Huang Beiyue
Zhongqi lost in this year's Feat contest.
How can he win with those monster brats about?! And its clear who has a hand in this, they're insanely strong!
The boy he fought hit too hard he felt each force make his bones crack before sending him off the ring!
Come to think of it, all those brats have jade-bone skin with incredibly good looks which went incongruent with their clothes befitting that of commoners.
Yeah, if she sponsored her damn maid she sponsored these damn brats too, out of spite no doubt!
She did this to spite them all.
She tested them and now he and Rou don't have access to precious goods that made these kids the hellion that they are and father isn't too happy. Well, its his fault too.
Zhongqi wasn't stupid.
He wasn't being a proper father.
In the past events, he looked at other families...and their household was so different.
Rou jealously lampshaded it on their mother on his first Feat Contest at age 12 when they got home.
'And that, is why I am always telling you kids to do your best.' said Concubine Qin. 'You think those kids have it good?' she told them with a sneer. 'That's just for public show just to look like a good parent when its always a different story behind closed doors. This world is all about reputation. Your treatment is based on prestige or shame you bring home by your actions in public. Believe me I've had enough of that from my own father, Chief Counselor.' she would sigh. 'Fathers are cruel creatures even to their own wives and children. I'm just lucky your father treats me well and I raised Qi'er well so that his future wife won't end up like most wives. I want to see a different ending for once.'
She told them what kind of man Chief Counselor Qi is growing up, and how their own father can potentially head that route if it wasn't for Concubines Fang, Qin and Xue using their charms on him that he treats them better. She had put great lengths to suck up to grandfather as well.
And she saw how he even treats a PRINCESS. What more about them, children of nobles? Zhongqi can get away to an extent as he is family heir as long as Zhonglei doesn't outdo him...well, that kid never will, he went missing that Concubine Xue and Xiao Yun were ballistic. Nobody knows what happened to him, he just vanished...
However, Rou must be better than the actual useless Xiao Yun.
Concubine Xue once suggested that father be Beiyue's regent in handling the two royal fiefs. But reality was father wasn't interested and would have had his wives handle it if not for the Emperor suddenly showing up to take charge of Beiyue's fiefs and guardianship.
As years went by, the motive became clear to them as Zhongqi, Zhonglei and Rou have easy rise in ranks in cultivation and she hardly does.
Xiao Yun was a talentless hack!
So what if she has grandfather's Summoner's Blood?! Their money has an annual income capable of raising a 2-star summoner's worth of pills and herbs before relying on the beasts themselves for ascension! Yet for all that money, she never reached a single star nevermind rank, never going past basics and she still won't give up on the power and prestige it brings and she still waits for grandfather to bring her home a Spirit Beast that will help her finally ascend and get her just dues.
The sun will rise in the north or south before that happens!
Ling is an exception as she was sacrificed for Zhongqi's elevation as Childe that she can never be a martial artist. In return for that sacrifice, father funds Ling's expensive education as Bride Material so she has a future though she has body training and some skill so she's not entirely helpless. But guess where her beauty products came from?!
And since that day, Rou'er did her best instead of resting on her laurels as one day, Grandfather might just bring back a tamed beast for Xiao Yun and leave her in the dust, causing potential abandonment by their father.
Rou did her best in her studies. Literacy, Arithmetic, Manners and Etiquette, Sewing and Embroidery. Household Management. Organizing. Literature. Music. Body Training and Cultivation. In his mother's heart, Rou is the true Xiao lady. Ling will be off married soon so she doesn't count and Xiao Yun's a laughingstock, the true shame of the family Concubine Xue failed to conceal with her plan.
Regency his lily-white ass, Zhongqi thought.
Even Rou at age eight, can see that Xue wants that money for herself for useless Xiao Yun. Granted, Zhongqi admits he wanted that money too but stealing from a royal? Shudder...if Emperor finds out, they'll all hang! Only Concubine Xue has that nerve, consequence be damned! What do you expect from a former MAID who has no idea how the world works?!
He took sadistic pleasure when he suggested mother tell that to father and use death in the equation that she came home telling her kids father was horrified and valued a long life. He reckoned had he listened to Xue if Emperor didn't come, he would be inviting all their deaths had he agreed for Yun's sake as not even he can turn down that money as all of them would rise in status! 200 million of Qinghe and 170 of Miyang! Father can reach Sword Sage with that kinda money in a short time! In six frigging years while Zhongqi, Zhonglei and Rou can achieve the same in ten years!
