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◎She was only nine years old, and she didn't blame him for being frivolous!◎
Stepping into the designated fighting arena, Yuan Chongli bent his waist slightly, clenched his fists, and stared at Zhang Su opposite him with fierce eyes.
Zhang Su's figure was as firm as a pine tree, his features calm.
Qingyang, feeling nervous, suddenly heard Duke Dingguo Deng Chong scoff, "Look at this kid from the Zhang family. He's just like his father. White face and red lips. He doesn't look like a warrior at all."
The little princess, standing before her father, supported by her shoulders, turned her head and saw Deng Chong tilting his head toward Uncle Wang. Uncle Wang also tilted his head toward Deng Chong. He sized up Zhang Su in the room and muttered, "Yeah, I can't stand him. He looks delicate, speaks delicately, and acts delicately. It's obvious he's not our kind."
Immediately afterwards, the emperor's cold sneer echoed from above: "We are indeed not of the same kind. Zhang Su grew out of jade, and you two sprang from mud."
Zhang Su, Yuan Chongli, and the young men standing on the opposite side watching who were already fighting in the field could not hear the noise here, but the important ministers around Emperor Xingwu and behind him all heard it.
Prime Ministers Yan Xizheng and Dai Lun looked straight ahead as if concentrating on watching the military action. Civil officials including Imperial Censor Nie Ao and Minister of Personnel Yang Zhimin pretended not to hear anything. Duke Chengguo Lü Guangzu shook his head helplessly. Commander of the Imperial Guards Fan Zhong laughed foolishly after the emperor spoke. Lü Zan, Marquis of Weiyuan Meng Ji and Commander of the Imperial Army Xue Ye all remained silent.
Prince Yong was Emperor Xingwu's younger brother, but the two brothers were eight years apart in age. Prince Yong was taken care of by his brother since he was a child, and he did not dare to talk back immediately when he was scolded.
Deng Chong, however, had grown up with Emperor Xingwu and had even joined him in his rebellion. In fact, Emperor Xingwu treated him more favorably than Prince Yong, so Deng Chong dared to retort with a playful smile, "Your servants know that Your Majesty admires the Zhang family, a family of renowned generals. But Your Majesty shouldn't speak ill of you and me like that. After all, we're from the same place as Your Majesty."
Prince Yong nodded secretly.
Emperor Xingwu: "In terms of origin, the ancestors of all the famous families in the world may have been peasants. There is nothing wrong with being a peasant. But if a peasant encounters a good opportunity and can clearly learn etiquette but still retains the bad habits of his peasant days and is complacent and not ashamed, then don't blame others for looking down on him."
Deng Chong blushed, and Prince Yong blushed with him.
Lu Guangzu stepped in to smooth things over, saying with a smile, "I suffered from not liking to study. Furthermore, when I was young, the world was in turmoil, so I really didn't have the conditions to calm down and study. Fortunately, the emperor has promoted me and given me wealth and honor, allowing my children and grandchildren to devote themselves to studying and learning etiquette. Now, they are better at treating people than our elders."
Yang Zhimin said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Those present today are all familiar faces we've dealt with for over twenty years. The Prince and Lord Deng were able to relax and exchange a few harmless jokes. In fact, in front of the officials and soldiers outside, the Prince and Lord Deng have always kept the Emperor's teachings in mind, acting with caution and knowing when to advance and retreat, demonstrating the noble demeanor and demeanor of the current dynasty."
Fan Zhong: "Especially the prince, he looks so dignified that he looks like a nobleman standing there, not like a minister. With his appearance, even if he is favored by the emperor and appointed as a high-ranking official of the second rank, if he changes his clothes and is thrown into a crowd, he will look like a rough and tumble thug."
Emperor Xingwu: "Okay, look ahead, it's almost over."
"So fast?" King Yong looked forward in surprise.
Everyone just watched for a few more breaths. As Zhang Su blocked Yuan Chongli's left and right punches in succession, and hit Yuan Chongli in the abdomen before Yuan Chongli could counterattack, causing Yuan Chongli to fall to the ground holding his stomach. This competition, which lasted for no more than half a quarter of an hour, was really over.
