The new morning brought with it a fresh new batch of sunlight and a brand-new song of the birds. Creatures of the night retreated to their veiled hideouts while creatures of the day came out of their homes to breathe and bathe in the morning light.

Chuwak! The doors of a certain quarter opened with a sound and the timid head of a young maid, poked into the bedchambers of a certain individual. The maid then proceeded to quickly glance at her surroundings before cautiously, and nervously, taking her first step in.

With each step came an added bout of courage as the little maid's actions grew surer, for the lesser she met with. Before long, she arrived next to the huge, king-sized bed, situated at the centre of the massive room.

Here she was, at the end of her destination. The goal of her task was in sight.

After performing a breathing exercise in order to gain the final boost of courage, the timid maid loudly began. "Ahem! S—Sir Wuzhi! It's morning and t—the emperor requests your presence!"

The timid maid clenched her fists. She felt great for she had only nervously stammered a total of two times during her delivery. Content with her performance, she then turned her gaze towards the bedcovers.

Only to find them, untouched.

"Eh?" The maid was confused. The bedcovers, and even the bed itself, seemed untouched. It looked like no one had slept on it during the night. The little maid was sure for she had been the one to prepare the quarters last night.

"Sir Wuzhi?" she called out his name; her nervousness having been more or less replaced by confusion. "Is he not here?"

"No. I'm here," a voice suddenly replied.

"UWAH!!" The little maid jumped in startlement. Her small body landed on the soft mattress of the bed. Like a startled rabbit, she hastily looked around, trying to find the elusive scholar.

"Heh," Wuzhi chuckled, as he watched the little maid's adorable reactions.

His chortle brought him her attention along with a gaze filled with resentment. The timid maid, however, being a little maid did not dare act upon her resentment. She settled to huff and puff her cheeks akin to a wronged puppy.

"My apologies. It is just that your actions were too fresh that I could not help but follow them in silence," Wuzhi offered an apology and an explanation.

Hearing his words prompted the little maid into another bout of exaggerated and cute reactions. Wuzhi continued to watch her in amusement, prodding her every now and then to elicit a new reaction.

After nearly ten minutes of such mundane activity, the little maid finally had enough. Unfortunately, she had grown bold and used to Wuzhi enough to not fall for his prodding.

She then noticed Wuzhi's position, huddled over a crumpled blanket at the corner of the room, and could not help but curiously ask. "Sir Wuzhi, what are you doing there on the floor?"

"Here?" Wuzhi answered with a kind smile. "I slept here."

Noting the surprised reaction of the timid maid, he chuckled and explained. "I found the mattress too soft and unfamiliar for my comfort. Hence, I sprawled a blanket on the floor over here and slept over it during the night."

"You slept on the floor!?" The little maid looked shocked.

"There is nothing too surprising about that," Wuzhi waved her off lightly. "I come from a poor household where my bedding consisted of some stray straws stuffed into some old fabrics. Compared to then, this soft carpeted floor is too much of a luxury."

Not dwelling on the topic more than necessary, Wuzhi continued, "Did Venerable Emperor call for me?"

The little maid suddenly remembered her goal for coming here in the first place. She then immediately nodded her head and replied, "Yes, yes! His Emperor has requested for your presence at the secondary dining room."

"I see. Thank you for bringing this news to me, Miss Tia." Wuzhi thanked the little maid.

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"Aiyaya! Who're you calling 'miss.' I am but a little maid." The timid maid immediately shook off his method of calling her with honorifics.

"That you might be, but you have still been in service to the emperor for far longer than I have. As such, it is only right for me to call you with honorifics."

"Ah! But 'Miss' Tia just sounds so wrong!"

"How about 'Senior' Tia then?"

"That just makes it sound like I'm some unmarried, forty-year-old servant!"

"Sister Tia, then?"

"Just call me Tia! Okay! Tia!" the little maid exclaimed, her body quaking with emotions. She then noticed the amused smile on Wuzhi's face, causing her to furiously blush. "You! You bad man! You've only been teasing me!"

Wuzhi broke out into laughter. He then got up from his place, ruffled the little maid's hair, and left the room while saying, "Sorry for teasing you. I simply couldn't help myself. I shall leave now."

"Thank you for your service, Tia." Wuzhi's voice came from outside the quarters.

The little maid, who had been left as a huffing, puffing mess, cutely harrumphed before moving to collect the crumpled blanket from the floor. Filled with righteous resentment, she declared to herself. "Look at what I'm going to do today! I am going to wash this blanket with extra soap!"

