“How dare you bite me!” The moment the pain hit his wrist, Fang Youcheng let go, raising his fist to punch down.
Seeing that his opponent had let go just as he desired, Bo Ruofeng reacted with extreme swiftness. He pulled his legs, which were already trapping the Crown Prince, backward, flipped the man over, and tossed him away. He then swiftly flipped himself up to his feet.
Both of them were disheveled, yet their eyes burned with an identical, bright intensity, staring at each other from a distance of a little over a meter. They looked like wolves guarding their own small patches of territory, both eyeing each other with suspicion, watching for any exposed vulnerability to launch an attack, eager to bite into the prey’s throat and force the other to submit.
Amidst this silent standoff, the sound of unfamiliar footsteps rang out.
Bo Ruofeng was distracted, turning his gaze curiously toward the newcomer. Before he could even clearly see the person’s face, he was grabbed by the neck with an elbow lock by the rushing Fang Youcheng and dragged off to the side.
Reflexively thinking Fang Youcheng was starting another fight with him, he hadn’t expected the other to simply drag him into a concealed hiding spot.
“The Junior Preceptor is here to inspect coursework, let’s go, go, go!” Rubbing his neck while dragging Bo Ruofeng toward the side door, Fang Youcheng clearly wanted to avoid running into the person, his voice raspy. “Such a buzzkill, that guy is young yet so long-winded. If you don’t want to listen to monks chanting scriptures, you’d better hurry.”
“Where are we going?” Bo Ruofeng threw an elbow into his chest, successfully freeing himself from the other’s confinement.
Fang Youcheng retracted his arm quickly enough, raising an eyebrow as he said, “I’ve always kept my promises. I’m taking you right now to cash in your reward.”
Bo Ruofeng stared at his flushed, refreshed-looking face. Touching his own reddened neck, he just wanted to spit right in the guy’s face. Kept his promises? He had no idea who had agreed to let go together earlier and then reneged.
Fang Youcheng led him around several palace walls toward the Eastern Palace. Along the way, he held up his right hand, which still bore a clear imprint stained with saliva, and couldn’t help complaining, “Surname Bo, I asked you for a proper martial arts duel, and look at you, what kind of petty tricks did you pull!” His words could not hide the lingering grievance.
“My apologies.” Though apologizing with his words, his tone was entirely nonchalant. Walking alongside him with his hands behind his back, Bo Ruofeng replied lazily, “The Crown Prince is a gentleman, and gentlemen stop at the limit when sparring in martial arts. But this subject only knows that on the battlefield, situations change in an instant; martial arts that can save lives and kill enemies are good martial arts, regardless of whether they are proper or look good.”
Although this answer, which suddenly escalated into a discussion on the practical utility of martial arts, made the Crown Prince feel it had some logic, it certainly failed to satisfy him.
“You’re just sophistically twisting logic!” Fang Youcheng glared at him, growing so emotional that he used a peer pronoun. “I refuse to believe that when you’re fighting for your life on the battlefield, you go around biting people! The soldiers all wear armor!”
Seeing him angry, Bo Ruofeng wasn’t afraid at all; instead, he felt the thrill of having tickled a tiger’s tail. Spreading his hands, he smiled brightly and said, “You don’t believe me? Then go find a suit of armor to put on, and the two of us will fight again to see if I can bite through it.”
“You, how can you…” Fang Youcheng stopped in his tracks, staring at him as if he had seen a ghost, rendered speechless for a long time. That conflicted expression was a far cry from their first meeting, vividly displaying a touch of childishness without the gloomy, debt-collector-like malice he’d shown before.
“Why are you looking at me like I’m a rogue?” Bo Ruofeng amusedly hooked his arm around Fang Youcheng’s neck like a buddy, half-hanging off his body. “Alright, alright, I was just joking with you. It’s settled that you’re lending me the little white tiger, and you can’t go back on your word, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”
Fang Youcheng let out a cold snort, his body’s first instinct telling him to push the person off, but then he felt that having someone act so close for the first time was actually rather novel.
