Quick Transmigration: Picked Up By Stud Horse System - 31 Pillar of the Country 10

When Xi Sheng and Xi Lan arrived at the dining hall, they saw Elder Xi with some stranger. Xi Lan was familiar with the man so he respectfully bows, but Xi Sheng doesn’t know who the stranger is so she only gave him a glance.

The stranger was about in his forties, maybe younger than Elder Xi. He has a gentle expression plastered on his somewhat-handsome face.

He massages his beard and asks: “This child is?”

“Let’s eat first.” Elder Xi interrupted.

Xi Sheng put down Little Eight and stationed him quite near to the door where she could spot it easily. She gave him a ration of food lesser to what it ate normally.

Xi Sheng sat beside Xi Lan, Elder Xi sat on the chair across them. While the guest is sitting in front of them.

While eating, Xi Lan and Elder Xi didn’t forget to put other dishes on Xi Sheng’s plate.

XI Sheng observes the man. He exudes elegance, yet his movements are loaded with nobility and dominance. His clothes look like it was made from the highest type of fabric, there are also golden and silver steak intricately sewed.

“Young Master Xi Lan’s cooking is praiseworthy! No wonder Xi Jie, this old man is getting plumper!”

Elder Xi harumphed but was least offended:”You must be jesting. Xi Lan, this brat, inherited my heaven-defying cooking skills!”

The three men laugh with each other.

Xi Sheng who experienced Elder Xi’s ‘heaven-defying’ cooking skils:”…” That joke isn’t a bit funny.

The older men discuss something from daily lives to politics. Xi Lan sometimes asked about his opinion.

The lunch ended but they still continued to chitchat. Xi Sheng’s butt is already turning numb, she wanted to leave but whenever she tries to ask for permission, their topic would go somewhere and they would be hyped about it.

The man said and sighs:”The supplies coming from our allied kingdom gave me a fright. I didn’t know that the Duke would send them through a peculiar way. Isn’t he scared of something going wrong?”

Xi Jie voiced in agreement:”Yes, and I heard some conflict happened. But aside from doing it in a bizarre transaction, there is also another reason why he dispatched his daughter.”

“I was surprised when her arrival was announced. The most troublesome is the back palace[1]. They already made a gossip on how the young lady would be betrothed to one of the Princes or be one of the Emperor’s concubine.”

The man pouted and even sulk.

Xi Sheng:”…” Watch your image!

Xi Lan chuckled and made a remark:”Uncle, that’s why you suddenly run here without any warning? I thought some crisis happened and you need to discuss it, turns out it’s just like this.”

The man quickly interjected:”Hey, hey, don’t make fun of my situation! After working all day long, all I want is to sleep. Even before I could close my eyes, news about the concubines fighting entered my ears.”

Xi Sheng sip the black tea and thought: To be able to see the Emperor’s women, he must be a palace guard or a eunuch trusted by the Emperor?

He paused and his back slumped.

“They are so problematic, can’t they just stay in their palaces and wait for the Emperor’s summon?”

‘How audacious,’ Xi Sheng thought.

Just like in ancient history, women are regarded as a lesser being. Because of that, women can’t work just like men and even if they can, the opportunities are so insignificant. Even if you told them to wait, they can’t. Because they know how scarce the resources they could get when another rival enter the harem.

Xi Sheng continued to sit like air and hide her thoughts but someone just broke it.

“What do you think?”

The man looks at her and smile. Xi Jie and Xi Lam also stare at her.

Xi Sheng”..?” Think about what? We have our own chat group[2], so why are you suddenly talking to me?!

The man with unknown origin blinks his eyes at her:”While we’re discussing here, it seems like you have something you wanna share?”

Xi Sheng glanced at Xi Lan and Xi Jie for help, but they just smiled at her.

These two unreliable adults!

“While men thirst for power and money, women desire safety and stability. A man with different wives, the man has the capability to grant what the women longs. Since safety and stability could only be granted by the man, the wives would strive to achieve it.”

Xi Sheng pauses. The three questionable men have the looks of interest.

She continued:”However, even if they were granted a favour, they cannot sit still. The favour could be shifted, it might be bestowed to the first wife, but it could be given to the third wife tomorrow. The granted favour is too fragile. While men wage war openly, the war between women is much cruel.”

I mean women could devise a scheme that is bloodless but could induce a downfall of another person. Their battle is very long, unlike men who spilt blood quickly.

Sometimes, women are scarier than men because they could affectionately smile at you as they slit your throat.

Xi Sheng suddenly remembers a certain maid. She unconsciously touches her neck.

The mysterious man nodded:”Women’s battle huh? I do understand what you said, especially in palace intrigue[3].”

Xi Lan cheekily smiles:”That was excellent!”

Xi Jie gave her a proud look.

I don’t need your praises!

“You have a great vision and your reasoning is one-of-a-kind. When you grow up, what do you think about managing political affairs?”

Xi Sheng was confused. As in engaging in a battle of words in which you don’t know your allies or foes? That kind of political battle where most prioritizes their self rather than their people?

If that’s the case, I’d rather not.

Xi Sheng could feel the tension growing, especially from Elder Xi and the man.

Xi Lan:”Haha! Uncle, stop recruiting—”

Xi Sheng decided to play along:”What can you offer?”

Did anyone really expected him to enlist a mere child in which he met for the first time? That was obviously a joke!

Xi Lan:”You don’t mean to—”

Xi Jie:”Stinky old man, what are you trying to—”

The man raised his hand and both Xi Jie and Xi Lan became quiet. He beamed a smile directed to Xi Sheng.

“Anything, after all, I’m the Emperor.”

“Awooo!!”

Xi Sheng didn’t quite hear what the man said as she dashed outside.

Fluffball!

….

Footnotes:

[1]Back palace-the harem.

[2] Chat group- The mysterious man, Xi Lan and Xi Jie have their own discussion between them, while Xi Sheng is speaking to herself.

[3] Palace Intrigue- A situation in which powerful individuals within an organization are working against each other. In this case, it is referring to royalties’ strife to the throne or related to that.