Chapter 131 - Who Is the Boss?
Crown Prince Zhao had set a five-day deadline, coinciding with his impending wedding to Tang Yue.
The Crown Prince's Palace had been adorned with jubilant decorations both inside and out. The vibrant red hues adorned every corner, preserving the palace's original grandeur and solemnity.
Similarly, the Prefecture Lord's Mansion had undergone swift preparations. A quick glance at the mansion revealed the atmosphere of joy that prevailed. The inhabitants wore expressions of both anticipation and anxiety.
“Have we still not located the princess?” The County Princess, dressed in her ceremonial attire, sat in her chamber, with a servant kneeling before her.
“Your Highness, I've conducted a thorough search throughout the mansion, but there's still no sign of the princess.”
“Are you absolutely certain she hasn't ventured outside?” It was nearly time for the palanquin procession, causing everyone involved to grow increasingly anxious.
“The mansion has been under tight security during this period. Not even the main gate has been opened, let alone the princess stepping out.”
“Then does she possess wings to fly away?” The County Princess was on the verge of frustration when Old Prince entered. His posture was slightly stooped, and his expression bore signs of displeasure.
Just as she was about to inform him of the situation, Old Prince spoke first, “Tangxi has located her. You may all depart now and await the princess's arrival to board the sedan.”
The group of attendants rejoiced and promptly kowtowed before exiting the room.
The County Princess gazed at her husband with concern, saying, “I almost wish we hadn't found her.”
Old Prince's eyes flickered. He approached her and gently patted her hand. “Don't worry, she will be all right.”
The County Princess believed he was offering reassurance, so she sighed and remained silent. After a while, she stood up, intending to see her daughter once more.
However, Old Prince halted her progress with a few steps. “There's no need to go. Seeing you will only upset Tangxi further.”
“But this might be the last time…” The County Princess said, tears welling up despite herself.
“No matter how distant your marriage may take you, you can always return,” asserted the Old Prince with unwavering certainty.
Just as he believed he had meticulously arranged everything, the Prefecture Lord's Mansion was suddenly filled with the jubilation of firecrackers. A palanquin came to a halt at the prince's residence's entrance, accompanied by envoys and palace guards from the Southern Sand Country.
A graceful woman, adorned in a resplendent crimson wedding gown, emerged from the palanquin. She rested her head against another's shoulder, her hands gently placed on their chest.
“Bride, please board the sedan…”
Amid a few stifled sobs, the bride was carefully settled into the sedan. Accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums and the resonant clang of gongs, the bridal procession began its journey around Ye City.
Once the sedan chair and the welcoming party had passed through the city gates, Wang Dingjun excused himself from the crowd. Behind him, several men clad in understated gray attire followed.
Upon his return to the crown prince's residence, Wang Dingjun promptly proceeded to the study to deliver his report, “Your Highness, the task is accomplished.”
“Indeed, I appreciate your efforts,” responded Crown Prince Zhao, extending his wrists to tidy up some documents before rising from his seat. “Come, let us head to the training grounds for some practice.”
For the past few days, Wang Dingjun had been assigned to discreetly observe a certain woman. It had been a relatively straightforward task, but witnessing County Princess Tangxi's continuous tears had been its own form of torment. He felt a pressing need to release his pent-up frustration.
The two of them made their way to the training grounds together. Upon their approach, they were met with anguished cries reminiscent of ghostly wails.
“Hurry, release… it's painful…”
Wang Dingjun raised an eyebrow, recognizing this voice all too well. However, he was perplexed by the unexpected timing of its appearance.
“Hey, didn't you hear me? Let go! You rascal! Who told you to insert it? Quickly withdraw it! It's excruciating!”
A fleeting glance at Crown Prince Zhao revealed no change in his expression. He merely paused briefly before continuing to advance.
A slight curl appeared at the corner of Wang Dingjun's mouth. He quickened his pace, compelled to investigate. Who in the world dared to lay a hand on his disciple within the confines of the crown prince's residence?
Upon entering the training ground, Wang Dingjun immediately spotted Zhang Chun pinned to the ground by two guards. One of the guards was face-to-face with Zhang Chun, with one hand under his chin and the other playfully tugging at his ear.
Wang Dingjun's voice boomed with anger, “What's the meaning of this? Your audacity knows no bounds. The Loyal and Brave Marquis is a distinguished guest of His Highness. Such behavior is unacceptable!”
Startled, the three men hastily rose from the ground. Zhang Chun, covering his ears, turned towards Wang Dingjun with a pained expression.
“Wang, please help me check my ear. There's been a persistent bug causing excruciating pain.”
