Do You Want to Be My Consort? (2)
The woman was very tall, her height reaching Ye Jingtang’s eyes. On a woman, she could be said to be a crane in a flock of chickens.
But this woman’s figure was very well-coordinated. She had a standard 1:9 head-to-body ratio, long limbs, and a perfect waist. She was slender where she should be slender and plump where she should be plump!
As for her appearance, the woman had three-dimensional eyes and eyebrows, skin as fair as suet, eyebrows like willow leaves, a high nose bridge, and gorgeous red lips. She was extremely eye-catching but not the least bit seductive. It could be said that her beauty was dignified and majestic. It was too gentle to describe her as ‘beautiful’. It felt more appropriate to describe her as ‘handsome’.
Ye Jingtang was surprised to see such a powerful beautiful woman with fiery red lips. But he didn’t lose his composure. He raised his hand and bowed. “Ye Jingtang greeting Your Highness the Prince of Jing.”
Dongfang Liren was quite close as she stood behind Ye Jingtang. When she saw him looking back and that there was no change in his expression, her eyes were quite appreciative. “You are calm in the face of danger, and you are neither startled by favor or disgrace. You’re quite smart. No need to stand on ceremony.”
Ye Jingtang recognized the woman from the python robe, but he really didn’t expect the Prince of Jing to be so young. He withdrew his hands and stood up straight. Instead of sizing up the Prince of Jing’s appearance, he looked at the Roaring Dragon Spear and answered the question just now. “I was just curious, so I stopped to take a look. I don’t know spearmanship, so I really can’t say I like it.”
Dongfang Liren took the spear and examined it in her hand. “The Roaring Dragon Spear is an old object from hundreds of years ago. No matter how powerful it was back then, after lasting to the present day, it is difficult to be of great use. It is placed in the Imperial City as a decoration. This spear is an imitation, but the material is even better than the original’s.”
She raised the spear with one hand and handed it to Ye Jingtang. “Try it?”
Ye Jingtang didn’t take it and said in shame, “I don’t know spearmanship, so I really don’t dare to waste such a treasure. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Dongfang Liren retracted the spear and placed it back on the table. She walked along the many circular corridors. “I value martial arts. Not only are there famous weapons from all over the world hidden in this building, but there are also many martial arts secret manuals passed down from various dynasties. Since I was young, I have wanted to ‘gather the strengths of the hundred schools of thought into one’. Unfortunately, the people of Jianghu have strict rules. They only teach their true martial arts to their disciples and not outsiders. They don’t even give me face.”
Ye Jingtang followed her and pondered for a moment. “Your Highness wants to learn my saber technique?”
Dongfang Liren stopped and looked at Ye Jingtang. “You are smart. Are you willing?”
Ye Jingtang was naturally willing to do so. His goal was to go to the palace to dig up the Roaring Dragon Chart. Compared to the Roaring Dragon Chart and the connection with the Prince of Jing, what was one move of a saber technique that had already been exposed?
“No matter how good a technique is, it depends on who uses it. People don’t dare to teach outsiders true martial arts because they’re afraid that the outsiders will surpass them. My saber move has already seen the light, so it can’t be my trump card. If I teach it to outsiders, if they can use it better than me, then they can still defeat me with other moves. If they don’t use it as well as I do, can they use this move to be a match for me? What’s the harm in teaching it to the world?”
Dongfang Liren nodded slightly. “You are insightful. The Martial Immortal of Fengguan City does not reject any Grandmasters who come to ask him for guidance. I’m afraid those people don’t understand his thoughts, and he might have the same thoughts as you. Unfortunately, no one has been able to compete with Fengguan City on the same stage. I hope you can do this in the future.”
“Your Highness thinks too highly of me. I’m not that ambitious. I’m just a little selfish. I only know this saber move. If Your Highness likes it, you can teach me a move or two later…”
Dongfang Liren understood what he meant: an exchange. She turned around. “That’s easy. Do you want to learn Jun Mountain Terrace’s Dragon Slaying Decree?”
?
Ye Jingtang was really surprised to hear this.
‘Saber Chief’ Xuanyuan Chao was his foster father’s enemy. If he could learn the Dragon Slaying Decree and use Xuanyuan Chao’s own saber technique to defeat him in the future and teach Jun Mountain Terrace how to use the Dragon Slaying Decree…
How awesome would it be…
When Ye Jingtang thought of this, his heart palpitated, but he said awkwardly, “I’m afraid that only one saber move in exchange for the Dragon Slaying Decree of the current Saber Chief is…”
“You know your place.” Dongfang Liren walked to the front of the table, gently raised her hand, picked up an exquisitely crafted old saber, and sized it up. “You only know how to begin with one move, and you can’t even form your own style. It definitely isn’t worth the complete Dragon Slaying Decree. You have to exchange at least one complete high-tier martial arts before I will teach you it.”
