Chapter 7: A Prince’s Daily Life
Seven days later.
Xu Buling stepped out of the Imperial Academy and whistled. A tall, black horse with snow-white hooves trotted out from the stables and stopped in front of the dismounting stone on the bluestone street.
The horse was a “Windchaser Snowhoof,” a breed native to the northern deserts. The cavalry of Prince Su’s Western Liang army, numbering 100,000 strong, relied entirely on horses from the north. Out of every hundred fine steeds, one would be a Snowhoof, and out of every hundred Snowhoofs, one would be a Windchaser. Their price was equivalent to their weight in gold, and they were extremely rare. There were only two in Chang’an, the other being the Emperor’s mount.
Xu Buling mounted his horse and galloped towards the Prince of Su’s residence on Kui Shou Street in Changle District. The area surrounding the Imperial Palace was home to princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials, with heavily guarded mansions and relatively few pedestrians.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he passed through the three octagonal archways of Kui Shou Street and saw a small palanquin parked outside the Prince of Su’s residence. A graceful maid stood at the entrance, holding an umbrella and waiting respectfully.
It was Madam Lu’s personal maid.
Xu Buling felt a headache coming on. He reined in his horse, preparing to turn back and spend the night at the Imperial Academy, but a clear voice called out from behind:
“Young Master!”
Xu Buling sighed and urged his horse forward, trotting through the snow-covered street towards the maid. He feigned ignorance:
“Yuenü, what brings you here?”
Yuenü curtsied gracefully, her voice soft and gentle:
“Your Highness, Madam has been waiting for you at home for three days. She hasn’t seen you and was worried that something might have happened, so she sent me to check on you.”
Xu Buling nodded slightly and turned his horse towards Madam Lu’s residence.
Kui Shou Street was exclusively inhabited by princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials. The three octagonal archways at the entrance of the street were bestowed upon the Xiao, Lu, and Xu families.
The Xiao family of Huainan was one of the most prestigious families in the Great Dynasty. They had survived three dynastic changes and had held high positions in the government for generations. The Lu family of Jinling was another prominent family, their mansion in the capital located directly across from the Xiao residence. The Xu family had only been granted their princely title sixty years ago, so there was a significant difference in their respective histories and influence.
Madam Lu had been married to a talented young man from the Xiao family, but he had passed away shortly after their wedding, leaving her a widow.
Aristocratic families placed great emphasis on tradition and propriety. As a descendant of the Lu family, Madam Lu naturally adhered to these values and wouldn’t remarry. She had maintained an impeccable reputation over the years. Having grown accustomed to life in the capital, she was reluctant to return to Huainan and continued to reside at Jinghua Courtyard, near the Xiao residence.
Xu Buling dismounted his horse outside Jinghua Courtyard, instructed his guards to wait, adjusted his clothes, and entered the garden with familiarity. He made his way to the lakeside villa.
The winter wind rustled through the garden, where the exotic flowers and trees had long since withered, covered now in a light dusting of snow.
The elegant courtyard wasn’t large. Built beside the lake, it was originally intended as a summer retreat. Madam Lu, who enjoyed peace and quiet, had chosen to reside there permanently, accompanied only by a few maidservants.
The white walls topped with green tiles were dusted with snow, and red lanterns hung outside the courtyard entrance, swaying gently in the breeze.
Xu Buling walked slowly towards the villa. The gate was open, and maids were bustling about, carrying basins of water that steamed in the cold winter air.
Splash, splash—
The faint sound of water reached his ears.
Xu Buling hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked towards the stone pavilion outside the villa. However, a maid had already spotted him and hurried over, bowing respectfully:
“Young Master, Madam is bathing. Please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
Xu Buling tightened his snow-white fox fur cloak and waited patiently outside the courtyard.
However, shortly after the maid went inside to announce his arrival, a slightly irritated voice called out from the villa:
“Buling, come in.”
“…?”
Xu Buling folded his arms, gazing at the snow-covered garden as if he hadn’t heard anything.
Tap, tap—
The maid hurried back, her expression slightly awkward. She glanced at the handsome prince and whispered:
“Young Master, Madam is calling you inside~”
“(⊙_⊙)!”
Xu Buling frowned slightly. He felt that Madam Lu was being inappropriate. Although he was physically in his late teens, his mind was mature, and besides, seventeen or eighteen wasn’t exactly young.
“Come in quickly! Are you going to disobey me now?”
