Chapter 2, The Horse Treads on Spring Mud, The Deity Soars (2)

Zhu Shouqian immediately recalled the sight of Li Jinglong playing the flute every day, thinking of his saliva and his words, a wave of disgust washed over him, and he casually handed the jade flute to the guard to hold.

Jinxi hurriedly followed the formalities

The Yan King sat languidly, playing with a teacup in his hand, yet he cast a sidelong glance at Jinxi with his narrow, elongated single phoenix eyes. Jinxi secretly thought to herself that it was indeed as Zhu Shouqian had said, the eyes were situated atop the head

In the blink of an eye, Ma had closed the distance by another hundred feet. Before Zhu Di could shoot his second arrow, Jinxi swiftly reached into the quiver and drew out three arrows, drawing the bow like a full moon. In quick succession, she released the three arrows, the bowstring twanging as the arrows flew. In an instant, the three leather pouches were struck by the blue arrows, prominently hanging on the wooden stakes.

Upon hearing this, Jinxi's face quickly turned red. Even though she was inexperienced, she understood what a brothel was. It was utterly humiliating to be looked down upon by Prince Yan and mocked by Li Jinglong. The hard-won victory had turned into a ridiculous joke of not knowing how to conduct oneself. In her anger, she struck the horse's rear with her whip, causing it to rear up with a loud neigh, nearly throwing Zhu Shouqian to the ground: "How could I be embarrassed like this! With His Royal Highness the Crown Prince present, how could I possibly go to a brothel! You have ruined me!"

King Qin Zhu Xiang had a rather thin appearance, resembling the Crown Prince closely, and Jin Xi was certain they were born of the same mother. The King kept his lips tightly pressed together, scrutinizing her from head to toe. His gaze was somewhat cold, and when he glanced at Jin Xi, she felt as if she were submerged in icy water. She was puzzled to notice that the King's eyebrows slightly raised, as if he were deep in thought. Could it be that he had discovered she was disguised as a man?

Jin Xi heard the sound of laughter, a flush of red crossed her face, and she felt a quiet anger within. She spoke softly, "Brother Li need not worry, with cousin here, victory is surely within reach." Her gaze towards Zhu Shouqian was filled with admiration, and Zhu Shouqian felt a sense of relief, as if his body had suddenly become lighter.

Jinxi had only returned to Nanjing for a little over a year, and apart from Zhu Shouqian, he had never interacted with anyone from the outside. He couldn't help but curiously raise his eyes. ... He saw the Crown Prince, who appeared to be around twenty years old, tall and graceful, with a red face and delicate lips, a kind expression, and his eyes sparkling with a peculiar light, as if he had seen ... . ... the osmanthus cake made by Zhenbei.

In the pavilion, King Yan Zhu Di has regained his composure, leisurely sipping tea as if nothing had just occurred.

When greeting Li Jinglong again, Jinxi almost laughed out loud. This eldest son of the Duke of Cao's residence had a handsome appearance, and his gestures were appropriate when returning the greeting, yet he was wrapped in a flamboyant outfit. His narrow-sleeved deep robe was silver-red, embroidered all over with golden threads and silver lines forming floral patterns, and the collar, corners, and sleeves were adorned with brocade. Three colorful pouches hung from the silk sash at his waist, and being close by, Jinxi caught a whiff of a faint, delicate fragrance, indicating that the robe had been scented. Not only did he wear a white jade finger ring on his finger, but there was also a purple gold orchid-shaped flower ring on his left hand's ring finger, casually exuding a touch of elegant swagger. Three colorful pouches hung from the silk sash at his waist, and being close by, Jinxi caught a whiff of a faint, delicate fragrance, indicating that the robe had been scented. Not only did he wear a white jade finger ring on his finger, but there was also a purple gold orchid-shaped flower ring on his left hand's ring finger, casually exuding a touch of elegant swagger.

Jinxi seized the moment while they were momentarily stunned, swiftly rushing forward, bending down to pick up the fallen blue arrow from the ground, and drawing the bow to shoot rapidly

The spring sunlight spills over the mountains, with waves of grass undulating and a faint fragrance of flowers wafting through the air. The view here is expansive, revealing a gently rising hillside in the distance, where ten wooden stakes have already been erected, each suspending a leather pouch.

