“Hyah!”
Two steeds swiftly galloped across the wilderness, the winds sweeping past. Liu Yun gritted his teeth in hatred, for a long time now he’d been unable to throw Liu Xin off the trail. Turning his head back and seeing the smirk on his handsome face, fueled his jealousy again. Liu Yun shouted, “Liu Xin, it’s said that that face of yours came about because your father fooled around with an actress, who gave birth to you, a bastard! Back then, your mother didn’t die out of love, she just couldn’t stand the thought of your father favoring that actress even in the afterlife.”
Liu Xin jolted on horseback, frowned and glanced at Liu Yun riding in front of him. He yelled, “If you’re racing a bastard, then you’re the inferior one.”
Enraged and impatient, Liu Yun abruptly pulled his reins and rode behind Liu Xin’s back; he swung his whip and hit Liu Xin’s mount. Startled by the sudden whiplash, the hunting horse raised its hooves, neighed and galloped away.
“Despicable!” Liu Xin scolded. The hunting horse he rode on went rampant out of fear, no matter what he said or did, the horse didn’t listen to his instructions and kept rushing onward.
Liu Xin sat firmly in his saddle and let the horse rush forward freely. Looking back, Liu Yun had long disappeared from sight. The rider and horse rushed on for a while, when Liu Xin abruptly saw a small bridge made of bamboo appear in front of him. The bamboo bridge looked elegant and unique.
The hunting horse rushed forward in folly, the fragile bridge collapsing under its weight, the stalks of bamboo breaking apart and splashing into the clear stream under the bridge.
“Shh–”
A cabin built of bamboo stood before the broken bridge, the peaceful sound of books being read and recited was carried with the wind. Liu Xin patted his horse’s neck and pulled on the reins, but the hunting horse still rushed onward.
The moment he was about to rush into the cabin a tune played on a bamboo leaf could be heard. The tune sounded as beautiful and pleasant as an immortal’s lament. Hearing the tune, the steed suddenly neighed and slowed down, its hooves nervously paced back and forth, then quieted down.
Liu Xin dismounted and looked ahead, a figure in white stood before the bamboo cabin. He appeared exceptional and elegant, not delicate, despite his pale skin and matching snow white long gown. A cool breeze suddenly swept across the plains, the man’s long strands of black hair swaying in the wind around his straight and slender body.
Liu Xin felt his soul stir and his body shake from head to foot, unable to restrain his elation, he slowly stepped toward the figure in white. Beside the door of the bamboo cabin stood a handsome scholar. Liu Xin thought that the term ‘handsome’ didn’t do him justice, He has an elegant and refined temperament as if an aura of bright light surrounds him at all times.
Entranced and enchanted, Liu Xin gradually approached him, only to notice that he was half a head taller than himself. Always standing tall, tender yet intimidating. The man had a thin lip line, high nose bridge and a faint, polite smile.
“Are you… His Highness Xin?”
These five short words sounded like the ripples of a mountain spring, pleasant but brisk. The man glanced at the expensive jade pendant engraved with his name, hanging on Liu Xin’s waist and guessed his identity. Ordinary people would immediately flatter and fawn upon the members of the imperial family. Liu Xin was surprised by the man’s actions, neither humble nor overbearing.
Looking up, Liu Xin met a pair of beautiful black eyes.
In an instant, as though hiding the sky and covering the earth, he was overwhelmed by a strong sense of déjà vu. The black pair of eyes were as proud and detached as the bright stars in the night sky. As if we’ve crossed paths thousands of years ago… Liu Xin ordered his thoughts and muttered, “Dong Shengqing…”
A light smile on his lips, Dong Xian placed the bamboo scroll in his hands aside and greeted Liu Xin, “Your Highness, it turns out that you’ve heard of me. I intended to pay my respects to His Majesty today, but when I passed by I noticed that the teacher of this private school is sick and has trouble speaking. I temporarily substituted for him and neglected to go to the hunting grounds.” Dong Xian’s quiet and even tone made Liu Ao and his entourage look utterly unimportant.
He walked into the bamboo cabin, then turned around toward Liu Xin, “Your Highness, you ended up here because you cannot ride a horse. Please, come in and have a seat.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Liu Xin felt a little annoyed by his conjecture that hit the nail on the head. In truth, he had never met Dong Xian before but out of instinct he said his name aloud. Perhaps in this world the only person worth these three characters is Dong Shengqing himself
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The students turned their heads toward the back and stared at the newcomer with curious eyes, Liu Xin felt at a complete loss. Dong Xian patted him on his shoulder and said with a light smile “Big brother, no need to be shy.”