Of course he had seen other study companions in the Imperial Study hooking arms and shoulders, looking like they had great camaraderie and making plans to go play together when leaving. Yet whenever they saw him, every single one of them lowered their heads, dropped their voices, and tried to lecture him on things they couldn’t even manage themselves.
As a result, Fang Youcheng had bullied people with increasing malice, wanting to see just how terrified these fellows were of the power behind him, and naturally distanced himself further to appear unapproachably aloof.
The two maintained this intimate posture all the way to the Eastern Palace.
Fang Youcheng led him to see his little white tiger. He kept the cub in a small garden within the Eastern Palace, cordoning off an area in the corner of the garden with a wooden fence. Inside were a small pool and a dedicated feeding bowl, and it was tended to by servants and maids, keeping the little white tiger’s fur slick, shiny, and quite pretty.
Watching the energetic little white tiger bouncing around, he couldn’t help showing off with pride. “How is it, looks great, right?”
Unable to resist, Bo Ruofeng picked up a flower branch and squatted by the fence to tease it. The little white tiger didn’t look like a wild-caught animal; counter to expectations, it was extremely affectionate toward people, staring with round, unblinking eyes without any fear as it scampered back and forth, attempting to bite the flower.
Fang Youcheng dismissed the nearby servants, leaning sideways against the fence as he looked at Bo Ruofeng. “You’ve got a good eye, spotting a good thing right away. Did you know this little white tiger came from Northern Yue? After Northern Yue was defeated, they sent over quite a few things, including a pregnant tigress. Unfortunately, the journey was long, and the tigress couldn’t hold on after giving birth to the cub. By the time the little white tiger reached my hands, it hadn’t even been weaned, was at death’s door, and couldn’t even open its eyes. There’s only one such tiger in the entire capital.”
“Now it’s raised and healthy.” Fang Youcheng let out a scoff, his expression obscure and unreadable, making it impossible to tell if he was satisfied or not. “Looks pretty much like a cat.”
At this moment, the little white tiger lowered its body, kicked its hind legs, and leaped forward to fly-pounce onto Bo Ruofeng’s arm, gripping his forearm tightly. It bit down on the flower at the tip of the branch in Bo Ruofeng’s hand, then spat it out. Blinking its azure eyes, it let out a winding, coquettish meow.
“You still remember me!” Bo Ruofeng patted its endearing head, stood up, and tucked the furry little white tiger against his chest, patting and stroking it. Dressed in deep crimson robes while cradling a ball of white fluff, he looked precisely like red plum blossoms falling against snow, his burning colors tinged with a tranquil, cool chill.
Fang Youcheng rubbed his eyes, which had been dazzled, and when he looked back up, he heard Bo Ruofeng say cheerfully, “Since Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince keeps his promises, I’ll be taking this little white tiger away.”
“Wait!” Fang Youcheng hurriedly called out, though he hesitated with unsaid words, looking reluctant as if wanting to give some instructions. But seeing the little white tiger’s spineless, coquettish behavior, he averted his gaze in annoyance, out of sight and out of mind. “I said I’m lending it to you to raise for two days, so I won’t go back on it.”
“Brilliant!” Bo Ruofeng petted the little white tiger over and over until it squeaked. Just as he lifted his foot to leave, he paused, turned back, and asked, “Right, Your Highness, does the little white tiger have a name? Always calling it little white tiger is such a mouthful.”
When pets’ names were brought up, Fang Youcheng’s face lit up with anticipation as he raised an arm. “My tiger must have a majestic, awe-inspiring name that could swallow mountains and rivers! That’s why I’ve been pondering it lately and haven’t come up with a name worthy of it yet.”
“You haven’t thought of one yet? In that case,” Bo Ruofeng stroked the little white tiger’s head, “let’s temporarily call you Little Flower. Little Flower! Let’s go home!”
“Arooo!” Standing on his arm, the little white tiger let out a milky roar, as if acknowledging the name.
