Chapter 2: Becoming the Trusted Confidant of the Beautiful Princess

The Princess Jingyue, unaware of the impure thoughts in his heart, continued, "Those people from the martial world cannot be matched solely by the guards of the royal mansion. Moreover, the Zhou royal mansion, being close to the capital, is not in a position to recruit extraordinary talents from the martial world, lest it arouse misunderstandings from the imperial family. Therefore, I discussed with the prince and decided to recruit a group of trusted individuals within the royal mansion to impart the martial arts passed down from the Zhou royal family. I know that General Wu's troops are all from Cangzhou, where the martial arts culture is quite strong, and you all must have a solid foundation. Learning it will surely yield twice the result with half the effort, thus ensuring the prince's safety."

After listening to Princess Jingyue's explanation, Xiao Ding's initial joy at his recent promotion gradually cooled. Although this marquis does not hold a position as high as that of the King of Zhou, his influence seems excessively great. He is involved with both the martial world and the Eastern Depot of the court. The Eastern Depot, I have heard of it; when watching "New Dragon Gate Inn," I saw the might of the Eastern Depot, where imperial edicts can be written at will, and ministers can arrest anyone they wish. What do I have to counter such formidable subordinates? Can I really stand against them?

A sharp voice from within the study said: "The prince is calling for you to come in"

Xiao Ding pondered, what ancestral martial arts could the Zhou royal mansion possibly possess? If there are any, wouldn’t it be better for the young prince to study them thoroughly and become a top-tier expert, thus eliminating any danger? Why go through such great lengths to recruit someone like this half-baked individual as a confidant?

Princess Jingyue, with a joyful heart, smiled and said: "General, please do not stand on ceremony. The other day, the bandits attacked, and Captain Qiu Baihu of the royal guard was assassinated, resulting in heavy casualties among the royal guards. I have already submitted a memorial to the court, requesting that you lead your troops to reinforce the royal guard. Since you have agreed, before the Ministry of War issues a formal document, I would like to request that you temporarily take on the position of Captain of the royal guard and enjoy the salary of Captain Baihu."

Then the beautiful lady approached, her jade pendants jingling, the melodious sound tinged with a hint of laughter: "General Wu, no need for formalities"

He never expected that although people in later generations yearned for the marvelous martial arts of ancient times, at that time, among officials and nobles, martial arts were merely regarded as a lowly pursuit, with few willing to learn it. Moreover, how could Prince Zhou, being a royal, possibly practice martial arts daily with a sword and a knife

Beside the young prince stood a beautiful woman in palace attire, her figure graceful and slender; with just a glance, one could sense her exquisite charm.

Xiao Ding pushed the door and stepped into the study, where he was first greeted by a jade screen adorned with a painting of court ladies. As he walked around the screen, he saw that the spacious study had a bronze crane on each side, with wisps of fragrant smoke curling out from their beaks.

Xiao Ding couldn't help but gaze somewhat entranced; how could Princess Jingyue guess that this fool was lost in admiration of his own appearance, thinking instead that he was calm and clever, secretly rejoicing that she had not chosen the wrong person

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding was rendered speechless. In the martial arts novels he had read, which formidable skills did not possess a grandiose name? Hunyuan Qigong? It sounded like a technique used by street vendors selling ointments to break bricks and shatter large stones

Xiao Ding was busy and performed a bow, saying: "This humble servant pays his respects to the princess"

Xiao Ding felt that his future was bright, and he had already disregarded how his predecessor had "yielded" the position to him

After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he established the Eastern Depot. Dao Yan and Zheng He were among the first three chief supervisors of the Eastern Depot. Prince Zhou, the sixteenth son of the founding emperor, was a disciple of Master Dao Yan. Due to these connections, the Eastern Depot has never troubled the Zhou royal residence

Princess Jingyue was dressed in palace attire, yet her hairstyle was informal, simply secured with a pearl ring, allowing her long hair, which cascaded down to her waist, to fall freely, revealing her smooth and fair forehead

Princess Jingyue interrupted him with a smile, saying: "One should not speak in riddles in front of an honest person, General Wu. In fact, this is not the first time someone has attempted to harm the prince. However, this is the first time an assassination has been carried out so openly; it seems that the perpetrator can no longer wait."

Alas, why do all beautiful women have to cling to the powerful? I feel both envy and resentment, secretly sighing: If I were the head of the Eastern Depot, wielding a sword of death, indulging in the embrace of beautiful women, then it would be... and - illustrations - books? No, wait, isn't the head of the Eastern Depot always a eunuch?

