The Princes' Daily Fishing Routine

Compared with the changes at court and the tense situation around Wei Country, aside from the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, and a few other princes aspiring to the throne, who had some understanding of them,

the rest of the princes had no obvious awareness. Every day, they continued living their dull, tedious lives according to routine.

"Fifth Brother, today is my birthday. After I pay my respects to Mother Consort, I won't need to return to the Imperial Study," Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang said with considerable delight.

As princes, they had only five days of leave out of the three hundred and sixty-five days in a year: New Year's Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor's birthday, and their own birthdays.

Their days of rest were pitifully few.

Thus, whenever they had a day off, these princes were exceptionally happy.

Zhao Hongguang continued, "I remember that after Fifth Brother finishes studying the Art of War this afternoon, you won't need to go to the Martial Hall. How about This Prince takes you somewhere fun?"

"They say a child's birthday is the mother's day of suffering. Aren't you spending it with your Mother Consort?" Zhao Hongming asked with a smile.

"It'd be terribly boring if I stayed there all day. I waited so long for this day."

Zhao Hongguang had never intended to ascend the throne and become Emperor. He only wanted to be an idle prince, so he did not care much for the restraints imposed by things like Discipline Rules.

The many princes and Imperial Princesses all believed his temperament to be weak, likely seeing only the side of him that yielded beneath the crushing pressure of authority.

When he was around unfamiliar people, Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang acted more obediently than anyone, looking utterly cowardly.

Yet when he was in familiar, comfortable surroundings, his courage became immense again.

In common terms, he was fierce only in his own den.

After Zhao Hongming had grown familiar with him through playing together, he came to understand this point.

Come to think of it, he had indeed spent all his recent days cultivating. His life had been too regimented, and he had not relaxed in a long time.

After considering it briefly, Zhao Hongming nodded and agreed.

"Where are you planning to take me this afternoon?"

"Hehe, you'll know when we get there. Anyway, I think that thing will definitely benefit Fifth Brother."

Seeing his smugly sly expression, Zhao Hongming could not help laughing.

Speaking of which, he had truly gained quite a few benefits from him lately.

At that thought, he untied a jade pendant from his waist and said, "You know your Fifth Brother is rather poor and has nothing much to give you. I've always worn this jade pendant on me. I heard it can keep one safe, so consider it Fifth Brother's birthday gift to you today."

Zhao Hongguang did not hesitate or politely refuse in the slightest, accepting it openly. "Thank you, Fifth Brother."

After class, Zhao Hongguang impatiently led his guard and Eunuch away from the Imperial Study, running faster than a rabbit.

Before leaving, Fourth Prince, seeking to build his prestige, casually gave him a small birthday gift as well.

Perhaps having learned his lesson last time, Seventh Prince had also prepared a gift in advance and handed it to Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang.

The latter did not refuse any of them, accepting everything generously and making a small fortune.

After Eighth Prince left, Zhao Hongming still followed his prior routine, paying respects, practicing calligraphy, and studying the Art of War.

When the Weishi hour arrived, Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang came as promised.

"Fifth Brother, I'm here."

Zhao Hongming, who had been sitting cross-legged in his room cultivating, heard Eighth Prince's shout. He ended his circulation of qi and pushed open the door as he walked out.

He saw Zhao Hongguang standing at the entrance to Clear Breeze Pavilion with his guard, wearing a broad grin.

"Is Fifth Brother ready?"

Without saying much, Zhao Hongming brought Chang Wubing along after him, intending to see what exactly he planned to do today.

After walking briskly for a while, Zhao Hongming realized they were heading toward the Imperial Garden.

He could not help asking curiously, "Eighth Brother, what are we doing in the Imperial Garden?"

Zhao Hongguang said mysteriously, "A few days ago, I discovered an Old Well in Father Emperor's Imperial Garden. I saw several silver fish inside. Let's catch one and try something fresh."

"Fishing?"

After all that, Zhao Hongming finally understood what his Eighth Brother intended to do.

After walking for another quarter of an hour and passing through a stretch of Purple Bamboo Forest, they reached a secluded corner of the Imperial Garden. Sure enough, there was an Old Well there.

This well had likely stood for many years.

Its mouth was covered in moss, weeds growing thickly around it. Just looking at it made one's skin crawl.

Standing beside the well, Zhao Hongming asked curiously, "How did you find this place?"

"One day, at the nearby crossroads, I heard the cries of children. When I came over to look, I discovered that several Silver Fish in this well were talking," Zhao Hongguang said seriously. "I even went back and specifically looked it up. These should be Silver Spirit Fish."

"Silver Spirit Fish?" This was Zhao Hongming's first time hearing that name.

"Mm, it's an extremely nourishing fish. Eating it replenishes essence and strengthens qi, and I heard it tastes exceptionally delicious too." Zhao Hongguang walked to the edge of the well and said impatiently, "Guard Li, take out everything I brought."

Li Shanyong, Zhao Hongguang's personal guard who followed behind him, heard the order and expressionlessly took two arm-length fishing rods from his robes. Fishing line and hooks were wound around them.

Zhao Hongming found the fishing gear truly crude. There was only a transparent line, not even a float.

Eighth Prince took out a rice ball, hooked several grains onto the fishhook, then eagerly tossed it into the well.

After doing so, he handed the other fishing rod to Zhao Hongming. "Here, Fifth Brother, don't just stand there. I brought you a fishing rod too. Let's fish together."

Zhao Hongming felt that if he were a fish, he would not even spare this thing a glance.

But since he was already here, leaving now would be somewhat inappropriate.

Zhao Hongming let out a soft sigh, took the fishing rod made from half a length of purple bamboo, hooked on some bait, and fished along with him, purely for show.

A quarter of an hour passed, yet there was no movement from the fishing rod at all.

Bored out of his mind, Zhao Hongming silently circulated his Longevity True Qi and began cultivating, intending to make full use of this fragmented time.

Just then, he suddenly felt the fishing rod in his hand sink. A fish had bitten the hook below.

"An idiot fish actually bit a hook like this?"

Zhao Hongming's eyes widened in disbelief.

He jerked up the fishing rod and successfully pulled a silver fish half an arm long out of the deep well.

When they saw the fish's true form, Li Shanyong and Chang Wubing behind him both revealed shocked expressions.

Its silver body was long and agile, two lengthy whiskers at the corners of its mouth extending all the way to its belly. Faint bulges could be seen on its head where horns seemed ready to emerge.

What Silver Spirit Fish was this? It was clearly a Silver Dragon on the verge of transforming into a dragon.

Beside him, Eighth Prince Zhao Hongguang cried out, "Fifth Brother is amazing! Come on, come on, let's quickly find somewhere to stew this fish. It wouldn't be good if too many people found out."

Zhao Hongming frowned, sensing that this fish was rather extraordinary.

But since it was already in his hands, there was no reason to put it back.

He swiftly snapped off several branches from the bamboo forest behind him and strung the Silver Spirit Fish in his hand onto them.

Zhao Hongguang helped at his side, gathering up the fishing rods and the other items to conceal their traces.

Although this Old Well should have belonged to no one, after witnessing this fish's unusual nature, the two of them still felt somewhat guilty, like thieves with a stolen bell.