Mature, steady.
Feeling his shoulders covered by five slender fingers, Liu Xin suddenly thought that he was still too immature compared to the man in front of him.
“Teacher who broke our bridge?” Several students leaned out the windows, pointing to the destroyed bamboo bridge.
Liu Xin’s body tensed up, he didn’t dare to make a sound. If Liu Yun hadn’t lashed his whip so hard, the hunting horse would not’ve lost its mind.
“Teacher didn’t see who broke it, why don’t we go and repair the bridge during class?” In an instant, the crowd cheered in joy. Dong Xian asked the scholar for a long rope then took the unruly children to the bamboo bridge. Liu Xin felt sorry for his actions and ran after him.
Though they intended to build a bridge together, the seven to eight year old children didn’t take the task seriously. They sat by the stream, playing in the shallow waters after an incense stick’s time. Dong Xian shook his head, but did not blame them for their behavior. By himself, he dragged the entire deck ashore and re-weaved it.
The stream soaked Dong Xian’s white robe, so he thoroughly rolled up his sleeves, exposing his slender arms. However, a long and hideous scar cut through his right wrist as smooth as satin.
Dong Xian abruptly raised his head, noticed Liu Xin and said, “Your Highness, go to the other end and help me carry the bridge deck. I can’t carry it by myself.”
Liu Xin pursed his lips and hurried to the other side to lend a helping hand. He secretly glanced at Dong Xian, who was a few years older than him, White gown, white shoes, Dong Shengqing exudes a pure and holy qi.
Dong Xian didn’t pay any attention to him, he calmly tied the bridge deck together and placed it back on the bamboo poles, all by himself. After straightening his clothes, he clapped his hands, plucked a green bamboo leaf from the stalks of bamboo growing beside the stream, and softly played a song.
Liu Xin had heard the tune before but now it sounded like the sound of heaven. Standing in the breeze, white gown swaying in the wind, the man playing the heavenly tune appeared immortal. Hearing the song, the children excitedly plucked bamboo leaves themselves, placed them against their lips and blew with all their strength. However, not one of them managed to produce a sound similar to Dong Xian’s, so they clamored for him to teach them.
Dong Xian reached out and patted their heads, “These leaves are very thin, you’re too young and don’t have enough breath.”
Disappointed, the students sprinted off to do something else, yet Liu Xin’s eyes narrowed suddenly in suspicion. He inquired, “Lord Dong I recently heard that your right wrist was injured by the Prince of Xianyang, ruining your martial arts. Is this true?”
Dong Xian was taken aback by the abrupt and direct question Their eyes met, one pair bright, one dark. Facing the pair of eyes full of youth and vigor, Dong Xian didn’t show any fear and said with a slight smile, “Shengqing lacks talent in the martial arts so his fighting skills are inherently weak. Besides, he prefers not to fight, losing his martial arts isn’t an issue.”
“Really? Then is the soft whip wound around your waist just for spurring a horse?”
It was known to everyone in court that Yunyang’s Dong Xian was skilled in fighting with the soft whip; keeping it hidden from sight by wrapping it around his waist, concealed the weapon and let him strangle an enemy’s neck from a few chi away. Liu Xin’s question jokingly pointed out Dong Xian’s oversight.
Dong Xian was stunned still, then unwound the thin yet sharp whip from his waist and said with a smile, “Your Highness, you think too much. This soft whip has been with me for many years. I can’t bear to toss it aside, so I prefer to keep it close at hand.”
He hesitated briefly, then explained, “Shengqing’s good fortune is shallow, he shall never use it again.”
As he spoke, he casually lashed his whip against some nearby stalks of bamboo.
Swish–
The whiplash’s sound was loud and sonorous, the whip itself was a weapon worthy of praise, yet the whip wielder lacked the superb skill of an expert. Even if you act unskilled, your eventual oversight will expose your mastery one day. Liu Xin knew a little about martial arts, he could tell that Dong Xian’s whiplashes had been superficial, the swing lacking the spirit of a martial artist.
Dong Xian forced a smile, “Thankfully, I’ve always loved to read since I was little. Even though I lost my martial arts skill, I can still write essays and compose poetry.”
Liu Xin stayed silent, doubt in his eyes. Seeing that the stalks of bamboo were still intact, he whispered, “So that’s how it is…” He bent down and picked up a bamboo leaf to take a closer look at it, the expression in his eyes darkening. Suddenly he said, “It’s getting late, I should head back now. Lord Dong, do you want to come along?”
