Chapter 20

Fifteen thousand guan, Sakura did not keep a single coin, handing it all over to the sisters Mochun and Mosnow. Done with it, she decided she would no longer meddle in the affairs of the mansion. Let the young prince spend the money as he pleased; after all, this household would eventually fall apart, better sooner than later. Moreover, she realized that the prince's mansion had long changed.

That day was as bright as ever. After moving from the back courtyard to the western annex, Sakura found herself in a garden and a house. She wanted to stay here, waiting for the day she would return to dust.

The room was filled with a fragrant and hazy atmosphere. The sisters Mochun and Mosnow were still chatting outside, while Zhao Yougong, holding a brown wooden box, stared fixedly at the blue stone slabs on the ground. His face tensed and relaxed, gradually showing a hint of pain. After a long while, his eyes blinked, and tears welled up. For over a decade, Zhao Yougong had been a spoiled and ignorant young prince, cheating vendors and beating the elderly. He had done many bad things, but this was the first time he had cried.

A man does not shed tears lightly, unless he is truly heartbroken. He had the money, but he knew he had not just sold the land, but Sakura's life and blood. How could he make up for the suffering of that poor woman?

The sandalwood was almost burned out, and a faint sound of footsteps came from behind. Turning back, Zhao Yougong's face was already full of smiles. His eyes seemed filled with joy and infatuation with beauty. Opening the wooden box, he took out five banknotes and handed them to the sisters, "This money is for you. Buy some nice clothes, and don't disgrace the mansion when you go out."

Holding the money, the sisters Mochun and Mosnow were not overly happy. Instead, they felt a bit guilty. They could have made the young prince better, but they had encouraged him to become more reckless. They couldn't understand why the emperor would do this. Wouldn't it be better to make the young prince useful? He was the emperor's own nephew. The sisters, being newly admitted to the palace, did not understand the dangers of the imperial family.

"Prince, Su the steward... Su the steward moved to the annex..." Mochun said weakly, unable to finish her sentence. Should they ask the young prince to persuade Su the steward to come back? Ha, they had no such power.

"Hmm!"

Just one word, no more. Holding the wooden box, Zhao Yougong quickly left the room.

Outside the annex, the low earthen wall was overgrown with tall weeds. In the garden stood a dilapidated house, with thick smoke rising from the roof. Was Sakura cooking?

Seeing the woman carrying a bucket and wiping her sweat, Zhao Yougong wanted to run over and call out "Sister Su," but he didn't dare. He was afraid that once his feelings were unleashed, he would never be able to收回. When everything was no longer a secret, could his Sister Su still act so painfully?

In the Xie Fang Pavilion, Xiao Tan was chattering away. Listening carefully, it was about Zhao Yougong selling the land. Xiao Tan was truly moved, moved to tears. If the young prince could treat her like this, she would be willing to die. Although the young prince was good for nothing, she still liked such a foolish man. Not just Xiao Tan, but other women would also be moved by the young prince's tragic act of selling land to buy flowers. If they weren't moved, they wouldn't be women.

But there was an exception, and that exception was Cui Nian. Nian had long seen through Zhao Yougong. This young prince was too cunning. How many things had he done with the flower queen contest? Mocking Li Shishi, causing a commotion at the academy, selling land to buy flowers—each step was perfectly executed, almost without a flaw. If it weren't for her intuition, she might have been moved.

Nian's face was expressionless, which greatly displeased Xiao Tan. Pouting, she whispered, "Sister Cui, you have to say something. The young prince, though good for nothing, is truly devoted to you. If someone treated me like that, I would be willing to die, and my life would be worth it."

"You little devil," Nian glared at Xiao Tan and chuckled, "What, are you in love? Why don't I send you to the young prince?"

"Hehe, as long as Sister Cui is willing, I can do it too!"

Seeing Xiao Tan's playful smile, Nian raised her hand to strike, "You little brat, I've been too nice to you, and now you dare to speak like this!"

In the De Yue Pavilion, Xuan'er was peeling fruit and placing it in a dish. Li Shishi held a brush, writing something, her delicate brows occasionally furrowing. "Xuan'er, has anything happened recently?"

Li Shishi's question was actually about the young prince Zhao. For some reason, she had become interested in this rogue prince.

Xuan'er, who had been with Shishi for a long time, understood. Pouting, she whispered, "There is something. I heard that the young prince sold half of his fief in Xucheng to make Nian the flower queen."

"Oh?" Shishi stopped writing, her mind blank. Looking out the window at the willows, a few birds flew by. Why did she feel so envious? Nian was truly blessed. The young prince treated her better than those hypocritical officials and scholars, and even the emperor.

"Um, oh, right, the young prince is now in Yurou's room!"

