Hello and tada, another chapter~ I will edit this back later or when my editor wakes up from her sleep. Don’t ask me why the title is like this when obviously he doesn’t appear as such in this chapter (or maybe my impression is wrong in this chapter since he looks more narcissist to me)
Chapter 3 – The Tsundere Crown PrinceThree days before the Imperial Edict was issued.
Inside the imperial palace, the Ming Hua Palace.
Three of the imperial family including the Emperor had just finished their meal. Currently, they were talking about domestic trivialities.
The Emperor drank a cup of tea and said toward the Crown Prince on his right side, "Xun er, zhen already arranged General Di's son and Mei family's seventh son from the Plum Islet Top as your study partner. Later, you should get along with them and learn from their strength to overcome your weakness."
The Crown Prince had a matchless beautiful look. Elegant and poised, noble and unsullied, he had a slow secondary growth. Up to this day, his Adam's apple had yet to appear, to the extent that it was hard to discern whether he was a male or female. He nodded slightly. "When there are three men walking together, one of them is bound to be able to teach me something. Erchen will sincerely obey Imperial Father's teaching." His voice was clear and mellow like a creek, extremely pleasing to hear. This year, he was fifteen, his features still had remnants of his juvenile childishness but any of his moves had already traces of sovereign might of a future Emperor.
"Although Mei family is not a big shot in the imperial court, they are still of noble character and unquestionable integrity. They are the towering figure in jianghu, loyal and fearless. On the other hand, those old obstinate who released rotten air in the imperial court are always mouth full of literacy phrases. Sometimes, zhen feel extremely dull."
"Naturally, erchen will learn the hundred schools' view, work together for the greater success of the land under heaven and will not limit oneself to a single standard." The Crown Prince saluted naturally and at east. He still had a sense of propriety up to a certain extent. All the ministers had said, although the Empress gave birth to only one son, this son was extremely perfect. He was better than ten princes.
Because of that, the model of all women[1] could be considered to have no regret.
"That year, chenqie presented a jade pendant to Mei family as a promise to exchange it for status or wealth. More than ten years had passed yet Mei family had never mention this matter."
"Plum Islet Top is a wealthy and honourable countryside. Mei family is not lacking of money. Their Master is an intelligent person. He knows what he should do and what he shouldn’t do." The Emperor drank another cup of tea. "This sort of person's son, should be outstanding and can influence the jianghu network. If he can be useful for Xun er, it will be extremely good."
The Crown Prince's steps were like the wind. He continued to walk in such manner until he reached a corner and violently stopped.
The little eunuch followed behind him did not stop his steps in time and crashed onto the Crown Prince's back.
He immediately knelt. "Crown Prince, please spare nucai[2]'s life."
"Xiao Jing Zi[3]."
"Nu—nucai am here."
"Go to the generalissimo mansion and find Di Mu Yang. Tell him to come see me immediately."
"But, but according to the palace rules, after wu[4] time, local officers are not allowed to enter the palace unless summoned by the Emperor…"
The one being reputed as the history "most perfect Crown Prince" bent over and slapped a perfect curve on Xiao Jing Zi's forehead. "Why are you saying so much nonsense for? Di Mu Yang naturally had his own way to enter."
Imperial Father wanted to let an unlearned jianghu wild grass from barren hills and untamed rivers to enter the palace to become study partner of the elite and wise him?! How could that grass match up with him!
The good and bad would converge into one and failed to be discriminated by others[5].
As someone who pursued perfection in every matter, perfect until far beyond the horizon, as the Incredible Crown Prince, this matter absolutely must not be tolerated.
He must quickly think of a plan to make that little brat Mei surnamed unable to enter the capital.
Not long later, Di Mu Yang entered the Crown Prince Palace. Old Generalissimo Di and Old Emperor were similar to each other as both had just one son in their lifetime. The former poured all his effort in cultivating his son into a useful person. Today, his son had exceptional martial art and knew art of war by heart. Di Mu Yang although was not born as exquisite like Chu Xun, his wheat colour skin served as a foil for his resolute and steadfast cool face, his dashing eyebrows and starry eyes. A glance was enough to know he was raised into a proper sunshine youth.
"Crown Prince, you are searching for me?"
Chu Xun told the whole story to Di Mu Yang resentfully. "This Crown Prince is someone who is placed high in the clouds, how is it possible to mingle with the clay figurine from the ground. There are so many well-known family heirs yet why Imperial Father just had to pick this Seventh Mei? You, quickly dispatch someone to stop that person from entering the capital."
"Crown Prince, please think carefully. The Imperial Edict is hard to be disobeyed."
"No problem. You just have to catch this Mei brat. Lock him up for half a year before releasing him back. I have my own way for Imperial Father's side."
"Crown Prince, what do you plan to tell the Emperor?"