Such a rustic name was entirely unworthy of his pet. Fang Youcheng’s expression shifted abruptly, and he blocked Bo Ruofeng’s path. “What nonsense are you shouting! That’s my pet!”
“I know it’s Your Highness’s pet,” Bo Ruofeng replied, nodding with an innocent expression as he looked at Fang Youcheng. “You can take your time thinking of a grand name; let’s use a nickname first for convenience. Besides, I’m only using this to casually call it for two days anyway. It’s just two days, what is Your Highness afraid of?”
“I am not afraid! No, when did I ever agree to let you call it that!” Fang Youcheng argued angrily.
It seemed Little Flower’s owner wasn’t very happy. Feeling somewhat annoyed, Bo Ruofeng thought for a moment, placed the little tiger back into the fenced area, cracked his knuckles with a creaking sound, and stared intently at the bright yellow figure with lingering eagerness. “In that case, Your Highness, let’s have another match. How about we wager on Little Flower’s nickname this time?”
Stirred by the provocative challenge in his eyes, Fang Youcheng’s heart pounded with a fierce fighting spirit. Extremely tempted by the proposal, he recalled their previous bet and resolved to add some stakes to this duel. Raising his chin slightly, he asked haughtily, “And what if you lose?”
Bo Ruofeng looked at him as if he were absurd. “If I lose, I lose, what else can I do?” If he won, the nickname was his to give; if he lost, the nickname would be given by the Crown Prince. But since the Prince was already the tiger’s owner, this wager felt completely useless.
Stung by the look, Fang Youcheng stubbornly refused to let it go. “If you lose, you’re changing your name to Bo Xiaohua from now on!” Seeing Bo Ruofeng’s reluctant expression, he laughed mercilessly, clutching his stomach. “Haha! You wouldn’t be too cowardly, would you? If you despise this name yourself, how dare you give it as a name to the little white tiger? Just because you want to bully my little tiger for not being able to talk back?”
“Your, Imperial, Highness.” Bo Ruofeng pronounced the words one by one, his teeth itching and his fists itching. Setting up his offensive stance right then and there, he pulled his palms inward. “Then let’s each rely on our own abilities!”
Having been drenched from head to toe in rancid water that day and suffering indescribable misery, Eunuch Tong had washed himself several times before daring to see the Emperor. The Emperor was in his study appreciating his own paintings when, seeing him return, he casually asked how Bo Ruofeng’s meeting with the Crown Prince had gone.
It was just a casual question, yet no one answered for a long time. Sensing something fishy, the Emperor raised his head to look at Eunuch Tong. Eunuch Tong stammered for ages before saying, “His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince cares deeply for Master Bo.”
A basin of rancid water upon meeting meant the Prince certainly cared about Bo Ruofeng. By extension, wasn’t that caring! Eunuch Tong praised his own quick wit internally.
The Emperor wore a look of as expected. “Zheng’er loves martial arts; they must have plenty of common language.”
When he summoned Duan Qingzhang that evening to ask about it, Duan Qingzhang wore a strange expression and replied with scholarly elegance, “The Crown Prince indeed likes Master Bo very much. They sparred in martial arts and conversed most congenially.”
“Good!” The Emperor slapped his palm and laughed heartily. “Master Mingkong’s divination was spot-on after all! In the future, you and that Bo Ruofeng will handle civil and military affairs respectively to properly support the Crown Prince. Do not let me down.”
Duan Qingzhang spoke with humility, “This subject will exert all his effort and serve the sovereign with loyalty.”
However, two days later, the instructors of the Imperial Study ran to the Emperor to pour out their grievances. They claimed that ever since Bo Ruofeng arrived at the Imperial Study, the Crown Prince had disregarded his health over the past two days, indulging in play and neglecting his coursework, which was truly worrisome.
The Emperor flew into a rage. He had summoned someone from thousands of miles away to discipline and guide the Crown Prince, not to have someone corrupt him! Moreover, as the heir to the nation, indulging in play and neglecting his coursework was entirely unacceptable for the Crown Prince!
He decided to summon both of them together to give them a stern warning.
