Chapter 10

◎A touch of tenderness and compassion for beautiful women◎

"Miss, this Third Prince is really overestimating me!"

"Saying you're too busy with official duties to attend to personal matters, ha!"

Woyu poured wine for Xie Yutang and, when talking about how Huaijin's letter was rejected yesterday, he was still resentful.

She had long harbored resentment towards the Third Prince's attitude towards her young mistress, but in the past, her young mistress had always been very attentive to him and wouldn't tolerate anyone else saying a word.

It's just that Xie Yutang suddenly changed her attitude, and with the contrast of Su Lu, Woyu was so blatant in gossiping in front of her young lady.

Xie Yutang, however, seemed to have expected this, twirling the wine glass in his hand.

Today, she asked Woyu to bring out all the wine from the storeroom, and they tasted it one cup at a time.

The wine in the glass was a bright orange color. She took a sip, squinted her eyes, and said, "This wine brewed in Jiuquan is still the best."

Woyu, however, showed no interest in flattery whatsoever: "Miss, what time is it? You still have the mind to drink?"

Xie Yutang chuckled and finished the rest of her wine. Seeing that Woyu was getting impatient, she slowly said, "Actually, I expected him to refuse, and I was waiting for him to refuse."

"If Lin Tan really agrees, it will be difficult for me to handle the situation."

Woyu was taken aback and looked at Xie Yutang with confusion.

"You don't really think that if he agrees to go to the Lantern Festival, he'll skip the martial arts test during the day, do you?"

"Isn't that so? His Highness's travels are no small matter; he has a large retinue and needs to be prepared well in advance. Could it be that he..."

"He actually said he would participate in the martial arts test and then come with me to the lantern festival in the evening."

Xie Yutang lowered his eyes to look at the wine in his glass.

"He'll make me wait as long as the martial arts test ends. At worst, he'll say some sweet words. Anyway, there's nothing I can do about it."

"That's just how cheap I am."

"……Miss."

Woyu was speechless, staring at her in disbelief.

“He is very concerned about his image. I had previously neglected him, and now that he finally has a chance to turn the tables, he naturally has to make the most of it.”

Xie Yutang placed the wine glass on the table and curled the corners of his lips into a smile.

"Then I will do as he wishes and chase after him in front of everyone."

On the day of the Lantern Festival, after noon, Princess Ning'an's carriage openly drove into the martial arts training ground. The guards of the patrol camp stopped the carriage, but Huai Jin lifted the curtain and nodded slightly to the guards below. She spoke softly, "Princess, you have come today for the Third Prince, just to attend the Lantern Festival tonight. I hope you will be accommodating and not delay the friendship between you and the Third Prince."

These words sounded polite and gentle, but in reality, every sentence was witty and pointed—everyone under the emperor's nose knew that Princess Ning'an was deeply in love with the Third Prince, and no one dared to take the blame for obstructing the young couple's meeting.

Sure enough, after a slight hesitation, the guard bowed and politely invited Xie Yutang's carriage in.

Woyu helped Xie Yutang down from the carriage.

Miss is wearing a brocade dress with auspicious cloud patterns and four auspicious symbols today. Her hair is styled in the "Chang Le" bun, and she wears a silver lotus flower hairpin. It is an extremely elaborate outfit. If it were an ordinary woman, her makeup would overwhelm her and become gaudy.

But when it came to Xie Yutang, it brought out the spirit in her bones, making her bright and elegant, naturally charming and incomparably noble.

The soldiers of the patrol battalion were all tough guys who had fought their way through real battles; they had never seen such a stunningly beautiful face before.

The moment Xie Yutang looked up from behind the carriage curtain, everyone gasped, stunned by her breathtaking beauty.

The entire room fell silent.

Lin Tan sat at the head of the table. When he saw Xie Yutang wearing red, the color he hated the most, his eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions. There was displeasure, amazement at Xie Yutang's beauty, greed for what he was determined to have, and the smug satisfaction of his vanity being thoroughly satisfied.

Princess Ning'an, the most arrogant and favored princess in all of Da Yan, is so infatuated with him that she has followed him all the way here.

Woyu, who was helping her young mistress walk to the head of the table, was disgusted by this smugness.

