WK Chapter 84

“Don’t change the subject.”

 

Xia Fuyang threatened: “If you don’t tell me, I’ll let Grandmother know too.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Why do you always bring Grandmother into everything?”

 

Xia Fuyang: “Because it works.”

 

He sat up, grabbed a nearby branch, and jumped onto the fork of the tree next to Qu Dubian, crouching down to grab his wrist again, “Confess honestly.”

 

Qu Dubian dodged: “It’s not serious, just from martial arts practice.”

 

Xia Fuyang: “I remember your internal cultivation method is of the gentle type. How could normal practice possibly damage your meridians?”

 

Seeing that he was determined to get to the bottom of this, Qu Dubian held his forehead: “It will be fine in a few days, it’s nothing. Trust me, really.”

 

Xia Fuyang caught a glimpse of the slight guilt on his face, and after a moment of silence, narrowed his eyes and boldly guessed: “Are you secretly trying to break through your dantian point??”

 

Qu Dubian: “…”

 

Xia Fuyang couldn’t believe it: “You’re way too daring!”

 

When he had attempted to break through his dantian point, he had made complete preparations, even finding a martial arts master from his household to supervise, before taking the plunge.

 

But this guy definitely hadn’t done that.

 

Not to mention that His Majesty didn’t approve of royal children attempting to break through their dantian points-this could result in being crippled or dead if one wasn’t careful. Judging by his vaguely guilty look, neither Eunuch Xiaoyuan, Concubine Xuan, nor Grandmother probably knew about this!

 

Qu Dubian covered his mouth.

 

“Lower your voice.”

 

Xia Fuyang removed his hand, frowning: “Such a dangerous thing, are you crazy?”

 

Qu Dubian: “My cultivation method is gentle. A slight attempt won’t harm my body.”

 

Xia Fuyang: “You call this ‘no harm’? No way, you need to come with me to see a doctor right now.”

 

Meridian damage from true qi impact should be as painful as being stabbed with needles, yet this guy could attend his eldest brother’s wedding banquet without changing his expression, and even joke around with him here?

 

Qu Dubian clung tightly to the branch, refusing to come down, “It’s really nothing, trust me!!”

 

“Just treat this like my usual illnesses! Don’t pull me! My shoe, my shoe is going to fall off!!”

 

He broke free from Xia Fuyang’s grip, his toes touching the tree trunk as he flipped and landed lightly on the ground, indeed not looking like someone with a problem.

 

Qu Dubian hopped on one foot to adjust his shoe, looking up: “Why are you overreacting so much?”

 

Xia Fuyang: “You’d rather do this secretly on your own than ask me? A successful example is right beside you, and you don’t know how to take advantage of that?”

 

And how could these two situations be the same?? Illness might be uncontrollable, but meridian damage was entirely because this guy didn’t take himself seriously.

 

Qu Dubian promised: “Definitely next time.”

 

Next time he would definitely avoid Xia Fuyang before the simulation ended.

 

Xia Fuyang came down from the tree: “There’s going to be a next time? If you don’t want me to tell on you, at least let me carefully check your condition.”

 

This time Qu Dubian didn’t refuse. He was pulled to a stone bench and extended his hand.

 

Xia Fuyang placed two fingers on it.

 

His true qi, like his name, was much more intense than Liu Liu’s.

 

His martial arts talent was indeed very strong. After opening his dantian for over two years, he was already confident enough to control his true qi to circulate in someone else’s body.

 

Seeing that Xia Fuyang was no longer insisting on taking him to see a doctor, Qu Dubian felt relieved.

 

After a moment, he said: “How is it? Pretty much as I said, right? Not a big problem.”

 

Xia Fuyang withdrew his hand, his internal true qi gradually calming, “It’s not a major problem only because your true qi is special.” But it must be somewhat painful.

 

“When I decided to break through my dantian point, I sensed an opportunity. It was a very mysterious intuition-I knew the time had come, so I chose to burn my bridges. Your attempts like this will only hurt yourself. It’s better to calm down and wait for the right moment.”

 

Qu Dubian was melancholic.

 

Who knows when that ghostly opportunity would come?

 

“Are you reassured now? Alright, you should go tease the newlyweds. My eldest brother has probably finished entertaining his guests.”

 

Xia Fuyang got along well with all the princes. His status meant he couldn’t openly take sides.

 

“Fine, I’ll go then.”

 

Qu Dubian glanced at him.

