Chapter 9: The Crown Prince

After Jiang Mingyu entered the Wenhua Palace as a royal companion, he quickly gained a deeper understanding of the palace’s rules and circumstances.

For the first half-month, Manager Zhang accompanied Jiang Mingyu into the palace; after half a month, Manager Zhang stopped accompanying him, letting Jiang Mingyu go alone.

According to the three masters’ schedule for the Crown Prince’s lessons, classes lasted five hours daily, from Chen hour to Shen hour, with a half-hour break at noon; this schedule ran five days straight, followed by one day off, repeating five cycles per month, totaling exactly thirty days.

After two months of studying together, Jiang Mingyu and the Crown Prince found themselves aligned in interests—from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to state affairs—and quickly became sworn brothers.

Jiang Mingyu had never imagined that someone so perfectly suited to him existed in this world—and that person was the Crown Prince!

But one thing puzzled him: the Crown Prince could never forget his previous companion, often recalling him.

The former companion was the Xilong 24th year’s top imperial examinee, “Murong Yunhai,” whom the Crown Prince affectionately called “Xiao Haizi.”

During casual chats with Jiang Mingyu, the Crown Prince would casually mention Xiao Haizi—here, there, everywhere—and in his reminiscences, Xiao Haizi seemed never to have left the Wenhua Palace!

Murong Yunhai’s ancestors came from beyond the pass, with foreign blood; the Crown Prince and he shared deep affinity and spoke freely on all matters.

The Crown Prince said that when he learned Murong Yunhai’s term as companion had ended and he was to be reassigned elsewhere by law, he wept daily and refused to eat.

The three masters even paused his lessons for a month and a half, until Jiang Mingyu appeared, and his condition improved.

Jiang Mingyu now understood why He Dang had originally recommended him to the Emperor as the Crown Prince’s companion—he feared the Crown Prince would be lonely during lessons and wanted someone to keep him company.

The Wenhua Palace curriculum was not solely literary; it included martial training as well.

The martial instructor, “Dugu Qiu’ai,” styled “Wuming,” was the Left Protectorate’s Infantry Commander and a descendant of the famed sword clan, “Dugu”; he excelled not only in swordsmanship but also in saber, spear, staff, and bow—mastering all eighteen weapons!

Jiang Mingyu and the Crown Prince were not new to Dugu Qiu’ai’s martial lessons; they had already learned several sword and saber forms in the first two months, and today they switched to spear techniques.

The Crown Prince had trained in martial arts since childhood and possessed a solid foundation; Jiang Mingyu, however, was truly a scholar—weak as a man who could not even hold a chicken.

In literary lessons, Jiang Mingyu surpassed the Crown Prince; in martial training, he fell far behind.

At the start of today’s lesson, Dugu Qiu’ai first demonstrated the first technique of the Eight Imperial Spear Methods: the Straight Spear, Three Consecutive Thrusts Against the Horse.

After the two mimicked the moves several times, Dugu Qiu’ai, seeing the basic technique was simple, routinely asked them to spar.

The Crown Prince looked eager, but Jiang Mingyu’s face turned ashen, speechless with dread.

Thus, without armor, they wielded spear shafts without tips and began sparring.

The Crown Prince charged forward with a single burst of energy, thrusting his staff straight at Jiang Mingyu. Jiang Mingyu blocked horizontally with his staff—*thud!*—the two staffs clashed, spraying wood splinters. The Crown Prince tapped his left foot, spun his body, and swung the staff sideways toward Jiang Mingyu’s flank.

Jiang Mingyu hastily parried, but the Crown Prince’s strike was swift, precise, and powerful; the impact numbed Jiang Mingyu’s wrist, nearly wrenching the staff from his grip.

Jiang Mingyu’s face paled—he knew this next strike would come with overwhelming force, and he could not block it.

At this critical moment, Jiang Mingyu acted without thought, lunged forward, and prepared to take the blow with his body.