The Crown Prince smiled bewitchingly. "Easy, just shove everything to Imperial Uncle. Imperial Uncle can't bear the sight of me becoming full-fledged the most. Even if I don’t make any move at that Mei brat, there will be people to make up for it."
"Then, we should stay back and watch the changes instead," Di Mu Yang said with an honest face.
Chu Xun stomped his feet. "Cannot, this time I have a very, very, very bad premonition. If that surnamed Mei jianghu wild grass becomes my study partner, I will not have peace in the future."
Di Mu Yang's mouth edge twitched. He calculated a few times at the bottom of his heart. Father once said, Meal is the salary of a king, loyalty is the work of a king, you need to share burden with the king and need to use your mind more. About this Little Master Mei, in the end he agreed with the Crown Prince.
Chu Xun was very satisfied. "Gentleman Mu Yang indeed is this Crown Prince's left arm and right arm. Hope you will come back soon after accomplishing this matter." Then, he clapped Di Mu Yang's shoulder a few times before turning into his bedroom.
When Di Mu Yang left, he heard the Crown Prince inside was coughing.
"Xiao Jing Zi, let the imperial kitchen stew some rock sugar snow pear. This Crown Prince's throat is a bit itchy recently."
"Ah! Then, do we need to summon the imperial physician?"
"Xiao Jing Zi, you don’t know. Medicine is three parts poison. Poison will precipitate and skin will become dull. This will damage this Crown Prince's image."
The next day after receiving the Imperial Edict, Mei Qian Deng accompanied by the eunuch set out for the capital.
Mei family dispatched several subordinates to follow. They moved at top speed. In less than a day, they had already passed the Lu Luo River and reached inside the Anxi prefecture borders. This place was a range upon range of mountains. The topography was quite strategically located and easy to defend. Mei Qian Deng took the lead to urge her horse forward as it galloped without a slight drop in her speed.
Suddenly, she heard the eunuch wailed, "Mei—Little Young Master Mei! Laonu[6] can't anymore!" This eunuch shared same ride with Mei family's subordinate. He was jolted around on horseback until his old eyes blurred and his stomach churned around.
Mei Qian Deng could only stopped at the same place to let the eunuch vomited at the side.
"Little Young Master, according to our pace, we will reach the capital in three days," one subordinate reported.
Seventh Young Master put a finger upright beside her mouth as she listened attentively.
A short while, she said, "In three li[7], there are ten plus people currently coming toward us here."
The subordinates remained dumbfounded.
"All are experts."
She was still calm and collected as she added another sentence.
Everyone was shocked. With so many experts rushing over here, they were afraid that it was a misfortune, not a fortune. However, Mei family in jianghu had always treat others amicably and rarely had enemies. Why was it that the moment Seventh Young Master Mei left the Plum Islet Top, there were people jointly attacking him? They looked at Mei Qian Deng. Mei Qian Deng normally looked at the eunuch currently vomiting in full swing.
"Bring along the eunuch and get on the horse."
Mei Qian Deng tiptoed and easily rode on the horse. With a pull of the horse whip, the horse neighed and galloped at once, raising a land of yellow dust.
The group continued until reaching a thick forest. A number of shadows appeared from all sides, all attacking Mei Qian Deng alone. Mei Qian Deng frowned. The dim route was far from good. The shadows were extremely agile. She leapt onto a tree. She single-handedly hugged the tree while her sight were keen like a hawk, sweeping all around.
Those people wore tight black clothes. They wore a mask each, revealing only a pair of eyes. When they saw Mei Qian Deng was hanging on the tree top, the leading assassins' palms fluctuated. In a wink, tens of small cold darts flew forward. Mei Qian Deng inhaled while simultaneously palm-beat the tree trunk, borrowing the force to soar and somersaulted twice in the air before landing on a further place.
Her subordinates had already started fighting with a part of the assassins.
The assassin head was hot in her pursuit as he brought three people to surround Mei Qian Deng. Seventh Young Master Mei's edge of mouth raised. It was actually a smile. The clear black eyes were burning with flame of excitement. She was bare-handed as she confronted the four assassins. A boxing hook, a bridge, a bullet kick in between the back and forth of exchanging blows, it was easy and highly competent.
An assassin hacked a broadsword at Mei Qian Deng but it missed. Mei Qian Deng's eyes narrowed as she bit her lower lips. Her sleeves suddenly frenziedly flew around. In a moment, that assassin had not even seen the sword glow, only aware that his Adam's apple turned cold, his neck seemed to be leaking. He wanted to raise his hand to touch but he had already fell onto the ground with his eyes widened.
The hidden sword art.
