Eighth Princes' Competition
Yunji disliked such occasions the most.
The imperial princes' competition, ostensibly a contest of skills, was in reality a means of placing the imperial children under the public eye, subject to judgment and criticism. He had been trapped in this gilded cage since childhood. Excellence inevitably drew the jealousy and ostracism of his elder brothers; mediocrity would be condemned by his father as negligence and secretly looked down upon by the officials. He was intimately familiar with this dilemma. He knew his fate was to be a lonely prince. Each prince had his own mother present, while he would only bring one or two attendants, making his presence meaningless. This time, he would be merely a foil to his brothers. Even with his literary and martial talents, moderation was the way to navigate the world.
In the hazy darkness, he sat alone at a table in the courtyard, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the pages of a book. It was a volume of *The Art of War* by Sun Tzu, with a few pages of specially made white deer-patterned paper tucked between the pages—pages of unblemished white deer paper bestowed upon him by his father the previous month for his outstanding performance in the essay competition, now slightly crumpled and flattened against the book. This reminded him of a name: "Huairou" (meaning "gentle and kind"). He was usually a recluse, with few friends. His surroundings were mostly servants, a habit he had grown accustomed to over the years. He had once envied the students of Qingshan Academy, surrounded by many classmates, free from the constraints of status, discussing history and current events with like-minded friends, each expressing their own opinions. It was far better than spending his days with his brothers, feeling neither joy nor sorrow, neither contention nor utterance.
Ever since his chance encounter with Huairou, Yunji's heart felt as if bathed in moonlight. This young woman was about his age, with a lovely face and kind eyes. If it weren't for this, he would surely have been angry if she had dared to mention his mother. But he was alone and helpless in the palace; everyone in the court knew that the Seventh Prince had lost his mother at a young age. His mother was an unattainable phantom in his heart; she lived in the stories of others, in his father's own dreams, but never in his own life. The name "Huairou" surfaced inadvertently in his mind, like a dewdrop rolling on a lotus leaf in a pond, clear and fleeting. The gentleness and concern in her eyes warmed this prince, accustomed to solitude. Yunji's mind wandered, and he remained awake, working at his desk.
The next morning, "Your Highness, the time is approaching," a eunuch gently reminded him, waking him from his sweet dreams.
Yunji rose and allowed his attendants to help him change into a silver-white riding and archery uniform. The fabric was embroidered with subtle patterns in the same color silk thread, shimmering faintly in the morning light. This exquisite craftsmanship, ironically, became an invisible shackle.
Meanwhile, Huairou was passing through the palace gates with her brother.
Today, she specially chose a moon-white brocade dress with cloud patterns, and only a white jade hairpin in her hair. The tassels swayed gently as she walked, neither impolite nor overly ostentatious. Qi Yu was dressed in a dark-colored military officer's uniform, with a long sword at his waist, exuding both martial prowess and scholarly elegance.
"Girl, there are many rules in the palace, so stay close to me." Qi Yu whispered his instructions, but his eyes were fixed on the commotion in the training ground in the distance.
Huairou softly agreed, but her thoughts had already drifted to that aloof figure. Ever since their meeting in the flower hall that day, she had been pondering how to meet the Seventh Prince, how to avoid appearing deliberate, and how to make him remember her. This kind of thinking felt unfamiliar even to herself.
On that day, the princes' martial arts competition was a lively affair. Banners fluttered and armor gleamed in the arena. The Emperor sat atop a high platform, and all the princes were present, some eager to compete, others standing quietly to the side. Their mothers watched intently, anticipating their children's triumphant achievements. All civil and military officials of the third rank and above were allowed to watch. Huairou had also come with her brother. Uninterested in the initial formalities, Huairou observed each guest, searching for Yunji's shadow, looking for an opportunity to speak with him.
