The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1383 - 1383 672 Second Watch

Chapter 1383: 672 Second Watch Chapter 1383: 672 Second Watch Xiao Hen bought two flavors of dried meat, one spicy and one honey sesame flavored. Additionally, he bought a bag of tofu-based vegetarian dried meat for little Jingkong.

He found Gu Jiao at the lantern riddle stall and handed her two boxes of the dried meat.

Gu Jiao first tried a piece of the spicy one, its sweet and spicy taste tinged with a slight numbness, making for a rich flavor experience.

“You should try a piece too,” Gu Jiao offered, passing the box to Xiao Hen.

To make it easier for Gu Jiao to eat, Xiao Hen took all the lanterns she was holding.

Xiao Hen lifted the lanterns in his hand, indicating to Gu Jiao that his hands were now full.

As a result, Gu Jiao took a piece of dried meat and fed it directly into his mouth.

Xiao Hen ate it with a smile.

“Does it taste good?” Gu Jiao asked.

“Delicious,” he said, looking deeply at her.

Mu Qingchen felt a pang of jealousy, his heart filled with irritation.

There seemed to be a strange atmosphere between the two of them, as if no one else could intervene.

Xiao Hen bought extra, so Mu Chuan and the others also got a taste of the dried meat.

The three of them held a fairly good impression of Xiao Hen: he was capable, talented, well-mannered, measured in his actions, and had remarkable speech, a person worth befriending.

Mu Chuan held a box of dried meat, eating as he asked, “Young Master Long, which Academy are you studying at? Does your Academy participate in cuju matches?”

Although Xiao Hen wore a mask, both his eyes and voice were very youthful, and coupled with his overflowing talent, Mu Chuan deduced that he was a student.

Xiao Hen replied, “I’m not studying at an Academy.”

Mu Chuan sighed, “What a pity, I was hoping to invite you to watch the cuju match.”

Yuan Xiao said, “Non-Academy students can also watch. Young Master Long, if you’re free tomorrow, come along.”

Xiao Hen nodded with a smile, “Alright.”

Mu Qingchen gave the group a cold look and said, “You’re still aware of the cuju match. It’s getting late; we should head back.”

Mu Chuan pleaded, “Ah, come on, Fourth Brother, let’s stay and play a bit longer. I haven’t won enough lanterns yet.”

Mu Qingchen replied coldly, “You’ve given away all the lanterns you won, what’s the point of winning more?”

Mu Chuan pouted, still wanting to argue, when their martial arts instructor came looking for them.

Now, they had no choice but to obediently follow the martial arts instructor back to the Inn.

Under the keen gaze of the martial arts instructor, Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen couldn’t have a heartfelt farewell and parted as if nothing had happened.

Back at the Inn, Gu Jiao opened her room door, and Mu Qingchen suddenly asked, “Are you two really meeting for the first time today?”

Without changing expression, Gu Jiao replied, “Yes.”

Mu Qingchen hesitated, then thought better of it. After all, even if they knew each other, it didn’t concern him.

“Go to sleep,” he said indifferently, stepping into his room.

Gu Jiao placed the two lanterns by the bedside, washed up, and went to bed.

The next day, after breakfast, they followed their martial arts instructor to Lingbo Academy.

The instructor, as usual, drew lots in the attic.

With a solemn face, he came to Tianqiong Academy’s quarters.

Mu Chuan asked, “Martial Arts Master, which Academy are we facing off against? Lingbo Academy or Jianan Academy?”

It was down to just three Academies at this point in the competition.

To everyone’s surprise, the martial arts instructor shook his head and said, “Neither.”

In shock, Mu Chuan stammered, “Nei-neither? How can that be?”

The martial arts instructor said gravely, “It’s Shaolin Academy.”

Gu Jiao understood, Shaolin Academy hadn’t participated in the earlier matches and was essentially a new addition, the reason being both Songshan Academy and Zizhu Academy had been disqualified from the competition after a brawl, thus leaving an additional spot to advance.

As for why the spot wasn’t given to a previously eliminated team and instead went straight to a new entrant, that would be a question for the organizers.

Gu Jiao asked, “Did the other Academies have no objections?”

The martial arts instructor said, “The eliminated Academies had no objections; it’s likely because they all had previously lost to Shaolin Academy.”

Shaolin Academy was last year’s champion. The martial arts instructor had breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing they wouldn’t be participating this year, but as the saying goes, what you’re afraid of will come to pass.

“How did we end up facing them? And on the first match too,” said the martial arts instructor, his morale falling.

“Are all the students from Shaolin Academy monks?” Yuan Xiao asked curiously.

The martial arts instructor shook his head, “Not all. There are monks, secular disciples, and ordinary citizens as well.”

Yuan Xiao then asked, “So among those who came for the cuju, are there ordinary citizens?”

