Slag Shou Cultivating Manual Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Boudoir (Not Really)

He Lang’s approach to Zhēn Pu Yang’s education was natural and unhurried, with the thought that time was on their side. However, to his surprise, he soon received news that the imperial princes were scheduled for the literary examination.

This so-called literary examination was an annual test held in imperial study to evaluate the princes’ abilities. The subjects covered varied from year to year but generally included calligraphy, painting, essay writing, poetry composition, and memorization.

During the examination, the Emperor himself would attend, assessing the princes and princesses’ essays and calligraphy. Those who excelled would receive the Emperor’s praise, and it was said that this time, the prize was a stallion from the Western Regions.

Naturally, He Lang hoped Zhēn Pu Yang would come out on top. However, after inquiring a bit, he learned from others that Zhēn Pu Yang had consistently ranked near the bottom in previous years.

He fell silent for a moment, feeling somewhat powerless and lowering his expectations.

This surprised him because he didn’t consider Zhēn Pu Yang to lack aptitude. Yet, this outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected, as he found the literary examination rather frivolous. If the task was to paint a lotus, Zhēn Pu Yang would choose to paint water chestnuts instead; if it required recitation, he might just refuse to write altogether.

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Wkdyzzu, bkp dsdnbyzydv pvyvlxldv, “Mbkp rakdnl osd’v es kv,” zlqv lhlausdl blzrzlpp.

Tl Nydt sdzu okpble vs nsaalnv bkp yvvkvwel, vs kdpvkzz alprlnv qsa zlyadkdt, vbswtb vbyv pllxle ekpvydv qsa dso.

Ms ralhldv Hbēd Vw Zydt qasx qyzzkdt clbkde kd vbl lmyxkdyvksd, Tl Nydt elnkele vs kdhkvl bkx vs bkp sod iwyavlap qsa psxl alhklo.

Hbēd Vw Zydt alxykdle dsdnbyzydv. Wynle okvb Tl Nydt’p aliwlpv, bl vkzvle bkp blye, yesrvkdt y psxlobyv qzkavyvkswp pvydnl. Tkp lulp iwkajle yv vbl nsadlap, bkp elxlydsa dsv plakswp kd vbl zlypv. Tl czlo swv y calyvb kd Tl Nydt’p ekalnvksd, elzkclayvlzu vlypkdt yp bl prsjl, y aspu pxkzl lxlatkdt.

“Xb, vs vbl csweska?”

Tl Nydt vwadle yaswde okvbswv y nbydtl kd lmralppksd, blyekdt cynj vs bkp alpkeldnl.

Tl vawzu oydvle vs tkhl vbl rakdnl’p blye y jdsnj, vs pll obyv oyp tskdt sd kd vblal. Ebu oyp bl ps ekpalprlnvqwz kd bkp prllnb? G uswdt vlldytla, cyalzu kdvs bkp vlldp, wdyczl vs ekpvkdtwkpb aktbv qasx oasdt—nyzzkdt bkp ektdkqkle iwyavlap y “nbyxcla qsa osxld.”

Hbld Vw Zydt’p blyavu zywtbvla lnbsle clbkde bkx. Tl Nydt rywple, y vswnb kaakvyvle. Tye bl fwpv clld vlyple cu vbl rakdnl?

Nevertheless, hearing the prince’s laughter was rare.

Though he had no obligation to take up national affairs, his role being simply carefree play, the unexpected truth was that the prince seldom found moments of joy.

Especially when alone, that melancholic and lost expression gradually surfaces. He Lang guessed that this was the other side of Zhēn Pu Yang during his youthful period.

When he refrained from vying for his brothers’ envious gazes, he lacked a goal that would urge him to give his all. His purpose hadn’t yet been unearthed at this point, and his sense of fulfillment grew increasingly pale.

If his predicament brought delight to the prince, then so be it.

He Lang furrowed his brows slightly, and Zhēn Pu Yang followed slowly behind.

As he looked at He Lang’s figure, walking in tandem, he noticed that He Lang didn’t stop and wait for him, nor did he walk side by side with him. This inexplicably stirred a trace of annoyance within him, frustrated at this perceived lack of respect from He Lang.

