An epic silence fell over the scene.
Only Da Hei sneezed, then stuck out its tongue and barked twice.
Welcoming its colleague.
Qu Dubian didn’t know what to make of Yi Shi’er appearing before him. Weren’t secret guards not supposed to show themselves in public? Should he indicate that he knew him?
After much internal struggle, he uttered a few words: “Wow, you smell so nice…”
Seeing that the newcomer had no ill intentions, Wen Xiaochun lowered his guard and stepped back.
The grand master said: “How dare you appear before the Seventh Prince, and you’ve scared him! What’s with all this? Get back!”
Qu Dubian’s forehead popped out a question mark: “Do you know each other?”
The grand master frowned, his expression full of displeasure, directed at Yi Shi’er.
“The Seventh Prince doesn’t know, this person suddenly appeared at the martial arts field. He doesn’t work properly, idling all day, not speaking, who knows what he’s up to.”
“Wearing a mask, can’t even see his whole face, who knows if he has tattoos, maybe he’s some criminal who got in through connections… Anyway, he’s very strange, not a good person. Your Highness should stay away.”
Qu Dubian fell into silence.
An absurd thought occurred to him: could Yi Shi’er have been dismissed from the secret guards and come here?
It couldn’t be that a secret guard came to the martial arts field to experience life. It sounded like he was having a tough time, not being welcomed.
Seeing no reaction from him, Yi Shi’er thought, the little prince has indeed forgotten him. After all, he had only met the little prince once, and at night.
Ye Xiaoyuan also felt it wasn’t very safe: “Little Prince, let’s listen to the martial arts masters and leave?”
Qu Dubian shook his head, then happily pounced on Yi Shi’er, “Alright, take me flying.”
Yi Shi’er crouched down, slightly extending his hand, “Hold on tight to me.”
Qu Dubian hugged his neck. Yi Shi’er tapped his toes and leaped up. Flower petals flew everywhere. Unlike the urgent delivery that night, this time he slowed down considerably.
But it was still exciting enough!
Flying over eaves and walls, the weightlessness stimulated his senses.
How awesome it would be if he could fly himself.
Qu Dubian leaned close to Yi Shi’er’s ear and said: “Big black moth?”
Yi Shi’er choked, suddenly flipping over and landing steadily on the roof tiles. He said quietly: “Your Highness recognized me.”
“I recognized you as soon as I saw you,” Qu Dubian said in a small, conflicted voice, “but His Majesty said you couldn’t appear.”
Yi Shi’er could only say: “Changed jobs.”
“Here? For how long?”
“I’ve been a grand master here for some time. And—”
Yi Shi’er stopped on a treetop, looking down at him.
His shocked little expression was too obvious. Yi Shi’er glanced at the nervous crowd in the martial arts field, swooped down from the treetop, and went directly to the tree behind the martial arts field wall.
There was no one here.
He put Qu Dubian down and knelt on one knee. Although the little prince seemed to vaguely know his identity, some things still couldn’t be said in front of others, or even explicitly.
Yi Shi’er: “The martial arts field job is just a foothold. I belong to you now.”
Qu Dubian’s pupils shook.
What did he mean by belonging to him??
“After meeting, I’m under Your Highness’s management, my salary is paid by Your Highness. If you don’t want me to live in the martial arts field, you need to handle my accommodation.”
What kind of elite large-scale job-hopping salary and benefits negotiation scene was this?
Yi Shi’er thought he didn’t understand and said softly: “Or we can maintain the status quo. I’ll be by Your Highness’s side during the day. If you need me, just call.”
Qu Dubian finally sorted out the information he had received in this short time.
Mainly, he hadn’t expected the old man to give him a secret guard directly. At first, he thought it was good enough just to let the person out.
But he just gave him like this??
And in one piece too.
Come to think of it, it was because of him that Yi Shi’er lost his iron rice bowl in the system. Qu Dubian patted his chest and said: “Let’s keep it as before. I’ll give you double salary!”
Qu Dubian took a few pieces of gold from his cheap father and offered to pay for a whole year upfront.
[Favorability +5
Yi Shi’er’s Favorability: 10]
Qu Dubian: “What’s your name?”
He shouldn’t know, so he had to ask. Otherwise, he couldn’t keep calling him “big black moth,” right? What would Da Hei think?
Besides, if it got out, wouldn’t everyone know that he, Qu Dubian, was bad at naming?
Yi Shi’er: “My original name was Yi Shi’er, but I shouldn’t be called that anymore.”
He slightly raised his head.
“You want me to name you?” Qu Dubian scratched his head, thinking hard. Suddenly, he hit his right fist against his left palm, “I’ve got it! Your new name will be—”
He said with certainty: “Yi Liuliu!”
Six-six for good fortune. This name was both cute and adorable. The secret guard who appeared scattering flower petals might have a maiden’s heart inside.
“……”
Yi Shi’er was silent, forcibly taking back what he had just said, “I shouldn’t be called that anymore, but this servant is used to it, so there’s no need to change.”
Qu Dubian was a bit disappointed: “Alright then, I’ll just call you that myself.”
“Do you want to come back with me?”
There were calls from behind. They couldn’t stay here any longer; Ye Banban and Xiaochun would worry.
Yi Shi’er: “Your Highness, it’s best if I don’t appear when there’s nothing going on. Especially in Zichen Palace.”
He was familiar with secret guard concealment techniques. If he got close to Zichen Palace, he would receive warnings and threats from other secret guards. If it happened too often, his former colleagues might even resort to killing him.
Qu Dubian’s eyes sparkled: “I understand. Then can you teach me how to circulate true qi?”
Those in the secret guard profession, even if their internal power wasn’t profound, had extremely fine control over true qi.