Half an incense stick later, hearing footsteps approaching, the Emperor turned around in a surge of fiery anger with a raised finger. Yet when he saw two bruised and battered youths limping into the hall, that mouthful of righteous indignation and scolding instantly choked in his throat.
When the two came to a standstill before him, the Emperor fell silent.
Who were these two bruised melons? And why did one of them look so agonizingly similar to his Crown Prince?
The Emperor withdrew the hand pointing at them. “What happened to you two…” He stopped midsentence, unable to voice the harsh reprimand he had prepared.
The two looked so pitiful; neither youngster managed to look remotely presentable. Hoping to mediate, he said, “You are still young and hot-headed. What kind of deep hatred or grudge made you beat each other like this? Can’t you speak properly if you have something to say?”
The Crown Prince, beaten into a bruised melon, stubbornly held his ground with his voice. “Father Emperor, this is called sparring!”
Bo Ruofeng hadn’t originally understood why the Crown Prince insisted they punch each other in the face a few times upon hearing the Emperor had summoned them. But seeing the shifting colors on the Emperor’s face as he stepped into the hall, how could he not realize he had just dodged a bullet? Naturally, not daring to speak as recklessly as the Prince, he offered a sluggish bow. “Replying to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is valiant, bellicose, and skilled in martial arts, truly the great fortune of our nation.”
The Emperor, who favored civil arts over military and only cared for books and paintings, fell silent once more. Finally, controlling his trembling voice, he said, “At the very least, don’t hit people in the face when fighting! What, what kind of system is this?!”
“Sigh!” He let out a heavy sigh, finally understanding the true meaning behind the frowning instructors of the Imperial Study complaining that the Crown Prince is neglecting his health, indulging in play, and affecting his coursework.
The Emperor said sternly, “I am warning you: occasional sparring is fine, but you are not to injure yourselves or let it affect your progress in the Imperial Study’s coursework. Furthermore, I do not want to see you looking bruised and battered like this again. In a few days, I will personally examine your coursework.”
He added with disdain, “I do not want the Crown Prince to turn into a reckless, brainless warrior!”
Emerging from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the two limping youths, who looked severely injured, exchanged a glance and, with seamless tacit coordination, snapped back into normal walking postures.
Seeing that the day was getting late, Bo Ruofeng bid the Crown Prince farewell, intending to head straight back to his manor.
Fang Youcheng hurried forward a few steps to catch up, attempting to hook his arm around Bo Ruofeng’s shoulder. Bo Ruofeng ducked his body to evade the claw, raising an eyebrow. “Spare this subject, Your Highness, we were just reprimanded.”
Withdrawing his hand, Fang Youcheng gave a cold snort. “It was just a few words of scolding, it’s not like we got caned, what are you afraid of?” Shifting to an enthusiastic topic, he asked, “Bo Ruofeng, I heard people in the Imperial Study say today that the flowers by the moat are blooming and lots of people are going out for spring outings. Have you gone?”
“I’ve only been in the capital for a few days! Besides, not long after arriving, I had to report to the Imperial Study, when would I have had time to go out?” Bo Ruofeng still sounded somewhat regretful when mentioning this. Apart from that hurried trip to Huguo Temple, every day since had been spent running back and forth between the Marquis Manor and the Imperial Palace. By day he was pestered by this Crown Prince for sparring practice as a sparring partner, and by night he collapsed onto his couch the moment he got back, leaving no room to remember leisure.
“The Imperial Study rests every six days. Since we have a break in two days, let’s go together!” Fang Youcheng trailed after him toward the palace gates, making the enthusiastic suggestion as they walked.
Bo Ruofeng paused, looking left and right to make sure no one else was nearby. He lowered his voice and spoke cautiously, “Can the Crown Prince just leave the palace as he pleases?”
“Of course not.”
Bo Ruofeng’s heart was hoisted into the air by him in a split second. “Then why are you asking me to go out!”
Fang Youcheng didn’t care in the least. “Neither my Father Emperor nor my Mother Empress pay much attention to me. Aside from them, who else in the palace dares question my affairs? As long as I hide it well, I can go anywhere.”