Li Jinglong's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but he did not interject. Instead, he turned sideways and performed an exaggerated deep bow to Zhu Shouqian, saying: "Li Jinglong has met His Royal Highness, the Prince of Jingjiang"

Jinxi still possesses a childlike disposition, feeling both pleased and excited, wholeheartedly anticipating the comfortable days of the latter half of the month. She only focuses on Zhu Shouqian's joy, yet forgets that the proud Zhu Di and Li Jinglong are also present before her.

Implicitly, he only needed to shoot down all of Zhu Shouqian's arrows with ten arrows, and Zhu Di would naturally win with all hits. He did not take Jinxi seriously at all

Zhu Di looked at the two who were pleased with themselves, a glint of coldness flashed in his phoenix-like eyes. Before those beside him could notice, it had already vanished, and instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Young Master Xie possesses remarkable martial skills. This prince values heroes the most and today concedes defeat. We have lost."

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows, a deeper smile appearing on his face. This Xie Feilan, at just fourteen years old, possesses such cunning and understands the importance of planning ahead. It is surprising that Zhu Shouqian has such a talent by his side. With a slight widening of his phoenix-like eyes, he said with a smile: "This prince agrees."

Zhu Shouqian finally realized it, overjoyed and dancing with excitement: "We won!"

Zhu Shouqian was taken aback for a moment before stamping his foot in anger. He turned to look at Jinxi, who was bowing her head, lost in thought. Zhu Shouqian felt very reassured about Jinxi. With a snort, he left the cool pavilion, mounted his horse, and brandished his whip, pointing at Li Jinglong, saying: "Today, I shall make you concede wholeheartedly."

What excellent archery!" Li Jinglong exclaimed loudly

Zhu Shouqian angrily shouted: "Li Jinglong, you are determined to oppose me!"

Zhu Di languidly sipped his tea without uttering a word. Li Jinglong, however, let out a chuckle, cleared his throat twice to suppress his laughter, and pointed to a small hill in the distance, saying: "There are ten leather pouches over there, each with ten arrows; the team that shoots the most wins"

Li Jinglong suppressed a laugh as he rode around Jinxi, and before leaving, he said with a playful grin: "Xie Shidi will surely become the most charming person in Nanjing in the future, and Jinglong is willing to bow down in admiration! Haha!"

At this moment, Zhu Shouqian understood. The jade pendant belonging to the Crown Prince was personally bestowed by the Emperor and tied around the Crown Prince's waist, so it was not a good thing for Jinxi to possess it. He boldly extended his hand to Li Jinglong and said, "Fei Lan is right, Li Jinglong, I shall take your jade flute as a token of betrothal!" He cunningly set his sights on Li Jinglong, thinking that now Jinxi could simply ask the Yan Wang for a token and refuse the jade pendant bestowed by the Crown Prince.

Is this a compliment to her? Jinxi's smile remains unchanged: "Li Shixiong's elegance stands out uniquely in Nanjing, seeing is better than hearing, I am truly impressed!"

The Crown Prince still insisted, and Jinxi smiled: "Today is the day of victory for Prince Jingjiang; the prince has long set his sights on the spoils of war. Feilan does not dare to overstep her bounds"

As the two engaged in a war of words, Jinxi noticed that Zhu Di's five arrows had already been shot towards the remaining five leather pouches. At that moment, she stood up on her horse, which was at the back of the group, while the three in front were unaware that she had already drawn her bow while standing on the horse.

"Yuh!" Jinxi pulled the reins to stop the horse, laughing with joy. She cupped her fists in salute to Zhu Di and Li Jinglong, saying: "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, your archery skills are impressive! Even if we count these five as a tie, my cousin and I have one more than you. Your Highness, Brother Li, I humbly accept your kindness!"

