened. He knew this was the Empress's true reprimand.
She was telling me that she was investigating the accounts of those shops and projects?
At the same time, these were all my accomplishments and contributions, and I would not be truly punished for this ambiguous matter with Princess Xin Yue.
As expected, although the Empress's military skills were lacking, her methods of managing her subordinates were at least competent.
"Then hand over seventy percent to replenish the imperial treasury. You can decide how to use the remaining thirty percent on which project or to invest in new projects. I trust your ability in this regard."
Upon hearing about the batch of grain, the Empress's expressionless face finally revealed a smile.
The curved-shaft plows and water wheels previously promoted in Yun Yue country had doubled grain yields in various regions, solving the problem of food shortages.
However, most of it had to remain locally for building granaries or be transported to prefectures near the borders. Only one or two tenths would be transported to the capital, Shuangyue City.
With this batch of grain arriving early, the imperial family and the court could expand their armies sooner.
"Grain has always been of utmost importance. Little Chenzi, you have brought me very good news this time."
The Empress smiled and said, "I was originally planning a small punishment for you, but now I will let it go. Go back and supervise that girl Xin Yue copying the court rules on my behalf, but you are not allowed to help her copy. Do you understand?"
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
Emerging from the Imperial Study, Chu Chen felt relaxed.
However, his relaxation didn't last long, as Princess Xin Yue disrupted it upon his return to Qingming Palace.
"Little Chenzi, you're finally back! Quickly think of a way for this princess!"
Princess Xin Yue grabbed Chu Chen's arm and pointed at three books on the table, titled Court Rules One, Two, and Three.
"These are what Your Highness needs to copy, aren't they? Your subject just returned from the Imperial Study, and His Majesty specifically instructed your subject not to help you copy."
Chu Chen feigned a troubled expression, though he found it amusing inwardly.
"Why is Mother Empress like this? She won't let eunuchs or palace maids help, and she won't even let Little Chenzi help. Does she really intend for this princess to copy them all by herself? When will I ever finish!"
"Why are these damned court rules so numerous!"
Princess Xin Yue was on the verge of a breakdown. Just one copy was this much; copying three times would surely break her hands!
Pacing back and forth anxiously, Princess Xin Yue suddenly thought of something and asked expectantly, "Little Chenzi, aren't you quite skilled at inventing things? Then think of a way, see if you can build something to help this princess copy."
"If no human labor is involved, it wouldn't count as copying, right? This princess is so clever!"
"How can a dead object help someone copy?"
Chu Chen shook his head with a smile, but then knowledge flashed through his mind, and his eyes lit up. "Wait, I think I might have thought of something, though it's not copying, but rather an interesting semi-automatic tool."
"Really? That's great! Little Chenzi, hurry up and make it!"
Princess Xin Yue was overjoyed.
"No problem, it should be done in about a day."
Chu Chen nodded, then called two eunuchs and asked them to find wood and wooden boards separately.
"Little Chenzi, what are these things for? They don't seem to be able to write, do they?"
Princess Xin Yue was somewhat puzzled.
"Your Highness, please wait with peace of mind and you will know."
Chu Chen smiled mysteriously.