Fan Zhong shouted "Good", Prince Yong and Deng Chong were stunned. Yuan Chongli, who was kneeling on the ground in so much pain that he could hardly straighten his back, was also full of disbelief. He raised his head and stared at Zhang Su with all his might, enduring the pain.
Zhang Su bowed, lowered his eyes and said, "Thank you."
Yuan Chongli: “…”
Deng Chong was surprised and asked, "Zhang Su, you are three years younger than Yuan Chongli, right? How come you are so powerful?"
Zhang Su turned and explained to Emperor Xingwu and his ministers, "If this were just my first meeting with Young Master Yuan, I wouldn't necessarily be confident of defeating him. However, we've practiced martial arts together in the palace for many years. I've always watched Young Master Yuan and the Second Prince spar. With Master Wu's constant guidance, I've memorized Young Master Yuan's defensive habits."
Deng Chong carefully looked at the young man from the Zhang family, who was almost as tall as him, and became interested: "Good job, practice with me later."
Zhang Su: "I dare not."
Lü Guangzu: "Young men, let's compete and spar. If you feel like fighting, go find Lü Zan and Fan Zhong. Don't bully the children."
Deng Chong: "I like him. I wouldn't bother teaching other kids."
Emperor Xingwu glared at him and asked Zhang Su and Yuan Chongli to step aside and watch the next group of men compete.
Qingyang first looked at Yuan Chongli for a while, and seeing him slowly stand up straight, she guessed that he was fine. Then she looked at Zhang Su, who was two or three feet away. It turned out that Zhang Su was concentrating on watching the two people fighting and still didn't look at her.
The seven winners of the first round were announced. In the second round, Qin Ren rejoined the draw and the one he drew was Qin Bing.
Qin Ren looked at his father pleadingly: "I know my martial arts skills are not as good as my second brother's. Can I admit defeat?"
Emperor Xingwu waved his hand in disdain.
From eight to four, from four to two, it was finally Zhang Su and Qin Bing's turn to compete.
Emperor Xingwu gently patted his daughter's shoulder and asked, "Lin'er, who do you think will win?"
Qingyang didn't know that in martial arts classes, the three royal brothers practiced with their respective study partners and never exchanged sparring partners.
Emperor Xingwu laughed and said, "Father, I guess your second brother wins."
Qingyang couldn't tell whether she should be happy or unhappy. She wanted her second brother to win, but she also seemed to hope that Zhang Su would win.
This was the longest fight. The two young men of equal height fought like tigers and leopards for about quarter of an hour. Only then did Zhang Su quickly step back and admit defeat after being punched on the right shoulder.
Qin Bing glared: "You lost already? You're not letting me go on purpose, are you?"
Zhang Su: "I dare not. It is because I have unbearable pain in my right shoulder. Fighting any further will only aggravate the injury. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Qin Bing's arms were also numb, and he shook them and said, "Okay, let's stop here for today. I'll find you next time to spar."
At this point, today's competition is over.
There were three games in total, and the top three in each game received rewards from Emperor Xingwu. Emperor Xingwu encouraged all the men again and then left with a group of ministers.
Qingyang stayed with his third brother, while Qin Ren stayed to care about Zhang Su.
"Is the pain really unbearable?" Qin Ren looked at his good brother's right shoulder, which had been hit hard, wanting to touch it but not daring to. "Shall I ask the imperial physician to take a look at you?"
The little princess was standing next to the Third Prince. Zhang Su couldn't lower his eyes anymore and said to the Third Prince's shoulder, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. However, I have some blood-clearing medicine ready, so there's no need to bother the Imperial Physician."
While they were talking, Yuan Chongli said goodbye to Qin Bing and walked quickly towards the official residence. Qin Bing sighed, glanced at his younger brother and sister Zhang Su, who had been together with him all day, and then he took a dozen other young men and headed towards the mountains in the west.
Zhang Su bowed to Qin Ren and said, "If Your Highness has no other instructions, I will go back and apply the medicine."