At this moment, Li Jinglong and Zhu Shouqian both shot arrows. Li Jinglong, with a smile, did not aim at the pouch; instead, each of his red arrows flew straight towards the blue arrows shot by Zhu Shouqian. He had not boasted earlier, nor had he exaggerated in the slightest. With each arrow Zhu Shouqian released, it coincidentally met Li Jinglong's arrows, and one arrow, with a particularly tricky angle, seemingly by chance, deflected Zhu Shouqian's arrow and hit a pouch.

In the blink of an eye, they were only a few hundred feet away from the hillside. Zhu Di drew his bow and shot an arrow at the leather pouch hanging on the slope. Jinxi observed clearly that this arrow, despite being over five hundred feet away, was shot with tremendous force. Before she could react, one of the pouches had already fallen to the ground

Zhu Shouqian secretly regretted not crafting a smaller bow specifically for Jinxi. At this moment, it was too late for regrets. Watching Jinxi carry the large bow, he felt both amused and unable to suppress his concern. He knew that Jinxi was highly skilled in martial arts, yet he had never seen her shoot an arrow, which made him furrow his brows.

As the arrow wind swept past him, Zhu Di furrowed his brows, thinking it was an arrow shot by Zhu Shouqian. Doubts arose in his heart; could Zhu Shouqian have achieved such results after only ten days of hard practice? He let out a cold laugh and, instead of rushing, took out five arrows with the intention of executing the Five-Star Continuous Shot technique.

As Jinxi took the bow in hand, Li Jinglong could not help but laugh out loud: "Is it convenient for you to draw the bow, brother?"

"Young Master Xie, your martial arts are impressive! May I ask what your plans for the future are?" The Crown Prince Zhu Biao inquired gently, his gaze carrying profound implications

Zhu Shouqian's victory over Bi Jian unexpectedly gave rise to numerous concerns. Jin Xi felt that her master's words were not unfounded; she should not showcase her martial skills to seek attention. The only course of action now was to remain silent as a sign of humility. She refrained from speaking further, and after dinner, upon seeing the moon rise to its zenith, she hurried back to the residence

Jinxi felt annoyed by a trivial matter regarding the brothel; these princes could easily turn against her, and she no longer wished to associate with them. Sensing the Crown Prince's words carried a hint of manipulation, she decisively replied: "Feilan is merely staying at her cousin's for a while; she still has an elderly mother at home and will be returning to Fengyang in a few days."

Li Jinglong, feeling helpless, obediently took out a completely white jade flute from his bosom, and with a habitual smile on his lips, said: "It is an honor for this humble servant that the prince takes a liking to the jade flute I play with every day"

Before she could fully comprehend, another cold gaze shot over. Jinxi smiled and turned her head, only to see that the person looking at her was Prince Yan, Zhu Di. Her heart skipped a beat; unlike the Crown Prince and Prince Qin, Prince Yan was cut from a different mold. At just sixteen years old, he was already tall and upright, matching the height of his two royal brothers. His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, his nose was straight and prominent, and his pair of single phoenix eyes emitted a thin, soul-stirring charm. Indeed, the offspring of the dragon are of nine different kinds, each with its own uniqueness.

He turned his back to the crowd, allowing only Jinxi to catch a fleeting glimpse of the cold light that flashed in his eyes. This gaze was different from that of King Qin; it carried a sense of authority amidst its indifference

Clearly it was the appropriate time to pay respects, yet Li Jinglong's irreverent gesture rendered it rather inappropriate. He had always treated Zhu Shouqian in this manner, and Zhu Shouqian was at a loss as to how to respond. With a wave of his hand, he exclaimed loudly: "Forget it!"

Zhu Shouqian noticed Jinxi gazing intently at the Crown Prince, so he tugged at her and said: "Fei Lan, this is my second uncle, His Royal Highness Prince Qin, and this is His Royal Highness Prince Yan. This is Master Li Jinglong from the Duke of Cao's residence."

Zhu Shouqian and Zhu Di turned around to take a look. The bow stood upright, measuring at least 4 feet long, just a head shorter than Jinxi. Rather than saying she was holding the bow, it would be more accurate to say she was lifting it; the sight was so comical that everyone burst into laughter. Even the pride in Yan Wang's eyes softened considerably.

