novelapdf Chapter 27 Break one of this servant's legs
Chapter 27 Break one of this servant's legs
"Then congratulations!"
Princess Yunhe put down the osmanthus cake in her hand, took the handkerchief handed to her by the maid and wiped her fingers, then suddenly clapped her hands lightly twice.
"I also have something to give you."
The applause was light and crisp, echoing throughout the hall.
A person emerged from behind the screen in the east hall.
That was a young man who had come with the princess, waiting outside the screen.
He was dressed in a dark brown short jacket, with a cowhide belt around his waist and a pair of black, thin-soled boots.
He wasn't particularly tall, but he was extremely sturdy, with broad, thick shoulders and back like a wall. His arms hung at his sides, and the veins on his forearms were visible through his sleeves.
He was not particularly handsome, with a square face, thick eyebrows, high cheekbones, and full lips, but his eyes were extremely sharp, with light brown pupils like two polished flints, and he looked at people with an undisguised wildness.
He walked up to Princess Yunhe, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sun Ninghu greets the Princess and Miss."
His voice was deep and resonant, as if it came from his chest.
Princess Yunhe waved her hand, signaling him to stand up. She turned to Lin Longyue and said with a smile, "This is the youngest person in my household to reach the Bronze Red realm. He is only nineteen years old and has already stepped into the Bronze Red realm."
Before the New Year, he defeated seven people in a row in the martial arts examination in Gyeonggi Province, but unfortunately lost. I took a liking to him and took him into my household to raise.
As she spoke, she casually stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist: "If we become good friends, I will give this person to you. After you finish your duel with Chu Linzi, if he is still alive, you can return him to me."
Lin Longyue raised an eyebrow slightly: "Princess, how can this be..."
"What's wrong with that?" Princess Yunhe interrupted her, her tone casual: "Your duel with Chu Linzi is a major event for Yuanjiang Prefecture."
If you lose, you will bring shame upon your Baosu Marquis family.
She paused, glanced at Sun Ninghu, and smiled slightly: "Chu Linzi is a martial arts fanatic. The few Bronze-Red Realm martial artists under her are all personally trained by her master, Master Zhaoyang. They follow the fierce and powerful style, and are the most ruthless in head-on combat. If you want to beat her in the Crown Prince's Beast Fighting Palace, the people in your mansion alone probably won't be enough."
"This Sun Ninghu is indeed a fierce tiger." Princess Yunhe picked up her teacup and gently blew on the floating leaves. "The Crown Prince is most fond of beast fighting. Since you are going to gamble with Chu Linzi and decide who is better in the Crown Prince's beast fighting palace, you need a fierce beast."
He is your beast.
Sun Ninghu stood to the side, hands at his sides, expressionless.
When he heard the word "beast," his eyes remained completely unmoved, as if he had long been accustomed to such a term.
Lin Longyue's gaze lingered on Sun Ninghu for a few moments before she nodded: "In that case, I thank you, Princess."
-
Chen Lingxi stood by the door, hands hanging down, head bowed, as quiet as a wooden stake.
Liu Zhu went in to inform him, and soon came out and nodded to him.
He stepped across the threshold and entered the east hall.
The charcoal fire inside the hall was burning brightly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Lin Longyue sat in the main seat, wearing a pale yellow jacket with a silver fur coat over it. Her hair was adorned with a red gold hairpin with a pearl in it, making her look less aloof and more radiant than usual.
On the small table beside her sat a celadon vase containing a few early-blooming mountain peach blossoms, their petals still glistening with dew, along with a few other flowers, creating a charming scene.
It was indeed the flower arrangement that Chen Lingxi had sent the previous time.
She had a smile on her face, a smile that, though not deep, was more genuine than any she had ever seen Chen Lingxi in the past.
Princess Yunhe sat in the guest seat, still with that languid demeanor, one hand supporting her chin, the other holding a piece of osmanthus cake, slowly eating it, her movements simple yet exuding nobility.
Seeing Chen Lingxi enter, he lazily said, "Servant, your opportunity has arrived."
Chen Lingxi walked into the hall and bowed, saying, "This servant, Chen Lingxi, greets Miss and Princess."
Lin Longyue waved her hand, signaling him to stand up. Her gaze fell on him, and she was unusually gentle: "Your locust branch vase was sent to Consort Chun's Mirror Palace. The Consort liked it very much and specially sent a female official from the Bureau of Ceremonies to convey her praise."
She paused, a hint of barely perceptible pride in her voice: "This is the first time I've received an award from the palace in all these years I've been in Yuanjiang Prefecture."
Chen Lingxi lowered her head and said, "It is Miss's discerning eye that matters. The servant was merely following orders."
Princess Yunhe watched the scene of the harmonious relationship between master and servant, clapped her hands lightly, and said with a smile, "You are lucky to have a servant in your courtyard who is skilled in flower arranging."
