Mentioning Father, Nangong Qiu’s expression became extremely helpless. “I understand,” he said.
“Alright, you go rest now,” Nangong Yi looked at him. “I know you want to spend time with those two kids, but the situation is special now, and those two kids also need time to calm down and think. Until the matter is resolved, don’t go to them.”
“Okay,” Nangong Qiu nodded.
*
Early the next morning.
Seeing the dark circles under Nangong Mian’s eyes, Huang Quan knew he hadn’t slept all night.
Nangong Mian looked distressed. “Quan Quan, I didn’t want to…”
He wanted to rest well too, but he just couldn’t stop thinking about it…
Huang Quan sighed. “I understand.”
“Let’s go eat.”
“Okay,” Nangong Mian responded, then followed Huang Quan downstairs.
The head of the courtyard and the others came down relatively early. When they saw Nangong Mian and Huang Quan coming down, they were about to say something, but their gaze fell on the dark circles under Nangong Mian’s eyes, and they paused. “Mian, what were you up to last night?”
“Nothing, just stayed up reading,” Nangong Mian didn’t mention anything about Nangong’s family affairs, so he didn’t say a word about it.
“Young people should be moderate in their actions. Don’t stay up so late in the future,” the head of the courtyard advised.
“Okay,” Nangong Mian replied, indicating that he understood.
“Let’s eat quickly and then go to the competition venue. There are only fourteen matches today, so we can come back early,” the head of the courtyard said.
“Okay,” Huang Quan and Nangong Mian replied.
*
After breakfast, they headed to the competition venue. They arrived neither too early nor too late. After Huang Quan received his number card, they entered the competition venue together.
Not long after, Di Qin and the High Priest arrived.
Today was the fourth day of the competition, and the appearance of the High Priest and Di Qin for four consecutive days didn’t surprise the crowd as much anymore, especially considering the relationship between Di Qin and Huang Quan.
When the High Priest and Di Qin sat down, two supervising teachers came over, and the competition officially began.
There were fourteen matches in total. Except for one student from a small country academy who was lucky enough to draw a bye, all the other students were from the Imperial Academy.
With twenty-eight contestants today and only fourteen matches, there were no byes available. Consequently, the student from the small country academy was quickly eliminated.
In the fifth match, it was Huang Quan’s turn, and his opponent was a student from the Tianqi Empire.
As the Tianqi Empire student stepped onto the stage, he smiled at Huang Quan. “We can consider ourselves as family, and now family members are competing against each other.”
Friendly in response, Huang Quan replied, “No problem. The winner will carry on the other’s spirit to continue winning.”
“Good,” the Tianqi Empire student said. “Let’s begin.”
“Hmm.”
Nodding, Huang Quan’s figure moved in a flash, attacking the student with lightning-fast speed.
The student couldn’t even catch Huang Quan’s speed and could only dodge based on the sense of danger. However, Huang Quan’s unpredictable speed was too fast. The student managed to evade Huang Quan’s right strike but didn’t anticipate that Huang Quan would switch his weapon to the left in an instant. By the time Huang Quan stopped, his dagger was already placed at the student’s neck.
The dagger shimmered with a cold light, sending shivers down the student’s spine. The student dared not even swallow too loudly and said, “I concede.”
Huang Quan’s match was both impressive and uneventful.
It was impressive because of his lightning-fast speed, which left people in awe. It was uneventful because his speed led to a quick end to the match, leaving spectators wanting more. However, after a few days, the audience had grown accustomed to it.
160
As usual, after the competition, Huang Quan took Nangong Mian and Di Qin with him and left.
Watching their departing figures, the High Priest’s mouth curved slightly downwards, and the already dark expression on his face deepened.
After leaving the competition venue, Huang Quan went straight to the gambling house to continue betting with the money he had won from the two matches. However, as Huang Quan kept winning, more people placed their bets, causing the odds to decrease. Nonetheless, he was still making a profit.
Leaving the gambling house, they went to have dinner, and then Di Qin, as usual, escorted the two back to the inn. After ensuring they entered the inn safely, Di Qin then took the carriage back to the palace.
In the Eastern Palace, as Di Qin got off the carriage, he saw a servant waiting outside.
“The servant greets His Royal Highness,” the servant hurriedly approached and respectfully said, “Your Royal Highness, His Majesty summons you to the study.”
“I understand,” Di Qin replied before heading towards the study, with the servant following closely behind.
In the study, Emperor Tianqi finished grading the papers and tossed them aside before glancing towards the door.
Seeing this, the attendant by Emperor Tianqi’s side spoke up, “Your Majesty, His Royal Highness has not returned yet. If he does, he will surely come over immediately.”
Emperor Tianqi sighed and resumed his work.
After finishing grading another book, Emperor Tianqi glanced outside and saw Di Qin approaching.
Seeing Di Qin’s arrival, Emperor Tianqi immediately picked up a set of papers and began reading them, his expression stern, as if he hadn’t been eagerly awaiting the person who had just arrived.
“Father.”
Di Qin entered the study and greeted the man sitting at the desk grading papers with an indifferent expression.
Emperor Tianqi raised his head and saw his son’s cold face, instantly feeling displeased. He slammed the papers down on the desk and spoke in a tone that sounded very angry, “Since you were young, you’ve always had this expression, cold as snow. I thought it was natural for you, but I’ve heard several times now that you are extremely gentle to a girl named Huang Quan, even smiling at her. Why is it? In your heart, am I not as good as an outsider?”
The implication was clear: If you can smile at an outsider, why do you always have this cold expression when you look at me?
“Father’s words are incorrect.”
Di Qin replied indifferently, “I have indeed been like this since I was young, not just when looking at Father, but at everyone.”
“What about her?”
Emperor Tianqi persisted, “Why are you gentle and smiling when you look at her?”
It was because Emperor Tianqi knew that Di Qin had always been like this since he was young that he was only pretending to be angry now, rather than genuinely upset. If so many people hadn’t witnessed it, Emperor Tianqi wouldn’t have believed that his son could be so gentle with a girl, even smiling at her.
“She is special to me.”
Di Qin looked at Emperor Tianqi and said, “Just as Mother is special to Father.”
Emperor Tianqi frowned, “From what you’re saying, have you made up your mind about her?”
“Yes,” Di Qin confirmed.
After pondering for a long time, Emperor Tianqi said, “I’ve heard that you used the Buddha’s Technique when you touched that girl. However, this is not a sustainable solution. Are you planning to use the Buddha’s Technique every time you touch her in the future?”
“Using that technique too often will cause greater harm to your body.”
Emperor Tianqi spoke earnestly, “Qin’er, I know you don’t like Nangong Qing Le, but Nangong Qing Le has the bloodline of the Spirit Clan, which allows her to touch you. Why don’t you consider it?”
