Chapter 20 019 The Little Emperor is immersed in her own

Chapter 20 019 Little Emperor immersed in her own

performance...

"Grandfather."

After nodding to He Jianshen, Chi Zhiqing walked straight past him and came before He Mingyi.

This was also his first meeting with the head of the He family.

Old Codger meeting Old Codger, Chi Zhiqing naturally couldn't have any goodwill toward him.

Elder He was surprised when he looked at him.

He had valued the untamed spirit of his biological granddaughter, who resembled him more than the two fakes and a half-baked person in the family. But this regard was the appreciation of a lion who had ruled the grasslands for years, seeing the first fangs of his own cub—he hadn't held any unrealistic expectations for her. Yet today...

The earlier rough edges had completely disappeared. The way she walked made her look like a seasoned veteran immersed in the world of high society for years. Though she had never taken a single etiquette class, every move was perfect.

He Mingyi himself was a one-in-a-million genius. His business acumen wasn't learned from university lectures, so for the first forty years of his life, he assumed his son and grandson would be born knowing it too.

Of course, their performance brought him crashing back to painful reality.

But the aura displayed by the granddaughter before him was exactly the descendant Elder He had fantasized about. Every detail matched perfectly with what he had imagined outside his wife's delivery room, with not a single deviation!

A man's ultimate complex about his offspring is narcissism—he wishes he could be his own son.

"Come, meet your Uncle Gu. Old Gu grew up under my watch, we've been friends for decades." He Mingyi patted his granddaughter's arm, his voice rose three decibels with joy.

A refined couple in their forties approached Chi Zhiqing, looking at him warmly: "It's good that she's been found. At first glance, Tianyang seems like a clever and intelligent girl. Looking closely, she looks a lot like you did when you were young, especially around the eyes! Clearly, she's family. This calm temperament is also rare. You've been wronged all these years, but now you're home. The weight in your grandfather's heart can finally be lifted. From now on, take time to get to know each other. Don't let outsiders cause misunderstandings. Shangyang, you should bring your niece over for meals more often, understand?"

"Understood, Dad."

Gu Shangyang responded.

Among close families that arranged marriages, the children from both sides grew up playing together, cultivating bonds from childhood. For families intending marriage, the idea of childhood betrothals was often brought up in front of the children. Over the years, He Yuan's visits to the Gu household must have been frequent enough to make her almost like a goddaughter.

Now, with just a few words, the Gu couple lightly dismissed He Yuan as an irrelevant person, to avoid hard feelings over a fake.

This was the best choice.

Chi Zhiqing's expression remained unchanged: "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Gu. I treasure the chance to return to my grandfather."

He recalled that His Majesty wondered if she should play the sweet, innocent act in front of the elders to set up her brother.

After all, in many angsty stories, the conflict comes from characters not communicating.

She wanted to be a character who actually talks!

Chi Zhiqing, however, said this was a bad move.

If you put yourself in a position where others have to argue for you, you'll never be the judge.

He Mingyi led him to mingle with a group of Old Codgers, while also observing his biological granddaughter—he was delighted to find that she showed no awkwardness at all, and was so skilled that her brother looked like a rookie by comparison.

Chi Zhiqing was flawless in etiquette and speech, but he had no intention of acting like a proper young lady. The world still held the impression that "males are the first in line for inheritance." To break this, he had to stand in for Song Tianyang and come off as more dominant, more aloof...

This attitude actually allowed him, in the identity of the He family's True Heiress, to blend into the banquet swiftly, like a fish to water.

In contrast, He Jianshen's face darkened more and more.

Using a slight dizziness as an excuse, he left the banquet hall.

Five other young people followed him out.

...

"Wow!"

On the other side, Song Tianyang suddenly appeared in the hotel.

She bounced in place a couple of times, feeling how gangly this body was. With the sudden change in perspective, it was quite novel. In the hotel's low-ceilinged restroom, using Chi Zhiqing's body, she stood on tiptoes and could actually touch the ceiling.

Interesting.

Of course, there was something even more interesting.

Song Tianyang knew full well this was wrong, but—but—

She was just making the mistake every gender-bender character makes!

As the old saying goes: When the emperor orders his minister to strip, the minister obeys.

Since I've come personally to strip him, what right does my minister have to complain?

Song Tianyang, seizing the moment before her conscience caught up, frantically began to undo the belt.

But as her hand touched it, she discovered the belt was locked with an elaborate clasp, and the key was missing.

Song Tianyang: ...

My loyal minister has taken precautions against me!!!

The Little Emperor crouched down in disappointment, then felt a foreign object in her pants pocket: "Could it be... no, that's not in this position," she gave a sheepish laugh and found a palm-sized brocade pouch inside: "Last time I called him Premier Father, and it made him obsess over acting like Zhuge Liang. Fine, let me see what good plan Premier Father has."

She pulled a stack of paper from the pouch.

Opening the pouch Chi Zhiqing left her was even more exciting than opening red envelopes at New Year.

"Your Majesty once promised me that you would not undo my belt."

Song Tianyang felt a pang of guilt while involuntarily fumbling with the lock on the belt.

Though small, the lock was very secure.

As she fiddled, she looked at the second sheet.

"Still trying to undo it!?"

Song Tianyang: ...

They had only known each other as ruler and minister for a short time, yet he already understood her this well. What a presumptuous guy.

She turned to the third sheet, which had a small key taped to it.

"If Your Majesty truly wishes to take a look, then I leave it to Your Majesty's disposal."

This time, Song Tianyang really gave up.

This was her first time being a boy, and she got way too excited, but now, coaxed into submission by her minister’s mix of firmness and gentleness, she naturally abandoned her absurd notions.

On the final sheet of paper was her minister’s tender advice: "An hour passes in a flash, Your Majesty. It would be better to stay in the hotel and work on your thesis. There’s still a tough battle ahead once you switch back."

