Chapter 1142: Ancient Academy Records, So Many Fun Things, Again and Again 29

The afternoon sun was strong; looking far away, the sunlight was blinding. Ling Xiuyu searched the training grounds but didn't see Xie Beiyao, yet he never expected to spot a person on the small path back to the dormitory courtyard.

Xie Beiyao earnestly put into practice Jin Chen's teachings, and he deliberately chose a secluded spot within a small bamboo grove.

"Beiyao."

Ling Xiuyu didn't go inside; he just called out softly from the path.

But the person practicing martial arts in the bamboo grove seemed not to have heard, giving no response.

Recalling what his companions had just said, Ling Xiuyu still went inside and walked up behind Xie Beiyao.

Approaching someone practicing from behind suddenly is a dangerous act, but Ling Xiuyu knew Xie Beiyao wouldn't harm him, so his steps didn't pause at all.

Xie Beiyao turned around, but it wasn't the anger and coldness Ling Xiuyu had expected.

"You still know how to feel sorry for me." Xie Beiyao's tone remained aggrieved; he wasn't angry about what just happened.

Ling Xiuyu inexplicably felt much more relaxed, and his expression lightened.

"Tingyang and the others said you got injured training these past few days—why didn't you apply medicine?" Ling Xiuyu asked.

Xie Beiyao rolled up his sleeve; the wound was shocking to behold, making Ling Xiuyu's heart ache as he gripped the porcelain bottle in his hand.

"Tingyang said..." Xie Beiyao repeated those words, his brows drooping. "You used to be the first to notice; now you have to hear it from others."

"Anyway, no one cares, so what's the point of applying medicine?"

"How can no one care?" Ling Xiuyu whispered in protest, his gentle brows and eyes filling with complex hurt, "How can you say that?"

"Then do you care?"

Xie Beiyao lightly rested his hand on his shoulder, gazing at his handsome brows and eyes.

Ling Xiuyu opened his mouth, but his mind kept conjuring the family letter his father had sent via an attendant.

Between the lines, it all said he couldn't get too close to Xie Beiyao, that the court's winds had shifted, and his choice was to align with the Secretary's mansion.

Inside the bamboo grove, they remained silent for a long time.

Xie Beiyao sighed, his voice low and hoarse: "After all, why... at least let me know the reason."

Ling Xiuyu still didn't speak; he just took his hand and carefully applied the medicine.

Suddenly, his hand was seized by Xie Beiyao; they lifted their heads to meet each other's gaze, then he was forcefully pulled into an embrace.

This embrace was so tight that Ling Xiuyu couldn't escape; he could only be forced to stay trapped in it, "Beiyao... let go."

"No, if you dare push me away, I will..."

Ling Xiuyu's expression stiffened slightly; he clenched his fists helplessly, a wave of panic spreading.

"Then what will happen?"

"I'll cling to you even more until you return to how you used to be."

Xie Beiyao hummed lowly, then held him even tighter.

Ling Xiuyu's tense expression eased; in the end, he didn't struggle free again.

【Wuhu! Let's congratulate the protagonist top! Host is mighty!】

0731 cheered and jumped for joy after watching the show.

Jin Chen hid his talents and fame, taking the sleepy little crown prince who dozes after a meal to rest at noon.

Of course, for now they can only sleep in separate rooms.

Jin Chen expressed that he rather regretted it.

——

Some more days passed.

While the companions were training in the front courtyard grounds, they suddenly saw the old instructor and several other instructors all come over, looking hurried.

Just as they were puzzled, they heard someone announcing from outside the academy.

"His Majesty has arrived——"

Everyone was startled and hurriedly knelt to greet.

Xie Yuancheng's eyes lit up; he poked his head out to look.

This time, those coming to the academy were not only the emperor and Prince Li, but also Jiang Yao's mother the Grand Princess, Lan Wujiang's father the Senior Marquis, and Ling Xiuyu's father, all arriving together.

After rising, the five imperial sons each hurried off—some excited, some resigned and unwilling to face it.

"Father Emperor!"

Xie Yuancheng rushed before the emperor, "Your servant, have I grown taller? Here I train seriously every day!"

Jun Hong Di laughed and patted his head.

