"Yun Shu, it's been a while since I've seen you. You seem to have gained weight."
"Brother Wu, why don't you stop being the Crown Prince's lackey and come here to have some fun today?"
"Young Master Beichen, you'll be taking the county and prefectural examinations next year, right? You're sure to be the top scorer!"
"Aren't you just stating the obvious? Who can compare to Young Master Bei Chen?"
A few older-looking people squeezed to the very back, and they were the ones talking to Yun Shu and the other two. Some of the others knew who they were and wanted to squeeze in, while others simply wanted to watch the excitement and join in.
"I eat and drink well in the East Palace, so it's only natural that I've gained weight. Every inch of flesh on my body has grown through my own efforts!" Yun Shu said with considerable pride.
"It's our honor to be His Highness the Crown Prince's follower. You wouldn't even be able to do it if you wanted to!" This was Wu Zemin's response to the sarcastic person.
“We can understand why the Crown Prince chose Brother Wu and Young Master Beichen as his study companions, but why did he choose you? Besides your physique, what do you have that can compare to ours?!” someone said indignantly.
"Aren't you jealous of me? Even with all this fat, His Highness the Crown Prince still likes me very much!" Yun Shu was even more smug!
“I heard my father say that it was because he tampered with the portrait he sent to the palace, deliberately making you look very thin, that you were chosen!” a kid shouted.
"The Marquis of Zhongyong has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, yet His Majesty and His Highness have not held it against him. They are truly magnanimous!" someone immediately chimed in.
"Don't talk nonsense, you're just sour grapes! Your portraits are very realistic, but His Highness the Crown Prince still didn't take a liking to them, did he?" Yun Shu mocked.
"Yun Shu, be careful what you say!" Wu Zemin whispered a reminder to him.
His Highness the Crown Prince isn't choosing a consort, so why keep bringing up portraits?
"Today is the Princess's birthday, and Beichen Palace is holding an autumn banquet. You few have close relationships with the princes and princesses, so how come you couldn't get a seat at the banquet?"
"Yes, today is a great opportunity to make a name for ourselves!"
“Be careful what you say! The Autumn Banquet is for women; how can we offend them?” Wu Zemin said sternly.
"The Crown Prince has four attendants, so why isn't the young heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion with you? Did he go to the Autumn Banquet?" someone speculated.
"It's not impossible, that young prince is of noble birth—"
"Our Young Master Beichen's status is not bad either!"
"Is Young Master Zeming's status really that low?"
......
"What are you looking at?" Xie Chang'an asked, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
So many children are mimicking adults' speech, chattering away, it's so noisy!
Ye Jingchen kept moving forward, but what was the reason for that excited expression on his face?
"Bei Chen and Ze Ming are quite popular among the kids, and Yun Shu is good too," Ye Jingchen commented as he watched.
"Are you too free today?" Xie Chang'an asked, somewhat speechless.
"They don't have to go to school, so they're really free!" Ye Jingchen said while watching the commotion.
Xie Chang'an: ......
He thought Ye Jingchen was up to something again, which was why he had been holding back until now. He never expected that Ye Jingchen just wanted to watch the show!
Ye Jingchen is free, but he's not free either; he's busy!
He flung Ye Jingchen's hand away and turned to leave.
"Hey—where are you going? Don't get lost!" Ye Jingchen quickly stopped him.
"I got lost? Are you an idiot?" Xie Chang'an looked at Ye Jingchen with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot.
"Xie Chang'an, how dare you!" Ye Jingchen wasn't angry yet, but Ye Jinghe was already furious. He glared coldly at Xie Chang'an, looking ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
"I'm busy, I don't have time to waste with you!" Xie Chang'an said to Ye Jingchen, ignoring Ye Jinghe.
"A balance between work and rest is essential for achieving twice the results with half the effort. You still need to rest when you need to. Doesn't looking at these real little brats make you feel better?" Ye Jingchen advised him with a smile.
"Who am I so busy for?" Xie Chang'an asked through gritted teeth.
"I told you there's no rush," Ye Jingchen said, still holding Xie Chang'an's hand tightly.
How can one person leave first during a group activity? We should always advance and retreat together!
Moreover, he wasn't just there to watch the spectacle.
Given the current official system in Dayuan, many of these youngsters present will become his subjects in twenty or thirty years. It is said that you can see a person's future from the age of three, so he naturally wants to observe their character first.
"Why is everyone circling around those three? They are the Crown Prince's study companions, but we are no less capable. Who among us who can come to this Western Hill Palace doesn't have a distinguished background? Why don't we have a contest of riding, archery, cuju (ancient Chinese football), and pitch-pot skills, and see who is truly the best?!" Ye Jingchen said loudly.
The people surrounding Yun Shu and the others were drawn to his words and immediately looked at him.
"Who are you from? I haven't seen you at the palace these past few days," a child asked Ye Jingchen and his group, looking at them with a puzzled expression.
"That's a good suggestion. Is there anyone who dares to challenge us?"
Instantly understanding what Ye Jingchen wanted to do, and without giving anyone time or opportunity to doubt, Wu Zemin politely asked.
As Ye Jingchen said, who among those who can come to this Xishan Palace doesn't have a distinguished background? The fact that he is merely a tutor to the Crown Prince is not enough to suppress the other children.
If we were to compare it to writing an essay, with a prodigy like Gu Beichen present, perhaps no one would want to humiliate themselves. But when it comes to horsemanship, archery, football, and pitch-pot, which of the noble sons present would be willing to easily admit defeat?
"A competition is great! It's been a long time since I've played with you guys!" Yun Shu chimed in, joining in the cheering.
Actually, kids their age used to play together, and at most they would play tag or hide-and-seek. Riding, archery, football, and pitch-pot were games for older kids.
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