"Hunyuan Qigong, here I come," I felt that this call lacked the imposing aura of calling out 'Sunflower Manual.' Unable to help but chuckle at myself, I strode forward.

Xiao Ding caught a whiff of a subtle fragrance that could intoxicate a person, and upon raising his head, he beheld a stunning beauty in her twenties. Her delicate eyebrows were elegantly arched, her eyes resembled autumn waters, and her charming features exuded classical beauty, making her truly a woman of a thousand charms.

Xiao Ding did not understand such a direct gaze, which was originally a highly impolite behavior. However, his recent flustered demeanor had clearly conveyed to the beautiful lady before him that he was merely a rough soldier unfamiliar with etiquette. Therefore, although his admiring yet somewhat greedy gaze caused her fair face to flush slightly, the Princess of Jingyue did not feel anger.

Princess Jingyue raised her hand, brushing aside the hair at her temples. The sleeves of her black silk robe with golden edges slipped down, revealing half of her fair wrist. The robe's sleeves subtly displayed patterns of clouds and thunderbirds. She gazed at Xiao Ding and gently said, "If anything were to happen to the prince, the officials in the capital would face severe penalties. The general, bearing the responsibility of protection, would be even less able to escape blame. The safety of the prince is tied to the general, and the general's future is also linked to the prince"

Princess Jingyue glanced at the big-bearded man, who appeared dismissive, and said: "Do not underestimate this martial art. In the past, the immortal Zhou Dian relied on this martial art to assist Emperor Taizu in establishing this vast territory. Later, the immortal passed on his two unique skills to two individuals close to Emperor Chengzu: the 'Hunyuan Formula' was given to the monk Daoyan, who served at Emperor Chengzu's side, and the 'Sunflower Manual' was given to the trusted eunuch Zheng He. Both of them achieved extraordinary merits during the Jingnan Campaign"

Xiao Ding felt anxious and couldn't help but secretly regret having accepted this job so early. This pit of fire is something one cannot avoid, so how could he possibly jump into it?

Xiao Ding also did not dare to look too much. He saw that he was more than ten steps away from the prince's desk and was unsure whether to approach or to bow and pay his respects on the spot, feeling somewhat at a loss.

The palace-dressed beauty observed his flustered demeanor and a faint smile blossomed at the corner of her mouth

Xiao Ding suddenly thought that the Sunflower Manual had been passed down through several generations in the martial world before it reached the Lin family. When he read "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," he hadn't paid attention to what era it was set in. If only it were the era of Linghu Chong, how wonderful it would be. Dongfang Bubai, Ren Woxing, Yue Buqun... what a colorful life in the martial world! Hahaha, this is it! The Hunyuan Gong that can shatter stones with the chest is actually on par with the Sunflower Manual. Now that I've stumbled upon it, I must learn it well; it will be my capital for survival. If the court cannot sustain itself in the future, I will venture into the martial world... what a colorful life in the martial world! Hahaha, this is it! The Hunyuan Gong that can shatter stones with the chest is actually on par with the Sunflower Manual. Now that I've stumbled upon it, I must learn it well; it will be my capital for survival. If the court cannot sustain itself in the future, I will venture into the martial world...

Xiao Ding hurriedly expressed his gratitude with a bow. Princess Jingyue smiled faintly and said: "Our prince is a hereditary prince. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the position of a feudal prince is inherited by the legitimate eldest son and grandson, while other princes are not entitled to inherit the throne. The Duke of Beiding is a close relative of the Zhou royal line and enjoys the favor of the emperor. If anything were to happen to the prince, he would have the opportunity to seize power. Therefore, he has colluded with some outlaw gangs in the martial world, intending to usurp the throne. It is due to these intricate reasons that we cannot rely on the power of the government."

Princess Jingyue noticed his expression gradually becoming serious, and quickly changed the subject, saying: "However, although the Northern Ding Marquis has allied himself with the Eastern Factory, due to the significant connections between the Zhou royal family and the Eastern Factory, the head of the Eastern Factory and several high-ranking officials strictly prohibit the infiltration of Eastern Factory's influence. Therefore, the Northern Ding Marquis can only rely on those from the martial world."

Princess Jingyue said: "This martial art is called Hunyuan Qigong"

Xiao Ding pressed his lips together, thinking: this is the boss wanting me to express my intentions. He immediately cupped his hands and stood upright, saying in a deep voice: "I am willing to share the prince's burdens, please give your orders, Your Highness!" As he spoke, he thought to himself: "I find watching historical dramas so enjoyable; saying these few lines feels much more flavorful than simply assuring the organization that I will resolutely complete the task."

