C1 The Guide to the Journey of the Trash Prince

In the Imperial City of the Atrela Dynasty, the fourteenth prince, Qin Xuan, was counting down the days. "Finally, only one year left. I can't wait to leave this wretched place."

According to the royal edict, descendants of the imperial family could only leave the palace and establish their own households at the age of fifteen. As the days of living freely like a carefree noble drew nearer, Qin Xuan couldn't contain his excitement.

From the moment of his birth, he had witnessed his father's ruthless elimination of his brothers. Among his generation, aside from himself, his thirteen siblings were locked in a vicious struggle for the title of crown prince, employing endless schemes. Qin Xuan, however, harbored no interest in the throne. His ambition was to develop quietly and, once free from the palace, to indulge in food, drink, and gambling, living the life of a lavish and carefree lord.

His disinterest in the crown prince's position from a young age earned him the goodwill of his brothers. In a world where martial prowess was revered, who would bother a prince immersed in poetry, music, chess, painting, and calligraphy?

Moreover, Qin Xuan considered the pursuit of power utterly foolish. Life, he believed, should be about dreaming amidst comfort, enjoying the company of a beautiful spouse, and taking in the splendor of the world. And what harm was there in playfully teasing the maids in his mansion, delighting in their feigned protests of "You're so naughty, but I like you so much"?

Lost in these thoughts, Qin Xuan had a zither brought to the Sylvan Lodge. After washing his hands and lighting incense, he began to play.

"Ah, a melody of heartache, where in this vast world can one find a true soulmate..." he mused, his enthusiasm undiminished even as the song ended.

"Qin Xuan, have you ever heard of 'indulgence leading to the loss of one's ambition'?" A woman's voice, tinged with a mix of reproach and resignation yet melodious and clear, interrupted his reverie.

A moment later, a figure of elegance and grace entered the Sylvan Lodge.

"Hehe, Miss Wu, is that you?" Qin Xuan said with a grin as he regarded the woman before him.

The woman was none other than Wu Ji, the esteemed daughter of the General's Mansion. She was three years Qin Xuan's senior, and due to her father, Premier Wu Xiangguo, being highly trusted by the emperor, Wu Ji had been a frequent visitor to the palace from a young age. She and Qin Xuan had been close since their childhood.

"Miss Wu, you, who are usually swamped with endless responsibilities, what brings you to me today?"

Qin Xuan noted her attire, a casual pink dress, and deduced that her visit wasn't for official matters. In her military uniform, she was the epitome of valor and poise, and out of it, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

He sometimes wondered if she had been born into the royal family, there would be little left for the thirteen or fourteen princes to contend for.

Wu Ji was the embodiment of intelligence and martial prowess, a master of both the arts and the sword—a true prodigy often spoken of in awe.

"What did you just call me?" Wu Ji's dissatisfaction with Qin Xuan's form of address was evident as her piercing, phoenix-like eyes shot him a sharp glance, her cool gaze tinged with a hint of menace.

"Ah, hahaha... You see, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would've completely forgotten that you're my betrothed," Qin Xuan chuckled awkwardly.

Qin Xuan's mother hailed from a distinguished lineage and had longstanding ties with the Qian family. Consequently, Qin Xuan's engagement to Wu Ji had been arranged since his birth. Many considered Qin Xuan to be extraordinarily fortunate, as a marriage to Wu Ji could have secured the throne for any prince. Regrettably, it was the seemingly unremarkable Qin Xuan who was engaged to her, prompting many in the dynasty to lament what might have been.

Yet, Qin Xuan was well aware that his father, the emperor, was the most eager for this union. It was precisely because Wu Ji was betrothed to him that the Qian family remained neutral in the succession, not aligning with any other prince. As for the thoughts of his royal brothers, they all preferred Wu Ji to be engaged to him rather than to a rival.

"Have you even glanced at the Sword Manual I gave you?" Wu Ji inquired, settling across from Qin Xuan and delicately sipping her tea. "I'm aware of your disinterest in politics and your lack of enthusiasm for martial arts. Nonetheless, even if you aspire to live carefree as a prince, having some martial skills for unforeseen circumstances wouldn't be a bad idea."

"It's not that I don't practice; it's that my father didn't pass down that gene," Qin Xuan sighed, though internally he was quite pleased. Brawling and killing were for brutes, not for someone with his cunning intellect. He was meant to savor the life of a transmigrator.

"Ding! The host's mindset meets the criteria. The Rites and Music System is now officially bound. Initial binding skill: Qin."

Right after Qin Xuan spoke, a voice echoed in his mind, followed by a system panel materializing before his eyes.

Name: Qin Xuan

Level: 0

Music Skill: 1.5

The figures on the panel made Qin Xuan's lips twitch. He had been steeped in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from a young age, priding himself on his superior music skill. How could it be a mere 1.5 in the system?

Low damage, high insult!

"Notice: This is the Rites and Music System. All skill proficiencies can be converted into martial arts levels. The maximum skill proficiency is 20 points, and proficiency must be earned through audience approval."

"So, I can't just play well; I need to find someone who'll listen and think I'm good?" Qin Xuan mumbled, his mind swirling with doubts.

"Are you even listening to me?" Wu Ji, realizing Qin Xuan hadn't been paying attention, shot him a glare sharp enough to terrify him nearly to death.

"I'm urging you to train in martial arts for your own survival. You don't want to die senselessly, do you?" Wu Ji said, exasperated.

"Let's put aside the talk of dying tragically for now. How about I play a tune for you?" Qin Xuan suggested with the nonchalance of someone who has nothing to lose. "I'll perform 'The Wild Geese Descend on the Sandbank.' My music skill is quite impressive. General, you wouldn't want to miss this performance."

Wu Ji couldn't help but roll her eyes. If he had devoted even a fraction of this effort to martial arts, he wouldn't still be stuck at the first level, utterly lacking in self-defense. It was fortunate he had no ambition for the throne; otherwise, he would have perished long before achieving any martial success.

Despite her thoughts, Wu Ji remained silent, giving Qin Xuan an indifferent look that seemed to say, "Play if you want to."

Wu Ji was naturally aloof, preferring to keep her distance from others. It was quite generous of her to even sit through Qin Xuan's lengthy discourse.

Without further ado, Qin Xuan began to play passionately. After finishing the piece, he felt a subtle energy coursing through his limbs and body. Wu Ji, who was next to him, slightly furrowed her brows. Without a word, she checked Qin Xuan's pulse and immediately sensed something unusual.

"Advanced to the second level in just two days?" Wu Ji's eyes sparkled with intrigue. She was close to Qin Xuan and knew all too well that he had been considered a complete fool within the martial arts community since childhood. She had already assessed Qin Xuan's level of cultivation upon entering the room, and it was nonexistent. How could his cultivation have suddenly leaped to the second level after playing the zither?

She couldn't have made a mistake.

Could it be that he had some unknown secret?

Seeing Wu Ji's astonished expression, Qin Xuan quickly realized that she must have been taken aback by his commanding presence.

But he had forgotten one thing: a rise in cultivation level is something the experienced can detect.

Qin Xuan hastily concocted a plausible excuse, "Ha, I meant to keep it from you, but you figured it out. Actually, I've been busy these past couple of days. Not only did I practice the Sword Manual you gave me, but I also achieved some success. You probably didn't notice earlier because my zither playing captivated you. It's not at all surprising."

Is this what he calls a minor achievement?

Is this what he calls unsurprising?

Well, I'll be!