“Where did this wild stallion come from? How dare it defile Fairy Yan’s white deer?”
“In broad daylight, to commit such a lewd and disgraceful act—it’s an utter beast!”
“My eyes burn from the sight! This beast must be slaughtered today, to avenge Fairy Yan… I mean, her white deer!”
In an instant, the crowd of scholars was in an uproar.
Seeing this, Xiao Yang was speechless.
When he summoned his black stallion earlier, it was lethargic and lazy. Who would’ve thought it would act so wildly now?
The nature of dragons is… unrestrained!
This Treading Cloud Black Dragon Stallion carried the bloodline of an ancient black dragon and naturally inherited its powerful reproductive instinct.
“Filthy beast, die!”
Several of the Second Prince’s lackeys charged in, brandishing swords to strike at the stallion.
But the disturbed black horse was annoyed. It lashed out its hind legs.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The attackers were sent flying like rag dolls hit by a speeding truck. Their chests collapsed with cracking ribs, and they vomited blood on the spot.
“How is this possible?”
“Just a wild horse, yet it seriously injured scholars at 2nd and 3rd stage cultivation?”
“Could it be some kind of spirit beast?”
Everyone was shocked.
“Fairy Yan, don’t be afraid! I’m at the 5th stage Gentleman Realm. I’ll subdue this vile beast!”
Xiao Ziwen seized the chance to perform before Yan Ruyu and win her affection.
“Wait!”
Xiao Yang stepped out and said, “Second Brother, that black horse is my mount.”
What?!
Hearing this, Xiao Ziwen felt as though he had caught him red-handed. His teeth clenched.
“A beast’s wrongdoing is its master’s fault!”
“Ninth Brother, you failed to discipline your mount, committing such a scandalous act in public!”
“You’ve disgraced the literary gathering and defiled Fairy Yan’s name—your crime is unforgivable!”
He slammed down the accusation with righteous fury.
But Xiao Yang remained unfazed and retorted, “The Four Provinces of the North belong to the royal lands! All living beings are subjects of the king!”
“This horse is not only my mount but also one of Father King’s subjects. Are you questioning His Majesty’s ability to govern?”
“As a son daring to blame your own father—this is an act of great disrespect. According to Grand Xia law, it warrants a hundred strokes with the rod.”
…
“I… I didn’t mean that!” Xiao Ziwen panicked.
He had clearly been trying to scold Xiao Yang, but in just a few words, it turned around and became an accusation of disrespecting the Northern War King. Now he was the one facing punishment!
“Second Prince.”
At this moment, Yan Ruyu stepped forward and gently said, “All life follows the path of nature. I won’t blame Ninth Prince for this. Why not just let it go?” This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.
“Fine…” Xiao Ziwen reluctantly agreed. Since even the goddess herself didn’t mind, he had no reason to continue.
“Ninth Prince!”
Yan Ruyu blushed upon seeing the black stallion still mounting her white deer and shyly looked at Xiao Yang. “I need to return now. May I trouble you to… help me?”
“Alright.”
Truthfully, Xiao Yang was also embarrassed. He hadn’t expected his stallion to cause such a mess.
He walked over and smacked the black horse hard on its rear.
“Snort—”
The stallion snorted irritably, but it had just finished anyway. It trotted off into the night like an unfeeling heartbreaker.
Only the poor white deer was left behind…
“Ninth Prince, I’ll be staying at the academy’s west courtyard in Snow Dragon Pass for a few days. If you’re free, feel free to come and discuss poetry with me.”
Yan Ruyu extended a personal invitation.
Anyone else would have been ecstatic to receive such attention from a renowned beauty and female scholar.
But Xiao Yang remained unmoved and shook his head.
“Miss Yan, I have a fiancée. You’re unmarried. If we meet privately, even if our relationship is innocent, rumors could spread. Better not.”
What if I want people to gossip about us?