Thinking of how Miss talked about this scoundrel yesterday, her tone was full of calm analysis and calculation, without the slightest emotional fluctuation of self-pity, Wo Yu felt a little better and more confident. She glared at Lin Tan with eyes like daggers.

Lin Tan paused in his folding fan, then smiled nonchalantly.

His Tangtang is indeed petty; even the maids around him are trying to dictate his behavior.

Xie Yutang came uninvited. Although no one spoke, everyone secretly observed Lin Tan's expression.

After figuring out his superior's intentions, Wei Xianxi greeted Xie Yutang with a smile and instructed his subordinates to add a seat, which was placed next to Lin Tan.

The martial artists participating in the competition had been waiting at the venue for a long time, and Xie Yutang spotted Su Lu at a glance.

That person was truly outstanding.

Even dressed in the same dark-colored, patterned, narrow-sleeved uniform as the visiting camp, standing there quietly without doing anything, one would stand out so much that one could not ignore them.

Whether it's her looks, figure, demeanor, or temperament, she is so clean and beautiful that it makes people feel ashamed of themselves.

Xie Yutang's gaze lingered briefly before subtly shifting away.

Woyu stepped forward, bowed to the person below the stage, and said loudly:

"Miss, having heard that today is the grand martial arts competition of the patrol battalion, has specially gifted two hundred jars of fine wine—Jiuquan Brew—to add to the festivities!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another cheer erupted from the audience.

Legend has it that General Huo Qubing led 10,000 cavalrymen out of Longxi, fought across five kingdoms in Hexi, and annihilated more than 30,000 enemy soldiers, achieving a great victory. Emperor Wu of Han bestowed a jar of wine upon Huo Qubing as a reward, but Huo Qubing felt that this was not solely due to his own merit, so he poured the wine into the Wine Spring and drank it with his generals and soldiers.

Moved by this anecdote, the late Emperor of Da Yan bestowed upon the wine brewed with Jiuquan water the name Jiuquan Brew.

The wine, personally inscribed by the late emperor, is extremely precious. Ordinary officials could only drink it when they entered the palace for banquets on holidays. Now, Princess Ning'an has generously provided two hundred jars.

This clearly demonstrates the extent of the honor and favor bestowed upon him.

Xie Yutang stood up and poured the wine in his cup onto the ground: "Drink from the spring, draw your sword, I wish you great success and to win first place!"

The sound wasn't loud, but amplified by internal energy, it resounded clearly throughout the entire patrol camp's training ground.

The soldiers gasped for breath, and the applause and cheers continued for a long time.

Xie Yutang flicked his embroidered robe and sat down calmly. He looked up at Lin Tan beside him and said, "Your Highness, since we are honored to have you here for this martial arts competition, why don't you also bring out a treasure to add a prize to the winner?"

Lin Tan hadn't seen Xie Yutang for a long time, and Xie Yutang's captivating beauty made Lin Tan secretly startled, and her Adam's apple bobbed.

Even though he knew that the other party was asking him for a reward in this setting because they knew he couldn't refuse, he still smiled willingly and said, "In that case, bring me the gold Pixiu ornament that I recently acquired."

This Pixiu is made of pure gold and is quite expensive, so it's reasonable to give it as a reward to the winner of the martial arts test.

Before Xiao Fuzi could respond, Xie Yutang said, "It is certainly a glorious thing to be the first in the martial arts competition and receive a reward from the Third Prince. But the Third Prince only gave us an ornament, which we can only keep at home to admire in solitude. It is like wearing fine clothes in the dark. What a pity. Don't you all agree?"

She was already exceptionally beautiful and captivating, winning the favor of the generals in just one meeting. Now, her words were reasonable and persuasive, and everyone applauded her as soon as she finished speaking.

Lin Tan tapped her folding fan against her palm: "In that case, what suggestions does Your Highness have?"

Xie Yutang had been waiting for this very sentence, and without beating around the bush, he said, "I've heard that His Highness the Third Prince's treasure pavilion houses all the world's finest treasures, including the famous sword Xuanjian. His Highness the Crown Prince has always been kind and benevolent, and has not been particularly interested in swordsmanship—as the saying goes, a famous sword is a match for a hero. Why don't His Highness the Third Prince set Xuanjian as the first prize in this martial arts competition?"

