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Глава 7

My brother's prophecy... indeed... came true.

But how did he know?

Before my eyes appeared a pair of peach blossom eyes, with slightly upturned corners and a touch of natural pink at the ends, yet their gaze was hazy, as if they were drunk.

"Chu Gexing!" Chu Gexun suddenly wanted to rush out of the arena and to the Nine Gates Admiral's Mansion to ask Chu Gexing, the jinx who made such a prediction two years ago, in person.

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This year's Martial Arts Champion Competition has produced an absolute upset.

He was an unknown but handsome young man who defeated General Chu Gexun, known as the number one fighter in Shundu, in a mere nine moves, and won the championship.

When Chu Ge Xun's treasured sword clattered to the ground, countless young girls' dreams were shattered. The expression on Chu Ge Xun's face—a mixture of bewilderment, shock, and sorrow—brought tears to the eyes of countless others. What a melodramatic and touching tale of a tragic hero!

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Just as the figure in red had silently circled behind Chu Gexun, the first person on the left of the throne, dressed in black with a gold-embroidered python robe, wearing a white jade crown, with a fair complexion, black hair, and red lips, Chu Zhen, the First-Class Duke of Great Shun, suddenly stood up, his clear black and white eyes revealing obvious disbelief.

The figure moved with lightning speed, and the agility was astonishing. Ge Xun was sure to lose, and in no more than... a few moves?

Before Chu Zhen could even react, her eyes fell upon the delicate little fan held in a jade-like hand, which then tapped Chu Gexun's hand.

With the sword on the ground, everything was settled.

Chu Zhen was stunned: That was fast.

It was faster than I expected.

What is this person's identity?

Judging from his young age, he possesses such unpredictable skills. Could it be that he started practicing martial arts in the womb?

"Let's go!" A voice suddenly sounded behind him. Chu Zhen turned around and saw the emperor rising up. With a flick of his long sleeves, the figure in the black imperial robe slowly descended from the high platform. Judging from the direction, he was heading straight back to the palace.

Chu Zhen turned around and looked at the red-clad figure in the center of the arena, which was far away. The red was so vibrant that it stung his eyes. Because of the distance, he couldn't make out what the person looked like, but he saw that the person was standing there, opening a fan in his hand and slowly waving it in front of his chest. Judging from the posture, he looked very much like a certain old friend...

How annoying.

Sighing, Chu Zhen thought about how he had come to participate in this martial arts competition amidst his busy schedule, and now that it was over, he still had to deal with the military intelligence coming from the border... He stood up, glanced at the newly appointed champion who had raised his hand to wave to the audience below the stage, and thought that since he would inevitably see him when he went to court tomorrow, there was no need to rush for now.

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"Oh my god, young master has lived up to expectations and won the championship in the martial arts competition! How happy the master will be when he finds out!" The maid, Shishu, rushed up and took away the flowers, gifts, and other miscellaneous things that Tang Leyan was holding. "Wow, he's only just appeared and he's already received so many gifts? Young master is really popular!"

"Who said that if the young master wins the championship, he will be compensated with a gold bracelet?" Xiao Di said coldly at the door, holding his sword.

"Who? Who would dare to say such ridiculous and shallow things? It's outrageous! Who else but my young master could sit in the position of the top scholar?" Shi Shu said indignantly, the gold bracelet on her arm holding the gift jingling.

Xiao Di was too lazy to pay attention to her anymore.

With a single glance from Shi Shu, Mo Hua immediately jumped over: "Young Master, you must be tired. Please sit down. Here is tea. Please drink it slowly."

Tang Leyan nodded and said generously, "What a thoughtful maid! I don't really like those things either, so I'll just give them all to you."

"Thank you so much, young master!" The two maids couldn't stop smiling.

The two of them were busy unpacking gifts.

“Young master, why does it say on this… that it’s a wish for General Chu to win the martial arts championship…” Shi Shu picked up one of the gifts that looked very nicely wrapped. There was a small note on it with delicate handwriting.

“Hey, this one too. Ge Xun, the king of martial arts... how come these people are on the gift for the young master…” Mo Hua said angrily.

Shi Shu's eyes darted around.

Tang Leyan smiled, waving her fan: "Oh dear, you can just pretend you didn't see this kind of boring thing as the inscription."

"Young Master! You didn't steal General Chu's gift back, did you?" Mo Hua looked at Tang Leyan's calm and composed face with horror.

"Wow, that's really clever," Tang Leyan said with a chuckle, slowly adding, "Looks like I can't call you 'Ink Pig' anymore..."

"Young Master, did you really steal General Chu's gift?" Shi Shu looked at her master with righteous indignation. "I wish I could... punish you on behalf of Heaven..."

Tang Leyan said seriously, "How could you use such a domineering and fierce word as 'robbery'? In fact, when those people saw that Chu Gexun was defeated, they accidentally dropped their gifts on the ground. You all know how thrifty I am, so I just... um... did that."

"What?! You didn't actually steal it; you just picked up things that other people didn't want!"

"Exactly! It's worse than robbery!"

"Who told me to ask Xiao Di to get it? Xiao Di wouldn't, so I had to do it myself," the person explained, sounding aggrieved.

Xiao Di, standing at the door, lowered his eyes and gave a cold snort.

"Young Master, Xiao Di would never do something so shameful, you know..."

"Um, young master, if you go out, please don't say we are your maids..."

"But these things are actually quite good."