The young prince, who had initially maintained an air of superiority, could not help but chuckle at the sight before him. Turning to glance at the beautiful figure beside him, he suppressed his laughter with a tender voice and said, "Ahem, ahem, no need for formalities, General Wu. This is my aunt, Princess Jingyue"

Xiao Ding, filled with excitement and salivating, could not help but straighten his back and asked, "Your Highness, when shall I begin my martial arts training?"

Xiao Ding was taken aback, adjusted his military uniform, and followed the lieutenant out of the garden, turning through the corner gate towards the prince's study

Xiao Ding was unsure how to pay his respects. He recalled the image of generals he had seen on television, so he knelt on one knee and bowed his head, saying: "I, Wu... Tiande, have come to meet Your Highness, um... Miss... hmm... young lady..." He felt his face flush with embarrassment, acutely aware of how humiliating it was.

Xiao Ding smiled awkwardly and said, "I dare not, my humble skills are lacking, it is all due to the prince's great fortune."

Xiao Ding was taken aback and thought: "Such a miraculous martial art, do I really need to share it with others? These officials are truly baffling. In the martial world, people can fight to the death over a single secret manual, leading to broken families and bloodshed. Why is she so generous? Do you think this is a wilderness survival training? Gathering so many people, how can I stand out in the martial arts world?"

Xiao Ding was overjoyed, realizing that everything those fantasy novels spoke of was true. It turns out that in ancient times, people were eager to come forward to offer titles and make wishes to us modern individuals. I wonder when there will be beautiful women crying and begging me to pursue them, especially if they are beauties like a princess.

Xiao Ding was taken aback. He looked up and saw Princess Jingyue tilting her head slightly, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, gently shaking her head. The pearl earrings swayed gently, and against her graceful and slender neck, she appeared both noble and elegant

Xiao Ding noticed her hesitant words and thought to himself that this week the Wang residence seemed to be all show and no substance, weak and powerless, and wondered what connection it could possibly have with the Eastern Factory. If it weren't for boasting... He raised his head to look at the beautiful appearance of the princess and couldn't help but think in a different direction. Could it be that Princess Jingyue was using her beauty to seduce the head of the Eastern Factory?

Xiao Ding exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock, his heart racing wildly. For a moment, he was stunned by the four characters "Kuihua Baodian," his mind in a chaotic whirl, with only the phrase "Kuihua Baodian" echoing repeatedly in his thoughts. He screamed internally: This is insane, this is insane! It turns out there really is such a martial art in the world. Where am I? After pondering for a moment, he bit down hard on his tongue, feeling a sharp pain, which confirmed that he was not dreaming. The four characters "Kuihua Baodian" continued to resonate in his mind, and he screamed internally: This is insane, this is insane! It turns out there really is such a martial art in the world. Where am I? After pondering for a moment, he bit down hard on his tongue, feeling a sharp pain, which confirmed that he was not dreaming.

She paused for a moment, pacing in front of Xiao Ding, and said: "To speak frankly, the one attempting to harm the prince is the prince's uncle, Lord Beiding. This time, having failed in his attempt, if he is adequately prepared, should he come again next time..."

However, upon hearing that there was martial arts to learn, it was immensely appealing to Xiao Ding, the martial arts enthusiast, who couldn't help but ask: "What martial arts?"

The officer stood at the door of the study, gestured inward, and Xiao Ding involuntarily straightened his posture, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "I, Wu Tiande, seek an audience"

Xiao Ding was standing on the stone bridge, lost in thought, when suddenly a captain ran over and said, "Wu Youji, the prince wants to see you"

Xiao Ding reluctantly clasped his hands in greeting, then bowed to Lord Zhou, who was seated in the chair, before turning to leave the study. Standing in the courtyard, he raised his head to face the brilliant sunlight filling the sky, filled with ambition, dancing with joy, and shouted in his heart: "The Sunflower Manual, here I come!" After shouting, he couldn't help but slap himself on the face, cursing, how come his mind is filled with the 'Sunflower Manual'

Princess Jingyue was taken aback by his sudden enthusiasm and then said, "You should go find a few trusted guards, no more than four to six people will suffice. Come back once you have gathered them."

Inside there is a Eight Immortals table, in front of which stands a porcelain vase with scrolls of varying heights inserted into it. Beside it stands an old eunuch holding a whisk. At the back of the Eight Immortals table sits a small figure, just over ten years old, with a childish face, yet trying to adopt a serious and imposing demeanor

The princess looked at Xiao Ding and said, "General Wu, a few days ago, the prince was attacked, and it was thanks to your leadership in repelling the bandits that he was saved"