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

Chapter 491 Transformation Plan

Murong Fu decided to reform Emperor Huizong before he went astray.

The lazy and boring young man in front of him was none other than the future famous Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. Three generations of nobles, father and son, were the worst of the worst. Just thinking about what this kid would do in the future made Murong Fu have the urge to slap him to death right here. Of course, this was just a thought.

At this moment, in Zhao Ji's eyes, Murong Fu was shrouded in a light called "immortal" - he could take things from a distance and see through other people's thoughts at a glance. What else could it be but the power of immortals?
In a sense, he was indeed close to being an immortal.

At this moment, Zhao Ji's yearning for immortal techniques reached an unparalleled level. He immediately and swiftly knelt down.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji was so flustered that he didn't know where to put his hands. He hurriedly said, "Immortal Master, please don't be angry. Just now, I was being naughty and didn't recognize your greatness. That's why I had the intention to play a trick on you, but you saw through me at a glance. I know I was wrong. You are a sage, so please don't lower yourself to the level of a mere mortal like me."

Murong Fu said, “Just now, when I pushed open the door, you could have easily climbed down from the roof beam, but you deliberately fell from it. If I hadn’t caught you, you would have called for help, claiming you were startled and fell. That was your first thought. If I had climbed up the beam without thinking and taken the konjac sauce, you would have accused me of sneaking into the imperial kitchen and stealing this priceless konjac sauce. That was another of your thoughts. You deliberately concealed your identity so that once the truth came out, you could accuse me of disrespect and play a trick on me. Is that right, Your Highness Prince Duan?”

Zhao Ji gave an awkward smile. At this time, he was still young and far from degenerating into the scoundrel he would become later. After Murong Fu exposed his intentions, he could only apologize repeatedly and say that he would not dare to do it again.

Looking at Zhao Ji, Murong Fu suddenly had a thought that had been brewing in his mind for a long time: Zhao Ji's two great passions were art and cultivating immortality. His pursuit of immortality even seemed to overshadow his artistic aspirations. Was it possible to educate and guide this future scoundrel into a different kind of person?
Murong Fu thought about it more and more and felt that this plan was feasible: What is the Xiaoyao Sect? It is a temple of art. Su Xinghe could easily show a little bit of his skills and that kid would have something to learn for a lifetime.

Thinking of this, Murong Fu's face hardened, and he changed the subject, "It's not entirely impossible for you to become my disciple; it all depends on your sincerity."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji was overjoyed: "Master, please accept my bow!"

Just as Zhao Ji was about to kowtow, he felt an invisible force lifting him up slowly. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't kneel down, and the look of horror in his small eyes intensified.

Murong Fu said, "Don't rush to kneel and bow. I haven't agreed to let you join my sect yet. If you want to become a disciple, you must first pass three tests."

Zhao Ji was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Let alone three tests, even if there were thirty tests, I would do my best to complete them."

Murong Fu sneered, "Let's make this clear first: you must complete these three tests yourself without any help from others. If I find out that you have borrowed even the slightest bit of help from others during the process, this matter of becoming a disciple is off the table."

Zhao Ji was overjoyed: "Okay, thank you, Master, thank you, Master. I will definitely do it."

Murong Fu said, "Don't be in a hurry. Seven days later, come to Linjiang Pavilion in the west of the city at three-quarters past noon. I will be waiting for you there. Remember, come alone. If I see you with someone else, then we shall part ways and never see each other again."

Zhao Ji nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice: "Master, rest assured, your disciple will do as instructed."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and presented the small jar of konjac sauce to Murong Fu with both hands in a flattering manner: "Master, this is a tribute from the Southern Yue Kingdom. Even my brother the Emperor has not tasted it. I am offering it to you as a token of my respect."

Murong Fu said, "It's been hard on you running around all day, so eat it yourself. Look at you, so unsophisticated and unambitious. If you manage to become a disciple in a few days, I'll let you taste the food of the Murong family." As a unique phenomenon in the history of sauces, konjac sauce was incredibly expensive, far surpassing even caviar in later generations. A poem testifies to this: "Crimson carpets cluster on a white jade plate, radiant light shines from the golden cauldron. The essence of mulberries ripens on the branches in August, brewing a new amber for the world." This describes konjac sauce. It originated in the Southern Yue Kingdom; its tree resembles a millet tree, its leaves like mulberries, only two or three inches long, and it doesn't grow much. It ripens after September, in the frost. The locals harvest it and brew it into sauce. The small jar before him, held by Zhao Ji, seemed small, yet it was enough to bankrupt even a wealthy family with immense riches.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's eyes widened in disbelief. If it were anyone else who had spoken to him in this way, he would have simply laughed and thought the other person was quite arrogant. But now, these words came from the mouth of Murong Gongzi, whom he regarded as a god in heaven. He realized that Murong Gongzi must be nothing more than a frog in a well, truly ignorant of the world.

"Oh, by the way, Master, how did you get here?"

Murong Fu said, "I was ordered by the Emperor to come and examine the Empress Dowager. Originally, someone was supposed to lead the way, but that person left me halfway and ran off on his own."

Zhao Ji said, "How could such a thing happen? This is outrageous! I must tell my brother, and I must make him punish him."

"Who goes there? What are you doing sneaking around the imperial kitchen?"

"Oh no! Someone is trying to steal valuables from the Imperial Kitchen!"

"They dare to steal from the inner palace! What audacity of these thieves!"

Zhao Ji's face immediately turned pale: "Oh no, Master, we've been discovered."

Murong Fu said jokingly, "What's the big deal about you, a prince, going to the imperial kitchen for a meal? Just admit it openly."

Zhao Ji gave an awkward smile: "Master, please don't joke with me. I changed into the clothes of a eunuch to act secretly, just for the thrill and secrecy. Your sudden appearance has exposed my whereabouts. It's not a big problem to walk out like this, but it's a bit embarrassing, isn't it?"

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Oh, is that so?"

Murong Fu thought to himself: No wonder he was able to do something like digging a tunnel to escape the palace and go on an offline date with a female streamer. It turns out that this ability is something he has in his bones since childhood.

Murong Fu said, "Alright, since that's the case, I'll give you some face then!"

As she spoke, she took Zhao Ji's hand, pushed open the door, took a few light steps, and the two of them disappeared.

The visitor felt as if a gentle breeze had opened the door to the imperial kitchen, but the room was completely empty, without a single person in sight.

One of the officials said, "Strange, didn't something just flash past us?"