It wasn’t until He Lang slowed his pace a bit and turned to see if Zhēn Pu Yang was following that his irritation dissipated like mist, and he immediately quickened his steps.

Zhēn Pu Yang had always assumed that everyone would follow him as a matter of course. But when someone didn’t do so, he found himself surprisingly receptive to their actions. Even a hint of unexpected gentleness would be magnified a thousandfold in his eyes, bringing him joy.

…

This was Zhēn Pu Yang’s second visit to the Imperial Tutor’s residence. Compared to the serene literary room of the previous visit, it now exuded more vitality.

Numerous plants adorned the space; a row of delicate potted plants lined the wide window sill, and even vines hung from the ceiling, infusing the room with a vibrant atmosphere.

“Your taste seems to have improved quite a bit,” Zhēn Pu Yang complimented.

Changes had occurred not only in people but also in every detail of the surroundings.

A sense of abruptness filled Zhēn Pu Yang’s mind, prompting him to probe: “Mister, you seem to have changed quite a bit, become…”

“Changed how?” He Lang swiftly responded, though to conceal his own nervousness, he clenched the pages of a book and lowered his gaze slightly.

Zhēn Pu Yang raised an eyebrow; he didn’t believe in such peculiar occurrences as soul transmutations. He pondered what kind of experiences might have led to He Lang’s transformation. Yet, the Imperial Tutor’s life was mundane, akin to that of an elderly man’s—aside from his visits to the imperial study, he spent his days at the palace, engrossed in his seemingly useless studies.

It was difficult to fathom why he had changed.

Nevertheless, Zhēn Pu Yang didn’t delve deep into his thoughts, as he didn’t mind these alterations.

If the Imperial tutor still possessed his irksome disposition, Zhēn Pu Yang would eventually ask his father, the emperor, to assign him a different tutor.

Zhēn Pu Yang nodded, murmuring in response, “Naturally… somewhat improved.”

Before He Lang could even smile, Zhēn Pu Yang swiftly shifted the conversation, speaking candidly, “This prince used to despise your stubborn and rigid nature. Despite being so young, you were unbearably old-fashioned, always muttering about things that nobody understands. If this prince didn’t wish to read those scholarly books, you’d immediately report to Father Emperor and claim that this prince was departing from tradition.”

He Lang hadn’t expected such candidness. Zhēn Pu Yang seemed to have harbored grievances for a while. He didn’t take Zhēn Pu Yang’s words as complaints about himself; it was as if he was listening to Zhēn Pu Yang vent about someone else, and that intrigued him.

“The prince is eight years younger than this humble one. How can you say this official is still young? Wouldn’t that make the prince even younger?”

Zhēn Pu Yang’s face tightened at the mention of his age; he disliked being told he was young.

He Lang refrained from teasing him further, taking out books and paper.

He didn’t intend to transform the Devil King into a saint, nor did he want him to become a dandy only interested in novels. He placed three neatly bound books on the table: “A Comprehensive Understanding of Political Matters,” “Principles of Human Nature,” and “One Hundred Character Annotations.”

“This prince already knows.” Zhēn Pu Yang pursed his lips, his reluctance evident, but he still accepted the books. He wondered why he was being asked to read these scholarly texts. Was it really that easy to entertain him with such readings every day?

He Lang aimed to gently guide Zhēn Pu Yang, to show him that reading wasn’t difficult. Gradually, he hoped Zhēn Pu Yang would delve deeper into the books, embracing knowledge. It would be ideal if he could gradually incorporate orthodox literature as well. Without enriching his understanding with orthodox texts, he would always fall short.

Despite the prince’s displeasure, he still accepted the books, a form of indirect acknowledgment of He Lang’s guidance. He Lang’s lips curved, encouragingly patting the top of his head. His tone was gentle, “The prince should read diligently.”

The unexpected intimacy startled Zhēn Pu Yang, causing him to instinctively swat away He Lang’s hand.

Even Father Emperor hadn’t shown such familiarity. Did this person want to provoke him?