Qin Ren: "Go ahead, I'll come see you this afternoon."
Zhang Su thanked him, took two steps back and was about to turn around.
Qingyang couldn't hold it in any longer and said angrily, "Stop."
Zhang Su paused.
Qingyang walked up to him and looked up into his eyes: "It's been so long since we last met, don't you miss me?"
Zhang Su: “…”
Qin Ren smiled and said, "Don't panic. My sister means she misses you as a playmate. I haven't seen you for a month. I miss you and me. I miss both of us."
Zhang Su: "...We are both in the temporary palace. Although we haven't seen each other for a month, I know that both Your Highnesses are well, so I have been concentrating on my studies with few distractions."
Qingyang, Qin Ren: "..."
Zhang Su bowed one last time and left quickly, but he still heard the little princess's annoyed voice: "Third brother, look, he doesn't think about us at all."
The Third Prince: "No, Zhang Su is just too reserved. He must have thought about it, but he is just too embarrassed to say it."
Little Princess: "He didn't look at me either."
The Third Prince: "That's normal. He doesn't usually look at me. His mouth and eyes are very reserved."
Zhang Su walked faster.
.
Qin Ren was worried about his good brother's shoulder injury, and the unrestrained little princess was also worried about Zhang Su's shoulder injury. After the break, she came to find her third brother and wanted to visit Zhang Su with her third brother. She also asked Jie Yu to prepare a box and two porcelain bottles of blood-removing plasters.
Qin Ren: "You took it, so I won't take mine. I'll keep it for myself."
Mr. Wu didn't dare to hit him for being lazy, but he often hit him hard in the name of giving him instructions, causing him to either have sore shoulders or arms and legs.
After getting ready, the brother and sister went to the official residence side by side.
This time there was no need for a palace servant to lead the way. Qingyang led his third brother to the courtyard of the Zhang brothers, but unlike last time, the gate of the courtyard was bolted.
Qin Ren asked Fu'an to knock on the door.
Zhang Heng was still working in the military camp outside. Zhang Su came out by himself. When he approached the gate, he saw the little princess standing next to the third prince through the crack in the door. Zhang Su suddenly felt a headache.
According to etiquette, Zhang Su invited the brother and sister into the main hall. A set of tea sets was placed on the table. Zhang Su asked, "Would your highnesses like some tea?"
Qin Ren: "No, I mainly want to check your injuries, otherwise I'm worried."
After saying that, he asked his sister to sit outside and wait while he pushed Zhang Su to the west room.
Qingyang looked at Zhang Su, who was still facing sideways towards her, but the little princess had sharp eyes and noticed that Zhang Su's earlobes had turned noticeably red before he followed his third brother into the west room.
The little princess, who had attended four wedding banquets hosted by Zhang Su's two brothers as well as her own elder sister and elder brother, had long understood that blushing meant shyness.
The last time she hid outside the window and saw Zhang Su changing clothes, his face and ears blushed with embarrassment.
"Why close the door?"
Qingyang's attention was drawn back by his third brother's voice. He looked at the door of the west room and indeed heard a short sound of the bolt closing.
Jie Yu bent down, approached the little princess and said, "Once bitten by a snake, one will be afraid of ropes for ten years. The Third Young Master was frightened by the prank played by His Highness last time."
Qingyang: "...I didn't do it on purpose last time, and I certainly won't run in to see him this time even though I know he's about to take off his clothes."
Xie Yu smiled, "Your Highness is still young and can treat the Third Young Master as a playmate. The Third Young Master has grown up. He is so cautious to keep his distance from Your Highness. Ultimately, it is for Your Highness's sake. He is afraid that he will damage Your Highness's reputation. He dare not peek at Your Highness today because he is afraid that Your Highness will suddenly bring up the past and be angry with him for accidentally polluting his eyes that day."
Qingyang: “…”
She was only nine years old. At most, she thought that he was very white, had broad shoulders and a nice waistline, but she didn't blame him for being frivolous. Why did Zhang Su think so much?
【Author’s words】
Here they come, 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
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