Volume One The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Forty-Six Entering the Palace Together

Suspicion, disdain, contempt…

Chen Changan stiffened his neck, adopting the posture of an old mother goose ready to peck: “I’m sure… I’ll be able to join the Black-Clad Guards.”

When he caught sight of Su Wanqiu’s stunning beauty and graceful form, Chen Changan subconsciously began to care about her opinion of him—he would only allow good impressions, not bad ones. Perhaps, after seeing everything, he felt obliged to take responsibility.

Su Wanqiu, however, shook her head with disinterest and repeated once more, “It’s late. You should get some rest.”

Chen Changan was speechless but didn’t press the issue further. Women were emotional in sentiment yet rational in material matters; some things had to be seen to be believed, only then would they cover their mouths and exclaim in shock, oh my god!

Until then, it all seemed unrealistic and intangible.

Very well then, just wait until the day I, Chen, stride forth in the uniform of the Black-Clad Guards to win you over. With this lofty aspiration in mind, Chen Changan habitually laid flat on the ground, preparing to sleep.

Creak.

The sound of wood scraping heralded Cao Wu’s entrance. What she saw was Su Wanqiu completely unclothed, and Chen Changan sprawled on the floor, legs splayed. Why? Afraid the bed would make too much noise?

Cao Wu frowned slightly.

Su Wanqiu, knowing she had misunderstood, hurriedly grabbed her clothes and awkwardly put them on, then, realizing something, deliberately pulled one side open to reveal the bruises on her chest as she explained, “I… I was cleaning my wounds.”

Cao Wu bit her lip and looked at Chen Changan.

Su Wanqiu hastily added, “He… he’s sleeping on the floor.”

“I see… just as I thought.”

Even the usually unflappable Cao Wu couldn’t help feeling a bit awkward and quickly tried to smooth things over. “What’s this? Did you two have a little lover’s quarrel?”

“No… no!” Su Wanqiu waved her hands frantically, nearly blurting out that they weren’t a couple, but she caught herself in time. Unable to think of a better explanation, she could only nod, “Yes… yes, we argued.”

Cao Wu smiled faintly. “A quarrel at the head of the bed, but peace at the foot. I only came to see if you needed anything. If not, get some rest.”

“No… nothing…” Su Wanqiu replied, visibly uncomfortable.

In the meantime, Chen Changan rolled over, sprang onto the bed, covered his head with the quilt, and hugged the pillow tightly. “Nothing!”

“Alright then!” Cao Wu turned and left.

Once her footsteps faded from earshot, Chen Changan chuckled, “It was just to ease the awkwardness, nothing else. Should I… get down?”

Su Wanqiu, both embarrassed and angry, sat down with a red face. “No need. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

…

The next day dawned bright and clear. Chen Changan, Su Wanqiu, and Mao Ji set out side by side from Black-Clad Lane. At the third crossroads, they parted ways—Su Wanqiu and Mao Ji returned home while Chen, still a youth, pushed his cart toward the Princess Changning’s residence.

“Hey, did you notice last night? At Grandmaster Mao’s place in Yonghe Ward, there was a spectacular sight. People say it’s a new invention.”

“Yes, I happened to be out before the curfew and saw it with my own eyes. It was really beautiful.”

“Bah, what new invention? It was just a brawl that ended in a fire. Grandmaster Mao’s workshop burned to ashes.”

As he walked the streets, Chen Changan listened to the lively discussions about the fireworks’ test launch. Most believed it was just martial artists fighting, causing some strange phenomenon.

One middle-aged woman planted her hands on her hips and spat, “Curse those martial artists! So rough and violent. With them around, Chang’an can’t have a moment’s peace.”

To Chen Changan, it all felt like visiting relatives during the new year, where aunts gathered to discuss their children’s careers and, when it was his turn: “Oh, the electronics factory!”

That kind of disdain ran bone-deep, flowing in their blood, passed down through generations.

From what he’d learned, the citizens of the Great Min favored cultivators like sons-in-law, while martial artists occupied the very bottom of the social hierarchy.

On first meeting, just curse the martial artists, and you’re friends.

“Sigh!” Chen Changan heaved a long sigh.

Suddenly, he let out a cry, stumbling backward, his eyes stinging as if scalding oil or chili water had splashed into them, burning fiercely. He gripped his head, teeth nearly shattering from the pain, but still he couldn’t endure it.

His eyes remained tightly shut.

