Chapter 1120: Ancient Academy Records, Plenty of Amusing Tales 07

Xie Yuancheng's entire face was itchy to the point of unbearable; he kept his eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them, and still didn't forget to grab Jin Chen's arm and pinch.

"You're done!!"

Jin Chen wetted the handkerchief, gently wiped his face clean, and teased.

"If you move again, it'll really get into your eyes."

Xie Yuancheng immediately shut his mouth, could only obediently tilt his head back, speak through the gap of his lips, muttering.

"Hurry up and clean it! Otherwise I won't let this go."

"Oh dear, this isn't something I did, yet I'm also to blame."

Jin Chen chuckled, lightly lifted his cheek with his fingertips; as he brushed over, it felt icy cool, effectively suppressing the itch.

Xie Yuancheng grabbed his hand to keep it still, rubbed his cheek against it, tone arrogant: "Don't move, I'm letting you touch me—so itchy!"

His eyes remained closed, completely unaware that he seemed to be acting coquettish.

Jin Chen smiled in his eyes, unceremoniously pinched his tender, dewy cheek, saying, "Little Crown Prince, you have plenty of treasures; all sorts of strange things can be pulled from your sleeves."

The secret treasure of the universe within the sleeve truly lives up to its name.

Xie Yuancheng huffed arrogantly, "Of course, I have plenty of good stuff; you'll have a hard time later."

Then his cheek was pinched again with some force; it hurt so much he instantly opened his eyes and glared, "Jin Chen!"

"Here." Jin Chen said lazily, casually put the handkerchief away, cupped Xie Yuancheng's face and examined it left and right, "Hmm, not bad."

"Still itchy?"

Being asked in Jin Chen's somewhat gentle tone, Xie Yuancheng inexplicably forgot he was still angry, furrowed his brows, carefully felt it, and nodded.

"Itchy."

When he says just one character, he likes to draw out the tone; now his voice is also soft, sounding soft and gentle.

Jin Chen flicked his fingertip across the cheek, "Want to apply some ointment?"

"Yes…… but you can't trick me!" Xie Yuancheng lifted his head, stared with round, glossy eyes, expression complex.

Xie Yuancheng still didn't trust Jin Chen much, fearing that tonight his peerless handsome face would be ruined.

"That's right; offending this face of yours, this commoner couldn't afford to compensate."

Jin Chen responded offhand, rummaged through the luggage bundle he carried, and pulled out a small porcelain jar.

He patted the stool beside the table, "Little Crown Prince, please have a seat."

Xie Yuancheng stared at the porcelain jar for a long time, still decided to temporarily trust this annoying fellow, sat beside him and obediently closed his eyes, not forgetting to mutter a threat under his breath.

"If the ointment doesn't work out, I'll hold you responsible."

Jin Chen carefully dried his hands, then took a bit of ointment as white as mutton-fat jade on his fingertip.

He leaned slightly forward; Xie Yuancheng was again sitting on the stool, almost completely enveloped by Jin Chen's arms, needing only a slight tilt of his head to lean directly against him.

The ointment was icy cool, with a hint of mint, very soothing.

Xie Yuancheng stopped muttering; besides the mint scent, he also smelled this person's own aroma.

He inhaled lightly, always feeling an inexplicable familiarity, but the sensation vanished in an instant.

Xie Yuancheng belatedly noticed something slightly odd, furtively opened a slit in his eyes to look; Jin Chen's expression was very serious, as if afraid he'd used too much force.

His breathing grew slightly uneven, then he closed his eyes again; his tightly shut long lashes trembled lightly, delicate as a porcelain doll.

"... All done?"

Xie Yuancheng urged him on; being this close made him a little uneasy, "I'm getting tired from sitting!"

"All right."

Jin Chen capped the porcelain jar; having applied the medicine, he couldn't pinch the cheek anymore, and instead casually rubbed the top of his head, tone tinged with teasing.

"Little Crown Prince, you'd better sleep well tonight, or else the ointment will all end up on the blankets."

"Hmph, my sleeping posture is fine."

Xie Yuancheng shook off his hand, "I'm heading back; if I can't get up for morning drill tomorrow, it's all your fault!"

Jin Chen also didn't rise to see him off, merely smiling to himself and shaking his head.

"In just half an hour, you've threatened me three times."

Xie Yuancheng stepped out of his room, intending to run over to the opposite side, but after a moment turned back, frightened by the untreated spooky things in the courtyard and dared not walk.

"You… you walk me over."

"Why?" Jin Chen asked with a laugh.

Xie Yuancheng pouted, unreasonable but full of vigor, "I'm scared, okay! Who let you lot conjure up all those ghostly things!"

Jin Chen flicked open his fan, appearing to ponder, "Then how should the Little Crown Prince thank me?"

"Hmm… let the kitchen prepare a special meal for you tomorrow!" Xie Yuancheng pondered long and reached a conclusion, eyes brightening, "I secretly brought the imperial chef over; it's far tastier than the dining hall."

"Deal."

Jin Chen closed his fan, put an arm around Xie Yuancheng's shoulders as they went out, his handsome face bearing a fox-like smile.

——

At the third quarter of the Mao hour, it's time for morning drill.

Ten people stood in a line to receive a scolding.

Lao Fuzi, face bruised and swollen, delivered the lecture, so angry he blew his beard and glared, hands behind his back pacing back and forth, one hand still pointing and gesturing.

"What do you have to say?! Ah, you just entered the academy and already want to dispose of Old Man me!"

"No matter who started yesterday's fight, it counts as classmates harming each other! From now on it's absolutely forbidden; you may spar, but must do so openly and uprightly!"

Xie Yuancheng softly yawned, then noticed ink stains on the back of Lao Fuzi's gray practice uniform; surely he'd gone to cultivate his sentiments again and then "accidentally" fell asleep.

He silently blinked, then looked toward Lao Fuzi's neck as he stretched it out while lecturing.

He inexplicably felt like a… gray goose in the midst of battle.

Pfft—

Xie Yuancheng couldn't help laughing out loud.

The old master's lecture was interrupted: 'What are you laughing at!'

Xie Yuancheng hiccuped from fright, quickly shook his head, and said, 'I wasn't laughing.'

He pointed casually, 'I heard Jin Chen laughing.'

Jin Chen: '…?'

'Right, I almost forgot.' The old master slapped his forehead, 'From now on, Jin Chen doesn't need to attend any basic training.'

'Why?' Xie Yuancheng's eyes widened.

Lan Wuyang and the three others also shot doubtful glances.

'Your Highness, you may not know, but Jin Chen was personally invited by the Emperor; he is already an outstanding youth of our Tianxuan Kingdom, with a secured spot in the competition.'

The old master was extremely pleased with Jin Chen, stroking his white-speckled beard and smiling.

Xie Yuancheng: '…'

He grimaced, and Jin Chen, still laughing, rubbed his head, saying, 'Little Crown Prince, don't rush; later I'll give you a rub.'

Pah!

The old master had Jin Chen step out of the line, said a few more words, then went off with his hands behind his back to drink morning tea.

Lingxiao flicked his horsewhip, his red clothing dazzling, and said, 'Today I'll lead your training; first, let's talk about the morning's qi-activation content.'