Yi Shi’er didn’t immediately refuse like the martial arts masters. Instead, he felt his internal injury and pondered: “It will take three more days. It’s best at night when true qi is most still.”
He knew the little prince had to practice Tai Chi every day, so he wasn’t surprised by Qu Dubian’s questions.
Yi Shi’er reached out his hand, his fingertip touching Qu Dubian’s brow point, the center of his chest, and his lower dantian.
A very subtle feeling of warmth followed the movement of his fingertip, flowing down along the acupoints, then disappearing.
Without enough true qi, one couldn’t open the dantian and thus couldn’t store it. And a large amount of true qi needed good internal channels to support its circulation. Day after day, strengthening the meridians, only then could one impact the dantian.
The impact step was very dangerous; one wrong move could ruin a person.
That’s why throughout history, few royal family members had cultivated internal power, let alone emperors. They mostly recruited guards from elsewhere and trained secret guards.
Most other martial artists in the world also stayed at the level of external techniques. Those without a master’s guidance couldn’t even enter the door.
Qu Dubian touched his head, “Amazing.”
“This is a vertical circulation route that all methods of cultivating internal power must pass through.” More complex ones required more delicate operations, which weren’t possible now.
Different methods had different meridians and acupoints to pass through.
Qu Dubian understood.
“Then how can I get that warm thing in your fingers?”
Yi Shi’er thought for a moment: “Read internal power manuals thoroughly. Talented people will develop a feeling.” But he couldn’t give his manual to the little prince; the manuals used by secret guards were mostly quick methods, very dangerous to practice.
Qu Dubian: “Liuliu, you’re so nice. Let’s go back.”
Maintaining silence about this name was Yi Shi’er’s greatest rejection. He took him flying back again.
Patting off the plum blossom fragrance on his body, Qu Dubian stood in the courtyard and said to the martial arts masters: “He’s my exclusive martial arts teacher from now on. You’re not allowed to bully him.”
He clenched his fists and waved fiercely: “If I find out you’re bullying him, I’ll be angry.”
The martial arts masters looked at each other and cupped their hands: “Yes!”
The strange person had found himself a good backer after one flight.
Qu Dubian: “Liuliu, I’m leaving. I’m quite busy today.”
Yi Shi’er: “Mm.”
Actually, he had to go to work too.
Qu Dubian left on his little dog cart. Yi Shi’er concealed himself in the shadows, following him.
The martial arts masters found that Yi Shi’er had disappeared again and grumbled angrily: “That Liuliu is slacking off again! Let’s see how long the Seventh Prince remembers him!”
–
Qu Dubian’s schedule was very busy.
After leaving the martial arts field, he went to the main kitchen and had the palace servants go to the six palaces in the East Garden to deliver milk tea to his brothers.
He had originally planned to leave after delivering, as he still had to rush to Shunning Palace for lunch.
But Tutor Fang pushed open a window with one hand and poked his head out: “Seventh Prince! This old man has something to discuss with you!”
His shout was so loud and vigorous that it shook snow off the bamboo branches.
Qu Dubian turned his head guiltily on the little dog cart.
After stopping him, Tutor Fang told his students to drink milk tea as a break, put down his books, and came out directly.
“Why hasn’t the Seventh Prince been coming to the study hall?”
Qu Dubian thought to himself that it was for gaining favorability, and he wasn’t even three years old yet! After three, he wouldn’t be free anymore, having to stay in the study hall. He only had about five months left to roam freely around the palace all day.
He said: “I’ve still been doing the homework you assigned, Teacher.”
Ye Xiaoyuan nodded, speaking up for his prince: “Yes, except when he was sick, he’s been practicing his big characters every day.”
Tutor Fang knew about his illness. Originally, when he first recovered, he thought the child would come, but unexpectedly he fell ill again soon after.
If people were told he was the grandson of the Sword-Holding Marquis, no one would believe it.
Tutor Fang stroked his beard: “Actually, it’s good to play more. Being exposed to the words of sages too early… is not conducive to the release of one’s natural disposition. Don’t you want to go in and talk with your brothers?”
Seeing that he wasn’t dwelling on this matter, Qu Dubian breathed a sigh of relief.
He quite liked Tutor Fang and didn’t want to make him angry.
Both tutors he had encountered so far were very interesting, and their lectures were engaging. He didn’t want to suffer the hardships of studying, but to survive in Da Zhou, the history and laws of this dynasty were things he had to learn.
He would have to deal with them in the future.
Tutor Fang hesitated: “Today, His Majesty in court…”
Qu Dubian raised his head alertly: “What about His Majesty?”
Tutor Fang patted his head: “Perhaps His Majesty will tell you himself. By now, the whole palace probably knows.”
With that, he left.
After a moment of confusion, Qu Dubian felt annoyed. What was the point of saying half a sentence? It was really irritating.
But he soon found out what news Tutor Fang was referring to.
At Shunning Palace.
During lunch, Consort Xuan wiped the sweat from her little meal buddy’s forehead and told him something.
“Your maternal grandfather is coming back.”
Qu Dubian’s eyes widened slightly.
With the New Year approaching, many officials were returning to the capital to report on their duties. Depending on the distance of their posts, some officials returned every two years, some every three years, and some after completing a five-year term. The central government would review their merits and faults, then directly promote, demote, or reassign them.
But there was one exception.
The commanders guarding the frontiers, though not explicitly stipulated, were understood to return only when summoned by the emperor. If they didn’t return after receiving six golden edicts during peacetime, they would be labeled as traitors.
And during today’s morning court.
An urgent message, traveling eight hundred li at top speed, arrived in the emperor’s hands, carrying the chilly air of the northern frontier. On it were a few bold characters written with force that penetrated the paper—
Sword-Holding Marquis Xu Jin requests to return to the capital to report on his duties!
The Emperor said: “Granted.”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)