Huairou's gaze searched carefully through the crowd, finally finding Yunji in a quiet corner. He stood alone under an ancient cypress tree, his figure upright yet exuding loneliness. Compared to the other princes who were surrounded by attendants and their attentive mothers, he was accompanied only by two eunuchs, appearing exceptionally desolate.
The first competition was horseback archery, the second was swordsmanship, the third was Cuju (ancient Chinese football), and the fourth was polo.
"Thump—"
The war drums sounded, and the competition officially began. Yunji, dressed in a silver-white battle robe, skillfully mounted his horse, which then trotted into the arena.
The first event was horseback archery. The princes galloped on their horses, each arrow hitting its mark perfectly. The Second Prince, An Tai, took the lead, every arrow striking the bullseye, earning cheers from the crowd. The Fourth Prince, Ying Qi, moved with measured pace, his archery precise yet understated. When it was Yun Ji's turn, he drew his bow and fired three arrows in quick succession, all hitting the bullseye, but deliberately avoiding the very center.
Huairou saw this and understood—this just-right performance, neither too outstanding nor falling behind others, was the wisdom he had to establish himself in the palace.
The ensuing swordplay competitions were even more spectacular. In the Cuju and Polo matches, Qi Yu, as one of the most outstanding young generals, was also invited to spar with the princes. His swordsmanship was sharp and his movements agile; when sparring with the Second Prince, he neither lost ground nor failed to yield when necessary, demonstrating perfect control of the situation.
"General Qi Yu truly lives up to his reputation," an official beside him murmured in admiration.
Watching her brother's effortless movements on the field, and seeing his dashing figure as he skillfully commanded his horse, Huairou couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. She thought to herself, "If only Binghui had half of my brother's flair," and cheered him on.
The most eye-catching event was undoubtedly the polo match. This was the highlight of the entire competition, testing not only horsemanship but also teamwork. Yunji's mount was clean and swift, in no way inferior to the other princes. Huairou's heart tightened as Yunji participated; he was a clear-eyed and stubborn young man, his unwillingness never showing on his face. Huairou didn't care about the outcome of the match; she only cared that Yunji didn't get injured.
Some people were extremely concerned about the outcome of the match. The princes' competition was a golden opportunity to establish their prestige, gain the emperor's approval, and win the praise of the officials. An Tai, Ying Qi, and Ren Heng were secretly competing with each other, while the military officers on the field tacitly tried to pass the ball to their favorite prince.
In the individual matches, Yunji calmly completed his game, stopping short of anything. In the group matches, however, Yunji was sidelined. From the start, the competition was fierce. The Second Prince and the Fourth Prince each led a team, their clubs clashing, horses' hooves thundering. Yunji's team was clearly at a disadvantage; the ball was consistently avoided, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally. Occasionally, the ball would reach him, but the timing was always tricky, making it difficult to receive.
Huairou watched as Yunji chased after him on horseback time and time again, only to be forced to evade him each time. A hint of forbearance flashed in her clear eyes.
Suddenly, a tricky pass came straight at Yunji. Just as he was about to swing his staff, two horses suddenly rushed out from the side, flanking him on the left and right. The horses were startled, their front hooves rearing up, and it looked like they were about to throw him off their backs.
A gasp rippled through the audience.
In the nick of time, a figure in dark robes galloped in. Qi Yu spurred her horse into the arena, and just as Yunji was about to fall, she reached out and gently tossed him onto her own horse. The startled horse charged towards the edge of the arena, neighing, causing a stir in the stands. Her brother's horse stopped in front of Huairou, calling out "Huairou," before hurrying away. Huairou understood immediately; her gentle and skillful nature as a mother was well-versed in the ways of the world. Seeing that Yunji was unharmed, she didn't rush to help him up. Instead, she lifted her skirt and ran into the commotion. She had been practicing horsemanship with her brother for some time, and although she wasn't skilled in riding and archery, she knew how to train horses. She gracefully weaved through the panicked crowd, seized the opportunity, pulled on the reins, and softly soothed the startled horse.