Madam Lu’s voice was laced with annoyance, and there was a splashing sound as if she had slapped the water.
Xu Buling entered the villa reluctantly. A dim yellow light shone from the west wing, casting the silhouette of a woman’s figure on the paper window. The outline was graceful and curvaceous, and maids were moving about inside.
Xu Buling averted his gaze, stopped outside the window, and chuckled:
“Aunt Lu, I’ll wait outside. You go ahead and finish.”
“You’ll just run away later. I called you here, and you pretend not to hear me. Do you find me annoying?”
Splash, splash—
Xu Buling rubbed his forehead, facing away from the window, and thought for a moment:
“You’re overthinking it, Aunt Lu. Um… I have some personal matters…”
The splashing sound continued inside. After a brief silence, a sigh escaped from the room, carrying a hint of resentment:
“Forget it. I won’t pry. Just be careful. You beat up Xiao Ting a few days ago…”
“I know I was wrong.”
“I didn’t say you were wrong. Good job. Xiao Ting is a bully, all talk and no action. He’s not a real man. If he weren’t my brother-in-law, I would have dealt with him myself.”
“Um… Alright, I’ll try harder next time.”
“Xiao Ting went to the palace to complain, and the Empress Dowager even asked me to discipline you. Hmph~ How could I bear to discipline you? I adore you. I practically want to keep you in my pocket…
…Sigh~ It’s a shame you’ve grown up and don’t like being controlled. I guess I’m just being a nag…”
Her voice trailed off, laced with a hint of melancholy.
Xu Buling took a deep breath, maintaining his composure. He spoke gently, like a respectful nephew:
“Of course not. I love you the most, Aunt Lu. No one else cares about me.”
“…You’re just saying that…”
Her tone softened slightly. There was a splashing sound as if she had stepped out of the bath. Clothes rustled, and she continued:
“I didn’t call you here to scold you. There’s an assassin in the capital, highly skilled. Even Zhang Xiang, the head of the Investigation Bureau, was almost assassinated. Ten years ago, the Investigation Bureau cracked down on the martial world, and there are still many remnants seeking revenge. Your father also suppressed martial artists, so they might target you as well. Be careful these days.”
Xu Buling nodded slightly:
“I understand.”
“And what about the salt smuggling case?”
Xu Buling knew this was coming. He said helplessly:
“I just happened to be passing by and helped out.”
“You ‘helped out’ and ended up being hailed as a righteous judge. Do you think your reputation isn’t good enough already?”
Xu Buling was filled with guilt and remained silent.
“…Forget it. What’s done is done. I’ve already instructed the Imperial Guard to suppress the matter. Be more careful in the future… And remember, killing creates karma. You’re still so young, yet you already have over a hundred lives on your hands. It will shorten your lifespan. Don’t kill anyone else.”
“Heh, I know.”
“Don’t just ‘know.’ You need to act accordingly. Do outrageous things, not good deeds.”
The door to the west wing opened, and Madam Lu stepped out, dressed in a thin robe and a shawl. Her hair was wet and draped over her back, her cheeks flushed, exuding a captivating charm like a vibrant peony blooming amidst the snow.
The winter air was cold, and Madam Lu shivered slightly as she stepped out of the warm room.
Seeing this, Xu Buling removed his fox fur cloak and draped it over her shoulders. He was half a head taller than her, and the cloak was large enough to envelop her completely.
Madam Lu tightened the cloak around her, the warmth dispelling the chill. Her expression softened, and she glanced at Xu Buling, who was now only wearing his white robe:
“Don’t catch a cold. Come inside.” She turned and walked towards her bedroom.
Xu Buling sighed helplessly and followed her inside.
The bedroom wasn’t large, furnished with a zither stand, a painting desk, a soft couch, and a tea table. Behind a beaded curtain was an embroidered bed, small and exquisite, warmed by a brazier.
The door closed, and Xu Buling glanced around before sitting down beside the tea table. With practiced movements, he began brewing a pot of “Dragon Well Snow Tips” tea, a variety from Southern Yue.
Madam Lu removed her cloak and sat down on the soft couch, dressed only in a thin green robe. A bronze mirror, a comb, and jewelry were arranged beside her. As she reached for the comb, she suddenly frowned slightly, picked up the fox fur cloak, and sniffed it closely. Her expression gradually turned serious.
Xu Buling, busy with the tea set, looked up curiously:
“What’s wrong, Aunt Lu?”