Since Her Highness the Consort likes them, let this servant arrange more flowers and send a vase to the Mirror Palace every few days. Over time, Her Highness will naturally remember you.
Lin Longyue nodded in agreement, her gaze falling on Chen Lingxi: "Did you hear that? From now on, send a vase of flowers every five days. The style must be new, the meaning must be clever, and there can be no slackness."
Chen Lingxi accepted the order.
Just as Lin Longyue was about to speak, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
Liu Que from the west courtyard hurried into the east hall.
He walked to Lin Longyue's side, leaned down, and whispered a few words in her ear.
The voice was extremely soft, and it seemed as if the speaker was deliberately using a low voice.
Chen Lingxi was standing far away and couldn't hear clearly, only vaguely catching the words "government office", "Chu Linzi" and "interrogation".
As Lin Longyue listened, her brows gradually furrowed, and the joy on her face faded, replaced by a scrutinizing expression.
She waved her hand, and Liu Que straightened up and stepped aside.
Lin Longyue's gaze fell on Chen Lingxi, her cool eyes lingering on his face for a moment.
"Chen Lingxi," she spoke, her voice not loud, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "When you went to the government office to report for duty today, did you encounter anyone?"
Chen Lingxi's heart stirred slightly, but she remained expressionless on the surface. She lowered her head and replied, "Miss, when I went to the government office to report today, I did see a young lady riding a horse. She had an extraordinary bearing and was accompanied by many people."
The official slave didn't know who it was, only glanced at it from afar, and then went to attend to his own business.
He paused, then added, "The official slave is of lowly status and dares not inquire about the name of a nobleman."
Lin Longyue didn't speak immediately, but stared at him for a few moments.
Despite the icy gaze, Chen Lingxi remained standing with her hands at her sides, her breathing steady.
Princess Yunhe put down her teacup and looked at Lin Longyue curiously: "What's wrong? What trouble could a mere servant causing by reporting to the government office?"
Lin Longyue withdrew her gaze, picked up her teacup and took a sip before slowly saying, "Someone from the government office reported to me that the eldest daughter of the prefect had specifically requested me, a servant, to serve in her household. However, after discovering that Chen Lingxi was a servant of my Marquis's residence, the matter was dropped."
Her tone was flat, as if she were talking about something trivial.
Princess Yunhe raised her eyebrows.
"Chu Linzi?" She put down the pastry in her hand, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "She actually took a fancy to a servant? That's interesting."
She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Chu Linzi is a martial arts fanatic. The technique she practices is the Seeking the Sun True Skill passed down by her master, Master Zhaori."
This martial art is exceptionally effective in killing, and it also possesses another unique ability—the ability to discern the strength or weakness of another person's vital energy.
"This servant in your household caught Chu Linzi's eye at first glance, and she wanted to take him away. Guess what Chu Linzi saw in him?"
Lin Longyue paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.
She put down her teacup and her gaze returned to Chen Lingxi, a hint of inquiry that hadn't been there before appearing in her cool eyes.
She suddenly remembered something.
That day, Jiang Yuan examined the bones of everyone in front of the East Hall of the West Courtyard and said in front of everyone, "This Chen Lingxi has a better bone structure than everyone else in the courtyard. He is a fine piece of talent."
She naturally remembered at this moment, but... only a dozen days had passed. Even looking further back, it had been less than two months since she last taught Chen Ling a martial arts technique.
Even if a government slave has the best physique, what can he possibly achieve in two months?
But Chu Linzi's actions now raised questions in her mind.
Who is Chu Linzi?
The daughter of the Lord of Yuanjiang Prefecture, a personal disciple of Master Zhaori, a martial arts genius in the Silver Bone Realm, and highly regarded by the Crown Prince.
Anyone who catches her eye must be extraordinary.
Lin Longyue's gaze swept over Chen Lingxi several times.
The young man stood in the hall, his back straight, his breathing long and even. His face was white, but with a jade-like luster, not a sickly pallor.
He stood there, unmoving as a mountain, his composure unlike that of a government slave who had only been practicing martial arts for a little over a month.
Lin Longyue frowned slightly.
She couldn't quite see through him anymore.
Princess Yunhe naturally noticed Lin Longyue's changes as well.
She picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and suddenly chuckled.
The laughter wasn't loud, but it made the air in the hall suddenly tense.
"Losing a leg shouldn't affect his flower arranging or vase decorating." Princess Yunhe put down her teacup, her tone as casual as if she were talking about what to eat today: "Sun Ninghu, break one of his legs."
She paused, her gaze passing over the edge of the teacup and landing on Chen Lingxi, the smile on her lips deepening.
"You slave, I grant you permission to disobey."