Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 202: Chapter 201: Meeting Emperor Chengtian and Emperor Taichu Just Like That

Meng Shuyan was startled. "Mom?"

He had never seen Xu Zhao Yu like this. Since he was a child, she had always spoiled him. No matter what he did, she indulged him completely.

"How many of your messes have I cleaned up? And what about you?" Xu Zhao Yu grew angrier as she spoke. "You show no remorse, remain as stubborn as a mule, and even push your luck!"

But Meng Shuyan did bear some resemblance to her. He was, after all, her biological nephew; they shared the same blood. For years, his existence had kept her on edge, terrified that the Meng family would find out the truth. Now that Meng Shuyan was going to prison, she actually felt a sense of relief.

"Meng Shuyan, how dare you question your mother? If she hadn’t been protecting you, you would have been locked up a long time ago!" Meng Baizhou’s tone was sharp and cold. "This time, you need to take a good, hard look at yourself and reflect on your actions!"

"Dad! Mom!" Meng Shuyan let out a heart-wrenching scream. "Don’t go... please don’t go!"

The door closed shut, cutting off all sound.

Xu Zhao Yu’s hands were still trembling, her mind in turmoil. Suddenly, someone grabbed her hand. She jumped in fright. "Baizhou?"

Meng Baizhou sighed. "Zhao Yu, your hands are freezing. Let’s go home first."

Xu Zhao Yu forced a stiff smile. "Okay."

Later that day, after Cui Jinghan learned that Xie Qingshi had accepted Principal Ning’s invitation to hold a lecture at Jianghuai High School, he immediately declared that he could host one as well—though solely out of respect for Shi Changying.

Dizzy with excitement, Principal Ning signed another contract and instructed the head of moral education to prepare new promotional posters. Tears welling in his eyes, he grasped Shi Changying’s shoulders. "Classmate Shi, having you at Jianghuai High School is truly our greatest blessing!"

"Please remove your hands," Cui Jinghan interjected coldly.

Principal Ning was left speechless.

Where on earth did he get the delusion that this heir to the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute was easy to talk to? It turned out it was only because Classmate Shi was a special exception.

Shi Changying thought for a moment. "Principal, do you still need people from the entertainment and medical fields to give lectures?"

Principal Ning slumped into his chair. "I think I just need some peace and quiet right now."

After leaving the principal’s office, Cui Jinghan suddenly remembered something crucial. He immediately contacted Dean Xu. "Teacher."

"Get lost, don’t call me your teacher! I don’t have a student like you!" Dean Xu snapped grumpily. "You’re either up to no good or trying to swindle me. Calling me ’teacher’ at a time like this definitely means trouble!"

"I just remembered that you recently acquired a block of Mu Shanmo," Cui Jinghan said mildly.

Hearing this, Dean Xu instantly went on high alert. "Even if it’s you, don’t even think about scheming for my Mu Shanmo!"

"Mu Shanmo?" Shi Changying caught the name, her expression flickering with interest.

Mu Shanmo was an incredibly precious type of ink. It could only be produced in Youzhou, and its crafting process was exceptionally complex compared to ordinary ink.

Cui Jinghan’s brow twitched. "It’s not like you even use that block of Mu Shanmo."

"I don’t use it because I’m going to enshrine it!" Dean Xu roared. "Do you have any idea that Mu Shanmo is completely out of production? The Mu Shanmo we have now is all stock from four hundred years ago. Do you know how hard it was for me to get just one block?"

"Teacher, you need to recognize a simple truth," Cui Jinghan reasoned. "Ink is a consumable good."

Dean Xu flew into a rage. "Don’t think that just because people call you the reincarnation of Nanling Jun, you actually are Nanling Jun! Let me tell you, even if Nanling Jun came back to life and stood right in front of me asking for this ink, I still wouldn’t give it to him!"

Cui Jinghan fell silent. He merely wanted to acquire the ink for his Emperor. The call was angrily disconnected by Dean Xu.