Madam Lu held the cloak to her nose and sniffed it carefully:
“Moon Palace Cassia from Xianzhi Shop. A young woman’s fragrance…”
“…”
Xu Buling froze. He had been lifting and tossing Song Yufu out of the Bell and Drum Tower for the past few days, but he had only touched her with his hands. How could she detect that?
Madam Lu pursed her lips, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Xu Buling:
“Moon Palace Cassia has a very faint scent and is quite expensive. Only young ladies from scholarly families use it… Who is this girl?”
Xu Buling continued pouring the tea, a hint of helplessness in his voice:
“Aunt Lu, don’t you trust me? I just accidentally brushed against a female student from Wenqu Courtyard. I haven’t been doing anything improper.”
“What are you talking about?”
Madam Lu’s expression was serious, clearly displeased. She sat up straight:
“As the son of a prince, why would I stop you from seeking female companionship? If you need a woman, just tell me. I can find any type of woman you desire…” She then turned her head and called out:
“Yuenü.”
“Here, Madam.”
Yuenü, who had returned, entered the room respectfully and bowed her head.
“Escort His Highness to his chambers. You will attend to him tonight and accompany him from now on.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Yuenü curtsied and walked towards Xu Buling, extending her hand to assist him.
Xu Buling felt a shiver run down his spine. If Madam Lu planted another spy by his side, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. He raised his hand:
“Enough, enough. I’m not blaming you, Aunt Lu. It was just an accident. I don’t have any special feelings for that girl.”
Madam Lu observed him carefully for a long moment. Seeing that he was being truthful, she sighed softly:
“Buling, I’m not trying to stop you from finding a woman. But you’re still young, incredibly handsome, and hold a high position. There’s no woman in the world who wouldn’t be attracted to you… As the saying goes, ‘A woman’s heart is the most venomous.’ They’ll do anything to seduce you. You’re still inexperienced and could easily be deceived. It’s not just yourself you’re putting at risk. Haven’t you heard the stories of ‘The Beacon Fire that Lured the Princes’ and ‘King Zhou of Shang’?”
“I know. I’ll be careful.”
Xu Buling chuckled softly, poured a cup of tea, and offered it to Madam Lu:
“Aunt Lu, have some tea and calm down.”
Madam Lu pursed her lips, took the teacup, blew on it gently, and took a small sip. She sat sideways, her head turned slightly away, still harboring a hint of resentment.
Xu Buling thought for a moment, then bowed:
“Um… There’s a chess match at the Dragon’s Roar Pavilion in Daye District today. I’m going to place a bet. I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Madam Lu set down the teacup, picked up the fox fur cloak, and draped it over his back. She then walked around him and fastened the ties at the front:
“It’s natural for young people to seek attention, but your position is too high. Asking you to hide your abilities and feign incompetence isn’t meant to harm you. Prince Su holds too much military power, and there are rumors in the streets about ‘a prince plotting to usurp the throne.’ The Emperor must be suspicious…
…Now, there are whispers among the officials about ‘the Emperor wanting to weaken the princes.’ Whether it’s true or not, you need to be cautious and avoid attracting unwanted attention.”
Xu Buling smiled slightly:
“I understand.”
Madam Lu patted his chest:
“It’s not difficult to ruin your reputation. Those old scholars at the literary gatherings are obsessed with originality. Buying poems, copying poems, any form of plagiarism is considered disgraceful…
…Go and buy a good poem, one that you wouldn’t be able to write with your current level of knowledge. A few days later, at the Dragon’s Roar Poetry Gathering, present it as your own. Those pedantic scholars will surely attack you relentlessly. Then, you insist that you wrote it yourself. Your reputation will be tarnished naturally…”
Xu Buling’s eyes lit up. This was a brilliant idea.
As a transmigrator, he couldn’t write poetry, but copying a good poem that he couldn’t possibly have written and getting scolded for it was a piece of cake.
At the age of eighteen, reciting a line like “An old man indulging in youthful folly, a yellow hound on my left, a goshawk on my right” would make it obvious that it was plagiarized.
Xu Buling nodded and chuckled:
“Don’t worry, Aunt Lu. This time, I’ll make sure they curse me to oblivion.”
Madam Lu snorted:
“Don’t mess it up this time. If you excel in both literary and martial arts, everyone will be wary of you.” She adjusted his cloak, examined him carefully, and nodded in satisfaction:
“Go… And don’t indulge in any frivolous activities.”
Xu Buling, brimming with confidence, turned and left the villa…
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