Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1389 - 9: Master Jing

"Is our Imperial Academy also moonlighting as the Crown Prince’s reading companion?" Gongsun Ce whispered.

"Firstly, the official role of an Eastern Palace companion is called ’scholar attendant,’ and secondly, we’re not supposed to have this responsibility..." Liu Zhongwu lowered his voice, "But if the Crown Prince asks you for a favor, can you refuse? Dare you refuse?"

"Dare, dare, dare!" Situ Yi shouted three times.

"Oh, shut your mouth, you reckless fool!"

Liu Zhongwu jumped up in anger, trying to cover Situ Yi’s mouth, but Situ Yi, towering at two meters six with his hat, tilted his head back to evade him. He playfully darted behind an arcade machine, the colorful game lights shining on his white robe, making him look like a canvas splashed with a palette of colors.

The booming electronic music made the floor buzz, while the streetwise youths and playful kids bobbed their heads in time, the sounds of buttons being pressed and joysticks being moved rising and falling. Concentrated faces filled the electronic screens. This was the "Rising Storm Arcade," where the Crown Prince was playing his ’machines’... naturally referring to arcade games.

In the late ’90s, the entertainment industry wasn’t as developed as thirteen years later, with most Empire kids seeing consoles and handhelds as mirages in magazines. The only real gaming experience came from the arcade’s red and white consoles and various arcade machines. Hence, arcades were all the rage back then, with outdated equipment from Zero Island’s union becoming the Empire kids’ newest entertainment. With sufficient skill, you could conquer a hail of bullets with a single coin or achieve a one-life-win in a KOF tournament.

The Crown Prince Chi Zijing was evidently highly skilled, already reaching the sixth level of "Contra VI" with just one coin, thoroughly enjoying this game, though it was uncertainly named among similar products. Gongsun Ce stood behind him and watched for a few eyes, then spoke to him: "Does Your Highness enjoy platform shooting games?"

"Oh, Gongsun Qing? You even understand foreign game types? I’m impartial to genres; whether it’s Contra or Tank Trouble, I find them enjoyable. King of Fighters and Street Fighter are equally thrilling!" Chi Zijing was pleasantly surprised. His way of speaking was unique, with his lips unmoving yet his voice threading its way into others’ ears, audible even amidst the clamor.

Gongsun Ce rubbed his ears, recalling his "like calmness" persona: "As good as the games are, the environment seems a bit too noisy. If you were to buy and set up equipment elsewhere, you could enjoy gaming time alone, wouldn’t that be more enjoyable?"

Liu Zhongwu stopped his antics and secretly gave Gongsun Ce a thumbs up. If caught, taking the Crown Prince out to play games would surely warrant a scolding, but should the Crown Prince play by himself, our Imperial Academy wouldn’t be implicated. Regardless of how angry His Majesty gets, we’d be carefree, smart!

"Gongsun Qing, your reasoning is indeed sound. It would be splendid not only to lose the disruptive music and lights but also to avoid secondhand smoke in this cramped little arcade." Chi Zijing said, "Yet, however sweet the words may be, they’re merely talk, not achievable in reality."

Gongsun Ce was taken aback: "It seems to me Mr. Qin An is not yet that strict with you..."

The old arcade had no pause function, so even as Chi Zijing spoke, his hands kept moving. The machine gunner on the screen still had half a health bar, his gaze following the shifting game character, his young face appearing somewhat indifferent in the reflection.

"Mr. Qin naturally manages me leniently; he’s experienced and broad-minded, unlikely to engage in petty disputes with children. But those who handle documents, teach etiquette, oversee outings, uphold rules, aren’t as enlightened as the old man. Watching video games isn’t the only frowned-upon act; even perusing novels or idle tales is considered a decline of Culture." Chi Zijing said indifferently, "I don’t quite enjoy noisy places either. Initially, I had asked a scholar attendant to buy a console for me, but it wasn’t long before the tutors found out."

"Were the tutors’ punishments severe?" Situ Yi leaned over to ask.

"They didn’t punish me much; their frail bodies couldn’t hurt me if they tried. Yet, they have other means. My friend was out of luck; not only losing his job as a scholar attendant but even his family’s seniors’ career paths suffered some impact. I imagine his days were quite dismal after returning home?"

Chi Zijing chuckled: "History books speak of eunuchs wielding power as a great harm to the nation, describing how certain ’not-man’ men would cling to the minute ’authority’ in their hands, maliciously imposing palace ’rules’ on others. Consider that the Empire abolished eunuchs over fifteen hundred years ago, yet some folks live as if they were still in that role, and what can you do about it?"

Only then did Gongsun Ce understand his approach. If His Highness doesn’t go out, where can he visit? He doesn’t even have his own pocket money; to play a game, he relies on Liu Zhongwu. Entertainment within the palace can’t survive the tutors’ scrutiny, so he might as well escape the courtyard and venture outside. The old tutors prioritize decorum most, and wouldn’t dare to publically lecture the Crown Prince in a busy place. This spot may be noisy and dirty, but it offers Chi Zijing the hard-to-find "freedom."

"The Crown Prince isn’t afraid of burdening scholars when he goes out; we students are the ones who suffer..." Liu Zhongwu grumbled.

"Nonsense! Who in the Divine Capital City can trouble you now?" Chi Zijing exclaimed, "The Minister of Rites hanging from the east gate was just less than half a month ago, and eighteen martial schools in Tianshu District have shut down only last month. Who in the Divine Capital City dares to pick on you anymore?"