"When did he come?"

"Just half an hour ago. When I went to get the fruit dish, Sister Cuishan said the young prince would stay for dinner."

Hearing Xuan'er's words, Shishi smiled, which was very rare for her, usually so cold. Shishi was already beautiful, and when she smiled, it was like a peony, captivating and enchanting. Unfortunately, only Xuan'er could see this beautiful moment.

"Interesting, instead of going to Nian to claim credit, he came to our De Yue Pavilion. What is this young prince up to?"

Shishi muttered to herself, her voice low, but Xuan'er heard clearly. Putting down the fruit, she raised her face and smiled, "What the young prince is doing, Sister Shishi, why don't you go and see?"

Go and see? It seemed like a good idea.

What was Zhao Yougong doing at that moment? He was frowning and drinking, one cup after another, not even touching the food. Yurou's eyes were deep, her brows tightly furrowed. The wine bottle was almost empty, and when she saw Zhao Yougong about to drink more, she reached out and held his wrist, "My dear, don't drink anymore. Is there something troubling you? Why don't you talk about it, it always helps to talk."

Letting go of the wine bottle, Zhao Yougong gently rubbed Yurou's hand, closed his eyes for a moment, and shook his head with a bitter smile, "Yurou, do you think I'm wrong? Why does Su Sakura always oppose me? No matter what I do, she always stands in my way. Now she's gone to the annex to farm and cook. What have I done wrong?"

Yurou really couldn't answer. If she were to be honest, it was the young prince's fault. If it weren't for Su the steward managing things, the Chu Mansion would have fallen apart long ago. But could she say that to the young prince?

"Who is right or wrong, what does it matter? Life goes on!"

"Ah, you are good at comforting people. Ah, life does go on!"

Zhao Yougong sighed. Yurou picked up the chopsticks and served him some food. No matter how angry the young prince was, Yurou could tell he still cared about Su the steward. But why was the young prince so harsh on Su the steward? After all, Su the steward was one of the most beautiful women, and most people thought she would become the lady of the Chu Mansion. But the two new concubines got there first, and Su the steward remained a virgin. Strange, strange. Did the young prince dislike Su the steward, or was there something wrong with Su the steward?

A light knock on the door, Yurou got up to open it, and was surprised to see, "Shishi, why are you here?"

"I heard the young prince arrived, and I wanted to talk to him. I hope I'm not disturbing you, Sister!"

"No problem, come in!" Yurou opened the door and invited Li Shishi in.

Zhao Yougong didn't expect Li Shishi to come. Holding the wine bottle, he tilted his head and said irritably, "Madam Li, if you want me to give up Nian, you can forget it!"

"Why would you think that, young prince? I just want to ask if you found Nian's poem."

Shishi sat down, her expression calm, showing no emotion.

Zhao Yougong raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Of course! How could I let Madam Li have all the glory?"

"Oh? What poem is it?"

Shishi was very interested because in terms of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she and Nian were evenly matched. The only difference was in singing and dancing, and the most important part of that was the lyrics.

"A song called 'Ding Feng Bo'! As for the details, you'll hear it on the day."

Zhao Yougong wouldn't reveal the content of the poem, fearing that Li Shishi might cause trouble. But he was wrong. He never imagined that Li Shishi was actually hoping to lose.

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On the south bank of Bianliang, a hundred-year-old wutong tree had two people sitting on it, one leaning on a branch and the other straddling the trunk.

"Dugu, when you went to the scripture hall, what book did you want to... oh, I mean, look at?"

"The Yi Jin Jing..."

"The Yi Jin Jing? If it was that, why didn't you say so earlier!"

Zhao Yougong looked disdainful, while Dugu Qiu's lips curled in disdain, "Would it have made a difference if I said so earlier?"

"Of course it would have. It's just the Yi Jin Jing." Zhao Yougong didn't take it seriously and pulled out a blue-covered book from his chest, tossing it to Dugu Qiu.

Dugu Qiu didn't take it seriously either, but when he opened the book and read a few pages, his eyes almost popped out. It was the Yi Jin Jing he had been searching for. Envy, true envy. The old master, who looked like a righteous monk, had already given the Shaolin treasure to his disciple.

No wonder Zhao Yougong could perform the ordinary Shaolin long fist with such vigor, thanks to the benefits of the Yi Jin Jing.

Dugu Qiu was already proud, but now, even with his character, he couldn't help but admire Zhao Yougong. At just sixteen, he had mastered the Yi Jin Jing. If not for this, he wouldn't have given away such a treasure.

Talent, it seemed, wasn't just Dugu Qiu's. Zhao Yougong had it too. But, at least now he had a rival in life.