Zhu Di gazed deeply at Jin Xi, his eyes shimmering with brilliance. This Xie Fei Lan is truly remarkable; first, she used an innocent expression to confuse them, instilling a sense of complacency. Then, she was able to react so swiftly, accurately judging his move and striking first. Such skill can only belong to someone with profound internal strength! Zhu Di began to observe Jin Xi carefully.

Your Highness, this is Shao Qian's cousin, Xie Fei Lan. She has just arrived in Nanjing from her hometown in Fengyang, and Shao Qian has brought her here to broaden her horizons

Zhu Di was born in a chaotic era and was skilled in archery and horsemanship. Although he was a moment late in mounting his horse, he quickly overtook Zhu Shouqian, barely leading by the head of a horse

Your Highness, Jing Long merely shot down a skin bag by chance. If Your Highness believes that Jing Long should not have shot down your arrow, please speak frankly, as I believe His Highness the Yan Wang has no interest in further competition either

When King Qin and King Yan exchanged greetings, they merely offered a light support without speaking. However, Li Jinglong beamed with a broad smile and said to Jinxi: "Today, upon seeing the younger brother, I realize that the beauty of Pan An and Song Yu is nothing compared to this!"

She wore a harmless and humble smile on her face, but turned her head to secretly give Zhu Shouqian a wink.

The Crown Prince, upon being refused, smiled and took a piece of jade from his waist, saying: "Since you, Lan Nian, possess such skills at such a young age, I shall reward you with this."

His father, Duke Cao of the State of Cao, was already galloping on the battlefield at the age of 19, gaining fame throughout the world. In the fifth year of the Hongwu era, he even accompanied his father on a long expedition to the northern Yuan to pacify the vast desert. However, there was not a trace of the imposing demeanor typical of a military family in Li Jinglong; if he were to apply powder and rouge, he would be comparable to a performer. She finally understood why Zhu Shouqian referred to Li Jinglong as a debauched person.

The four individuals received the bows and arrows handed over by the guards. Zhu Shouqian and Jinxi each took ten blue arrows, while Zhu Di and Li Jinglong took the red arrows.

Jinxi smiled shyly once again. Zhu Di and Li Jinglong felt a sense of winning that would undoubtedly make her sad. Having played together since childhood, they understood each other's intentions with just a glance. They decided to hold back their strength, noticing that Jinxi was not exerting herself fully, and they stopped as soon as they had a slight advantage over her

Zhu Shouqian glanced at Prince Yan and Li Jinglong, and after a deliberate pause, he said: "Fei Lan has never been as skilled in archery and horsemanship as I am, so as his elder brother, I naturally cannot let him watch the battle without participating. Therefore, Shouqian will engage with Fei Lan against Prince Yan and Jinglong."

Li Jinglong was not in a hurry and stayed close to Zhu Shouqian. Jinxi's riding skills were not as good as the other three, placing her in the last position

Jinxi shivered slightly. Under Zhu Di's unspoken threat and his unusually sharp gaze, she became alert. Among the three princes she encountered today, Crown Prince Zhu Biao seemed intent on winning her favor, the Qin Prince had a profound look that was hard to decipher, but Zhu Di was giving her a clear warning to be cautious in her future actions

Zhu Di and Li Jinglong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with astonishment. The situation, which had seemed certain to win, was unexpectedly lost in an instant

As they were about to hit their target, a few streaks of blue suddenly surged forward, colliding with the red arrows. The three turned back in shock. They saw Jinxi standing on horseback like a celestial being, the horse galloping swiftly, its mane flying in the wind. Jinxi stood firmly in the saddle, her gaze lively and spirited. The sunlight formed a faint halo around her, illuminating her jade-like features with an indescribable brilliance. The three were captivated, unable to look away. The sunlight formed a faint halo around her, illuminating her jade-like features with an indescribable brilliance. The three were captivated, unable to look away.

Zhu Di was the first to regain his composure, letting out a long shout as he drew the remaining arrows and shot them away. In just a moment, the air sacs had all been struck by the blue arrows, and Zhu Di's red arrows followed closely behind, hitting and severing the ropes that bound the air sacs.