The martial arts instructor shook his head again, “No, they are all First Grade Monks.”

Yuan Xiao: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Tianqiong Academy was the first match, and after drawing lots, they began preparing to go on stage.

Meanwhile, the audience gradually filed into the venue.

Xiao Hen sat in his exclusive stand, still accompanied by the same three classmates, while the maid of the Bright County Prince diligently attended to them.

The Bright County Prince also came today, but just like the first time, he did not appear in the stands but was in the room at the top floor of the attic.

From there, one had a broad view of the entire field, yet the people on the field could hardly see them.

There was someone sitting next to the Bright County Prince.

“Cousin, have some tea,” said the Bright County Prince politely.

Han Che-the crown prince-picked up the teacup and took a light sip.

As the most outstanding member of the younger generation of the Han Family, the Bright County Prince would not dare to treat him the way he treated Han Che.

With utmost politeness and a touch of reverence, the Bright County Prince asked, “Cousin, what brought you to watch the cuju games today?”

“Just casually watching,” replied Han Che-the crown prince.

Despite his casual words, from the beginning, he had been searching for Tianqiong Academy’s presence, unaware of the attic’s Grand Hall’s lot-drawing process and therefore unsure in which match Tianqiong Academy would appear.

He indeed saw Dean Cen and several students of Tianqiong Academy in the stands, one even sitting in a wheelchair.

Speaking of wheelchairs, his gaze swept over and caught sight of a line of people from the Duke Residence entering the venue.

He looked toward a silk-robed man walking out from the rear of the crowd: “That is Second Master Jing.”

Following his gaze, the Bright County Prince took a look and said, “Indeed it is.”

Second Master Jing moved forward a few steps, obscured by the crowd at first; Han Che-the crown prince-did not see clearly until the man distanced himself from the throng and noticed Second Master Jing pushing a wheelchair.

He asked doubtfully, “Is that Duke An sitting in the wheelchair?”

“Yes, it’s him,” the Bright County Prince responded.

“So he really woke up.” Han Che-the crown prince-had heard some rumors but had not fully believed them until he saw with his own eyes.

The Bright County Prince sneered, “He woke up a few days ago. They say a disciple of the divine physician Chen Guoluo cured him, but since he still cannot speak or write, in my opinion, he is no different from a living dead man.”

Han Che-the crown prince’s interest was not in Duke An, so he quickly turned his gaze away.

On the cuju field, the people from Tianqiong Academy appeared.

Mu Qingchen still was the center of attention, drawing cheers and screams wherever he went.

Yet Han Che-the crown prince-did not look at him either.

His attention was on the young man behind Mu Qingchen.

Even from such a distance, theoretically, he should not have been able to discern the characteristic birthmark, but for some reason, as soon as the other party appeared, he was certain that the arrogant lad from the lower country that Han Che had mentioned was him.

The young man rode on the horse, his bearing gallant, his entire being emanated a sense of defiance and unruliness.

The Bright County Prince spoke up, “Cousin, why do you think His Majesty suddenly decided to hold a grand birthday celebration? Didn’t he always dread this date?”

The date was not only His Majesty’s birthday but also that of the Princess, and it was also the day when the Princess was demoted to a commoner.

It seemed to be an ominous day indeed.

Staring at Gu Jiao, Han Che-the crown prince-said nonchalantly, “It means he no longer dreads it.”

No longer dreading it might mean forgiveness, but it could also mean forgetting.

The Bright County Prince pondered the words of Han Che-the crown prince. The people from Shaolin Academy took to the stage, and a series of gasps burst from the crowd, who appeared quite astonished and expressed deep sympathy for Tianqiong Academy’s predicament.

“Tianqiong Academy is actually up against Shaolin Academy; isn’t that hopeless?”

“Shaolin Academy was last year’s champion, having even defeated the royal cuju team. Tianqiong Academy is no match for them!”

“Such a pity, I didn’t want Tianqiong Academy to lose; I was hoping to watch a few more matches, but now it’s impossible for them not to lose.”

“How unlucky, out of three academies, why did Tianqiong Academy have to face Shaolin Academy?”

…

For Tianqiong Academy, those going onto the field were Mu Qingchen, Gu Jiao, Mu Chuan, and Zhao Wei, while Yuan Xiao would join in the second half of the game.

They rode on their horses, naturally, they heard all those discussions.

Mu Chuan quietly said to Gu Jiao, “Don’t listen to their nonsense; we will definitely win!”

The Buddhist Monks from Shaolin Academy rode up, lining up in front of Tianqiong Academy.

Clothed in monk robes and with imposing statures, their expressions were stern and fierce, almost reminiscent of the temple’s guardian Buddha Statues.

They looked like a tough match.

Never before had Mu Qingchen shown a trace of seriousness in any match, but even he looked pessimistic this time.

Shaolin Academy, never defeated, no one could overcome them.