 

Xia Fuyang raised three fingers: “I swear to keep it secret.”

 

“Liars are dogs.”

 

After Xia Fuyang left, Qu Dubian obediently found a place to sit. Since servants had seen them come down from the tree, Ye banban would probably come looking for him soon.

 

However, Ye Xiaoyuan hadn’t arrived yet.

 

Yi Shi’er came instead.

 

He was still dressed in black, his mask unchanged for a hundred years.

 

Qu Dubian’s heart sank.

 

Sure enough, Yi Shi’er asked with confusion: “Your meridians, what happened?”

 

“…”

 

Oh no, he had forgotten that Liu Liu was on duty.

 

–

 

Shunning Palace.

 

Before bed, Qu Dubian deeply felt that attempts to break through the dantian point couldn’t continue.

 

Xia Fuyang had promised not to tell, and Liu Liu would absolutely not report it if he ordered him not to. But these two were easy to deal with-if it were Ye banban or Concubine Xuan, he would really be in trouble.

 

If his cheap father found out, he might forcibly stop his cultivation.

 

Fortunately, the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and Shunning Palace would be making mooncakes, so he wouldn’t have time to think about these things.

 

He and Zhiyi each had their own ideas and wanted different fillings, so Concubine Xuan told them to make their own.

 

“This year, let’s try salted egg yolk mooncakes.”

 

Qu Dubian rolled up his sleeves, tied his hair neatly, and took out the duck eggs he had pickled in advance from the pickle jar.

 

Zhiyi politely declined the salty mooncakes. She only loved sweet ones, respecting her brother’s taste but not understanding it. She sighed while generously adding sugar to the red bean paste and taro paste fillings.

 

Qu Dubian: “…Sister! Don’t eat too many sweet things.”

 

Zhiyi: “No way, seeing you eat salty mooncakes makes me want to add even more sugar.”

 

Qu Dubian: “They’re absolutely delicious, trust me.”

 

Zhiyi shook her head like a rattle drum.

 

“This time let’s make some extra. Last year, Imperial Consort Liang said Imperial Consort Zhou liked taro paste ones but was too shy to say so.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Alright.”

 

He peeled the salted duck eggs, placing the egg whites in a bowl and setting the yolks aside separately, while having to use his elbow to push away Da Hei’s approaching head.

 

“No, dogs can’t eat too many salty things.”

 

Elderly dogs’ internal organs would all deteriorate, and too much salt would burden their kidneys.

 

Da Hei couldn’t hear, sat down, and tilted its head: “Awoo.”

 

“Acting cute won’t work even if you’re an old lady… fine, just one.”

 

Qu Dubian sighed and picked out a perfect-looking, less salty egg yolk for it.

 

They spent the whole day making quite a few mooncakes.

 

They certainly couldn’t eat them all themselves, so they needed to give them away.

 

Every year at Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace would distribute mooncakes, but the taste was always somewhat lacking. Those who cared would prepare some themselves and share them with friends.

 

Qu Dubian sent people to deliver mooncakes everywhere.

 

Inside the palace to the Emperor, Empress, visiting consorts, and imperial consorts.

 

Outside the palace, he sent some to Master Fang and Master Xi-Xi Zixing was Master Xi’s son, so he gave extra, and this guy could share some more.

 

And to his grandmother at the Marquis’s mansion.

 

No need to give any to Xia Fuyang; he was thick-skinned and would ask others for some if he wanted to eat them.

 

He couldn’t give directly to Xiaochun at the Inspection and Transport Department; Xiaoyuan would find someone to deliver them secretly.

 

He considered everyone in his wide circle, sending out many mooncakes and receiving even more. Those they couldn’t finish would be distributed to the palace servants.

 

On Mid-Autumn Festival day, court was still held as usual.

 

Emperor Chongzhao had been very busy lately, even discussing state affairs with officials in the evening. There was no royal family Mid-Autumn banquet this year.

 

On one hand, everyone felt more relaxed, but on the other hand, they felt something was missing.

 

So everyone arranged tables in their own palaces with their own people, raising cups to toast the moon.

 

Qu Dubian picked up a basket of fruit, told Concubine Xuan, and strolled off to the princes’ residence.

 

–

 

Inside Panshi Courtyard.

 

Tea and dishes had already been prepared on the stone table in the courtyard.

 

The Fourth Prince was thirteen this year, and the Fifth Prince was twelve. Counting by traditional age, they were fourteen and thirteen.