"Good horse, don't be afraid..." Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, but the strength in her hands was not to be underestimated. The horse gradually calmed down and obediently let her lead it.
A moment later, she led the frightened horse back to Yunji's side, handed him the reins, and looked at him intently. "Your Highness," Huairou said, "Your horse is a fine warhorse." Yunji never expected that seeing Huairou again would involve taking the reins from her. He smiled gently at Huairou, then leaped onto his horse and rode straight to the racetrack.
The match ended in a tense atmosphere. The Second Prince's team won, and he proudly accepted everyone's congratulations. Yunji stood quietly to the side, as if the thrilling moment had never happened.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Huairou walked away with the flow of people, feeling a little lost. The meeting had been too hasty; she hadn't even had a chance to say a few words to him.
Just as she was lost in thought, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind her. Turning around, she saw Qi Yu and Yun Ji riding side by side, reining in their horses in front of her.
"Miss Huairou, please wait!" Huairou looked up and saw her brother and Yunji dismounting and standing close before her. Their teenage faces were bright and pure. Qi Yu also dismounted, smiling as he patted his sister's shoulder: "His Highness the Seventh Prince came specifically to thank you."
Yunji cupped his hands in greeting and said sincerely, "Yunji has come to thank you, young lady. Last time you helped me pick up the paper and paperweight, and this time you helped me find my frightened horse. I never imagined that you were Minister Guo's daughter and General Qi Yu's sister."
Huairou curtsied in return, her eyes clear as she looked up: "Your Highness is too kind; it was nothing at all."
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell on the two of them, creating an indescribable harmony.
Seeing this, Qi Yu adopted a soldier's crispness and said, "Your Highness and my sister are destined to be together. My sister is exceptionally intelligent and devoted to literature. To be honest, I do have a request for Your Highness." Seeing the Seventh Prince nod slightly, Qi Yu continued, "Your Highness and my sister are indeed destined to be together. Huairou is exceptionally intelligent and devoted to literature, and will soon be participating in the imperial examination. If she is fortunate enough to be selected as a first-class candidate, I hope Your Highness will offer her guidance."
Upon hearing this, Yunji paused for a moment, a barely perceptible sigh escaping his lips. He mounted his horse, gestured to Qi Yu to take his leave, and as his gaze swept over Huairou, he whispered to her, "Don't bury the young lady's potential," before riding away into the distance...
These words, like a feather, gently landed on Huairou's heart. She stared blankly at the departing figure, the silver riding attire gleaming softly in the setting sun.
On the carriage back to the manor, Huairou remained silent. Dusk deepened outside the window, and the lights of the streets lit up one by one, reflecting on her thoughtful face.
"Don't let the girl's talent go to waste, don't let the girl's talent go to waste..."
Did Yunji agree or not? Huairou pondered this question several times after returning home, unable to understand his meaning.
Seeing his sister lost in thought, Qi Yu assumed she was worried about the Seventh Prince's attitude and gently comforted her, "That's just the Seventh Prince's nature; you don't need to worry about it too much."
Huairou gently shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. She lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the majestic palace walls in the distance. In the twilight, the resplendent golden buildings resembled a lurking beast, and the aloof young man walked alone within them.
A surge of courage welled up within Huairou. This bright young man, with his clear eyes and white teeth, was in the prime of his youth, just like her own son. Since fate had brought her back to him, what did it matter if she retrieved her pen and ink, or led back her warhorse… What she wanted to protect was a complete life.
This was not an impulsive decision, but a well-considered one. Things were different now; with Guo Huairou's status and Ji Moli's wisdom, she was not without achievement. The imperial examination was her best chance to get closer to Yunji, and she was determined to seize it no matter what.
As night deepened, the lanterns at the General's Mansion swayed gently in the breeze. Huairou alighted from the carriage and looked up at the starry sky. The stars were exceptionally bright tonight, as if guiding her.
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