Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

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In the courtyard, an eight-year-old boy was practicing a Fist Technique.

With every punch, he unleashed a thunderous crack.

His stance was steady and powerful. His Fist Technique was grand and sweeping, yet fluid as flowing water—even pleasing to the eye.

Zhou Ruoxi sat in the courtyard sewing clothes for her child. From time to time, she would look up to watch Mo’er practice his forms.

The young mother recalled eight years ago, when her child had just been born. She had held him in her arms, and he was so very small.

But when they measured him yesterday, Mo’er was already four feet, two inches tall.

Before she knew it, Mo’er had become a little man.

Standing to the side, Cuicui was also somewhat mesmerized watching her young master practice.

Cuicui thought that when the young master grew up, he would surely be tall and handsome. ’Countless girls will fall for him!’

“Excuse me, is the Fifth Madam present?”

Just as Xiao Mo finished a run-through of the Heaven-Opening Fist, a grating, duck-like voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

Zhou Ruoxi looked outside and quickly recognized the man as the personal eunuch of the Sovereign of Qin. She had seen him once before when paying her respects to the Sovereign.

Zhou Ruoxi stood, walked forward, and curtsied slightly. “I am she.”

“This one has seen the Fifth Madam,” Eunuch Li said, bowing respectfully. “Forgive this one for the sudden visit and any disturbance.”

“You are too kind, Eunuch,” Zhou Ruoxi said as she straightened up. “May I ask what business brings you here?”

“It is nothing of great importance,” Eunuch Li said with a smile, turning his gaze to the young boy standing nearby. “This must be the Third Young Master, Xiao Mo. Truly a fine and talented young man! He has the air of the Prince in his youth!”

“You flatter me, Eunuch,” Xiao Mo said, stepping forward and clasping his fist. He had a feeling the man was here for him.

’But the question is,’ he thought, ’why would someone from the palace be looking for a nobody like me?’

“It’s like this.”

Eunuch Li began to explain.

“The Imperial Hunt is to be held soon. The two Princes and the Princess will all be in attendance. This one happened to hear that the Xiao Mansion has a Third Young Master, one who is skilled in Fist Techniques despite his young age and is of a similar age to the Princes and Princess.

Therefore, the palace was thinking of having the Third Young Master serve as a guard. I wonder if Madam Zhou and the Third Young Master would be willing?”

Zhou Ruoxi glanced at her son, her expression troubled.

She had no desire for her child to get involved with the Royal Family and Relatives. The slightest misstep, and Mo’er would likely face a grim fate.

’But this is a request from the palace,’ she thought. ’How can I possibly refuse?’

Just as Zhou Ruoxi was trying to think of an excuse, Xiao Mo had already stepped forward. “I am willing, of course. When am I to leave?”

“In three days, this one will send someone to escort the Third Young Master,” Eunuch Li said with a smile. He then looked at Madam Zhou. “There should be no problem, I trust, Madam?”

Zhou Ruoxi looked at her child.

Xiao Mo smiled. “Mother, it’s fine. I’m just going to be a guard, right? I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Then I must trouble you, Eunuch. My boy doesn’t understand much of the world. All he knows is practicing his fists. I hope you will look after him.”

Zhou Ruoxi curtsied once more and had Cuicui bring out some silver taels from inside, intending to secretly press them into Eunuch Li’s hand.

“Rest assured, Madam, it will be fine. If there is anything this one can do to help, I certainly will,” Eunuch Li said, covertly accepting the silver taels.

“Thank you, Eunuch.”

“You’re too polite, Madam. In that case, this one will return to make my report.”

“Take care, Eunuch.”

After seeing Eunuch Li off, Zhou Ruoxi hurried to her son’s side, her voice filled with worry.

“Mo’er, you shouldn’t have agreed so quickly! The Qin Kingdom Royal Palace’s hunt will be attended by many from the Royal Family and Relatives, and the Sovereign of Qin himself will be there. As the saying goes, ’To attend a monarch is to court a tiger.’ If anything were to happen to you…”

“Mother, it’s fine,” Xiao Mo soothed. “I’ll only be a guard. Besides, I’m just eight years old. Even if I make a mistake, would Your Majesty really hold it against a child?”

“…” Zhou Ruoxi felt that what her son said was true.

But, hearing those words come out of her own child’s mouth, why did it feel a little strange?

“That’s right, Madam. It will be fine. I think you’re overthinking it,” Cuicui added, stepping forward. “Though the Third Young Master is young, he is very sensible. Besides, Madam, this is a wonderful opportunity! What if the Third Young Master wins Your Majesty’s favor this time?”

“Exactly, Mother! What if Your Majesty sees what a good job I do as a guard and makes me a high official?” Xiao Mo said jokingly, trying to put his mother at ease.

“Mo’er, Mother doesn’t want you to be some high official. I just want you to be safe and sound.”

Zhou Ruoxi just shook her head. She knew it was too late to refuse now, so she could only give him a solemn warning. “Mo’er, you must remember this. When you are before Your Majesty, you must be cautious in your words and actions. Don’t seek to achieve merit, only to avoid fault. These next few days, I will teach you some palace etiquette. You must study it diligently, do you understand?”

“I understand, Mother.”

Xiao Mo nodded solemnly.

Soon, three days passed. Early on the morning of the fourth day, several Palace Maids arrived once again at the Xiao Mansion. They escorted Xiao Mo into a carriage, bound for the Imperial Hunting Forest outside the city.

Zhou Ruoxi watched until Mo’er disappeared at the end of the street, her gaze lingering for a long time.

For some reason, she felt a great sense of unease, as if something was bound to happen during this Imperial Hunt.

…

“Princess.”

“Princess, it’s time. We should get up now.”

“Princess.”

「Meanwhile, in the Qin Kingdom Royal Palace.」

A Palace Maid leaned over a little girl’s bedside, calling out softly.