Shi Changying remarked, "Mu Shanmo is indeed precious. Since the technique to craft this ink has been lost to time, every block used is one block gone forever."

Cui Jinghan naturally understood this reality as well. He let out a soft sigh. "It’s just that if you were to use any other ink, it would only tarnish your handwriting."

"But I remember the method to make Mu Shanmo," Shi Changying said in an unhurried tone, keeping her voice low enough so only the two of them could hear.

The Taichu Holy Scripture might have been lost, but she possessed a photographic memory. As long as she had seen it, she remembered everything she needed to.

Cui Jinghan’s head snapped up, his eyes burning with intensity. "Truly?!"

"Although I don’t understand the practical application of those steps, I can write them down." Shi Changying arched an eyebrow. "Handing them over to you, I naturally feel at ease."

Emperors were inherently suspicious, and she was no exception. However, she abided by the principle: do not employ those you doubt, and do not doubt those you employ.

"Not only Mu Shanmo, but I also remember the crafting methods for several other types of ink," Shi Changying continued.

Cui Jinghan’s eyelashes trembled violently. An overwhelming surge of emotion hit him like crashing waves, battering his mind and sending tremors through his entire body. Everyone had their own specialties. He excelled at writing prose but had no idea how to craft ink. Countless brush and ink-making techniques had been lost to time; aside from feeling heartbroken, there was nothing he could do. But now...

"Don’t cry," Shi Changying said. "We’re at school."

Cui Jinghan was speechless. He hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Forgive me for making a fool of myself."

"I’m also organizing other important materials," Shi Changying added. "It’s just that, apart from all of you, I don’t feel safe entrusting these technologies to anyone else."

Cui Jinghan’s expression shifted as he quickly grasped the crux of the matter. "You haven’t been using your usual handwriting because you believe the enemy might be right around us?"

"Correct," Shi Changying said mildly. "The enemy is in the shadows while I am in the light. Since you all could recognize me, who’s to say they wouldn’t?"

Cui Jinghan’s heart sank. "You are thoughtful as always. I will be careful too."

Shi Changying nodded. "See you tonight."

Upon returning to Senior Year Class 17, Shi Changying pulled out a ticket and waved it in front of Shaoyuan. "To thank the Young Master for his careful tutoring, I’m treating you to a concert tonight."

Shaoyuan didn’t take it immediately. Instead, he asked, "Just you and me?"

"Of course, there’s also my dad and Qiaoqiao," Shi Changying replied. "But there were only four VIP tickets, and this one is yours."

Only then did Shaoyuan take the ticket. He cast a casual glance at her ponytail. "Do you want me to braid your hair?"

Lu Mi leaned over and chimed in, "Xie Lin’s fan club color is green. Yingying, you should use green hair accessories for your braid. I’ve prepared a bunch of decorations!"

Shi Changying pondered this. It was her first time attending one of Xie Qingshi’s concerts, so she ought to treat it with a bit of formality. She nodded. "Alright."

And so, she received a pair of fishtail pigtail braids, hand-woven by Shaoyuan himself.

Lu Mi’s jaw practically dropped to the floor. "Young Master, your hands are incredibly skilled."

Shaoyuan admired his handiwork for a moment before replying, "It depends on the person."

Shi Changying pulled out a small mirror to check her reflection, quite satisfied with today’s hairstyle as well.

After school, she and her classmates headed to the Jianghuai International Conference Hall together. While the other students had standard tickets and had to wait in line to enter, VIP ticket holders had dedicated staff waiting to receive them. With over half an hour still left before the show began, Shi Changying went to a nearby shop to buy milk tea. Shaoyuan stood behind her, reaching out to tidy up his handiwork once again.

At that moment, a car pulled up and parked nearby. The door opened, and Pei Xuan stepped out.

Xie Qingshi had been waiting for him. "Young Master Pei is certainly punctual."

"Naturally," Pei Xuan replied with a lazy hum. Suddenly, he tilted his chin. "Look over there."

Following his gaze, Xie Qingshi saw none other than Shi Changying and Shaoyuan.