“Oh it’s indeed time to go back.” Dong Xian looked up at the evening sky and said, “There are many forks in this forest. Your Highness, your horse ran around in a frenzy previously, you may not know the way back. If I don’t accompany you I’m afraid that you’ll get lost.”
In his pair of pupils as black as ink, gleamed a self-confident smile. Dong Xian met Liu Xin’s suspecting eyes, his gaze gentle and gracious despite the oppression it evoked. Caught in this pair of eyes, an ordinary person would’ve lost his mind to infatuation in an instant. Like waves beating against the shore, the master’s every move stirred one’s soul.
Liu Xin didn’t avoid his sight, the moment their eyes met, he thought, I can’t see through you, you can’t see through me. But, he said to Dong Xian in a steady voice, “May I trouble you then, to take me back to the hunting grounds?” Liu Xin’s spirit did not match his young age of seventeen.
Dong Xian only taught them for half a day, yet the children adored him already. It took a lot of effort to escape the students’ enthusiasm. By the time the two arrived at the hunting grounds’ stone pavilion, dusk had fallen.
Dong Xian rode ahead, Liu Xin followed behind; the moment the two reached the stone pavilion, Dong Xian got off his horse, walked to Liu Ao and cupped his hands in salute. He then retold his encounter with Liu Xin. As the night sky darkened, the stone pavilion was lit up by swaying lanterns, the flickering lights and long shadows obscured his features and stretched his tall figure.
Liu Ao was overjoyed to see him, his eyes beaming with joy. Out of sheer surprise, he forgot to ask his nephew why he ended up in the bamboo forest by mistake, instead he asked Dong Xian, “Shengqing, how is your injury? Is it a serious injury?”
“Your Majesty there’s no need to worry, merely my mediocre martial arts were lost, I didn’t suffer any serious injuries.”
“Hmph!” Liu Ao grunted in anger, “That Prince of Xianyang thinks too highly of himself, We shall punish him severely.”
Dong Xian slightly smiled, not expressing his opinion.
A few five-colored pebbles were placed on the table; wanting to win against his cousin Liu Yun came back earlier, yet Liu Xin returned with Dong Xian. Liu Yun gnashed his teeth in anger, I should’ve hit his horse harder with my whip!
There stood hundreds of attendants around the stone pavilion, since Dong Xian arrived on horseback, their eyes brimmed with praise and admiration.
Beautiful, gentle and aloof.
Yunyang’s Dong Xian is such a mesmerizing and magnificent beauty, unmatched in his generation.
Using the term ‘beauty’ appeared a bit inappropriate, because Dong Xian exuded a terrifying aura at all times.
“Tomorrow, you must move into Weiyang Palace to take care of your health. We will arrange some civil affairs for you to look after.” Liu Ao ordered in low tone.
Sitting on the side Wang Mang smiled lightly “If I had known earlier, I would’ve let them abolish my martial arts too. Reading and writing every day must be a leisurely matter. How lucky you are, Shengqing!”
Dong Xian said with a bitter smile, “Brother Mang, what are you saying? I’m not like you, I haven’t practiced my martial arts to perfection, so it isn’t a pity to lose them.”
The two teased each other, appearing close and cordial.
Seeing that Liu Xin came back safe and sound, Zhiwei finally felt relieved. Dong Xian drew everyone’s attention, the moment Zhiwei laid eyes on him her cheeks blushed bright red, bursts of heat swept over her. He had pulled on the maiden’s heartstrings.
There’s such a beautiful man beneath the heavens!
Dong Xian’s every frown and smile made her heart tremble.
“Zhiwei?” Seeing her standing in a daze, Liu Xin waved his hand in front of her while saying her name.
“Oh, Master… you called me?” Zhiwei came to her senses. It was dark already, so her flushed face couldn’t be seen. Zhiwei softly said “It turns out that Lord Dong is such a person… I heard that he lost his martial arts, how unfortunate.”
Liu Xin sighed and replied in a low voice, “Silly girl, you still haven’t made any progress. Perhaps, it’s all fake, don’t be fooled by appearances.”
Hearing this, Zhiwei felt a little unconvinced and spoke up to defend him, “How could that be? He may be slender and tall, but he’s very thin too. Lord Dong doesn’t look like he knows martial arts. Your Highness, you think too much.”
The master and the servant insisted on their own views so Liu Xin asserted, “Dong Xian is close to Wang Mang, now he’s been injured abruptly and will enter the palace to work as an official. Don’t you think there’s something strange about this?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Zhiwei said stubbornly.
Noticing that he couldn’t convince her otherwise, Liu Xin did not insist. At least I’m guarding against him already, regardless of his superb schemes and machinations he can’t enter my heart.