 

When Qu Dubian arrived with the fruit basket, the two were chatting casually.

 

“Fourth Brother! Fifth Brother!”

 

Both turned their heads, looking at the young boy who lifted the hanging flowers to enter. The Fifth Prince smiled and waved: “Come quickly, we were just waiting for you.”

 

He came over to greet him, taking the fruit basket from Qu Dubian’s hand, and looked behind him, “Eunuch Xiaoyuan didn’t come?”

 

Qu Dubian: “Shunning Palace is busy, and he was dragged away as manpower. I’m familiar with this place, so they let me come by myself.”

 

“Sit down, sit down,” the Fourth Prince’s drowsy eyes finally opened a bit wider, “There’s no night banquet this year, so I had them prepare the meal early. A few dishes haven’t been served yet, so let’s wait a while.”

 

Qu Dubian sat on the stone bench.

 

The Fifth Prince placed the fruit basket to the side.

 

The Fourth and Fifth Princes were in their rapid growth periods, growing very quickly. Compared to them, Qu Dubian looked even smaller, but this Mid-Autumn gathering was organized because of him.

 

The Sixth Prince had also moved into the princes’ residence when he was ten, but because he wasn’t yet twelve, he would occasionally return to stay at Xiuxiang Palace, especially during festivals.

 

The Fourth Prince stayed wherever his bed was, while the Fifth Prince had nowhere to return to.

 

Qu Dubian felt he should show some care; otherwise, Fifth Brother would spend the whole year celebrating festivals alone, which was quite lonely.

 

Fifth Prince: “When Xiao Qi turns twelve, we can replace tea with wine.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Actually, I can drink too. Fruit wine is fine, it’s sweet. Come, come, Fifth Brother, have some food.”

 

Fourth Prince: “The princes’ residence is too small, and Panshi Courtyard is also small. Just thinking that I still have to live here for more than two years…”

 

The Fifth Prince moved the deboned fish meat over to Qu Dubian.

 

He sighed: “Be content, Fourth Brother. I still have to live here for four years.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Is it really appropriate for you two to say this in front of someone who hasn’t even started living here yet?”

 

The Fifth Prince said with a smile: “You won’t live here for six years. When the time comes, just act a bit spoiled, and Father Emperor will definitely agree to let you stay in Shunning Palace until you’re twelve.”

 

Fourth Prince: “At the latest, it would be twelve. By then, Little Five can still accompany you in the princes’ residence for a year, Little Six for two years, and for the remaining two years, you’ll have to keep yourself company.”

 

Qu Dubian slapped the table, pretending to be angry: “No way! I’ll definitely leave the palace and seek refuge with you all!”

 

“I’ll eat your food, drink your drinks, spend your money, sleep here tonight, sleep there tomorrow night, and you can’t drive me away.”

 

The Fourth and Fifth Princes burst into laughter.

 

“Alright, we’ll keep a room for you in our mansions when the time comes.”

 

The moonlight emerged from behind the clouds, silver moonbeams falling on various parts of the imperial city.

 

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qu Dubian found a comfortable rock to lie on. The Fourth Prince was too lazy to move, while the Fifth Prince sat on a rock next to Qu Dubian.

 

Qu Dubian: “It’s good that Father Emperor didn’t host a banquet, otherwise I’d probably have to go back after eating with you.”

 

Fifth Prince: “I heard that Nanning is not very stable. Noble Consort Lan’s family has someone stationed there. I overheard that Father Emperor has been dealing with memorials about Zhennan Pass recently.”

 

Fourth Prince: “We haven’t entered the court yet, so we’ll learn news much slower.”

 

Qu Dubian stretched lazily: “We’ll know when it’s time to know.”

 

He rested his head on his arm, looking at the full moon in the sky.

 

Few stars, bright silver light, and casual conversation.

 

He returned to Shunning Palace.

 

The palace gate wasn’t closed, with lanterns lit on both sides.

 

Qu Dubian quickly entered and saw Da Hei at the entrance. Da Hei barked a few times toward the inside of the palace.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan peeked out from the kitchen, “Your Highness is back.”

 

Zhiyi, with flour on her face, coughed repeatedly, “Xiao Qi, Da Hei’s snacks are all gone. We’re making more for it. Come help us.”

 

Qu Dubian smiled and said: “Coming!”

 

If every year could be spent celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival like this, it wouldn’t be bad at all.

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)