The Fourth Prince

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "So, this time, not only will I recommend you for the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament to win glory for Great Liang, but my brother the crown prince will support you too!"

"That is good news. Your Highness cares for the realm and shares His Majesty's burdens—a fine example of both loyalty and filial devotion. Naturally, I am duty-bound to offer my full support!" Xiao Fan looked overwhelmed by the honor!

Ji Xuanyuan laughed heartily and continued, "Someone came from the palace this morning and said Father wanted to summon me! He also told me to bring you along!"

"You mean... His Majesty wants to personally meet the martial artists recommended by the princes?" Xiao Fan was somewhat surprised.

Ji Xuanyuan wagged his index finger with an air of mystery. "Not all of them. Today, he only summoned me, my brother the crown prince, and my fourth brother!"

"Each prince can only recommend one person, but I heard my second and third brothers haven't settled on their candidates yet."

Xiao Fan pondered briefly. "It seems His Majesty truly places great importance on this Nine Provinces Martial Tournament... Perhaps he intends to use it to display our nation's might and intimidate certain neighboring countries eyeing Great Liang like hungry tigers..."

"By the way, Your Highness, why are you here alone? Where are the other princes?" Xiao Fan asked.

Ji Xuanyuan chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Well, this is my first time sharing Father's burdens... I couldn't help feeling nervous, so I came early. Being alone was a little boring, so I sent for you first."

Seriously... So after all that, you were just here too damn early?!

Xiao Fan no longer wanted to speak. I haven't even had breakfast!

"Oh, right, right. That... how far have you gotten with it?" Ji Xuanyuan looked around, made sure nobody else was nearby, and quietly leaned closer.

Xiao Fan understood that he probably meant the Sovereign True Dragon Heart Seal, but the imperial palace was no place to discuss it!

"This isn't a good place. Let's talk when we get back..." Xiao Fan remained very cautious about this. Nobody was nearby, true, but this was the imperial palace, where experts gathered like clouds.

Just then, a handsome man wearing a prince's python robe, with a distinctly effeminate air, approached from below the steps!

Behind the handsome man followed a woman in blue robes and a bamboo hat, exuding a powerful presence...

"Fourth Brother!"

Ji Xuanyuan waved at the handsome man on the steps.

This handsome, effeminate man was none other than the fourth son of Great Liang's imperial family, Ji Xuanyin!

The fourth prince climbed the long flight of steps, wearing an impeccably gracious smile. "Oh, Fifth Brother, here so early? That's not like you."

"Hahaha... I was too nervous to sleep, so I decided to come early," Ji Xuanyuan said casually.

The fourth prince maintained his smile, but a cold gleam flashed through his narrow eyes. Clearly, he had other ideas about Ji Xuanyuan's newfound enthusiasm.

"And who is this?" He rested a hand on Ji Xuanyuan's shoulder and turned his gaze toward the young man behind the young master.

Ji Xuanyuan planted one hand on his hip and hurriedly introduced him. "This is my bro... an outstanding martial artist I recruited, Xiao Fan!"

"Greetings, Fourth Highness." Xiao Fan cupped his hands in salute.

The fourth prince nodded lightly and asked, "For my fifth brother to take notice of you, Young Master Xiao, you must possess exceptional talents. May I ask who taught you, and which martial school you belong to?"

Beneath the martial and mystical paths lay many different schools. In the martial path alone, some specialized in fists and feet, while others excelled with sabers and spears. The variety of sects was vast.

Xiao Fan replied, "I learned from my father and practice my Lineage's techniques. I belong to no sect."

"Oh? Your surname is Xiao. Let me guess... Could your father be Xiao Wu, the Armament Hall's gold-medal instructor?" The fourth prince's expression sharpened.

Holy shit! He could guess that? Or... had he already investigated my background? Xiao Fan was a little surprised. As the rumors claimed, this fourth prince's schemes ran deep.

Before Xiao Fan could speak, Ji Xuanyuan exclaimed beside him, "Ah! Fourth Brother! You're incredible! There are so many people surnamed Xiao in the world. How did you guess he was Instructor Xiao's son?"

To the guileless young master, that guess was astonishingly accurate. He certainly could never have guessed it himself!

The fourth prince's smile did not reach his eyes, while suspicion began stirring in his heart. He seemed unable to see through Ji Xuanyuan. He knew his brother was simple, but whether that simplicity was genuine or feigned... suddenly, he found it hard to tell.

