The Empress' Livestream - Chapter 77
Chapter 77: Capricious Host
“Take a look at this. You can ask me if there is anything that is unclear.” Jiang Pengji handed Xu Ke a thin booklet about the training program for servants.
It was painstaking to make it as simple as possible, and it took her some days to have the arrangement settled.
In the other world, she had been receiving training ever since she was little. The equipment was advanced, the plan readjusted regularly as her physical competence developed, and her meals were prepared according to strict nutritious standards to maximize the effects of the training.
On the contrary, this time period was too backwards. There were no dietary supplements, specialized apparatuses, or suitable fields. Even the participants themselves were as meager as kids in where she came from.
The booklet was the final work of her various amendments to the originally demanding scheme.
Still, the easy tasks for her were harder in Xu Ke’s eyes, and he stood there in shock.
What appalled him most was not her brilliant scheme and skills, but his own misled mind the day before. He had thought that perhaps his Langjun might have had a tender heart.
“Langjun, please discard the plan. There is no way the servants can withstand such torment…” The moment the words came out from his mouth, Xu Ke stopped, knowing that would be no good.
His comment froze Jiang Pengji’s movement for a second. Torment?
The livestream audience thus watched the two stare blankly at each other.
Toudu Feiqiu: “(side-eye) What is the host’s plan? She scares the boy.”
Hongyan Yijiu: “Hahaha! Host, should not he be stunned by your scheme, and become your super fan?”
Bufu Nilaidawoa: “That is right! I was ready for that moment, but saw an embarrassing picture instead. Sigh.”
While Jiang Pengji was looking at Xu Ke, she was also looking at the mockery on the interface without much expression.
As the viewers said, things became weird when Xu Ke did not react as expected.
“It is not so demanding, is it?” She picked up the booklet that he dropped when he was startled. “How will that be torture?”
Her complaint hinted to Xu Ke that he might have misunderstood his young master, so he tried to clarify, “Langjun, the plan is perfectly fine for a gifted person like you, who is born with extraordinary strength. The new servants are all common people with mediocre capabilities, however, so it is better not to compare them with yourself.”
His compliment and explanation comforted Jiang Pengji a little.
“What do you think, then, will be suitable for them?” she asked, wishing to improve.
Her sincerity eased Xu Ke, and he inquired after a moment of hesitation, “Langjun, why would you like to train them?”
“You may have heard about the kidnapping that happened recently. I need guards to save me from similar situations in the future. While Dongqing appears to be peaceful, areas like Hejian are plagued with bandits. I must take action before others severe my head from my body.”
As soon as she finished, Xu Ke shook his head and pointed out, “That is an excuse. You need not so many servants to protect the family. Around fifty men will do. Langjun, you have another secret goal, do you not?”
“Like you said, it is a secret. Do you think I will spell it out?” Her cunning reply was unexpected.
The audience began to show empathy for Xu Ke.
Bufu Nilaidawoa: “The longest time Xu Ke has had in his life is the time when he stayed with our capricious Host.”
Shitang Dafan Ayi: “It is okay, my boy. The host is mean, but I am not. Come to me, I will treat you well.”
Soon afterwards, Jiang Pengji heard notifications in the background. “Shitang Dafan Ayi rewarded you with 1,314 pairs of blue and white underpants.”
“…”
A pair of pants cost 0.1 Stream Coin, the same as a lollipop and a heart.
Badao Zhongcai: “Do not trust that guy! Come to me!”
Another notification came in from Badao Zhongcai giving out rewards of 520 kidney apples.
A kidney apples equaled one Stream Coin, so the viewer had given out 520 Coins!
The two had triggered a wave of high-priced rewards, bombarding Jiang Pengji with ceaseless notifications, but her countenance was lacking expression, as usual.
While the audience was pitying Xu Ke, the boy’s features were brightened by the intelligence he had just received. His eyes flickered like the stars. “Langjun, I understand what you mean. I will not disappoint you!”
“You will be in charge of the training, then.” Jiang Pengji suspected the teenager had imagined too much about her intentions, but said nothing about it. “We will set off at noon. I need a preliminary plan by that time.”
She had thought her plan could be carried out right away, but it appeared that her standards were still too high for people in the current world. Xu Ke was more aware of the servants’ need, so she would like to listen to his thoughts.
“I have mapped out a scale, and I think we should start from the easiest and add challenges step-by-step…”
This caused Xu Ke to gasp. He could not picture how the suggestions in the booklet were “elementary…” How intense was her original scheme? Was she trying to strain the men to death?
“That is a desirable strategy,” Xu Ke replied, adding, “A strong grown up can usually weigh one stone, but the new servants are either too young or too weak. We must alter the program for better outcomes.”