Yan Ruyu nearly blurted it out but held her tongue. She cast a resentful glance at him, then mounted her white deer and left.
“Fairy Yan, allow me to escort you!”
Xiao Ziwen quickly chased after her with short, eager strides.
With the central figures gone, the poetry gathering naturally dispersed, and the rest of the scholars left one after another.
Xiao Yang also prepared to return to the royal estate.
“Ninth Prince, may I walk with you?”
Suddenly, the chubby Ma Wencai ran over, smiling flatteringly and speaking with utmost respect.
“Sure.”
Xiao Yang nodded and didn’t put on any airs.
After all, when he began composing poems earlier, Ma Wencai had been the only one to come pour him a drink.
That alone made him worth befriending.
“Your Highness, please step into the carriage!”
Ma Wencai led Xiao Yang into an extravagant carriage lined with fine Western Region carpets and inlaid with all kinds of gemstones.
The carriage was pulled by four fine steeds—mounts only Centurions in the military could ride.
No doubt about it. The Ma family of Cang Province was truly wealthy.
Just the carriage alone must be worth over 10,000 silver taels!
Xiao Yang couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
Though he was a prince, his monthly allowance was only 500 taels.
The other princes didn’t lack money because they had maternal clans backing them with wealth and power.
But he used to be invisible in the estate. Fortunately, he only supported one maid, Huang Li, and one guard, Zhao Changkong—any more and he’d be broke. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
Even the betrothal gifts for Ning Hongye had to be scrounged up from his older brothers!
Rumble…
The carriage rolled toward the Northern War King’s estate.
“Your Highness…”
Ma Wencai hesitated to speak.
“Brother Ma, I’m a straightforward person. Whatever you’ve got to say, just say it,” Xiao Yang said.
Thump!
Ma Wencai suddenly dropped to one knee and said solemnly, “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, I’d like to offer my loyalty and serve you!”
Huh?
Xiao Yang blinked, stunned.
He didn’t think he had that kind of commanding aura, the kind that would make others pledge loyalty just because he looked heroic.
Besides, all he did was write a few poems at Lanting.
Poetry was trivial—it couldn’t win wars or gain power. It wouldn’t benefit Ma Wencai much.
“What’s your purpose in pledging yourself to me?” Xiao Yang’s gaze sharpened.
Ma Wencai didn’t dare lie and confessed honestly, “You might laugh, but though I’m the son of Cang Province’s richest family, I have dozens of brothers!”
“I’m not the eldest and not from the main wife. I’m not valued in the family. I tried to curry favor with the Second Prince but was treated like a joke.”
He smiled bitterly.
Xiao Yang remembered how Ma Wencai deliberately went first in the poetry contest and became the target of mockery.
“But even if my status is low, I don’t want to rot away. I wish to follow a worthy lord. Would Your Highness be willing to accept me as your humble follower?”
Ma Wencai remained kneeling, but his eyes looked up in hope.
“Brother Ma, that’s where you’re wrong!”
Xiao Yang shook his head.
Ma Wencai’s heart sank instantly, his face bitter.
As expected…
Even the Ninth Prince disdained a merchant’s son like him?
But then Xiao Yang said, “You said you’re of low status and unworthy—I won’t allow you to belittle yourself like that.”
“So what if you’re from a merchant family? Merchants trade across the world, moving wealth as far as the noble lords. The prosperity of the Grand Xia Empire and the good lives of its people aren’t just protected by soldiers at the borders—it’s also built by merchants like you!”
Ma Wencai trembled. His eyes filled with emotion.
He had lived for years, but no one had ever spoken to him like that.
To think this noble prince not only accepted him—but praised him!
“Brother Ma, since fate brought us together today, I’ll gift you a verse—for us both to live by!” Xiao Yang smiled.
“A verse?” Ma Wencai’s face was full of anticipation.
Xiao Yang took a deep breath and recited a line known across his past world.
“Fear not the road ahead without friends—
Who in the world would not know you!”