Cough, well, Yutangchun is the first brothel on the Qinhuai River

Jinxi quickly withdrew her gaze and greeted respectfully

Is he such a libertine? At such a young age, he is already looking to seek pleasure in brothels? Zhu Di's initial regard turned into disdain, thinking to himself that although this young man possesses martial skills, he is not fit to achieve great things. He then coldly said, "Young Master Xie, please choose another day to go. The expenses will be covered by this king. With His Highness the Crown Prince present, even if we lose, I would not dare to invite His Highness to the Yutang Spring! What kind of propriety is that, hum!" After saying this, Zhu Di ignored the two and rode away.

Jinxi's gaze shifted, and she saw the astonished look in King Qin's eyes, the frown on King Yan's brow, while Zhu Shouqian was taken aback, realizing that this was no ordinary jade, and thus declined to accept it: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is too courteous; such a heavy gift is something I, Lan, cannot accept!"

"That was just a joke, dear sister," Zhu Shouqian said in a fluster, hurriedly pulling the horse, "It's my fault for not being clear! With His Highness the Crown Prince present, we absolutely cannot openly go to such a place!"

Look at Li Jinglong's expression, does he really possess such divine insight? This prince has diligently practiced archery and horsemanship for many days, and at the very least, I am better than those who waste their days in brothels and pleasure quarters! Zhu Shouqian is most infuriated by Li Jinglong's disdain for him and his sarcastic remarks

Jinxi desires nothing, she merely does not dare to accept the prince's jade pendant, so she deliberately displays an innocent smile: "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, only needs to grant Feilan one wish."

The Crown Prince and Prince Qin were both around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, and compared to fifteen or sixteen-year-old children, they felt it was unfair to compete. The Crown Prince smiled and agreed, saying, "This method is good; regardless of victory or defeat, there will be something to eat. I will watch the match with my second brother and provide commentary. You may go ahead."

Elder brother, I shall not participate. Fourth brother and Shouqian Jinglong are of similar age; let them compete. I will accompany you, elder brother, to enjoy tea and watch the match. After the competition, we can have a meal together.

Zhu Di and Li Jinglong, having lost their fighting spirit due to the beauty of Jinxi and the spring scenery, exchanged smiles and leisurely urged their horses to catch up

She is still young and does not know that the Emperor is exceptionally strict with his sons. It would be one thing if a few princes secretly went to Yutangchun to indulge in flower wine, but if they invite the future ruler, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, to visit a brothel, it would lead to a serious disaster

Jin Xi and Zhu Shouqian shouted in unison: "Giddy up!" as they cracked their whips and urged their horses towards the small slope

Her delicate little face was illuminated by a pair of eyes filled with excitement, as if all the sunlight had gathered in their depths. The radiance emanating from that face was proud, sacred, and inviolable, as she raised her chin and looked at Zhu Shouqian, who was smugly flipping his palms. Sunlight filtered through her hands. Her hands were as white as jade, and Zhu Di's brows slightly raised; seeing her innocent and contented smile directed at Zhu Shouqian, he felt an inexplicable blockage in his heart, a sense of unutterable frustration.

Jinxi knew that her eyes sparkled with this kind of light when she saw the osmanthus cake. She could think of no other metaphor, only feeling that this prince was handsome and elegant, exuding an air of scholarly refinement. His gaze resembled the warm waters of a spring lake, making one feel pleasantly comfortable, yet she sensed that there was something hidden within that gaze, which she could not quite comprehend. She couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

The Crown Prince and the King of Qin were both taken aback upon hearing that King Jingjiang and Jinxi had won. They were well aware of Zhu Shouqian's capabilities, and their gazes naturally turned towards Jinxi

Li Jinglong, not taking it seriously, chuckled and said: "Your Highness, rest assured, though I am not talented, I have some confidence in blocking your arrows. His Highness the Prince of Yan is renowned for his marksmanship in the army; perhaps, His Highness may not even need so many arrows to win."