Another murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.

No martial artist is unaware of Xuanjian, a sword said to be one of the eight long swords of King Goujian of Yue. It can cut through gold and jade and is a famous sword in the Hundred Weapons Manual.

So that's where he was waiting.

Lin Tanxin understood immediately; she really hadn't gotten over Su Lu, that pretty boy.

Their eyes met for a moment, then Lin Tan suddenly smiled, unfurling his fan and striking at the crowd below. "Since Princess Ning'an has spoken thus, how could I possibly dampen her spirits?"

"Someone, go and fetch the hanging blade."

All the soldiers applauded and cheered, and everyone was eager to fight, their fighting spirit ignited.

"Are you sure everything is arranged?"

Taking advantage of the cheers, Lin Tan quietly asked Xiao Fuzi next to her as she sat down.

Xiao Fuzi, of course, knew what Lin Tan was asking, and bowed his head, saying:

"Your Highness, everything is in order and without any problems."

Lin Tan nodded.

Xie Yutang guessed correctly; this martial arts test was indeed aimed at Su Lu.

This little bastard is usually quiet, but I never expected him to become so skilled after hooking up with Xie Yutang.

He wanted to take this opportunity to humiliate that little bastard in front of everyone, so that Xie Yutang could see clearly who she should choose.

As for the hanging sword... well, it's given away. Anyway, that little bastard surnamed Su will never get it.

The two large drums on both sides sounded three times, and the martial arts test officially began.

The first to step up was a burly man who quickly dispatched his opponent.

The rules of the martial arts test state that the winner can choose any opponent. The big man scanned the crowd below the stage and pointed at Su Lu: "You're the one."

A chorus of boos erupted from below.

"Old Li, aren't you ashamed of yourself?!"

"Exactly, pick a pretty boy."

"Their eating manners are so unsightly."

"Just say you want to win."

Old Li wiped his nose: "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and come up."

Do you really think he wanted to? It's just that the higher-ups gave the order. This kid looks so delicate and tender, like a virgin who just came out of a brothel.

Forced to choose this opponent, Old Li felt ashamed: "I advise you to admit defeat quickly, so that others won't say that I only pick on the weak."

The people around him chimed in, "Yeah, let's just admit defeat."

"It's shameful to knock someone down with a slap."

Do you think he might cry?

"Old Li, don't slap him in the face, give him some face."

Su Lu ignored him, blinked her long, thick eyelashes, and walked obediently up the stairs to the competition platform.

These martial arts practitioners are all somewhat competitive, and even when they go on stage, they do it in a flashy way, using all sorts of moves and footwork, trying to show off in every way possible. Now, seeing someone walking up the stairs in a proper manner, they were all stunned for a moment, and then they all laughed.

"Good boy, I'm giving you one last chance. Admit defeat now, and I won't hurt you."

The burly man called Old Li kindly twisted his wristband.

This Su Lu was a newcomer. They had heard of his background before. He was the heir of the Muqing Prince's Mansion. His mother was a Hu dancer. He caught the eye of Princess Ning'an, Xie Yutang, with his handsome face and served her with great devotion—kneeling to serve her tea and water, making her bed and fanning her. When he was expelled, his face was still covered with the princess's handprint.

This young man surnamed Su probably knew he had fallen out of favor, so he settled down at the patrol camp and quietly did his own thing.

The patrol battalion is different from the imperial guards in the palace, who are full of rich young masters. They don't care about family background, status, or personal connections; the only criterion is strength.

If you can fight, you're the boss.

You can't fight, you should go cool off somewhere else.

Men naturally despise other men who use their looks to please others, and he had long wanted to teach that pretty boy a lesson, so he naturally wouldn't let today's opportunity pass him by.

Su Lu stood quietly in the arena. Although he wore the most ordinary black narrow-sleeved shirt of the patrol battalion, he made it look tall and elegant. The belt hooked out a section of his narrow waist, making his neck look like fine porcelain covered with a thin layer of snow.

"Old Li, be more chivalrous towards beautiful women."

Someone shouted, and a burst of laughter erupted from below.

Su Lu seemed oblivious to the jeers of the crowd, and calmly said with a fist salute, "Let's begin."