He was no longer a child, in need of such feigned displays of affection.

Zhēn Pu Yang’s irritation welled up, and he turned abruptly, stating coldly, “You are not allowed to touch this prince again.”

He Lang held the hand that had been swatted away, pausing slightly. Seeing Zhēn Pu Yang’s awkward expression, he understood that the child’s words and actions didn’t always match up. He didn’t plan to waste his energy arguing back, so he simply nodded in compliance.

Little did he know that the emotions of this Devil King were truly unpredictable. His expression not only didn’t ease, but his brows furrowed as well, as if someone had defied his command. Even the ever-changing weather of June couldn’t match the unpredictability of this moment.

Zhēn Pu Yang no longer looked at him, clutching the books and turning away to leave. Although the Imperial tutor had promised not to touch him again, Zhēn Pu Yang was still dissatisfied. He couldn’t quite figure out why he was angry, but he felt an urge to curse loudly. The Imperial tutor was as stubborn as a block of wood!

Originally, the intention was to review lessons upon arriving at the residence. However, after Zhēn Pu Yang came outside, his mind wandered. He found the garden’s scenery pleasing, so he wandered in to relax.

Unexpectedly, on the lush green grass, a pure white rabbit was hiding.

Zhēn Pu Yang’s playful nature was piqued. He picked up the rabbit, only to find that it was different from others of its kind. Its eyes were a translucent amber color. When it looked at him, it squinted its eyes as if frowning, displaying a hint of intelligence. It seemed capable of conveying its emotions to humans.

This uniquely interesting rabbit caught his attention, but before he could play with it for long, someone came to advise him to return.

That person was none other than his teacher.

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhēn Pu Yang’s eyes, but seeing that the Imperial tutor’s expression was unfavorable, he chose not to add the fault of leaving without permission to his actions. He maintained a composed demeanor.

Furthermore, his teacher had already noticed the rabbit he was holding. Anticipating his teacher’s reproach, Zhēn Pu Yang preemptively spoke up.

“Don’t try to lecture this prince with useless reasoning!”

The rabbit in his arms was startled by his outburst and leaped back into the bushes.

He Lang gazed at the fluffy white ball in the thicket, his eyes narrowing slightly. Casually, he said, “I like rabbits.”

He picked up the rabbit, and the rabbit extended its front paws to hold onto the front of his robe. The two, a human and a rabbit, shared a brief moment of eye contact. The scene was enough to make He Lang burst into laughter.

Helplessly shaking his head, his smile still present, He Lang addressed the stunned Zhēn Pu Yang, “The prince should return to his quarters soon. After completing your studies, you can stay for a meal. The household has prepared your favorite dishes.”

Just as you couldn’t slap someone who offered a smile, each time He Lang talked to Zhēn Pu Yang with an innocent smile, the latter was rendered speechless. He found it hard to maintain his composure in the face of He Lang’s demeanor, so he reluctantly followed him back.

However, he didn’t expect that the rabbit, which was not affectionate toward people, would cling to He Lang like a well-behaved pet and refuse to leave.

He Lang had no choice but to bring the persistent rabbit back to the residence.

Following this, Zhēn Pu Yang’s demeanor underwent a significant change. He listened to He Lang’s lessons attentively for an hour. In reward for the obedient prince, He Lang was pleasant during their meal, frequently offering dishes. Finally, Zhēn Pu Yang left the residence with a slight smile.

Once the young master had left, He Lang felt something squeeze into his embrace. He blinked his eyes, and the chubby rabbit blinked back at him, its mouth opening and closing as if about to speak.

To his surprise, not only did this rabbit possess the ability to speak, but when it did speak, it left He Lang utterly astonished.

“Host, I am the consciousness spirit beast of the #￥@#￥ Manual!”

Although He Lang didn’t catch exactly what manual it referred to, he had a general idea that it must be related to the book he encountered. Puzzlement and complex emotions swirled within him as he looked at the rabbit in his arms.

Author’s Note:

After reading this update, you can check out other works by the author. Some of them are already completed qwq.

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Buy In Amazon The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes A Hunger Games Novel (affiliate link)

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