"Not bad; you really have grown a lot. When I return, I'll tell the Empress Mother, and she will surely be delighted."

"Now the competition is imminent—how are your preparations?"

Xie Yuancheng wore an unspeakable expression, mysteriously wiggling his finger: "Your servant has just learned a new technique, and with Jin Chen's secret weapon holding the fort, there will surely be no problem—you can rest easy!"

When Jin Chen was mentioned, Jun Hong Di glanced toward the few officials on his right, signaling Xie Yuancheng to speak cautiously.

Only then did Xie Yuancheng recall that there was still a mole in the court; he quickly nodded and furtively glanced toward Prince Li.

But looking left and right, they seemed no different from the former imperial uncles.

He stopped worrying, pulled Jin Chen over to show Father Emperor.

"The new technique is what Jin Chen taught; it's far superior to what the palace instructors teach."

Jin Chen bowed respectfully to Jun Hong Di, standing beside Xie Yuancheng, neither humble nor arrogant, graceful and poised.

Jun Hong Di was especially delighted with this Divine Pavilion Deputy Master whom he had invited three times; clearly of similar age to Yuancheng, his strength across the world is already among the few—such a youthful genius is truly rare, and moreover a blessing for his Tianxuan Kingdom.

His thoughts turned, and he became all the more determined to keep Jin Chen in the Tianxuan Kingdom.

"Yuancheng having a friend like you brings my heart great comfort."

Jun Hong Di laughed and lightly flicked his sleeve: "After the competition, come stay in the palace for a while, so you can keep Yuancheng company in the Eastern Palace."

This proposal is good, Xie Yuancheng happily left for no reason, his shoulder lightly bumped Jin Chen, the latter, upon bending over, everyone knew, "Your Majesty invites; this humble subject dares not disappoint, and will surely assist the Crown Prince well in the future."

"Good, good, good, if someday in the imperial city you take a fancy to a noble lady, just come and let me grant the marriage."

Emperor Junhong laughed boisterously, he began to ponder in his heart.

Although the Head of the Divine Pavilion has personally agreed, but it would be best to also have a marital connection, so that Jin Chen will have ties to the Heavenly Mystery Kingdom and the imperial city.

Ordinary noble ladies from prestigious families are not enough; it's just that among the several marriage‑age commandery princesses and young ladies of prominent families, who could be a match for Jin Chen.

He, on his side, was thinking, completely failed to notice Xie Yuancheng's stunned expression.

All of a sudden, how could Father Emperor suddenly say he wants to grant Jin Chen a marriage?

Xie Yuancheng rubbed his chest, feeling very uncomfortable, and did not want to hear such words.

Jin Chen did not continue speaking, this topic was thus diverted, because he could not reveal his identity, Emperor Junhong still had matters to attend to, so he let Jin Chen go alone with him into the room prepared by the Old Master, not allowing anyone to enter.

Tingyang and Wan Zhou looked on, puzzled, at the somewhat dispirited Xie Yuancheng.

The two glanced at each other, immediately pulling Ye Susu and Si Ning to turn around, four heads gathered together.

"Little Crown Prince like this, how does he resemble the Northern Yao from a few days ago... has he also quarreled with Brother Jin?" Tingyang is always the first to notice the problem.

Ye Susu shook her head, and secretly glanced in the direction where Xie Yuancheng was sitting, "I don't think so, just now when I went to speak with Your Majesty, things were still fine... but now they're ruined!"

She slapped her thigh, "They likely asked Your Majesty to grant their wish, but Your Majesty simply would not allow it, and even pulled Jin Chen aside to scold him!"

"... Oh! There really is such a possibility," Wan Zhou felt this explanation was more plausible, after all, the chance of Jin Chen and Xie Yuancheng actually quarreling is zero.

"What should we do, first cheer up Brother Jin?" Tingyang scratched his head, puzzled.

Si Ning suddenly asked, "When did they confirm their mutual affection, and have they already reached the point of discussing marriage?"

"Hey, A Ning, you don't understand, many things don't need to be spoken about." Wan Zhou spoke in the tone of someone experienced.

"Oh."

Si Ning nodded.

The Four Jianghu Heroes bitterly missed the one chance closest to the truth.