A young boy dressed in fine, rich clothing stepped forward.
He looked about eight or nine years old plump and round, with a face nearly twice the size of Yi Yi’s.
The chubby boy strode over, reached out, and shoved Lu Jingchuan straight to the ground.
Behind him trailed a group of other children. Seeing Lu Jingchuan sprawled awkwardly on the grass, they burst into loud laughter.
Lu Jingchuan simply brushed the dirt from his bottom and stood back up, blinking slowly. “W-why…?”
Why push him? Why did they bully him even at the school for young nobles?
His small face scrunched up in distress. He was slow to react, but he was not stupid. These were just bad people who picked on him.
“Hahaha! Does someone like me need a reason to push you? It means I think you’re worth my time!” the fat boy sneered without mercy.
“Princess, don’t play with this fool he’s nothing but an idiot. Come play with me instead. I’ll protect you!”
He puffed out his chest with great bravado. “I’m Guo Xin, the leader of all the boys at the academy!”
His followers cheered loudly. “Wow, our chief is amazing!” “The bravest boy in all Great Xia!”
…
Yi Yi’s voice rang out clear and sharp: “You are all big idiots!”
How dare they bully her fragrant, delicious little brother? And then expect her to play with them? Not in a million years!
She stepped in front of the tearful Lu Jingchuan and shielded him with her tiny body. “Don’t be afraid, Brother. Yi Yi will protect you!”
The sight was almost comical: a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler standing tall and issuing a challenge to a group of boys much taller and bigger than herself. Yet she did it with such confidence, as if she held all the power in the world.
Suddenly, one of the boys behind Guo Xin was shoved forward, stumbling straight toward Yi Yi.
She twisted her body with surprising agility, letting him crash into the ground. Then she lifted one small foot and gave him a light kick only for him to go flying backward several feet.
Guo Xin and his gang stared in shock. What just happened?
The boy who had been kicked began howling and crying, yelling for his leader to get revenge.
This was no act. The kick had looked gentle, but it felt as though it had struck right through his flesh and into his bones agonizing beyond belief.
“Y-you really are a spoiled, wild princess!” Guo Xin stammered, though he was secretly frightened. Still, with so many boys watching, he refused to back down.
“Bad people! Leave my brother alone!” Yi Yi snapped. This boy was her favorite source of energy how dare they touch him!
“Princess…” Lu Jingchuan tugged gently at her skirt from behind. “Don’t fight them. They are much bigger.”
That boy had only attacked by surprise. If it came to a real fight, the odds were clear: two tiny children against a whole group led by the hefty Guo Xin both in number and strength, they were completely outmatched.
“Trust me, Brother,” Yi Yi said, patting his shoulder reassuringly.
No one was allowed to touch the food of a Taotie!
“Here’s what we’ll do,” Guo Xin quickly suggested. “If we start a real brawl, the adults will punish us for sure. Why not compete at hitting the sandbags instead? You and Lu Jingchuan can be a team, and I’ll take Guo Tao.”
He pulled forward another boy who looked almost identical to him, though their builds could not have been more different. Guo Tao was tall and thin, moving with quick, nimble grace.
“Chief, just declare yourself the winner and be done with it,” one of the followers whispered.
Two toddlers against the two brothers? It was impossible. Besides, the princess was so sweet-looking he did not want to see her get hurt.
Guo Xin shot him a glare. Then, fearing Yi Yi might refuse, he compromised: “Fine… I’ll pick someone else to go against you two.”
“No,” Yi Yi said firmly. “We want you.”
How could she let anyone else take his place after he had bullied her brother?
“If we win, you must never bully Brother again. And if we lose…” She paused, then lifted her chin proudly. “We will not lose.”
The confidence in her voice was nothing short of arrogant.
Guo Xin felt challenged like never before. “Very well you asked for it! Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re the princess!”
“And if you lose,” he added, “you have to call me ‘Big Brother’!”
If the princess called him brother, that would be like being treated as a prince himself what a thrill!
The four children changed into loose, comfortable clothes for the game, while the others sat on benches in rows to watch.
Word of the contest spread quickly, and even some of the ladies and officials came over to see what all the fuss was about. Most of all, they wanted to catch a glimpse of the Emperor’s newly found daughter.
Soon, the four contestants returned.
The moment Yi Yi stepped into view, every eye in the crowd was drawn to her.
Dressed in simple garments, she still carried herself with such natural grace and nobility. Her face was delicate and lovely, her eyes bright and sparkling, and when she smiled, she seemed to glow with pure charm.
Many whispered that she looked like a little celestial child sent down from heaven.
Several ladies turned to their husbands and said, “That is the one we want for our family!” Their husbands only sighed in reply: “My dear, I do not possess the Emperor’s striking good looks…”
Thinking it over, the ladies nodded in agreement of course such a beautiful daughter would come from the Emperor, who was known for his extraordinary presence.
The sandbag match began amid great anticipation.
Guo Xin struck first. Though plump, he moved with surprising speed, throwing sandbags one after another straight at Lu Jingchuan.
Guo Tao was even faster long-limbed and quick, though not as strong. He too aimed every throw at Lu Jingchuan.
Working in perfect sync, the two brothers forced the crowd to hold their breath, fearing for Yi Yi and her partner.
Whoosh!
A flurry of sandbags flew toward Lu Jingchuan’s face.
He reacted slowly, his hands still half-raised.
Just as everyone expected him to be hit, a tiny figure darted across. In the blink of an eye, Yi Yi caught every sandbag and hurled them back with fluid, effortless motion.
She moved so fast that the crowd could barely follow. In an instant, all the sandbags were flying straight back at Guo Xin and Guo Tao.
Caught off guard, the two brothers stumbled backward under the force, and suddenly realized just how strong their little opponent truly was.
Now they threw with all their might, shifting their aim to Yi Yi herself.
The contest grew heated and intense.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, they noticed Lu Jingchuan moving faster and faster, his reflexes sharper than ever before.
The crowd murmured in disbelief. Was this really the Prime Minister’s slow-witted son? Had playing with sandbags suddenly unlocked his mind?
But no none of the sandbags had ever touched him.
Yi Yi was simply too powerful. Even facing two opponents at once, she held the upper hand with ease.
In truth, she was not even using her full strength. She was merely enjoying the game it had been so long since she had someone to play with. If she had gone all out, the brothers’ arms would have been wrenched from their sockets. They had hurt her brother, but there was no need to cripple them.
Yet her relaxed, playful manner only felt like a blatant insult to Guo Xin. He burned with anger, but could not deny the truth he was completely outmatched.
Still, he had to save face. “A true gentleman does not fight with girls!” he called out.
Guo Tao quickly echoed, “A true gentleman does not fight with girls!”
Yi Yi only threw the sandbags harder in response.
In the end, the two brothers cried out in pain and finally admitted defeat.