The remaining three were greatly shocked as their attack speed slowed a beat. Mei Qian Deng coldly snorted once and as fast as a lightning approached the nearest assassin. That assassin had taken precautions as he sprung with qinggong, his back kept close to the ground as he flew far away. Then, he suddenly noticed there was an extra sharp sword on top of his chest.
What is this situation?!
That poor assassin could never understand the situation as the person controlling the sword dexterously moved, the sword punctured through the chest and nailed him on the ground.
Mei Qian Deng too was a little shocked. Between the fight, she turned her head around. The one helped her was a young man.
He was a bit familiar.
The current situation did not permit Mei Qian Deng to ponder further. The Mei family subordinates and several assassins fought for their lives, leaving just her alone against seven assassins. Including that young man, two versus seven. Mei Qian Deng's sword art was unsurpassable but since she was still young naturally her inner energy was not enough for a long fight.
She needed to finish this fight quickly.
Mei Qian Deng finally took out the flexible sword stored in her sleeve. In a flash of dazzling gleam of the sword, there was an assassin fell onto the ground.
Not far away, the young man who was helping her still had the leisure to look at her foolishly. He raised his voice to praise, "The hidden sword art indeed lives up to its reputation!"
Mei Qian Deng, "… …"
She was just prepared to attack the leader when who would had thought another unforeseen incident happened yet again. A sharp weapon dropped from the sky. She had yet to rush before the assassin when that person had already groaned in vex before falling face down on the ground. There was a black arrow stuck on his back.
Mei Qian Deng, "… …"
(Are you all going to let me have a proper fight or not?!)
In a blink of eyes, a group of armoured soldiers emerged from the depth of the thick forest. Each and every one of them was outstandingly valiant. Behind them were footmen carrying their banner. Mei Qian Deng sized up the banner. It was a black triangular banner. On the black background, there was a white contour depicting a male falcon spreading its wings.
A male falcon spreading its wings? Mei Qian Deng recalled that piece of precious black jade that her father gave yesterday. On the jade was the same carving as this one.
When the remaining assassins saw their leader too had died, they immediately escaped.
Among the armoured soldiers, a young man emerged while holding a bow and arrows. Earlier, that arrow was shot by him. He cupped his hands in greeting at Mei Qian Deng. "I apologise for the late arrival of the rescue team, causing Little Young Master Mei suffered."
Mei Qian Deng stored back her flexible sword into her sleeve and wiped away the sweat on her forehead. She talked as if words were gold, "Exaggerated." She turned around and looked at the lonely young man and asked, "Young Master Zhao?" He was that Alliance Leader Zhao's son, Zhao Mo Ran.
Zhao Mo Ran nodded. He hugged his sword as he said, "My father is still waiting for me up ahead. I will excuse myself now. Please be careful, Seventh Young Master."
"Many thanks."
The aloof Little Master Mei sent off Zhao Mo Ran. Without consulting anyone, she squatted down to personally examine that leader's corpse. There was no personal items on the body. The martial art used was extremely irregular. It must be one of those no sect no faction jianghu hunters who would do work for those who paid them.
She frowned.
A voice sounded out above her head, "This assassination, eight or nine out of ten must be under the order of Prince Chen. When we arrived at the capital, I will report it to the Emperor."
After hearing it, Mei Qian Deng no longer studied the corpse as she raised her pace to walk away.
"Little Young Master Mei, this humble one is Di Mu Yang. It's under the order of the Crown Prince that I come and protect Young Master. For the remaining journey, it will be my job to protect Little Young Master Mei."
Mei Qian Deng cupped her hands in greeting. "I'm Mei Qian Deng."
"… …" Di Mu Yang swallowed a mouth of saliva as he blankly stared at Mei Qian Deng.
Earlier, he was worried in place of Crown Prince. Little Young Master coming to the capital to be the Crown Prince's study partner, it was an ironclad matter on chopping board. He reckoned Prince Chen maybe would try to harm Seventh Young Master Mei in the midway of the journey. So, he specially came to save the day, thinking that he could touch up the Crown Prince's image first and leaving behind a good impression.
Now, he started to get worried again. It turned out Seventh Young Master Mei was this type of person. He personally admired this type of temperament. However, this "temperament" surely was not compatible with the Crown Prince's "temperament". On the occasion when the Crown Prince flipped out, what should be done then?
He was dazed for only a short while yet Mei Qian Deng had already rode her horse.
"Jia[8]——!"
"Little Young Master, wait for me——!"
[1] The Empress
[2] Literally, this humble slave
[3] Literally, Little Mirror
[4] Time between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
[5] The good refers to Chu Xun and the bad refers to Mei Qian Deng. When both of them mixed together, others will only see the bad side of them and thus damaging his image as the perfect Crown Prince
[6] Literally, this old slave
[7] A traditional length unit, 1 li equals to 150 zhang and equivalent to 0.5km or 0.311 miles
[8] A voice command to the horse to move