That was sound advice.

But Song Tianyang wasn’t having any of it.

She rubbed her chin: "Zhiqing always says I’m too pure-hearted and don’t understand power plays. Today, I’m gonna scheme for real!"

With that, she strode straight into the master bedroom of the hotel suite.

This was the room Chi Zhiqing had arranged for her; he never overstepped his bounds, so naturally, he hadn’t noticed that she’d secretly stashed several brand-new, extra-large women’s outfits there the day before.

"If you wanna use a minister, you gotta have some dirt on him."

Song Tianyang chuckled: "Premier Father taught me this. I’m applying it today. Even if he finds out someday, he oughta be proud."

The Little Emperor was lost in her own performance of cunning, oblivious to the world around her.

A rustling sound—

This time, Song Tianyang was courteous enough to avoid any inappropriate areas, staring straight ahead at the wall.

Moments later.

Emperor System:

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, for triggering the achievement 'Kangxi and Mingzhu' (a famous emperor and his trusted official)."

"The specific reward will be granted once Your Majesty uses this leverage to threaten the minister."

Emperor Tianyang’s Daily Chronicle: "Emperor Tianyang, using secret arts to control the body of her subject Chi Zhiqing, first changed him into a Japanese schoolgirl’s short jacket and pleated skirt, then into a Western maid outfit. She then ordered the court painters to come to the palace to meticulously depict his cross-dressing poses. The painters, trembling, faithfully recorded his charming looks. When the paintings were done, she uploaded them to the cloud for safekeeping. Should the subject ever prove disloyal, Her Majesty will make these paintings public."

A Japanese schoolgirl uniform and a maid outfit—all set for the loyal minister.

Song Tianyang was thoroughly pleased.

She had become an emperor who knew how to use cunning tactics to control her subjects.

Who wouldn’t call her a master schemer!

Song Tianyang admired the photos on her phone of Chi Zhiqing’s magnificent face and figure in women’s clothing—pure elegance, like a work of art. After uploading them to the cloud, she deleted them from the phone—after all, she was holding Chi Zhiqing’s phone and couldn’t leave any evidence.

As it turns out, people never get tired when they’re doing something bad.

After snapping satisfactory photos, she huffed and puffed, struggling as she changed back into men’s clothes.

Song Tianyang checked the time on her phone. There was still half an hour until they switched back, so she decided to take a stroll nearby and enjoy the wide field of view from being six foot three.

Chi Zhiqing was originally a learned and refined gentleman, you could tell he was a gentleman at first glance. But now, with Song Tianyang’s joyful soul inside, she swayed while walking out of the hotel, rolling up the shirt sleeves. Apart from his mature male appearance, she moved with a lively, youthful stride.

The hotel he stayed at was close to the university town, and as soon as she hit the street, she drew the attention of many female college students.

These days, beautiful women on the street were a dime a dozen.

But finding a tall, handsome guy? That was a rarity.

Song Tianyang responded to every glance with a bright smile.

She wandered into the food street and spotted a modified tricycle with an iron griddle, surrounded by various ingredients. The young vendor clumsily scooped up a ladle of batter; after some fumbling, it spread evenly but into a weird shape on the griddle.

With skills like that, people might think he was a plainclothes cop.

Song Tianyang was about to hit up the fried chicken stand next door when she heard a familiar female voice, full of energy, giving instructions: "You’re scooping the batter all shaky—the griddle’s getting cold! Relax your wrist, like you’re scooping tofu pudding, and don’t lift the ladle too high!"

She looked toward the source.

The one giving the pancake vendor pointers was the Swiss spy—

Wait, no.

It was her adoptive mother, Song Huafeng.

Song Tianyang blurted out in excitement: "Mom!"

The deep male voice startled her, and Song Huafeng looked over, suspicious: "Who are you?"

"...Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."

Song Tianyang rubbed the back of her head.

That gesture struck Song Huafeng as very familiar.

Her daughter always pulled that face when she’d done something wrong.

But this was clearly a handsome stranger she’d never met. Since he apologized politely for the mistake, she didn’t press further.

Song Tianyang made a fast escape.

As it was almost time to switch back, she ducked into a mall to soak up the air conditioning and looked up, spotting a coin-operated kiddie ride in the children’s section. A thoughtful look crossed her face.

Five minutes later.

Chi Zhiqing returned to his own body and opened his eyes.

He instinctively touched his chest, found himself fully dressed, and breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Maybe he’d underestimated Her Majesty’s mischief.

Chi Zhiqing looked up and saw a woman holding a wailing little boy, staring at him like she wanted to say something.

His heart dropped.

*"What’s Daddy’s daddy called? Daddy’s daddy is Grandpa~"

A cheerful children’s tune played in his ears.

The scene before him swayed back and forth.

Loyal Minister System: "You’ve been granted a steed by Her Majesty—you must really be in her good graces!"

Chi Zhiqing, forced to sit on that kiddie ride: "..."

I’m tired. Wreck it all.

At the same time, Song Tianyang found herself in the garden of Cloudtop Mansion, with a private lake nearby.

"Hey, I'm talking to you."

In front of her were five richly dressed men and women, including her biological brother.

One of them, seeing her distracted, gave her an annoyed shove.

-----------------------

Author's note: New readers, please follow my column! QAQ, I have a lot of fun content.

Completed novels.

*Quoting lyrics from the nursery rhyme "Family Politeness Address Song."

Suddenly I remembered something! Actually, my knowledge of history isn't great and I can't write classical Chinese; many of the daily court records I had to imagine through gritted teeth, so the sentences may look a bit funny to those little angels who truly understand the Chinese language—it's not intentional carelessness, just that the author's IQ is a bit low.