Chapter 18 Roasting a Whole Lamb to Win Over a Foodie
"Cough!" He quickly let go of her hand, gently placing Mu Yu on the ground. Then he raised his hands, looking innocently at Mu Fang, "General, I... I was just afraid the little princess would fall!"
Mu Fang didn't say anything, but walked over, hugged Mu Yu tightly, and patted off non-existent dust from her body.
Mu Yu tilted her little face up, looked at her father's taut jawline, and then at Xiao Beichen's silly grin, and made a comment in her childish voice: "Daddy, this brother's embrace isn't as hard as yours, it's all soft."
Mu Fang's expression softened slightly.
Xiao Beichen's smile widened: "The little princess likes soft things, I'll let you hold her again next time!"
Mu Fang's face darkened again.
Chu Chongjin, standing to the side, had a faint smile on his lips and said softly, "Young General Xiao is quite enthusiastic."
These eight words, though seemingly light and casual, made Xiao Beichen feel immense pressure.
He scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Your Highness flatters me. I learned it from the General: to cherish the weak!"
He abruptly changed the subject, then knelt down on one knee before Mu Fang with a thud, his expression extremely solemn: "General! This humble general has a request!"
Mu Fang, holding her daughter, looked down at him and said, "Speak."
"I have grown up listening to your stories since I was a child, and I admire you greatly! Please accept me as your disciple, General. I want to learn the true art of battlefield combat from you!" Xiao Beichen's eyes were full of sincerity and eagerness.
The martial arts passed down in the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion tend to be characterized by wide, sweeping movements, while Mu Fang's spear and saber techniques were honed in the crucible of countless battles, precise and deadly in every strike. Xiao Beichen had long wanted to learn them, but had never had the opportunity before.
Now, isn't this the perfect opportunity? We can also legitimately see the adorable little princess every day!
Mu Fang narrowed his eyes.
He saw right through this kid's scheme. Trying to use the guise of becoming his apprentice to steal his sweetheart? No way!
"My Mu family's marksmanship is not to be passed on to outsiders," Mu Fang coldly refused.
"General!" Xiao Beichen cried out anxiously, "I...I? She wanted to ride a horse, so I carried her on my back every day! She wanted to eat a whole roasted lamb, so I went to the border overnight to catch one for her! Just teach me!"
Mu Yu's eyes lit up when she heard "roasted whole lamb," and she tugged at Mu Fang's sleeve: "Daddy, is roasted whole lamb delicious?"
"It's delicious," Mu Fang said succinctly.
“Then let Brother Beichen go catch him!” Mu Yu clapped her hands and immediately took in her newly acquainted brother.
Xiao Beichen was overjoyed: "Did you hear that, General! The little princess has agreed!"
Mu Fang: "..."
How could my little foodie be so easily bribed?
Watching this lively scene unfold, Chu Yuan clapped his hands and laughed, "Haha, Minister Mu, I see that Bei Chen is a sincere young man, so please accept him. It's a good thing for a young man to have ambition!"
Even the emperor had spoken, so Mu Fang couldn't refuse outright. He pondered for a moment and said, "If you want to learn my things, you can. But not now."
Xiao Beichen's eyes lit up: "When was that?"
"When you can last a hundred moves against me, then you can come back and ask to become my disciple," Mu Fang said calmly.
A hundred moves? Xiao Beichen's face fell. He couldn't even last ten moves against General Mu. Wasn't this blatant harassment?
"General, you..."
"Unwilling?" Mu Fang raised an eyebrow.
"I'm willing! Of course I'm willing!" Xiao Beichen immediately straightened his back and shouted, "From today onwards, this humble general will aim for one hundred moves! Please wait, General!"
Chu Chongjin looked at the spirited Xiao Beichen, then at Mu Yu, who was being protected in Mu Fang's arms and was curiously poking at the seven-colored scale on the back of her hand. His eyes flickered slightly.
He stepped forward and bowed slightly to Mu Fang: "Duke Protector of the Nation, the young princess has exhausted herself today and has been frightened. It would be best if she returned to her residence to rest as soon as possible."
He then turned to Mu Yu, his voice much gentler: "The milk cake won't taste good when it's cold. Take it back to the manor and have the servants heat it up before you eat it."
Mu Yu nodded, her little hands gripping the food box tightly like a hamster guarding its food: "Thank you, Brother Jinlong, I'll eat it when I get back!"
Mu Fang bid farewell to the Emperor and Prince Lie, then, carrying his daughter, strode out of the Imperial Study amidst the mixed gazes of the crowd.
Xiao Beichen watched their retreating figures, clenched his fist, and felt a surge of energy.
It's just a hundred moves! For the little princess... no, for learning martial arts! He'll risk it all!
Chu Chongjin watched Mu Fang and his daughter depart until their figures disappeared around the corner of the palace wall before slowly withdrawing his gaze. His gentle expression faded, replaced by a deep somber look.
If Xiao Beichen is already like this, then in the future, there will only be more and more people surrounding her.
He has to... quicken his pace.
That evening, in the palace of Consort De, the birth mother of the Third Prince Chu Huaijin.
"Mother, have you heard? Not only did Father not punish Mu Yu today, but because she had some kind of 'dragon scale' on her hand, he also bestowed upon her the title of Princess Anguo, granted her a fief, and even plans to build her a princess's mansion in the palace!"
The speaker was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a somewhat effeminate look in his eyes; he was none other than the Third Prince, Chu Huaijin. His expression at this moment was full of jealousy and resentment.
Consort De was leisurely poking at the sandalwood in the incense burner with a silver stick when she heard this. She paused and sneered, "It's just a scale. Whether it's an auspicious omen or a bad omen is still uncertain. The Emperor is currently being fooled by that little girl. Once he sobers up, she'll have her day."
“But…she’s clearly on Ninth Prince’s side now!” Chu Huaijin said anxiously. “Today in court, she was the one who spoke up for Ninth Prince and ruined my proposal! Now she’s received such great favor. If we let her continue to stay by Ninth Prince’s side, then we…”
Consort De put down the silver token, looked at her son, and said, "Therefore, we cannot let her stay with Ninth Prince."
She paused, her voice extremely low: "How much intelligence can a four-and-a-half-year-old toddler have? Since she can be bought off by Lao Jiu, she can naturally be used by us. Even if she can't be used by us, she must never become a stumbling block on our path."
Chu Huaijin's eyes lit up: "What does Mother mean?"
Consort De's lips curled into a venomous smile: "Tomorrow, go to the Imperial Garden and 'accidentally' meet this Princess Anguo. She likes sparkly things and delicious food, so just cater to her tastes. Can a little girl who can be bribed even with a whole roasted lamb really resist the rare treasures and delicacies you've carefully prepared?"
"First, coax her over and make her distance herself from Lao Jiu. As long as she is no longer Lao Jiu's 'auspicious omen,' then her status as an auspicious omen will no longer be a threat to us."
“If she doesn’t know what’s good for her…” A murderous glint flashed in Consort De’s eyes, “then we’ll find a chance to turn this ‘auspicious omen’ into a ‘disaster’!”
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