He'd rather deal with limited funding and a slow rise, than a quick rise before getting in trouble. Stealing from royalty is a crime no one can hide for long! Especially as not only did Beiyue play them for fools, she was more vicious and spiteful than anyone else!
xxx
Concubine Xue could not believe this.
She was pale-faced as she shook.
She never knew Beiyue was this strong. Then again she inherited that bitch's genius, powerful blood! Blood she cannot give to her Yun'er which makes her blood boil in hatred. Her coffers helps.
How could she have known that the brat was a genius businesswoman who made herself the third richest person in Nanyi Country?! Buji'er, Emperor, and Huang Beiyue in that order! And she clearly has no filial piety as they didn't give her a reason to be as stupidly generous as her mother. Instead, she gave her financial backing to commoners and her maid!
Maid!
That, was one thing Princess Royal never did for her maids. Heck, Xue herself would never be a citizen, a slave forever if she wasn't smart.
Dongling has citizenship, education, and training. Even access to beauty products Princess Royal's retinue never gets the chance to have! Grrr! Hateful! Even worse, people are saying that Princess Beiyue's maid is a better talent than the Second Miss of Xiao Household! That was an infuriating slap to the face! The other maids are also jealous as they could also be 'undiscovered talents' but now they'll never get the chance to, given how they treated Princess who was testing people all along!
Dongling is a Yellow Rank 1 Pharmacist, and a 4-star Summoner all at the age of 12 last year. When they got wind of it, her Yun'er was so angry she puked blood!
Now she's a Mystic Rank 2 and 7-star Summoner!
Aaaargh!
Yun'er couldn't go out shopping as her face was synonymous with 'true failure' when she's not. People make fun of her!
Deep down, Xue knew the bitter truth, but Yun is her hope of gaining a better status through her and for that, they need money dammit! Her prestige was all they have she wished grandfather would hurry the hell up so Yun gets vindicated. Her plan failed, how was she to know that that damn Emperor will take custody of that brat and her fiefs?! Then Zhonglei went missing when he's supposed to be a good son and help his sister! They have no idea if he's kidnapped or ran away!
If he ran away, did he by chance overhear them...?
Yuancheng's useless and unreliable! A total idiot with no brain nor ambition to go up like she does!
Who does the thinking for him? His wives! Had she known, she could have seduced Anguo Gong instead before he got fat! At least her children have a better future! She acted too soon! Had she known how useless he was, she would have waited.
She was smacking herself in the head for years.
Being Prince Consort didn't give him access to his wife's money. It doesn't work that way as she thought.
It's a man's duty to provide. He cannot rely on his wife's money or endure the shame of being a Kept Man. The only way to scoot past that was Regency, but THAT DAMN EMPEROR...!
Princess Royal was a woman beloved by everyone that the whole frigging country mourned her. Nobody knows certain things only she and Yun knows.
Still safe as long as they keep quiet.
But if the truth gets out, the Emperor will see to their deaths!
She cannot relax.
Not until grandfather brings home a beast for Yun'er.
(Thus lunch that day for the whole Xiao Family, was quiet.)
xxx
Lunch Break...
While Dongling handled the lunches of the subordinates elsewhere, Beiyue ate with the royalty.
'That, was incredible Beiyue! You're holding out on us for years!' the Emperor gushed out in delight.
'I hope we see more in the Sword Arts Demonstration, Yue.' said Prince Xiaoyao, genuinely pleased that she'll finally show everyone how wrong they are about her after playing the whole country for fools just to know who to associate with after making everyone show their true colors towards her.
It was quite the scheme that was at her expense as she endured ridicule, but she would tell him, 'Better few, but true friends who will truly stand by you come what may, than a lot of friends who would leave and stab you at the back when opportunity is ripe.' so she did it all to sort out who was worth it.
'Well, you'll see later.' Beiyue smiled. 'Let's keep up the suspense, shall we? Spoilers for fun things are bad.'
'Ooo, playing the mysterious card now? So mean~' Yingye pouted.
'How about you Yingye? Participating this year?' Beiyue asked Yingye who went serious.
'I have to, a lot is riding on this.' said Yingye. 'I absolutely have to go to camp this year. So I'm in the Summoner's Event tomorrow.' the Emperor just sighed.
'I honestly don't know what your mother is playing at when excellence is what we must all pursue yet she is holding you back, and in this world, that means trouble for the person held back. Beiyue is prime example and you've seen how even that shameless Xiao Family treated her as they hilariously failed her test of character so they deserved nothing from her.' he grunted. 'Yingye, you should do what you must do. I'll handle her.' Yingye lit up at her father's support.
'Yes, father!'
xxx
The Faculty...