"Let me see how you sleep tonight with a strong scent of jasmine tickling your nose!" Laughing evilly, she went about her duty.

---

"Wuzhi! Wuzhi! Over here!" The instant he neared the secondary dining room, the young scholar was immediately flagged down by the boy emperor.

Alexandros, who seemed to be eagerly awaiting Wuzhi's arrival, wasted no time and immediately jumped to the most important topic. "We can begin with my lessons, right? I can't wait to start!"

Facing the young boy's endless vigour, Wuzhi smiled slightly and evenly explained. "Your Majesty, 'patience' and 'evenness' is the virtue of a monarch. One must never lose their head in excitement and watch everything with a detached eye."

Alexandros, being the sharp student that he was, immediately understood that Wuzhi's lessons for him had begun. Memorizing his words and internalizing his meaning, he slowly nodded his head and said, "I understand, Wuzhi."

Wuzhi smiled in contentment. It was the joy of a teacher to be paired with a sharp student.

Wuzhi then gazed at the food-filled dining table and asked, "Has your majesty already eaten?"

Alexandros shook his head. "No. I was waiting for your arrival.'"

"It is fortunate then," said Wuzhi, confusing the boy emperor. Turning his gaze towards the young emperor, he spoke with a mysterious smile. "Your Majesty, henceforth, your lessons with me shall officially begin."

"Please, follow me." Saying so, Wuzhi turned around and started walking away.

Surprised, but unhesitant, Alexandros immediately jumped down from his seat and began following his teacher. The pair then navigated through the palace corridors in silence and soon arrived before a familiar face at the Imperial Training Grounds.

Matthias, the old captain of the Royal Guards, looked surprised as he met his liege and his saviour. Taking a knee, he immediately spoke. "Your Royal Eminence, Sir Wuzhi, how might this humble servant assist you?"

Alexandros did not reply and instead looked towards Wuzhi. The young scholar showed a smile and replied, "Sir Matthias, I was hoping for you to let me and his majesty join your guards in their morning training."

Matthias was shocked speechless. Alexandros, too, seemed fairly shocked at the request leading him to ask his teacher. "Why are we joining the Royal Guards in their training, Wuzhi?"

"Why else but to improve our bodies, Your Majesty," Wuzhi calmly replied. "There is a saying 'a healthy body houses a healthy mind.'"

The boy emperor understood Wuzhi's sentiment. He also figured that it would not do him any bad in training his body for he remembered Wuzhi's lessons about the 'Foundational Stages.'

Turning to face his Royal Guard captain, Alexandros requested, "Matthias, We and Wuzhi would like to join your guards in their training."

"This servant complies," Matthias did not question his liege nor deny his request. He immediately moved to make preparations.

The young emperor and his teacher did not have to wait long. After being offered a change of clothes, which Alexandros accepted while Wuzhi denied, the duo went down to the training grounds.

"Are you certain you do not want to change your clothes, Sir Wuzhi?" asked Matthias. "I can assure you; you will have a more difficult time moving with your current outfit."

"Wuzhi thanks Sir Matthias for the offer, however, I'm fine." Wuzhi politely refused and shook his head. His current outfit was the same as ever; a set of inner robes, an outercoat, and a bamboo hat.

Nearly every inch of Wuzhi's skin was covered in at least two layers of clothing. Matthias even wondered how impossible it would be to NOT sweat under those fabrics.

Still, the moment passed and the party arrived at the training grounds. The Royal Guards, who numbered three hundred, had already begun their daily training and separated into six groups of fifty.

"Your Royal Eminence and Sir Wuzhi will be joining the newly drafted cadets in their training. This servant shall personally oversee the training to ensure that no injuries are sustained."

Matthias, who was nearly fifty years old, had been in service to the Centinni Imperial Family for much of his life. Having begun his journey as a lowly squire in service to the Centinni Family, he climbed the ranks over the course of thirty-five years.

Not only was he an experienced guardsman, but he was also a trainer. With him overlooking their training, Wuzhi and Alexandros' efforts were guaranteed to bear fruit.

Under Matthias' introduction, Wuzhi and the young emperor joined the group of cadets. The latter was initially surprised and overwhelmed by the news but soon accepted it. To train alongside the emperor, what greater honour could there be for these royal guards?

"Hup! Let's begin with some stretches followed by running!" As a serious, old-timer, Matthias immediately began his training session severely.