Hearing Fang Youcheng talk like this, he had definitely snuck out of the palace countless times behind the scenes. Bo Ruofeng looked at him with a mixture of shock and suspicion, turning on his heel to walk away a moment later. He had just been disciplined by the Emperor; there was no way he would entangle himself with this troublemaking fellow, lest he be held accountable later.
“Hey! Why did you walk away without saying anything?” Fang Youcheng hurried to catch up. Bo Ruofeng had no intention of waiting for him, so Fang Youcheng chased him the entire way. Just as he finally caught up and reached out to touch the other’s shoulder, Bo Ruofeng dodged away.
Turning his head, Bo Ruofeng swiftly changed his expression, putting on a solemn and upright look. “Your Highness, His Majesty is going to examine our coursework in a few days; you’d better go back early and review. No matter how pretty the flowers by the moat are, they aren’t as pretty as the house of gold within books.” With that, he bolted like a puff of smoke, moving so fast as if terrified Fang Youcheng would catch up.
“Hmph! Coward.” Fang Youcheng stopped in his tracks, watching that red-clad back view shrink smaller and smaller as he mocked him.
Just a few dozen meters ahead were the palace gates. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Fang Youcheng couldn’t leave the palace unprepared, especially heading straight out the gates right after leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so he had no choice but to stay put.
At that moment, his personal eunuch, Chunfu, who had been hiding aside for a long time, hurried over and whispered, “Your Highness, the Empress requests your presence.”
“Why would she think of me?” The fleeting smile on Fang Youcheng’s face vanished entirely, replaced by a gloomy expression. He took a few steps toward the direction of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, rubbing his bruised, multi-colored face, and asked in a low voice, “What is her mood today?”
Chunfu replied cautiously, “She looks alright.”
Fang Youcheng let out a cold laugh. Though he said nothing, his expression completely betrayed his dismissive attitude.
“If Your Highness will pardon this servant’s presumption,” Chunfu hedged his words carefully, “Her Majesty actually still cares for you deeply. Severe discipline stems from deep love. As long as Your Highness softens your attitude a little bit, then, then Her Majesty will still…”
Fang Youcheng stopped walking and said indifferently, “Slap your face.”
Startled, Chunfu quickly raised his hands to strike his own face, using both hands at once. The loud pa-pa slaps echoed, sounding immensely painful.
“Stop.” Fang Youcheng didn’t look at him, determined to teach Chunfu a lesson.
Holding his swollen, red mouth, Chunfu hissed in pain and looked at Fang Youcheng with fear.
“What kind of person she is, do you think I don’t know? You are my person, do not speak for her anymore.” Seeing the wretched state of the little eunuch who had followed him since childhood, Fang Youcheng knitted his brows even tighter, clenching his fists as he took a couple of steps forward.
He turned his head back with reluctance, looking toward the palace gates where Bo Ruofeng had departed. Even though the figure had shrunk in size, separated by a long distance, he could still instantly recognize which small figure was Bo Ruofeng.
Having shrunk into a small dot, Bo Ruofeng raised his long legs, vaulted smoothly and dashingly onto the saddle, grabbed the reins, and pivoted the horse with clean efficiency. Just for a brief moment as he turned, he spotted the bright yellow figure standing in the distance on the white jade steps, gazing over in this direction.
Across the palace gates, Bo Ruofeng raised his arm outside the gates and waved at Fang Youcheng, smiling brightly and openly. The injuries on his face failed to detract from his heroic and dashing appearance, instead adding a touch of unrestrained boldness.
With a turn, he spurred his horse and galloped away like a whirlwind. His long hair, tied into a ponytail, swept through the air, and soon he and his horse vanished behind the gates.
Inside the gates, Fang Youcheng stood in place in silence, watching the other’s departure. The vibrancy in his eyes faded away bit by bit until it was completely gone, turning into a pool of stagnant sludge. He turned around and headed toward the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, in the exact opposite direction of the palace gates, as if walking into an abyss.