'That, was something!' Teacher Lei exclaimed. 'Princess Beiyue and those kids!'
'Yes...they'll very well dominate this year's Feat Contest, a lot of nobles lost to them.' said Elder Nangong. 'A lot of prides are bruised no doubt.'
'But what matters is strength.' said Cang He. 'Talents are discovered, and nurtured. Princess Beiyue has done well in sponsoring all these kids.'
'No kidding, 40 Warriors and 16 Summoners! And for twelve year olds, they outdid all of us bar Crown Prince.' said another teacher. 'Just what is she feeding these kids?'
'I agree, they're taller and bigger than kids two to three years older than them.' said another. 'They're like bamboo!'
'It's too bad the Summoners aren't ready yet...maybe next year.'
'Yeah, those sixteen summoners trained more as Warriors but not even past Grade 1 in Summoning Arts yet...I guess those young masters won't get bruised the next day.'
'This'll be fun...'
xxx
'This is infuriating! I lost to a mere commoner! I, Xue Meng?!'
All is not well in paradise.
There were powerful kids this year, Huang Beiyue included!
Xue Meng lost horribly to a commoner girl who looked bored with her and sent her flying out of the ring. It was an insult! She, a daughter of a dukedoooom!
Xue Che was no better.
Huang Beiyue pulled her stunt to test everyone around her, and his family failed that he lost a high-class fiancee! He was so mortified and Cousin Jing was rubbing his and his father's idiocy in their faces. She's tall, beautiful, intelligent and powerful! He had all the luck, and he lost it!
Now her maid was far better than he in summoning?! He, a 4-star to her 7?
He could accept if this person is an adult, but Dongling is 13 years old. He got outgunned by a young girl who's a slave!
His pride was severely injured and he's really feeling just how much their plan cost him. She was aware he is her fiancee, didn't care for her, tested him and he failed so she dumped him! He tried having Dongling help him and the angry maid kicked him between the legs!
He naturally cannot retaliate!
Now he has to settle for second best. His father found him a new fiancee. But she was nothing compared to what he lost...
...and now some lucky bastard will have that prize.
xxx
Xiao Yuancheng was thinking as his family was quiet, stunned and clearly gloomy.
Zhongqi lost to the kids his third daughter sponsored. All of them have immense skill and cultivation at just age twelve!
Young War Gods.
He shook.
Given how his family treated her when Huiwen was around, it was natural she would not back her family after all they've done to her. His father was livid as his friends got from grapevine. overhearing the Princes talk about everyone's massive failure around the ruse the young girl set up even if it meant getting bullied and disparaged. It was her way of selecting associates the easy way.
Lately, she is seen with Childe Buji'er, Prince Yi, and Ling's fiancee Xing Jue. Speaking, his eldest is off with her fiancee who got lucky he didn't encounter those 'monster kids'. Fang chaperoned her. The General Xing Residence now has ties to his daughter and most likely enjoying her backing by now when he, her own father doesn't?
Given how he treated her, it was natural she would spite him, and how!
Like mother like daughter!
Sure he fooled around with Qin and Xue but like Beiyue later, he lost a lot with Huiwen that she spited him in the worst way possible he could barely look at Beiyue.
He should have learned with Huiwen and handled Beiyue more delicately! Had he done so, he could have had her backing but no, he still made a mistake with the royals!
This is infuriating.
He cannot even blame Zhongqi as his opponent was too powerful. His loss was understandable and he wasn't the only noble child who lost. Warriors from all walks of Aristocracy, lost to them with barely a chance.
How can golds and silvers, compete with War Gods?
He has to do what he can now. He will have to sacrifice Yun'er's future as a Summoner as Zhongqi is his family's only hope and Rou must appeal for marriage. Zhonglei has gone missing. When he asked Beiyue's help after searching her house, she said, 'How can I look for anyone whose face I don't know? Blame your woman for not letting him out much.' and she saw much of her older siblings because they enjoyed bullying her. She never saw her second brother among her bullies.
Where is his second son now...?
xxx
After Lunch...
It was time for the Sword Arts Demonstration by the Top 20 of the Warrior's Contest. Martial Arts was skipped as Sword Arts was far more important as it made more impact in battle.
The first to present, was Huang Beiyue. From Bronze Arts...to War God Skill performance with her sword.
Her sword more suited a man wielding it due to how it looked. Teal blue and silver in appearance, and very masculine.(Excalibur Galatine) Its not something a young girl will wield as most female warriors opt for cuter-looking, but functional weapons.
And it can channel well her ki, as if it's a Shadow Weapon that made experts realize what her sword is.
