Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 490 Prince Duan's Frivolity
Murong Fu looked up and, sure enough, saw a small jar perched on a beam two or three zhang high. It must be the konjac sauce that this kid had gone to such lengths to climb the beam to get. But given this kid's status, if he wanted something to eat, he could simply order someone to fetch it. Why bother dressing up as a little eunuch and sneaking around like this? It's truly...

Murong Fu curled his lip in disdain and said, "What's so good about konjac sauce? It's just sweet with a hint of spiciness, isn't it?"

The young eunuch stared wide-eyed in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Do you know what you're saying? That's priceless konjac sauce! Even my imperial brother hasn't tasted it!" Who exactly is this person? He can move freely within the palace, and his arrogance is terrifying.

The young eunuch, unconvinced, stood with his hands on his hips and retorted defiantly, "You're just bragging. You say you've tasted it, so tell me where this stuff comes from."

Murong Fu smiled slightly: After all, he still has the temper of a child. Although he's a bit mischievous, he's far from turning into the incomprehensible performance artist he later became. He can still be properly taught.

Murong Fu laughed and said, "It's no fun if you just tell me to say it. How about we make a bet? How about we wager something?"

The little eunuch's big, dark eyes darted around a few times before he said, "Then how do you suggest we bet?"

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let me tell you about the stakes first, and then you can decide whether you want to gamble."

As he spoke, Murong Fu took out a delicate little purse from his sleeve, opened it, and handed it to the little eunuch, saying, "If I lose, everything inside is yours."

The young eunuch stared intently, and was immediately stunned by the dazzling light—in a palm-sized pouch, there were pearls the size of a thumb, each worth no less than several thousand strings of cash.

Although he lived in the palace, he was still young and not yet of age to go out and take up his fief. In addition, the Empress Dowager always advocated frugality, both for herself and for those around her. Therefore, his monthly allowance was only a pitiful three hundred strings of cash. This small bag in front of him was nothing short of a windfall for him.

Murong Fu said, "The method is very simple. I just stand here and can take down that jar of konjac sauce. If I can do it, you will serve me faithfully from now on and acknowledge me as your elder brother. How about it? You won't lose out with this method, will you?"

The young eunuch couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself that this man was far too audacious. He wondered what kind of expression he would have if he found out his true identity. To take down a pottery jar without moving a muscle? Did he think he was some kind of deity who could move objects from afar? Yes, this man must be thinking of knocking the jar down with something, which would indeed make him stand still.

So he laughed and said, "Then let's agree on this first: you stand still and don't move, and you can't use anything else. And if the jar breaks or gets bumped, you lose."

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Of course, otherwise what would be the point?"

The little eunuch hurriedly said, "Alright, deal, it's a promise. Whoever goes back on their word is a dog!"

Murong Fu chuckled inwardly: This kid's frivolity is truly ingrained in his bones since childhood; he can't change it.

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Alright, just watch!"

Having said that, he raised his hand and made a grasping motion in the air. It was as if an invisible hand had caught the jar, and then, to the eunuch's astonishment, the jar flew steadily into Murong Fu's hand. Murong Fu calmly placed one hand behind his back and presented the jar to the boy with the other, saying, "How about that? Didn't I get it without moving?"

The boy was stunned for a long time before finally shouting, "Celestial magic! This must be celestial magic!"

As he said this, his knees buckled and he knelt down before Murong Fu: "Brother, please, you must teach me this move, I beg you!"

Murong Fu smiled slightly, then his face darkened: "Teaching you is fine, but I hate it most when people talk nonsense to me or try to hide things from me. You, a prince, are dressed up like a little eunuch, sneaking around like this. What? Are you trying to make fun of me, Your Highness?"

Murong Fu lowered himself down and looked down at the boy, his expression a half-smile.

The boy's heart skipped a beat, and he was instantly overwhelmed with shock. The other person's ability to retrieve objects from a distance had already seemed almost divine to him. Now, the other person had seen through his little scheme at a glance, which shocked him even more. He was so shaken that he stammered, "You, who are you? How, how do you know all this?"

Murong Fu chuckled inwardly—no wonder Zhang Dun later said that this boy was indeed frivolous and not cut out to rule the world.

As for why Murong Fu guessed the boy's true identity, it's actually quite simple.

The young emperor only had a handful of brothers who were alive, and considering their unconventional and eccentric personalities and their age, this was the only one among them.

Legend has it that when Emperor Shenzong of Song was young, his father saw a portrait in the Hanlin Academy. The portrait depicted a handsome young man with an extraordinary air. Emperor Shenzong was astonished and summoned the Hanlin scholars to ask who the man in the painting was. The scholars replied that the man was Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Emperor Shenzong was deeply moved and filled with a sense of melancholy.

That night, Emperor Shenzong had a dream in which the young man in the painting said to him: "Grateful for your deep affection and kindness, I have come today to seek refuge in your family." Then he disappeared. Later, one of Emperor Shenzong's concubines gave birth to a son, the very son before him.

The truth of the legend is long lost to time, but whenever Murong Fu reads this anecdote, he can't help but make a few sarcastic remarks—Emperor Shenzong of Song was incredibly audacious. Li Yu came to be your son? Was he sure he wasn't here for revenge? If he were Emperor Shenzong, he would have killed the kid on the spot, and there wouldn't have been so much trouble later.

Murong Fu said coldly, "Hmph! Smooth-tongued and full of lies, he's beyond redemption!"

Upon hearing this, the boy panicked. After all, he was just an eleven or twelve-year-old child; how much cunning could he possibly have?

The problem stemmed from the root cause: Song Dynasty emperors, eager to demonstrate that their rule was ordained by Heaven, constantly piggybacked on the popularity of Taoism. One moment their ancestor was Zhao Gongming, the next the emperor himself was the reincarnation of the Barefoot Immortal. Emperor Zhenzong, that idiot, even squandered the accumulated wealth of three generations, engaging in the bizarre charade of performing the Fengshan ceremony. One wonders if, during the Jingkang era, while these bastards were enduring hardship in the earthen kilns of Wuguo City, their divine ancestors sent them golden-armored warriors as guards?

Even though I know it's irrational, I still really want to beat this kid up with my own hands. What should I do?