It took five or six minutes before the pain eased. When he finally managed to open them a crack, the nerve connecting his eyes to his brain started throbbing again, heralding another wave of agony.

Frightened, he quickly closed his eyes again. It was bizarre—definitely not from exhaustion after pushing the cart.

“Looks like I’ll have to visit the Fragrant Pavilion a few more times. My vision has recovered, but I can’t stand bright light. I can’t go around with my eyes shut all the time like a fool.”

Whether closed or blind, the result was the same—he couldn’t see. But the former made him feel a little deranged. After some deliberation, Chen Changan tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, tied it around his eyes, and knotted it behind his head.

“Much better!”

He opened his eyes again, this time spared from the pain.

Of course, his vision was now blurred, since the cloth was thick, made of ramie and silk.

“Unbelievable!”

Muttering to himself, Chen Changan continued pushing the cart loaded with fireworks. An hour later, he arrived at the princess’s mansion. From afar, he saw Changning anxiously pacing at the gate, stamping her feet in impatience.

At the moment, she looked like a young girl desperate to relieve herself.

Upon spotting Chen Changan, Changning hurried over. “What’s going on? I sent guards to your house, but you were nowhere to be found. We asked around but got no news. You promised to deliver the birthday gift for my mother today!”

“Tomorrow is the Grand Longevity Festival.”

She chattered on, then noticed the gray cloth tied around his eyes and clicked her tongue. “Why are you covering your eyes?”

“Oh, this… it’s a medicinal cloth soaked in special herbs for treating my eyes.”

He brushed off her curiosity and stepped aside, gesturing to the cart behind him. “Your Highness, this is the birthday gift I’ve prepared for Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Let me see it!”

Changning, brimming with excitement, hopped forward, only for her bright eyes to dim instantly when she saw the cart full of bamboo tubes. She pouted in reproach, “Chen Changan, what’s the meaning of this?”

“Are you joking? Do you know the gifts my royal brothers and sisters are preparing? Luminous goblets, night pearls, priceless treasures—and you bring a cart of bamboo tubes?”

Ever since learning that Xu Hezi was an imposter, she had pinned all her hopes on Chen Changan, only to be bitterly disappointed.

The maids and guards couldn’t help but mutter:

“That blind Chen is just mocking Her Highness! At the Empress’s birthday, with all the nobles, officials, and foreign envoys present, presenting bamboo tubes is a disgrace.”

“Exactly. If Her Highness really brings bamboo tubes as a birthday tribute, she’ll be the laughingstock of the court.”

“Chen Changan, I’ll behead you! Off with your head!”

Changning was so furious she let out a shrill cry, clawing at her hair until her hairpins were askew and she looked half-mad.

“Damn!” Chen Changan couldn’t help lifting his blindfold for a peek before quickly covering his eyes again, barely suppressing a laugh as he explained, “Your Highness, please trust me—these are no ordinary bamboo tubes.”

“I guarantee that this will be the Empress’s favorite gift at the Grand Longevity Festival.”

A maid could no longer contain her impatience. “Chen Changan, enough nonsense! Stop deceiving Her Highness.”

“Er…”

When grown-ups speak, children should mind their manners. Chen Changan clasped his hands and bowed deeply, his tone resolute. “Your Highness, I, a humble commoner, am willing to stake the lives of the entire Su family on this promise. This will surely be the Empress’s favorite birthday gift.”

“If not, Your Highness may order the execution of the whole Su clan.”

He had complete confidence in the fireworks of the twenty-first century.

Changning, along with the maids and guards, was stunned. Curiosity piqued, they all focused their attention on the bamboo tubes, wondering what secret they held that warranted staking an entire family’s fate.

After pondering for a long time, Changning slapped her thigh. “Alright, I’ll trust you this time. It doesn’t have to be the Empress’s favorite, as long as it’s not… disappointing.”

“Otherwise, I really will have your whole family executed.” Her voice was that of a child sulking out of spite.

Her bright eyes sparkled as she circled Chen Changan, placing a hand on his shoulder like a brother-in-arms from a legendary tale, and declared, “Little Chen, tomorrow at the festival, you’ll enter the palace with me.”

“I…”

Chen Changan’s first instinct was to refuse, but then he considered that Changning, with her bold manner, might mess up the fireworks display. If, heaven forbid, the grand legacy of the empire was turned upside down by a stray rocket—or worse, if nothing happened at all—it would be a disaster.

So he readily agreed. “Very well, Your Highness. I, your humble servant, am willing to accompany you!”