But the Crown Prince’s spear technique was masterful—this strike was a feint; it suddenly veered, slicing through the air from Jiang Mingyu’s right side, piercing straight for his right chest!

*Crack!* The staff struck Jiang Mingyu’s right chest with a heavy thud.

Jiang Mingyu felt a searing pain in his chest, cried out in agony, and collapsed to the ground, unable to rise for a long time.

The Crown Prince, terrified, dropped his staff and rushed to Jiang Mingyu’s side to check his injuries.

But Dugu Qiu’ai, a battle-hardened veteran, walked over slowly and said casually, “Let me check if any ribs are broken…” Then he immediately knelt down and began examining Jiang Mingyu’s injuries.

“Should we summon the Imperial Physician?” the Crown Prince asked anxiously.

“No… ribs are intact, but internal injury is likely.”

After inspecting the wounds, Dugu Qiu’ai spoke calmly: “Such bruising and trauma are common in the military.” He then called for medicinal wine and cotton cloth.

As the saying goes, martial training includes one-third medicine. Dugu Qiu’ai swiftly bandaged Jiang Mingyu’s wounds, then ordered men to carry him home to rest.

Jiang Mingyu’s lessons ended early today due to his injury.

The next morning, Jiang Mingyu, injured and lying bare-chested on his bed, had his wife Tang Yuqi sitting beside him, holding cotton cloth soaked in medicinal herbal paste, preparing to change his dressing.

Suddenly, the old steward, Xie, rushed in, breathless: “Master! Master! The… the Crown Prince has arrived!”

Jiang Mingyu, despite the searing pain in his chest, sat up instantly and ordered Yuqi to hurry and dress him for the imperial visit.

“Where is the Crown Prince now?” Jiang Mingyu asked through gritted teeth.

Old Xie: “Your Lord and Lady, upon hearing the Crown Prince’s arrival, dared not delay—they’ve already welcomed him to the front courtyard to wait.”

“They?” Jiang Mingyu asked, puzzled.

Old Xie: “His imperial procession—least a hundred men!”

Jiang Mingyu: “Quickly… help me up—I must change clothes at once!” Before he finished speaking, Jiang’s father and mother had already led the Crown Prince to the doorway of Jiang Mingyu’s room and walked right in without a word of greeting!

The Jiang family of Nanyang Dongzhou, known for their simple, hospitable customs, always welcomed high-ranking officials directly into their home, offering tea and seating with warmth.

In their Dongzhou hometown, the highest official they’d ever encountered was the County Magistrate; this time, it was the Crown Prince—someone they had never hosted before—and they were thrown into confusion.

When Jiang’s father heard the Crown Prince had come to visit Jiang Mingyu, he didn’t hesitate—he led him straight into the inner courtyard, into the very chamber!

The Crown Prince entered and saw Jiang Mingyu, half-naked and terrified, staring at him.

Ignoring his pain, Jiang Mingyu gritted his teeth and hurried to kneel in proper obeisance.

“‘Xingqiu’ is injured—no need for such a grand bow!” The Crown Prince stepped forward and caught Jiang Mingyu before his knees touched the ground.

Jiang Mingyu, ignoring his bare chest, quickly apologized: “Your servant failed to greet you properly—please forgive me…” Even as he spoke, he signaled Yuqi to bring seats for the Crown Prince, Jiang’s father, and Jiang’s mother.

“No need to apologize… I came specifically to bring the Imperial Physician to examine you.” The Crown Prince turned and called the physician inside. Then added: “Don’t bother putting on clothes yet—you may have to take them off again soon…”

The Imperial Physician, “Li Xuanren,” had known the Crown Prince for many years.

He had just finished his shift on rest day when the Crown Prince seized him and brought him out of the palace to the Jiang residence.

Li Xuanren entered with his medicine chest, sat down, and began his diagnosis with practiced ease—observation, listening, inquiry, pulse-taking.

He carefully studied Jiang Mingyu’s complexion, then extended his right hand, gently pressing Jiang Mingyu’s pulse point.