"General Chu's admirers are all very generous..."

Wow, they even have snacks! Let me try some!

"Wait a minute, to be on the safe side..." Mo Hua reached out and took out a silver needle, "Let's test it first to see if it's poisonous before we eat it."

"Hehe, Ink Pig, you're amazing..."

"No, no."

The two lively characters were beaming with joy.

Tang Leyan: "..."

Xiao Di sighed at the door, rolled his eyes speechlessly, and the soft sunlight shone on him. He turned his head and saw the red-clad figure drinking tea on his own. He raised the corner of his mouth, turned around, and slowly closed his eyes again. The sunlight was so nice. Hmm, he wanted to sleep again.

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Please give me some recommendations first, I'm climbing the new book charts, climbing and climbing!

Chapter Five: Invitation

"I think this Spring Breeze Pavilion is better. Spring breeze, spring breeze, spring breeze of success. Doesn't that foreshadow our young master's future career advancement and smooth sailing?"

"I'll point to the map with my finger," Shi Shu said.

"My dear girl, well said, wonderfully said! I am overjoyed." Tang Leyan lay on the couch, smiling broadly.

"But this Full Moon Pavilion is quite nice too. It proves the young master's brilliance, leaving everyone else only able to look up in awe..."

Ink Pig... Oh, Ink Painting looked at Shi Shu.

"Hmm, this sounds good too. Keep it up, Mo Zhu." Tang Leyan said, fanning herself with her fan.

Shi Shu slammed her hand on the table, unconvinced: "Spring Breeze Pavilion has a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, the price is incredibly low... Young Master, where do you want to go?"

"Buy one get one free, hahaha!" Tang Leyan immediately sat up, her spirits lifted, and said, "Although I'm a generous person, since the owner of Chunfeng Tower is so sincere, of course we have to—"

“Wait a minute,” Mo Hua stopped her in time, “I heard that Manyuelou has recently hired a lot of beautiful waitresses. They are all stunningly beautiful, with unique skills, some gentle and some cold, and there are many different styles… They are simply a feast for the eyes.”

“Beauty, oh my…” Tang Leyan’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she immediately said seriously, “—Go to Full Moon Pavilion.”

This answer was both unexpected and expected.

The ink painting covered its mouth and laughed.

Shi Shu looked at her with disdain: "Young master, you don't have ulterior motives, do you?"

"Of course not," Tang Leyan said honestly. "I just feel that since it's to celebrate my victory, we should be generous. Buy one get one free or something like that would be too embarrassing."

"I don't think so, do I? You are clearly..." Shi Shu's eyes remained unchanged.

Mo Hua chuckled twice: "Sister Shi Shu, let's go, let's go. Eat whatever you can find."

"So what if we go to Chunfeng Tower? If you want to feast your eyes on beautiful women, you can watch Xiao Di eat them." Shi Shu struggled desperately, her voice filled with intense indignation.

"If Xiao Di were willing to have dinner with me, would I still need to go out and look at those vulgar women?" Tang Leyan sighed, got off the ground, waved her fan, and was filled with melancholy.

Xiao Di, who was leaning against the door, slowly opened his eyes. The sword in his arms clattered and jumped out halfway, exuding a chilling aura.

"Wow, Xiao Di, you're so alert even in your sleep..." Tang Leyan exclaimed in surprise. "Shi Shu, you were talking too loudly just now and woke Xiao Di up. Be careful next time."

"It was clearly you... um..." Her mouth was covered and she was forcibly pulled out.

"Xiao Di," Tang Leyan said with a chuckle, taking two steps closer to the boy at the door, "I'm treating tonight, so you should eat more. Look at you, you seem to have lost weight recently." She reached out to pinch him.

"Hmph!" Beneath the wispy bangs, a pair of ink-like eyes swept over her, like a black lightning bolt in the night, leaving Le Yan stunned and unable to make a move.

Xiao Di turned his head: "Young master, aren't you leaving yet?"

"Oh, um." Tang Leyan smiled slightly and stepped out the door.

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"What is causing such a commotion?"

"Admiral, I heard that the newly crowned martial arts champion is hosting a banquet at the Full Moon Pavilion. Many officials have heard about it and have gone to pay their respects."

"oh?"

"Would the Admiral like to go and take a look?"

"Hmph, no need."

"Yes." The man bowed. "Let's go."

A group of fully armed patrolling soldiers, their armor gleaming and weapons shining, swept past downstairs.

"Hmm, I think there's a sound..."

Someone leaned out from upstairs to look.

"It's just the patrol troops of the Nine Gates Admiral. It's nothing, they're just passing by."

"Young Master, why are you sweating so much?" Shi Shu turned her head and looked at Tang Leyan, who was holding a cup of wine and whose hands were trembling slightly.

"No, it's nothing... It's all over now." The person's smile could barely be described as bright.

"Hehe," Mo Hua chuckled, "I don't know who was so gossipy as to spread the news that the new martial arts champion was hosting a dinner at Manyuelou so quickly. As a result, so many people have come to pay their respects to the champion after only a short while. Luckily, they only stayed for a short while before leaving. Otherwise, our young master would be heartbroken by all the food and drinks."

Tang Leyan covered her face with a wine glass: "Xiao Di?"

Xiao Di, who was sitting next to her, glanced at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Did you bring any money?

Xiao Di was surprised: "What...do you mean?"

"I didn't expect so many people to come!" Tang Leyan said softly.