Wang Dingjun's stern expression softened slightly. He cleared his throat and reminded Zhang Chun, “Remember, we must show proper respect in His Highness's presence. Why don't you greet him first?”
Zhang Chun quickly bowed and addressed Crown Prince Zhao, “Your Highness, may I have your guards' assistance?”
Crown Prince Zhao nodded and left them on the training ground. He picked up a long spear and began his solo practice.
Zhang Chun settled on the ground, observing the Crown Prince's practice, while Wang Dingjun squatted beside him, examining his ears.
After Crown Prince Zhao finished his routine, he clapped his hands and praised, “Impressive, Your Highness! Your martial arts skills are truly exceptional!” This went beyond the ordinary; it was an admirable sight to see a young man so skilled in martial arts.
Many of the dramas Zhang Chun had been part of involved martial arts scenes, with characters flying across rooftops and walls. However, he knew those were choreographed. Some fight scenes were pieced together by cameras, lacking any genuine impact.
Yet, Crown Prince Zhao's martial arts prowess was authentic. While not as flamboyant as martial arts novels depicted, each move he executed radiated impressive power.
Wang Dingjun stood up and applauded, then removed his coat and approached the training area.
Only then did Zhang Chun realize that his ear discomfort had vanished; he hadn't noticed when Wang Dingjun had extracted the bug.
As Wang Dingjun also wielded a weapon, the two engaged in a sparring match. Zhang Chun assumed that, regardless of Wang Dingjun's skill, he wouldn't dare win outright. He was about 80% certain Wang Dingjun would feign defeat. To his surprise, they were evenly matched, taking considerable time to determine the victor.
Zhang Chun smirked to himself, thinking, “Normally, I'm just riding horses. Why would they teach me such exceptional martial arts? It's probably an opportunity to get back at me.”
The two engaged in combat for nearly an hour. Eventually, Crown Prince Zhao emerged victorious with a slight advantage. Both were drenched in sweat, their clothing clinging to their forms, accentuating their athletic contours.
While Crown Prince Zhao was still young and his physique not fully matured, Wang Dingjun, already an adult, possessed a well-defined triangular body that aroused envy in Zhang Chun.
Zhang Chun swallowed hard. As a heterosexual man, he couldn't help but admire a well-built physique. It was akin to a straight man ogling a woman with ample bosom and a small waist.
Brushing off the dust from his attire, Zhang Chun fetched two bowls of water and approached Crown Prince Zhao, offering praise and subtly airing his grievances to Wang Dingjun.
“Your Highness, you may not be aware, but Protector Wang has had me in a perpetual squatting position for an extended period. I've become quite leg-shaped. Could you possibly help me find another mentor?”
Crown Prince Zhao donned his robe and sipped from a bowl of water before responding nonchalantly, “I began martial arts training at the age of three and endured half a year of horse stance. If Protector Wang hasn't imparted any techniques within that time, I'll consider arranging a change for you.”
… Zhang Chun was left speechless. Half a year was an eternity! Could it be that these two had conspired to hoodwink him?
In Yueyang Marquis's Residence, Tang Yue encountered a gathering of individuals alongside his father, all eager to accompany him to the Crown Prince's Palace, serving as his entourage.
In addition to the guards who had accompanied him earlier, Yueyang Marquis had also chosen more than a dozen servants, totaling over a hundred.
Among them were cooks, tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, and even experts in botany and zoology. Tang Yue pondered how long it would take to become acquainted with such a sizable assembly.
“This is Mr. Xuan Jing, the person my father spoke to you about. He will be your advisor and aide in various matters in the future,” Yueyang Marquis introduced, pointing to a handsome young man.
Tang Yue blinked in surprise. He had envisioned Mr. Xuan Jing as an elderly individual with white hair, given the mysterious-sounding name. However, the man appeared to be a handsome individual in his twenties.
Nonetheless, if his father had often praised this person, Tang Yue respected him and extended polite greetings. “Sir, I look forward to working with you.”
Tang Yue anticipated hearing a response along the lines of “Young Master, you are too kind. It is my privilege to be selected by Master Hou.” To his astonishment, Mr. Xuan Jing merely glanced at him indifferently and nodded with an air of arrogance before wandering off silently.
… Was there any hope for proper communication?
Yueyang Marquis wasn't surprised and advised his son, “Sir is usually occupied with important matters. Only approach him when necessary.”
Tang Yue's lips twitched. He wanted to inquire, “Who's the boss here?”
With such an advisor, he began to wonder if he would end up nurturing yet another idle individual and tolerating all sorts of eccentricities.
Was it still possible to return this particular “item”?
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