Chapter 33 Sparring Martial Arts
The news of the imperial concubine being confined to her quarters was like a drop of cold water splashed into a boiling oil pan, making the already fierce court struggle even more intense.
Lou Shang's counterattack became increasingly frantic. He not only clashed with Lou Yi in the previous dynasty, but also began to use some underhanded methods to try to clip Lou Yi's wings.
However, after the incident of Consort Xian's poisoning, Lou Yi's temperament became more resilient and cold, and his methods became more sophisticated and ruthless.
He seemed to have anticipated Lou Shang's counterattack, and his defenses were watertight. He even set traps several times, causing Lou Shang to lose a lot of manpower.
This fierce battle between the princes attracted the attention of almost everyone in the court and the public.
In contrast, the Jinwang Mansion, which seemed to have withdrawn from the center of power, appeared increasingly peaceful and serene, as if it had truly become a forgotten paradise.
Ye Xunyang was delighted.
He was already impatient with all the scheming and intrigue, and now that he saw Lou Jin's health improving day by day, he was even happier. Apart from handling the affairs of the Prince's mansion and practicing martial arts to strengthen his body, he spent most of his time by Lou Jin's side.
The weather was fine that day, with a gentle breeze.
Seeing that Lou Jin looked rosy-cheeked and full of energy, Ye Xunyang suddenly became interested.
"Your Highness, it's so boring staying cooped up in the house all day! I see you're walking much more steadily lately, why don't we go to the training ground and get some exercise? I'll teach you a few martial arts moves to strengthen your body, it's better than just walking!"
Lou Jin looked at his eager expression and felt a slight stirring in his heart.
He could tell that Ye Xunyang was really holding back and wanted to find an excuse to stretch his muscles.
He himself does need further training to adapt to his gradually recovering strength.
"Okay." Lou Jin nodded, a faint smile on his lips.
"However, it's not you teaching me, it's a friendly exchange."
"A friendly spar?" Ye Xunyang's eyes widened as he looked Lou Jin up and down, his tone filled with suspicion and a hint of barely perceptible protectiveness.
"Your Highness, you've only just started to recover. It's best to proceed gradually, in case you injure yourself..."
Lou Jin interrupted him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence.
"It's alright."
"I know what I'm doing. Besides, it's just a matter of moving my hands and feet, and I'll stop short of that."
Ye Xunyang was skeptical, but seeing Lou Jin's insistence, he didn't dare to persuade him any further. He made up his mind that he must show mercy later and absolutely not hurt the prince.
The Prince's Palace's drill ground wasn't very large, but it was fully equipped with weapon racks, stone locks, and other equipment. The ground was flat and the view was expansive.
The two entered the arena and stood facing each other.
Ye Xunyang assumed a basic starting stance, about to say something, when he saw Lou Jin move and get close to him, his fingers flying like the wind, aiming straight for his vital point.
Ye Xunyang was startled, not expecting Lou Jin to move so quickly. He quickly dodged to the side and reached out to block.
Lou Jin seemed to have anticipated this, and with a flick of his wrist, he dodged the block, while his other hand lightly patted Lou Jin's shoulder.
This palm strike appeared weak, but it carried a subtle, skillful force.
Ye Xunyang dared not be careless. He lowered his shoulders to reduce his strength and changed his footwork, trying to widen the distance between them.
However, Lou Jin followed him like a shadow. His moves seemed simple, but he could always accurately predict his movements and intercept them before he could exert any force.
The two exchanged blows, their figures clashing, and their fight was surprisingly lively and impressive.
Ye Xunyang became increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He had originally thought that Lou Jin's high prestige in the army stemmed from his intelligence and status, and that he was not particularly outstanding in martial arts. Now it seemed that Lou Jin clearly possessed considerable martial arts skills.
He dared not underestimate the situation any longer, and focused intently on dealing with it, using all his skills.
His fist techniques were fierce and powerful, while Lou Jin's moves were more agile and varied, using the opponent's force against them, and using minimal force to overcome great strength.
During the entanglement, Ye Xunyang seized an opening and delivered a powerful straight punch to Lou Jin's face.