Ye Jingtang knew that there was no such good thing as a free lunch. He felt a little helpless. “I really only know this move, and I’m still thinking about it. When I can figure it out, I really can’t say for sure.”
“If you perfect this saber technique, it will be at least ten years later. I am not in the mood to wait.”
“Then, what does Your Highness mean?”
Dongfang Liren flicked her fingers and unsheathed his treasured saber. Ye Jingtang could see the word ‘Heaven Equaling’ engraved near the guard. It was most likely Qiu Tianhe’s saber. “Are you interested in the Heaven Equaling Saber?”
“…”
Seeing this saber, Ye Jingtang immediately understood the Prince of Jing’s intention. She wanted to learn the Heaven Equaling Saber, but Qiu Tianhe definitely wouldn’t teach her, so she wanted to borrow his hands to learn it.
Ye Jingtang had heard about Qiu Tianhe and his foster father’s past today. It was difficult to say if his foster father was right or wrong, but there was nothing wrong with Qiu Tianhe’s actions. If there was a chance to get him out legitimately, he would definitely not stand by and do nothing.
After deliberating for a moment, he shook his head and sighed. “The Heaven Equaling Saber is famous throughout Jianghu. If I have the chance, I naturally want to learn it. However, Qiu Tianhe is in prison. I have to remember our friendship before I can learn the saber technique. He is at death’s door because of my respected master. If I ignore this, I will become an ingrate. If I save him, Your Highness will probably imprison me too.”
Dongfang Liren put the saber back in the sheath and placed it on the table. “Since you could send your family assets to the capital from afar, I can tell that you value affection. I naturally won’t put you in such a dilemma. Qiu Tianhe has been captured and hasn’t been executed yet. Do you know the reason?”
Ye Jingtang shook his head.
“In the second year of Cheng’an, Qiu Tianhe kidnapped Xuanyuan Shuye. Xuanyuan Shuye is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jun Mountain. She was supposed to become a noble consort, but she was taken away. There was a shortage of people, so the marriage envoy chose a woman from an aristocratic family to enter the palace.”
Dongfang Liren turned around with her head held high and her body straight. “After that woman entered the palace, she was favored by the former emperor and gave birth to two princesses. Guess which two princesses they are?”
“…”
Ye Jingtang looked at the slender and elegant Prince of Jing in front of him and was rather surprised. “It’s Your Highness and…”
Dongfang Liren nodded and continued along the corridor. “Although it was a freak combination of factors, Qiu Tianhe can indeed be considered rendering a meritorious deed. I didn’t kill him because first, I want his saber technique, and second, it’s very difficult to dislike his ‘great rebellious act’.
“If you learn his saber technique, respect him as an elder, and are willing to work for me, I can write a petition to Her Majesty for your sake to ask Her Majesty to show mercy outside the law and let Qiu Tianhe leave the dungeon. However, don’t even think about regaining his freedom. He can escape death, but he can’t escape punishment. It’s already the greatest forgiveness for Qiu Tianhe to find a small courtyard near the Black Office to retire.”
Hearing this proposal, Ye Jingtang fell silent for a moment. “What does Your Highness want me to do?”
“Well…” Dongfang Liren stood on the spot with her hands behind her back. She turned around and looked at Ye Jingtang’s handsome face and tall and strong body thoughtfully.
?!
Ye Jingtang stood a little straighter. He felt that this fiery princess meant: Do you want to be my consort?
“Uh…”
“Hmph~!” Dongfang Liren turned around, leaving her back to Ye Jingtang. “Don’t think too much. I have seen all kinds of talents. You can’t catch my eye with your fancy appearance but poor skills. I am in charge of the Black Office and responsible for chasing down bandits who commit crimes in Jianghu. What do you think I want you to do?”
Ye Jingtang knew that there was no such good thing. He smiled bitterly and said, “Understood. Regarding bandits who disregard human life, everyone has the right to punish them. If I have the chance to meet any bandit, even if Your Highness didn’t say anything, I would still get rid of the evil for the people.”
“Without any evidence, how can I believe you?” Dongfang Liren raised her hand slightly. “Since you dare to take on the case of the Wingless Owl, it means that you are confident. Let me see your abilities first.”
What?
What a f*cking confidence?!
Ye Jingtang finally understood that something was wrong. Just now, almost all the dossiers were about savage and violent Jianghu bandits. For the sake of his safety, he had chosen a low-risk task. He wanted to do his best and just do it as a token.
After hearing what the Prince of Jing said, he knew that if he couldn’t catch him, his image in her heart would be greatly reduced. In the future, finding an opportunity to enter the palace to dig up the treasure would naturally become a problem…
Since he was the one who accepted the task, he couldn’t go back on his word and change it now. After thinking about it, he braced himself and said, “I will definitely do my best.”
“Good. I await the good news.”