She forgot it was not a big deal, but Zhu Shouqian let out a deep sigh and boldly declared: "There is nothing in this world that this king cannot achieve"

Zhu Shouqian once again forgot the embarrassment of being thrown to the ground by Jinxi, and with great bravado, he patted his chest and said: "Fei Lan, follow me and watch how your brother wins against them"

The Crown Prince smiled and asked, "I heard that Shou Qian has been diligently practicing archery and horseback riding these days. How will the competition be conducted today?"

"There is no need for excessive courtesy, this young master is..." The Crown Prince Zhu Biao gently offered a hand, speaking softly, his eyes brightening as he secretly admired such a finely crafted individual

Li Jinglong took out a jade flute. Today, Zhu Di was without possessions, and even the silk ribbon at his waist was tied with a piece of jade. It would indeed be embarrassing to present silver notes or gold coins in front of him. He was reluctant to part with the jade pendant he carried, and as he glanced at the flickering eyes of Jinxi, resentment arose in his heart, secretly thinking that this young man was quite cunning. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "What does Young Master Xie wish to receive as a reward from this king?"

Zhu Di felt even more anger in his heart, a wish? This is far more precious than an ordinary gift? To promise him, does he want me to pluck the stars from the sky as well? Yet a smile appeared at the corners of his lips, as if encouraging Jinxi to speak boldly, and also as if threatening her not to go too far.

Jin Xi felt another wave of indifference; what does it matter if she lost and went to a brothel? She had heard that there were places where one could perform without selling oneself. At worst, she could just listen to some music; isn't it the same wherever one goes to listen to music? She pouted her lips.

Jinxi pouted and let out a hum, immediately losing any fondness for His Highness the Prince of Yan, who could turn hostile at a moment's notice

Zhu Shouqian was unable to stop him, and his face had already turned red

Li Jinglong glanced at Zhu Di, and as their eyes met, both understood each other, thinking to themselves that they should not let the two of them lose too embarrassingly later on

Having won yet feeling no joy, Jinxi contemplated turning back to the residence, but knowing that the Crown Prince and Prince Qin were still waiting, she had no choice but to return with Zhu Shouqian in silence

She feels that today is far too dull compared to the arrows, as none of these princes seem easy to deal with. That Li Jinglong, while appearing to let the Prince of Yan take the spotlight, can intentionally or unintentionally shoot down Zhu Shouqian with every arrow he fires, and he is certainly not a weak scholar incapable of harming a chicken.

Her figure has yet to mature; she is petite and slender, with skin that is as white as jade. She is a delicate young lady, adorned like a finely crafted piece of jade. Seeing her trust Zhu Shouqian wholeheartedly and without reservation, her small face flushed with a rosy hue and her expression innocent, the three of them could not help but feel a sense of affection for her.

Jin Xi felt that the two were inexplicable and looked at Zhu Shouqian with confusion

You! Zhu Shouqian was so furious that he was left speechless. At this moment, both of them had no arrows left in their hands, and he could only place his hopes on Jinxi.

Cousin, we must go to Yutangchun! Jinxi recalled what Zhu Shouqian had said earlier, believing it to be the best restaurant in Yingtianfu. Having never been there herself, she was certainly eager to enjoy the delicacies.

The arrow flew towards the pouch with the swift wind, and a slight smile had already appeared at the corner of Zhu Di's mouth. Having grown up in the military, he was highly confident in his archery skills.

As they approached, a group of people dismounted and walked into the cool pavilion, where Crown Prince Zhu Biao, King of Qin Zhu Zhan, King of Yan Zhu Di, and Li Jinglong were chatting over tea. Zhu Shouqian stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying: "Nephew Shouqian wishes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Second Uncle, and Fourth Uncle peace!"

Fei Lan would never dare to ask His Highness the Yan Wang to do anything beyond his capabilities; she only hopes that if she inadvertently offends His Highness, he would grant her forgiveness. Jin Xi understood that today, giving the Yan Wang a show of strength, causing him to be defeated by her subordinates, would not bode well for her in the future when she inevitably encounters him again, so it is better to seek a protective talisman.