For two consecutive days, you sealed yourself in the study, spending all your ti, excluding the necessities of eating, drinking, relieving yourself, and sleeping, on designing blueprints and chemical equations, but your understanding was superficial at best.
"Second Young Master, have so honey water to soothe your throat," Little Yue considerately brought you a bowl of honey water, which you gulped down imdiately upon taking it.
"Second Young Master, Elder Brother just ca by. He wants you to go out with him this afternoon."
"Where to?" you massaged your temples, having pondered for two days without finding a clue, which was quite disheartening.
"I’m not sure. Elder Brother said you must go."
"Alright." You figured that staying put wouldn’t yield any answers, so you might as well go out for a walk, which could perhaps spark so inspiration.
After lunch, Luo Xin ca to find you.
"Elder brother, where are you taking this afternoon?"
"I’m not entirely sure myself, it seems we’re going hunting in the North Suburbs. It’s a gathering arranged by the Crown Prince and King Wei among others; we cannot decline."
"That cripple again, damn it, nothing good ever happens when he’s involved." You really had no regard for the Crown Prince; the fellow had once sought to get rid of you.
"No matter, with by your side, I doubt he would dare to go too far."
"Alright then, let’s set off now."
You and your brother set out on horseback from the Luo Mansion and by the ti you reached the assembly point at the North Gate, you noticed a rather large turnout, including several sons of the nobility whose faces were familiar but nas you couldn’t recall. The first to approach you both was the son of Cheng Yaojing, Cheng Chuliang, who rode up and greeted the two of you with a bow, "You two seem to have arrived late. Everyone has been waiting for you."
"The day is still young; we’ve hardly lost much ti."
The three of you rode up to the Crown Prince, who led the party. Luo Xin bowed to him, while you simply cocked your head to the side, focusing on the scenery to the extent of not even sparing a glance in the Crown Prince’s direction.
The Crown Prince seed very magnanimous today, gesturing to you both with a smile. One richly dressed fat man who stood beside him eyed you with marked interest upon seeing you, "So, this must be the celebrated Second Young Master of the Luo Family."
After you glanced at the fat man, the voice of Luo Xin reached your ears: "This is King Wei, Li Tai."
"King Wei praises too highly, it’s but an empty reputation that could hardly compare to your own," you said. You knew of Li Tai sowhat; he was reputed to be extrely talented and once the most favored son of Li Shimin, only to be spoiled to the point of developing detestable habits and slowly drifting out of Li Shimin’s favor.
"We are all scholars; we should indeed beco better acquainted in the future." King Wei’s smile was warm, but for so reason, it sent a chill through you. Just then, Luo Xin’s remark placed Li Tai firmly on your blacklist— "Younger brother, you should keep your distance from King Wei, as he has a taste for ’gay’ scholars."
"Hey!" As you felt a wave of disgust privately, a crisp voice ca from behind you, and turning around you found a pretty shota glaring at you fiercely.
Hmm, this kid looks sowhat familiar.
"Who are you?"
"Hey, Luo. I definitely won’t let the matter from last ti go so easily. Humph!" It was Gaoyang Princess, to your surprise; the girl had managed to infiltrate the male group disguised as a boy.
With your arrival, the company set out—about twenty-strong.
The journey was silent, and you only exchanged a few trifles with Cheng Chuliang, who, finding the situation boring, went off to chat with so acquaintances.
Glancing around, I couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional. Now, you’re considered a mber of the capital’s elite class, just look at the people around you—each one adorned with jade and gold. Though they’re all dressed in hunting garb, does this seem like gear for actual hunting? They’re clearly out here to show off. Look, there in the crowd, you can overhear a classic conversation between a few scumbags.
"Brother Wang, heard you took in another concubine yesterday?"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, that chick was really sothing, top-notch in bed, almost made this young master too weary to get up this morning. By the way, Brother Gao, doesn’t your eleventh young concubine have a sister?"
"Yeah, and it’s so irritating when I talk about it. If I’d known earlier, I’d have pursued her sister instead. You haven’t seen her sister, man, great boobs, nice butt, a face like white jade, and a waist like a willow branch. Just thinking about her makes drool."
"What’s the big deal? Just marry the sister."
"Heh heh, your words are more enlightening than ten years of studying, I’ll set it up as soon as I get back."
"Don’t forget to give a big red packet then, will you?"
"Heh heh heh, for sure, for sure."
Lechers!
Scum!
That’s your assessnt of the people around you. You casually listen in and find that these princes and nobles only talk about won or money—how corrupt and lewd.
Looking at Luo Xin again, you notice Luo Xin is chatting with a young man dressed as a scholar. You listen in briefly and nod in approval; at least these two are talking about serious matters, discussing scholars from past to present.
"Hey!" It’s that voice again, and you turn your head rather reluctantly, only to find Princess Gaoyang sitting on her horse, looking down at you with arrogant eyes.
"I’ve told you, young master doesn’t go by ’hey,’ I have a proper na."
You’re not exactly fond of Princess Gaoyang. Sure, she’s attractive, but her temperant is unbearable; whover marries her is out of luck.
"Do you dare to compete with ?"
"Compete, compete in what? I’m not interested, go bother that Master Bianji or whatever."
You’ve always held grudges, and even now, you can’t help but bring up the etymology expert who got beaten up.
"Hmph, a person with no manners like you obviously can’t be compared with Master Bianji. Last ti you hurt him so badly, and he didn’t even say anything. There’s no man as petty as you."
"Hey, hey, hey, it’s one thing to praise your own beau, but don’t drag into it. Let tell you, standing next to that disloyal and unfilial bald donkey, I’d even find the air contaminated. And yes, I lack manners, so would the well-mannered princess kindly stay away from ?" You give Princess Gaoyang a sideways glance, then spur your horse, passing her and heading toward Luo Xin.
"You..." Princess Gaoyang points at you with quivering fingers, clearly infuriated by your words.
You haven’t gone far when Princess Gaoyang calls out, abruptly making you halt the reins: "I’ll tell you what, if you don’t compete with , I’ll send that palace maid nad Wu Zhao to my fourth brother. He’s quite fond of that Wu Zhao."
Seeing the effectiveness of her words, Princess Gaoyang’s anger turns to laughter. She rides up next to you, tilts her adorable yet infuriating face up, and boasts, "Just so you know, my imperial father dotes on the most. It’s not just a re palace maid—he’d even grant your death if I asked!"
You take a deep breath slowly, trying to calm your agitated emotions. You feel a strong urge to throttle Princess Gaoyang, but reason prevails, and you remain composed.
"How shall we compete, and what are the stakes?"
Gaoyang points to a poplar tree not far off: "We’ll take that tree as the starting point and race along that mountain path. The end of the mountain path is our destination. Whoever arrives first wins. The loser has to grant the winner three, no, five favors."
PS: The sunset runs of yesteryear... that was my fleeting youth... Hello everyone, I’m "The Shaless Battle," and I just want to ask, have you cast your monthly votes? If not, give them all to !
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