To everyone's surprise, Lou Jin neither dodged nor avoided, but instead raised his hand and precisely grabbed his wrist, twisting and turning it in one smooth motion.
Ye Xunyang felt a force coming from him, and his foot was tripped by something. He immediately lost his balance and was pulled forward, staggering and about to fall heavily to the ground.
The expected pain of hitting the ground didn't come; a strong arm caught him around the waist and pulled him steadily into a warm embrace.
Ye Xunyang opened his eyes in shock and found himself pressed tightly against Lou Jin's chest, their noses almost touching and their breaths mingling.
Lou Jin's arms were tightly wrapped around his waist, supporting his entire weight.
He could even feel the other person's steady, powerful heartbeat through their clothes.
His cheeks flushed instantly, his heart pounded like a drum, pounding against his eardrums. He tried to break free, but found that Lou Jin's arms were wrapped tightly around him, the force carrying an undeniable sense of refusal.
Lou Jin looked down at him, his deep eyes seeming to hold whirlpools that could suck people in.
His gaze slowly swept over Ye Xunyang's slightly parted lips in surprise, and his Adam's apple bobbed gently.
Everything around seemed to have stopped, leaving only the sound of intertwined breaths.
Ye Xunyang watched as Lou Jin slowly lowered his head, his warm breath getting closer and closer. His mind went blank, and he forgot to react. He just subconsciously closed his eyes.
The next second, a cool and soft touch landed on his lips.
It was very light and fleeting, like a butterfly flitting across a petal, touching and then separating.
Ye Xunyang froze completely, his eyes wide open, as if he had been frozen in place.
The unfamiliar touch on his lips sent a rush of blood to his head, making him feel like he was being boiled alive.
Lou Jin looked at his bewildered expression, a triumphant smile flashing in his eyes.
He slowly released his hands from Ye Xunyang's waist, but his fingertips seemed to casually rub against his firm waist, causing a slight shiver to run through him.
"Stand firm."
Lou Jin's voice was slightly hoarse. He took a step back, regaining his usual composure, as if the sudden kiss just now was merely an illusion for Ye Xunyang.
Ye Xunyang's legs went weak, and he almost lost his balance again. Fortunately, he managed to grab the weapon rack next to him, making a soft "clang" sound.
He covered his lips, his cheeks flushed red, and his eyes darted around in a panic, but he dared not look at Lou Jin.
"You...I...just now..."
He was rambling incoherently, his mind a jumbled mess, with countless thoughts popping up and exploding in his head.
Did the prince just kiss him?
Why? Was it an accident?
But I could tell he was doing it on purpose!
Lou Jin watched him blush with embarrassment with amusement, his initial unease replaced by a sense of satisfaction.
He offered no explanation or took any further action, simply saying, "That's enough for today. Go back and rest."
"Your Highness, you are so powerful..." Ye Xunyang finally managed to find a bit of his voice.
Originally, she wanted to ask about the kiss, but the words that came out of her mouth turned into shock at Lou Jin's skills.
He was truly shocked. The prince's skills were nothing like those of someone who had been bedridden for many years.
Lou Jin looked at his shocked yet slightly embarrassed expression and couldn't help but chuckle softly, feeling quite pleased.
He stepped forward and reached out to straighten Ye Xunyang's collar, which was slightly disheveled from the fight.
"I never said that I had lost all my martial arts skills."
"It's just that after years of poisoning, my internal energy is stagnant and my meridians are blocked, making it impossible to use. Now that the toxins are gradually being cleared and I'm taking proper care of myself, I'll naturally recover slowly."
His explanation was casual and understated, yet it resolved Ye Xunyang's biggest question.
"Your Highness! You're amazing!"
"How did you do that move? Teach me! The one that knocked me down!"
"Want to learn?"
Lou Jin leaned slightly closer to Ye Xunyang.
"Then you can spar with me every day from now on, and I will teach you, how about that?"
His breath brushed against Ye Xunyang's ear, making his ear itch slightly, and his heart skipped a few beats.
Looking at the handsome face so close to his, and recalling the brief kiss just now, the heat that had just subsided on his face surged back up.
He nodded instinctively: "Okay! It's a deal!"
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