"So I guessed correctly? There may be many people surnamed Xiao under heaven, but among the ranked martial artists in Capital City, the field narrows considerably. Fewer still could train their sons into ranked martial artists."

Xiao Fan promptly put on a show of astonishment. "Fourth Highness, your extraordinary intelligence truly lives up to the rumors!"

Though those were the words on his lips, inwardly, Xiao Fan was already bracing himself as though facing a formidable enemy.

At first, the fourth prince's remark sounded perfectly reasonable, but a closer examination revealed something amiss.

On the surface, he was saying that there were few ranked martial artists surnamed Xiao in Capital City, making it easy to narrow down the possibilities. But the unspoken implication was... he knew every ranked martial artist in Capital City extremely well!

Whether their surname was Xiao, Zhang, or Li... there was no ranked martial artist in Capital City he could not "guess"!

He was deliberately testing Ji Xuanyuan's reaction!

However...

"Oh! So that's how it works. Fourth Brother, you're so clever! I've learned something today!"

Ji Xuanyuan laughed and imitated his fourth brother, turning toward the blue-robed woman behind him. "Let me try guessing too. May I ask your name, miss?"

"Yao Yuxiang. Greetings, Fifth Highness." The blue-robed woman bent her knees in salute to Ji Xuanyuan, her voice as elegant and refined as her appearance.

Ji Xuanyuan paced back and forth, muttering to himself, "Your surname is Yao... and you've come with Fourth Brother, so you must be the martial artist he's recommending... There shouldn't be many ranked martial artists surnamed Yao in Capital City... So... so..."

He got stuck. He realized he could not guess at all! It left him terribly frustrated.

Xiao Fan sighed softly, stepped forward, and quietly reminded him, "Your Highness... Just because her surname is Yao doesn't mean she learned from her family. She might have apprenticed under another sect. You can't guess like that."

"Ah! Right, I forgot to ask. Miss Yao, who is your master?" Ji Xuanyuan slapped his forehead and added the question.

Yao Yuxiang remained standing there, her expression unchanged. "My master is Sect Leader Fu Song of the Heavenreach Sect on Great Azure Mountain."

"His final disciple," the fourth prince added beside her.

At those words, Xiao Fan was stunned. This Fu Song was the martial grandmaster with the highest standing in the martial world throughout Great Liang, and the only demigod martial artist outside the imperial court to have reached the third rank!

She's actually Sect Leader Fu Song's final disciple? Damn, impressive... Xiao Fan silently marveled.

"Huh? Who could possibly guess that?!" Ji Xuanyuan made it clear that his fourth brother's brilliance was beyond his ability to learn!

The fourth prince let out a long breath and lightly patted Ji Xuanyuan's shoulder. "Just what I'd expect from you..."

"Fifth Brother, I'm very curious. You've never liked involving yourself in court affairs and have always preferred a leisurely, carefree life. Why are you so enthusiastic this time?"

The fourth prince's question was remarkably direct. He had all but asked whether the crown prince had put him up to it...

"Fourth Brother... I've always really envied you all for winning Father's recognition and praise... I heard Father attaches particular importance to this Nine Provinces Martial Tournament, so last night, I went to see my brother the crown prince and ask his opinion. And guess what happened?"

Here we go, the plum blossoms bloom a second time...

How clever was the fourth prince? Before Ji Xuanyuan had even finished, he had already guessed most of it. Besides, the palace was full of his informants. He knew almost exactly whom the crown prince met each day and when.

The fourth prince made a show of contemplation. "Although this is difficult to guess, I'd still like to try... Hmm... The crown prince would probably support you, and he would retreat in order to advance... In other words, he would encourage you to recommend a candidate for this Nine Provinces Martial Tournament, but he wouldn't participate himself."

Ji Xuanyuan was utterly bewildered by this. "Fourth Brother... You're saying my brother the crown prince won't recommend anyone? How is that possible? Father places so much importance on this Nine Provinces Martial Tournament..."

"Originally, he couldn't have wriggled out of it, but you gave him an opportunity, my dear brother." The fourth prince smiled, resting a hand on Ji Xuanyuan's shoulder.

How could Ji Xuanyuan understand such riddles...? He scratched his head. "Fourth Brother, what do you mean?"

"Don't worry about it. I was only joking. Besides, my guess might not be right." The fourth prince laughed and skipped past the subject.

Those few brief exchanges made Xiao Fan's scalp prickle as he listened. This fourth prince actually thought one step deeper than I did. No wonder he's a blazing hearth worth gathering around, powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with the crown prince.