'It's a sword made of Spirit Black Steel!'
A lot of people squawked.
How did she get that precious, rare material that will never grace any store due to how dangerous it is to get it?! Not even the Buji'er can get it on sale for all their power!
As she demonstrated all Sword Arts, her sword showed their full worth in such a weapon...and she overpowers all her moves, befitting of a War God, but each move is clearly refined and mastered to the degree each ki has high concentration and their form clear to see, as well as fast execution enough to cause devastating damage that Earth users have to help repair the grounds.
Everyone was stunned, speechless.
xxx
'Father...is Beiyue really twelve?' Jing croaked out, wide-eyed as the royal family watched on their pagoda space. All Imperial Families who have daughters that married into royalty have the privilege to sit in the Pagoda Space. In the case of Xiao Yuancheng, Princess Consort. The Han, Mu, Xue, San and Xiao Families sat here. The daughters that married into the royal family were Grandqueen, Empress, and the mothers of Prince Jing and Third Prince, and Xiao Yuancheng who was the father of Huang Beiyue.
However, the Imperial Status lasts only as long as their family representative still lives. Thus the oldest among these, was the Grandqueen that the Han Family enjoyed great wealth prestige for many generations. However! Once their representative dies, the clans will revert back to what they once were, in status and get back the corresponding fiefs they used to have, and lose the green pastures granted to them. Thus these families greatly back up their representatives as not even having royal relatives will help them keep their prestige. Only their relatives do as the princes and princesses are of royal blood.
Of all Imperial Families, the dead last was the Xiao Clan because Xiao Yuancheng angered the Emperor on his own wedding night with his royal sister by being seen in act of infidelity, flirting with another woman! He could have had a wealthy fief and wielded respect like they all did, but alas...he wasn't so smart. He lost that golden fief, and was instead, given a fief worth Baron status as punishment!
'I-I would know, her birthday was on the day Nanyi won against Dongli! There's no way I'd forget her age!' the Emperor sputtered.
They were all shocked.
'For someone of age twelve, to pull all that off with sheer skill and mastery...what a genius.' Lianyi shook, amazed, stunned and in awe. 'The fourth genius of the family after Princess Royal, First and Crown Prince.' his words made the Emperor beam in pride for his niece.
xxx
Bathroom at home...
'Phew...that felt better.' Beiyue took a quick Navy cold shower as it's summer, then dressed herself in bright blue clothes and flowers before teleporting back to school as she's expected to sit with the royal family, and has to take Dongling with her as Servants are only allowed in special boxes, if taken by their masters. Until then, she sits with Luoluo.
And so...
'Very well done, Yue.' Xiaoyao greeted the beautiful girl who was dressed in blue, as opposed to most girls in pink and purple during summer. Her styles were very unique, from appearance to her abilities. She's clearly fresh from the baths, too.
'It was fun.' said Beiyue with a deep smile that held a lot of meaning as Dongling produced a chair for her which she sat on, and took to her job fanning her fresh-from-the-bath lady. She wasn't in a maid uniform like most servants, but she was in her battle dress and dressed to look the part, while wielding a large enchanted paper fan that generates cool, strong winds when used.
'Ooh, cool!' Yingye squealed as she felt cool winds against the heat. 'But at any rate, you finally shut them up! Things are gonna get exciting soon!'
The remaining nineteen 'monster kids' showed their own versions of their performances. All War Gods.
For some reason Beiyue was taking notes while watching?
After the show, said kids gathered before the royal family, clearly showing WHO they are affiliated with.
'Good work everyone, but luck is also a part of skill.' said Beiyue, conjuring a lot of papers and handing papers out to each kid. 'I have made your evaluations and given your remedial homework, I expect your homework to be finished before winter.'
'EHHHHH?!'
'P-Princess, a little extension would be nice!'
'Do I hear double the homework?' Beiyue smiled, speaking in a playful voice before the kids meeped and fled, leaving a trail of smoke behind and scared out of their wits.
'...just what did you do that while they are young geniuses, they're terrified of you?' Zhanye inquired as they all sweatdropped at how the kids behaved and ran like hell.
'Ohhh Yingye knows best how I teach. They're scared of me because.' Beiyue giggled as Yingye turned a shade of green.
'Don't tell me...' Yingye choked out, terrified of her younger cousin. These kids endured what she did?
'Yes...?' Beiyue's smile was so saccharine it was TERRIFYING.
'Hiiii!'
'But still, you're an effective educator.' said the Emperor thoughtfully. 'How exactly, did you teach those kids?' he asked in intrigue. 'Our recruits can use that.'
'Well...'