Li Xuanren frowned slightly, intently counting Jiang Mingyu’s pulse for a long while before releasing his hand.

His expression turned solemn—he had already diagnosed Jiang Mingyu’s condition through pulse examination.

Li Xuanren then asked Jiang Mingyu to lie on his back and expose his right chest. The area was swollen, red, and hot to the touch; light pressure made Jiang Mingyu grimace in pain. Li Xuanren’s brow tightened—this internal injury was severe, beyond what an ordinary man could endure.

Li Xuanren dipped his right index finger in wet silver needles and swiftly inserted several around Jiang Mingyu’s Dapò point, then rapidly inserted needles at the Shanzhong and Zusanli points.

As the needles pierced beneath the skin, Li Xuanren’s fingers manipulated the needle handles as if controlling puppet strings.

Moments later, Jiang Mingyu felt the aching pain in his right chest fade, replaced by a tingling, numbing sensation—as if electric currents flowed through his body.

He finally opened his eyes, breathed slowly, and his complexion regained a hint of color.

Jiang Mingyu marveled—Li Xuanren’s acupuncture was miraculous.

Li Xuanren smiled humbly, saying this was a unique skill he had mastered over years—though its effects were swift, he rarely used it on others.

He ordered Jiang Mingyu to rest in bed for a week, avoiding overexertion to ensure proper healing.

Jiang’s father, seeing the Imperial Physician’s miraculous skill, boldly made a request—he knelt and begged Li Xuanren to also treat Jiang’s mother with acupuncture!

He added that she had been suffering frequent headaches and diarrhea, with no clear cause.

“No need to trouble the Imperial Physician,” Jiang Mingyu said, looking uneasy. “I’ve already consulted a local physician—he said it’s just adjustment to new surroundings, nothing serious.”

Jiang Mingyu’s expression was awkward.

“No problem! Since you’re here, make use of it!”

The Crown Prince immediately instructed Li Xuanren to examine Jiang’s mother and take her pulse.

“The Lady has no serious ailment—just minor adjustment to new surroundings.”

After reviewing the herbal prescriptions the local physician had given Jiang’s mother, Li Xuanren added: “The medicine is fine—it just needs to be taken continuously for a month before results appear.”

Later, Li Xuanren performed acupuncture on Jiang’s mother; after the session, her headache immediately eased!

Yuqi, seeing Li Xuanren’s skill, stepped forward and asked him to treat her as well—to relieve her menstrual pain.

Jiang Mingyu’s face twisted in discomfort; he repeatedly apologized to the Crown Prince, saying his family came from the countryside and didn’t know proper etiquette, begging forgiveness.

The Crown Prince waved his hand and smiled: “Your family is just like you!”

Jiang Mingyu: “Your Highness… what do you mean?”

The Crown Prince: “Don’t you remember… how you responded to His Majesty in court?”

Jiang Mingyu suddenly realized—he had been just as abrupt himself!

After diagnosing Yuqi, Li Xuanren treated Jiang’s father for his chronic rheumatism; by the time all were done, it was nearly noon.

To show gratitude, Jiang’s mother insisted they stay for lunch; the Crown Prince, unable to refuse such warmth, agreed to eat before leaving.

Moreover, the Crown Prince wished to stay longer at Jiang Mingyu’s home—rarely did he see Jiang Mingyu outside the classroom, and this was a chance to chat about ordinary matters.

But the hundred-odd members of the Crown Prince’s procession—how to feed them? Old Xie was frantic. The household cook couldn’t handle so many, and they had no stockpile of ingredients.

Fortunately, Manager Zhang appeared just in time with a suggestion.

He said: “Quickly take men to the street corner and buy steamed buns—the shopkeeper there is a friend of mine. Since the shop just opened, mention my name and buy out their entire stock—it might be enough!”

Old Xie: “The street corner buns… you mean Old Wu’s shop?” He kept rubbing his sleeve.

“Who else?” Manager Zhang said, handing him two silver notes. “Hurry and arrange it!”